#main tags because they were present in this fandom the most

[wyvolf]

erm. anyway

People are follow me that support and follow e-zillia/Izery/Otomophobia or whatever please unfollow and/or block me. I will not have those associated with him near me.

He has not changed a single bit and has shown that he pretty much refuses to. Often using his cancer* and autism as an excuse for his actions which is not the case.

Proper callout doc (its actually a carrd) soon explaining and showing everything there is about Otto. He should never be welcomed back if ever.

[johnny-depplyloveyou]

I know there are many bad takes about Gale on this site, but the worst takes I’ve seen on another social media site in another language are much more abhorrent than anything here tbh, the recent one I’ve seen even gets some popularity among his “fans”... They were basically saying it’s Mystra who made him the humble man he is now, without her influence on him he would be as egotistical as in his god ending, and more than a hundred of reblogs are all thanking Mystra for “training her lapdog so well” for them🤢

Did we even play the same game? Isn’t his god ending a direct result of Mystra making him think he will never be enough as he is, and he can only find his self-worth through gaining more power? Didn’t Tara say he’s not himself anymore and she would no longer be his companion in his god ending, she knew him long before Mystra made him her chosen, he was powerful enough before his relationship with Mystra, if he’s anything like god!Gale at the time wouldn’t Tara just leave him? I’d imagine he would have been more confident and had a more stable self-image if Mystra had never contacted him, therefore he didn’t even need the Gale of Waterdeep persona. He would always have been Gale Dekarios in that timeline. And people glorifying Mystra’s grooming and abuse towards him and unironically calling him “her lapdog” is just... I have no words. But what do you expect from an online space that’s infested with terfs and radfems? They just won’t recognize or acknowledge any abuse from women towards men...

[sleepinghypnos]

The Creed...

Chapter 1 - Penthouse

Genre: Smut

Tags: F/M, F/F/M, F/F/F/M, Facefuck, Throatfucking Rough Sex, Dirty Talk, Harem, Self-degradation, Masochism/Sadism(?), Cum Play, Piss Play

(The things in the tags will be present when the time needs for it.)

Disclaimer: This work is a fan-fiction and does not depict the person/people mentioned in the story.

A/N: You can self-insert if you want...

--

Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!

"What is it? I'm preoccupied, so make it quick." Vlad answered the call.

"Fine. Just send them to my house... but I will not be responsible if something happens to them." He replied with his slightly deep voice and end the call.

*Silenced Gunshot*

"Blame your competitor, not me." Vlad immediately packed up his sniper rifle and fled the scene while remembering what one of his close associates in the entertainment industry said few moments ago, he begged him to accommodate a number of female K-pop idols for the purpose of strengthening the bond between idols through a experimental project wherein they live together as Tenants, cameras will not be present just them living together and at the end of their time as tenants they will do an interview regarding the way of life living with other k-pop idols aside from their respective members. In this way, the fandoms of each k-pop group will stop fighting over trivial things on the internet and support other idols.

Vladimir Creed was a 26 year old Half-European and Half-American man. His parents died in a car accident when he was still a child and only his grandfather is his only family left. He's living a lavish lifestyle full of money, expensive cars and women...

His family or more like his grandfather founded a huge company in America and owns many stocks in the entertainment industry in Korea and since Vlad is not someone who actively makes himself noticeable or well-known, he parties without revealing his true identity to anyone with a few exception of course, he has few actual friends and all of them are also young masters of their own families just like he was and he rarely expresses his emotions so he has a hard time managing it.

In his typical days, he spends most of his time just relaxing in his penthouse, in which he bought himself with his own money. though it may seem strange since he parties every chance he get, he has a very unique talent and that is being a hired gun that even his grandfather didn't know.

And while relaxing, he usually goes naked after a shower because there is no one in the house, It's is personal space after all. His maids and butlers will only come if they were asked for and he cooks for himself.

His penthouse is in a small island near the coast and there is only one bridge connected to it. So, guests who'll visit the island can use the bridge without the need of boats.

...

Vlad arrived at his house but welcomed by cars parked near the main gate. "What the fuck is this?" He said to himself, he got out of his car to check what's going on then he remembered Eunseok, one of his close associates said few hours ago. "Now it makes."

Then he called one of the guards to let him pass, and so they did. He drove and the people blocking the path dispersed and he got in smoothly.

"Let them in, they are going to live here indefinitely." Vlad announced to the guards and went inside to change.

Most of the people outside the penthouse are already inside the living area, he saw the k-pop idols waiting for the master of the house.

"I'm Vladimir Creed, but you can call me Vlad. I'm the owner of this house, my friend already told me what you guys are going to do. So feel free live here." and he looked at managers of each of the group "There are places in the house that is not available, I don't care if they used the swimming pool, drink at the bar." Pointing at the wet bar near the kitchen. "Or anything, but, all of third floor is off limits because that's where my room is located."

The producer nodded and introduce the idols that will be living with him in the house.

He extended his hand for a handshake to ITZY's Yuna and Ryujin, Aespa's Karina and Winter, (G)-Idle's Soyeon and Miyeon, Red Velvet's Irene, Seulgi, and Joy, and Twice's Sana, Mina, and Nayeon which they received with a smile.

--

One day has passed, the girls are eating lunch in the long refectory table since they woke up late just like Vlad was and the maids and butlers were there to assist them.

After lunch, the Red Velvet and Twice members were gathered in the backyard, enjoying a beautiful sunny day by the pool. They were relaxing and chatting about their recent performances, when they suddenly heard a splash from the pool.

Curious, they all turned to see Nayeon filling up a water gun and aimed at them. Panic set in as they scream and run around the pool to avoid getting wet since they just want to enjoy the sun.

Running made them exhausted and they decided to have a friendly water fight. Joy and Seulgi teamed up against Sana and Mina, Nayeon and Irene. Laughter and screams filled the air as they chased each other around the pool, trying to get each other wet

In the living room, Ryujin and Karina were sharing a bucket of ice cream while watching a romantic K-drama. They were joined by Soyeon and Miyeon, who couldn't resist the delicious smell of the popcorn. They all cuddled under a blanket, enjoying the show and teasing each other about their favorite characters. Yuna and Winter are busy doing some tiktok challenge.

As the sun set, the members of ITZY, Aespa, and (G)-Idle joined their sun-kissed Seniors in the pool. They all gathered around the pool, sharing stories, and having a heart-to-heart conversation. For a moment, the backyard was filled with the sound of their laughter and friendship.

As the night came, they all gathered in the living room to watch a movie together. They munched on some snacks and cuddled on the couch, enjoying their time together. It was a perfect day off for all of them, a day filled with laughter, bonding, and memories that they will cherish forever.

Karina asked the butler where Vlad was and she was led to the study where he spends time if he's not doing anything.

When Karina entered the study, she was met with a tall, imposing figure staring at her from behind a large oak desk. Vlad's dark hair was slicked back, and he exuded a sense of power and mystery. Karina couldn't help but feel a pull towards him, she already know that this man is handsome the moment she land her eyes on him earlier in the morning.

"Um, Sir? I just want to asked if we can have some of the liquor in the wet bar." She asked while slowly approaching him.

"Didn't I told you girls that you can do whatever you want with the wet bar?" He answered and walked to towards her. "And you're asking me when you already half drunk."

Karina got embarrassed but it faded when a faint smile appeared on Vlad's lips, she was mesmerized. "Are you sure that's the reason why you're here?" he was close to her, Karina needs to look up just to meet his eyes.

Karina pulls him for a kiss and reciprocated it with the same intensity. It started as vanilla kissing until in turns into something like animals in heat and eventually began to make out with insane passion. Vlad grab her waist to pull her closer, her hands were hugging his neck.

He noticed she wanted more and so he obliged and brought one hand to feel up her breasts which made Karina moan between their kisses.

Their kiss was passionate, Vlad keeping her in his arms while she let herself be consumed by him. It lasted for few minutes until they both stopped quietly staring at each other.

"D-did you like it?" Karina said while catching her breathe.

"I did, your lips are sweet with a hint of whiskey... you really were half drunk." Brushing his thumb on her lips. "Want me to lead this time?" he asked her while caressing her face.

"Yes, please." Karina said.

“Do you think could handle it?” Vlad responded seemingly showing concern.

Karina nodded. “I did have my own few boyfriends before...”

“I won't doubt it but... I get rough. Really rough. I'm sure it's something you haven't experience before..."

“You are worrying about me and that's sweet but I think I'm gonna be fine... please don't hold back and just give it to me.” She said while making a serious face.

Vlad's hand roam towards her neck and stayed there and slowly gripping it. Her cunt throb as they kiss again and slowly stripping each other’s clothes off, his hands still in her neck slightly choking her.

As their bodies got liberated from their clothing, Vlad immediately attacks Karina's big breasts making her moan, her hands couldn't resist to push his head closer. His other hand goes to Karina's precious treasure and starts invading it.

"This fucking slutty tits of yours keeps leering people on." Vlad said while groping her breasts and assaulting them with his tongue...

"Fuck! Yes! It feels good, sir." Karina said.

Which made Vlad riled up even more. "Sir?" He stopped groping her breast.

"You don't like being called like that? I'll change it." She said while pleading to continue to pleasure her.

He doesn't like getting called Daddy/Oppa. The women he's been with keeps calling him that and he got bored by it, now he prefers to called by his name but this time around is different.

Sir? of all the things that someone can be called... Sir is the one getting him riled up.

"No, keep it that way... now get on your knees whore." Vlad said with a commanding aura. “I’m going to use your mouth as a fleshlight. Pull my cock out.”

Karina didn't expect the monster hiding beneath his pants. She could see the bulge of his massive cock. Now she knows why he said 'Something she haven't experience before.' because it's true. He is much bigger than the guys she's been with. So much bigger. She feels hotter and hotter than usual.

Vlad's dick stands proud at 10 inches and is almost girthy as a water bottle.

“You are so massive, fucking massive!” Karina said as she freed his cock and hit her in the face. She stare at his huge member mesmerized by it.

“My god! Why are you so big? Can you even use this?” She said as she grabbed his cock with with both hands. "And you're going to use my mouth with this thing?"

"What? Are you scared? I told you I'm rough and I mean it." He said seriously. "You are going to take every inch of my cock in your throat whether you like it or not."

Karina got nervous but her lust towards him is much heavier.

She showered his cock with kisses, admiring every inch, as if she's worshipping his massive member.

"Suck it." And she did, she gives him a slow and sensual blowjob, keeping her eyes on him.

"You came in her just to do that?"

“What do you mean, Sir?”

He grabbed her by the hair she opened her mouth and swallowed as much of him as she possibly could.

COUGH COUGH COUGH

Relaxing her throat as she let his girthy cock push through her throat. She struggled for a minute and he's watching her giving herself to him.

Vlad guides her and she bobbed her head up and down to see how deep she could take him over and over and over again. Her eyes were tearing up, saliva dripping down as she takes his girthy cock in her throat.

She taps his legs but Vlad ignored her protests and stayed in her throat. "I told you, I'm rough... you don't know what you get yourself into."

He is fucking her throat with reckless abandon and not caring if she can still breathe. Few seconds more and he let go and she breathe hastily. "Sh-shit! I almost passed out." She coughs. "Fuck!"

"Just accept your role as my slut from now on." He slaps her face with his massive heavy cock.

He forced his cock back into her throat. She gives in, letting this man use her mouth and throat as a fleshlight. Her eyes were rolled back into her head.

GLUCK GLUCK GLUCK GLUCK GLUCK

Her moaning and gagging sounds filled the study, the moonlight touches her silky white skin enhancing her beauty further while her throat is getting violated. Even though she already accepted her fate, she still needs to breathe and she tried to struggle for air but failed.

“MMMPPHKKKK!” She resists and got ignored.

“Just stay there, don't regret your decisions now.” Vlad said and spent another three seconds before letting Karina go.

She chokes and gags even though she's already freed from that monster of a cock. “Did I... do a good job, Sir?” She asked noticeably exhausted. She then received another batch of throatfucking and this time, it's much easier but it still hurts.

GLUCK GLUCK GLUCK GLUCK GLUCK

She's taking it like a good little slut, moaning and groaning every time Vlad thrusts too deep in her throat. Karina became accustomed to the massive rod destroying her tight throat and she slowly but surely loving the way he manhandle her without any care about her well-being.

"I'm cumming you little slut!" He said and starts speeding up in his assaults. After all of this, he gave her some leeway and pull his cock out of her mouth. "Want to drink it?"

“YES! T-thank you, feed me your c-cum! Please sir, I'm begging you!!!” She said before he shoved his cock back into her mouth again.

Vlad reached his climax and poured it all in Karina's throat, he releases an obscene amount of cum like he's been holding it for long while. She willingly swallow every bit of it. Few ropes of his cum left in her mouth, she put on a show by gurgling, swirling her tongue cover of his cum then swallowing it.

“Oh my god... fucking hell... that was heavenly!” She said as she crawled over to him and started to lick his shaft cleaning it. “I need to be treated like that again, Sir. Please! You are right, I never experienced that before..”

"Oh, That's only the beginning little slut." He said while grabbing her in the neck and pulling her up.

A/N: Another Series that I might abandon but... oh well. I planned on doing the Bodyguard EP. 6 but idk when to actually do it.

