#loop is still not fully comfortable in their new form

[chimerical-daydreams]

Art therapy.

I put Loop through too much already, they deserve a decent coping mechanism.

[thicctails]

I need more info on the get better children au, especially about when Bill shows up.

*rubs hands together* I finally got some extra time to draw up some new art for this AU, so let's give it some substance >:3 Long post below the read more with extra art :D

Before Euclydia was destroyed, Euclid and Scalene Cipher were some of its most powerful members. Bill saying that everyone loved him as a baby was true for a time; children aren't born very often, and the Ciphers are considered to almost be royalty. It wasn't until Bill's mutation became apparent that people began to shun him. If he had been born to any other family, he likely would have been abandoned.

Though neither Euclid nor Scalene could really comprehend the concept of something being "up", let alone what "stars" could possibly be, both of them used their status to try and find any scrap of forbidden information, hoping that they could find an answer, could find some confirmation that their son wasn't crazy, and didn't need to be blinded by his "medicine."

It was this research that eventually saved their lives. Having the knowledge that it was possible for things to, hypothetically, exist in a three dimensional plane allowed them to pool their powers and create 3D forms for themselves when Euclydia began to burn, pulling themselves off the 2D plane like a sticker being peeled off a page. It wasn't a smooth transition in the slightest, and the flames managed to damage parts of their bodies before they managed to fully free themselves. The rest of their power went into escaping their collapsing reality, and when all was said and done, they were left near catatonic and floating in the space between time and space for many, many years.

They don't really start to recover until a certain frilly guy upstairs nudges them into a new, stable dimension. This one is almost entirely 3D, and inhabited by creatures that look completely alien to the Euclydians. Creatures called humans.

They meet Dipper and Mabel not long after, and the two triangles attach themselves to the babies, doing their best to care for them in their weakened states when their young, unprepared parents fail to be adequate caretakers. Being 2D is far easier for them, so they stick to the walls like shadows and find ways to speak to the twins, slipping into videos and pictures, music and books, their forms changing slightly to match whatever media they slipped into. They teach Dipper and Mabel their colours, shapes, ABC's, ect, comfort them when they get sad or scared, and once they're old enough, how to do basic things like getting themselves food and water when they get left alone too long.

Neither Pines parent really notices their children making grabby hands and babbling at open air at first, though they do become a bit concerned when years pass and they still stare at walls and empty corners like there's something there.

Eventually, as we all know, the Pines twins get shipped off to a sleepy town in Oregon, and Euclid and Scalene are, of course, coming along to watch over their little stars. However, they become deeply uncomfortable when they start to see visages of their son carved into every room of the twin's temporary home.

It doesn't take long for the show's antics to start, but Grunkle Stan gets involved in the twins adventures far earlier because during The Inconveniecing, Euclid uses his ability to manipulate televisions to play one of those old PSA's on loop until he gets spooked enough to actually check on the twins, only to find them missing.

Eventually, through the help of Scalene using a radio to drag up an old advert for the Dusk 2 Dawn, he figures out where they are and arrives just in time to see the tail end of their ghostly encounter. Unable to deny his knowledge of Gravity Falls' weirdness, he and the twins have their Season 1 finale talk that night, and Dipper shows Stan Journal 3, which leads to all three of them searching for Journal 2 (Stan doesn't reveal the portal yet)

Bill gets summoned by Gideon like in Canon, but things veer wildly off course when, upon entering Stan's mind, Mabel asks him if he knows Euclid or Scalene. He freezes up upon hearing the names of his parents, and he immediately calls off the deal with Gideon, ripping himself out of Stan's Dreamscape. Before he can process what happened, he comes face to face with someone he's only seen in daymares for the past trillion years

Bill dips the fuck out once he realizes he's not hallucinating, disappearing to Axolotl knows where to do fun, productive things such as: scream, cry, break shit, sob on the floor, drink until the teeth in his eye ache, stare at the space between stars for days on end, and interrogate every single one of his henchmaniacs to see if they spiked his drink.

Mans has absolutely zero clue on how to navigate this situation, eventually settling on stalking the Pines because he genuinely cannot think of any possible way to approach his (apparently alive????) parents. How do you go about atoning for the extinction of your entire species?

Bill Cipher has never been one to do things for others for any other reason than to get something back, but he figures the best place to start is by protecting these fleshy human young that his parents seem so attached to.

Wait, would that make them siblings? Axolotl, he sure hopes not.

[legomonkiefics]

🐍💚 Xiangliu x Celestial GN Reader — A New Chance (Drabble) 💚🐍

Genres: Romance, Hurt/Comfort || they/them pronouns for reader || Warnings: Mild angst, S5 spoilers

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆˚｡⋆୨🐍୧⋆˚｡⋆✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖

A new cycle. Another. New. Cycle. Xiangliu couldn't remember how many he'd been a part of at this point. But he knew it was far too many. He was still in Nüwa's game, her plan for the universe keeping him trapped from the chaos he so sought. These binding loops of time and space itself were restricting him, keeping him from the freedom he knew lay beyond. How much longer? He'd woken up the Harbinger eons early, and yet his salvation still hadn't come. Surely the Harbinger would make the right decision. Anyone would want freedom, if they were as trapped from it as he was. So why...

Xiangliu was interrupted from his thoughts by a sound from the hallway. He broke out of the daze he'd been in thinking to himself, turning to look at you. Your nightly attire clung to you as you shuffled into the room of the Jade Emperor's Palace that Xiangliu had been pondering in. You went to the balcony with him, letting out a yawn as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders. "Dearest, what are you doing up so late? Lady Chang'e gave us the moon this night to aid our rest" Xiangliu said to you with a gentle smile.

"Looking for my husband," You replied sleepily, leaning against his shoulder "Only to find him staring into the gardens". Xiangliu chuckled, looking to the immortal growth below. He couldn't tell you why he had been so lost in thought, the truth behind his thinking stupor. So instead, he gently kissed the top of your head. "I had trouble sleeping" He said softly in place of the truth. You chuckled as you nuzzled into his scaly neck "And what was that you said then? About Lady Chang'e and all her work?" You said playfully. Xiangliu gave a small laugh, rubbing your shoulder. "Head back to our quarters, my love. I'll be back with you shortly".

You complied with a soft smile, leaning off of him and letting him go to walk back the winding hallways of the heavenly palace. Xiangliu looked back to the gardens before turning, walking just a few steps behind you. Once back into the room, he climbed into your large plush bed after you. You scooted in, snuggling up to his chest and laying your head upon it. He kept a soft smile on his face as he leaned back against the pillows, petting your hair as he nestled in.

Damn these cycles. They took everything from him. His chance at freedom, at chaos, at finally showing everyone what lay beyond the bounds of what Nüwa had trapped them in so long ago. But not you. After all this time, he still had his spouse. He was forever grateful to the gods that he could stay nestled in your embrace every night. These loops could have everything in the universe, but they couldn't have you. Xiangliu was rather proud of his Prince Consort position. It gave him some degree of respect and riches, and most importantly of all, it let all the Celestials know he was yours. He was determined that nothing was going to change that. This was another chance to have you safe in his arms and blissfully unaware of the greater battles between he and the heavens.

With a kiss to your forehead and a bit of adjustment, Xiangliu was finally set to be fully wrapped up in your warmth. The immortal heat you emitted was still the perfect balm to his cold blooded form and scaly skin. He curled into you, the snakes in his hair leaning in as well to fully embrace the moment. He was your husband, and if there was one thing he was keeping in this universe, it would undoubtedly be you

[impactedfates]

Helo helo hi I've been uuuh reading your HSR stuff and I lov all of them!! Aozjebeusnsjs

Aneeway!! Feel free to discard this request if it makes you uncomfortable in any way

Dan Heng + Vidyadhara! Sibling! Reader [purely platonic] where he just got news that another Vidyadhara is now like, being released from the shackling prison [Idk if you can even be released from there] and Reader is basically suffering the consequences from the isolation for so many rebirths and all that stuff [lets say he's been Dan Heng's sibling for all rebirths so it hurts more.. But hurt/comfort hshsb]

I'm sorry if the request is too specific because I haven't really been seeing like platonic sibling stuff with characters

I hope you have a great day!! Remember to hydrate and eat if you haven't already!! Stay safe!! o(>∀<*)o

A/N: Hello hello!! I've only written 1 HSR thing so far (by the time I got this, I hadn't posted the previous Blade fic), but I'm glad to see you seemingly like it! I'm a bit confused on the premise/prompt you've given me but I tried my best to try and write it anyways, hopefully this is somewhat what you asked for, and apologies if it's not o(TヘTo) And don't worry, I'll remember to hydrate, eat and stay safe! Make sure you do as well now :)

W.C: 919

Warnings: Hints of torture/abuse but not actually said (if I missed any pls say!!)

Extra: Dan Heng is in his Vidyadhara form + Reader is his younger sibling + The Shackling Prison description may not be accurate honestly.

The chains around your wrists still strained you. They still hurt. You didn��t even know why you were there, well, you couldn’t remember why you were there. Every reincarnation, you would find yourself being taken away and into the Shaking Prison. Quickly chained up and suffering the consequences of a guy you can’t seem to remember, but all you knew was that he was your brother and his name was Dan Feng?...Or did he go by a different name now?

Whatever the case, you started growing resentful of him, although you couldn’t remember. You knew that you were paying the price for what he did, and you’d be stuck in the loop of getting reincarnated and spending you 700 years in the Shackling Prison.

.

.

.

Dan Heng stood idly in Scalegorge Waterscape looking at the parted seas. Breathing in and out the tranquil air…until a yell alerted him, he turned around and saw the current High Elder, Bailu running to him with her maids in tow.

“Dan Heng!!”

“Bailu? Is something wrong?”

He asked, turning around fully and crouching down to be on level with the smaller Vidyadhara. She took a bit to catch her breath, the maid with her smiling apologetically at him. She stood up straight and began speaking, although rather quickly.

“There’s a Vidyadhara who recently got permission to leave the Shackling Prison because now you got your banishment lifted, people thought it was fair if they got released too and they’re asking me to meet and release them as well as help them settle back in b-because I’m the High Elder but I can’t…can you do it?”

Dan Heng blinked a bit, he understood what she was saying but he was rather confused. A Vidyadhara released because he was able to walk around the Loufu freely? Although perhaps the maid didn’t realise this was the case as she tried to explain what Bailu said in simpler terms.

“Bailu wanted to ask if you could take her place at releasing and showing this Vidyadhara around to get them settled in. The Loufu has changed a bit ever since they well…were sent to the Shackling Prison”

She explained, Dan Heng slowly stood up and considered it before nodding. It wouldn’t hurt right? Just to help them settle back in and then he can go back on the express.

.

