#love the dizzying vortex

[undeadnecromancer]

I have a fever of over 102. So I've taken edibles to understand the fundamental nature of humanity and it's existence

[genshin-scenarios]

I feel your heart— beat beat beat

Summary: in which they FALL fall for you 💘 or just cute moments together!

Characters: Venti, Wanderer, Xiao, Diluc (mentions of alcohol/drinking)

Requests are open, and my Adopt a Wanderer fanbook is now available on my kofi for anyone that's missed it!

In a moment where the city of Mondstadt is abuzz with activity and Venti’s on the high of a performance well-done, he turns around to address the crowd in a big, sweeping motion — only for his eyes to widen when he sees you in the distance, taken aback by the feeling of his own heart skipping.

You’ve been so busy as of late, after all! It’s only reasonable for him to be surprised to see you, to the point where his easy smile slips off his face, and the concern and worry that comes with affection squeezes his chest — for as much as he adores you, Venti also worries that you might disappear as quickly as the wind.

But! He is nothing if not a seasoned performer by reflex, recovering in a millisecond. The hand clutched to his chest quickly relaxes to perch atop his lyre, and Venti calls you over with his usual charming lilt.

“You’re back! And here I was starting to worry you’re avoiding me on purpose!” 

As casually playful his words are, you stand, stunned, at how Venti manages to stand so close yet linger just out of reach at the same time. He flits around you, braids tickling your ear (“Your hair’s gotten longer!”) and fingers grazing yours in an almost-handshake and almost-pulling you into a hug.

While Venti might argue that you’re the one driving him crazy, you beg to differ with the way his actions make you dizzy and miss him all at the same time.

When you’ve both fallen into an odd domain that recreates past memories, Wanderer finds himself in his Kabukimono garb once again. But before he’s able to say anything to you, he freezes that the way you regard his ‘past’ form; loses the strength to put any words past his tongue when you kneel down to his height in a room fluttering with sakura blossoms—a prison disguised as a display case—with sceneries flowing against the walls in an illusion of the real world.

Consciously, he is still Wanderer - yet every brave and indignant part of himself shrinks into the shell of his body when your hand rests on his cheek, smiling so kindly that he thinks his connectors might simply decide to collapse. He plays the part of Kabukimono and asks who you are. 

You accept that statement as a confirmation you were speaking to his past self, and even months into the future Wanderer never finds out if you knew it was the usual him all along. 

But maybe ignorance is bliss for now, if it means the way you comforted and reassured a shard of his broken past that things will be okay was real. 

“You’ll end up finding a place to belong, and you’ll become strong like you always wanted. 

And… as long as you don’t tire of me, you’ll be loved as well. To the moon and back, no matter how many times the world turns upside-down.”

He’d blinked back at you glassily, mustering every emotion from spilling out until a tear curved down his cheek. You both wake up after his promise, hearts heavy.

“...I’ll find you every time, even if the world was reset and I lose my own name.” 

After the battle with Beisht (Avenger of the Vortex), the last thing you expected was for Xiao to appear immediately before you, engulfing you in a hug that’s tighter than usual: I was worried. How could you do that without calling for help? Are you hurt? Are you okay?

“...You’re not hurt.” Xiao finally says. Words have power. You confirm that you’re unharmed, and his grip on you loosens. Hug still engaged, he sighs with his forehead pressed into your shoulder. “You’re an idiot.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you.” Annoyed glance. Unconvinced golden eyes. “I… promise not to get into any more trouble for at least three months.”

“You better hold true to that oath.” Xiao finally lets go, but you continue walking together with hands brushing on occasion. “Have you eaten? Or do you need to rest?”

“I can cook dinner if you want.”

“...Does it always seem like I ask you to cook for me?”

“I comply because it’s a compliment from the Conquerer of Demons.” You give him a teasing smile. “It’s a small offering in comparison to the protection of Liyue, and I have to make sure I feel at ease enough to get my beauty sleep! And—”

“Enough. I’ll cook this time.”

“You didn’t let me finish! Getting to see a handsome adeptus also brings me nice dreams. So you just have to stand there to keep me company.”

“You dare reduce me to a house decoration?” Xiao’s avoiding your gaze now, turning away so you can’t croon at the blush on his cheeks. “We’ll cook together. Fighting Beisht has made you spew nonsense.”

Diluc’s not very fond of cushy dinners, mostly because the purpose of them is to try and earn his favor as the head of the Ragnvindr Clan. He’s far outgrown the small talks and fake smiles, so of course he rejects those invitations in favor of another social event he claims to dislike but you suspect he secretly enjoys — drinking parties at Angel’s Share.

He doesn’t enjoy drinking by any means, but you’re sure after observing Diluc many times that he likes the lively atmosphere; seeing your friends make fools of themselves and speak loosely with relaxed smiles reminding him of simpler times.

And so, maybe Diluc has a glass of wine or two. You aren’t sure what his alcohol tolerance is, but in short you end up sitting at the bar with him, and you swear he’s leaning against the counter while you banter, gazing up at you with a fondness that makes you afraid you’ll break the spell of the moment. 

It’s a little delusional to think this of the Diluc Ragnvindr, but he looks pretty. And if you gulped down another drink, maybe you can convince yourself he’s leaning towards you with his hair slightly disheveled because he likes you too.

“Come on, they’re not that drunk.” You play back. The lighthearted argument makes Diluc seem a little younger. Or maybe that’s just how he looks when he’s not consciously frowning or lips pressed into a serious line.

“Kaeya’s missing all his targets on the dartboard. I’d call that drunk enough.”

“You can tell? I don’t think I’d be able to even if I was sitting with them now.”

“So you’d rather be talking to them?” Diluc raises his brow, surprising you. He doesn’t say anything for a beat, then another, before a gleeful laugh bubbles from your lips.

“Are you feeling jealous?” You lean closer to Diluc, faces an inch apart. The bravado that courses through your veins is quickly extinguished and flares into burning hot fluster when Diluc’s fingers curl around your chin:

“And if I said yes?” His words ghost over your lips. Your ears are on fire.

Oh no.

[hearts-hunger]

january blue || josh kiszka x reader

Read on AO3 | Masterlist | Cabin Fever Masterlist

Summary: You're sick, and Josh takes good care of you.

Pairings: Josh x Reader | Genre: fluff, h/c, sickfic | Word Count: 2k | Warnings: none!

A/N: Here's another one of those self-serving fics that I hope you like :) Also this is lowkey an ad for Netflix's “The Greatest Night in Pop” because that was a great documentary. Anyhoopla I hope you like it! ♡

“Sweet baby, when is your birthday again?”

You pulled your blank gaze from the waiting room wall, frowning a little as you looked over at Josh. It took you a second to think of a response; the fluorescents overhead were harsh, and everything seemed unnaturally bright under them. Josh held the pen poised and ready above the intake form, waiting for you to tell him your birthdate.

The uncomfortable vinyl chair creaked when you turned towards him. “You don't know my birthday?” you asked, unsure if you should be surprised by that. You were surprised, but you were also rather disoriented, so maybe it was a normal question for an attentive boyfriend to ask.

He cracked a smile, a welcome bit of tenderness in the cold, stark doctor’s office. 

“I do,” he said. “I was only teasing.” He jotted it down along with your other details, taking care of the task for you as you sat in the waiting room together. It was sweet of him to do it and try to take your mind off things while he did, and it made the appointment seem a little less daunting.

“What are your symptoms?” he asked, writing down the ones he already knew. “Earache, sore throat, congestion?”

You nodded, covering your ear with your hand, careful of pressing too hard. “Dizziness, too. And a headache.”

“My poor baby,” he said sympathetically. He finished up the intake form. “Okay, honey. You’re all set.” He returned the clipboard to the front desk, taking your hand when he came back to sit next to you.

