#lux being a SWEET BOY

[yellow-dejavu]

bartosz tiedemann appreciation post because he's so underrated

[luxaryllis]

hi!! if you're accepting requests rn could you pls write just pure angst of azul with a younger sibling who he was super close to before, but when their parents got divorced they grew distant bc the sibling went to live with their dad instead of with him and his mom. then a few years later sibling ends up attending nrc and azul recognizes them and is excited to talk to them again only to discover that they're not the same as before.

rlly loved your scared younger sibling fics. they gave me chest pains bc of how damn sad they were. keep up the good work :)

Brother Knows Best

Note: OMG!! What is this!? I, Lux, FINALLY finishing something and posting it?! Has a miracle truly happened?!

Anyway, I'll just write the sibling of this one as a year younger than Azul, and the sibling was also be an octopus merfolk. I'm going to mention the reader having interests in some stuff, so please don't get offended if it doesn't apply to you. You can always just replace the traits I put as a trait of yours!

And imma just use Ashengrotto as the family name, cuz idk if Ashengrotto was the last name of Azul's bio father, or step-father, or the maiden name of his mother.

Warning/s: Parents divorcing, Split custody, Angst, Spoilers to Azul's backstory and past, Spoilers to Azul's Ceremonial Robes vignettes, Reader is mentioned to have somewhat similar features to Azul (specific features aren't specified), Tell me if I missed anything

Full post under the cut!

-----

"Big brother! Why are you crying?" A slightly smaller mer-octopus swam closer with a concerned expression.

Azul, who was hiding in an octopus pot, looked up to his sweet and innocent little sibling. The 7-year-old boy's eyes soften, and Azul knew that it was only a matter of time before his baby sibling, [Name], would go through all the bullying and teasing as well.

But Azul didn't want that. He wanted [Name]'s cute smile to last forever. He wanted [Name] to not have to see and experience the horrors of simply being themself. He wanted to protect [Name] from everything and everyone who dared hurt them.

Azul's heart squeezed in his chest as he realizes that he can't. He can't protect [Name]. Azul couldn't even protect himself! He truly was... a weak, dumb, slow little octopus...

Tormented by his thoughts, Azul continued sobbing, hiding further into the octopus pot, hiding his chubby face from his little sibling.

"Don't look at me!!" Azul cries out, accidentally spitting out ink from his tentacles, staining the waters around them. The mess caused Azul to cry even more, the ugly black liquids reminding him of what the other kids told him.

[Name] frowns softly, they didn't know why their big brother was upset. The younger mer-octopus moves closer to the octo-pot, trying to coax their older brother to come out.

"Zul-ie.. what's wrong? I don't like seeing you sad..."

Upon receiving no response, the younger child purses their lips in a pout.

"Come onnn...! Mom and dad made dinner! They made fried chicken! Your favorite!!"

---

"Big brother!! Look, look! Wanna hear this song I learned on the piano?!"

Piano keys played a gorgeous melody under [Name]'s fingers, and Azul watched with wide eyes full of wonder and pride. Azul felt a small sense of envy in him, but he couldn't find it in himself to acknowledge the jealousy, because Azul was too proud of his younger sibling to do that.

And yet...

As [Name] learned more and more, Azul couldn't help but feel... left behind.

As though [Name] doesn't need him anymore.

But... but that isn't true right? [Name] needs Azul... right...?

As days and years pass by, nagging feelings of envy and worthlessness bubble up in Azul as he watches his sibling shine.

'I should be proud of them,' he thinks to himself as his mind wanders while he was studying.

---

'Mom and dad don't love each other anymore...'

Those were the thoughts in the two siblings' heads while they listened to their parents argue for what felt like the umpteenth time. And today, it seemed as though everyone in the house had finally had enough of the screams and shouts.

Around a month or so later, the Ashengrotto family were in court, for a divorce trial. It was a somewhat long process, but the judge's words hit the two children like a truck.

"Mrs. Ashengrotto is to be given custody over Azul Ashengrotto. Whilst Mr. Ashengrotto is to be given custody over [Name] Ashengrotto."

When the Ashengrotto family split up, Azul and [Name] were desperately trying to stay together. It went to the point that their parents had to pull the crying siblings apart because [Name] and their father had to leave.

"Big brother!!! NO!!"

"[Name]!!! Don't leave me please!!"

---

"DON'T LEAVE ME!!"

Azul wakes up with a start, sitting up from the bed with wide eyes and heavy breathing. His hair was frazzled in a bedhead, and he quickly looks around.

The Octavinelle Dorm Leader recognizes his dorm room, and breathes a sigh. Not one of relief, but one of exhaustion. Azul reaches to his bedside table and takes his glasses, putting them on as he checks the clock. 5 am.

Next to the clock, Azul sees the small picture he placed. A family picture of him, his mother, his father, and his younger sibling. It was taken before his parents had divorced. When they were all happy...

Azul stares at his younger sibling in the picture, yearning to see them again. He reaches out a bit, but stops himself and shakes his head. 'Now is not the time', he thinks to himself. He shakily stands up and starts getting ready for the welcoming ceremony of the new first years of NRC.

Azul leaves the room and passes by Jade and Floyd's shared room. The house-warden could hear Floyd's complaining through the door and he sighs, knocking on the door and speaking.

"Floyd, would you stop complaining? Jade and I have to get ready for the Welcoming Ceremony, and you and the others have to start preparing for the welcome party for our new first years."

Almost immediately, Floyd replies with a slight whiney tone. "Says the person who wasn't wrung out like a rag for some lotion! I can barely walk!!" Azul could almost hear the pout in Floyd's voice and sighs in exasperation, listening to Jade trying to calm his brother down.

Deciding to leave the twin eels alone, Azul starts to walk away and head to the Lounge to make sure the preparations are going smoothly. As he walked, his mind can't help but wander to thoughts like if he and his own younger sibling would have a similar dynamic to Jade and Floyd. Hm, or would their dynamic be more like Idia's and Ortho's? Likely not, perhaps.

These thoughts weighed in Azul's mind, and he feels himself shaking his head, trying to rid himself of those thoughts. He hasn't seen his younger sibling for a long time; but Azul certainly hopes that [Name] didn't have such a drastic change like he did.

For some reason, Azul couldn't bear the thought of his previously happy-go-lucky and outgoing [Name] to be anything else other than such a happy mer-octopus. It was wishful thinking, but what kind of older brother would he be if he didn't wish only the best for his younger sibling?

---

When the time came for the Welcoming Ceremony to begin, the Housewardens (exceot for Malleus Draconia, who likely didn't receive the invitation, Azul thinks) were all lined in a circle surrounding the mirror, waiting for students to be sorted into their own dorms.

As each student was being sorted to their dorms, Azul takes the time to look at each student that seemed to catch his attention. None seemed very relevant thus far, maybe a few people he could exploit here and there.

"Next student!"

A student dressed in the NRC Ceremonial Robes stepped out of the crowd of the unsorted first-years. Their hood was on and casting a shadow down their face as they walked towards the mirror.

"State thy name." The mirror said when the student stepped up.

Suddenly, the student spoke a name that ran a shiver down Azul's spine. A name that Azul never thought he would hear no matter how much he wished to hear.

"[Name] Ashengrotto."

Jade raised an eyebrow and turned to Azul curiously, and some other students who recognized the last name also snuck some glances to the Octavinelle Dormleader. Azul could vaguely hear Idia's voice through the floating tablet, saying things like, 'Plot twist?!', but he paid no heed to it.

Azul's eyes were wide, and his mouth was lightly agape in surprise. His younger sibling... studying in NRC?!?

Questions ran through Azul's head in that moment. How is his younger sibling doing? Do they still like to play the piano? Or perhaps they still continued collecting those sea shells? Did [Name] still want to be a singer when they grew up? Do they still enjoy chasing their tentacles like a dog liked chasing its tail? Do they still have that same smile they always did; the one that brightened any room they were in and made their eyes glimmer like the stars land-folk liked to gaze at?

The Dark Mirror spoke again, "The shape of they soul is..."

Azul was beside himself with worry and anticipation. What dorm would his younger sibling be sorted into?

'Octavinelle, Octavinelle, Octavinelle', Azul chanted in his head, hoping for the Dark Mirror to sort [Name] in the dorm he was in.

"... Octavinelle!"

It took almost everything in Azul not to let out a sigh of relief, but he was celebrating in his mind. Suddenly remembering that he was the Dorm Leader of Octavinelle, he stepped up and made himself known to his beloved younger sibling.

Azul mustered up an amicable smile (and those who knew him were rather surprised at how genuine Azul's smile looked), and spoke. "Welcome to Octavinelle, right this way please."

[Name], not having realized who the person underneathe the hood was, nodded and walked to the crowd of Octavinelle students, waiting for the Welcoming Ceremony to be over.

---

After a rather tiring Welcoming Ceremony, with an entire fire getting started by a racoon-cat-monster named Grim, all the students (save for that one student who couldn't get sorted to a dorm) were allowed to leave and go back to their respective dorms.

The Octavinelle first-years were granted a delicious meal and celebration, and were all briefed on their duties in the Mostro Lounge. The entire time, Azul kept sneaking glances at [Name], which wasn't really left unnoticed by the twins or by [Name] themself.

Azul eventually mustered up the courage to approach his younger sibling and struck up a conversation.

"[Name], it's very nice to see you..! I'm Azul, remember? Your older brother?" Azul's voice was one of slight anxiety, did [Name] eveb remember him? It has been a while since they last even heard from each other..

[Name] turns to look at Azul and nods a bit, smiling a little. "Ah, right. It's so nice to see you again, Zulie."

Being referred to his favorite childhood nickname made Azul smile softly, but he couldn't shake off the surprise at seeing the change of demeanor in [Name]. Back when they were younger, [Name] was much more outgoing and enthusiastic compared to this [Name], who seemed to want to curl up in a ball when someone else tried making conversation with them.

Not even their smile fully reached their eyes anymore. Just what had happened to his beloved younger sibling in the time he was gone?

Internally hoping that his younger sibling hadn't changed too much, Azul tried to continue the conversation. "Ah, do you.. still play the piano?"

[Name] shook their head and smiled a little sheepishly in reply. "Oh, no I don't anymore. Atleast, not as often as before. I still play it occasionally, but I don't exactly find it as fun now."

"What about collecting sea shells? Surely, you still find that enjoyable?"

"Dad and I lived in a more colder part of the ocean, and there weren't a lot of sea shells to collect. So, no, not really."

"Ahh, I see... what do you like doing nowadays, then, [Name]?"

"Oh, well..." [Name] then proceeds to tell their older brother of their interests; though most (if not all) the things the younger Ashengrotto listed were things Azul weren't very interested in.

Regardless, Azul nods in understanding, trying not to mind how much his sibling had changed.

The next few weeks after that, Azul had found it hard to approach [Name]. Why? Well, maybe it was because of the fact that his younger sibling had grown rather attached to the Ramshackle prefect and a certain trouble-making trio (Ace, Deuce, and Grim).

Azul had enough of it, seeing his younger sibling get roped into trouble from their group of friends. When [Name] had came back to the dorm with the Heartslabyul's dorm leader's collar on them, Azul had to pull his younger sibling aside to talk.

"[Name], may I ask exactly why you have Riddle's collar on you? What did your friends bring you into this time?" Azul asked [Name] as they spoke in Azul's office. Azul was looking at his beloved younger sibling with furrowed brows and a scrutinizing expression.

[Name] replied, "It's a.. long story, big brother. Yuu, Ace, Deuce, Grim, and I were at Heartslabyul's Unbirthday Party. Dorm Leader Rosehearts got mad at us and collared us and kicked us out of the party because a rule was broken.."

Azul sighs in disappointment and exasperation. He can't believe his younger sibling associated themself with such troublemakers.

"[Name], honestly, why do you even hang out with such people?! They're getting you into trouble!"

[Name] tries to defend themself, "They don't mean to! And I can't just stand by and watch as my friends suffer on their own!"