.

.

Footsteps can be heard echoing the halls, your head darted to the door as your eyes narrowed. Feeding time won’t be till much later, you knew that due to how long you stayed in the prison. It was practically muscle memory at that point. But what entered wasn’t a cloud knight but…another Vidyadhara?

“...So…you’re [Name]”

He called out softly, walking towards you slowly. Your eyes widen a bit, you recognize him. You’ve seen his pictures a few times when people tried to jog your memory of who your brother was. You quickly tried launching for him, you were mad. He had made you suffer for so long and yet he acted so calm?

He didn’t flinch at all or move back. It wasn’t as if you were able to actually get to him anyways. You were still in chains and could only go so far.

“[Name]…”

He slowly started, it seems he was told about the situation in more detail.

“Go away Dan Feng, you did this to me! Y-you…why do I have to suffer because of your mistakes…why did I have to suffer your punishment”

Tears welled up in your eyes, as the chains slowly shook alongside your body. You sniffed a bit.

“N-now look…I-I’m crying…I shouldn’t b-be crying…I-it’s been so long s-since this started…I-I should be used t-to this by n-now…right?”

Your lips quiver, looking away from him. 

“You have every right to cry…it’s just you showing emotions…it’s healthy to cry…so…please, don’t hold it in”

Your eyes slowly wandered to the taller Vidyadhara man. Before giving in to his words and letting the tears fall.

“D-Dan Feng…y-you’re such a scoundrel…I-I”

“I’m not Dan Feng…I’m just…a reincarnation of him…maybe that does make me him but…I won’t let my past leak into my future…please…call me Dan Heng…I want to fix the mistakes of my previous incarnation”

He speaks, slowly walking over and sitting next to you. Your eyes followed his figure slowly. You stayed silent, Dan Heng took this chance to continue a bit.

“I understand it’ll be hard to forgive me…even if I may not remember what happened…I just know you’re suffering due to the actions Dan Feng made…and because…we’re apparently siblings”

“Is…that why I’ve always been placed here…?”

“Correct…according to Jing Yuan who gave me more details…we’re related…in every reincarnation we face, no matter how many times we do so…we’re always siblings”

He paused for a bit, letting the silence set in before standing up, you heard the jangle of keys and the straining feeling of your wrists gone. You quickly stood up, nearly tripping over.

“I…thank you”

You nod a bit, slowly looking up at him. You were confused, the stories you were told, the things you heard about Dan Feng…and yet when he stood in front of you and how he spoke, how he acted, didn’t stay true to what you heard.

Then again, according to him, he isn’t Dan Feng, but Dan Heng…

“You know…’Dan Heng’…that isn’t far off of Dan Feng…like a letter off”

“Ha…yeah I notice that”

He nods, silence overtakes the two of you again before he extends his hand out to you.

“Come on…I’ll get you an Immortals Delight”

Hopefully I managed to make a good-ish hurt/comfort thing! 😥 Thank you for the request!! There’s currently 3 more in the line that I’ll be working on the coming days :) Feel free to leave more requests!!

[stardust-goddess]

The Dress

Dean Winchester x reader

Summary: Deciding to go out of your comfort zone you buy a dress you normally wouldn’t buy. When a conversation breaks your confidence Dean comforts you.

A/N: So this is something that actually happened to me and I wish I had Dean to comfort me through it at the time. Thank you to everyone who’s been enjoying my work so far, I’m still learning and navigating tumblr, but I’m excited to share some more of my ideas with you all! Enjoy and let me know what you think💕

Warnings: (I realized I should probably be putting these on my stories) negative/insecure thoughts, body image issues, self hate, cursing, some fluff and comfort, implied/mentions of smut

You were practically giddy as you drove closer and closer to the bunker. You had stopped into town earlier to check your PO Box that you shared with the boys. Opening the box there wasn’t anything super important, but you got overly excited when you saw the package you had been waiting for sitting inside. You had been waiting for a while for it to come in the mail. As soon as you saw it you grabbed it and practically ran back to your car, hopping in to head back to the bunker.

You had ordered dresses, two to be exact. Your job has an upcoming party in a few months, and you were really excited to go. You were a new employee to your office, and had only been there for a few months. You loved your job and was happy working for the first time in a long time. You felt more confident and had a strong feeling of belonging and appreciation with all your coworkers. When your boss announced the upcoming party, you felt this was a great opportunity to showcase those feelings. New job, new you and you wanted your dress to reflect that.

Finally reaching the bunker, you pulled in and parked next to the Impala. You noticed Baby’s hood was propped open, Dean bent underneath it but then standing up straight to watch you pull in. Throwing you a smile his bright green eyes locked on you. He looked so good today. He was in jeans and a tight black tee, showing off his muscles that always made you go weak in the knees. His usual flannel discarded while he worked on Baby. Shutting the car off you climbed out, remembering to grab your package from the passenger seat. Shutting the car door you made your way over to join Dean in front of the impalas open hood.

Slinging an arm around your waist Dean pulled you in close “Hey Baby.” he said with a grin pressing a quick kiss to your lips.

“Hi Honey.” you said burrowing yourself a little deeper into his embrace. Moving back a little bit Dean settled on the edge of Baby, guiding you to stand between his legs by the belt loops of your jeans. Hands linking together at the small of your back. Dropping your package to the floor, you wind your arms around his shoulders.

“How’s Baby coming along.” you said nodding your head towards his beloved car. “Good so far she’s runnin’ strong.” he said looking fondly at the impala for a minute before turning his attention back to you. “How was the ride to town?”

Your face lit up in excitement as you unwrapped one of your arms from Dean, and bent down to grab your discarded package from the floor “My dresses finally came!” You practically squealed showing him the bundle.

Dean’s face softened as he took in your form. You were practically buzzing, with a big smile on your beautiful face. You were so adorable. He knew all about your upcoming party. His heart warmed at how happy you were. He was fully supportive of you working at your office. Anything that kept you safe and out of danger was a win in his book. He remembered sitting with you not that long ago while you scrolled through the computer, looking for the right dress. He tried to sneak a peek at what you were buying, but you evaded him easily wanting it to be a surprise.

Running a hand across your hip, Dean decided to get playful “Did you? Are you going to model for me?” Reaching up he brushed his lips across the shell of your ear “Maybe I’ll get to take them off of you too” he whispered voice low and gravelly, pressing a kiss to the hollow of your ear. Your face flushed and you felt that warmth travel all the way through your body. Thighs involuntarily rubbing together. He knew exactly what to say to get you all worked up. “Dean” you whined at his teasing. Dresses? What dresses?

Bringing his hand up to cup your face he pressed another kiss to your lips. Thumb running across your cheek. “I know Baby, I just love this blush.” leaning back he released you from his hold.

“Go on, try them. We’ll have plenty of time to play later.” knowing you were eager to try them on. Warmth spreading to your core, you clutched the package close to your chest, pouting at his withdrawal “Promise?” Kissing your pout away Dean grinned. “Absolutely Baby”

with a light pat to your bottom Dean sent you out of the garage. Taking a deep breath, you take a minute to calm your racing heart from Dean’s heated words. You couldn’t wait for later.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In your shared bedroom, you finally open your package. Pulling the dresses out, you lay them out across the bed and admired them. Grabbing the first one you shed your clothes and put it on. Looking in the mirror you analyzed your body. It was a very pretty dress. A bright red color made of lace. It had short sleeves and an A-line skirt that went past the knees, giving it a classic look. This dress was something you would normally wear, safe and predictable. You picked it partially out of habit and as a back up just in case you didn’t find anything else. You looked nice, but you wanted something different.

Grabbing the second dress you removed the first to put it on. This dress was a style you’d never worn before. You never had the confidence to until now, but your want to reflect your new found happiness made you choose it. Turning back to the mirror you took in your appearance. It was a deep wine colored dress. Tight to the body and accentuating your curves. The sleeves were long with a modest v-neck, and ruching down the whole front. This one was shorter, stopping just above your knees. It was perfect. You loved it and It was exactly what you wanted. You thought you looked amazing and felt amazing too. You’re confidence spiking even higher.

Admiring yourself a few more minutes you decided to call your mom. She knew about the party as well and you wanted to show her the dress you picked out. Pulling out your phone you find your moms contact and start a video call. The call quickly connects and you see your moms smiling face

“Y/N! It’s so good to hear from you! You’re brother is here too.” the screen pans over to your brother who gives a smile and a wave. After a few minutes of pleasantries and catching up, you finally get to the reason of the call.

“Mom I wanted to show you the dress I picked out for that party at work. I love it so much!”

Propping your phone up you step back so she can see you in full view. “What do you think?”

Your mom is silent for a minute, a slight frown on her face as she takes you in. “It looks nice, but are you sure you want to wear something like that?”

“What do you mean?” Your brows furrow in confusion “is there something wrong with it?”

Your brother speaks up from behind your mom “Honestly, it doesn’t look good.” you felt your heart plummet to your stomach, throat tight with emotion. Your brother continues “Really like just the style in general is so bad, it’s really not flattering at all.”

Trying to keep your composure, you swallow hard as tears fill your eyes ready to spill over. “I thought it was great. I wanted to try something new, be more bold and confident.”

Noticing the emotions playing across your face, your brother tries to back pedal “That dress wouldn’t look good on anybody, it was just poorly designed. Do you have time to find something else?”

Grabbing the first dress you hold it up to show them. “I bought this one too but I always wear this type of dress”

Finally speaking up your mom lights up “Oh I love that one, it’s perfect for you and it’ll cover up the problem areas.”

Hearing enough you quickly reply “Thanks guys, I’ll talk to you again soon.” Ending the phone call you let the tears escape and roll down your cheeks.

You were so stupid. How could you think that this dress would look good? You’re brother was wrong. Plenty of other women could wear this dress, but you weren’t one of them. You clearly weren’t confident enough or attractive enough to pull something like this off. You were just plain, ugly, boring you. You sit on the edge of the bed, tears still falling. You wrap your arms around yourself like armor, trying to control your breathing as your tears turn into full sobs.

Your thoughts starting to spiral, you think of Dean and cry even harder. You don’t deserve to be with him. How could he possibly love someone like you? When he could have any gorgeous woman on his arm. You were pathetic. Ugly and broken and definitely way out of his league for someone who was as gorgeous as he was. Standing up abruptly you take the dress off and throw it to the ground. You grabbed your pajamas, an oversized t-shirt and shorts and put them on before making your way back to the bed. Crawling under the covers you grab your pillow and clutch it to your chest sobbing, wishing you could be someone else.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walking through the halls of the bunker, Dean search’s for you. It had been a while since he saw you in the garage. He didn’t think it would take long to try your dresses on, and he thought you might’ve came back when you were finished. After searching through the main rooms and asking Sam if he’d seen you at all which he hadn’t, he made his way towards your shared bedroom. As he gets closer he notices the door is shut. We’re you still trying things on? He then hears noise on the other side of the door, muffled sobs that make his chest tighten in slight panic. Opening the door he sees you. Curled up under the covers of the bed, pillow clutched to your chest, and the most heart wrenching sobs coming out of your mouth. What the hell happened? You were so happy before.