[tamrielic]

pairing – scaramouche | wanderer × f!reader

fandom | media – genshin impact

word count – 4,659・AO3

summary – you’ve been avoiding him, and he needs to know why.

tags﹠warnings – smut・porn with plot・degradation・dirty talk・angst・hurt/comfort・fluff・scaramouche being scaramouche・scaramouche is his own warning honestly・vulnerable scaramouche・emotional reader・reader is very subtly implied to be plus-sized・reader has afab!genitalia

originally posted on – 11/07/2022

author’s note (11/07/2022) – if you’d told me a month or so ago that i’d write an almost 5,000 word smutfic featuring scaramouche, i would’ve laughed in your face... but here we are! i dedicate this fic to one of my most beloved and beautiful besties, gen aka getousimp aka gixxie, because she’s absolutely amazing and is the #1 scaramouche fan!!! i really hope that i did him justice, and i hope y’all enjoy – this is only my second ever smutfic that i’ve written and/or posted online! ALSO – i wrote this entire thing before the archon quest that features him (archon quest interlude chapter: act iii – inversion of genesis) and before he was (finally) released as a playable character, so... his characterization is questionable!

The smell of incense and the crackling of the fire in the large marble fireplace greet you as you step inside the mansion in the adepti teapot realm you call home, shutting the doors as quietly as possible behind you and releasing a soft sigh of relief when there is no noise to imply you’ve been heard.

Slowly, you make your way across the main area of the house to the room that was designated as the library and office, slipping inside silently and quickly sliding the doors shut behind you.

Inhaling deeply, you march over to the desk to begin sorting through the large pile of letters that had accumulated during your absence.

You’ve been traveling with Paimon, helping the Aranara in Sumeru and avoiding… well, avoiding multiple things. Searching for your brother, your various promises and responsibilities, and most importantly a certain short-tempered Anemo wielder.

Coming out of the haze of your thoughts, you notice the messy stack of books that had undoubtedly been made by some of your numerous guests and you huff as you grab them and go to put them away.

It wasn’t that Scaramouche had done anything wrong per se, it was more the issue of you being so naturally affectionate and showing it via physical touch and honest words… and worrying that it was becoming too much for him, or too annoying. Or both.

It hasn’t been that long since he’s joined your group of friends… only about two months, though could you honestly say that the two of you were friends?

He was so hot and cold, at times he was standoffish and rude, snapping at everyone and everything and it was during those times that you swore he hated you… but then the next time you’d come across him or have him join you while adventuring, he’d look at you with an unreadable expression and allow you to touch him without bristling, especially when you two were alone, and the back and forth of it confused you.

You’ve been oddly drawn to him ever since you had first met him in Inazuma, his voice sticking in your head and repeating his taunting words and the vision of him sauntering towards you with that insufferable smirk wouldn’t leave your mind…

In truth, your feelings have only gotten stronger as time had passed, especially after he’d reluctantly joined your adventuring team and you’d inevitably gotten to know him better.

If you are being honest, the sexual tension between you two could likely be cut with a knife and served on a platter… in addition to there being purer, deeper romantic feelings present.

It’s far too early to call it “love”, but it is certainly well on its way to becoming that dreaded word… on your end, at least.

You can feel your face heat up in response to the direction your thoughts have gone and as you shove the last book onto the bookshelf you lean forward and bonk your forehead against the hardwood in an effort to clear your mind.

In your distraction you haven’t noticed that the subject of your thoughts has snuck into the room and is moving towards you with purpose.

A pale hand suddenly slams down to grasp onto the shelf right behind you, the other hand gripping your waist and spinning you to face the intruder.

Purple eyes meet yours, anger making them almost burn from their intensity as he leans in so his face is mere inches away from yours.

Gasping, you shrank back against the bookshelf. “Scaramouche? What–?”

“You’ve been avoiding me. Why?” He bites out, eyes narrowing slightly and the fingers at your waist twitching in what you assumed to be frustration.

Blinking at him while you try to gather your thoughts, you can’t help but notice that he isn’t wearing his usual amount of layers – just the tight black high-collared shirt and his shorts and sandals rather than his familiar complex ensemble – and your face heats at the realization that so much of his skin was now visible to you.

Swallowing to try and moisten your suddenly dry mouth, you’re sure that your face openly shows how flustered you are.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’ve been busy but I haven’t been–”

“Cut the bullshit. Do you think I’m an idiot? It’s not like you’ve been subtle about it, and it’s pissing me off,” he scoffs, rolling his eyes as he moves the hand that has been pinning you to the bookshelf to grasp the back of your neck, his thumb brushing against the sensitive skin of your nape.

Eyes widening at his actions and words, you clear your throat and square your shoulders.

“I’m sorry that you feel that way, Scaramouche, but–”

“Why are you calling me that?” He snaps, scowling at you with narrowed eyes.

“Calling you what? Your name?” You reply, eyes darting away from his prying gaze.

It was true that you haven’t necessarily been subtle, but you had assumed that he wouldn’t take much notice of the lack of attention and affection that he seemed to find barely tolerable – this vehement reaction was very unexpected and it was leaving you reeling.

He lets out an angry sigh before his fingers grasp your chin and force you to meet his eyes.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” He demands, eyes flickering over your face as his lips turn down into a slight pout.

Glancing down at his mouth, you unconsciously wet your lips and his gaze immediately hones in on it.

Gasping softly, your mouth gapes a bit in surprise as you observe how his burning purple eyes darken as he focuses on your mouth, leaning ever so slightly closer and tilting his head as if entranced.

“Scaram–mmph!”

Lips pressing to yours cut you off, a low groan escaping him when you immediately reciprocate.

Eyes fluttering shut as you breathe him in, you bring your hands up to scratch your fingers through the coarse hair of his undercut.

Scaramouche growls then, shoving you up against the bookshelf as he presses as much of his body as he can to your own, the hand on your waist now groping at your soft skin.

Whimpering, your eyes shoot open and you tear your mouth from his to gasp for air as he starts roughly kissing down your jaw.

“Don’t lie, you were avoiding me. Because of this?” He whispers, lips and warm breath brushing the shell of your ear.

Exhaling with a whine, you nod before his lips press to your own again for a brief moment before he pulls away, nipping at your bottom lip.

He smirks at your dumb expression, tugging you over to the table in the middle of the room and reminding you that he was much stronger than he looked by easily lifting you up to sit on the edge, pushing the letters off and out of the way.

Gasping indignantly, you open your mouth to reprimand him but he takes the opportunity to kiss you again, sliding his tongue in your mouth with a muffled groan.

You can’t help but to close your eyes as your tongue glides against his, feeling that insufferable smirk of his against your lips.

Sliding his hands down to your thighs, he roughly pulls them apart so he can step between them and press his body to yours once again.

He chuckles at your resulting moan, slowly pulling back and licking his lips as if savoring the taste of you.

Your eyes flutter open as you unconsciously follow after him to chase his lips, his smirk growing at your resulting frustrated pout.

“You wanna kiss me so bad it makes you look stupid,” he teases, chuckling at your resulting scowl – but you didn’t deny it.

Before you could formulate a response, he grasps your hips and slides them towards him, making you yelp and slam your hands down on the table behind you to keep from collapsing.

Keeping his dark eyes locked with yours, he leans over you and slides his fingers under the waistband of your pants, tilting his head and tugging ever so slightly in question.

Biting your lip, you lift your hips in response, wiggling a little in impatience.

Inclining his head towards you, he pulls your pants off roughly and your arms give out as you collapse back down on the edge of the table, panting.

His hands tug at the hem of your shirt next as he bends over you, lips pressing bruising kisses to your neck as he slowly lifts it, fingertips tickling along the soft skin of your stomach.

Gasping, you reach between you and nudge his hands aside, practically tearing your shirt up and over your head to get rid of the offending garment.

“Eager, aren’t we?” He murmurs, chuckling lowly as he goes back to mouthing at your neck.

You whine and grab at his back as he bites down on your collarbone, his muscles flexing in response to the feeling of your fingernails digging into his skin as you jolt and cry out.

Groaning, he tears himself away from you to do a slow perusal of the skin that’s been bared to him.

You feel like you’re going to implode, the way his eyes manage to get even darker and his expression more severe in its blatant lust, and you jerk your hips up uncontrollably in response.

His eyes immediately flick down to where you’re soaked and burning for him and his throat bobs with a swallow before he looms over you, skimming his hand slowly down the curve of your waist before sliding a finger against the wetness of the fabric concealing you from him.

“Look at you, look at how wet you are – is this all for me?” He questions, voice gone rough from arousal.

Nodding and biting your lip, you can’t help but to grind up into his fingers.

“So needy,” he grunts, crouching down to nip at your inner thigh.

“Scara, I–!”

“Oh, we’re back to Scara now, hm?” He laughs harshly, making quick work of tugging your panties down and off your legs as he shakes his head at you.

“Scara, I’m sorry–!”

“You should be,” he interrupts you again, glaring up at you from between your legs.

You’re a desperate whimpering mess at this point, and you don’t manage to form a response before he runs his fingers up your inner thighs and jerks them open as much as your body will allow.

“Now be a good girl and say “please” and maybe I’ll give you what you want,“ he growls, brushing the tip a finger through your wetness.

“Please, Scara, I need you!” You whine, embarrassed at how needy you sound but also so turned on that you can’t bring yourself to care.

Smirking, he finally takes mercy on you and slowly slides a finger into you, eyes widening at the feel of your slick warmth.

You keen and writhe against the table when he slowly adds another finger and crooks them, expertly massaging a spot on your inner walls that makes you see stars and causes more heat to pool between your thighs.

“Look at you, getting all worked up over nothing! Your pretty pussy can barely handle my fingers – what a pathetic little thing you are,” he laughs mockingly, thrusting his fingers into you roughly.

Panting, you bite your lip and glance down to meet his eyes, silently begging him for more as your thighs tremble and your back arches.

Breath hitching at your desperation, he suddenly shoves his head between your thighs and licks a broad stroke through your folds, swirling his tongue around your clit before lightly grazing his teeth against it.

You wail, your walls contracting around his fingers as you feel like you’ve been hit by lightning as the tension snaps, little whines escaping you as your hips shudder and grind against his face.

Chuckling, he laps up your release as you ride out your high before getting up and looming over you, smirking at your fucked out expression.

“We’ve barely gotten started and already you’re being such a good little slut for me,” he murmurs, licking his lips suggestively when your eyes flutter open to blearily look at him.

You want to pinch yourself because you swear this has to be a dream, it is all happening so quickly and you’ve just had one of the best orgasms of your entire life but are somehow still so unbelievably horny for him.

His face is flushed and he still has some of your juices on his chin, but his eyes burn with the depth of his want for you as your gazes meet and he smirks, smug about having made you cum.

Glancing down and seeing the tented fabric of his shorts, you lift your still shaking legs to wrap around his waist and pull him into you, rolling your hips against his clothed cock and watching his face intently.

His eyes flutter closed and he lets out a strangled moan, back bowing and lips hovering over your own as he clutches at your hips and ruts into the warmth between your legs.

“Scara, I’m all yours – take me,” you whisper, reaching up to cup his cheeks and pull his head down to kiss him.

Jolting his head back just as your lips brush his, his eyes shoot open and he pants while looking at you incredulously.

You furrow your brows at his sudden change in attitude, your thumbs lightly brushing his cheekbones and you bite your lip, suddenly afraid that you’ve said the wrong thing.

After a moment of his eyes frantically scanning your expression – looking for what exactly, you weren’t sure – his hands slam down on either side of your head.

“Always so honest about your emotions,” he hisses, eyes becoming unreadable as he nips at your lips yet refuses to let you close the gap. “It’s really fucking infuriating, you know that?”

Huffing in exasperation to hide how his seemingly indignant response hurts your feelings, you glare up at him.

“Fine, then – can you just fuck me already, Kunikuzushi?”

He pulls back, smoldering eyes glaring into your own as he releases a shattered breath in response to you calling him that name.

“Oh, now you’re making demands of me?” He rasps, regaining his composure with a harsh thrust against your cunt.

Suddenly hit with a wave of irritation and frustration, you push your hands against his chest in an attempt to get him off of you.

“If you don’t want to, then nevermind,” you mutter, turning your head away to hide the “if you don’t want me” implied from your tone and expression.

Lunging to press your wrists down into the table above your head with one hand, he turns your head back towards him with the other, a deep scowl on his face.

“Why are you putting words into my mouth? What gives you the right to assume what I do or don’t want?”

You glare at him, trying to jerk your face out of his harsh grip which only makes his fingers dig into your jaw harder as he crowds you against the table with his body.

“Stop being such a fucking brat,” he growls as he presses quick, bruising kisses against your lips.

“Make me!” You snarl back at him, body writhing under his own.

He chuckles lowly before it morphs into him laughing loudly and mockingly as he observes your struggles.

“Gladly.”

Letting go of your face to swiftly pull down his shorts just enough to free his erection, he groans as he slides it between your folds.

“Fuck… this is my pussy, it belongs to me and only me, doesn’t it?”

Whimpering and nodding in response, your hands struggle to escape his grasp as you grind your hips against the tip of his cock, trying miserably to get it to catch in your soaking wet opening.

He shudders against you, grabbing your hip with his free hand to hold you still.

“No, no,” he chides, his signature smirk back on his lips. “Only good girls get rewarded, and you’ve been such a brat.”

“Scara, fuck, just take me!” You keen, so overwhelmed with frustration and pleasure that there are tears gathering in your eyes.

Scaramouche laughs, one that borders on a cackle, before he presses his lips against your temple.

“Are you crying? You want me that bad, huh? You’re so fucking pathetic, you did this to yourself you know,” he whispers roughly, tongue flicking out to run along the shell of your ear.

“But don’t worry, I’ll take pity on you.”

He suddenly thrusts into you, bottoming out and leaving you a moaning and babbling mess as he holds himself still to allow you to adjust to his size.

“Oh Archons, please–!”

“Don’t pray to them, they can’t help you, pray to me,” he snarls, pulling out of you just enough for you to whine at the loss before roughly thrusting back inside and making your eyes roll to the back of your head.

“Scara, Kuni, please – fuck – more, faster!”

He grants your request with a strangled moan, hips slamming into your own at such a desperate and brutal pace that you know there’s going to be bruises.