Azul starts to get a little frustrated. Can't they see, those group of 'friends' as [Name] calls them are terrible influences. It's only a matter of time before they start using [Name] for their own benefit, Azul is sure about that. After all, [Name] has always been rather straightforward in the way that they won't hesitate to help (such values were strange to see in a school like Night Raven College). And Azul knew what happened to people like that; they get exploited, wrung out like a rag, draining them out until there's nothing left to give.

If [Name]'s friends were anything like the other students of NRC (like how Azul would treat his 'clients'), it would be so, so much worse for [Name]. Oh, Azul could practically see it now; it'll start small, like helping out with homework or lending some money. Eventually, it'll be like his younger sibling got the life and kindness sucked out of them, leaving them burnt out like a poor, unfortunate soul!

And Azul can't and won't let his beloved younger sibling go through that. He won't let [Name] fall from grace so terribly like the people who've broken their end of the deal with him.

And that is what Azul tells [Name] (leaving out the parts that paint Azul as the scheming businessman he is, of course) in an effort and attempt to dissuade his sibling from staying friends with their troublemaking friends.

"Don't you see, my dear sibling? They're only using you and their troublemaking schemes would run your student record through the mud. They're getting you involved in so much drama and troubles, and as your older brother, I'd hate for you to be surrounded by such terrible influences," Azul says.

[Name] frowns a bit. Azul worded it as though they hadn't done anything wrong, which wasn't all that far from the truth, though. However, [Name] also knew that Azul was thinking that they were being dragged against their will to help out, which they weren't.

"Big brother... I'm helping out willingly, because I want to. Besides, they're my friends. Didn't the Sea Witch always help other people? We're Octavinelle students, we must always follow the Sea Witch's values."

[Name] replies. The facts about Octavinelle and the Sea Witch were things that the younger Ashengrotto used to try convincing Azul to let them go.

Azul clicks his tongue, his eyes narrowing as he pushes up his glasses that were starting to fall a bit. "Then perhaps you should try getting better, more behaved friends instead of the ones you have right now. What happened to the well-behaved [Name] I used to know?" Azul mutters under his breath, but [Name] could still hear Azul's words.

[Name] frowns at the last question. "What 'happened' is that life happened, Azul. Not everyone stays the same! I've changed!!"

Azul, however, has difficulty getting behind the thought, shaking his head in denial, "Then change back!! [Name], I want the old you! The one who'd listen and trust me without a second thought! The one who was dependent on me! The one who actually made me feel special!!"

That was the last straw for [Name]. They have grown tired of their older brother trying to keep them the same as they used to when they were a child. Can't Azul just let go of the past? "Well that [Name] is gone!! I'm independent now, Azul! I'm not a child! Stop treating me like one!"

[Name] shouts in a burst of anger, before their eyes widen, not having expected themself to actually blow up like that. Not necessarily regretting it, though, the young Ashengrotto quickly turns away and leaves Azul's office, ignoring their older brother's shouts for them to come back.

---

Azul breathes heavily as he falls to his knees, watching as his younger sibling walks away from him, closing the door behind them. The sight can't help but remind Azul of the time when he and [Name] were separated; just this time, [Name] was being pulled away by their 'friends' instead of their father.

Azul can't believe this!! Did [Name] really just walk away from him?! After everything Azul did in hopes of having his dearest sibling back?! How dare they!

How dare they change! How dare they change so much to the point Azul barely recognizes them! How dare they move on from the past so quickly, as if it didn't bother them! And how dare they even think of choosing their friends over him!

How dare they make him cry! How dare they say words that hurt far more than when those pesky merfolk would bully him!! How dare they leave him there, with tears falling down his eyes and with a heart aching for family!

How dare they, how dare they, how dare they!!

Azul takes a deep breath of resolution, his eyes narrowing behind the glint of his glasses. Never mind, then. He'll show them, he just knows it.

Azul calls the Leech twins over to the office, preparing to make a plan for the upcoming exam season, a list of specific names he wants them to target.

He'll show [Name]. He'll show them that he's right. That big brother knows best.

[kedsandtubesocks]

dance away your cowboy blues

Country Singer!Joel Miller x F!Reader

summary: who knew the man with the voice of an angel could break your heart this bad?

warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY MDNI, modern/no outbreak AU & Joel has both his daughters, exes to lovers with eventual husband!Joel, angst followed up by good sweet fluff, concert venue, light drinking mention, Joel being stubborn & bad at feelings, hints of spice, fools in love, reader is addressed as ‘honey, darlin,’ use of song lyrics in fic, Pearl Jam & Taylor Swift song mentions, soft & heartbroken!Joel, lovesick!Joel

word count: 6k

a/n: here we are - the last installment in our ‘Let’s Rodeo’ series & I’m so incredibly grateful to finally make it here, also this is my mini tribute to our boy and his SAG award! The main song Joel sings is this one and I highly recommend! Thank you to my forever babe @the-wild-wolves-around-you for letting me scream about plot holes & aiding my Joel brainrot, @tightjeansjavi for always being down to chat about Joel, and to @lowlights & @ahauntedcowboy for being my ever guiding forces for this series, thank you all… And finally to you reading this, thank you so much ♡

A year ago, Joel broke up with you on a warm early spring morning.

He arrived at your apartment, sat you down and shattered your world. You felt every range of emotion as he simply stood there like a man of steel.

So upset and angry, you wanted to rip your heart out and throw it at him.

Then later that week you found out his record was officially getting picked up and you crumbled.

Ending your relationship simply because he was about to step into true proper fame - you never took Joel to be a man so somberly callous. However, you began wondering if that’s what fame sometimes did to people.

When curiosity gnawed too hard, you’d Google him or even check Spotify. Simply catching glimpses of how big he’s gotten sent you spiraling. Last Thanksgiving, your favorite aunt threatened to lock your phone away when she found you upset in the bathroom after discovering Joel was performing at the Dallas Cowboys holiday game.

From that point on you refused to even check any amount of social media or update on him.

A few clunky first dates and a couple of ghosting experiences later, you’ve now decided to simply work on yourself and embrace the selfcare of being single.

It’s why when your best friend called you earlier today eagerly explaining how her parents had extra tickets to the Rodeo tonight, she playfully teased how she knew you didn’t have anything planned for this Saturday night.

You almost hung up on her, but you excitedly scrambled to get ready.

Now the smell of fried foods, popcorn, and beer cloud the air. The fairgrounds hold a chaotic but controlled lively energy. You never knew so many cowboy hats could exist in one space.

Once you meet up with your best friends' parents, you’re transported to a whole new area you never believed could exist during a rodeo. Lux and cozy, the VIP lounge gleams with its elevated experience. You knew your best friend’s mom worked for the construction company managing the arena. You just didn’t realize how big of a hookup it was. The VIP tickets allowed for full premium dining along with a couple of free drinks.

More importantly - it came with the best concert seats.

“In the dirt” is how they’re described because the tickets are literally stationed on the floor, in the dirt of the rodeo stadium, right by the stage.

Ecstatic and bubby energy now fills you. The food being served is divine and you gladly enjoy the free various drinks.

“So wait, did we figure out who’s performing?” You ask curiously while you lounge taking advantage of the nice seating area.

“Uh, I think my dad said it’s that band named Midland is performing today.” Your friend answers but then is quickly pulled away to meet more of her mom’s coworkers.

You’ve never heard of the band, but for a free concert you’re open to enjoy some live music.

It’s a trait you gained from Joel.

Because of him you grew to love music performances, the energy that comes with hearing the band, being among the hum of the crowd. The trips around Austin seeing not just him perform, but enjoying other concerts with him, let you appreciate and admire live shows.

Waiting for the concert allows you to enjoy some of the actual rodeo event. But the main performance of the evening soon arrives.

“You kids go enjoy! We’re getting a little too old and are just gonna stay back and enjoy the free food.” Your best friend’s mom grins with a wink.

The ticket advertisement wasn’t joking when it said close to the stage. The ground level truly sits on the dirt floor. The arena swallows you whole surrounding you like a strange fishbowl. A small crowd already lines the front railing closest to the stage. However sneakily you find a nice open spot by the side that gives a clear sight to the stage.

Even if you don’t know the band, giddiness bubbles in you electric.

You take in the massive general admission floor section already packed full. The band must be popular. So you take plenty of pictures and happily enjoy the time with your dear friend.

The lights dim and excitement crackles in the air. The stage lights up. The large backdrop screens on the stage flutter to life beginning to showcase different picturesque black and white shots of Texas.

Midland, you remember, is a city in Texas so the images make sense. A low strum of a guitar begins playing. The melody dances soft but in a quick beat, a hypnotic tune trying to rev up the crowd.

The tune brews up its intended magic that you even get swept up in the anticipation. The sound gets faster and the strumming is rather simple but so striking.

Then the music stops. Suddenly the lights of the entire stadium shut off. Wild galvanized screams erupt.

The lights brilliantly dance forth back to light. They all focus now on the performer who, like magic, now appears on the stage with the rest of the band.

And the lead singer is Joel.

Your knees almost give out.

Dressed in the most dangerous plaid green button up, it so simple yet beautifully compliments him. More grays pepper his beard and highlight his tousled curls. The brilliant stage lights bask him in a heavenly glow.

Your soul momentarily leaves your body the minute his voice sings his first note.

Instantly your best friend whips towards you panicked. She rapidly screams asking if you’re okay as she apologizes over and over.

“My dad must have gotten the dates wrong! God I should’ve fucking doubled checked or some shit!” She cries deeply apologetic and hurt.

You earnestly tell her it’s not her fault and it’s alright. It was just an unfortunate mixup.

“Do you wanna leave?” Your friend leans closer to you. Her eyes shine understanding and considerate. “We didn’t pay for these tickets and I promise you my parents will completely understand. We can say fuck it and bounce.”

You haven’t even completely processed it’s Joel. It’s like your brain went cloudy and now blinking out of the fog, your eyes return to the stage.

Joel isn’t an extroverted man. He’s reserved, quietly charming, even holds a gruff but poised grace. But right now, he’s an absolute sun on the stage. He’s radiant, naturally swaying to the music while singing his soul soul.

Maybe it’s the piece of you still horribly in love with him, or just the curiosity to see how this goes, whatever it is - you shake your head no.

“We can stay.”

Your best friend’s eyes go wide as saucers hearing your answer.

“Are you sure?” She presses and you nod your head.

“Yeah, let’s stay. Afterwards we can laugh about how old he’s gotten.” You laugh bitterly about him looking more aged even after a year.

When truthfully the stronger wrinkles around his face, the vibrant grays, all of his aging only intensifies his striking looks.

A canyon wide sized hole rips through your heart.

The song flutters to an end and the crowd claps with a thunderous roar. With a reassuring squeeze to your shoulder your dear friend nods then turns back to the concert.

You pray this isn’t the worst decision you’ve ever made.

Then Joel speaks.

“Howdy everyone,” his voice is still so devilishly thick and smooth as a shot of moonshine. His accent does his home state proud. The crowd absolutely adores him, screaming loud just hearing him speak.

“Thank y'all for comin’ out tonight. I’m Joel Miller and m’here to sing y’all a few songs.” So simple, casually eased, and it’s so Joel.

His gruff southern charm made you fall in love with him so fast and now it’s a unique brand of magic charming everyone under his spell.

Joel strums a few notes, rapidly shifting the tune and transitions into the next song.

You now fully soak in Joel.

He seems otherworldly, a god of music reincarnated as a Texan cowboy. You think back to the days sitting in his living room and listening to him play. You were honored to see that side of him, to hear him strum to life so much magic.

During the holiday’s Joel’s daughters, Ellie and Sarah, would often pester him to sing silly songs. He’d grumpily obliged but you knew he basked in their attention and love.

He loved to sing. You always knew he was destined for the stage like it was woven into his veins.

You still remember the day one of Joel’s acoustic performances blew up online gaining so much attention. The excitement and absolute joy you felt then still lingers in the corners of your heart. Although, those feelings have been gathering cobwebs.

There’s of course a bitterness seeing him, but also, an unbearably small twinkling pride knowing he’s here living his dream. The song finishes and again the stadium rumbles in applause.