“What do you think?” he asked. His hair was a golden halo of soft curls, and it didn’t surprise you that even the awful atmosphere of the doctor’s office didn’t dim his warmth and cheerfulness. “Do you wanna read one of these magazines that have been here since the eighties? There’s probably some older ones if that sounds too modern.”

You couldn’t help but laugh. “I think I’m okay, thanks.”

He smiled. “Well, let me know if you change your mind.”

He pulled out his phone to answer a text from Danny; you rested your head on his shoulder, trying to ignore the persistent ache and the vaguely panicky feeling you always got at the doctor. 

Josh gave you a quick smooch on your forehead. You smiled.

“What was that for?” you asked.

“Danny said to give you a get-well kiss,” he said. “So there you go.”

You cuddled closer to him. “Thanks for coming with me.”

“Of course, baby.” He pocketed his phone. “Thanks for asking me. I would have been sad to find out you went without me.”

You raised your head to look at him, a bemused smile crossing your face. “Why?”

He shrugged. “I know you don’t like the doctor, and I like to be with you for things that make you nervous, if I can. I’m glad you know you can ask me for help.”

Your smile was wobbly, then. “Aw, Joshy. I love you, you know.”

He gave you a sweet smile. “I love you too, baby. Hopefully we’ll be in and out, and then we can spend the rest of the day cuddled up on the couch. Sound good?”

“Sounds wonderful,” you said with a sigh. 

You lost track of time in the waiting room, sucked into the weird vortex of discomfort and the smell of antiseptic, but eventually your name was called. Josh went with you, and though you might have felt a little embarrassed to be a grown woman with a personal escort to the doctor, you just didn’t have the energy to care. Besides, there was nothing wrong with having Josh with you, and you were glad you didn’t have to do it alone.

He waited patiently while you got your vitals checked, making jokes about your pulse being a little high with white coat syndrome. When the nurse left you alone in the room again, he gave you a thumbs up.

“You’re doing great, baby,” he said with a sweet smile. “I bet you’re the best patient they’ve had all day.”

“I do my best,” you said. You fidgeted on the table, the paper crinkling under you. “Can we get coffee after this?”

“Sure, honey. Whatever you want.”

You gave him a teasing smile. “Whatever I want, huh? Could you strip naked right now and do the hula for me?”

He laughed, and the warm sound of it took the edge off the chill of the sterile room.

“Maybe not whatever you want,” he corrected. He stood and came over to the exam table, giving your thigh a comforting pat. “But I think I can handle coffee.”

You winced and tilted your head as you felt a sharp pain go from your ear all the way down your neck. Josh gently covered the spot with his warm hand, and you leaned into his touch.

“There’s this new documentary on Netflix,” you said, trying to distract yourself from the ache. “About the night they got the supergroup together for ‘We Are The World’.”

“I saw the trailer,” he agreed. He slowly ran his fingers over your fevered skin. “You want to watch that when we get home?”

“Sure. We can make a roster of who should be in the next version with you guys.”

He smiled. “Okay, baby. I’d like that.” A sympathetic frown tugged at his features when you grimaced again.

“I'm sorry you don't feel good, honey,” he said. “I know a jacked up ear isn't very fun.”

You breathed a laugh. “I shouldn't complain. Your whole eardrum exploded, so mine’s easy in comparison.”

He chuckled. “Are we in a competition for worst ear injury? That's kinda weird, even for us.”

You leaned your head against his, thankful for the way he comforted you and made you smile without even trying. 

He pulled back when the door handle turned, and gave your hand a squeeze before he took his seat again. The doctor gave you a quick exam, confirming an ear infection secondary to a sinus infection, and prescribed you a round of antibiotics. 

Josh got you squared away at the desk before you left, and you were content to let him do the talking as the pain started to catch up with you. He led you out to the car, getting you settled in the passenger seat before he got in himself.

“Still feel up for coffee?” he asked.

You curled up in a pitiful little ball. “Yes, please. But maybe I’ll get the Medicine Ball instead.”

He kept one hand on your thigh as he drove, and you half dozed with your hands wrapped around the wonderfully warm Starbucks cup. He ran into the store to pick up your prescription and a few other things, and though he’d promised to be quick, he was gone longer than you’d expected.

“Where did you go?” you said, an irritated, petulant tone creeping into your voice. “The Bermuda Triangle?”

“I’m sorry, baby,” he said sincerely, putting the bags in the back of the Jeep. “The pharmacy line was super long. I guess I should have taken you home and come back out for your medicine.”

You softened, feeling a little guilty. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be grumpy with you when you're running around doing everything for me.”

He touched a hand to your cheek. “You don’t have to apologize, baby. I know you don't feel good. I understand if you’re grumpy.”

You held his hand and kept it pressed to your cheek for a moment. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, baby. Let’s get you home, okay?”

At home, he got your medicine and some painkillers into you before he ran you a bath. He sat on the edge of the tub, brushing your hair back from your face.

“I think you’ll feel better if you have a nap, baby,” he said, keeping his voice quiet. “Do you want to eat something before you lay down?”

You shook your head. “I don’t really have an appetite.”

“I understand. I’d like you to try and eat a little something, though, just so the medicine doesn't make you sick. How about some soup?”

You looked up at him. “Can you do the spinach and rice one Jake makes?”

He nodded slowly. “Uh... yes. I think so.” You laughed when he pulled out his phone to ask his brother for the recipe.

He pressed a kiss to your hair. “Let me go get it cooking,” he said. “You enjoy your bath.”

You gratefully sank into the warm water, letting it soothe your aches until you felt all jellied and tired. Still, you were reaching the edge of your tolerance for the consistent pain; you knew the Tylenol had to be kicking in soon, but until it did, you were steadily getting more outdone with feeling so miserable. You hardly spoke when Josh came to help you out and brought you warm pajamas, and he watched you with worry as he steered you to the couch.

You winced when the pain spiked suddenly. “Oh my god, ow.”

Josh pulled back from you. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

“No. My stupid ear.” You gingerly pressed your hand to it, close to tears with frustration and discomfort. You looked pitifully up at him. “It hurts, Joshy.”

“I know, baby,” he said gently. “I’m sorry. What can I do?”

You shook your head, unable to think of anything, even if there was anything he could do. He just pulled you close and held you in a safe, steady hug, and it was exactly what you needed.

“My sweet baby,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry you’re hurting.”

A few tears spilled over, and you buried your face against his chest.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” you said in a small voice.

“Honey,” he soothed. “You’re welcome. You don't have to thank me. I wish I could do more to help.”

You hugged him tighter, resting in his warmth and closeness. “You’re perfect, Josh.”

He rested his head against yours and rocked you gently. “I love you, my sweet girl.”

When the uptick in pain finally subsided, maybe because the medicine had finally kicked in, you let yourself be settled on the couch in a nest of pillows. Josh covered you with every fuzzy blanket he could find until you were practically buried in them.

“Joshy,” you giggled. 

He smiled. “There’s that sweet laugh,” he said tenderly. “I missed it. What’s got you so tickled?”

You tried to lift your arms under the blankets. “I’m gonna be trapped in here.”

He chuckled. “It’s my master plan. Keep you wrapped up in blankets so you can never escape me.”

“I don’t want to escape you.”

“Just making sure.” He held your face in his hands and gave you kiss after kiss after kiss, each one sweet and gentle and joyful. “I love you very much, you know.”

You gave him a bashful smile. “Yeah, I know.”

You had dinner — Josh had replicated Jake’s recipe perfectly, which he insisted was thanks to his twin’s detailed instructions — and watched the documentary about the recording of ‘We Are The World’. The two of you spent a while listing people you wanted in your supergroup to play with Greta Van Fleet.

“I want Noah Kahan and Gregory Alan Isakov,” you said.

Josh nodded sagely. “I see the vision. We should get Labi Siffre too.”

“Can we go back in time and get John Denver?” you asked.

He smiled. “Yes. I’m making that executive decision. Because I want to grab the original lineup of Fairport Convention.”