Dean was at your side in seconds. Kneeling down in front of you and running a hand along your hair “Baby what’s going on? What happened?” You don’t respond, sobbing and coughing as you lose your breath. Dean looks over you quickly. After not finding anything physically wrong with you, he relaxes slightly and tries to calm you down. Pulling the pillow away from you, Dean fills the empty space. Guiding your head into the crook of his neck. His hand running through your hair while the other slips into you shirt, pressing against the small of your back and gently rubbing. “Shhh baby girl it’s ok, you’re ok. Can you try and take a deep breath for me?” Cuddling closer into Dean, you soak in his warmth. With the smell of his cologne and his strong heartbeat invading you’re senses, you take a small shuddering breath. “That’s it Baby nice and easy, deep breaths in and out. You can do it.”

Dean continues whispering sweet words to you and helping you breath until you finally start to calm down. Pulling back slightly Dean presses a kiss to your forehead, taking his hand out of your hair to bring it to your cheek. Wiping the tears away with his thumb. “There’s my girl, What happened Baby? Who’s ass do I have to kick?” You let out a small watery giggle before hiding your face away, suddenly feeling embarrassed. “It’s stupid, I shouldn’t have gotten so upset” you reply, voice and throat scratchy from your crying.

“It’s not stupid, you know you can tell me anything” mustering up the courage you sit up a little, looking into Dean’s gorgeous green eyes. Dean follows you resting against the headboard and securing you at his side. Your head rests on his shoulder grabbing his hand and twining your fingers together. Deans other hand is still on your back warm and comforting, rubbing up and down in long strokes.

“I tried on the dresses and one of them was exactly what I wanted. I loved it and felt amazing in it. I called my mom to show her and my brother was with her too. I showed them the dress and they didn’t like it. They thought it wasn’t right for me, that it was completely unflattering and did nothing to hide all the problems I have on my body.”

Dean saw red. How could your family do that to you? Problems on your body? You were absolutely stunning! Trying to reign in his anger you continued with your story.

“I feel so stupid they were clearly right, I’m not confident enough or pretty enough to wear something like that. I don’t know why I even bothered in the first place. You deserve someone way better not a loser like me.” You look down in your lap, upset and ashamed.

Tilting your head up, Dean places a chaste kiss to your lips rubbing his thumb along your jaw as he speaks

“First of all you aren’t a loser and you’re not stupid. You’re so amazing. Smart, funny, and drop dead gorgeous. I don’t want you thinking for another second that you don’t deserve me because you do. And second, your body? It’s perfect Baby. You drive me crazy with these gorgeous curves. For me no other woman compares to you.”

You heart melts at his sweet words. You loved this man so much. Looking into his eyes which showed nothing but genuine love and honesty, you felt a little lighter. Dean loved you for you and that’s all you ever needed. Throwing your arms around his neck in a tight hug you cuddle into him.

“I love you, I love you so much”

“I love you too baby girl, but now I need you to do something for me”

Untangling from your embrace Dean stands up, leaving you confused as you watch his movements. Crossing the room Dean reaches down and grabs your dress from the floor. You had almost forgotten that you threw it there. Walking back over to you he places it in your lap

“Will you put this on for me?”

“I don’t know Dean, I don’t think it’s going to look good” you replied looking down at the dress in your lap, some self doubt still lingering. Reaching for you, Dean tilts your chin up. “It will I promise, do you trust me?” Of course you did, you always would. Giving him an affirmative nod you stand, turning your back to him. You quickly shed your pajamas and pull the dress on. Adjusting it so it sits right, you take a moment not quite ready for his reaction. ‘It’s ok’ you tell yourself ‘you can do this’

Steeling yourself you turn around, looking Dean in the eye. His breath hitches once you’re facing him “Fuck, baby you look gorgeous” eyes raking over your form. The dress fit to you like a second skin, accentuating all of your curves that Dean loved so much. He couldn’t resist stepping closer, hand reaching out to your hip to bring you into him.

“You really think so?” You reply wrapping yourself around Dean, feeling your body warm at his words and his touch. Dean presses a kiss to your lips, then your cheek, working his way down your jaw and your neck before burrowing into the spot we’re your neck and shoulder meets. Hand gliding along your hip feeling the smooth material of the dress. “I think it’s time to take this off now Baby, gotta show you just how much I love this body, dress or no dress.”

Reaching down, Dean grabbed the hem of your dress slowly dragging it up and leaving a fiery trail along the skin of your thighs before stopping back at your hips. Guiding you back to the bed and leaving hot kisses along your neck, the dress soon came all the way off and Dean spent the rest of the night showing you just how beautiful you really were.

[shadowphoenixrider]

Mistakes Made

(Shadow discovers something new about Gambit, and gets a little more than she bargained for! Or 'the fic that came about because I wanted to write Gambit poledancing, then it got a bit serious'. Enjoy!)

So I might have made a mistake.

It started off well enough - I'd finished my Danger Room training with Jean, practicing self-defence and tapping into my powers during a combat situation, and I was heading down to the showers to freshen up. The gym's on the way there, with its door left open as usual, and I glanced in there in pure curiosity, not really thinking.

And promptly saw a lot more of Gambit than I'd ever expected.

Clad only in a pair of tight black shorts, the Cajun mutant was gracefully entwined upside down around a metal pole several feet off the ground, eyes closed as he arched his back, only his hands and right leg keeping him in place. His muscles flexed under his pale skin with the effort, yet his face was a picture of serenity, almost as if he was meditating.

Slowly, with the elegance of a ballet dancer, Gambit brought his other leg up to loop around the pole, twisting his body with it so now his stomach faced the pole. Switching his hold, he stretched out his right leg, pushing up with his right arm to lean back, grasping his foot to form an oval.

I just stared, and had the rest of my brain been working at the time, I would have thanked every deity I knew that he had the place to himself. Logan would have certainly told me to pick my tongue (and jaw) off the floor by now.

Yet at that moment, I couldn't give a fuck. It wasn't a secret that Gambit was a handsome man: long, messy hair he kept tied back, bewitching black and red eyes, a jawline that could probably cut glass, and a tall, lean, yet well muscled body with an ass I swore blind that his leg armour deliberately accentuated. It was both a blessing and a curse that he wore that trenchcoat. I'd tried not to let my thoughts run away with me, either from our first meeting, or as the weeks ticked by.

But it's very hard to do so when he seems so confident, so comfortable in his own skin, a magnetism I couldn't fully resist. That and he didn't seem to mind me looking, or hadn't noticed (whilst I tried to be discrete, I found the latter hard to believe).

Discretion was completely out the window here - I was full on gawping. Watching his muscles move and ripple as he changed positions again, marvelling at the sheer strength he had to remain so still, legs raised high in the air and arms taking more than a little of his weight. I'd watched Gambit during Danger Room simulations, and had definitely been mesmerised by how athletic he was, barely staying still for more than a few moments without flipping, sliding, or using his staff to vault great distances - almost dancing in the thick of the action to a tempo only combat could set.

This, though? It was something else, almost intimate. I was getting front-row seats to the body under all that armour, the same one that moved like the embodiment of the kinetic energy that I'd felt thrumming through him. Where once I'd been witnessing his agility, now I witnessed his strength.

And I was definitely starting to have less that pure thoughts about the deep iliac grooves that dove under his shorts, the cords of powerful muscles that I saw tighten and flex in his thick thighs, and the little sigh of effort as he rolled himself upright.

Twining his leg with the casual ease of a snake coiling around a branch, Gambit lay back once more, one hand gripping the pole below him, his spare arm and leg stretched out into an elegant line. He held this position for several long seconds, when his eyelids fluttered open.

A heartbeat. Then he turned his head towards me.

Whatever spell I'd been under shattered in that moment, and I bolted, my face burning so hot I swore even my ears probably turned red. Of all the times to be caught, that was probably the worst, and I hoped and prayed that the Cajun either didn't see me, or would shrug it off...

---

"The autoclave will have finished by now." Beast said, as I shrugged on the white lab coat. "I'll go fetch the pipette tips if you continue setting up here."

"Sure." I nodded, setting up our equipment with rote, practiced ease, ticking off each stage on the checklist. Titrating samples was boring, mundane labwork, but it was necessary, especially without the automation I was used to in my hospital job. It hadn't technically been long, yet it already felt like another lifetime ago.

I was setting out the test tubes and flasks when I glimpsed movement at the doorway out of the corner of my eye. Movement attached to a pair of red eyes, and a wicked grin. Oh hells.

"Ah, dere you are!" Gambit said, strolling casually in. "Gambit was wonderin' where ya got to."

The Cajun might definitely be less scantily clad than before, but his crop-top and low rise jeans really didn't leave much to the imagination, especially when my eyes were drawn to those exposed abdominals and- I tore my gaze away again, blushing up a storm.

"Y-yeah, unfortunately titrations wait for no-one." I said, hoping in vain if I tried to return to my work and ignore the tall, handsome mutant at my side, my blush would go away.

"Mmm." Gambit hummed, and I felt his eyes rove over me - a feeling that made my lower back shiver, though not unpleasantly. He moved closer, lowering his head so I felt his breath wisp by my ear. "Enjoyed de show earlier?"

Heat flared brightly into my face, an uncomfortable stuttering sensation pulsing through me as my heart missed a beat.

"Y-You saw me?" I squeaked. Gambit chuckled throatily, a tremor thrumming down my spine at the sound so close.

"You think Gambit not keepin' an eye on his surroundings when he's busy?" He grinned. "Especially when dey be as pretty as you..."

I swallowed hard, my thoughts scattering like a flock of birds and my heart starting a fast beat under my chest.

"I-I, well, I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Oh, you can stare at Gambit any time, petite," he said smoothly, his grin becoming a more gentle smile. "He don't mind at all."

This blush was never going to go away at this rate. I managed a wobbly, shy smile up at him.

"I, I'm glad, because, well." I ducked my head, cursing that my words were sticking to my tongue. "I...I could have watched you for hours."

His eyebrow lifted slightly.

"Hours? Liked what ya saw, den?" He purred, sending a flash of heat into my chest and much lower regions of my body.

"Y, Yeah." I nodded. "Definitely." I plucked up my courage and straightened my back, forcing myself to look up into his eyes; time to regain the initiative. "Gotta say, very interesting to find out that pole-dancing is a part of your repertoire, Cajun."