“How y’all doin’ tonight?” Joel asks and your heart jumps hearing his voice again.

The crowd cheers back at him.

“Good good, let’s keep it goin’.” He yells back and then strums the guitar sharp.

That’s when the stage slowly starts moving.

It’s slow but with the surprise purpose to look out to the entire crowd. For some reason you almost laugh thinking of that man, who couldn’t even remember how to FaceTime on his ipad, on a full rotating platform.

However, the lyrics start and you realize he’s singing a heartbreak ballad.

If you’re going out with someone new, I’m going out with someone too…I won’t feel sorry for me, I’m getting drunk but I’d much rather be somewhere with you…

It’s hard hearing him now with how exhilarated the crowd screams at the stage moving. But you try to hear how the rest of the song unfolds.

At the chorus, your throat tightens.

I can go out every night of the week, can go home with anybody I meet, but it’s just a temporary high… ‘cause when I close my eyes, I’m somewhere with you

The words sting every inch of you, but you believe it has to be just a simple heartbreak story and isn’t about you, isn’t directed at you. Yet the words feel like sharpened edges of a broken mirror that seem to reflect every moment of your time with him.

Then the stage rotates to your side of the floor.

There’s no way he can see you or will even spot you. There’s a whole crowd stretching before him. You’re just a fish in a sea of fans.

Joel continues strumming, allowing his voice to so beautifully carry the emotion.

The stage, in its slow movement, is now front and center to your line of sight. Some girls at the very direct front of the railing scream and wave frantically at him.

A small smile tugs at Joel’s lips as he waves back. Joel’s eyes scan the rest of the crowd -

And that’s when he spots you.

Quickly, you rationalize he could be staring out behind you at someone else alongside the side railing.

But Joel’s eyes even narrow trying to focus more. Your gaze stays on him, like something inside of you refuses to waiver.

His eyes flicker with realization then turn into full moons.

He knows it’s you.

Joel continues singing the chorus but emotions cloud his face. His brows are furrowed hard, almost confused like he’s trying to really comprehend what’s going on.

You understand. You’d be so confused too if you were in his position. You’re still even baffled as to why you stayed in the first place.

The stage starts shifting back to the main center direction

But Joel cranes his face to the side, refusing to have his eyes leave.

His focus stays on you.

It’s obvious enough that your best friend now shakes your body.

“Is he staring at you?!” She tries to whisper but she ends up partly screaming.

You think maybe it’s a hallucination.

Yet Joel’s deep inky eyes stubbornly stay locked on you as he sings now.

If you see out on the town and it looks like I’m burning it down, you won’t ask and I won’t say… but in my heart I’m always somewhere with you…

Your world twists warped, melting into a sea of so many emotions you can’t stay afloat.

Joel finishes his song and the crowd enthusiastically cheers. Yet, it sounds muffled as a numbness crawls over you like a thick soupy fog.

You should leave. You need to. But you’re here now. And decide to see the end of this. If he’s singing about someone lingering within him, then you might as well make true to those lyrics.

Joel lowers his face for a moment and shakes his head. The mic faintly picks up his cough of a disbelieving laugh and your heart sinks.

“Alright folks, let’s jam.” He announces composed and brings his guitar to life.

He’s beautiful walking around with it. Strums effortlessly until he shifts from one guitar, his classic, to a more sleek all black styled one.

Joel lets the music and band take over while he makes the switch. He also leans in to whisper something to the stage hand.

Then as if nothing, Joel steps back into the limelight and illuminates the stage.

He walks around freely now that the stage stopped rotating. The current song is lively with a great beat and you hate how badly you want to bounce around to its infectious sound and the way Joel’s voice elevates the tune.

Caught up in the melody, you don’t notice until it’s too late. Joel walks over to the side of the stage directly facing you.

The guitar carries a large piece of this song’s bridge allowing his eyes to flicker across the crowd.

Until they return to your gaze. Stuck in his stare, Joel suddenly cocks his chin towards you.

Most of the crowd around you screams at his simple action. Even your best friend yells out a loud ‘holy shit’ but you stay quiet.

Not knowing how to react, all you do is stupidly shrug.

It’s awful, not even the best reaction you can give.

But Joel barks a laugh, a true laugh that thankfully happens at the tail end of the song, but your knees go weak.

You made him laugh.

On stage.

Heartache finds its way back into your system fiercer than ever and it poisonously tastes of adoration as well.

Joel transitions into another song. This time moving around the stage more towards the other side.

Yet, either his eyes flicker back to you, or he ends up walking to your section.

A part of you wonders if he’s doing this now to mock you, almost showing off how good he is knowing you’re here. You don’t believe Joel would be that heartless, but you hate how that option still lingers.

“He’s been walking over here a lot.” Someone even behind you even notices.

“Well he is old.” Someone yells back. “Maybe he’s just trying to keep his joints in shape.”

You almost want to snap back that he’s looking damn good for his age and in good enough shape that he kept you bent like a pretzel for practically a whole weekend, but you swallow back the protective bite.

You simply go back to enjoying the show, and it’s fantastic. You can’t deny that. Joel is a performer, keeps the crowd focused and engaged. He isn’t showy or dramatic but takes control of his presence on stage.

You think of the days seeing him at small bars around town, sitting on a stool playing till his heart's content.

Then he booked Stubb’s in Austin and when you watched him own that stage - you knew this was meant for him.

You’re reminded of that so vividly tonight.

“Alright, gettin’ to the end here.” He announces and the crowd sounds heartbroken.

“I know, i know,” he coos back soft and low. “But just wanted to say y’all have been lovely.”

So many shrill shrieks crack in the room and you almost roll your eyes.

Your best friend snickers beside you. “Gotta give it to him, man can work a room.”

She’s right of course. Though it’s still so surprising for a man grumpily reserved and introverted at times.

“This next one I hope maybe some of y’all will know.”

He strums the cords to Pearl Jam’s ‘Alive.’

What gained Joel traction online was his renditions and covers of various songs. He added his own country twang and twist to all the songs he covered.

Pearl Jam happened to be one of Ellie’s favorite bands. A hollow nostalgia rip through you, thinking of the two girls you miss.

The crowd ignites recognizing the familiar rock ballad now turned into the tune of a country song by Joel’s touch. He owns the solo and his husky voice melts into the lyrics beautifully.

Under your breath you sing along. You used to sing along when you cooked breakfast at his place or during drives with him and the girls.

It’s a beautiful fondness, yet one still barbed and so aching.

The song ends with the intense but small burst of fireworks that has the stadium cheering. You even clap.

“Appreciate y’all.” He addresses the crowd. “That’s a one of my daughter’s favorites so always means a lot when I get to play it.”

A smile you can’t fight tugs at your lips at the mention of Ellie.

“Now my daughters, they’re like night ‘n day.” Joel continues and your heart fills up so overwhelming fast for those girls.

“One of them, like I said, loves some Pearl Jam. Now my other daughter…” Joel pauses.

“She’s a big fan of someone by the name of Taylor Swift.”

The crowd absolutely explodes and you think you even feel the arena shake. Sarah honestly was a big fan and Ellie loved to tease her about it so much.

“Normally for this next and final song, I’d play ‘‘shake it off.’” Joel had a few songs of hers that he covered. That one was a fan favorite.

“But tonight, I'm itchin’ to play somethin’ else.” He continues.

You even perk up curious.

“So let’s end this on a high note, yeah? Sing along if you know this one.” Joel concludes.

Then the drums begin and the song bursts to life.

The stadium swims in a dizzying frantic energy.

The way Joel sings, he’s pouring his heart out. He’s memorizing. Utterly heart wrenching.

This is the finale, the end of this strange unreal dream you’ve wandered into. You wonder if he feels it too.

The song’s chilling bridge comes and Joel walks to stare directly at you.

I thought I had you figured out, can’t breathe whenever you’re gone. Can't turn back now, I'm haunted…

His eyes never leave yours.

The lyrics sear through your heart. You think about screaming the song to back him. He’s the one who left, the one who’s ghost lives among your ribs.

Then Joel hits the final high note, lets his voice carry the powerful finale, and the crowd roars in earth shaking excitement.

It’s magical, magnetic and utterly devastating in both the best and worst ways. Another few sets of indoor fireworks go off and the show ends.

Joel wishes the crowd a beautiful night and you’re left in a tangled web of emotions.

Your best friend immediately turns to see if you’re okay. While the crowd starts leaving, you and her take a moment. Out of the edge of your focus, you notice a crew member of the arena approaching the side of the rail. You don’t think anything of it.

“Excuse me,” until that crew member stands in front of you on the other side of the barrier.

Blinking absolutely confused you turn towards the man.

“I’ve been asked to escort you backstage.” He explains and your best friend gasps.

You wonder if the ground opened below and dropped you into a free fall.

Quickly you stammer out that you couldn’t. There's no way. Maybe the man must’ve mistaken you for someone else.

“Mr. Miller said you’d say something like that.” The crew member says reaching into his pocket to hand you something.

It’s a keychain.

Not just any keychain, but the one you gave Joel.

It’s a cartoon armadillo, dressed up as a cowboy, holding a guitar. When you first saw it you immediately thought of Joel. His daughters got a kick over it, giggled at how cute it was, and your heart had bursted when you saw it constantly among his keys.

Now the worn little cowboy creature sits waiting for you. It’s sweet marble like eyes stare up at you like a day hasn’t gone by since you gave Joel this.

Your best friend gasps, maybe not fully recognizing the keychain but understanding the significance.

You ask the crew member if your friend can maybe accompany you backstage, but he shakes his head a sad no.

“Then I…I can’t.” You shakily breathe out.

“Yes you can!” She interjects. “You gotta at least hear him out!”

You turn to her and find determination fiercely burning in her eyes as she nods.

“But what about you? I don’t want you or your parents waiting around for me.” You urge.

“Don’t worry about me or especially about them!” She reassures, even offering to wait for as long as you need.

You’re grateful, unbearably so and embrace her tight.

“You call me if he gets stupid. I don’t care backstage or not, I’ll go get you.”

You laugh watery at her well meaning threat and thank her. With a quick sweet goodbye, you follow the crew member along the rails until exiting.

The walk out to the backstage area fills you with a hurricane of emotions. What else could Joel say to you? A part of you wonders if he’s going to be cruel about this, having you simply show up to his dressing room just to laugh so arrogant and smug about how wonderfully famous he is now.

No, Joel isn’t that type of man.

Or you hope fame hasn't warped him into that type of man. Arriving at the green room door, your heart races loud in your ears.

The crew member knocks and before you can compose yourself, Joel opens the door.

He’s bathed in the golden amber light of the backstage room. It highlights all those grays again but also illuminates more of the time passed on his face. More winkles line against his eyes and when he fully stares at you, you wonder how different you might look in his eyes.

A jackrabbit like urge rushes over you to maybe flee, call your best friend to come get you.

“Thanks for comin’,” he mutters out. “Was worried ya wouldn’t show.”

You want to bitterly joke that you didn’t want to, but the armadillo keychain you hang onto holds the truth.

The door closes leaving you and Joel alone. Awkward stale air chokes the space.

You simply keep your attention on examining the room. His classic weathered jacket rests thrown over the couch. The rider is stacked with so many classic Joel snacks like his favorite jerky, popcorn, and even a few familiar favorite treats his daughters love.

Then your eyes catch the mug on the counter and you grin softly.

It must be filled with Joel’s classic drink - chamomile and ginger tea with honey for his throat.

“It’s…yeah. That’s it.”

You didn’t even realize you said anything out loud until Joel replies casuing your heart to jump. Finally your eyes find his.

It's a curse that your greatest heartbreak is this handsome. Exhaustion weighs in you and feels ancient, like if you carry the sum of so many lifetimes before.

“So…You wanted to talk to me?” You speak first, trying to keep yourself strong.

“I…uh yeah.” Answering so cryptically, his shoulders deflate. “How ya been?”

“Good.” You answer simple, curt almost.

There’s too many things that could’ve slipped out if you said anything more. Like how you selfishly kept one of his shirts and hate that the smell of him on it has faded like a wistful memory. Or how you can barely listen to Dolly Parton or Johnny Cash anymore because you’re reminded of Joel singing along to their songs.