“So... we’re doing a folk rock version, then?”

He hummed in agreement. “And we make friends with everybody, and it’s the number one single in the world, and it’s your favorite song that we’ve ever done.”

You laughed and cuddled against him when he pulled you close.

He ran his hand up and down your arm. “I'm glad you’re feeling a little better, honey.”

You gave a contented sigh. “Me too.”

It had started to rain when you got home, and there was still a gentle, steady drumbeat on the roof that matched the hazy blue wash against your windows. Josh held you close and told you about what they’d worked on in the studio, and before long, the warmth of his voice and the sound of the rain worked as surely as a lullaby to pull you towards sleep.

Josh brushed his thumb over your cheek. “You’re so beautiful, baby,” he said softly.

You tilted your face up for a kiss, and he obliged you. He was all love and gentleness and warmth, as he always was, and you melted into his touch.

“You love me lots, don’t you?” you asked.

“Yes, baby. Lots and lots.”

“Oh good,” you said, cosy and sleepy and content in the safety of his arms. “I love you lots too.”

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[m-ayo-o]

a surprise party for me? you shouldn't have~

21+ bf megumi fluff / crack

You lead him, blindfolded, into your kitchen. Of course, he's in a huff. He didn't want any of this, so you're basically dragging him through to where everyone is waiting in silence.

All he can do is hold his breath and squeeze his eyes shut until you lift his blindfold and...

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGUMI!!!"

Fuck. It's too loud.

He winces at their shrill voices and Gojo's face getting way too close. Dammit, he can basically smell his sugary breath from here, his nose is nearly touching his.

He inches back, still with your hand clasped tight. His palms are getting sweaty now- he feels a bit dizzy and overwhelmed, with all the party banners, music, balloons and streamers.

Now he can hear everyone start so sing...

"Happy birthday to you~"

And Yuji is stomping up to him with a cake, adorned with a depressing amount of candles, with a huge beaming smile on his face.

His mouth has gone dry. It feels like he's going to faint.

He looks to his side, at your pretty face, then back to the cake and hoards of friends, and they start to disappear, swirling away into a vortex of colour and shapes.

He's confused. Relieved.

And he feels his head spin, the nausea fading and he wakes in a cold sweat, clutching your body with his head in the crook of your neck.

His heavy breathing startles you awake. It's early, with light already filtering through the curtains.

"Mm- Megumi?"

You turn to him, your voice a little croaky, and find his eyes blinking open.

"Oh, good morning, birthday boy," you smile, pressing a kiss to his forehead, "are you okay?"

He just clings to you and pushes his body closer with a deep sigh.

"Yeah. Bad dream."

~

And you proceed to have a day- his birthday- filled with his favourite things.

Of course, he admits later that the dream was just a surprise party. He doesn't find them terrible. It's just, in his head, it felt nightmarish- as if his subconscious was dreading what you'd planned.

But really, he should give you more credit. You understand him better than he realises, and you take care of him better than he can himself.

You'll stay in bed for as long as you want, cook food together, go out for a frosty winter walk, admiring the Christmas decorations and lights in the city, then meet up with friends and exchange gifts.

Thanks to you, he's able to feel relaxed and calm on his birthday- like it's not a big deal, and simultaneously it feels so special, like he's the luckiest guy on the planet.

There's no stress or rigid structure to his day now that he has somebody to follow; somebody to trust. So he quiets his mind and goes with the flow, allowing you to guide him through the dreamiest day.

And of course, when you return home, his favourite part is yet to come. Now he has you to himself again, he lets his guard all the way down, feeling comfortable with the one he loves most.

You make everything so easy for him. You make him feel weightless, like he's falling for you a little more every day.

megumi

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

To fall, to burn

Written for the @steddieholidaydrabbles, October warm-up round.

Prompt: Halloween

Rated: T

CW: alcohol abuse, mind control

Tags: Vampire!Eddie; Steve and Nancy are unhappily married; sexual tension

Notes: This started out as an attempt at the @steddiemicrofic for October, but it sort of spiralled, so here we are. 🙃

His name is Eddie and he's always dressed as a vampire. 

He shows up on their first Halloween at the new house, looking elegant and suave in his waistcoat, dark hair in an old-fashioned braid down his back. Steve, immediately drawn in by his wit and easy charm, asks if he lives nearby, and Eddie chuckles. 

"Used to," he says. "Now I just visit occasionally."

They spend the better part of the night out on the porch, chatting away while the trick-and-treaters trickle by. 

"Newly married?" Eddie asks at some point, red eyes trained on his ring finger. They look so real. Steve wonders what contacts he uses. 

"Yeah," he nods. "Nancy isn't here, though. She's away for business a lot, just got promoted." 

"What?" Eddie smiles, bright and dimpled and with a hint of fangs. "Leaving a pretty thing like you all alone? Shame." 

Steve laughs, and if he notices how those eyes linger on the blush that creeps up his neck, that's nobody's business, right?

*

"What's got that lovely face all sad on this beautiful night?"

"Oh, hey!" Steve tears his eyes off the costumed children passing by as Eddie joins him on the porch steps. "Didn't see you all year."

"Of course not," Eddie winks. "I'm a creature of darkness." 

His costume is more modern today, all black leather and chains, hair spilling over his shoulders in messy curls. 

Steve chuckles, twists his wedding band. Frowns. 

"Trouble in paradise?" 

Steve huffs. "No. Yeah. I dunno, maybe." 

And then - and he has no idea why - he spills his heart to this complete stranger. How maybe they both rushed into this marriage. How they seem to be wanting different things from life. How he always thought they'd have kids, lots of them, while Nancy is so focused on her career. Maybe it's the way those ruby eyes never leave him as he speaks. They draw him in, drag all the things he keeps buried deep inside to the surface, until he feels raw and vulnerable and wide open. Seen. 

"She's a fool," Eddie hums. And Steve never noticed, but he has shifted closer. So close their shoulders are brushing. So close that Steve feels his breath on his skin, so close Eddie’s scent tickles his nostrils. Leather and musk and something earthy and wild. "You should have anything you desire." 

Steve laughs it off, but it feels wrong in his throat.

*

Steve's bottle of whisky is almost empty and the trick-and-treaters long gone when he looks up to see Eddie standing before him, jewelry glinting in the dying light of the Jack O'Lanterns. Those red eyes flick over the last of the cardboard boxes still stacked on the porch and Eddie’s face twitches. 

"She gone then?" 

Steve blinks sluggishly. Nods, sways, topples. Eddie is crouched in front of him in an instant, catches him before he can fall and cradles him to his chest. 

"It's okay, sweet thing, let it out." 

Steve is about to ask what he means, but then the sticky wetness on his face registers, and he flushes with humiliation. 

"Shit," he slurs, tries to stand. "Sorry." 

Eddie brings one strong hand to the back of his head and pulls him back in. His fingers card through Steve’s hair, a solid, firm weight.

"No need to apologize for a broken heart. I'm just sorry it had to come this far." 

He smiles, fangs gleaming in the low light, and something inside Steve's chest flutters. His head is dizzy, and Eddie’s eyes are so pretty, a swirling vortex of red that's sucking him in. He wants nothing more than to fall into them and burn. 

"Steve .. " Eddie is saying, and Steve must be so, so drunk, because he could swear his lips aren’t moving, and still that voice is clear as day in his head, in his bones. In his blood. "If you were mine … I'd never let anything hurt you." 

"Would …" Steve gulps. Eddie’s eyes watch the movement of his throat, pupils blown wide, watch his tongue as it darts out to wet too-dry lips. "Would you maybe … like to go inside?" 

"Aw, honey, finally!" Eddie’s eyes crinkle around the corners, and then he hoists Steve to his feet like a ragdoll, steers them both towards the door with one firm arm around his waist. His breath tickles the hollow of Steve's neck, and his fangs scrape his rabbiting pulse. "Thought you'd never ask." 