Gambit's eyes flashed with glee, and his playful grin returned.

"Like de cards, Gambit be full of surprises," he said. "Got taught by an old friend back 'fore I came here." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Don't be gettin' any ideas, it weren't for de reasons ya think."

"I wasn't going to presume." I said, holding up my hands. "Not that it's my business to anyway. All I know is it's a beautiful physical art that like ballet takes a shocking amount of strength, that can sometimes be sexy. Although in your case, I suppose you just use it to strength train?"

He nodded.

"Rightly so, petite." He grinned. "An' Gambit sure you agree dat it beats the normal way of trainin', non?"

I giggled.

"It's certainly more interesting to look at than just lifting weights." I replied, folding my arms. "Although I'd definitely find it distracting if I was trying to train alongside you."

"Den Gambit just gonna have to give ya a private showin'." That wicked, mischievous grin was back just when I thought my blush was dying out.

"Thought I already got that earlier." I challenged, raising my chin. "Sure, by accident, but close enough, right?"

"Maybe, but you ain't seen everythin' that Gambit can do..."

He stepped away, looking up at the monkey bars that crisscrossed the ceiling above us. Gambit bounced on his feet a couple of times, before he sprang up to grasp the bar nearly above my head, swinging up to hook his legs onto another. Bracing his legs, Gambit released his hands, letting himself dangle freely in front of me, grinning widely. I tried to ignore the fact his crop-top was riding up his torso, revealing more of that gorgeous chest to me.

"Pretty good, non?" He asked, gesturing widely.

"Yeah alright, show-off." I giggled, stepping up to him. "But this is pretty basic considering what I saw you doing earlier."

"Ah, you wound me, mon amie!" Gambit said, pressing a hand to his chest. "But jus' 'cos it not be as interestin' as what Gambit can do on de pole, don't mean it don't have its uses..."

He leaned his body slightly closer, his obsidian and crimson eyes for once at the same height as mine, breath stirring the top of my hair. He smelt masculine, a sweet, tangy scent I could never truly place but I always found enticing, along with a faint hint of soap.

"Still not really seeing the use, Cajun..." I murmured, unable to stop myself from touching the mass of red-brunette hair hanging from his head like thick curtains, letting it trail over my fingers. Gambit reached up himself, brushing some curls back away from my face, his fingertips ghosting across my cheek.

"If ya come a little closer, Gambit happy to show you." His voice sunk into a deep, sensual rumble that thrilled me, tilting his head back with hooded eyes. Sudden realization dawned, and my heart quickened - all I had to do was lift my chin, and we'd barely be a breath apart. Then I'd only need to raise onto my tiptoes to close the gap.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl even as my heart pounded in my ears. I tilted my head back. Gambit's fingers curled lightly yet tenderly around the back of my head, as if guiding me, thumb brushing the underside of my chin. His lips parted, the scent of spice on his breath.

"Gambit..."

"Shadow..." Came his equally soft answer, both of us utterly entranced. The outside world faded away so it was just him and I. I reached up towards his cheek, my heels beginning to leave the floor-

Someone loudly cleared their throat.

I sprang back as if burned, my face scorched with heat as I realized Beast was standing in the doorway, pipette tips in his massive hands...and looking extremely unamused.

Annoyance flashed across Gambit's face before he turned a charming smile on for the other mutant.

"Salut, Beast!" He said cheerily.

"Whilst your presence is appreciated Gambit, I would like to request that you wear appropriate laboratory safety equipment whilst you are here." Beast replied dryly.

"He's kinda right." I said, smiling weakly. "Your hair's kinda...all over the place." Gambit flashed me a look - 'whose side are you on?'

"Furthermore," Beast continued, hopping up onto the bars himself, "athletic pursuits that are not part of the experimental process are better sought in the gymnasium. And," he gave Gambit a particularly stern look, "I would kindly ask you to refrain from seducing my assistant when she has other matters to attend to."

I glanced away as a renewed wave of embarrassment washed over my face. If Gambit harboured any regret or shame, he certainly didn't show it.

"Didn't realize I was disturbin' anythin' important." The Cajun lied. "Gambit'll get out from under ya feet."

He slithered down onto his hands, carefully lowering his legs so he didn't kick us in the face. He flashed us a smile as he climbed to his feet.

"See ya around, mes amis!" He spoke, winking at me before striding out. I watched him go, sad to see him leaving, yet glad to observe how the denim of his jeans shaped itself tightly around his ass.

The thud of Beast landing next to me reminded me that I was supposed to be doing something, and fresh embarrassment flared inside me as I tried to grasp the threads of memory.

"S-Sorry, Doctor." I stuttered, running through the checklist again. "I-I didn't mean to get distracted."

"That's quite alright, Shadow," he said kindly, smiling. "Gambit can be quite the distraction when he wants to be. Especially when there's something he wants."

I swallowed hard, my mind flashing back to the almost-kiss barely a minute before. It had felt like an hour ago.

"Yeah, it's a wonder anyone gets anything done with him wandering around." The words were out of my mouth before my brain caught up, and I winced. "Wait, no-"

The doctor chuckled, patting my shoulder.

"We've just gotten used to him, Shadow. As will you, in time." He set the box of tips down, effortlessly breaking the striped autoclave seal with one swipe of his clawed finger. I picked up the pipette, the instrument settling perfectly inside my hand. Suddenly, my brain finally caught up with the conversation.

"Hold on, 'something he wants'?" I frowned, looking over to Beast as he typed on the computer next to me. He paused, looking thoughtful for a long moment.

"Shadow, I hope it has not escaped your notice that Gambit is interested in you." He looked sideways at me. "Indeed, the scene I witnessed between the two of you should be evidence enough that he has formed a particular attachment to you."

I blushed - any more of this and it was going to get stuck there.

"Y-yeah. He does seem to like me quite a bit."

Beast turned to face me properly, his brows furrowed.

"Shadow, I would advise caution when dealing with our Cajun friend. Be careful you don't read too deeply into his intentions with you."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, frowning.

Beast sighed.

"Whilst Gambit is not a man who will lead you on, it is more than likely he is not interested in relationship beyond the carnal nature," he said. "You must set your expectations accordingly."

I felt a sharp, searing sensation in my chest, and tried to ignore it.

"That...That's fine." I nodded, swallowing hard. "I'm ok with that. I, I don't want to make things complicated anyway, especially with what happened with my ex." I smiled weakly, turning the pipette around in my hand. "I always promised him that we would stay friends if we ever broke up...only to find out I had to wipe him completely from my life in order to get over him. I'd hate to have to do it to someone I've become good friends with, and all the shit that would entail."

"Indeed." Beast settled his great hand across my back. "I'm sorry your long relationship with your ex-partner ended in such a way. Perhaps you can find someone who will make you as happy as he did in the future."

"Maybe." I shrugged. "But I'm not really looking for that right now. I just, want to live my own life for a bit now, you know?"

"Completely understandable." Beast nodded. "Although, I must add - even if Gambit is just seeking a casual relationship with you, do not be foolish enough to think that grants you carte blanche to toy with his emotions." For a moment, an anger entered the doctor's eyes, an insight to why his mutant name was so. "Gambit does not open up very often to people, and you have earned far more of his trust than most. Do not abuse it."

"No, of course not." I shook my head. "He seems a really nice man, I wouldn't dream of doing that to him, or anyone." I sighed softly. "If we never become anything more than friends with benefits, that's fine with me."

For some reason though...I didn't exactly feel convinced.

---

Outside the lab, just out of sight, Gambit's face fall.

Yet he wasn't sure why.

[yeehawbvby]

Their Greatest Treasures | Arven & GN!Reader

Rating: G 

Summary: You're about to compete in one of your first public matches as Paldea's newest champion. With such a large audience, you’re terrified — but your worries instantly dissipate when one of your favorite people meet you on the court.

Author’s Note: There will be end- and post-game spoilers in this, so read at your own risk!

Also, while I headcanon Arven as an adult, this fic can be 100% platonic, for those of you who don't. I just wanted to write something cute about besties being reunited :) Enjoy and take care! x

Check it out on ao3!

You stand in the center of Mesagoza, about to compete in the first ever School Battle Brawl Academy Ace Tournament. You know you’ll probably win the whole thing, having recently become a champion, but you can’t help but feel nervous with all these eyes on you. 

With the exception of being on Iono’s streams a few times, your audiences have been relatively small. But right now, nearly everyone you go to school with — teachers included — and even random passersby of Mesagoza are waiting eagerly to see their region’s newest champion in action.

On your side of the court, you fiddle with a Pokéball, tapping your feet against one another, trying to steady your breathing as you patiently await the battles that are to come. Your heart jumps to your throat as Clavell begins announcing your first opponent, and ripping the metaphorical bandaid off, you finally look up. Before the chairman can say your challenger’s name, though, you’re whispering it to yourself. Grinning wider than you have in weeks, nerves melting away. 

You haven’t seen Arven much since the whole incident at Area Zero, having been bombarded with your new champion duties so shortly after. You hadn’t realized how much you truly missed seeing those piercing teal eyes; or the streaky, puffy hair; or naturally pouty, almost angry-looking face, until now.

More importantly, you’ve missed his voice. You feel comfortable and warm as he gives a whole spiel about how it’s “just his luck” to be paired against his “little champion.” He assumes you’d be surprised to see him at an event like this, but at the accusation, you shake your head ‘no,’ knowing fully how passionate he can become when he sets his mind to something. It throws him for a loop, but only gives him more encouragement to do his best – for himself, and for you.

You begin battling no more than a minute after the exchange, and the grin doesn’t leave your eyes or lips. To others, it probably just looks like you really enjoy battling. 

To Arven, you look nuts. 

He’s seen you battle plenty. He knows that, more often than not, you look determined, sometimes even scary, when you compete. What’s different this time? Has La Primera really gotten to you that quickly?

As he's lost in thought, a second member of Arven’s team goes down. You still have that look as you return your own Pokémon to its ball, letting it rest while another comes out to play. He begins to feel self-conscious, and it turns quickly into frustration. 

Is he a joke to you? Are you on the verge of laughter because you’re kicking his butt so hard? What's going on?

Arven knows that those things wouldn’t be characteristic of you, considering how supportive you’ve always been of him… but what if that’s changed? Needing answers, he speaks up about it. 

“What’s up with that dumb face?” he shouts before the two of you can begin the next round.

Your eyes widen, and then soften. After that, a giggle comes out of you that makes Arven’s breath hitch. Arceus, he missed his little buddy’s laugh.

“I’m just… really happy to see you!”

Oh.

Oh, nothing could have prepared him for that. 