Leaning down so your foreheads are pressed together, you stare into each other’s eyes and pant as the sound of his hips slapping against yours fills the air.

The hand that has been keeping your wrists bound lets go, fingers instead curling into the sheets as he continues his merciless thrusts – eyes observing your every reaction hungrily.

“Kuni, feels s’good!” You sob, your now free arms reaching up to wrap around his neck and your legs tightening around his hips.

“F-fuck!” He whimpers, cock twitching against your walls and hips stuttering against you.

Your body feels like it’s melting, fingers carding through his hair to shakily push it out of his face so you can view the way his brow furrows as he grits his teeth.

“Say it,” he commands shakily, jerking your face up so he can stare into your eyes. “Say that you’re mine. My slut, my whore, my everything.”

“Anything and everything that I am is yours, Kunikuzushi,” you choke out with a sob, following up your declaration by tilting your hips and pressing your lips to his, gliding your tongue in and tasting him as he groans at the feeling of your walls fluttering around his cock.

His thrusts grow even more frantic and deep and you roll your hips up to meet his movements, your sweaty bodies writhing together as you fully succumb to each other.

“I’m gonna paint your insides,” he gasps into your mouth, sliding a hand down to rub your swollen clit. “I’m gonna fill you up–!”

Those words and the added stimulation flood your body with overwhelming heat and you wail as you are thrown over the edge, gushing around his cock as he delivers one last powerful thrust before spilling into you with a choked moan.

His trembling body slumps over yours and he buries his head in your shoulder, gasping for air as your bodies continue to twitch with the aftershocks.

After a few moments pass, Scaramouche slowly peels himself away from you, his eyes darting away from your unintentionally open, loving gaze as he slowly slides out of you with a quiet grunt.

Sighing at the loss of him, you inelegantly scoot forward to hop off the table, squeezing your legs together to keep his cum from trickling down your legs.

He snatches the clothes from where they are strewn on the floor and puts his shorts back on before turning to you and holding out your panties and trousers with a blank expression.

Your face feels hot from embarrassment at how drastically his attitude has changed from just a few moments ago and you reach out to grab your clothing, eyes searching him for a sign of… anything, but finding him to be totally unreadable.

Mortified, you turn to the side and shake out your pants, the realization of what had just happened finally hitting you. You haven’t even fully undressed, too engrossed and desperate for each other that you just… went at it like animals in heat.

You don’t notice when he turns and goes to the desk in the corner to grab the box of tissues and bring it to you, clearing his throat as his eyes drift to where your combined fluids were beginning to slowly trickle down your inner thighs.

Flinching at being torn from your downward spiral of second-guessing everything that has happened within the past hour, you look up and slowly reach out to take the box from him, being careful to not brush your fingers together – you aren’t sure where his mind is at and you don’t want to scare him off by being clingy.

“Thank you,” you breathe, pulling his gaze back up to your face and flashing him a quick smile before you turn away to clean yourself up as much as you can.

He turns and walks over to stand in front of the window to give you privacy, which you find very amusing considering what you had just been doing, but you can’t help but watch him out of the corner of your eye as he crosses his arms and seemingly becomes lost in though, his hair mussed and his lips still flushed from the plethora of bruising kisses.

Finding him attractive obviously wasn’t a new development, but it suddenly hits you with the beam of sunlight shining in through the window that was illuminating him just how… beautiful he is.

Shaking your head to clear your thoughts and hurrying to pull your clothes back on, you take a deep breath and summon all the courage you possess.

He turns to look at you as you come to stand next to him, and you were hit once again by how pretty he is; the slope of his nose, his eyelashes, his–

“What are you looking at?” His voice, still a little rough from your activities, snaps you out of your admiration and you blink at him.

He’s staring at you with his brow raised, lips ever so slightly turned down.

“So pretty,” you whisper, eyes widening in panic when you realize that you’ve spoken your inner thoughts aloud.

Scaramouche blinks at you in disbelief, processing your words before letting out a short, humorless laugh.

“I can’t believe it, I actually fucked you dumb!” He snickers, but the smirk on his lips doesn’t reach his eyes.

You gape at him, mouth opening and closing as you try to figure out how to respond to his dismissive attitude.

He grasps your chin in his hand, making the decision of closing your mouth for you, and rolls his eyes.

Grabbing the hand holding your chin, you place soft kisses on his palm, staring into his eyes and pleading for him to understand how truthful you’re being.

Scowling, he wrenches his hand away from you, taking a step back and shaking his head.

“Scara, we need to talk ab–”

“Do we? I disagree,” he snaps, turning and stalking towards the door.

“Kunikuzushi,” you whisper in desperation, and he freezes in place as he’s reaching for the door handle.

“This whole situation started because I was avoiding you, and it made you angry and upset. And yet you’re about to go and do the exact same thing to me. How is that fair?” You demand, voice shaking from all of the emotions you’re trying to keep in check.

He slowly turns to face you, eyes narrowing.

“Life isn’t fair – what do you want from me?”

It’s like you’re talking to a different person, the man in front of you is not the man that railed you into oblivion and ruined you for all others just a minute ago. This man reminds you of a feral cat – suspicious, mistrustful, insecure…

Your hands are shaking, the anxiety over bearing your heart to him causing you to hesitate briefly.

“What do you want from me?” You snap back. “Is this what you wanted? Just a quick fuck? Is that really all I am to you? Some poor, pathetic sap who’s attention and affection makes you feel good about yourself?”

Scaramouche stood there staring at you, unmoving and unblinking, for what felt like ages.

“Okay, you know what – nevermind! You’re free to go, but honestly at this point I almost hope that you just never come back,” you scoff, eyes watering, throwing your hands up in the air and turning away so he can’t see you cry and so you don’t have to look at his stupid perfect face anymore.

All you hear is a faint whisper of fabric before he spins you around and cups your face in his hands, his mouth pressing a desperate, bruising kiss to your lips.

Gasping, you put your hands on his chest and shove him back, your embarrassment making you feel fragile and hostile.

“That isn’t an answer, Scara, and I’m not a mind reader so I can’t–”

“Everything,” he rasps, closing his eyes and nudging his forehead against yours.

“... what?” You furrow your brow, confused.

“You asked what I wanted from you. I answered. Everything. I want everything from you. I want you to be mine,” he whispers, warm breath brushing your lips when he follows up his statement with a shaking sigh.

Your bottom lip trembles as you try to keep your voice from cracking with emotion.

“If I am yours, then you have to be mine. I want everything from you, too. I want to kiss you, touch you, hold you, love you.”

He inhales shakily, opening his eyes.

“If you can’t tell that I’m already yours, that I’ve been yours since you aimed that fucking smile of yours towards me, then you’re an absolute fucking idiot.”

“It’s kind of hard to tell when you’re always so wishy-washy on whether you tolerate me or not, Scaramouche,” you respond, blinking at him innocently, his sudden reveal of his feelings giving you courage.

“What did I say about calling me that?” He growls, stepping closer to press himself against you.

“Oh, I’m sorry, sir – is Kunikuzushi acceptable then?” You simper, mimicking his usual smirk to the best of your ability.

His eyes widen and his cheeks and ears flush a faint pink as he grumbles, dropping his arms to wrap them around your waist.

“Keep it up and I’ll have to drag you to your bedroom and teach you a lesson, brat,” he growls, pressing his mouth to your ear.

You turn your head to press a kiss to his neck, grinning uncontrollably now as you both shift seamlessly back into the dynamic that had been created when he had gotten settled in your group – the usual snarky banter and the easy affection you give him comforting after the unsureness that was present just now.

“Is that a threat or a promise? Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

He huffs and rolls his eyes, pulling away to grasp your arm and drag you out of the room.

“Wait, what–?” You stammer, following him gracelessly.

“It seems that I still have to teach you some fucking manners, slut.”

Glancing back at you as he leads you through the door, the look in his eyes and his smirk makes your face heat.

“But you’ll be a good girl and cooperate with me, won’t you?”

You swallow, overwhelmed with all of the filthy thoughts that run through your mind before you shake your head to ground yourself.

It had required a lot of vulnerability and a rollercoaster of emotions, but you finally know your feelings are reciprocated… and as you let him take you to your room you realized that Scaramouche was about to show you just how much in long, excruciatingly wonderful detail.

[bcacstuff]

What a cringe fest that event was. What are your thoughts on the booze party?

While Anon 1 is mostly referring to the Steak&Whisky event, and Anon 2 wants my opinion about 'him' last week,I rather prefer to share my overall thoughts about the NYC Wine & Food Festival based on what I saw from all the footage I've watched on several accounts. As I do think, most people here in this fandom only saw the footage posted in the fandom, (including on my blog). So maybe to give a bit a broader view on it and put things more into perspective, these are my thoughts

First of all, last year the SS brand was presented at the festival as well, but it didn't get any exposure at all! It was nowhere exposed on the main accounts, like the nycwff one on IG. Only Chrissy and Melanie were there and all I've seen from their private accounts back then was them going over the festival tasting all the brands... Not once did I see anybody posting about the SS booth (apart from a very few OL/SH fan accounts). Sam, who had been in town in the days before was gone for a vacation at Nevis exactly the day the event started! Something I thought was a missed opportunity, strange and not very smart back then.

It's a very large event, many booths, even more brands and bars/restaurants promoting their business.

And being present promoting your brand, especially when you seek more exposure and want to build your brand beyond the current customer base (read the OL fandom) is a good opportunity to present your brand to a wider public.

It was a 4 days event, 17 - 20 October. I watched the location and the nycwff account and tags to see if there was any exposure on the days before (and after) he was at the booth. But not much was there to see about his brand. Only the SS account posted a video on the 2nd day, which at least showed the booth styled by Ally Amenta, which was compared to last year, an improvement.

Seeing a working team behind it was as well something new. Of course it helps a lot when he's there himself in order to get exposure.

But mind you, most of it were on OL/SH fan accounts. Little on the main nycwff account or location tagged accounts.

Sure, being a 'special' guest on one of the evening events of the festival helps as well. Yes, there were several events, dinners going on in the evening during the festival. Most themed based and one more luxurious than the other.

The Steak& Whisky event was presented by A.1. Sauce and hosted by Robert Irvine. Advertised as an indulgent and sumptuous evening centered around steak and whisky, a walk-around dinner event. Which comes down to a number of tables that presented their produce, steak and whisky. All sponsoring the event of course. People could get their food and whisky at those tables walking around.

You might have gotten the idea that it was all about him, and of course he did get the usual acclaim when arriving and dare I say goofing around. But not only his whisky was presented and promoted on the event, a number of others as well. In fact I was watching the nycwff account live all the time, they posted several stories of this event (as well the other events going on). I saw several whisky brands being posted, but after his arrival I didn't see anything about the SS brand!

Compared to other tables which, dare I say, looked a lot classier, the SS table looked quite chaotic when he was playing 'bartender'

Okay, you say because all the fans around it, yes exactly that - fans-and yeah the dancing... what can I say 🤐🙈

and of course there was steak, and when I say steak... I mean...

I'm more curious though how the random visitor, the ones not knowing him or OL, go home and still remember the brand they might have tasted amongst countless others? I don't know if there were any giveaways or marketing materials handed out which the random visitor could take home to at least remember the name. The Sassenach isn't the most easiest name to remember when you're not an OL fan or never heard of it. And how many times have we seen his name spelled the wrong way... 🤐

And does the visitor know where to go, where to find his product? We know it's not available in every liquor store around the corner, and how many like to order their liquor on the internet? That's if they can find out where to order it! His only exposure is in fact mainly on IG, on the SS account, and his account. They're stories and posts but not really advertisements (as in #ads which will popup randomly on your timeline). And if you check the Datareportal, you'll find out that Instagram is only the 4th social media platform actively used.

A number of bars were listed on his and the SS account, but just 11 bars in NYC (and mind you half of them are owned by friend chef Paul Donnelly), does the random visitor know where to go and order his booze in a bar? Do they order his booze in a bar at all? I have my doubts here... you can be optimistic, and perhaps I'm wrong 🤷‍♀️ I'm afraid though when the random visitor can not find much about it, he/she will quickly forget about it and move on to the next thing.

All in all, good event for promo, but doubts and question marks about the follow up on my part, which imho is equally important. But who knows.... According to Frank Sinatra.... 🎶

Anyway, last but not least about the event itself. I do really hope events like this find a better solution for all the plastic used. I get it, you can hardly use glasses, but in this time it really is necessary to find a better solution for this especially seeing the event so near to the river.

[queengiuliettafirstlady]

Love Booth Challenge

Love Booth for underrated characters.

Ikemen version

Hello and welcome to my first challenge. I am proud to present to you the Love Booth challenge, a month long exploration of love for the underrated characters of the Ikemen games.

General Rules

Works and art of all forms are welcome! Fanarts, fanfics, headcanons, moodboards, playlists and everything you can manage to think of is included. 

Limited to Ikemen fandoms and to certain suitors, due to popularity of some characters more than others I have decided to host a challenge exclusively for the less appreciated.

I had this idea since forever what took me so long to post it was the creations of the prompts I created in association with my lovely friend MO @xxsycamore.

I did my best to include most of the less loved characters from the Ikemen games exclusively with an English version.

That said if you think about other less popular characters, belonging to one of these games or to other Ikemen games that are not out in English yet, You are allowed to use these prompts as inspiration.

The main focus is to show love to characters not so loved by the fandom/game all year around without limit for this reason I won't make a masterlist.

When posting your works, use the tag #love booth challenge - you can as well tag me @queengiuliettafirstlady in your posts! It will help find other creations for those interested to check them out.

Posting to other sites is allowed - as long as you mention the challenge and its creators.

Reblogs are appreciated!

Content Rules

This challenge features a list of prompts, and dialogue prompts which you can match to your liking, if you want to. You can create more than one work for the same prompt, too!