Part 2

[sunnyy3d]

Hi again

Ok so I am currently obsessed with Matt smith and Alex Kingston so I wanted to know if you would write a 11th/river/reader fanfic where the reader is a companion that just started travelling with them but for some reason she is immortal and always finds them but she doesn’t totally understand how the meeting keeps happening between them all so she just jumped from a new tune where she was happily married to the doctor and river but now she meets river/melody who doesn’t know her yet and she gets jealous bc she over heard them talking about another girl(her just younger) and it leads to the doctor having to explain to her that they aren’t at that time yet and river gifts her a journal so she can write down where and how they keep meeting hopefully this makes enough sense and you would want to write it I just want some fluff/cuteness along with confusion on time travel

Timeless Love| 11th Doctor x River x Reader

A/N: Requests open! (Obviously)

God, I'm so nauseous. Will I ever get used to that? I really wish that I had my own TARDIS; it'd be so much better than a vortex manipulator. The Doctor calls it "cheap and nasty time travel," and he's not wrong. Of course, I'll never let him know that, though.

I let the dizziness subside before opening my eyes. I'm facing a wall? I've gotta go through the checklist. Okay, first is smell. It smells... old? Like antiques and dust. Why is smell first anyway? The second is hearing. I hear sirens, which leads to the next part: sight. To go with the sirens, I see a red flashing light coming from a bulb farther up the wall. That's always a good sign! Last but not least, the 360. Well, it's more like a 180, but that's beside the point. I spin only to find a gun pointed at my head. My smile immediately drops, the excitement of being in a new environment being replaced with dread. What have I gotten myself into this time?

"Oi, don't touch the fez! Wait, no, don't take it," I hear from behind the brute holding the gun.

"Don't listen to him. Please take the fez," I'd recognize those voices from anywhere. Especially the sarcasm... It only makes sense that they're around when I find myself in trouble. I can't let myself get distracted; this is a life-or-death situation. Just do what The Doctor taught you. Be rational and observe.

Peering past the gun, I see a creature I've never seen before in my time with The Doctor. This thing is enormous, at least a foot or two taller than me. They (it?) have on a suit of armor--similar to what would be found back on Earth-- that obscures its face. Maybe it's a security guard? It would make sense, considering that behind it are glass cases that hold artifacts.

Regardless, this creature's sheer size means I can't fight it. At least not successfully. That throws all of the self-defense skills River taught me out of the window. I really wish she was here. Oh wait... she is. I'll just have to play the innocent card. It shouldn't be hard, considering that I am innocent. I put my hands up beside my head as a sign of surrender, careful to go at a speed that's not threatening. "I just got here, I swear. I have no idea what's going on," I reason. I have a feeling that it's not gonna work well.

"Oh, look who it is! Where have you been?" Looking past the guard, I spot The Doctor and River being led in by another guard.

I sigh, "It's not what it looks like."

"It's exactly what it looks like!" The Doctor interrupts with his stupid smile.

"Honey, can you shut please? I kinda have a gun in my face right now," I plead.

"Oh right..."

"Excuse me, sir?" River distracts the guard in front of me.

"We're going to have to ask you to put that gun down. Darling, you might want to duck." Without even thinking, I follow her instructions. I trust River and The Doctor with my life. What kind of wife would I be otherwise? Being stuck between the wall and the fight, I have no choice but to crawl away.

I'm hiding behind one of the cases when The Doctor comes around the corner, disheveled and panting. It's a good look at him. His hair is messy before he runs a hand through it and flashes his signature smile. God, I could kiss him. But now's not the time. We're in the middle of a fight. I say we, but I really mean River. "What are you doing?" I yell.

"I could ask you the same thing!" Loud shots hit the walls around us. I peek around the corner and see two more guards have shown up as reinforcement.

A bullet flies past my head, and I quickly take my retreat behind the case. "Look! We'll have to save this conversation for after we get out of whatever situation you got us into this time. River needs help." The Doctor gives me an offended look.

"River does NOT need help, no thanks to you guys," she says sarcastically.

The Doctor and I come out from behind the case. "What are you guys even doing here?" I ask with my hands on my hips.

"Uhh... we're picking something up," The Doctor answers nervously. I nod, my lips drawing into a thin line as I give him a skeptical hum. It's probably not worth questioning, and I probably won't get a straight answer.

"And you are?" River questions, looking me up and down. Even after being with her for a while, I still get butterflies when she looks at me like that.

But the butterflies are scooped up by my confusion. "What do you mean, River? We've been-"

"SPOILERS," The Doctor interjects. "If you'll just give us a moment, please?" I nod as he drags River away. They huddle together with their backs facing me. Clearly, I'm not supposed to hear this conversation, but it doesn't stop me from trying. Unfortunately, they're just out of earshot, so I can only hear a few words.

Focusing on their conversation, I piece together some parts. "She's... beautiful... amazing... younger... she's like..." The Doctor explains with expressive hands. Occasionally, River glances back at me with a smile.

Who are they talking about like that? It has to be someone special. Why else would they keep it a secret from me? More importantly, why is River saying she doesn't know me? Has she had her memory wiped? Clearly, The Doctor knows who I am, but he's also acting weird. What has happened to our marriage? Did all of the intimate moments that we shared go down the drain? All the adventures forgotten?

I'm so lost in thought that it takes me a second to realize that they've finished their conversation and have started walking back towards me. I quickly stand straight, suddenly incredibly self conscious. I cross my arms and frown, "So, who's this mystery woman and why did you have to talk about her in secret?" I know my words reek of jealousy, but I can't help it. We've been married for so long, and yet here they are talking about some other woman.

The Doctor sighs, thinking about how he should respond. "We were talking about you. I know it might not make too much sense right now, but River and I aren't in the same timeline as you."

"This is actually my first time meeting you, I'm afraid. Though I'm sure it won't be the last," River looks me up and down with a smirk. I blush and look away. Even if this is her first time meeting me, she still has to flirt.

Everything is starting to make sense now. All of the times when The Doctor or River thought that they had done something with me but hadn't. Or when they'd forget simple things. It's not that they forgot; it just hadn't happened to them yet. Why didn't I think of this before? And why hadn't they explained this to me earlier? Why does time have to be so complicated?

"This happens all of the time with me and River. It's honestly quite annoying to figure out," The Doctor chuckles.

"You know, that actually makes a lot of sense. Things are starting to come together now. That explains why you guys are so confusing sometimes. Sorry, extra confusing sometimes." The couple laughs before River holds up her finger, saying hold on and grabbing her bag off her back. She rummages through it momentarily before letting out a small 'aha.' I look at The Doctor with my eyebrows scrunched in confusion. He only shrugs. River pulls out what she was looking for. I see a look of recognition flash across The Doctor's face before I can tell what it is.

"Here," she holds out a book. It's a royal blue and has squares on it like the TARDIS. It looks naturally worn, its deckled pages ready to hold a story. "I have a smiliar journal. I use it to keep track of my encounters with this idiot. Maybe you can do the same?" She suggests with a warm smile.

From this distance, I can see how young she is. Though she doesn't look much different, her eyes tell a different story. They have more youth to them, more innocence. Let's be honest: River has never truly been innocent. But she is more innocent than the River that I know best. I smile as I take the journal in my hands. It's perfect. It'll be easy to carry around, and it is absolutely gorgeous.

So much has yet to come for The Doctor and River, both terrible and happy. And even though I have lived through things that they haven't, they have lived through things that I haven't. This book will hold stories that cannot be shared with the ones I love the most. If I were to share it, it could ruin everyone's timeline. Time is a delicate balance of... wibbly, wobbly, timey, wimey... stuff. Okay, I'll admit that wasn't the most eloquent I have been, but it'll have to do.

With a smile, I look up at my husband and wife (well, future for them), "Thank you. I have a feeling that I'll be using this a lot."