So you turn the conversation back to him.

You ask how the girls are and Joel perks up, eyes shimmering with fatherly pride.

“Good, yeah they’re good. Uh, Ellie’s playing softball for the school again ‘n Sarah’s busy with student council. They’re still just bossin’ me all around.”

“As usual.”

You both say the same line at the same time and it chokes you up.

Joel inhales and his lips press tight, a hard line. The air tightens. No one says anything and now annoyance, frustration and maybe even a bit of panic claw at you.

“Joel, why am I here?” You ask him again.

Sighing, so weary and tired, he looks down.

Feels like ages pass between you and him. The faint noise of the stadium leaks into the room muffled.

You think of your best friend waiting and of your own heart waiting to end this.

“Look, it was good to see you,” you half lie. “You did great, hope you and the girls take care”

You turn to walk out.

That’s when he blurts out your name and you stop.

“I miss you.” He exhales.

“Miss ya so g’damn much. Every fuckin’ day.” He mutters.

When you turn back around, he stares at you unwavering. You don’t know what to say.

“Seein’ ya out in the crowd…thought m’heart was gonna give out.” He barks a weak laugh.

“Almost stoppin’ the fuckin’ show just to make sure it was you… y’look beautiful as ever.” His eyes haze over slightly, almost nostalgic.

Suddenly a heated spark rips into your chest, jagged edged and angered.

“You broke up with me.” You snap, voice already raw.

“I know,” Joel nods. “Worst damn decision of m’life.”

Your lips tremble. Everything hurts like a live wire is burning up your veins.

“Then why? Why did you do it?” You croak. You want to scream, maybe even storm out and not even give him the chance to speak.

“What? Did Mr. Big Country Star hate having a partner that wasn’t famous too?” Venom leaks bitter and poisonous in your mouth, choking your throat.

“Y’know god damn well that ain’t it.” He snarls back hard.

“No actually I fucking don’t know Joel.” You reply with a fierce bite. “You so conveniently left out any real damn reason why you were breaking up with me.”

“I said our paths were going in separate directions.” He glares hard at you now.

“And that’s about it!” Your voice raises and you hate it.

The tears come quicker than you hoped for and you hate that more.

“No real explanation,” you exhale, wanting to stay as calm as you can. “You couldn’t even give me that…what else am I supposed to think?”

Even dabbing away your tears, your composure is slowly slipping.

“I couldn’t do this to you,” he breathes out and it’s broken. His eyes are shimmering obsidian pools.

“This life, all the fuckin’ mess that comes with dating someone in the limelight, I couldn’t just throw that on ya.” He explains and the truth rings out a quiet hum.

“And you didn’t think to talk to me about this?” You whisper out now hurt. “Joel, I thought we were a team.”

“We are- were.” He slips and corrects himself fast. “I just knew if we fuckin’ talked about it you wouldn’t have understood.”

“Understood what?” You’re frustrated and it leaks into your voice.

“That I didn’t want ya fuckin’ hatin’ me!” He finally screams the weighted truth.

Stunned quiet but still slightly confused, you ask Joel what he means.

Pain travels across Joel’s handsome face as his jaw clenches hard.

“This shit…it takes away a lot.” He croaks out. “Hell I’ve even missed things with the girls. Didn’t want ya sacrificin’ your life or wakin’ up one day and realizin’ how much you’ve lost ‘cause of me…couldn’t let myself do that to you.”

Your chest aches like a rocket got shot into you. You’re angry he took that chance for you to decide, but you understand.

Joel never wants to be the cause of pain to others, especially those he loves.

He agonizes so much over his decisions and how corrupting he believes he is. When in reality every action he takes you know simply stems from his endless deep devotion to keep those he loves safe.

His decision to end your relationship was him, in his own frustrating Joel way, trying to keep you safe. Even if it was from himself.

Your lips tremble and you cuss bitterly hard under your breath.

“You damn stupid man.” You hiccup. “I didn’t…I don’t care what life fame would’ve given me with you. I would never resent you. For better or worse I just wanted a life with you, that’s all I ever wanted.”

Through a few sobs, you wipe the tears fogging up your sight.

Before you can see it happening, strong sturdy arms suddenly wrap around you and shock you breathless. Curled in Joel’s arms, it’s like a sad coming home party and you cry even more.

“M’so sorry, my darlin’.” Joel whispers against your forehead.

“I hate you.” You don’t. Even on your hardest days, you never could.

“I know, hate my fuckin’ ass too.” Joel replies.

His arms squeeze you tighter.

“Never stopped lovin’ you. Never will.” His voice wavers and now your arms wrap around him.

“You left.” You whisper back so small while tears continue to prickle in your eyes.

“I know honeydew, ‘n I’ll never forgive myself for it.” He replies fiercely like a strike of lightning with its bright force. “Been a fuckin’ mess without ya. Tommy would be the first to agree and the girls too.”

You absorb his words, basking in the safe haven that is Joel. Hours, maybe days pass just in his arms.

“Please forgive me, baby.” He whispers hoarse against your head.

You nod a soft yes.

Because even the part of you that wants to yell and stubbornly say no knows the ultimate answer is, and always will be, him.

“Of course…I love you.” You mutter half dazed against his strong chest. “Love of my life.”

Pressed so close to him, you feel how hard he swallows and his arms squeeze you impossibly tighter against you.

He says your name and you hum out a soft noise.

“Marry me.”

Your eyes, which have sort of glazed over, snap open wide.

“What?” You mutter out, maybe think you misheard him.

“Marry me.” Joel repeats himself.

You practically squawk like a confused bird and scramble in his arms.

“Joel Miller, you can’t be serious?!” You shriek through the tears still lingering in your voice.

Your face snaps up to him. His face is composed, almost serene in a way as he look at you with molten eyes.

“Serious as that g’damn ring I bought ya.”

His words are a mumble but so soft and unwavering. Your soul leaves your body like you were thrown into a cold lake.

“You what?” You stammer out.

“Y’heard me.” He nudges his chin to you. “A ring. Bought it after you dropped everything to go take care of the girls when they got sick.”

Too many emotions overwhelm you and the tears return with a vengeance.

Joel, like a steady man in the storm, places his warm hand on your face to gather you back into his embrace. He places the softest kiss to the side of your head.

“We gotta have a chat about discussing your feelings with me more, Miller.” You manage to chide him through your tears.

“I know.” He mutters against your skin while he continues softly kissing you with utter tenderness. “‘N I’m not lettin’ ya go again.”

You squeeze him hard, trying to burn his memory into your arms worried you’re going to wake up and find this is just a heartbroken hallucination.

“Baby,” he begins.

“Hm?”

“Stay with me for the night.” He urges. “The bus got plenty of room-”

“Ooo, is this what you say to all your groupies, Mr. Miller?” You tease with a snort.

“Behave.” His hand playfully squeezes your hip but his underlying somber tone even with his chuckle ignites a familiar heat brewing in you of the times he’s reprimanded you like that before.

“No groupies.” Joel reassures you. “Only you sweetheart, only ever gonna be you.”

His words flutter into your heart and make a nest there.

Gently you draw back to stare at Joel. Your hand moves to his face, aching to just touch him. Even in his arms you’re waiting for him to vanish from your touch as if he’s a figment of your wrecked heart, a ghost of lovers past haunting you now.

But his stubble tickles against your palm. Running warm as usual, his face feels like a soft morning sun. Your thumb strokes his cheek and his eyes close, melting into your hold.

Gently you place a soft kiss against the corner of his lips.

Joel now tilts his head so he can deepen the kiss before you can even draw away.

It’s not a consuming passion that you expected. No frantic fierce clash of lips or an overflow from a year passed between you two.

Instead it’s a soft welcome home. It’s a kiss you’ve given him when he’s come home late or when you leave for work.

Because his blood, his soul, you believe are simply stitched into the very fabric of you. It’s like a piece of you is returning back to you, or maybe back to your other home with him.

“So you gonna stay with me?” He mumbles against your lips.

“I don’t know Miller, you haven’t even offered to sign anything for me. What kind of famous country singer are you?” You smirk against his lips.

He laughs, hearty, a true wild deep one sweeping you into its joy.

“Hell yeah I’ll fuckin’ sign something for ya, our marriage certificate.” He snaps in classic grumpy Joel fashion and you almost think about dragging him to a courthouse.

You text your friend a million apologies and even take pictures of all the signed merch you’re bringing back to her.

Now in the cocoon of Joel’s cozy bed on his tour bus, among the warmth sheets, you hold the ring up in the dim light inspecting it. Because of course your secretly romantic man kept the ring with him.

“You sure you weren’t keeping this around for someone else?” You ask.

“Fuck no.” He growls low. “S’yours…only yours.”

From behind his arms slide around you and you’re encompassed by his swallowing presence. His beard scrapes against your shoulder.

“If ya don’t like it, can get ya another one.” He mutters casually but hesitant softness peeks out from under his gruff tone.

“It’s perfect.” You reassure him.

It’s the ring Joel got you then and it’s the ring you want now and always will. You even tell him that.

The kisses places on your bare shoulder whispers of his devotion.

“Honey.” However, his voice now is hesitant and makes you pause on your ring inspecting.

“I gotta ask…but do ya have my armadillo keychain?” Joel asks with an utter somberness.

You burst out laughing and it shakes your body.

“Honeydew, I’m being serious!” He growls out. “Want that lil’ fella back!”

Wheezing with giggles you lean back against Joel, floating so blissfully floating in renewed adoration.

Twisting in his arms your lips find his.

“Tryin’ to distract me ‘cause you lost him, huh?” He mutters.

You snort, shaking your head.

“No I just love you so much, you dumb cowboy.” You tell him.

“Your dumb cowboy. For better or worse.” He vows, kissing you back firmer now.

“For better or worse,” you nod breathing into him.

In this carved out slightly cramped space it feels holy, sacred, chapel like. You’re even afraid it might be gone tomorrow morning. However, the ring on your finger is the steeled reassurance it isn’t going anywhere.

But, just in case, you gather this glory and Joel into your arms with the promise of never letting go.

[palant1r]

my boy Six!

He's got amnesia about his personal life from the gunshots but has other memories he can piece together to get an idea of his past. He's from the Western Shoshone nation, which is currently intermittently at war with the Legion, though that war has eased up as the Legion focuses its efforts on the NCR. He left home because he wanted to see the world, and being a courier allowed him to be a messenger between a ton of different tribal governments. Tribal governments after the war tend to use beads as currency, so he's got two very simple beaded necklaces as emergency funds.

He's a real smart cookie and has a silver tongue, and prefers to get out of situations without fighting if he can help it. This did not work out for him while trying to deal with families on the Strip, where despite fully intending to solve things peacefully, him and Veronica ended up having to beat their way out of both Gomorrah and the Ultra-Luxe.

Between his speech, lockpick and science skills, his ass is NOT being kept outta anything he wants to be in. And he loves being in locations and safes and systems and situations. Hates minding his own business.

He loves making friends, and started off his adventure just wanting to get his delivery back and then get back to his job, which he loves for the chance to meet new people and see new things. But the people he met along the way, from Boone's firsthand experience with Legion brutality to Cass's suffering at the hands of the current economic titans to Veronica's struggle to get the Brotherhood's head out of his ass, made him realize how much was at stake, and when he found out just how much power he had...well, Arcade's views on independence were the nail in the coffin, and Six has been fumbling around trying to figure out how the hell to overthrow three different governments and start a new one ever since.

He just joined the Followers of the Apocalypse, and is currently on fairly good terms with the NCR, though given how much they're dedicated to replicating settler colonialism there's no way he's letting them push past the Colorado.

He's a chronic junk hoarder, which has been made worse ever since he got the option to store shit at the Lucky 38. There is so much mac and cheese. So much armor. So, so much Sunset Sarsaparilla.