Under the cut, you will find the prompts linked to the characters included in the challenge, that can be mixed up with prompts from other challenges happening around the fandom in the same month.

Any additional rules are up to the artists. You are free to choose the rating (make sure to mark your NSFW works accordingly, and if you’re minor, make sure not to interact with such!), and also the genre (the challenge’s main focus is romantic love, but it is not obligatory for your work to be of such genre), all characters and ships included are up to you (OCs, character x MC, character x character, etc.)

You’re free to take requests from your audience using these prompt lists, again please make sure to mention the challenge and its creator.

You’re absolutely free to post your works for this challenge whenever you feel like.

The final and most important rule is to have fun and not pressure yourself about full completion of the challenge. Do only as many works as you wish! :)

Here is a free-to-use banner/header for the challenge!

If you have any additional questions, I’ll be happy to help. There is no such thing as a stupid question, so don’t hesitate to get in contact with us! I wish you happy creating!

THE LISTS

Ikemen Vampire

Dazai - Storyteller - A walk under the cherry trees.

Jean - Monster - "I am not worthy of love."

Mozart - Music - "You are my muse."

Sebastian - Secrets - "My composure is an act."

Shakespeare - Bard - A poem for my lover

Faust - Alchemy - "Behave for me."

Charles - Obsession - "I wish we could stay like this forever."

Isaac - Scholar - "I don't understand people at all ... yet I found myself quite curious to know everything about you."

Ikemen Prince

Keith - Duality - "Trust me."

Luke - Bear - "I will protect you."

Jin - Sweets - "All I need is our love."

Rio - Pet - "I will love you always and forever."

Sariel - Discipline - "It will do good to remember I am quite a strict tutor."

Nokto - Facade - "Were the truth lies ?"

Licht - Scar - "No matter what I do this scars will not heal, but your presence made me forget about them."

Yves - Fashion - "Would you like to get ready together ?"

Ikemen Revolution

Zero - Identity - "I am human because of you."

Harr - Magic - "I only want to keep you safe."

Loki - Abandonment - Seeking comfort on a rainy night.

Blanc - Gentleman - "Do you remember what I warned you about when you came in Cradle?"

Mousse - Dreams - "You are the subject of my dreams. I want to know even more about you."

Dean - Strict - Stern gaze softening upon an endearing sight.

Dalim - Flirt - "You shouldn't have trusted me."

Oliver - Creativity - "The best part about my creations is seeing you smile."

Ikemen Sengoku

Kennyo - Revenge - "You make me feel complete with your love."

Ranmaru - Loyalty - "I will always be there for you."

Sasuke - Companion - Fanning over the fanboy.

Mitsunari - Knowledge - "Let me take care of you."

Yoshimoto - Beauty - Admiring art together.

Kanetsugu - Strategy - "I found quite difficult to keep my composure when you are around."

Hideyoshi - Devotion - "You're my number one priority."

Ieyasu - Teacher - Collecting herbs together.

Once again Have fun and Happy Creating! I can't wait to see all your creations. 🧡💟💌🤗

[raining-anonymously]

okay deltarune fandom! i haven’t posted to or gone through these tags in a while, but in light of recent events (me deciding to replay the games just in time for the newsletter), i have some things to share concerning our friends The Weather.

ID in alt text, and aforementioned “things to share” under the cut.

this message tells us some interesting information about the Weather. for those who don’t know, i believe the Weather were first introduced during the spamton sweepstakes under the link https://deltarune.com/weather/. the page functions similarly to lancer’s. despite having no information on these new characters—other than that they’ll probably appear in the next couple chapters, are called “The Weather,” and always stick together—the deltarune fandom immediately latched onto them, because that’s what we do.

and now, after the newsletter? we have names. do we know which name goes to which sprite….? not really. but there’s something interesting about what those names are.

when i first looked at the names Lanino and Elnina, one of my first thoughts was that they sounded gendered. in english and in romance languages, names ending in -o are often thought to be masculine, whereas names ending in -a are interpreted as feminine. not a common name convention in undertale and deltarune, where most names end in constants or “-ee” sounds, and obviously not an absolute rule — for example, chara is not feminine-presenting, but its name still ends in -a. still, many english-speakers, as well as speakers of romance languages and any other similar languages i’m not thinking of, will see “lanino” and “elnina” and assume masculinity and femininity respectively.

at this point, i was still thinking of romance languages because i’m autistic about words, and noticed that the endings of the names are very similar to the spanish words for boy and girl: niño and niña. then i noticed the beginnings of the names, “la” and “el,” are the spanish words for “the.” funny thing, though? “la” is feminine and “él” is masculine.

so… they’re mixing and matching gendered terms!!!? bigender weather real!!!!!! post over!!!!

…except it’s NOT over. put linguistics aside—it’s time for some environmental science.

this graphic (which has an ID in alt text) is a lot of information, so i’m going to break it down: the earth experiences something called El Niño–Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. it’s a climate phenomenon that consists of two main phases: El Niño and La Niña. each one of these phases is a global event that can last years, and leads to changes in wind patterns, sea surface temperatures, and extreme weather events. it affects everything—how dry the land is in certain places, how many fish can be found in the ocean, etc.

to differentiate between the two, most simply: el niño is the warm phase, and la niña is the cooling phase.

why does this matter, you ask? because el niño and la niña climate events are largely inverse and opposites. that’s a simplification, but it does lend us some potential insight into the weather’s devoted and apparently monogamous relationship dynamic. or it would, if they hadn’t mixed up their names… but hey, that’s food for thought too!! could it be that the weather is so devoted to each other that they blended together? maybe that’s why their color palettes are the same—they balance each other out!

either way, i’m quite excited to do battle with them in the next year or so. they’re going to have such fun bullet patterns, i just know it… i hope they heal each other with photorealistic milk. or something weather-related, idk.

anyway. BIGENDER WEATHER REAL!!! post over!

[writing-for-life]

Tags, Glorious Tags

Some encouragement to follow and check them more consistently…

So I did a little experiment: Tags with under 1k followers don’t get their numbers shown on Tumblr. I put the Sandman characters through the search, and while there were no big surprises (if we think about the main fandom demographic), the numbers were still staggering.

I tried all sorts of different iterations, too, and included the higher/most frequently used ones:

Note to self: “Lucienne the librarian” is not a popular tag. Welp, I shall tag differently in the future.

Two outliers because people will also follow these for the Lucifer/Hellblazer series/comics, not The Sandman:

That’s it. All other characters have under 1,000 followers. I’ve also added the shipping tags to the bottom of this post. Read them and weep/laugh/whatever feels right.

Even if we take into consideration that the characters who already made an appearance in the series will get higher numbers than the ones that non-comic readers haven’t met yet (because let’s be honest: This is currently largely a TV-, not a comics fandom):

Where is Desire (I find that really surprising considering I constantly read how much people love Mason)?

Where is Despair?

Where is Calliope (she has a tag, but that’s in no way Sandman related. All Sandman ones are under 1k)?

Where is Johanna Constantine (also extremely surprising to me)?

Where is Rose Walker, who had a whole arc?

Where are Fiddler’s Green, Unity (both too old presenting, I get it, but it’s just driving the point home that it’s not about narrative importance but having the hots 🤣), Gault, Nada, to just name a few?

This has nothing to do with screen time allocated to characters, as should also be obvious. Even Matthew is more popular than other (mostly female) characters who drive the story, or are at least a big part of it.

It would be easy to say, “Well, these are just the favourites, nothing we can do about that.” And while that’s true, it’s also not quite as simple…

Fandom favourites vs checking the tags

As someone who runs a Sandman blog that tries to cover all characters (and of course I cover some more than others, so it’s definitely not about that) and isn’t too interested in shipping, I can see how the reblogs stack—they come through people’s mutuals, not through tags (bar the popular two or three).

But if we really love a character, we need to check and follow their tags consistently, and I can tell that’s often not the case but for said popular two or three. Posts for those tend to get default engagement because even people who don’t follow me check these tags, and they reblog straight from there (i.e. not through a third person). Other characters though? Only if someone with a relatively popular blog reblogs (and that hardly ever happens, and if it does, it’s usually for Death, Delirium and maybe Lucienne). It never happens straight through the tags.

Which also makes it somewhat worth thinking about that we, on the one hand, bemoan that no one cares about certain characters while at the same time heavily relying (maybe not even consciously) on mutuals who do check tags to feed that stuff into our dash (and we probably often don’t scroll down very far either). I see those little fandom bubbles very clearly because my blog is pretty broad (as in not ship-centric) and I notice, on the regular, who kicks off the chain for those underappreciated characters no one but them goes into the tags for (you’re doing the Lord’s work 🫂).

This is not about saying some characters should be more popular or others shouldn’t, because people like what they like, and that’s okay. Morpheus is and always will be my favourite, and apparently, I’m in good company 😉

But I also love other characters of narrative importance, and if we want to see their art, their fics, their metas, we need to follow and, above all, check their tags. Regularly. Because that stuff is there. Maybe not quite as plentiful, but the problem is also: If no one interacts with it, people just give up.

But we need to actively look for it ourselves, not just through our mutuals. We also need to think about reblogging more. Liking is great but doesn’t quite cut it for the characters we want to see more of. It’s not how Tumblr works.

And if you create, it’s also good to keep in mind that some people will occasionally say they like or even love those characters, but they factually don’t love them enough to follow their tags. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but the pipeline maintains itself fairly effortlessly while left field stuff is definitely more and harder individual work. And I get that it can feel tiring at times (ask me how I know).

But long story short: Please don’t let it discourage you so it turns into a vicious cycle. Keep on checking the tags, because there are people who create for them. Don’t just like but also reblog. Keep on tagging your stuff so people who love other characters than the main two or three, and those who ship rare pairs, can find you. (Remember that only the first five tags show up in tracked tags and only the first 20 will show up in searches, and that reblogs show up in neither.) It’s hard to cut through the popular tags, but it becomes even harder if fewer and fewer people are trying.

Plus: If you check the character tags outright, you don’t have to wade through everything else. The Sandman doesn’t just consist of its main tag.

And because it’s actually quite funny, I’ll just let the shipping tags speak for themselves (I just picked a few of the most “popular” ones in their different iterations, because if the stats for more popular ships already look like this, we don’t even need to think about rare pairs):

Corintheus: <1k

Morphienne: <1k

Morphanna/ConstantDream: <1k

Dreamuse: <1k

DreamingStar: <1K

Hellmuse: <1k

Gaultienne: <1k

Dreamling:

Even compared to individual character tags, the only one outshining Dreamling is the good old Dream Lord himself. Plus the main Sandman tag (but only #the sandman, because #sandman comes in at a comparably paltry 9.9k). Any questions left as to why most people are here? 😉But again: There are others. Follow and check the tags.

[mikuni14]

The last 2 weeks have provided me with amazing experiences from the BL series fan community. Moments when several series with very active fandoms are aired at the same time are very rare, and with the end of 2 series this week, I'm already mourning this wonderful, one-of-a-kind experience.

I have been camping in the following tags for many days and each one is different and unique: Love For Love's Sake I can't put into words what this show and fandom has given me. The number of absolutely insane analyses, meta, touching declarations of love to this series from moved viewers, and beautiful gifs is staggering. The series is excellent, the audience's reaction is also wonderful, it was such a great experience. Which doesn't surprise me, because it was people's reaction to real ART, which is always something special. The series itself is 10/10 for me in every category: love story, plot, actors, emotions, my investment in the story, quality, execution, even the "heat", because even though there were no love scenes, the guys were able to convey that they are very into each other 🥰

Dead Friend Forever I also enjoy the fandom experience immensely, the tag is full of great analysis and meta. The plot is so interesting and full of surprising twists and turns that there is always something new to discuss and come up with wild theories. The series is still ongoing, but for this moment it's also perfect for me and 10/10: love story (hehe), plot, actors, emotions, my investment in the story, quality, execution, also the "heat" (hehe).

Pit Babe I rate the fandom experience as *chef's kiss*. Tag is also full of interesting analyzes and meta, amazing gifs of Way. The fandom is generally very cheerful and unhinged, which is GREAT ✨ But what's most interesting is that if someone who didn't know Pit Babe checked the tag now, they would never guess who the main character and main couple of the series are (and this doesn't only apply to tumblr!). I find this incredibly funny 🤡 I'm not that interested in the series itself, so I won't rate it. I treat it as pure fun and entertainment, so I have zero expectations for the finale, especially since, of course, I've already stumbled upon possible spoilers. Personally, what I will take away from the entire series is my deepened love for Nut and a fascination with Way, whom I want like little girls want a new Barbie doll.

Last Twilight Another wild fandom experience lol I practically didn't visit the tag of this series at all, but I spent the last two episodes there in full camping mode, in a tent and cooking coffee after coffee over the fire 😄 Fans have once again soared to the heights of perfection, writing amazing analyzes and meta responses to the crap of the last episodes. The criticism was precise, justified, systematized, methodical and accurate 👩‍🎓 As with LFLS, it was an intellectual experience. The fans provided better entertainment than the series itself lol

The Sign hmm, for several weeks the tag has been dominated by BillyBabe, which is not strange because only this couple is responsible for BL aspect in this BL series 😄 I rate my fandom experience with The Sign in two categories: "until episode 7" full of amazing meta, analysis, beautiful gifs and enrichment for me as a fan, overall 10/10 and "after episode 7" which I spent mainly on… liking BillyBabe's photos and videos . Which is ok, because, well, I do like them a lot 😉

Two of the above series have already ended, although fans are still present, two more are ending this week. That's why I would like to take this opportunity and say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to all the fans, those who wrote emotional entries, deep and thoughtful meta, funny posts, created beautiful gifs, analyzed endlessly the smallest details and posted photos and videos of their favorite actors. You all made these last few days so interesting and fun. I hope there will be more days like this in 2024! 🥰

And now I'll only have DFF…

[shallow-between-stars]

Annoyed, spoilery rant under cut which is evidence I should stay out of the tags but here we are.