[kiyomegane8]

SUISAI translation

First time non-roughly translating lyrics. I had to do it for my TRIGGER favorite song!

Impelled by my longing, I plunge into a vortex of light¹ Becoming one with an uncontrollable, flowing urge

Dizziness and elation pierce my mind, reverberations remaining As though undulating, my pulse beats a treacherous rhythm in a seesaw game

sink sink sink sinking down, and then flow flow flow ascending back up whirl whirl whirl in an undefiable dream once more today

I've been falling deep shiny sea Drifting along the shimmering light Upon my heart’s shoreline (suisai) Ebbs and flows, blending you and I I'm so blessed stay forever A joy akin to eternity was felt in that moment (fragile gleam) We took in that brief time as if it were love

(fragile gleam… uh…)

If the lulls seem dull as you gently float through the days baby I’ll put on a rainbow over that darkness like projection mapping

Within these deep grand seas resonates a growing sympathy Yet why do I alone… feel as if I’m an imposter, I wonder?

stray stray stray the unease set in float float float it unintentionally flooded out cry cry cry your voices unknowingly dissolved into the dazzling night

World will have its own way in all It’s as if I’m in the future I hoped for This view, painted in watercolor (suisai) Gradually spreads, blurring away So lonely, I want warmth What remains here is the truth A vague and false virtual image² (about to drown) you or you Your calls fall silent

The myriads of love poured unceasingly Whether running clear or murky, they enveloped me all the same And yet, my heart’s grown cold, I can’t help what I want… My breath runs ragged Toward freedom, overflow—

sink sink sink sinking down, and then flow flow flow ascending back up whirl whirl whirl in a dream that nobody can defy

I've been falling deep shiny sea Captivated by the shimmering light Upon my heart’s shoreline (suisai) I stay hidden beneath the waves I'm so blessed stay forever Let’s close our eyes to this joy akin to eternity (fragile gleam) Leaving just one thing, (the ripples) linger and dissipate (fragile gleam) We took in that brief time as if it were love

(fragile gleam… uh…)

Notes: ¹ Vortex of light, or an optical vortex, which is called 光渦 in Japanese. Please click the link and read the first few sentences! ² Virtual image - related to projection mapping.

[featherchan]

Exhausted from their most recent mission, the Lionet Kanako struggled to ascend the steps leading up to Athena's temple. Her armor felt heavier than usual but she continued to press on. Along with the throbbing pain and dizziness that plagued her head, it caused her to nearly lose her footing and fall. Fortunately, Noburu, the Bronze Saint Wolf, who was also her sworn sister, grabbed her wrist just in time to keep her from falling.

Upon noticing this, even their mission leader, Silver Saint Whale, grew extremely concerned and insisted that the Bronze Saint head to the infirmary to be checked out. This was because, during their mission, the Lionet was found unconscious without any apparent reason. 

Despite their concerns, the Lioness stubbornly shook off their worries, citing fatigue as an excuse, and assured them that she would visit the infirmary after their briefing. Since the raven was reluctant to break her promise to their youngest sworn sister, who had been eagerly anticipating their return, a decision she would later regret.

Kneeling before their goddess, the Lionet struggled to remain alert and awake during the debriefing. Turning white as a sheet, sweat beading on her skin, she felt the headache intensify, and her surroundings seemed to blur and muffle, like a fading watercolor painting. It wasn't long, the raven swore, she heard a sound, a voice that didn't belong to anyone in the room. It sounded so twisted, menacing, and slurred with evil. And sensing imminent danger from it and acting on her instincts to protect her loved ones, every fiber of her being implored her to flee the temple without delay.

On her feet, her actions quickly caught the attention of her team leader, the Silver Saint Whale, who began calling her out for being disrespectful. However, he quickly stopped when he noticed her terrible state. Struggling already to maintain her balance due to the throbbing pain in her head, she stumbled forward before clutching both hands to her heart when she felt a sharp, stabbing pain. As the pain grew unbearable, she let out an agonizing scream, and a shock wave erupted and burst forth out of nowhere, surrounding her in a dark purple cosmos. The explosive wave was so powerful that it blew everyone away and nearly knocked them unconscious, especially the Silver Whale and Bronze Wolf, as they were in closest proximity to the Lionet.

As darkness began to engulf the throne, a chilling voice pierced through the cold air. "How pathetic. The once-great Sanctuary has been weakened over countless lifetimes, especially by this reincarnation of Athena." It snickers devilishly. "And I only needed to slip through its defenses undetected by using a Saint who holds great hatred for you..." A ghostly specter soon revealed itself, with blood-ruby-colored eyes hovering above the Lionet. The Lionet's eyes were hollow and lifeless, as if she were a puppet controlled by her puppet master. "Athena, prepare to die by the hand of your own soldier!"

As she raised her arm, a fiery vortex swirled into existence before her. With a clenched fist, she condensed the flames into a massive fireball. "Lionet...Explosion..." The Lioness mutters.

[ Starter for @eternalstarlights ]

[biscuits-of-bagend]

DnDoc, The Mushroom Planet #1 - Mario LARP

Between writing this story and this one, I finished the 'Rogue' novelisation. Sometimes in this story I'll be mentioning the name of Rogue's person, whom we meet very early in the novel so I wouldn't consider that a spoiler. I'm going to proofread each chapter carefully so I can provide appropriate spoiler warnings. This chapter just mentions his name.

Previous stories: DnDoc, Coming Home DnDoc, Space Band DnDoc,A Man's a Man DnDoc, The God of Rock 'n' Roll DnDoc, The Loch o' the Lowes

---

"Ah, been a while since we checked out another planet," said the Doctor, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath as he stepped out of the TARDIS.

   Ruby grinned at him. "Feel good, Doctor?"

   The Doctor opened one eye and smiled at her. "I tell you, Ruby, I love Earth. You know I love Earth. But I was starting to feel travel-sick."

   "Travel-sick?" said Rogue, stepping up alongside them. "You mean like getting dizzy on a boat?"

   "It's his equivalent of being home-sick," Ruby explained as the Doctor continued to bask in the balmy air of the new planet. "It's when he misses the road, or the vortex as the case may be."

   "Ah." Rogue nodded. "I get you, Doctor." He patted him on the butt. "Come on then, let's get moving."

   The three of them started to walk away from the TARDIS. The ground was soft and grassy, though covered in criss-crossing colourful walkways for ease of travel. A little ways off in the distance, there was a skyline of bright multi-coloured blinking lights - Mushroom City. It was the biggest Super Mario recreation in the universe, and it was here that the gang were going to test their karting skills once and for all. They were each wearing slick tracksuits with the badges of their favourite drivers on the breast, and matching designs down the racing stripes. The Doctor's had Rosalina, Rogue’s  had Drybones and Ruby’s had Daisy.

   Ruby was so excited she felt like sprinting forward and running all the way to the city. Above her, little smiling stars like the ones from Super Mario Galaxy twirled in constantly shifting constellations, and much higher up the winding ribbon of rainbow road twisted and turned. Around them on the grass, children were chasing animatronic goombas and adults were playing Mario Golf. Anyone who needed a snack just reached up and punched a box, then grabbed the mushroom that came out of it. The whole place was buzzing.

   Ever since the walk up to Loch Skeen back in the Scottish Borders, the Doctor and Rogue had been swept up in a second wave of romance, a whole new honeymoon period. Ruby wasn't sure if they realised how constantly they were flirting. It could have been annoying, but they somehow did so well at making her feel included that it wasn’t, it was just sweet. Right now they were leaning against each other as they walked and it was impossible to tell who was holding who up.

🍄🍄🍄

   When they reached the entrance to the city, they were greeted by a short man in a giant mushroom-cap hat, whose nametag declared him "Aquamarine Toad.” The hat was covered in a wavy seafoam green pattern, so this name made sense. Most Mario games had the character Toad, a little mushroom man, but some had more than one instance of him and in such cases they were differentiated by colour of mushroom-cap and robes.