He's currently trying to use that Sunset Sarsaparilla to woo Arcade, and loves helping Arcade with his research.

hes my sweet cheese my good time boy and i am taking questions

[raayllum]

Anyways time to analyze this screencap

This was originally a split second clip from the Bardel projects' reel, although it's since been omitted... and interacted with online by some of the team / cat's out of the bag, so uh - here's the meta!

The first aim is to try to establish when this is taking place timeline wise (aka in which season and when). The second will be who I think this scene involves (which is Rayllum and I'm gonna explain why). Spoilers for 6x01 thanks to previous Cons and proceed with caution if you don't want any spoilers!

So 6x01, "Startouched," has Rayla and Callum embark to the Starscraper by the end of the episode alongside Stella. This means they will presumably not be reuniting with anyone else from the Main Cast until at least the season's midpoint (6x05) if not later (6x07-6x08), by which point the plot will likely be in full swing, even if Aaravos was not released by the season's midpoint. That means there may not be as much time for something that seems like a cute little filler moment as this seems to be.

Not impossible, but I think it's unlikely that this shot/scene is from S6 from a plot / time standpoint.

Another reason in this column is that we know Hat at least, but presumably the other Baitlings too, are with Soren and Zym when they go to Lux Aurea to meet up with Corvus again.

So there's no way, realistically, it could be in early season six. If it is in later season six, it means that Callum and Rayla succeed at the Starscraper / escape relatively unscathed enough with a small window between reuniting with the boys / Ezran and shit hitting the fan. It is a window, narrow, but not impossible

My early estimate could also be early S7 as, again, the latter half of the final season will be particularly intense, and I could see the characters trying to have some down time / make the best of a bad situation earlier on in the season when there's a bit more time, well, to let them try

As for the boat itself...

The first thing is that the boat is decorated quite prettily and prominently with roses, which just feels romantic. Stella is juggling and the Baitlings (who seem to be singing) seem to be putting on some small, endearingly silly sort of performance. possibly added by the two (Star arcanum?) birds we see. There's also a warm yellow-ish light source coming from the bottom of the picture and subsequently probably the upper middle of the boat, which makes me think of candles.

I'm willing to bet that this is a Rayllum moment since it just screams Callum being very sweet and romantic, and setting up this (maybe they have to take a boat and he wants it to be better, maybe it's just for fun) boat to try and distract Rayla because she doesn't really like them. I can't see Janai or Amaya being interested in a little animal circus performance, so that rules them out to me, and we hardly ever see Stella be separated from Rayla, even temporarily. So I think this being a Rayllum scene makes the most sense because of Stella's inclusion, and maybe it is Callum wanting to do something special for her, whether it's them officially getting back together, or just spending some time together even while the world is ending cause y'know, they missed out on two years of dates they could've gone on, and want to use some of the time they have left for that.

Stella is also juggling Adoraburrs, which have a tendency (presumably) to be primarily close to the Moonshadow forests, since we don't see the tiny ones anywhere else in Xadia, so it could even be a pit stop on the way back to the Silvergrove to get her and her family unghosted, perhaps (and all the more reason to try and take her mind off things).

My other consideration for a pair is Sorvus, since I could see Soren being silly and setting up the Bailting choir (he seems close to Hat in particular) and I think Corvus would be endeared by it, ultimately. That doesn't account for Stella though, and while Soren and Corvus are clearly friends/co-workers on the crownguard, they haven't had a lot of even teasingly romantic development, so I don't feel like the story is really gonna prioritize them heavily as a romance (especially because we have Karim/Miyana, Callum/Rayla, possibly Aaravos and someone in his past, Claudia/Terry breaking up and presumably getting back together, we're gonna get Runaan/Ethari back in these coming seasons in addition to Lain/Tiadrin, and there's always Janai/Amaya, of course). TDP already has a lot of romantic relationships in it, so I feel like Sorvus, if/when they do get together, would probably be a smaller moment later in the final two seasons, and they probably wouldn't get as big a focus as a scene like this seems to imply just from a pacing/character standpoint

Plus, Rayllum kinda has a thing with boats and important moments for them happening on said boats, but that is a meta for another day

[nikkento-writes]

Hi everyone! In celebration of the end of summer, I'm challenging myself to write a few different one-shots inspired by songs that I've personally had on repeat all summer. All of these works will contain smut, so please note the content warnings prior to reading and minors do not interact. Hope you enjoy!

Toro! Toro! by Remi Wolf [Aoi Todo x f!reader] Breaking news! International up-and-coming pop princess Luna Lux is causing quite the stir with her alleged boyfriend! Witnesses say the two were having loud sex well into the night until hotel staff had to take matters into their own hands. But who is this mystery fellow? Despite multiple accounts of being heard doing the deed behind closed doors, the pop star’s supposed boy toy continues to elude being seen by both the media and even her own manager! With his knack for disappearing into thin air, it sounds like this stud is a real sorcerer!

Too Sweet by Hozier [Kishibe x f!reader] (coming soon) When Kishibe's apartment gets flooded by a burst pipe, his underling from work, always eager to curry favor with the senior Devil Hunter, suggests he stays with you, the older sister, completely free of charge and without warning. Now, you're forced to temporarily live with the curmudgeon Devil Hunter who always comes home late, reeking of booze and women's perfume. Kishibe also has a hard time adjusting to living with a roommate, especially one as virtuous and wholesome as you. He soon finds out firsthand just how sweet you can be.

guess by charli xcx [Toji Fushiguro x f!reader] (coming soon) Your next-door neighbor is a pervert. You had your suspicions already with so many of your panties mysteriously missing every time you hang them on the clothesline of your balcony. Now you're absolutely certain since you caught him red-handed, literally, with your favorite red lacey lingerie bunched in his fist. Sure, maybe you kinda sorta wanted him to steal them, but still. He needs to be punished.

Diet Pepsi by Addison Rae [Takuma Ino x f!reader] (coming soon) Ever since you were kids, your older brother's best friend has always been dependable; that's just one of the many reasons why you have the fattest crush on him. You'll never confess to him though, convinced that your love is unrequited. When he offers to give you a ride home from university, the car breaks down halfway into the trip, leaving the two of you stuck until the tow truck arrives in over an hour. In the backseat of his car, Ino surprises you by showing that your unrequited love isn't that at all.

Check by Flo [Nanami Kento x f!reader] (coming soon) After nearly six months of dating, you finally feel confident enough to tell your friends about the new guy you're seeing. Of course, given your track record, they're skeptical. They have no problem listing the number of duds you've unfortunately fallen for in the past and you try to dispel their worries to no avail. Now, with doubts planted in your head, convinced this is all too good to be true, you go home to your boyfriend, distraught. However, like the amazing man you know he is, Nanami reassures you that there's absolutely nothing you need to worry about.

[madou-dilou]

I really hope we get to see Callum go unhinged and war crimes and murder WITHOUT Aaravos's influence because he talks big about darkness but...

"Messed up inside and I mess up everything I touch". Callum, you have done literally nothing wrong ever, you don't deserve the emo Byronic hero lexical field. But do you know who's EARNED the right to say that?

saves his dying son. But has to kill his mentor for it. His beloved wife is horrified, she leaves him, breaking their family.

ends up shifting the blame on the very baby boy he sacrificed everything to save. He became a monster to save Soren and monsters don't make good parents even when they try.

But had he not saved Soren, he would have hated Lissa for preventing him to do so, and the family would have been broken regardless

inadvertently has Claudia taking charge of his and Soren's emotional well-being since he's too much of a workaholic to do so himself

wants to save two realms from starvation. He does. But not only he fails to rescue the two queens of Duren, his friend dies in his arms rescuing him.

His only friend ends up blaming him for everything that ever went wrong before committing suicide. Viren tries to die for him instead but is rejected

He orders his son to kill the princes, Harrow's sons

He orders Claudia to choose to save the dragon egg over Soren if she is forced to choose. Which is understandable, after all Soren chose to be a soldier, and Viren has proven he was ready to do the same

He destroys Lux Aurea simply by walking in

Soren leaves him

He dies a horrifying death. Claudia, his sweet, treasured daughter, goes through unfathomable sufferings to bring him back, to the point that he realises the only good he can do for Claudia, for Soren, for the world, is to leave it. The world is better off without him and he finally knows it

He tries to apologise to Soren but realises it will only harm Soren even further

He commits suicide.

Meanwhile, what has Callum ever done wrong ?

Crushing already dead slugs.

Come on.

[snapghoul]

Songs I think Johnny Cage actually listens too.

✰ Note: I love “International Love” being his unofficial theme song, it’s funny. This is just a collection of songs I think represent him and songs he has on his playlists. Some have headcanons for funzies.

✰ Head cannon: Johnny gets his music taste from his mother, It was one of the only ways to bond with him because of her job. Favorite memories are him singing with her in the car. Has old cassettes his mom made for him, refuses to get rid of them.

– ⭑ –

Head Over Heels & Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For Fears

Voulez-Vous, Money, Money, Money, Super Trooper & Slipping Through My Fingers - ABBA

✰ His mother played Slipping Through My Fingers on their way home from his high school graduation, and they both ugly cried.

Blue Monday - New Order

Sunglasses At Night - Corey Hart

Bohemian Rapsody, Another One Bites The Dust, We Will Rock You, Killer Queen, Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy - Queen

Paint It Black & Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones

Girls On Film, Hungry Like The Wolf, Rio & The Wild Boys - Duran Duran

Sabotage, Fight For Your Right, Intergalactic, No Sleep Til Brooklyn - Beastie Boys

✰ Listens to BB while he is training. Something about them make him want to beat the shit outta his punching bag.

Enjoy The Silence & Never Let Me Down Again - Depeche Mode

Devil Went Down To Georgia - The Charlie Daniels Band

Sunburn - Fuel

Love Shack - The B-52’s

✰ His mother's favorite song. Listens to it when he’s feeling nostalgic.

Black Betty - Ram Jam

Enter Sandman, For Whom The Bell Tolls, One, Master Of Puppets & Lux Æterna - Metallica

✰ Johnny is a sleeper Metalhead; one would never know he is until someone walks in on him listening to it. He had his wrist broken in a pit. Will white girl dance to metal and rock music.

Lonely Day, Chop Souy!, Sugar & Violent Pornography - System Of A Down

Welcome To The Jungle, Sweet Child O’ Mine & Paradise City - Guns N’ Roses

The Chain, Go Your Own Way & Dreams - Fleetwood Mac

Super Massive Black Hole, Knights of Cydonia & Starlight - Muse

Punk Tactics - Joey Valence & Brae

✰ “I am the King and You’re just a pawn. Who’s got the high ground now, Obi-wan?”

[anonymousewrites]

Adolescent Antichrist (Book 6) Chapter Eleven

Father Figure! Lucifer Morningstar x Teen! Reader

Demon! OC x Reader

Chapter Eleven: Someone’s gotta keep Things from going to Hell

Summary: Lucifer finds the answer to God's retirement. God has other plans, and an era comes to an end.

Mouse Note: I'm so sorry this is late I forgot to post it! (Family creates chaos, as I've found)

            “(Y/N), I found the answer,” said Lucifer, grinning ear-to-ear.

            “Answer to what?” said (Y/N), not looking up from their work.

            “God’s retirement,” said Lucifer proudly.

            “My beach idea?” said (Y/N).

            “No,” said Lucifer. “That would be my retirement as God.” (Y/N) laughed. “No, I listened to what He needed. I realized only one thing would be truly fulfilling.”

            “What?” asked (Y/N), actually looking up. This made them curious.

            “Come to Lux tonight and find out!” said Lucifer, turning away.

            (Y/N) groaned. If he’s being dramatic and mysterious, that can’t be good.

            Undoubtedly, though, they were going.

l

            Lucifer eagerly waited at the bar of Lux, and (Y/N) gave themself way too many maraschino cherries than would usually be used in a Shirley Temple.

            “Lucifer!” greeted Amenadiel as he entered and walked down the empty stairs. God sood beside him. “Why’d you call us here, brother?” He looked at (Y/N). “Good evening.”

            “Hey,” said (Y/N), waving and taking a sip of their drink.

            “What is that?” asked God curiously.

            “Give me a second.” (Y/N) grabbed the ingredients again. “This is better than wine, I can tell you that.”