Arven’s own eyes widen, his face flushes, and your smile contagiously spreads to his features. He’s never really had anyone who’s happy just to be around him, at least to his knowledge. His own parents neglected him, leaving him without family, and he’s always struggled to make friends, leaving him without any form of kinship. 

And yet here you are. 

You helped Arven bring his partner back from what was basically the brink of death, and barely needed to be convinced to do so. You were there to console him when he found out his real parents are gone forever, with only AI in their stead, who also left him. You brought him closer to Nemona and Penny, and even if they’re insufferable at times, they’re some of the best friends he’s ever had.

Deep down, Arven thought that maybe you’re just a really kind person. A true, textbook-definition of a hero. There’s no way someone could care that much about him, surely.

…Yet here you are! Genuinely happy just to be reunited with your buddy.

You’re the greatest treasure he could’ve asked for.

[saphiraarts]

Chapter 5: A Grocery Trip to the Ghost Zone

Danny stood in Vlad’s lab with Vlad gathering the necessary supplies and maps he had crafted over the years. Danny was nervous he hadn’t been in the Ghost Zone yet and he rubbed his arm. He took in Vlad’s lab with it being very organized and clean showing his dedication to it as well as his wealth. He had advanced technology and weapons locked up on shelves but his notes showed where his messiness lay.

“Don’t worry Daniel it will be alright,” Vlad said as he finished gathering the supplies and putting on the bag it was cinching his cape.

Danny looked to Vlad and snorted seeing the sight of ghost form Vlad who resembled a vampire or iteration of Count Dracula looked like some sort of renfaire halloween hiker version. What made it worse was when he picked up a cooler and stood ready to go. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back and caused Danny to break into a fit of laughter. Vlad arched an eyebrow and let Danny just laugh a smile creeping onto his face. He laughed as well as it was the most contagious disease one could have.

“Alright alright let’s go,” Vlad said as he approached the portal.

Danny wiped the tears from his eyes holding back further giggles as he put on the backpack he was supposed to. He opened the gate and looked down at Danny and gave a small snort seeing the teen.

“Come on, remember what I told you my boy,” Vlad said with a warm smile.

“I will I will fruit loop!” Danny said as Vlad flew through the portal and Danny drew in a breath the comedy of the sight fading as he flew through to his godfather’s side.

Vlad had a map in hand and the spot where the new market likely was circled onto it and he began to lead the way. The ghost zone was otherworldly. A realm of floating islands, debris, objects even, with doorways scattered throughout it amidst a backdrop of swirling ectoplasm. It had swirls of different colors and seemed to go on further expanding in all directions including south into darkness. It was like space but worse. So little was known about it even to Vlad which terrified him. He stuck close to Vlad and the silence was eerie.

“Soooo uh what do you normally get at the market?” Danny asked awkwardly.

“General ingredients that vary based on the planned recipes for the week. I normally go once a week like a normal grocery store,” Vlad said. “The old market I went to was run by a collection of ghosts who possessed different farms but it was slowly dissolving. Less and less ghosts brought ingredients to it.”

“I see. Why did they stop?” Danny asked as he followed Vlad and took the cooler from him so he could focus on navigation.

“Thank you Danny. Well a variety of reasons. Some lost themselves. It is a phenomenon whose nature among ghosts isn’t fully studied but it is when a ghost forgets themselves. Who they were and devolve into beasts. Beasts with some degree of intellect and cognitive function but reduced to their base instincts and obsession for lingering,” Vlad explained.

“Wha?” Danny asked.

“It is basically a state ghosts can enter where they stop resembling their original human selves and become intelligent monsters,” Vlad clarified, hoping that cleared things up.

“Can it happen to any ghost?” Danny asked, a new fear was unlocked.

“In theory yes but how it happens and why is unknown. From the cases I could study the length of time a ghost was in the ghost zone varied drastically, some a couple centuries others thousands of years,” Vlad said. “I don’t think it is possible for us. We still have our human halves to keep us grounded.”

He turned to Danny and gave him a reassuring smile and Danny did gain some comfort from it but the anxiety was still there. They passed by floating islands and Vlad turned towards them flying to one with a lush forest and Danny could see why. It was filled with activity and lights and the pair flew towards it and landed. It was a bustling scene with ghosts at stalls selling ingredients of different kinds, cooked street food, drinks, and even seasonings.

“If it ain’t ol’ Vlad,” An elderly ghost said from a stall selling what looked like corn but it was bright purple with vibrant blue leaves and had a slight curve to them.

“Farmer Ed,” Vlad said approaching his stall and Danny followed, now acutely aware of the crowd of ghosts around him. He prayed no one he fought was here.

“Who is da lil laddie?” The ghost looked like who would expect of an elderly midwestern farmer. Overalls, a plaid button up shirt, heavy duty work gloves, a wide brimmed hat that would have blocked out the sun. He had a thick beard and tan green skin with a pale blonde beard. He had more facial hair than hair on his head. “Did ya finally ‘ave a kid?”

“He is my godchild,” Vlad answered, shaking his head, sighing and Farmer Ed laughed seeing Danny’s shocked expression.

“Darn I ‘oped ya settled rig’t on down,” He formed.

“So who is running the new market?” Vlad asked.

Before he could answer there was a reverberating, “YOU!” Across the market that silenced all the activity. Above the crowd was an older woman who was dressed like a lunch lady.

“Oh shit,” Danny said tensing. “She uh… hates me.” He told Vlad stancing for a fight and Vlad held his arm out.

“Farmer Ed? Keep an eye on Daniel,” Vlad spoke with a tone Danny hadn’t heard from him before. At least in such a raw form.

“You dare show yourself here after such a disregard for food yourself?!” Lunch Lady called floating down before the pair.

“He is a growing boy and needs to eat. If you have a problem with him being here I can make a new problem for you,” Vlad said firmly, his eyes glowing and he made clones of himself appear around him and all spoke at once. “Several new problems.”

“This market is a sacred place! Where meals are born! Those who disrespect it will face my wrath! But seeing as he has behaved he can stay.” She concluded as she stepped back under Vlad’s unwavering death glare and the clones. If looks could kill she would be dead again. “But I'll be watching him!”

“And Jazz wonders why I have trust issues,” Danny said, sighing with relief.

She disappeared into the crowd and Vlad turned his clones merging back into himself and Danny looked with amazement, “How did you do that?!” He called.

“Do what?” Vlad asked.

“The cloning!” Danny said.

“Father’s secret,” Vlad purred.

“Oh come on!” Danny called exasperated.

“Come along,” Vlad said with a laugh and he picked up ingredients for meals and snack foods for Danny he could hide at home. Other than that near encounter things went by mostly smoothly. Danny was almost conned a few times and Vlad took ages picking ingredients which Danny just had to wait. He didn’t want a fight to break out and them be outnumbered so he sighed as he remained patient.

Vlad finished shopping and he and Danny were on the way back when a blast rang out through the silence and Vlad made a barrier in front of Danny.

“There you are, ghost child,” Skulker rumbled with satisfaction. “I see you have a guardian! No matter! He can join you!”

“Oh come on!” Danny called and his fist glowing with ectoplasm. “Can’t I go on a food run in peace without a near fight and an actual fight!?”

Vlad knew they needed to get the food back unharmed after all Daniel’s health was on the line. He made a clone of himself who took the cooler from him and put on his backpack and another that took Danny’s.

“Let’s make this quick,” Vlad said and Danny nodded as his clones flew back to the portal and Vlad blasted Skulker and Danny flew in for the punch.

The trio became engaged in the dance of combat exchanging blows but it was a short dance with Vlad present. He showed his skill in battle and he did not hold back either and the pair forced Skulker to retreat. Skulker did manage to land some strikes against the pair but they were few with Vlad covering Danny and Danny covering Vlad. Following the clones the two made it home but both had been a bit beat up. Vlad shut the portal changing back and his clones vanished and he put away the food and gave Danny his snacks. After a patch up Danny was taken home.

My friends next chapter will be a long one and doozy. Angst filled deliciousness so I hope you all are ready!

[moonjxsung]

Adding onto my last ask with my top 5 albums of ALL TIME….. in this order under great duress, but realistically they’re all fucking phenomenal:

1. Junk- M83

Ohhhhh my fucking god. I could talk about this album for YEARS. The instrumentals. The mix between upbeat/melancholy, the way it tells a story the whole way through. Guys I listened to this album on a loop all of winter and it’s officially my most listened to album of all time. Absolutely fucking phenomenal. Favs on here are probably “Bibi the Dog” and “Solitude” but it’s truly no-skip. This album makes me ascend. I would’ve killed to watch their Coachella set in 2016

2. How to Be a Human Being- Glass Animals

This albums feels like being transported back to the early 90s- it sounds like vibrant colors and textures and it’s just some of the most unique sounds I’ve ever heard. Beautiful lyricism from Glass Animals always. They were my most listened to artist in high school and seeing them get so big is like !!! ummm deserved !!! Favs on here are “Life Itself” and “Mama’s Gun”

3. Zaba- Glass Animals

By far the sexiest album I’ve ever heard. Sexy instrumentals, sexy lyrics. I need to eat someone out to this album do you understand !!!! This was my most listened to album in freshman year of high school and I used to listen to it on the way to competitions and fantasize about this one percussion instructor I was obsessed with who drove a really fancy Porsche. This album still sounds like him to me. Favs are “Hazey”, “Gooey” and “Wyrd”

4. Who Really Cares- TV Girl

Bisexual anthem clap if you’re surprised! No but this album feels like adjusting to your sexuality again at the tender age of half-fifty after one decade of antidepressants and selling your identity off to intrusive thoughts (meee :3) it makes me cry, it makes me laugh, it’s inspiring. I listen to this album and I’m like hmmm I hope everybody finds their own form of love in this universe and I hope they feel it so wholly and deeply that even the pain is subsided by the comfort in knowing that the human experience is a thing!!!! Favs are “Not Allowed” (fic which we do not speak of🫶), “For You”, and “Cigarettes out the Window”. My ex was a chain smoker so I hear a little bit of him in that one. Fuck you dude ❣️

5. DSVII- M83

Albums don’t need words to be fucking extraordinary. This one is that album for me. It transports me to a whole new world, the synth and the instrumentals are truly remarkable. It makes me feel like a child again and it reminds me of skipping school for a week straight when I had pneumonia and watching trippy 90s cartoons straight out of a fever dream over a bowl of soup. It’s like if “The Neverending Story” had a fully instrumental album to go with it. I hear Falkor in this entire album. Favs are “Feelings” and “Temple of Sorrow”

You’ll probably catch a few of these in fic playlists in the future, but highly recommend every single song on every single one of these albums. They remind me why I’m so into music in the first place. I can share my top 5 kpop albums if yall are interested tooooo 🫶👼 I love these questions so much thank u for this cloud anon ily

[tiredgamergirl]

At one point Frogwares used to have a studio focused on more casual adventure titles including a few hidden object games. One of these is Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles, the basic premise inspired by the homonymous title: Sir Henry Baskerville arrives in London to consult Sherlock about the murder of his uncle. It is said that a curse haunts his bloodline, a demonic hound causes the premature death of many heirs and he worries to be the next to fall victim to it. And that is as far as this game sticks to the original novel.