   "Hel-lo!" screeched Aquamarine Toad. "Welcome to Mushroom City! How may I help you today?"

   "Hiya," said the Doctor. "We've a Mario Kart rivalry to settle."

   "Ah, yes, and wonderfully dressed for it you are! Well, this way.” Aquamarine Toad nodded.

   Beyond where they stood, about ten metres away, there  was a wall of pixellated fuzziness which arced away both to the left and right, suggesting that it probably formed a ring around the city. There wasn't any clear entrance that Ruby could see. But floating in the air, just over Aquamarine Toad's shoulder, there was a giant painting, about twelve feet by six feet. The painting showed Mario in a kart with a giant 'M' on the front, concentration etched deeply into his face as he dodged shells and bananas on either side of him.

   "We just step through?" said Ruby.

   Aquamarine Toad puffed out his chest. "Just like Mario 64!"

   Ruby grinned. She'd only ever played the DS port of Mario 64, but it was true, to get into any level you had Mario jump through a painting into the world beyond.

   "Wahoo!" Ruby shouted as she jumped through the painting. She heard the others, including Aquamarine Toad, follow behind.

   They now found themselves in the grounds of an enormous stadium. Ruby had been expecting to see all the different courses jammed up against each other, but it seemed the makers of the city had come up with a different solution. The vines and trees of Yoshi's Island were poking out the top of the stadium and Ruby could see them from where she stood, but as she watched and heard the cheers of a race coming to a close, the vines and trees became the bright lights and fireballs of Wario's Stadium, and the next race began immediately.

   "Alrighty, you got your GPs, your battle mode, including balloon and shiney competitions," Aquamarine Toad explained, walking them towards the main stadium but showing them other smaller - but still quite large - stadiums to their left and right.

   "What's that one?" said Rogue, pointing to a tent with a long line of cars leading out of it.

   "Ah, that's the Dealership," said Aquamarine Toad. "They mostly set riders up with their karts for the day but they also buy and sell old cars, buses, boats, spaceships, aeroplanes. And they can do some limited non-lethal upgrades based on the regular course power-ups. But where you are all going to want to go is registration. If you would…"

   Aquamarine Toad stopped in front of a floating holographic blue screen, with many, many lines of initials and scores. He handed Ruby a Wii controller and a keyboard appeared on the screen. Ruby pointed the Wii controller at the screen and clicked her initials 'RS' on the keyboard. The Doctor and Rogue went for TD and RA respectively.

   "RA?" the Doctor said quietly as Aquamarine Toad clicked through to the kart collection screen.

   "I used to use ‘A’ for Art when I needed something for the new boss's forms," Rogue explained.

   They then selected their karts, wheels and parachutes, then followed Aquamarine Toad to the Dealership. It was time to ride.

---

Part 2

@off-traveling-in-the-stars @casavanse @monster-donut @randomwholocker (let me know at any point if you no longer wish to be tagged in each post)

[covenofwives]

As promised, here's all my favorite parts and things I ADORED from your Halloween fic! There's gonna be spoilers here for those who haven't read the fic so be warned!

Okay so the entire plot of hiding and there being a challenge to it is such a fun trope and had me on the edge the whole time which was so awesome.

The realization that the mansion was shifting and changing was done so well it was super chilling and creepy. I hope they kept this mansion for other occasions, unless the entire house is an illusion!

The dialogue between the dream team was super funny while George was trying to kick them out of his spot haha! I always love the way you write flowing dialogue. As someone who often shies away from heavy dialogue it's super inspiring.

The scooby-doo doors were so fun i love it kajhfdkjl and then the entire vortex hallway was described so cool when Dream got to it. Dream's whole section may be my favorite of the three lol

You already know this but I LOOOOVED the dizzy tickles its definitely my favorite part in the ENTIRE fic. The way gravity was completely altered had me shocked and it's so cool to see just what the gods are capable of! I think I love disorienting scenes in general so this was of course gonna be my favorite.

Sapnap getting stuck in the walls was funny ksfhkhdf. That was smart of him though, too bad it too was a trap lmao.

The countdown for George nooooo that's so mean. And i agree with George that totally wasn't fair it was a good hiding spot! I had the realization there that pretty much every hiding spot was trapped in some way huh. And then George not even remembering safe wording is so adorable

Dream making it ten minutes!!! Whattttt that's crazy! The way he was so dazed and just brain fried was really cute and made my heart all fluttery

THere's definitely more but this is getting long skfhla. This fic is like not only my favorite from you but is on my list of favorite fics ever tbh

Can't wait to see more from you!

-emmadoodlewrites

Emmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 🤩😍🤩

I have already gushed to you about how much I love this ask and I can now do it here. I had to lay down after reading this all, I was overwhelmed with all the love. This will be under a read more because there is ALOT to unpack

I'm so glad you loved the fic. I'm still sad I missed for Halloween but I'm glad the eerie feeling was still there. Fun Fact! The ending of cuddling with Dream wasn't the original ending, I was planning on the ending being the Gods open the mansion as a haunted attraction for the server, only they wouldn't chase anyone they'd just supervise while people watched. I think the new ending is better though because it sets up nicely for the two planned sequels I have for it.

I'm so glad you liked the dialogue 😭 It's one of the things I always try and put care into. Dialogue is so important to me cause it gives good insight to a character and having to think like them. And I'm so glad it is inspiring for you!

And yes! So the Gods set up traps in the house for the siblings knowing they'd fall for at least one of them. All they really had to do was go through each trap and catch a sibling. There is a bunch of other traps I planned before picking those three. Originally George was in the room with all the skeletons and each time he looked away they'd change position, move towards him or block the exits. It would end with him held down by them but I thought it was too much lol It gets the same vibe with him trapped in the webs. The vortex tunnel is my absolute fave as well. I really wanted a disorientating feel with Dream's one. Which is possibly one of the reasons why he didn't safeword. His brain was trying to process gravity and the spinning of the tunnel (also the tickling too of course) but he was totally safe and fine. He just super wanted to win too haha

I will reveal that the fic originally had POVs from the Gods as well but I took it out to make them feel more mysterious. It would have just been them talking while waiting for the countdown and going over rules again. One of the rules which I couldn't find a way to fit in explaining it was that the Gods could not tickle their own sibling. So if they found their own sibling they would have to leave them. It would also show each chose their own area. XD for downstairs. HD for upstairs and 4K for the attic.

[queenofonions]

Love in the Afternoon

Summary: A tender moment between Luna and Ginny.

Ginny fell from the portkey vortex in a dizzied heap. She lay there for several minutes, catching her breath and soaking in the heat from the high afternoon sun. The grass was warm under her hands, leaching away the lingering chill from the sodden quidditch uniform she wore.

The light summer rain they had been practicing in had whipped into a torrential beast that exhausted everyone, but it was only when lightening had obliterated the snitch that the captain finally called it and sent the team home.

Ginny had not even bothered to change before activating her personal portkey. Her wand was strapped to her forearm and she could have easily cast a drying spell over herself, but the relief of being home after such a wretched morning made her limbs and mind pleasantly heavy.

She rested the backs of her hands against her eyes to block the sun. The scent of flowers wafted over her and she took a few moments to breathe it in.

Just a few moments...

...

...

Luna closed the basket on the plimpies she had caught, took up her fishing net and made her way back home, enjoying the feel of the mud by the lake as it squished between her bare toes. She wore a gauzy white summer dress in deference to the heat of the day and left her long blonde hair loose and flowing down her back, her wand tucked behind her ear as usual.

It was a short walk back to the rook-shaped house, where she stowed away her net and set the basket on a picnic table. She summoned a fillet knife from the kitchen and directed it to clean and prepare the plimpies.

As she tucked her wand behind her ear again, she heard the bass-toned gonging of the windchime that announced the activation of a homing portkey.