            “How do you know that?” said Lucifer.

            (Y/N) ignored him and poured God a drink as God smiled. God took a sip and nodded.

            “Delicious,” He agreed.

            “I know, right?” said (Y/N), grinning.

            “Now, son, why are we here?” said God, looking at Lucifer.

            “Well.” Lucifer straightened and smiled. “After finally listening to what Dad’s been telling me all along, I realized there’s only one thing that’s gonna make His retirement fulfilling. So I enlisted Gabriel’s help to make it happen.”

            (Y/N) and Amenadiel looked at Lucifer in confusion.

            “Did you know our sister can deliver a message anywhere?” said Lucifer. “And I mean…anywhere.” He gestured to the stairs behind them.

            Everyone turned around. They stared.

            The Goddess of All Creation, God’s ex-wife, Mistress of the Universe—Missy (in (Y/N)’s mind)—stood before them. She smiled and walked towards them.

            Amenadiel looked at Lucifer, who nodded softly. That was really their mother.

            “Mother?” said Amenadiel as she stepped towards them.

            “Hello, my sweet boy.” She smiled. Her smile fell slightly. “Husband.”

            “Wife.” God was just staring at her. This was the first time He’d seen her in person for millennia. He moved towards her.

            “Lucifer, how?” whispered (Y/N).

            “Well, it wasn’t easy,” said Lucifer. “Mom says she only has enough juice for this one time.”

            “I never thought I’d see you again,” said God.

            “I never thought I’d see you retire,” said Missy.

            “Hm.” God smiled slightly. “Well, like I’ve always said, it’s a tough gig. But you understand that now that you’re doing it.”

            “I don’t find it nearly as difficult as you made it out to be,” denied Missy, but there was no malice in her words.

            God chuckled and smiled. “Then clearly you’re better at it than I ever was. No surprise in that.”

            Missy smiled at Him. “Well, I must admit, though, it does get lonely at the top.”

            “Lucifer, you don’t have to become God anymore,” whispered Amenadiel as God and Missy spoke quietly to one another.

            Cute reunion, thought (Y/N).

            “I found out Dad’s not losing His powers,” said Amenadiel.

            (Y/N) looked at Amenadiel and frowned. “What?”

            “Michael was gaslighting Him,” said Amenadiel.

            I really hate him, thought (Y/N).

            “It’s all been inside his head,” said Amenadiel.

            “Michael?” Lucifer scoffed. “Well, he won’t get away with that sort of thing when I’m in charge.”

            “Brother, do you hear what I’m saying?” said Amenadiel. “Dad’s fine. He can keep being God. Everything can go back to normal. Everything.”

            “Can we still do something about Michael?” muttered (Y/N). Michael seriously needs to be humbled.

            Lucifer’s eyes drifted to God and Missy, who leaned in to kiss one another. The reunion was going very well. (Y/N) smiled to themself.

            “We can be a family again,” said Amenadiel softly to Lucifer.

            Lucifer chuckled wryly. “Wonderful. Except for the part where I don’t get to become God and prove that I’m worthy.”

            Ah, so that’s what it’s about. His self-esteem. (Y/N)’s gaze softened. “Dad.” They touched his arm. “You are worthy. Of everything. You don’t need to prove it to anyone.” They squeezed his hand. “You just need to see it yourself.”

            Lucifer looked at them, and he smiled. If only he could see himself the way they saw him. He wasn’t good enough for them. Not nearly enough.

            “Lucifer. Amenadiel. (Y/N),” said Missy. They all looked at her. She and God were holding hands, standing together like a loving married couple should. “We’ve made our decision about God’s retirement.

            Lucifer put a smile on his face. “Ah, sunny Florida? Silver City?” He tried to clear away his self-doubts.

            “Actually…” Missy looked at God with a gentle smile. “We decided…we’re moving to my universe.”

            Amenadiel and Lucifer’s smiles fell. (Y/N) stared in surprise.

            “What?” said Amenadiel. “But you’re…both here.” He swallowed. “Together.”

            “Yeah,” said Lucifer faintly.

            “You’re just gonna…leave us again?” said Amenadiel. He blinked as his eyes burned. “Without any ability to come back?!”

            “Your mother spent a long time in my world,” said God gently. “It’s my turn to spend time in hers.”

            “Dad—” Lucifer stammered over the word and swallowed. Suddenly seeing this change, something he had never aimed for or truly wanted, meant too much. It was too painful. “A-A word, please.”

            God nodded. He cupped Amenadiel’s face gently, and Amenadiel gazed back at Him tearfully. God walked towards Lucifer’s at the other end of the bar.

            (Y/N) watched them go. They knew this was the end. God was leaving. Even if Michael was interfering, God had decided to move on. He wanted to do something new with his life. (Y/N) respected it. They also felt an ache in their heart. For the father Lucifer and Amenadiel had repaired their relationship with leaving. For the father all of the angels would miss. For the God the world wouldn’t know they were saying goodbye to. For the new family member (Y/N) would remember forever.

            They hoped they could carry on His kindness and compassion for the rest of their life. It was the least they could do for His memory and His legacy.

            Missy kissed Amenadiel’s forehead softly, promising him that he’d be alright. She hugged him tightly. “I am so…so sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye last time.”

            “No, I never blamed you, Mom,” said Amenadiel.

            “No.” Missy chuckled and smiled. “Of course you didn’t. My kindest, wisest, most perfect son. And now the perfect dad.”

            “I’m far from it,” said Amenadiel. “But…I’m trying my best.”

            “That’s what makes you perfect,” said Missy. She hugged Amenadiel again.

            With God and Lucifer, God paused after they had much of their conversation. They had said almost everything that was needed. But God still had a few more words He knew Lucifer deserved to hear.

            “At the family dinner…you were right,” He said. Lucifer looked at Him in confusion. “I could have been a better father to you.”

            Lucifer chuckled to disguise the sob that wanted to force its way out. “Well, now you forego your mysterious ways. Just as you’re leaving…?”

            “No need for them anymore now that I’m retiring,” said God. “Which means…I can say something I’ve wanted to for a long time.” Lucifer stared. “I love you, son. And I am very proud of the man you’ve become.”

            Lucifer’s lips quivered, and his heart leapt for joy. God hugged him. Lucifer sobbed and hugged Him, still a boy who needed a hug from his father.

            Lucifer swallowed. “I think Amenadiel might like to hear that, too.”

            God chuckled and held Lucifer just a little bit tighter before letting go. “I already told him. It was an emotional round of golf.” He smiled at Amenadiel and Missy, who had finished saying their goodbyes.

            “Time to go,” said Missy. “My universe needs me.” She hugged Lucifer goodbye, and God hugged Amenadiel.

            When they let go, Missy looked at (Y/N). “(Y/N).”

            (Y/N) stiffened nervously. They felt like they were intruding on a private moment. “Yes?”

            “I’m sorry again. For threatening you the last time we met. It was wrong of me,” said Missy. “And I’ve grown.”

            (Y/N) smiled at her. “I forgive you. I know you were just…confused about what to do.”

            “You’ve grown up. You’re much stronger than last time.” Missy looked at Lucifer and smiled. “You should be proud of your child.”

            “I am,” said Lucifer.

            “He’s a great dad. I wouldn’t be who I was without him,” said (Y/N). “I’m happy to be a part of this family…Grandma.”

            Missy grinned and hugged (Y/N). They hugged back. God joined a moment later.

            “Goodbye, (Y/N),” He said. “It was wonderful to meet you. I know you’re going to great things as you continue to grow.”

            “Goodbye,” said (Y/N), hugging Him. “I’m going to miss you…Grandpa.”

            God chuckled. Missy stepped back. God squeezed them a moment longer and whispered, “Take good care of things.” He stepped back.

            (Y/N) smiled. “Someone’s gotta keep things from going to Hell.” They grinned, trying not to tear up themself.

            “Indeed,” said God, chuckling. “And who better than you?” Missy smiled and took His hand. The pair walked a few steps away.

            “Dad, wait,” called Amenadiel. God paused and looked back. “You forgot to name your successor.”

            God smiled. “You’ll figure it out.”

            “Back to your mysterious ways already,” said Lucifer, still swallowing back tears. (Y/N) hugged him, and he hugged them back. They watched God and Missy with a bittersweet ache in their chest.

            “All part of my plan,” said God.

            “Plan…” said Lucifer softly.

            God and Missy went to the stage of Lux and drew back the curtains to reveal a shining golden light. Beyond it was a field of green—Missy’s universe waiting.

            “How much of this was your plan?” said Lucifer, looking at God.

            He chuckled mysteriously.

            “Goodbye, my loves,” said Missy.

            They stepped forward, and the curtains fell closed behind them. God and Missy were gone.

            Lucifer and Amenadiel let out long sights. (Y/N) pulled Amenadiel into the side hugs they were giving. They all stood in silence, letting the moment pass on its own.

l

            “How is he?” asked Chloe quietly.

            (Y/N) had invited her over as Lucifer just stared out over LA from the penthouse. They knew he needed support, and they wanted every piece of support he had. Amenadiel had his son and Linda to help him. Lucifer had them and Chloe.

            “It’s bittersweet,” said (Y/N). “I think he just needs us to be there with him.”

            Chloe nodded, and the pair walked towards Lucifer.

            “Hi,” said Chloe softly.

            “I brought Chloe, Dad,” said (Y/N).

            Lucifer nodded and smiled slightly. “Thank you.”

            “How are you holding up?” asked Chloe.

            “Oh, nothing lasts forever, I suppose,” said Lucifer.

            “Do you need anything?” said Chloe.

            Lucifer shook his head. “Just time.”

            “Alright,” said Chloe. “But (Y/N) and I are here.”

            “Forever,” said (Y/N), smiling. “Because family is the one thing that lasts forever.” They tapped his heart. “There.”

            “That was cheesy,” said Lucifer.

            “I try to be nice, and that’s what I get,” sighed (Y/N). Lucifer chuckled and hugged them from the side. Chloe shook her head in amusement.

            Flap! “Lucifer!”

            Lucifer groaned and turned around. It was Remiel.

            “Where is Father?” said Remiel.

            “Uh, excuse us, we were having a moment,” grumbled Lucifer.

            “Where is He?” repeated Remiel.

            “Gone. Retired. Eternally unavailable,” said Lucifer.

            “Did He name His successor?” said Remiel.

            “No, He said it was up to us to figure it out,” said Lucifer.

            “What’s the matter?” asked (Y/N).

            “Can we talk?” Remiel glanced at Chloe and (Y/N). “Without the child and human?”

            “No,” said Lucifer. “Whatever you want to say, you can say in front of both of them.”

            “So be it,” said Remiel distrustfully. “Upon returning to the Silver City, I discovered something alarming. Michael’s been gathering support from the others.”

            “Support for what?” said Chloe.

            “Don’t tell me…” groaned (Y/N), narrowing their eyes.

            “Michael wants to be God,” said Lucifer. “The sneaky bastard. I bet this was his plan all along.”

            The shadows around (Y/N) waved back and forth angrily as they shifted. They hated the idea.

            “If it’s up to our brothers and sisters, it looks like he has a good shot,” said Remiel. She paused. “Which is why, and I cannot believe I’m saying this…” She took a knee. “I am backing you, Lucifer. I may not like you, but I hate Michael even more.”

            It’s like the presidential elections, thought (Y/N).

            “Now there’s a ringing endorsement for my campaign poster,” said Lucifer, not disparaged by the slight insult.

            Remiel stood and nodded. “Michael would never suspect I’d take your side. So, I’ll find out what he’s up to.”

            “I think if I just get another chance to hit him we’d be fine. I’m like…3-0 against him. 4-0 if you count the family dinner,” said (Y/N).

            “The Apocalypse does not count as a win, you are not going close to him,” said Lucifer firmly.

            (Y/N) huffed. They really wanted another chance to hand Michael’s ass to him. They hadn’t gotten a proper chance after the Apocalypse.

            “Whatever Michael’s up to, it can’t be good,” said Chloe.