Friends, fellow fandom goers, DA fandom folks

I'm begging you, please employ some critical reasoning.

I'm seeing a whole lot of negative posts crop up about this game being 'sanitised' and they do raise some good points, but here's the thing.

Your contact in the crows? He's the grandson of the first talon. Your other contacts in the crows are the fourth and fifth talons.

They're not going to present the Crows as a bad thing. Lucanis directly iterates to you that he was abused by his grandmother and then excuses that abuse because he is within the system. The others are similarly caught up in the facade. They don't present the Crows as doing wrong because they don't see the crows as doing wrong.

Neither did Zevran until the Warden took him aside and said "Hey, all that shit that happened to you is pretty fucked up."

Add into that fact as well that at this stage Zevran's experiences of the Crows are canonically over two decades old. Look at how much changes in our world in 20 years. Shit, iPhones didn't exist until 2007 and gay people couldn't get married in Australia less than ten years ago.

And the talons of Zevran's time? Most of them are dead. In fact, given that Caterina exits stage right very early in the game all of them are dead as of Act One.

The ones we have left? Teia and Viago are very new to being Talons. They are not the old institution of Zevran's time. The game absolutely should be more specific about this and they absolutely are still, y'know, assassins, but the Crows have undergone a complete upheaval of management by the time we hit them in TVG.

And like... Illario (who is Old Guard) is doing some fucked up shit, man. I've not played through the whole of Lucanis' mission but it's absolutely setting Illario up to be the sort of evil, backstabby, power-hungry bastard that the Crows are famous for being.

And in Tevinter - again we are seeing Tevinter through the eyes of people who are patriotic. Dorian canonically stopped owning slaves after leaving Orlais, and has been actively campaigning for the outlawing of slavery for 8 years. Yes, his political maneuvering was crushed by the powers that be, but it is not unreasonable to assume he changed some minds before being overthrown by an institution that held closer to the court of public opinion.

Added to that? Our main view of Tevinter in this game is through an institution that is bucking the main social trends of Tevinter.

And, frankly, Neve and Asher aren't going to badmouth their city. Given the epic tantrum that Neve throws if you save Treviso when you're put between a rock and a hard place in Act One, she's got some very rose-tinted glasses on in regards to what is happening in Tevinter.

Add to that the Venatori are canonically established as having systematically assassinated the magisters who have opposed them and placing their own mages in power. We even have evidence of this happening in-game with Maevaris no longer being a magister and she got off lucky. Also The fucking Archon (who is not Venatori, just an asshole) can be fucking assassinated by the Venatori to make way for his Venatori son if you save Treviso!

Dorian's political initiative was squished into itty-bitty pieces, as were his political allies - he was outmaneuvered by a sect that has had eight whole years to manipulate and establish power and kill people, and had public opinion on its side because they had an upstart to vie against.

And Tevinter is not healthy by any means. There are demons infesting the streets! People being murdered in blood rituals! There is a side mission boss you have to fight called Desperation who is preying on the fact Minrathous has a seedy shithole underbelly, and, frankly, a seedy shithole upper echelon too.

And there is also evidence of the exploitation and abuse of slaves throughout the side missions. In fact, in one mission you come across a literal room full of the bodies of dead slaves.

I get it - there is a lot to be critical of in this new game and people have a tendency to ignore what the game is showing them in favour of what the game is telling them, but part of the Dragon Age franchise has always been about perspective. The perspective we are seeing at the moment comes from people who are either absolutely still actively drinking kool-aid or highly patriotic and willing to overlook even glaring flaws.

It's not sanitised so much as deliberately misrepresented because of unreliable narration like a whole lot of other things in the series over the years.

[nicoline1998enilocin]

Prompt: realising they're feeling much better when they know that the other is happy -- WinterIron, please?

Happy

PAIRING || Roommate!Tony Stark x Roommate!Bucky Barnes

WORDCOUNT || ~ 800 words

SUMMARY || Tony and Bucky have been best friends since they were little and have been through a lot together—including high school, and now they're both attending the same college. It was only natural for them to end up as roommates, and over the past years, they've shared their apartment, and they have perfected the love language of small gestures.

RATING || General (G)

TAGS || Canon divergence. College AU. Roommate AU.

A/N || This drabble is part of Nicoline's Summer of Drabbles. This story took a bit of a different twist than I anticipated when I received the request, but I'm very happy with how it turned out! This is not proofread; any and all mistakes are my own.

EVENTS @buckybarnesbingo #B011 || Free Space @fandom-free-bingo Book Night || Roommates AU @winterironevents WIB #R2022 || Caffeine deprived Tony

Photo: Source || All other graphics are made by @nicoline1998enilocin

Main Masterlist || WinterIron || Summer of Drabbles

Tony and Bucky have been best friends since they were little and have been through a lot together—including high school. Now, they're both attending the same college. It was only natural for them to end up as roommates, and over the past years they've shared their apartment they have perfected the love language of small gestures.

Bucky has picked up on Tony's love for coffee and how much he drinks of it over the years. One thing that has sprouted from this is making him coffee when he's busy with school or pulling an all-nighter when gaming. It's only a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about how much he cares for the other.

Bucky has been settled on the couch for a few hours, their white cat named Alpine sleeping on his lap while he gets lost in the book he's reading. Bucky's a sucker for a good science fiction book, and recently there was a new part of a series he's been obsessed with ever since it first got released.

His eyes are starting to get heavy, and as he looks at the time on his phone, he sees it's nearing 1 AM, and tiredness starts to seep into his body. He puts his book to the side before carefully waking Alpine and getting up to put her in her favorite cat bed by the window. This routine, this comfort, is something he cherishes.

"I know you were comfortable, Alp, but I'm going to make Tony a cup of coffee and then get some sleep," he says as he pets her a few more times as she settles in her bed. Alpine, seemingly understanding what Bucky said, responds with a slight purr.

As soon as Bucky has made Tony's favorite coffee in a large mug, he brings it over to him as he's working hard on an assignment for one of his classes, which will most likely take a few more hours. As Bucky walks into Tony's bedroom, he knocks softly on the door to let his arrival be known, and the expression on his best friend's face already tells him everything he needs to know.

"Oh my god, thank you, Buck! I cannot even begin to tell you how much I needed this! I feel like I've been going for hours, and there's no end in sight, and I could use some caffeine," he says with a smile, making Bucky feel immediately at ease. While his happiness isn't always linked to his best friend, he surely does feel a lot better when he knows Tony feels happy, and this is one of those moments that cement that for him.

Their gestures of kindness go both ways, however, because each time Tony hears Bucky talking about something he's excited about, he can't help but listen and surprise him with a small present now and then.

"Did you know they're re-releasing The Hobbit with an updated cover and everything? I think it would make an amazing addition to my collection!" Bucky says enthusiastically as he prepares dinner. Tony is seated at their kitchen island with Alpine in his arms.

"Really? I didn't know," he says, listening intently to his best friend. Bucky has been a fan of The Hobbit ever since they grew up, and over the years, he has built quite a collection - both with books as well as prop replicas that are beautifully displayed in their apartment.

"And when did you say this was coming out?" Tony then asks, and Bucky's shoulders slump slightly at the question. The day it comes out, Bucky will be out of the country for a school trip, so he won't be able to get it, but he doesn't know Tony's already making a plan to get it for him.

The day the new version is released, Tony is the first one inside the bookstore around the corner from their apartment. He picks up a copy of the book Bucky's been wanting and gets it wrapped beautifully before taking it home and placing it on his best friend's desk for him to find when he's back.

A few days later, it's time for Bucky to find and open it.

"Tony?" Bucky says in a small voice, and within seconds, Tony is in Bucky's bedroom to see what's wrong. He sees Bucky with the book and tears in his eyes at the gesture. Even though he didn't ask Tony to get it, Bucky can't help but be extremely happy when he sees it and couldn't be more thankful.

"Thank you, Tony, I appreciate it," Bucky says as he pulls the other man in for a hug, and Tony can't help but smile at Bucky's happiness. He was already feeling good before, but he's feeling even better knowing that Bucky is happy, too.

[freakblrbookkeeperofficial]

Blog Name: I didn't get to say goodbye

Username: @cringelordofchaos

Aliases: @mr-broom, @x-daisy-x, @hailey-i-guess, @xjaded-sadiex, @background-bg-chan, @xx0blooming-orchid0xx, @totallysean, @freakblr-lore, @tmf-tournaments

Type of Blog: Original Freakblr Seven

Date created: Late 2022-Early 2023

Reason Created: N/A (Non Applicable)

Last Active: Present Day

--------------------------------------

@cringelordofchaos is one of the more noticeable and still active members of Freakblr. And is also been cited as one of the Freakblr Original Seven, giving them special status on this blog. As previously mentioned, all Freakblr Original Users are sourced from @sobeksewerrat's post from several months back.

Cringelordofchaos stated that the main reason they joined tumblr in general, is because this is where they were able to find content for their favorite fandoms. "I noticed that when I search up cringe ships I like and go to Google images most of the things sourced back to "Tumblr", and so I realized that Tumblr could be a place I could be more accepted at, that people wouldn't judge me for being cringe, for my personality, fandoms, interests, ships or queer identity, and I wanted in." They even gave a reason for the name of their blog, "I made the blog called "cringelordofchaos", to reflect the fronte part of myself I was willing to share."

Though, they specifically found Freakblr like many of us do. Through, "@tmf-confessions!(While scrolling through the TMF tag on tumblr I came across . There were barely like, 15 posts at the time if not less when I first discovered the blog, and each post had like 2 likes from the same people, and that blog really was a primary catalyst for sharing your thoughts or anything related to TMF really, we all quickly became mutuals cuz again there weren't many of us"

They described the early days as many Freakblr Original Users and older members of the community do. "It was great! It was a pretty small group of people, like what? 3/4/5 of us at first? We mostly hung out at @tmf-confessions, right? And we were pretty tight since there were so few of us, and we let ourselves go wild and do all sorts of shit." It seems many believe the early days to be best, when activity was at an all time high and when there was a sense of freedom and almost casual community.

Cringelordofchaos has several aliases/alternate blogs. It's quite impressive. I listed many in the above section of this post. but some of note would be: @freakblr-lore and @tmf-tournaments. Still, the rest are just as important, making up their identity in Freakblr and the mark they've left on the community thus far.

When asked about blogs of note, chaos specifically mentioned haileyxaustin (left tumblr) and roryheart (deactivated). As well as zzstar-head, b0ytr4sh and zoeyhoeyisalive (deleted). Through just these connections, it's clear Chaos is/was very involved in this community.

They also noted that they were very close with @sobeksewerrat and @undeserved-halo.

When asked about enemies they said they felt they had no enemies. "I don't think I have any enemies ??? I consider myself pretty close to most of the OG7 + some others to the point where we talk abt much else more than tmf."

The memory Chaos decided to share is one that's considered classic amongst members of Freakblr, specifically those older members of the community. "When berry (@strawberry-pretzels) revealed they had rats that laid eggs, I mean that's always going to be iconic." They also had another memory, that's much more obscure in contrast to the previous one. "The time Roxy said she wears socks with tights." But, i think it's important to note they also said this, "I find each moment in this community equally important and special."

As mentioned previously, like many older members of Freakblr, they had mentioned not an aversion too new Freakblr, but a longing for it's earliest moments. "I liked the older days of Freakblr much, much better. Since there were less of us we all pretty much knew each other, we were pretty tight like an actual friend group and had a ton of inside jokes n stuff the new Freakblrs don't know, and we used the Freakblr tag for non-tmf related stuff more." There was, as mentioned, a sense of casual community. A tight knit group that felt more like friends than just strangers bonding over the fandom. "In short we were all much closer and it all felt so special and if the community wasn't as small as it was before I don't think I would've met my closest mutuals." Like I said, this seems to be the consensus among many Freakblr Users who were around for the early days.

Cringelordofchaos is one of the Freakblr Blogs I consider to be memorable. You can find their comments and reblogs in many older Freakblr posts. And even outside of Freakblr they pop up in places like Ao3 comment sections. While not as active in Freakblr spheres specifically anymore, they are still an active member of the overall tumblr community. And when you think about Freakblr, it's hard not to think of their blog. Like all Freakblr Original users they've left their mark on the community and will always be remembered by us.

As a final quote to sum up their thoughts and feelings on Freakblr, Chaos had this to say:

"This place is a perfectly imperfect disaster and I don't wish to ever leave."

[the-greatest-magic-of-all]

Frightful Snow & Delightful Fire

○ fandom: fantasy high

○ main pairing: fabriz (fabian x riz)

○ characters: fabian | riz

○ genre/warnings: fluff and a bit of hurt/comfort

○ tags: Snowed In | Pining | Sharing a Bed | Post-Campaign 01 Season 02: Fantasy High Sophomore Year (Dimension 20) | Fabian Aramais Seacaster-centric | because Riz is out of commission for a lot of this | Fabian goes through the ringer baby! | Mentioned The Bad Kids (Dimension 20) | Fabian's Fire Elemental | In before Junior Year!

○ word count: 7,454

→ summary: Lost in a blizzard and separated from the rest of the party, Fabian does his best to keep Riz safe while trudging through snowbanks until he happens upon a lonely cottage...

○ note: y'all this was supposed to be short. I hope you enjoy it though!

White.

That’s all Fabian could see.

For miles and miles, all around, as he trudged through banks of snow across the mountainside despite the fall of night. In his mind, thoughts raced about, weaving in and out of the forefront of it like waves lapping at a shore.