"Ginny," she breathed, her face beaming, and at once headed down the lane toward the stretch of meadow half a kilometer from the house. Luna easily spotted the small daisies that blanketed the warded area and felt the magic wash over as she passed through, disappearing from view to the outside world.

The sight of Ginny dozing amongst the flowers made Luna's heart clench sweetly in her chest.

She sank down onto the grass next to her and tilted her head quizzically as she looked Ginny over, noticing the state of her uniform and the deep pink of her cheeks and nose.

She dried the uniform with a wave of her wand down the length of Ginny's body, but the redhead did not wake. One kneepad hung loose so she gently unlaced it completely and transfigured it into an extra large beach umbrella to shade them both from the sun.

Luna looked around her and plucked a handful small daisies, placing them one by one in Ginny's hair like a crown. Her fingers stroked through a long lock of red hair and lifted it to brush the silkiness across her own cheek, then her lips. She flicked the end of the lock softly across Ginny's nose and finally Ginny stirred, scrunching her nose and blinking sleepily.

The sight of Luna made Ginny smile and her heart swoop with delight. "Luna, love," she breathed and caught the blonde's hand up to kiss her fingers.

Luna hummed in pleasure and leaned over to press sweet kisses over Ginny's cheeks, forehead, nose, and lips.

Ginny cupped her cheek and pulled her closer, taking the kiss deeper, sipping at her lips and licking into her mouth until Luna was draped over her body and they were both breathing heavily.

Luna pulled back a little and shifted against Ginny with a slight frown. "I'm glad I dried your uniform, but it is quite uncomfortable to lie on."

Ginny freed her wand from its strap and grinned. "I can take care of that." A swish and twirl of the wand removed that obstacle completely.

Luna's eyes danced merrily, "Oh, thank you, that's much better." She stretched her body out over Ginny's again and sighed dreamily as their curves fit snugly against each other. "Mmmm, that's just lovely."

Ginny laughed, wrapped her arms tight around the woman she loved and kissed her again amongst the flowers.

Please Like and Comment on AO3

(pen name Xedra on AO3)

[takenene]

episode 4:

me thinking why the moon shot so big and bright. braincells colliding: well the moon is getting farther away every rear so for the murder lizards it must've been a CHONKER XD

the shiny fish vortex is making me dizzy.

no seriously, like HOLY FUCK who approved that sequence to air. i wanna talk (ง'̀-'́)ง

IS THAT A PENGUIN 😱

it is!!! :D giant ancient murder penguin :D sir, i love you sir.

NOOOOOO!!! DON'T EAT MY BIRDIES!!!! HOW VERY FUCKING DARE YOU

i mean. at least it's not babies this time, right :(

CEPHALOPODS HAVE ENTERED THE CHAT

wait. here i thought they were gonna make me watch baby ammonites getting soupified and turn my counter into infinity, but instead they pulled a tranformers??? hell yeah

:( well that's not much better

love that there's just a single crab chilling in the background tho

he is beauty he is grace he will suplex you with his ginormous face.

dead babies counter: A FUCK TON

alright. i think this was my least fave episode so far. not because i don't enjoy sea critters just as much, but the storylines felt a lot weaker somehow???? like definitely not mosasaurs spa quality. and also A LOT of the scenes were dark or muddied, and like i get that it's supposed to be Underwater™, but i am blind and Do Not like that.

[starseedfxofficial]

The Vortex Indicator & Statistical Arbitrage: Unlocking a Hidden Goldmine Why Most Traders Overlook the Vortex Indicator (And Why You Shouldn’t) Ah, the Vortex Indicator—a name that conjures up images of swirling tornadoes and dizzying market chaos. But don't let the imagery fool you. The Vortex Indicator is actually a nifty tool that, when combined with statistical arbitrage, can give you the kind of edge that most traders only dream of—an edge akin to finding a pair of designer shoes on sale that you actually wear every day. And if you've been in the trading game long enough, you'll know that finding something that works and is comfortable is a near miracle. So, why do most traders overlook the Vortex Indicator? Probably because it’s a little lesser-known, maybe not as glamorous as some of the big buzz indicators like RSI or MACD. But you, dear reader, aren’t just any trader. You’re here for the insider scoop, the less-traveled road that leads to the treasure others miss. Let’s dive in and unlock this hidden goldmine together. The Hidden Magic Behind the Vortex Indicator First, let’s demystify this bad boy. The Vortex Indicator (VI) is used to identify the start of a new trend or the continuation of an existing one. It’s like that one friend who always knows which trends will make it big and which are just a flash in the pan. It works by plotting two lines: one to identify positive trend movement (VI+) and another for negative movement (VI-). When VI+ crosses above VI-, you’ve got a bullish signal. When VI- overtakes VI+, well, it’s time to get a little bearish. But here’s the kicker—most traders never bother to combine the Vortex Indicator with statistical arbitrage. You know, the “secret sauce” of quant traders and hedge funds that’s all about profiting from pricing inefficiencies. This combo is like peanut butter and jelly—delicious on their own, but absolutely legendary together. Imagine leveraging a powerful trend-spotting tool and having the statistical backing to exploit market inefficiencies? That’s where the real magic happens. Statistical Arbitrage: The Unsung Hero of the Forex World Statistical arbitrage might sound like something only a Wall Street quant could love, but don’t let the intimidating name scare you. At its core, it’s about using statistics to identify relationships between currency pairs that are likely to revert to a mean. Think of it like buying your favorite snack in bulk when it’s cheaper than usual—because you know that price isn’t going to stay low forever. Now, here’s where things get exciting. By combining statistical arbitrage with the Vortex Indicator, you’re essentially ensuring that you’re entering positions with two significant advantages: 1) You know the trend direction, and 2) You’re exploiting a pricing discrepancy that statistically shouldn’t last. It’s like buying low, knowing full well that the price is only temporarily at a discount. The Perfect Pair: Vortex Meets Arbitrage Think of the Vortex Indicator as your compass. It points you in the right direction—up or down—based on market trends. On the other hand, statistical arbitrage acts like your secret decoder ring, allowing you to spot those sneaky, mispriced pairs that are bound to snap back to their “normal” relationship. Here’s how it plays out: You’re analyzing EUR/USD, and the Vortex Indicator is showing a bullish trend. At the same time, your statistical arbitrage model is screaming that EUR is undervalued compared to GBP based on historical correlations. With both signals lining up, you enter a buy position with confidence, knowing you’re riding both a trend and an arbitrage opportunity. Double the indicators, double the conviction—and hopefully double the profits. Why This Combo Works (When Others Don’t) Let’s be real for a second—trading indicators are often like those trendy health supplements that everyone swears by, but when you try them, nothing happens. The Vortex Indicator and statistical arbitrage combo isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about the data. You’re using a proven, trend-following indicator to guide your direction, and then leveraging hard, cold statistics to confirm that your chosen pair is mispriced and poised for correction. It’s like getting a second opinion from an expert before making a big decision—except the experts here are decades of historical data and the collective insights of market inefficiencies. Ninja Tactics for Vortex + Statistical Arbitrage Success Okay, enough theory. Let’s get into some ninja tactics to really master this combo: - Look for Divergence Opportunities: If the Vortex Indicator shows a trend reversal, but statistical arbitrage suggests that a pair is diverging from its typical behavior, this could be a signal for a high-probability trade. Remember, statistical arbitrage relies on mean reversion, so pairing this with a trend indicator can give you the best of both worlds. - Use Multiple Timeframes: Ever heard the saying, “measure twice, cut once”? That applies here too. Confirm your Vortex readings across different timeframes—say, the 4-hour and the daily—to make sure you’re not just getting caught in some short-term market noise. Statistical arbitrage setups work best when you’re confident that the trend matches across the board. - Set Your Stops Wisely: One of the biggest pitfalls traders face is setting stops that are too tight, especially when riding statistical arbitrage trades. With the Vortex Indicator confirming trend direction, consider placing your stop just beyond the last significant low or high—giving the trade a little breathing room, like letting out a sigh of relief after almost clicking the wrong button. - Backtest Like a Boss: Historical data is your best friend with statistical arbitrage. Spend time backtesting various currency pairs using the Vortex Indicator as your trend filter. It’s tedious, sure, but imagine knowing with solid confidence that your strategy has worked over the past decade. Worth the effort, right? Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them Statistical arbitrage and the Vortex Indicator sound powerful—and they are—but they aren’t a magic wand. Here are some common mistakes to avoid: - Ignoring Volatility: Volatility can be a game-changer for any arbitrage strategy. High volatility periods can throw statistical relationships out the window. Use tools like the ATR (Average True Range) to measure if the current market is too spicy for a statistical arbitrage setup. - Overconfidence: Just because both the Vortex and statistical arbitrage line up doesn’t mean a trade is a sure thing. Manage your risks! It’s like seeing a flashing green light at an intersection—sure, you can go, but you still need to watch for cars. Bringing It All Together The Vortex Indicator and statistical arbitrage form a formidable duo that can guide you into trades with higher conviction and precision. With the Vortex, you get a bird’s-eye view of the trend, and with statistical arbitrage, you hone in on mispriced opportunities like a laser. The magic happens when these two forces align—offering you insight that’s better than 99% of what most retail traders are using. Of course, it’s not always smooth sailing. You’ll need patience, a good grasp of the data, and a healthy respect for the markets—like treating a wild animal. But when you get it right, it’s like watching your trade soar while you sit back, sipping your coffee, feeling like you’ve cracked some kind of trading secret code. Your Next Move Ready to dig deeper? Enhance your trading with our suite of tools that help you stay ahead: - Latest Forex News & Indicators: Get real-time updates to stay informed on market movements. Check it out here. - Community Membership: Join the StarseedFX community for expert analysis and insider tips. Become a member today. - Free Trading Plan: Set goals, manage risks, and track progress like a pro. Get your free trading plan. Remember, the markets may be tricky, but with the right insights and a dash of humor, you’re more than capable of navigating them like a pro. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