Once arriving the location is in a rather ghastly state; the servants left and most of the areas are locked, moreover, the hall of portraits looks abnormal: every single painting have changed and displays a cursed form of its subjects. It doesn’t take long until supernatural happenings start to take place and different mechanics are introduced while the three characters explore the secrets of the state.

The game follows a comfortable loop that can be even more predictable than most hidden object titles: you enter a room and find pieces of the crest that will be used to purify the portrait, clear a HOS and a puzzle , scavenge for objects until you find both eyes to insert in the sockets of a hound statue that transports the player to the past soon after the death of the room’s owner. Some more HOS and puzzles take place until all the pieces of the crest are pieced together and will grant the player a new skill accessed in the medallion in the lower right corner of the screen. The skill will allow to revisit previous rooms for extra clues, like the ability to break vases or to pay closer attention to darker areas. Once the entire estate is fully explored it will be the time for the preparations of the final showdown with the beast.

The puzzles themselves are the usual fare of the genre, some can be good brain teasers and require some thinking and not brute-force a solution. The hidden objects scenes can be a mixed bag, some can have bad contrast and make it harder to locate what you are looking for. Still, the game has a beautiful design and the soundtrack stands out for its high quality.

The Hound of the Baskervilles has no ties with the Frogwares’ titles at large, only cursory mentions of other cases like Holmes’ encounter with the Ripper and they use the background of the apartment for the scenes in Baker Street. Sadly, the standard version on steam leaves a lot of questions unanswered and the Collectors’ Edition is unavailable to purchase. It can be an enjoyable hidden object game with a unique mechanic and familiar characters, but If you expect it to stay close to the source material you might want to look elsewhere.

[blue-eyed-banshee]

Here's to the future and family

Sylvanas doesn't need sleep per say but like she and some of her dark rangers have the habit of mimicking the appearance and feel of 'sleep'. This was what they all did in their lives for hundred if not thousands of years (If you're adding their lives and them being under Arthas' control within that span of life.)

Jaina was pregnant with their first child and Sylvanas wouldn't even sleep even if she felt the need to relax. Just as she was in life, she would do or give anything to make sure no harm came to Jaina, herself or their first born. She knew in the back of her mind, she wouldn't have anything to worry about but Arthas had left such a deep scar on her soul... it was impossible to not be afraid if that bastard could have found a way to torment her even in his true death.

Jaina's mother was nice enough to buy them a nice house in Tiragarde which she had some servants from Proudmoore Keep help them move items that Jaina would've liked to have with her. As for Sylvanas, she already had some help from here sisters and Lor'thermar.

Sylvanas was adamant that their new home have some forest as well as a beach or something close to it with a dock as well. They both wanted to feel like it was home but their home.

Even in life, Sylvanas was always the type of person who traveled light, only taking necessary items like her knife for carving arrows or a small satchel which had but a single feather dangling from the one of the pockets on the front. It wasn't just any feather- no, this feather belonged to her prized hawkstrider she had in life; Snapp.

She thought Snapp would always be with her but such was not to be. After she reclaimed her body from the hands of Arthas and created the forsaken, she had gone back to her homeland to retrieve Snapp from the stables within the Spire.

Only to her disappointment, Snapp had not recognized her or couldn't.

Tears formed in her eyes as she recalled every emotion, movement and sorrowful wail Snapp had given her when she approached him. And it broke her heart...

After she pulled herself from the memories, she silently walked over to a makeshift shrine she had built to represent her entire family family, she closed her eyes while holding the single feather in her finger and thumb before she brought it close to her heart.

"Elor bindel felallan morin'aminor.."

She whispered with care to avoid waking her partner before seeing this single, feather grow twice in size until it vanish from her hands leaving but a single image in her mind; a fully-grown hawkstrider with smaller ones next to it.

The elf's ears twitched slightly has Jaina moved onto her side which caused her to smile only for a moment before she could feel the weight of guilt the mage was having.... even after so many years together.

When she managed to walk over to their shared bed within the master bedroom, she heard another noise... sorrow.

Sylvanas gently lifted the covers on her side of their bed and made herself comfortable, but how could she be comfortable when the woman she loved all throughout her suffering, was still being tortured by nightmares of the past.

She moved closer to Jaina before she heard whimpering, it reminded her of her own nightmares that never truly left. Both women had seen so much and suffered unbelievably. But they chose to find love within that long endless loop of suffering.

The banshee queen was no longer, the ranger general was no more. All that remained was.... her.

An elf that was not quite dead but not quite living, yet held so much love for one woman even after she died a truly horrific death.

The undead high elf looped her arm around her partner's mid section just above her showing belly.

It had only been two months since they moved into their new home, but pregnancy wouldn't stop the lord admiral from attending to her people's needs, but what if the hauntings of her past reemerging from the darkest corners of her mind became too much for her beloved wife to bear?

Sylvanas couldn't bear such a thought. She tightes her arm around the mage with such care and a love that only a few people had seen her dimenstrate.

"I will do anything to protect you and our family.." She thought to herself, which Jaina heard with a reply to Sylvanas.

"I know, Dalah'surfal.. But there is a fine line I am forbidding you to cross.."

Sylvanas' ears flattened against her skull in understanding what she was getting at. She leaned over and kissed Jaina's hair, which was sprawled about her side of the bed.

She gave another squeeze in confirmation she understood.

"I won't cross that line, Dalah'surfal. You know this. But I will always find my way back to you, as I have once before."

Jaina relaxed instantly when she felt fine chiseled arms of the elf sleeping next to her, causing her body to stop shaking and all her worries to cease existing in her mind.

[elithilanor]

I don't think I sent this one yet? Can you write a piece where reader's twin sister died (bc my twin sister just died) & Elrond knows what it's like to experience that kind of loss so he comforts her? I really need dad comfort bc my dad is stuck in his own problems and has been for a while. Ty ❤️

I honestly had a handful of drafts I had for this and it was difficult to settle on one; hopefully this one provides some form of comfort or catharsis.

My many, many apologies for the delay! 

My condolences on your loss. May you find some temporary relief in the waves of grief. 

TW: grieving people finding solace watching the weather up on some cliff sides (no suicidal ideation); familial death; grief

Small language note:

* hína = Quenyan word for gender neutral "child"

* nethel = Sindarin word for sister 

I fully believe Imladris is a multi-linguist and dialectic household. 

.

.

The winds whistle across the grasses in the valley below, the ripple visible even from this high up on your cliffside perch. The wind howls louder the higher it climbs and you shiver as it bites into your skin.

You hug your knees closer to your chest. 

Yet still, the chill and the silence are a welcome reprieve from the heavy and busy atmosphere that has taken over Imladris since the news of your sister's sudden passing. 

The long-awaited clouds begin to dust snow across the landscape, making the world look as grey and numb as you feel inside.

"I thought I would find you up here." Your father says gently as he sinks to sit down beside you, tucking his thick, woolen cloak around you both, preventing the wind and any further chill from finding you. 

You don't respond at first, unsure of what to say as you track a small flurry dancing in the air before it plummets towards the churning Bruinen.

You don't want to look at him. Your father has a habit of making people feel their feelings and honestly, you just wanted a break from it all. 

At the same time, you were relieved he was here. 

"Oh?" You ask, twirling the fabric and fur in between your fingers for a distraction. 

He hums and loops his arm gently around yours, tugging you closer to his warmth as he looks out and watches the storm rage in. "I spent many nights here after your Naneth left."

You close your eyes, the ache intensifying in your chest. It really was like losing Nana all over again. Only worse. It was worse and he didn't understand -

"I do." He says gently. "Oh, sweet child, I do." 

He brushes a hand through your hair, his fingers carefully untangling the knots that came from the neglect of despair. His voice is quiet and full of loss.

"I spent so much time up in the cliff caves of Lindon "exploring for new species" after Elros was lost to me that Ereinion threatened to revoke my status as herald, if only to get me to come back down to him and Erestor." 

He shifts closer and braids your hair down your back, his steady warmth enveloping you and fighting off the worst of the bone-deep cold.

His cloak smells of his library: ink, oakwood, and cedar. It reminds you of the nights curled up with your siblings while he read you bedtime stories by the dimming light of the candles.

"Erestor kept vigil at court the years Glorfindel carried me home after your Naneth sailed. Her loss nearly broke me, but…losing my brother," he clears his throat and his voice is thick with unshed tears, "is different somehow. No matter how much love I have to give or how much love is given to me, there will always be an Elros-shaped hole in me; one half of a whole person that isn't there any more. I don't believe it will ever change."

Your father smiles sadly at you as he thinks of his long-departed brother. "It hasn't yet, though there are many parts that have gotten easier.”

You look away. It's too hard to see the same pain you feel reflected in someone else. 

You feel the words bubble up anyway. 

"I feel so empty, Ada." You whisper suddenly, taking a sharp breath in through your nose trying to say the words before you couldn't. "It's like - it's like an Elros-shaped hole is left in me except it's not Elros and she was my sister and she's gone-" A sob wrecks itself through your form and your father pulls you into his arms, holding you close to his chest. 

"Oh, hína*." He whispers, rubbing your back soothingly. "I know. I know."

"I don't know what to do." You weep, "I don't - everything hurts. It's worse than Nana because I know I'll see her again because she's in Valinor but nethel* won't be because she married that ridiculous mortal and Ada it hurts."

Your father holds you tightly to him, understanding the emotional anchor he has on you and your feä and this plane. 

He tucks your head under his and rocks you as you cling to him, sobbing.

The wind shrieks around the two of you and snow pelts the landscape, held back only by the rocky outcropping above you and the security and safety of your father's arms.

"You should go." You say, oddly guilty as the sun's weak rays finally disappear, shrouding the hills of your home in darkness. It's been hours and your eyes are heavy. "I know there are more preparations for tomorrow." 

Your father shakes his head and presses a kiss to the top of your head and lights his lantern, setting it beside you.

The light holds steady in the moonless tempest. 

"I'm exactly where I'm meant to be."

[mamun258]

Top ten predictions for the video account ecosystem!

In the WeChat open class the day before yesterday, I talked about several key points about video accounts. Where are the dividends  HE Tuber  of video accounts? Where are the growth opportunities for the brand? This article will continue to summarize the top ten predictions for video accounts in 2024, let’s take a look.

The day before yesterday was the WeChat open class, and the video account was still the well-deserved protagonist.