            “And knowing my brother, he won’t be wasting any time,” said Lucifer. “So, if anyone notices anything, let someone know immediately.”

            Chloe nodded.

            (Y/N) nodded firmly. Michael would not win. Not with them around.

Taglist:

@sammyscreencaps-13

@grippleback-galaxy-galaxy

@scarlettqueen190

@ziro-the-null-god

@sammy-13

@zeros-rot

@ceridwyn3

@technikerin23

@poetoflawed

@slytherinroyalty16

@ilse235

@theurbannoodle

@lookitseddie

@amberforest08

[anotherrosesthatfell]

What if Palette and Lux switch role but the plot is still the same? Lux framed Palette but she is the protagonist and she created a villain which is Palette.

Well this is an interesting ask :D

Guess we having Lux as the main character again, I love that-

Anyway let's talk about Palette first because he's the villain.

After he was accused for bullying Lux. Palette was sent to Reaper house to get better disciple. Since the plot stay the same, maybe Nim decided to let Lux be the protagonist meanwhile Palette be the antagonist.

Palette have an advantage which is Nim resetting the world. Unfortunately for him everytime he tried to kill Lux, it's either Lux kill him out of self defense or execution. Damn Palette really not good at both roles because he keeps on dying- so yeah he died for 221 times.

His personality stay the same. That little insecure boy with foul mouth-

Moving on to Lux, my sweet baby!!! <3333

Look how amazing she is :333. Yes favoritism is real, after all even in original she's the villainess but a main character because the story is from her perspective ☺

Anyway- After Lux framed Palette, the plot is as usual. Lux meet with Merciless, help him and made a deal with Corrupted Nightmare. What a lovely protagonist 😊.

Yes Lux is the perfect protagonist, she can win this game easily and in fact she won it many times but Nim was the one who being unfair and reset the timeline everytime Lux won-

[lesbiangummybearmafia]

Spoilers... on the last two episodes. More under the cut.

Ok first I have talk about the whole Turner situation. When she walked up to the whole Russell's clan like she thought she own the place on the arm of Colonel Sanders. I was like oh no she didn't... but well she did. I didn't like watching the color drain from Bertha's face though. Too bad she doesn't have Evil Queen magic, because she could of conjured up a fireball and throw it at her!! 😈

Wtf is Turners issue anyway with Bertha? Was it because she fired her, throw her out on her ear. Or could be revenge because she couldn't seduce George? Which it's like please bitch he has Bertha why oh why would he want your sorry ass. When she showed up in his bed naked I remembered thinking wow pathetic and desperate move there.

I wonder if Bertha going release the information of Turners ture identity out and ruin her? I think she may if Turner keeps messing with her!! Why do people mess with Bertha she will make them sorry, idiots.

Does anyone think that this new woman Oscar interested in could possibly be a lesbian? The reason I think this is Aurora mentioned that she has a female companion that goes everywhere with her. Now why we haven't met this female companion is beyond me. But it made me think, also wouldn't that be the best solution.

I'm really liking Marian with Dashiell Montgomery. I wasn't sure at first but so far I really like him. Now his daughter on the other hand, well she seems creepy and has anger management issues.

I'm so happy Peggy's back working for Aunt Agnes. I really liked her being at the house all the time.

They need to find a really good man for Gladys. Like her perfect dude! I really like her and I don't want to see them do her wrong.

Oh Larry needs to stop fucking Melania Trump!! Omg I thought that was such a slutty move when they bearly know each other she's already going to sleep with him. Especially back then. When Bertha wants it stopped and ask George to talk to Larry. I hate it when George all with the bullshit "boys will be boys" line. I started thinking about that, I can only imagine how different the world might be if men, young men in particular hadn't been allow to get away with shit just because they happen to be men. If they had been held up to the same high standard as women and young women back then. Larry can have sex with as many women as he wants as long it does bring shame to the family name. But Gladys couldn't even sleep with one guy before she's married or she would be considered wholly unworthy of marriage. 🙄 I really think everyone really needs to sleep with the partner you're going to marry!!! Especially then when being married was forever! Bad sex life for decades... no thank you!

But back to Larry and that woman whatever her name is. She gotta go, she's annoying, possessive, I'm sorry gonna say it too old for him (he looks like he's with his mom when they stand next to her. Never a good look). I don't know I just don't like her.

I personally want to watch Bertha crush Mrs. Astor like a bug. Bitch thinks people should just do whatever she said. No, Bertha don't play that way!!

Ok seriously George needs to buy Bertha a huge bouquet of flowers or some super lux piece of jewelry. Because no he didn't do anything wrong but he should of told her sooner so she didn't caught out by that gold diggin bitch. Who wouldn't of been able to make it out to be something it wasn't! Dumb ass doesn't he know anything happy wife, happy life! Because I do not like seeing Bertha upset, crying, sad, feeling like her husband may of betrayed her trust in one of the worst ways!! Just breaks my heart seeing her cry. 💔 Just want to smack George upside the head. Dude you have more money than God, do sometimes super special for your wife!!!

Oh Aunt Ada and the Preach man is just too sweet!! 😍 Aunt Agnes better not mess it up. We all know he's not up to Aunt Agnes standards, but I don’t think he needs to be. It's not like with Marian where that need for money is so great. With Aunt Ada, a man that's not rich wouldn't be an issue. I'm pretty sure the Preacher man makes enough for the both of them. Aunt deserves a romantic love in her life. She's so kind, sweet, loving, she just wants happiness for everyone she loves. She'd be friends with everyone if Aunt Agnes would let her. See she'll be the perfect preachers wife. I wish i.had an Aunt Ada in my life!

[rinhaler]

luxe, you shining diamond, hellow! <3 i am here to gift you the prettiest flowers💐🌹🪷 and wish you the most beautiful day/night ໒꒰ྀི ∩ ⸝⸝ ∩ ꒱ྀིა how are you doing today?

i wanted to say that i've read your oliver aiku frat boy fic and i am still sitting on reblogging it 'cause i can't articulate my thoughts about it . . . it was so good, probably one of the best fics i've ever read ! god, oliver is so disgusting, i need him bad <3

Aaaaah hi hi darling!!!! Thank you for the flowers 🥹 I was about to go to sleep but I’m glad I checked my inbox first hehehe 💕 also omg that fic 😭 it’s so so gross but I love him ?? The idea was rotting my brain for so long I’m so glad I got it out and it ended up being my first fic on this blog so it was the beginning of my fresh start, it has a special place in my heart for sureeee omg I’m so glad you enjoyed it and read it thank you so much ur so sweet to meeeee 🤧🤧

I Hope ur day has been as lovely as u 💗

[asmo-cosmetics]

for your game i’m gonna send two

leviathan/lucifer

lucifer the dom and levi is the sub but it’s always very soft with lots of rope work

you already know my answer to this but Hello everyone else. welcome to me and lux having correct opinions time

well, duh / i can see it / IDK honestly / haha. no / girl WHAT

literally almost no role switching with them, ever

mostly levi bottoms for him but sometimes subtops if lucifer thinks that's what he needs

levi's such a good sub. so obedient and sweet and trusting, even if he's embarrassed. the most he ever acts up, he's being bratty because he wants to be put in his place.

they ARE soft... lucifer just thinks levi's so cute with how shy he is and how easily pliant, he just wants to take care of him. and embarrass him even more with pet names and compliments.

levi's definitely one of those subs who lives to hear "good boy." lives for it. makes him weak in the knees.

(send me obey me boys + d/s headcanons?)

[beansonbread2]

BEANSONBREAD AWARDS 2023 - BEST ALBUM

AWARD NO.2 - BEST ALBUM OF 2023

PAST WINNERS

2022 > Jockstrap - ' I Love You Jennifer B' (see full list HERE)

2021 > Self Esteem - ‘Prioritise Pleasure’ (see full list HERE)

2020 > The Flaming Lips - ‘American Head’ (see full list HERE)

2019 > Self Esteem - ‘Compliments Please’ (see full list HERE)

2018 > Kero Kero Bonito - ‘Time ‘n’ Place’ (see full list HERE)

2017 > Richard Dawson - ‘Peasant’ (see full list HERE)

2016 > Blood Orange - ‘Freetown Sound’ (see full list HERE)

2015 > Holly Herndon - ‘Platform’ (see full list HERE)

2014 > FKA Twigs - ‘LP1′ (see full list HERE)

2013 > These New Puritans - ‘Field Of Reeds’ (see full list HERE)

2012 > Django Django - ‘Django Django’ (see full list HERE)

2011 > Shabazz Palaces - ‘Black Up’ (see full list HERE)

2010 > These New Puritans - ‘Hidden’ (see full list HERE)

2009 > Animal Collective - ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion’ (see full list HERE)

2008 > Wild Beasts - ‘Limbo, Panto’ (see full list HERE)

2007 > Animal Collective - ‘Strawberry Jam’ (see full list HERE)

2006 > Safetyword - ‘Man’s Name Is Legion’ (see full list HERE)

2005 > Animal Collective - ‘Feels’ (see full list HERE)

2004 > Devendra Banhart - ‘Rejoicing In The Hands’ / ‘Nino Rojo’

2003 > Dizzee Rascal - ‘Boy In Da Corner’

2002 > The Streets - ‘Original Pirate Material’

2001 > The Beta Band - ‘Hot Shots II’

2000 > Outkast - ‘Stankonia’

1999 > The Beta Band - ‘The Beta Band’

1998 > The Beta Band - ‘The Three EPs’

1997 > Radiohead - ‘OK Computer’

1996 > Beck - ‘Odelay’

—

THE RULES - No Re-issues, Live Albums, Compilations, or EPs.

—

SPECIAL MENTIONS for these things that don’t really live on the main lists.

Bulbils no.72 > 79

Bulbils ‘Map’

EP/64 'EP-64'

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WORTH A MENTION (in no order) - A bunch of albums i enjoyed but didn’t quite make the final lists and others i just didn’t hear enough to be considered properly. 

Matmos / Eartheater / Tkay Maidza / Xiu Xiu / Ashnikko / Arthur Russell / Spellling / Cornelius / Liv.e / John Bence / Daniel Blumberg / Thy Slaughter / Two White Cranes / Billy Woods & Kenny Segal / L’Rain / Callum Easter / Cleo Sol / Holly Waxwing / Doon Kanda / DELUXE100 / ‘Barbie’ OST / Khan & Neek / Mui Zyn / Steady Holiday / Jamie Branch / Mitski / Mac DeMarco / Slowdive / Underscores / Armand Hammer / James Blake / Dutch Uncles / DJ Brittle / Slug / The Go! Team / Sofia Kourtesis / Kali Uchis / Sampha / Yussef Dayes / Unknown Mortal Orchestra / King Creosote / Niecy Blues / Lankum / The HIRS Collective / Alexia Avina / Altin Gun / Sulka / Spektral Quartet, Julia Holter & Alex Temple / L.T. Leif / Maria BC / Tom Rasmussen / Wednesday / Tim Hecker / HMLTD / Andrew Hung / Blonde Redhead / Frost Children / Heavy Lungs / Fire-Toolz / Jim Legxacy / Durand Jones / Clark / Teenage Fanclub / Galen Tipton / Feeble Little Horse / Grouptheraphy / Grian Chatten / Asake / Speakers Corner Quartet / George Clanton / PJ Harvey / Jonatan Leandoer96 / Fenne Lily / Terry / The Coral / Modern Nature / Snooper / Gabriels / Little Dragon / Being Dead / Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist / Noname / Overmono / Olivia Rodrigo / Nation Of Language / Caro / Irreversible Entanglements / Devendra Banhart / Say She She / The Streets / Vanishing Twin / BC Camplight / Ethan P. Flynn / Withered Hand / ThisisDA / Sarahsson / Blanck Mass / Jadu Heart / Hotel Lux / Emily Breeze / Chloe / Feather Beds / Margaret Glaspy / Nature Of Language / WaqWaq Kingdom / Bo en / Patten’ / David Holmes / Belle & Sebastian / Cloth / Phoenix / The Golden Dregs  / Julie Byrne

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2023 RUNNERS UP (in no order)

Laurel Halo ‘Atlas’ 

Ryuichi Sakamoto ‘12’

John Cale ‘Mercy’

Felicita ‘Spalarkle’

Hyperdawn ‘Steady’

Moin ‘Paste’

Spencer Cullum ‘Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection 2’

MC Yallah ‘Yallah Beibe’

Alabaster DePlume ‘Come With Fierce Grace’ 

Kwes ‘Rye Lane’ OST

Bianca Scout ‘Heart Of The Anchoress’

James Yorkston, Nina Persson & The Second Hand Orchestra ‘The Great White Sea Eagle’ 

Sweet Baboo ‘The Wreckage’

ML Buch ‘Suntub’

RS Tangent ‘When A Worm Wears A Wig’

Blockhead ‘The Aux’

Martha Ffion ‘The Wringer’

Mark Jenkin ‘Enys Men’ OST

Yo La Tengo ‘This Stupid World’

Tennis ‘Pollen’

Bar Italia ‘The Twits’

Klein ‘Touched By An Angel’

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs ‘Land Of Sleeper’

David Brewis ‘The Soft Struggles’

Lorraine James ‘Gentle Confrontation’

Black Country, New Road ‘Live at Bush Hall’

Mandy, Indiana ‘I’ve Seen A Way’

Firestations ‘Thick Terrain’

Memotone ‘How Was Your Life?’ / ‘Illuminations Part I-III w/ Chris Yates’

Janelle Monae ‘The Age Of Pleasure’

Girl Ray ‘Prestige’ 

Vagabon ‘Sorry I Haven’t Called’

Gruff Rhys ‘The Almond And The Seahorse’

Yves Tumor ‘Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume..’