[fordbooks]

Here After - Amy Lin

August 2024. "Here After is an intimate story of deep love followed by dizzying loss; a stunning, taut memoir from but author Amy Lin so finely etched and powerful that it will alter readers' hearts. 'When he dies, I fall out of time.' Amy Lin never expected to find a love like the one she shares with her husband, Kurtis, a gifted young architect who pulls her toward joy, adventure, and greater self-acceptance. But on a sweltering August morning, only a few months shy of the newlyweds' move to Vancouver, thirty-two-year-old Kurtis heads out run a half marathon with Amy's family. It is the last time she sees her husband alive. Ten days after this seismic loss, Amy is in the hospital, navigating her own shocking medical crisis and making life-or-death decisions about her treatment. What follows is a rich and unflinchingly honest accounting of her life with Kurtis, the vortex created by his death, and the ongoing struggle Amy faces as she attempts to understand her own experience in the context of commonly held "truths" about what the grieving process looks like. Here After is a love story and a meditation on the ways in which Kurtis' death shatters any set ideas Amy ever held about grief, strength, and memory. Its power will last with you long after the final page."

I've been with my partner for 2.5 years. We've known each other for years through work, but we were both always in other relationships, and the possibility never occurred to us. Upon the beginning of our romantic relationship, I looked back at my life with a deep regret that I had wasted any time with anyone who wasn't him. At night sometimes, I lie awake and have morbid visions of what my life would be like if he passed away unexpectedly, like Amy Lin's husband, Kurtis. What follows in my imaginative dream state is a feeling so sharp, so possible and disgustingly morose, it gives me nightmares long after my eyes have shut for the night. Perhaps it's not healthy to ruminate on our time after each other, when I should be enjoying our time during each other. But these dream scenarios have become much more frequent after reading Lin's memoir, because I have an impending feeling that I need to prepare myself for the worst possible outcome.

Amy and Kurtis are young, happy, and healthy. One day, Kurtis leaves the house to run a marathon with Amy's family. She stays behind on account of a twisted ankle. During his run, Kurtis' heart stops, he collapses, and this is the end of his life. Lin's writing in this book is so raw, so depressingly honest, that it brought me to tears practically every other page. As the months after his death pass, Lin does not attempt to write about some sort of Eat-Pray-Love Personal Awakening that we see in many grief writings. She is sad, she is depressed, she is overcome with grief, and these are the facts of her life.

Lin's writing is poetic and poignant. I felt during reading that I could vividly envision each scenario she portrayed. I could feel the love that she and Kurtis felt for each other, and I could feel his cold absence after his death.

Lin writes about their wedding, where they wrote their own vows for each other. She says to Kurtis: "Let love be tender towards us. Let the dishes sit in the sink, let the radio play your favorite song, let the moon pull the tides at will, and, oh, let love be at the end, wherever that may be."

[lord-overlips]

The triple changer just grinned, nodding eagerly and parting his lips to lap at the muzzle of that gun, circling his glossa around the rim while watching Vortex, thrilled, excited to think that he could be offlined in a second. It made his spark flutter and his valve drip with fresh lubricants, charge raking through him, and making his hips buck in renewed charge. That seemed to spark the whip bound about his array to crackle and smoke, lubricants turning to vapour as they came in contact.

"Mhh- I'll be good." He purred, field a cloying, needy mess of submission and twisted desire. "I lost, after all." Losing felt fragging amazing. He should lose more often. "I'm just your prize now...." He rumbled, finally taking that weapon in between his lips, sucking, flicking his glossa out and starting to bob his helm up and down, moaning around the weapon and nearly toppling over as he felt Vortex reach inside him, fisted servo pressing through the mass of tubes and organs there and Overlord groaning in spark deep pleasure.

He did his best to show Vortex how much he loved it, sucking, gasping and lapping at the rifle in his intake, relaxing his throat to take it deeper even as it scraped and ruined the delicate mesh there.

There's a needy buck, a sinful howl of pleasure as Overlord feels Vortex grind against his intenerals, warm and wet and soft. He loves it, broadcasting shameless gratitude and field begging for more. He's grinding and wriggling, another whisp of vapour rising from his tortured valve as fresh lubricants drool from that aching slit. He was certain his poor abused node was bruised and swollen now, spike likely no better off, the thought just making it all even better. Dazed and adoring optics met Vortrex's unreadable visor as he drew back only to sink down on the muzzle of that weapon again, single functional servo clawing at the ground, strut shivering as the wanton mech moaned and sucked, dizzy at the obscene sounds of his own internals being violated.

As emotionally blank as Vortex and most of the Combaticons appeared with little need of effort on their end, Vortex did opt to tilt his head forward and down until the crown of his helm leant his visor an angrier geometry, and flicked his blades downwards at Overlord’s apologetic antics.

Rather than collaborate and close the remainder of the distance to allow the other’s apt, smirking lips to make it up to him around the shaft of his spike, Vortex shoved the barrel of his right arm’s mounted gun towards Overlord’s mouth to take, in its place.

“Show me on this.” Vortex said, his annoyance clear in his tone, and almost hinged toward sulking. Yeah, he should have calculated better how long Overlord could last on that sparse of shoddy medical care, but he still didn’t enjoy being overridden when he’d so thoroughly earned the opportunity to do whatever he liked. “Hand to yourself, or I’ll make you regret it.”

The rotary mech transferred his brooding focus from Overlord’s undamaged optic to his unprotected internals, and moved to reach his free hand deep into the mass of slick tubules and energon lines hung inside of the larger mech’s abdomen. His fingers glided, held tightly together and moving as one, in between mildly tangled folds of the warm, gooey mess— a very compelling analogy to interface.

With a more cheerful hum, Vortex tugged on some of the looser lines to separate them from the others and bring them a little closer to himself. He rose on his knees and moved to rub his spike against his clutched, soft prize.