I was shocked: first, the enthusiasm for making money in the South, and second, the potential of the video account. Judging from the huge crowds at the conference, it looks like a large-scale Spring Festival travel festival. The picture below is the most powerful interpretation of the video account bonus.

Last year, in our article "Top Ten Predictions for the Video Account Ecosystem in 2023", we predicted that the commercialized closed-loop infrastructure facilities, the advertising algorithm emphasizing the back link, more and more ToBs choose to deepen their cultivation, and the main battlefield of the clue industry have all been accomplish.

Of course, there are a few slaps in the face. For example, we believe that cultural live broadcasts have become a feature, and anchors are no longer signboards but brand owners. This seems to be too advanced and will take time to be realized.

Comfort yourself, courage is the most valuable! Continuing the top ten predictions of the video account in 2024, this time we strive for a higher reliability factor.

01 The “account making party” has fully poured into the video account

Possibility index: 95%

Why does this rank first? Because content is the absolute cornerstone.

In various reviews over the past year, the biggest feature of video account content is "growth". There are often dark horses with new accounts on the list, which is almost impossible on other platforms.

The main reason is that the social nature of video accounts is so powerful. If one person likes it, a group of people will like it. Kantar’s research data shows that when encountering high-quality content, 77% of users will choose to like it, 60% of users will choose to forward it, and 53% of users will choose to click the thumbs-up button. The current video accounts are very similar to the public accounts around 2015, and they are very worthy of being cultivated by the account-making party.

Especially after the second half of 2023, we found that many content creators will no longer transfer content from other platforms, but will make specially customized content, and may even form "hot content memes for video accounts".

Based on this, we predict that in 2024, the number-making parties that are truly deeply involved in different industries will have another opportunity to start from scratch.

02 The surge in investment players

Possibility index: 85%

Also starting from the second half of 2023, various training camps began to teach you how to invest in video accounts. This trend shows that more and more brands/individuals who want to grow are interested in investing in video accounts.

For each platform, there are two types of gameplay: underwater (relying on operations and free traffic) and above water (paying traffic to obtain traffic). Generally, they are matched with each other, and the natural flow starts and the traffic amplifies.

Why do we think 2024 is the key year for streaming players? This is determined by the current ecological competition.

On the one hand, there are indeed universal cyclical dividends for video accounts in various sub-categories; on the other hand, with the integration and improvement of the platform data system, streaming has become more and more accurate; there is another point worth mentioning Unfortunately, competition across the entire network has intensified, traffic on many platforms has peaked, gross profits and net profits have generally declined, and streaming costs have been overwhelmed. In order to maintain stable growth, they began to shift their streaming volume to video accounts.

In the video account ecosystem, the consumption habits of high-priced users have begun to be continuously cultivated.

Different from the live broadcast e-commerce strategy of 9.9 yuan to capture users, most groups immersed in video accounts are less sensitive to price than other platforms, which pushes up the overall customer unit price of video account e-commerce. . According to Cass data, the return rate of video accounts is between 20% and 40%. Taking clothing as an example, the return rate is within 30%, which is much lower than other platforms.

Some brands even believe that the understanding and trust of regular private customers in the brand makes the repurchase rate higher and the return rate lower than other platforms. Only then can they have the confidence to sell genuine-priced products on the video account, and the price cannot be lower than that of other platforms. 10% off the tag price." Having the confidence to carry out this kind of operation is unique among e-commerce companies that mainly focus on low-price strategies, which further illustrates the "high customer order" and brand stickiness of video account users.

The relevant person in charge of Jingrun Pearl once shared such a set of data: "On other platforms, the unit price per customer is 600 to 800 yuan, but on the video account, the unit price can reach 1,000 to 1,200 yuan or even higher, and there are some orphan products. Everything will be sold.”

There is a certain cost profit margin, and the paid streaming methodology is mature.

Therefore, in 2024, streaming players will take advantage of the time when WeChat streaming is still not expensive and the competition is not big to fully enter, plan in advance, familiarize themselves with the platform algorithm, draw accurate user portraits, secure a stable base of regular customers, and find leverage Leverage for new customers.

03 Mutual selection becomes a marketing component, and the master’s income increases by 300%

Possibility index: 70%

Brands that have contacted public accounts will regard "mutual selection" as a talisman to prevent advertisements from being restricted, but mutual selection in video accounts carries a more important commercial mission.

Especially when a major brand event breaks out, you can use the mutual selection platform to conduct a second interpretation of the brand event, so that every audience can understand the advertisement and achieve long-term brand mental penetration.

At the same time, it can be combined with the video account heating tool to greatly improve the marketing effect of the brand; and after mutual selection, the link products and data capabilities will also have the opportunity to further iterate in 2024, for the brand's subsequent investment retention, direct monetization, private domain retention, etc. Choice offers possibilities.

Based on the various gameplay and traffic subsidies of mutual selection of video accounts in 2024, it is predicted that the number of brands that cooperate through mutual selection will double compared with 2023, and the overall income of video account mutual selection masters can increase by 300%.

04 E-commerce GMV increased by 200%

70% probability

The "upper limit" of video accounts is getting higher and higher.

In 2021, the GMV of video accounts’ live broadcast of goods will increase by more than 15 times; in 2022, the GMV of video accounts’ live broadcast of goods will increase by more than 8 times year-on-year.

According to fresh data from yesterday's WeChat open class, in 2023, the GMV of live broadcasts of video accounts will continue to grow rapidly, with the supply quantity increasing by 300%, the number of orders increasing by 244%, and the GPM (transaction amount per thousand views) exceeding 900+.

Because the base is already very high, in 2024, we predict that the video account e-commerce market will grow by 200%.

[vapemoon]

Vaporesso XROS Pro Pod Mod - Taking Customization To The Next Level

The Vaporesso XROS line has become one of the most popular pod vape systems on the market. Known for its perfect blend of performance, convenience and affordability. Now with the new XROS Pro, Vaporesso has created its most advanced customizable pod mod to date.

Vaporesso's Signature Premium Design

As expected from Vaporesso, even the product packaging stays true to their minimalist yet premium aesthetic. A modest exterior with gloss black and green color scheme belies the advanced tech within.

Slide open the box to uncover the typical inclusion of a multi-language user manual and a high-quality 2A USB-C braided charging cable - already a step above most kits.

Nestled inside is the XROS Pro device itself. Encased in smooth rounded zinc alloy edges with an anodized finish that just oozes durability and style. Large centralized branding lends a subtle mechanical flair while the rubber-coated fire button provides a perfect grippy texture.

Despite its undeniably compact size, the XROS Pro still carries a noticeable 86g weight in hand - lending that unmistakably solid and premium feel Vaporesso is known for.

Specs:

Dimensions - 24.4 x 18.45 x 119.7mm

Battery - 1200mAh

Pod Capacity - 2ml

Coil Resistance - 0.4ohm

Output Wattage - 30W max

It's impressively lightweight and portable yet doesn't compromise on power or build quality. Making it comfortable for extended vaping.

OLED Screen And Customization

The hidden OLED screen perfectly captures Vaporesso’s ethos of combining simplistic style with maximum functionality. It’s completely invisible when powered off, only to illuminate crisply with a tap of the stealth firing button to display voltage output, puff count and battery level.

A few more button clicks access an unexpectedly comprehensive range of customization options usually only found in advanced mods - further belying its unassuming exterior:

2 clicks - Toggles the multifunction RGB light on/off when firing. Useful for checking firing status in bright daylight when the screen less visible.

3 Clicks - Adjust power output within a spectrum of 5-30W for 0.4ohm pod. Round-robin style adjustment from minimum to maximum wattage before looping back again. Allows 0.5W incremental tuning to find your perfect power sweet spot.

For the 0.6/0.8ohm pods, 3 clicks cycles between the fixed Eco/Normal/Power settings catering to different resistances with preconfigured outputs.

4 Clicks - Resets the puff counter for easy tracking of daily usage habits.

Such adjustable wattage freedom is almost unheard of in most pod kits and enables fully tuning vapor quantity and flavor intensity as desired. It shows how Vaporesso keeps bringing advanced customizations usually reserved for box mods to the pod mod form factor.

Top-Fill Design With Leak-Resistance

Like all XROS pods, the Pro utilizes easy top-fill design for quick no-mess refills. Just slide up the mouthpiece to reveal fill ports. Red accent rings draw the eye to the juice openings to prevent incorrect filling.

An anti-leak secondary air hole opposite the fill inlet allows smooth juice top-up without creating pressure imbalances inside the pod which lead to messy backflows in other systems.

The press-fit 0.4ohm pod remains securely leakproof in the chassis even with the slide cover open thanks to durable yet forgiving silicone seals. Allowing hassle-free refilling while on the go.

Moreover, both sides of the pod are transparent for effortlessly checking juice level without removing from the battery. No more tilting devices at odd angles to catch a glimpse of remaining juice!

Flavor and Vapor Maximized

Now onto the most important aspect that makes or breaks any vape device - flavor and vapor quality.

The XROS Pro does not hold anything back in this department - packing huge juice flow openings to thoroughly saturate wicks in record time while retaining 2ml ejuice capacity. Generating pure, dense and consistent vapor.

I tested 50/50 VG/PG ejuices as well as max 70% VG blends without any dry hits or thinning of output. Truly versatile to handle every juice type!

The proprietary 0.4ohm mesh coils utilize exotic new nanofiber blend designed for high-power pod output. Rapid ramp up promotes full-bodied flavor notes to come through beautifully with the very first hit.

When paired with three precisely calibrated airflow settings on the battery, users can select anything from a tight MTL to loose restricted lung hit. Each setting has negligible turbulence or whistle. Providing exceptionally smooth vapor delivery.

Rest assured each draw unfurls boldness and balance of your ejuice's flavor profile thanks to the XROS Pro’s optimized internals even under high 30W output. No note gets left behind!

Smart Battery Management

Despite its pocket-sized dimensions, the XROS Pro still squeezes in a very respectable 1200mAh battery capacity. While a far cry from the over 5000mAh tanks seen in dual battery mods, it's certainly prodigious by pod standards.

In combination with the smart Vaporesso hardware and software-based battery optimizations:

CCVTM - Continuously monitors remaining charge to provide users with an accurate live battery meter instead of the usual stepped 20-100% readings. Allows for better planning of recharge cycles.

SmartTC - Prevents accidental overcharging which is the biggest killer of small LiPo cells. Caps charging at 80-90% when idle for prolonged periods. Extending overall lifespan.

Pulse mode - Maintains steady wattage output even as battery wears down during the discharge cycle right till cutoff at 3.3V. Prevents the frustrating drop in vapor quantity/quality associated with diminishing voltage seen on cheaper pods. Results in consistent performance from 100% to 0%.