Most were complaints and grievances over the chill seeping into his bones. The pieces of snow sneaked into his boots when one slipped deeper than expected into the heaps of snow. There was one thought that never left, though. That he kept repeating endlessly, like a broken record.

A prayer.

One to any deity that would listen.

To Cassandra.

To Helio or Sol.

Anyone.

A desperate plea for a sign, no matter how slight, that he was heading the right way.

He’d been sure of it back when he and Riz had first escaped the abyssal cultists’ sanctum. Stumbling out of a secret passage and into the harsh cold of an unforeseen blizzard, they’d only had seconds to decide before they either froze or got caught.

As thunderous, frosty winds buffeted their bodies and bellowed in their ears, they bickered about their next move. Seeing as splitting up hadn’t been the Bad Kids’ plan going in. But, then again, when had any of their plans ever gone off without a hitch? At least they’d had enough shrewdness to set a rendezvous point at The Last Boulder Inn in the Dwarven village they’d set out from last.

“We didn’t account for not being able to get to the rendezvous point, did we?” Riz yelled over the wind, clutching the artifact they’d stolen (An ancient tome of some kind, don’t ask him.) close to his chest, shielding it from the blizzard the best he could.

Faint shouts began to stir from the tunnel behind them, interrupting any quip Fabian could’ve shot back. Barkings of orders in Infernal—no, he’s heard The Hangman and Gorthalax speak it too many times—in Abyssal. And they were growing louder and louder despite the wind doing its best to drown them out. The cultists. Both of their eyes widened as they looked at the closed secret door, back at each other, and then all around.

Fabian soon realized that even at his height he couldn’t find any substantial path. So, he turned to Riz and said, “Get on my shoulders, see if you can spot a path or a-a cave or, or, or something!”

Passing off the tome to him, Riz scaled Fabian with practiced ease. Only thrown off slightly by the force of the winds, but he got up there nonetheless. The cultists’ cries of anger grew in volume in the panicked yet empty moments of searching.

“There!” Riz shouted from above, sticking out a gloved hand toward something Fabian couldn’t see. “There’s a cabin about a mile, maybe two away from here. We can make it. I know we can.”

“Well, you’re not making it anywhere. Take this,” Fabian shoved the tome back into Riz’s arms before he dropped to one knee. Slinging his backpack off of his shoulders. Zipping it open, he presented the open compartment to Riz. “And get in.”

Riz’s eyes went wide. “But—”

“In this sort of weather, the safest place for you and that book to be is in my backpack.” He said, desperation tinging what authority he tried to have in this moment. “The Ball, your tiny legs aren’t going to be able to keep up with me. Not in snow this deep and gales this strong. Get. In.”

Riz stared at the bag with a scowl before he let out a hiss and shoved his briefcase in the bag before getting in himself. “You’re heading due east, okay? Due. East. With all the ridges and slopes, it’s gonna feel like you’re going the wrong way but I promise you aren’t.” And a second before Fabian zipped it up after him, Riz poked his head out and said, “Oh, and remember—”

“Three pats on my bag if I’m going to open it because if I don’t you’ll shoot me.”

Riz grinned wide, his eyes sparkling. “Best Friends.”

“That’s quite enough out of you.” With a pointed zip of his bag, Fabian hauled his backpack onto his shoulders. Taking a deep breath, he took a glance at Riz’s compass, due northeast, before setting off.

That must’ve been an hour ago.

Maybe longer.

He’d lost sensation in his nose, ears, and cheeks about fifteen minutes in, which was a blessing in some ways. No longer having to endure how the blizzard’s winds whipped and lashed against them. Such strong gusts that a stray thought settled in the back of Fabian’s mind of clothes torn by icy currents and boots rent by frozen snow.

About twenty minutes in, his fingers had gone numb as well, even with his gloved hands. More of a bane than the others, he’d been shaking so badly that, at some point, he’d dropped Riz’s compass. But he couldn’t stop to look for it. He couldn’t stop at all. Because if he did, he wouldn’t start again and if he didn’t start moving again…

Well, best not to think too hard about it. All he had to do was keep moving in the direction Riz had told him to. He’d said there was a cabin, so there must be a cabin. Fabian just has to make it there.

So, he kept trudging. One step after another. Through the mountainside, half frozen, enduring Constitution saving throw after saving throw. Making each one by the skin of his teeth. He crossed his fingers that Riz was as successful as he, though he didn’t know many Rogues with high Constitution scores.

At that thought, he faltered in his strenuous stride. In the crook of two hills whose sides rose well above his head, blocking his vision from anything but the bright grey sky. He stopped. Yelling was a pointless thing to do in a blizzard as severe as this one turned out to be, but Fabian had no other choice. He wouldn’t risk slinging his bag off of his shoulder and opening it up.

One, because he’s semi-convinced that his backpack has frozen to his thick jacket and he couldn’t take it off even if he wanted to. And two, exposing Riz to this cold would certainly finish him off if the failed saving throws hadn’t.

Yelling it was then.

“The Ball?”

No response. He didn’t yell as loud as he could’ve. So, Fabian tried again.

“The Ball!”

The howling wind swirling around him seemed oh so much fiercer and vociferous in the absence of a response. Even faster than it had been beating already, Fabian’s heart picked up speed.

“Riz!” Fabian shouted behind him, his voice shaking. “Riz, talk to me!”

A beat of silence, of stillness. Not that of a calming lake or the morning after winter’s first snow but the silence and stillness of a long-dead corpse. Another beat. And another. It’s only when fear spiked in Fabian’s heart and he jolted his backpack around, trying to get it off, that Riz’s voice reached his ears. Barely making it over the wind.

“I’m fine,” Came Riz’s voice, muffled and weak. Fabian could almost cry at the sound of it. “Just keep going, I’m… fine. We’re almost there, right?”

“Of course, we are.” He lied, his proud voice ringing out into the night because what else could he have said? ‘No, he’s starting to think he’s been walking in circles and that they’re going to freeze to death in the Mountains of Chaos’. Don’t be stupid. “I can see the cottage now. We’ll be out of the cold in no time at all.”

“Told ya. K-knew you could do it.”

Oh.

An epiphany struck him like a well-packed snowball to the face.

He’d thought that if he stopped in all this frost and fury he’d never get himself moving again. But after that, how could he have ever not started moving again?

Gazing up the snowy hill before him, the steepest he’d encountered yet, he resettled Riz on his back, took a deep breath of sharp, frigid air, and set off once more.

Reinvigorated by Riz’s conviction in him, Fabian began climbing up the side of the icy hill. He caught himself several times, seconds before he slipped and fell. Wondering if this is what Kristen meant about all that “As Above, So Below” Cleric business. How her faith, even as a single mortal, was enough to revitalize an entire deity. Simply because she wholeheartedly, unshakably believed in them.

Cresting the hill’s peak, he found not only a plateauing terrain and a sparse grove of evergreens but also a dark, ramshackle, old cottage. As he took in the sight of a sanctuary, Fabian knew he would never underestimate the power of belief. Or perhaps he’d never underestimate the power of Riz Gukgak.

It took three good shoves to burst through the cottage’s frozen door and another to get to shut it again.

Slumped with his shoulder still pressed to the door, Fabian’s laboured pants echoed out in the quiet of the stone cottage. The howls and groans of the blizzard still rang in his ears despite how muted they sounded now. As he inhaled and exhaled ever-shaky breaths, his eyes scanned the place.

Dusty.

Everything in the cottage was covered in a thick layer of dust and dirt. In the center of the wall to his left was a sizable fireplace that looked like it hadn’t been lit in forever. A frightful-looking bed sat in the far corner. Made up of only a thin mattress, a threadbare blanket and a pillow. Which only left the tiny kitchen beside him on his right that spiders had long since colonized. Oh, and a crotchety chair that sat lonely at a rickety table next to it.

Whoever had lived here, had lived alone. But they didn’t anymore, live here that is. Not for many months, probably.

No pissed-off homeowners to run into then. A small blessing.

Alright. No rest for the wicked.

Pushing off of the door with a wince at his aching muscles, Fabian stalked toward the center of the cottage near the fireplace. Beginning the process of detaching his backpack from his back. As gently as he could, he placed his bag down next to the unlit hearth and collapsed into a heap beside it.

Giving the side of the bag the three pats required to signal safety to Riz, he buried his numb face in his numb hands and groaned.

“Ugh, remind me to never go mountaineering again, The Ball. Never again. I swear I had a more pleasurable time trekking through a literal Nightmare Forest than I just did through all that fucking snow. This book better be worth it or I solemnly swear to throw Adaine and her high Arcana checks off the nearest cliff. You hear me, The Ball! Off a very steep, very snowy cliff! Like to see her Portents save her from that. Ha-ha!”

The beat of silence that came after Fabian’s little rant stretched on for far longer than he thought it would. The acute quiet, well, disquieted him. Made his stomach churn and chest tighten. He had good reason to be anxious right now. They’d almost frozen to death in a blizzard and got separated from their friends. Oh, if the rest of the Bad Kids were here, perhaps this wouldn’t feel so bad.

“Do you think she and the others made it out alright? I mean, I have no doubt that Gorgug had those weird cultists handled with his axe and Kristen has all her anti-evil Cleric spells but… Adaine or Fig would’ve messaged one of us if something went really wrong, right? Of course. Of course, they would’ve. So if they haven’t that means they’re fine. Hopefully, all this blizzard shit will let up in the morning and we’ll all make it to that inn in one piece. If not…well, if not…”

Another beat of silence.

“The Ball? Isn’t this where you chime in with one of your numerous and lengthy backup plans?”

Fabian turned around and peered at his now unsettlingly still backpack. He called out again, “Riz?”

Crawling over to it, already flinching away just in case a stray bullet flew out, he hesitantly zipped his backpack open.

Fabian gasped.

Riz’s body trembled as his tail curled up around the tome. His eyes were closed tight while one hand gripped his gun, his fingers having long turned blue. Almost every inch of his visible soft green skin was tinged an icy blue, including his tightly wound tail. He’d failed nearly every Constitution saving throw, taking on exhaustion fivefold.

Worse yet, he’s still making them.

One more failure and he’d—

Fabian bolted to his feet, his heart racing once more.

How should he fix this? What could he do? He wasn’t a high enough level Bard yet to be able to cast Greater Restoration and even if he was, he could only feasibly remove a single level of exhaustion. If he couldn’t remove them… then the only thing to do was prevent Riz from getting his sixth and final level.

Steeling himself with a breath and a look at a freezing Riz, who always believed in him so fiercely, Fabian was prepared to do anything and everything to save him.

Quicker than he thought he could with sensationless fingers, he unbuttoned and ripped off his thick, fur jacket. Uncovering his battle sheet. Thanks to the carefully wrapped Elven silk, heated by his inner fire elemental, he’d been making all those Con saving throws with advantage. Riz needed it much more than he did right now.

Ignoring how the chill of the cottage raised goosebumps on his exposed arms and caused shivers down his spine, Fabian got to work. Scooping Riz out of the backpack and into his arms, he felt like a block of ice. And once Fabian pulled him closer, the soft chattering of teeth reached his ears. He didn’t have much time till the next saving throw arrived.

A precious moment or two was spent prying the thick tome and arquebus out of Riz’s hands. Fabian’s voice softened to a croon as he did, “Come on, Riz. I promise nothing bad will happen to them if you let go. Everything’s okay. You’re safe.”

Eventually, thankfully, Riz’s grip loosened enough to slip the two items out of it. Setting them aside, Fabian got to work unsheathing his Sword of Shadows and swathing Riz in his battle sheet. The motions had a strange familiarity to them.

Bringing him back to a moment of relief within a lengthy battle as rain poured down on them and he held an unconscious Riz in his arms. Just as he’s doing now. His face had been more relaxed back then, instead being tensed and scrunched up in distress. Though, as he finished wrapping him up, Riz’s furrowed eyebrows and curled lips eased as the sheet’s warmth sank into him.

Fabian had almost lost him that day too. Only time would tell if they’d be as fortunate as they were that day to cheat death once more. But, watching Riz sigh and nuzzle into the fabric of the sheet, his boyish charm making a heartening return to his face, their chances looked promising.

Now that he had a warming Riz in his arms, Fabian almost placed him back on the ground. Ready to get to work on a fire when a stray memory of one of Sandra Lynn’s survival lectures stopped him. Something about never sleeping on cold, bare ground. Glancing down at the grungy, creaky floorboards, his nose wrinkled. Yeah, no, he wouldn’t want to rest his sheet down there, let alone Riz.

With a bit of maneuvering, Fabian managed to keep Riz in his arms as he nudged their stuff away from the front of the fireplace and he dragged the ragged mattress from the bed to place it there instead. Giving the old thing a couple of hits to get the dust off of them. He only succeeded in sending whatever foul substance blanketing it into the air.

One coughing fit later, he laid Riz down on the mattress, resting his head on the worn pillow and covering him in the blanket. Which in practice seemed to be just the suggestion of one and provided almost no actual warmth.

Well, it’s the thought that counts.

Nodding once at the sight, he rose to his feet and set out to start a fire in the hearth. Or rather, convince his inner fire elemental to light some logs ablaze. Whatever you wanted to call it, it’s about to get real warm in here real quick. Rubbing his hands together with a tiny smirk, he glanced around the fireplace for logs to burn.

Strange.

There don’t appear to be any logs stacked near the fireplace’s rack. None under the bed. Or resting against the sides of the web-bedecked kitchen counters.

There don’t seem to be any logs… anywhere in the cottage.

Right, nobody has lived here for a long time.

No person. No logs. No fire.

Cool, cool, cool.

That’s fine.

Fabian just needs to… to…

To…

By the Seven Winds and Jane Wren’s blade, this is hopeless.

Look, Fabian has never ever claimed to be the Smart Bad Kid. Adaine and The Ball had that on lock! Not the wisest either, Kristen and, surprisingly, Gorgug could take that medal. And hell! Fig had enough wit and cleverness to sink a galleon.