Sleaford Mods ‘UK GRIM’

Podcasts ‘Podcasts’

Noah Radley ‘Devoid Of A Contact Or Contextual Clues’

Deerhoof ‘Miracle-Level’

H Hawkline ‘Milk For Flowers’

Mary Lattimore ‘Goodbye, Hotel Arkada’

Jessie Ware ‘That! Feels Good!’

Feist ‘Multitudes’

Weird Wave ‘Lost Map Presents Weird Wave’

Blur ‘The Ballad Of Darren’

Avalon Emerson ‘& The Charm’

Roisin Murphy ‘Hit Parade’

Actress ‘LXXXVIII’

Amy May Ellis ‘Over Ling And Bell’

Jam City ‘Jam City Presents EFM’

King Krule ‘Space Heavy’

Peter Brewis ‘Blowdry Colossus’

Amaarae ‘Fountain Baby’

Death’s Dynamic Shroud ‘After Angel’ / ‘Keys To The Gate’ / ‘Midnight Tangerine’ / ‘Transcendence Bot’

This Is The Kit ‘Careful Of Your Keepers’

Decisive Pink ‘Ticket To Fame’

Travis Scott ‘UTOPIA’

James Holden ‘Imagine This Is A High Dimensional Space Of All Possibilities’

Willie J Healey ‘Bunny’

CHAI ‘CHAI’

James Ferraro ‘Concerto For Strings’

Sufjan Stevens ‘Javelin’

Shabazz Palaces ‘Robed In Rareness’

Bas Jan ‘Back To The Swamp’

Free Love ‘Inside’

John Medeski ‘The Curse’ OST

Brother May ‘Pattern With Force’

Langkamer ‘The Noon And Midnight Manual’

Uh ‘Humanus’

Patten ‘Mirage FM’

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MY TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 2023

50. Robbie & Mona ‘Tusky’

49. Lonnie Holley ‘Oh Me Oh My’

48. MF Tomlinson ‘We Are Still Wild Horses’

47. Oliver Coates ‘Aftersun’ OST

46. Joanne Robertson ‘Blue Car’

45. Yeule ‘Softscars’

44. Lil Yachty ‘Let’s Start Here’

43. Robin Allender ‘Underground River’

42. PinkPantheress ‘Heaven Knows’

41. ANOHNI & The Johnsons ‘My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross’

40. Joanna Sternberg ‘I’ve Got Me’

39. Bonnie Prince Billy ‘Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You’

38. Andre 3000 ‘New Blue Sun’

37. Kinlaw ‘WELD’

36. Memotone ‘Tollard’

35. Cleo Sol ‘Gold’

34. Mun Sing ‘Inflatable Gravestone’

33. Dorian Electra ‘Fanfare’

32. Bar Italia ‘Tracey Denim’

31. Panda Bear & Sonic Boom ‘Reset In Dub’

30. Kara Jackson ‘Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love?’

29. Avey Tare ‘7s’

28. Kate NV ‘WOW’

27. Kelela ‘Raven’

26. Danny Brown ‘Quaranta’

25. Jessy Lanza ‘Love Hallucination’

24. 100 gecs ‘10,000 gecs’

23. Christopher Bear & Daniel Rossen ‘Past Lives’ OST

22. Quade ‘Nacre’

21. Django Django ‘Off Planet’

20. Tirzah ‘trip9love…???’

19. Nourished By Time ‘Erotic Probiotic 2’

18. Das Koolies ‘DK.01’

17. Jockstrap ‘I <3UQTINVU’

16. Lana Del Rey ‘Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd’

15. Fever Ray ‘Radical Romantics’

14. Hannah Diamond ‘Perfect Picture’

13. Water From Your Eyes ‘Everyone’s Crushed’

12. Rozi Plain ‘Prize’

11. Young Fathers ‘Heavy Heavy’

10. Yaeji ‘With A Hammer’

9. Pozi ‘Smiling Pools’

8. Animal Collective ‘Isn’t It Now?’

7. Slauson Malone 1 ‘Excelsior’

6. Steve Mason ‘Brothers & Sisters’

5. The Lemon Twigs ‘Everything Harmony’

4. Oneohtrix Point Never ‘Again’

3. Caroline Polachek ‘Desire, I Want To Turn Into You’

2. JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown ‘Scaring The Hoes’

1. Squid ‘O Monolith’

[fenicenera83]

✶☽ Here we are with my new headcanons for Marius.

[I arrive a little late for Marius's Mondays and I'm sorry! But as promised here we are.]

From Marius' rooms in the castle there always came a delicate scent of roses. This is because Marius always kept a bunch on his desk. Red, shiny, velvety and full of perfume. It wasn't a gesture of vanity, and really not even of simple admiration for something so beautiful. No, for Marius, roses were an indissoluble bond with his Rome. With a mortal past, which had made him a happy man. Roses and their petals, when they covered Rome on events. Those days when his father took him by the hand and led him to discover the Eternal City. The rose petals in the public baths, where Marius loved to rest, or spend time with his brothers. Talking, joking about life, about the future. Rose petals, were in his sisters hair, distilled on his stepmother's neck. When she held him in her arms as a child, Marius remembered with nostalgia, he buried his nose in the crook of her neck, and that perfume enveloped him, leaving only sweetness and love. Roses are for Marius like walking again beside those he has loved and lost. That perfume is a litany of love, a poem of joy.

When Marius was a child, his father often took him with him, taught him names, laws, illustrious people, honor, family. Marius loved all this and fathered him immensely. While he hated that those walks sometimes brought them in front of slave sellers. Many times Marius's child's eyes had rested on them, and he had seen in them a reflection of himself. Very light hair, and eyes of an impossible blue. Marius observed, and brooded, small as he was, doubt was already growing inside him, the awareness of not being 'whole' in the eyes of most. He looked at his father and saw golden hair, and clear eyes, but they weren't like his. He didn't have that gold or that sky. He had the ocean and the gentle warmth of a candle burning at night. He wasn't like his father. He was like his mother. His father noticed the change in little Marius. Then he took him in his arms, lifted him up and smiled at him. And Marius could only laugh in turn. Then his father held him and stroked his hair and whispered to him: "Luceat lux vestra." (Let your light shine)

Marius was always ecstatic when he was surrounded by books. Now after millennia he had managed to develop an external self-control, but inside he was always a smiling child. But whether as a mortal man or as a young vampire, Marius had always been enthusiastic about knowledge. As a young boy, he ran from side to side, searching and collecting scrolls, with stories, research, poems, anything that could set his intellect in motion. And he spent hours, unable to tear himself away from the wonder of words written by another human being, yet so close to him, to his mind and to his heart. As a man he had become more selective, even more careful. Since he loved all knowledge, he didn't preclude anything, but he organized what to devote his interest to him first, then proceeding to study the rest. As a young vampire, he'd grown ravenous. Everything he set his eyes on, he wanted to learn, own, understand and experience. Being a vampire granted him this with extreme ease. So he often found himself asleep, among the scrolls, exhausted but happy, full of perspectives and ideas. He voracious of all that knowledge, bewitched by the courage and clarity with which the human mind can expand and indulge. To ourselves and to others. The smell of the parchments first, and then of the books, were a balm for his fatigue or for his disappointment. Those clean and black words on the paper, that familiar and deep smell, made him happy.

Thanks for reading =)

[strelitziareginaee]

FROM EPHEMER: ❛  i think things that i shouldn’t. i dream things that i shouldn’t. i want things that i shouldn’t and it’s all because of one thing; i do care about you.  ❜

“HYAAA~!!” 

In the midst of battle, Strelitzia thought of nothing beyond the sweet delicious lux waiting for her. Once she and Ephemer successfully took down the heartless plaguing the world they were sent to, they would be free to reap their rewards and bring them back to Daybreak Town. Together, they had been sent on a mission by the union leaders, the call being meant only for the two of them. Their talents complimented each other well, and the union leaders believed they would do well together as a duo. While Strelitzia was used to going solo on her missions, having company proved fruitful in the fact that she didn’t feel so lonely for once. It was nice to have someone to talk to in between exploration and battles. It felt never-ending, but with Ephemer at her side; one of the most powerful and talented keyblade wielders in Daybreak town, she felt she could do anything.

Her magic proved more powerful than her strength, something she relied on, as a burst of fire protruding from the tip of her keyblade was sent hurtling straight for the bat-like heartless, forcing it to take heaps of damage to its core. Then she kicked towards it, leaping up into the air to take it down the middle, her keyblade slicing through the creature until it split in two and disappeared in a burst of darkness. Lux spilled from its disappearing corpse, and she readily accepted her reward as the lux swirled around her and absorbed into her keyblade. Around her, the leftover darkness swirled around her and her keyblade in wisps of linky black as she stood there, catching her breath. 

It was then that his words captured her attention and she turned, bright teal eyes settling on the boy she had grown to respect. Those words were not something she expected to hear, not on the battlefield, so it would be foolish to not admit that she was caught off guard. She blinked, facing him head on now. He wanted something. From the way he said it, it was something he knew he shouldn’t have. Something that involved her. Why bring this up now? 

“Ephemer… What–” She started to say, but his last lingering words stopped her in her tracks, sucking the air straight out of her lungs. 

No one outside of her inner circle of friends – Elrena and Lauriam– ever told her such words before. Both had told her they cared about her, but it had never been filled with so much yearning and longing for something he believed he couldn’t have. It made her heart flutter, her stomach churning with butterflies trying to escape the cage inside her. Her gaze flickered across his for some kind of explanation, unsure if Ephemer was making a declaration of friendship, or… more.

She looked away, unsure of how to proceed. She had yet to extinguish her keyblade from her grasp, and sheepishly started to fiddle with the handle, picking at its coloring. She looked away, a subtle blush dusting her cheeks. Surely he meant it as a way of proclaiming his friendship to her. Why else would he say something like that so out of the blue when they had a mission to uphold?

“O-Oh, that’s… Uhm, thank you. I care for you, too. Y-You’re a really good friend, Ephemer.” She smiled bashfully. “ I’m happy to call you a friend! You’ve been so kind to me since the day we met…!” With her own declaration of friendship, she turned away to put her attention towards another oncoming heartless. “Uhm, we should go now.”  Just in time, too. She didn’t think she could continue such an embarrassing conversation!  

Still, she couldn’t resist walking away without a smile. It was nice to call one more person her friend. Maybe this meant that someday, she could have the courage to call a certain someone her friend, too…