The upshot is exceptional longevity and reliability despite the compact footprint - reliably lasting a full day of active Chain Vaping between charges.

And juicing back up takes barely half an hour thanks to 2A USB-C Power Delivery fast charging, unleashing the full potential of the latest high-capacity LiPo cells. Up to 70% quicker than standard 5V/1A charging!

The USB port is conveniently located on the front side of the device - no fiddling around trying to plug cables in blindly.

Stealthy Yet Capable Overall Performance

Having covered the core features in depth, how does the XROS Pro handle with extended real-world usage spanning days to weeks? In a word - flawlessly.

It takes mere moments to dial in your perfect settings whether going full steam 30W power all the time or lowering wattage for tighter MTL. Each incremental adjustment makes a noticeable yet controlled change in both vapor density as well as flavor pop - allowing true connoisseur grade fine-tuning.

The fire button activates instantly under thumb or finger control with a really crisp clickiness that enhances user satisfaction. And auto-draw works equally well for those who prefer it.

During active vaping over hours, the customized high-drain LiPo cell avoids voltage sag or drops in output quality even at low battery thanks to Vaporesso’s smart battery management tech.

Speaking of smart tech, the hidden screen only manifests to display critical stats thus preserving battery reserves rather than constantly staying lit as a battery drain.

When it finally comes time to refuel ejuice, the secure slide-to-fill mechanism makes it mess-free. There’s very little downtime between enjoying those satisfying puffs!

Through weeks of all-day use, the XROS Pro maintains the same consistent output and reliability just as during day one breaking it in. No degradation in flavor or vapor delivery over time. Demonstrating exceptional longevity and performance expected from premium Vaporesso hardware.

For an on-the-go powerhouse pod mod, the XROS Pro has all bases covered. Offering enthusiasts unmatched customization without compromising on flavor intensity, battery life or enduring quality.

Closing Thoughts

The Vaporesso XROS Pro consolidates all the best features of the original XROS into an impossibly tiny yet mighty package - then expands well beyond with adjustable wattage, active battery metering and leakproof filling design capped with their signature premium touches.

It delivers a staggering level of personalization diversity usually only seen in advanced box mods - letting you sculpt the perfect vape through precision power and airflow adjustments. Without forgoing an ounce of rich flavor or vapor density even under blistering 30W output.

The smart battery management tech squeezes every last drop of stamina from the high-capacity cell. While 2A quick charging has you topped up in the time it takes for a coffee break. Ensuring minimal downtime between satisfying sessions.

At the end of the day, the XROS Pro embodies Vaporesso’s unrelenting drive to pack more vaping excellence into smaller, stealthier profiles without compromising. Achieving the perfect balance of customization, flavor and portability - proudly stamped with their signature quality assurance.

[learningselflove]

Gender roles in hobbies

I’m glad gender expectations are changing and here is why. 

As a child, I was always shamed for being interested in toys that were marketed towards boys. When I was 5, I wanted Hot Wheels cars so badly. I would see the commercials about the new track that would launch the cars and make them go through loops. But due to societal norms, I thought I wasn’t allowed to ask for them. I would go over to my neighbor’s house to play with his cars.  

I loved Pokemon and video games. I had a Nintendo 64 console and would play all sorts of Mario and Pokemon games. I could recite the name of every one of the 150 original Pokemon and could even tell you the height and weight of some.  

My friends at school were almost all boys. I was in Girl Scouts. I was friendly with most of the girls in my troop, but I didn’t fit in with their groups. I would have a good time but I wasn’t interested in talking about dance or gymnastics, I wanted to talk about Pokemon.  

My hair was cut into a blunt, chin length bob most of the time. I didn’t want long hair. My sisters are 7 and 12 years older than me and would spend hours in front of the mirror putting on makeup or doing their hair. I would watch them. I would always tell them I’d never wear makeup and they’d respond with “wait until you’re older”. Society encouraged me to have some tomboy superiority complex that I’m thrilled I grew out of.  

I spent many years being a tomboy. In 2007, I was 14 and I discovered pop-punk music and eyeliner. Despite being embarrassed about who I was when I was 14, I’m really grateful for this time period of my life.There was a lot of androgyny in the music scene and boys would wear the tightest girl jeans they could find and everyone painted their nails black and wore heavy eyeliner that mimicked a raccoon.  

Because of this, I learned that items truly have no gender and also taught me to embrace my more feminine side. Girls on Myspace who were the pioneers of influencing online would be so beautiful with their ripped black skinny jeans and tank top with lightning bolts encouraged me that I could be tomboyish but still feminine. Clothing looked a lot like this around this time.  

My love for eyeliner eventually led me to a love for all cosmetics. If you had told my 8-year-old self that I’d work in a makeup store and occasionally freelance bridal makeup, I would have never believed you. Assigning gender roles to hobbies creates a lifetime of insecurities.  

I wish I never felt shame in wanting those hot wheels cars when I was young. I wish I had asked for them because my parents would have bought them for me. I come across them in stores every so often and part of me wants to buy them to appease my inner child. I try to buy things I wanted as a child sometimes. We owe it to our younger selves. I truly believe that it’s a part of our healing processes. It’s a form of self-care.  

I see my nieces liking some of the same things I did as a child and it’s really comforting to know that they won’t feel the same gender shame that I felt. They can freely like Pokemon as much as boys can and there are even “feminine” Pokemon products out there like hair berets. Future generations will be able to fully indulge in things that make them happy; regardless of marketing.  

[daja-the-hypnokitten]

Jukebox reviews part 17! For context, see my post “A Project”   under this same tag. If you want to see a full list of his EMCSA stories, they can be found here, sorted alphabetically.And if you want to see some of his drabbles, check out his blog at @jukeboxemcsa​

You May Be Right

 date uploaded   date updated     Tags

11/20/2010                                   mc mf md fd ma

This is cute and fun - though it's left rather unclear how the situation started, which leaves the question of how consent-based it is unclear, that means that I can make it fully consented to in my head if I want to! And in that framing, the obliviousness giving way to awareness is delightful and, frankly, hot. It's straightforward, otherwise, but I think it benefits from being so. 8/10 spirals. 

Step By Step (Jukebox)

 date uploaded   date updated     Tags

12/4/2010                                     mc mf ff md fd

There's something about this set up that ... it bothers me *more* than most of the other forms of non-consent that shows up. I'm sure that it's because of the reaching out for help, and using that desire to *actually* be helped to controll people who wanted better, but... I dunno. The story is technically good, the way it shows the slow slide into obedience is solid, and yet I'm just not able to get into it. 4/10 spirals. 

Unwritten

 date uploaded   date updated     Tags

12/11/2010                                   mc ff

Ah, the power of social pressure to influence someone a little shy, a little nervous, and a lot uncertain. This is an interesting story, because for all that she's pressured into everything, she's theoretically free to reject any of it and walk out. She doesn't, of course - it wouldn't be a very good story if she did! - but she can, and that changes the tone for me a little. It feels a little ... fast? I guess? for the nature of how the changes are being caused, but that's really my only objection. It's a good story, even if the mind control feels more like peer(ish) pressure than actual control. 7/10 spirals.

  Zero (Jukebox)

 date uploaded   date updated     Tags

12/19/2010                                   mc

Another induction written to be recorded, and a clever one! I like the math-y tone here, and the comment about thoughts multiplying by zero, and the care to make sure that zero doesn't stick as a trigger outside of if it'd be safe to, say if someone were listening to the recording. But also it's designed to make the listener/reader masturbate and orgasm, which should have a content note and also I'm just a little too ace for. so 6/10 spirals. 

Brand New Key

 date uploaded   date updated     Tags

12/26/2010                                   mc mf fd ma

Oh this is a clever set-up, and a more clever hypnotist! I enjoy the focus on how precisely the key crafting had to be, and how she keeps using that to redirect his focus to it. And the way she loops everything he wants back to only happening if he pleases her, so she can convince him that he *wants* to please her? Oh, that's clever and well done and just GOOD. Completely unethical, of course, but GOOD. I just wish I had more reason to care about either of them. His view of her makes her uninteresting, and his attitude makes him less than engaging. 8/10 spirals. 

Wage Slaves

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1/2/2011                                       mc mf md

This shouldn't be so relateable. It really shouldn't. But who hasn't had a miserable job that they wish they could be mind controlled to like more? Or at least find less boring. (well, ok, who is a hypnokinkster and hasn't?) But outside of that, I find it more darkly humourous than actually kinky, but that's probably just me being me. It's a fine story, and I enjoy the tone it's told in - the "oh come ON, I liked this job" sense of it was good, and we got a sense of how things built over time. 8/10 spirals. 

 I’m a Believer

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1/8/2011                                       mc mf fd ma la

This is an interesting one for me. I have a bit of a ... it isn't a squick anymore, but still, I'm a little too much raised Catholic to be comfortable with anyone actually thinking of themselves as an actually-divine god or goddess. I'm at a point where it as an honorific is fine - not one I'd ever use, on either side, but completely unbothered by others using it - but this is a step past that. And even if I push myself past that part, there's a lot that hits my particular buttons. I'm just not the right target audience for this story. 2/10 spirals. 

 If I Only Had a Brain

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1/22/2011                                     mc mf md ma

That... isn't how... but.. no. just no. This is magic, not technology. Also how does she not try closing her eyes to think? That's a thing I'm so used to people doing if they keep getting distracted by things they see. But alas, she doesn't think of it. This is well written, and cute, when it isn't kind of horrible and bad science. How do the glasses get kept on though? And how are they small enough to beam any specific signal without environmental light interfering? I ... have questions. 5/10 spirals. 

 A Question of Lust

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1/29/2011                                     mc ma

It's an interesting gameshow concept, though I have to wonder just what parallel universe a show like that makes enough money to pay out that much, but I suppose it could happen in a less puritanical US. Or just not in the US, but I don't know what laws around stuff like this would be elsewhere. Again, it doesn't super feel like mind control - I assume the machine is doing mind control to induce the arousal, but it's not super clear. I enjoy the trivia, though - even though I don't know much on movie or music trivia! It just doesn't have the mind control I want. 6/10 spirals 

 Dressed for Success (Jukebox)

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2/5/2011                                       mc mf fd

Well, Harry *did* want someone who could seem to anticipate his needs - just because she's giving him those needs, that doesn't mean she isn't basically anticipating them. And the description of her tone, firm but not angry, just commanding... oh, that's a delicious tone to hear.  It's a hard tone to resist, especially when given rapid orders in succession, so I can see how this works so well. I just hope she remembers to have him let the other applicants know that he selected another candidate. But other than enjoying the description of the tone, there's not a ton that resonates with my personal preferences. 6/10 spirals.