Figuring stuff out, remembering and recalling information, none of that was Fabian’s job. His job was to deal stupid amounts of damage, prance about with his sheet dealing out bardics and imposing disadvantage when needed, and, finally, to look hot.

That’s about it.

His Intelligence and Wisdom checks have rarely gone well and even when they did, even when he oh so desperately wanted to be the smart one, he could never beat out his friends’ rolls. And, ultimately, he’s fine with it because that’s not his job.

But right now, it is.

And worse, he needs to be good at it.

So, he dug the heels of his palms into his eyes and tried to come up with a solution for his crisis.

There’s no firewood in the cottage. He needs to find some or else Riz will freeze to death. Where does one get firewood? If they were back in Solace, he’d assume that there was a hardware store, one that the Thistlesprings surely patronaged, that sold the stuff. But they’re deep in the Mountains of Chaos and the closest town is too far away to go just for firewood. The previous owner must’ve gotten it themself, which means that… that…

Wait.

A shed!

When he had booked it over to the cottage, he hadn’t paid it any mind, but there had been another structure attached to it. Surely, if the previous owner had to have cut down the trees themself, they would have needed somewhere to put all that lumber! Yes, yes, that’s it!

Throwing on his thick coat and his gloves, he checked on Riz one last time before venturing back into the blizzard. He wasn’t quite the ice block he’d been before, but he was still much too cold for his liking. Ruffling Riz’s wild mane of waves and tucking him a little tighter in the sheet, Fabian went to search for firewood.

As he stepped out, all at once, every ounce of cold he’d shaken off once he stumbled into the cottage returned. Tenfold even, now that he didn’t have his battle sheet to keep him warm. It was like walking straight into a brick wall of frost and harsh winds. None of that discouraged him, though.

Raising a hand to block what little he could of the storm from his face, he trudged through the compounding snow. A gloved hand followed the rough stone exterior walls around the length of the cottage. Until he turned the corner and saw it. The shed wasn’t that big, which is likely why he discredited it at first glance, but it was plenty big enough to hold lumber.

Like the cottage’s front door, it took a few good jerks to yank one of the shed’s double doors open and shut, but only halfway. It would have to do, he wasn’t planning on staying long. Wrapping his arms around himself to preserve what little warmth he had left, Fabian hummed an old sea shanty as he did a once-over of the shed.

Good news: Amongst the lingering dirt and dust, sat bags of kindling and heaps of hefty logs were stacked on a sturdy, metal rack. More than enough for the night they’d be spending here.

Bad news: None of the logs lined up along the wall had been chopped small enough to fit in the fireplace. Fabian didn’t know a lot about survival tactics but all the logs he’d ever seen used in fireplaces were chopped into quarters or eighths. Not one big log.

Promising news: There’s a perfectly good axe nearby to chop those logs into the smaller pieces he needed.

Horrifying news: It’s clutched in the hands of a corpse.

Collapsed in a corner of the shed was what he could only assume was the cottage’s previous owner.

Almost jumping out of his skin, Fabian’s scream went muffled by the raging blizzard as he leapt a foot into the air at the sight. It was too cold for there to be a smell coming from it, but he covered his face anyway. Pressed up against the wall opposite it, he stilled. Controlling his panicked breaths the best he could. He’d dealt with the undead too many times not to have a healthy suspicion of “dead” bodies.

When it’d become apparent that no one was rolling for initiative, his shoulders relaxed. Pushing off of the wall, he crept over to the body. It’d been lying on the ground, curled up around the axe, next to a chopping block. Frozen despite the thick coat wrapped around them.

Riz would’ve probably inched closer to reveal the body’s face currently covered by a large hood, but Fabian couldn’t stomach it. Instead, he focused on the axe, careful to avoid touching the corpse as he took hold of the handle. Try as he might, his mild tugs weren’t enough to wrench it from the body.

Deep sigh.

His grip on the axe tightened. Already wincing at the act of disrespecting the dead. Counting down from ten, when he reached one he yanked the axe free. The sickening crunch of frozen bones breaking that sounded out into the quiet of the shed would haunt him for years.

Turning away from the body, Fabian dragged the axe behind him as he shuffled over to the rack for a bunch of logs. Settling one on the chopping block with a steading breath. Adjusting his hold on the throat and shoulder of the axe, he mimicked the stance he’d seen Gorgug take thousands of times now.

Drawing on every ounce of his strength, he heaved the axe up, his eyes never leaving the center of the log, and brought it down. Splitting the log in two.

The repetitive motions were soothing. In their own way. Even as his muscles began to ache and scream for a break. And even as the chill of the Mountains drained his energy. His mind found comfort in the raising and falling of the axe’s blade and the splitting of wood. It was like trudging through the snow. He didn’t know how far he had to walk; he didn’t know how many logs he’d have to chop. But he kept going anyway.

Fabian’s rhythm finally halted once the axe’s blade sunk so deep into the block that pure momentum wasn’t enough for him to be able to lift it again. Everything he’d been ignoring in favour of chopping hit him all at once. The sting of overworked muscles. The stiffness of his frame. The level of exhaustion.

Crumpling around the axe and onto the chopping block, a stray thought of falling asleep sounded like such a brilliant idea. Right here. Right now. He’d bring the firewood in afterwards. Just for a few minutes. Fabian’s heavy eyelids threatened to shut and stay that way for longer than he’d like. But not before his eyes landed on the corpse. Frozen to death in a crumpled pile in a shed in the middle of nowhere.

No.

That’s not how he’s going to go.

And besides, there’s a freezing Goblin inside who needs him.

Gritting his teeth, ignoring soreness and shaking limbs, Fabian brought himself to his feet. It took a good, solid minute but he eventually got there. Leaning heavily on the upright axe handle, he took a moment to take in just how many logs he’d chopped. The floor of the shed was absolutely covered in them. His eyes widened.

Okay, he’d kind of, maybe overdid it. By a lot.

Holy shit this is so much firewood.

Sheepish, Fabian gathered as much as could in the old, leather firewood carrier, along with a bundle of kindling,. Putting the rest up on the rack before heading back to the cottage.

With a noisy thump, he plopped the carrier and himself down next to the hearth. Unable to ignore how Riz didn’t flinch at its suddenness and volume. He got right to work.

Fabian could feel the palpable judgement from all the rangers and druids he knew as he built the fire. Deciding on something akin to a Jenga tower with the kindling on top. Sitting back, he stared at the logs. A deep frown on his face as he weighed the pros and cons of starting over again before shrugging and summoning his fire elemental.

After that fateful Spring Break, he and his elemental, whom he’d named Nar, had become quite the magical guinea pig for all of the Wizards he knew. Unable to stand the arcane anomaly laid before their inquisitive (read: nosy) minds.

Between Adaine, Aelwen, Ayda, and Zayne, they’d come to a peculiar arcane conclusion. You see, when he’d kissed Nar in Fallinel and swallowed that mote of fire, he’d become a material component of sorts.

Apparently, motes of elemental energy are usually only placed in expensive jewels. Thus becoming an Elemental Gem capable of casting Conjure Elemental. Which would make him the Half-Elven version of it, except better since the Gems are only one use. Or something like that. Fabian had only ever understood that much of their arcane babbling before zoning out.

To him, the academic reasons behind the source of his bardic power never mattered. Much to his Wizard friends’ exasperation. No, what mattered was how he felt and wanted other people to feel, and from there, his magic flowed into the world.

Knowing how freaked out Kalina made Kristen, he’d wanted her to feel every bit the hero she was when he cast Heroism on her. Whenever he cast Faerie Fire, it focused on his want, his need, to see what could potentially harm his friends. Fig had even once described his bardic inspirations as a surging seaside campfire after being shipwrecked. Hopeful and heartening in the face of overwhelming odds. While hers were more like a galvanizing jolt of pure hell-fiery rock n’ roll.

Whenever his Wizard friends had wanted him to conjure his elemental, he always went back to the moment when he summoned it forth for the first time. A time when he wanted nothing more than to protect his friends and keep them safe. More specifically, keeping Riz safe.

This must be why when he tried to summon it, wanting nothing more than to protect his best friend from the cold, Nar appeared quicker than it ever had.

In a rush of flames erupting from his sheet, Nar sprung to life in its sleek Elven shape of roiling flames. Immediately, it curled around Riz’s unconscious form. Adjusting the sheet around him before cupping his face and kissing his forehead.

A small spark of jealousy flared in Fabian’s chest as he rolled his eyes at his elemental’s cooing and doting.

Audibly clearing his throat so that Nar would pay attention to him, he gave a pointed nod at the fireplace. “Alright. If you’re quite finished with your little love fest over there, you have a job to do.”

Crossing its arms, Nar reluctantly left Riz’s side, not before one of their slender hands gave his curls one last ruffle. Without another word from Fabian, it dove into the hearth’s opening. Encompassing the stack of firewood and setting them ablaze. A tidal wave of heat crashed over him, almost to the point of pain against his icy, numb face.

Nar flowed out of the swelling fire to come to stand in front of Fabian, looking quite satisfied with itself. Rolling his eyes, Fabian gave it an obligatory round of claps, to which it did a ballerina’s curtsy before disappearing into his battlesheet.

Just as Fabian shook his head with a fond smile on his lips at his elemental’s dramatics, wondering where in Spyre it could’ve gotten that from, a small sigh pricked up his ears.

Whipping around just in time to watch as Riz sluggishly woke up. His eyelids opened to reveal golden gems, usually keen and hyperacute, now left hazy and weary by his levels of exhaustion. Yet they opened all the same.

“Riz!” Fabian’s heart leapt in his chest as he pulled the mattress closer to him and the fireplace.

“F’bian?” Riz murmured, looking like he was caught between wanting to curl up into the sheet further and sitting up to talk to him.

With a gentle hand placed on the center of Riz’s chest, Fabian guided him back to lying down. Maneuvering himself to sit behind the mattress and slightly above Riz. As not to force him to strain as they spoke.

Brushing a rebellious curl out of Riz’s sleepy face, Fabian said, “Yes, it’s me. How are you feeling?”

Riz heaved a shaky sigh, and Fabian’s heart skipped a beat as Riz leaned into the hand that’d lingered near his face. “Tired. I don’t think I’ve ever been this tired.”

“And I’ve seen you not sleep for a month.”

Riz smiled at that memory. “Hehe, yeah, gotta be a record right?”

Yeah, Fabian’s memory of that whole ordeal was less fond.

It’d been over the summer last year, and Riz had gone into “deep cover” again. Only for Fabian to find him perched like a gargoyle underneath the Marigold Docks running on zero sleep and heaps of coffee.

Apparently, he’d been tailing someone for his Dad, official upper planes business. Fabian had hardly cared about the reasons Riz had blustered about when caught, he’d instead immediately cast Sleep at his highest spell slot. Making a Dex save directly after to catch Riz’s unconscious form before he fell into the river.

Riz had woken up hours later in Fabian’s bed more than unimpressed, but Fabian ignored his glares and grumbles. Only mentioning that his dad might prefer that Riz didn’t work himself to an early death, and his mother more so. That shut him up enough to eat the soup Cathilda had made him.

Hmm.

Fabian pursed his lips, still deep in thought. “Are you hungry, perchance?”

“Yeah, I could eat,” Riz answered, furrowing his brow as he sensed they got off-topic somehow. They widened a second later as he bolted upright. “Wait, the tome! Did it make it? Is it ruined?”

“The tome is fine, The Ball. Look see,” Fabian said, reaching over to where he discarded the thick, leather-bound book and presenting it to Riz. “You kept it perfectly safe.”

“Good, good, good,” He said as his body relaxed at the sight of the tome. As he laid back down, his eyes grew heavy and his voice drowsy as he said one last time, “Good.”

By the gods, Riz was adorable when he was tired. With a small smile on his lips, Fabian brushed a few of Riz’s curls from his face and readjusted the battle sheet upwards. “Don’t worry, you focus on resting up and I’ll—” He looked out into the desolate cottage, frowning. “—Find us something to eat.”

Scanning his eyes over the interior of the cottage again, Fabian couldn’t help the grimace that took over his face. Nothing to find but dust and dirt. And heading outside to hunt for food (something he’s never done in his life) definitely wasn’t an option. Oh, this night just wouldn’t end!

An ever-growing sense of fatigue settled over him and a huge yawn escaped his lips. He was just so tired. And his bones ached and muscles screamed at him every time he moved. But he couldn’t fall asleep. Not yet. Just one more thing to do. Find food and then sleep. That’s it. Just find some food.

The first place Fabian looked was in his backpack. Mainly because it meant that he didn’t have to stand back up just yet but also because there could be a couple portions of rations that he hadn’t eaten yet.

Rifling through it, all he managed to find was a bag of loose nuts and berries. Fig had gathered them a couple days ago and tried to figure out how to cast Goodberry. Though she never figured it out (no matter how many times she used the words and movements they’d seen her mother use), they were still berries. And nuts! And thus, food! Sure, they’re still a far cry from anything substantial, but discovering them gave Fabian a much-needed boost in energy.

No longer so hopeless and weary, he gave the cottage a more thorough look through. Opening up creaking, dusty cabinets and cupboards and looking under tables and benches. Until he realized one of the heavier sacks he tossed aside left a trail of scattered oats across the floor.

Oats!

Fabian dropped to his knees, his heart racing and breath bottled up in his chest and lifted the sack upright. Steadying it before he ripped its top seam open. Revealing an entire, large bag of thick rolled oats. Still hesitant, Fabian dipped a hand into the grain and lifted a scoop of it to his nose before letting it fall back into the sack through his fingers. It didn’t smell off. Didn’t look it either. No mould or rot of any kind. There was no way for him to be one hundred percent sure, but he was willing to take the chance.

Now, he isn’t about to act like he’s Spyre’s greatest chef, but he has watched Cathilda make him porridge enough times to know that even he can’t fuck up making oatmeal…. He’s pretty sure he can’t fuck it up…. He has burned water before….

Riz might be fucked.

But it’s worth a shot!

After grabbing a cast-iron cooking pot from beside the fireplace, Fabian ventured back outside into the blizzard to fill the pot with untouched snow. He brought it back inside and hung it on the hook above the livid, scarlet flames. Letting the snow melt and boil as he grabbed a wooden spoon from the kitchen and dragged the sack of oats closer to the fireplace.

Between Riz’s soft snores and the crackling of lit hearth, this moment was strangely peaceful and almost domestic. Safe from the raging snowstorm outside, Fabian sat next to Riz on the mattress. Wiping off the dust from the wooden spoon with his jacket. His gaze shifted from Riz to the pot to the spoon and back again.

Until the snow, now water, began to bubble and boil. Fabian then took the pot off of the hook over the fire and placed it on another away from it but still close enough to keep the water warm. Next, he carefully scooped out handfuls of oats and dropped them into the boiling water. Watching as they began to soften and thicken and cling to the spoon as he stirred. Slowly but surely, it became porridge before his eyes.

Click.

Fabian was startled out of his cooking reverie by the sound of a camera shutter behind him. He whipped around to see Riz, his cheeks still rosy and eyes filled with sleep, holding his crystal up and staring back at him with a lazy grin.

“The Ball!” Fabian said with a gasp. “You can’t take photos of man without telling him!”

Smug as can be, Riz grinned and said, “I just did.”

“You’re supposed to be resting!”

“I was.” He said defiantly before the photo he took on his crystal caught his attention again and his face and voice softened. “It’s just… you looked so content. And none of our friends will believe you cooked anything without photo evidence, so…”

“Alright, fine. But sit tight, it’s almost done.” Fabian peered over the lip of the cooking pot at the bubbling porridge within. His brow arched and lips pursed. “I think.”

Creeping forward until he reached Fabian’s side, Riz took a deep breath as he peered over the pot as well. “Smells good.”

“That’s promising.” Fabian said, following suit. The nutty and slightly sweet aroma filled his nose in short order. Hmm, yes. That does smell rather good. Chalk up another win for Fabian tonight. Stirring the pot with a little more pomp and self-satisfaction, Fabian went on, “I do have to admit that it’s going to be rather plain. All I have to add are some of the berries Fig found a couple days ago.”

“Oh! Wait,” Riz scurried over to the nigh-forgotten backpack and pulled his briefcase out of it. Clicking it open, he stuck an arm into the case and began to rummage through the infinite space within. “Remember the nice couple back near the base of the mountain?”

“You mean the throuple with the freaky ravens?”

“Yes, them. If I’m remembering correctly they kept a hive of bees and gave us—” He pulled out a glass container of something bright and golden and lifted it high in the air. “—Ah ha! Gave us some honey for the road!”

“Huzzah!” Fabian cried, throwing one of his arms up in the air with a little more flourish. “Here, come add it to the pot.”

Still wrapped in the battle sheet, Riz scampered over with the vial of honey. Uncorking it with his teeth, he poured the viscous, golden liquid into the steaming pot of thick oatmeal while Fabian mixed them together. The two of them breathed in the smell of oatmeal now with the added slightly floral smell of the honey and looked at each other with warm smiles. Perfect.

“Brillant as ever the Ball.” Fabian said as he picked up the pouch filled with boysenberries and walnuts and delicately sprinkled them on top of the oatmeal.

Riz shrugged and said with a wry smirk, “Well, I try.”

Huddled together on the mattress with the cooking pot between them, the two of them took turns eating spoonfuls of their dinner. Filling their stomachs with much-needed warmth and sustenance. Between the mouthfuls, they idly talked in hushed tones. Riz flipped through the tome that they stole. Explaining its relevance to their current adventure and theorizing what their plan should be in the morning to Fabian. Who was still only half listening.

Too wrapped up in gazing at how the fireplace’s flickering flames danced in Riz’s amber eyes and softened some of his harsh yet handsome features. Sue him. His best friend was cute. Not that Fabian could ever work up the courage to tell him to his face. He was still a coward in that regard. Far too afraid and confused to ruin what he and Riz have with all these pesky, lovey-dovey feelings. No, he was content to just watch. To keep safe. For now and forever.

Before long, the cooking pot was empty, only the sticky remnants of the oatmeal left clung to the pot’s insides, and their bellies were full. As Riz yawned, large and cat-like, Fabian moved to take the cooking pot and head back outside to fill it with more snow. Planning on washing it out with the boiled snow in the morning for their breakfast. Which, now that he thinks about it, will be a lot less tasty than their dinner. Thanks to them using up all their natural sweeteners.

Hmm.

Well, that was a problem for morning Fabian.

This Fabian was bone tired and wanted nothing more than to fall dead asleep. And he wasn’t the only one.

Once he got back in and hung the pot over the fire, when he went to say something to Riz, Fabian found him curled up on the mattress, passed out. Snoring the night away. Fabian smiled at the sight and gave a nod, more to himself than anything. Quest completed successfully. Time for bed.

As quietly as he could, Fabian brought one of the old wooden chairs over and placed it as close to the fire as he could get it. Settling himself down on it, he tried his best to get comfortable but eventually gave up and simply tried to get some sleep. Nodding off moments later to the sound of Riz’s snores and the glow of the firelight.

“Fabian?”

Maybe a couple hours later, Fabian awoke.

Groggy and half-asleep, he pried his eyes open to find a concerned, shivering Riz in front of him and a low burning fire to his side. And though it took his mind a moment to fire back up, Fabian jumped to his feet and rushed to the fireplace.

Shit, shit, shit, shit.

Clumsily reaching and fumbling for another log before tossing it into the hearth. “Sorry, The Ball. Just one moment.” Fabian said as he reached for the fire poker and started jabbing it into the log. Hazily wondering if he could give a fire bardic inspiration to last longer. He waved a hand at Riz. “Go back to bed, I’ve got it.”

But Riz didn’t move.

He stood there, bathed in the fiery orange glow of the hearth and asked, “Why were you sleeping on the chair?”

A beat.

“Where else I am supposed to sleep?” He answered with another question. Something he knew Riz hated unless he was the one doing it. Riz tilted his head to the side and he scrunched up his face before he took a pointed look at the mattress and then back to him. Fabian smiled queasily. “Oh, I couldn’t.”

“Why?”

“Because, I—” Fabian gulped. “—I’d take up a lot of space. On the matress that is.”

“I woudn’t mind,” Riz said quickly, the words almost falling out of his mouth. “Goblins sleep in piles for warmth, even the ones that live up here in the cold. So…”

“Is that right?” Fabian asked. Riz nodded. Well… if he was fine with it. “Okay then.”

Timidly, Fabian followed Riz back to the mattress. Though he hesitated as he watched Riz get back under the battle sheet and the threadbare blanket.

Furrowing his brows, Riz reached out with his claws and gave his arm a tug. With his eight strength, it didn’t do much but urge Fabian forward. “We don’t have all night. Get in.”

“Alright, alright. Bossy much?” Fabian whined though he hurried to follow Riz’s orders. Slipping under the blanket and battle sheet, he had to stifle a groan as the magical heat of Nar sunk into his skin.

Almost instantly, Riz settled close to him, to his chest. Resting his head underneath Fabian’s chin before curling up into a ball, his tail winding around one of his legs. Without even thinking, Fabian wrapped his arms around him and tucked him deeper into the embrace, hiking up his knees to curl around him. It all felt so right. Like pieces of a puzzle slotting together. Perfect and satisfying. As if this was meant to be.

Finally at peace, Fabian basked in how correct this all felt. In the quiet of the cottage, the freezing wind still howling all around them, he’d never felt as untouchable as he did now. And looking down at Riz, an almost serene expression on his sleeping face, Fabian hoped he felt that way too.

One last thing, before he drifted off to sleep as well, Fabain kissed the top of Riz’s head and squeezed him a little tighter. Slipping off into unconsciousness, he only half noticed Riz squirming a bit in his hold before he felt a brush of lips on his jawline, heard a whispered, “Thanks, Fabes.”, and had one last thought.

Huh. Maybe someone heard his prayers after all.

And then,

Black.

Thank you so much for reading! This is my first d20 fic and though i know the fabriz fandom is quite small now, i look forward to enjoying Junior Year with all of you. Don't be a stranger! I'd love to hear what you think and if you have any requests, i'd be open to hearing and possibly writing them! Thanks again!

[giggleeclown]

So, why do I make so much kids content if I’m not a content creator for children?

I’m making this post because, with my current set of interests, I feel like I’m going to for sure be making content of mostly preschool shows. I also feel like I’m gonna get this a lot the more that people outside of undertale and smiling friends find my art. As my bio says, I have autism. And just as sesame street put it, sometimes I do things a little differently. This includes my interests. I struggle very hard to fixate on any ‘adult’ media. When I do, it is typically presented in a specific taste that might be similar to children’s media. (Moral Orel, Smiling Friends, DHMIS, etc.) and those fixations don’t last long. I’d much rather watch old children’s shows and films. Sometimes, those shows fall into the preschool category. This can lead many to assume that I only post things that are safe for children, or that I’m a children’s content creator. This isn’t the case. My goal is that I could post things that remind those who enjoyed tickling from a young age of their favorite nostalgic things!

Some things to expect from my blog:

Content of or similar to children’s media

Sfw tickle fluff

Posts about me, vivi

Fanfictions and art from an array of fandoms

Obscure fandoms, mostly for children (Gumby, Rainbow, Anpanman, Teddy Ruxpin, etc.)

Answers to your lovely asks, and occasionally answered art and fanfiction requests!

Occasional adult fandom posting and occasional light suggestive material: (blood, light horror, romantic NEVER SEXUAL situations, upsetting themes in literature or art such as mental health struggle. All will be tagged and CW’d appropriately.)

I’d prefer if interactions with my blog were 16+, but I understand that my content is appealing to younger audiences. However. Next year, I’m going to make my blog 18+ interaction because I will no longer be a teenager next year. I will ask for age confirmation if you are over 16 for collaborations and art trades, though, and I will not be direct messaging anyone in the community outside of art trades or people that I personally know. If you’re in my dni, you can look, just don’t touch.

EVEN MORE! 💕

What you should not expect from my blog:

Majorly adult fandom oriented content

Art with bondage or boop booths

Lots of video game content. (I personally have never been a video game person, so non indie games don’t really interest me. As a matter of fact, most indie games don’t interest me either.)

Reblogging of any pictures, videos or gifs that teeter on NSFW.

Any videos or pictures of me, Vivi.

Posts from my main. (If you know my main, please do not share it.)

Art, literature or the reblogging of art or literature that has sexual, violent, gorey or disturbing themes.

The expectation that NSFW blogs are allowed to follow, interact with, reblog, message or roleplay with me.

Roleplay in general.

I hope this helped! Thank you!

[senshisdaughter]

THE TERUHASHI KOKOMI DOCUMENT (that I forgot I made for like, the past 2 months lmao)

This is a thing I made almost in one sitting while listening to this playlist by CASP, It literally is the best character playlist i've ever seen, it resumes her character arch so well!!

Enough said, he's the thing:

Part 1: Introduction

Kokomi Teruhashi is my favorite character from saiki k. As much as I see myself in Saiki or find characters like Kaido and Akechi funny, no other character has grasped my attention like teruhashi. Her bits were funny, she had some of the most interesting dynamics with other characters, mainly Saiki, and she was the one of the characters that best reflected the themes of the series together with Kusuo.

So, seeing the utmost love I have for her character, you can probably imagine my surprise to find out how so many people who have “watched” the show simply hate her. Some will say she’s annoying, some will say she’s narcissistic, mean or a bitch. Some will hate her for getting in the way of their headcanons or for any other reason you can easily see flowing around. Even worse, this teruhashi hate is not a small minority but quite a big amount of the fandom, to the point that teruhashi lovers will tag any teruhashi positive posts with the saiteru tag, even with the ship not present, so that the few teruhashi lovers from the ship can see it.

In this essay I will firstly analyze Teruhashi’s character, mostly from the anime as I have not read the manga, and after that I will point out some of the reasons people say they hate the character and after question the real reasons behind this hate.  

Part 2: The perfect pretty girl:

Teruhashi, like most characters in the show, gets introduced as a shallow character. The whole joke at first is the expectation breaking that comes from Saiki’s power: the perfect pretty girl does not have a perfect personality like we would expect. She is overly aware of her beauty and uses it to benefit herself. She gets surprised by someone simply ignoring it, to the point of becoming obsessed with Saiki without even knowing his actual name.

Her characterization at the beginning of the series is very straight forward, she is a living illusion, a egocentric person who will manipulate people to get what she wants using her beauty, while pretending to be perfect in all aspects. Most of her jokes come from the absurd levels of power she demonstrates because of her appearance or from Saiki running away from her love schemes, as he doesn’t want all the attention that Kokomi brings with her.

At first, like ALL characters in the first season, Teruhashi is not painted in a good or deep light, mostly being very exaggerated in her worse traits and being targeted by Saiki’s funny remarks. This is the way the show first introduces us to characters. Nendo simply starts as the stupid one, Kaido is the shy and awkward Chuunibyou, Yumehara is the love crazy girl and so on. Here is where I personally find most Teruhashi haters get their distaste from, even though, as it will be further analyzed later, there are still some questionable things about the amount of hate this version of the character gets.

At this point in the series most characters are there only to be funny, without too much depth. But, as the season continues, the show starts to allow its characters to gain more depth. As much as Teruhashi still continues to mostly stay as the “perfect pretty girl who actually has a bad personality deep inside” we finally start seeing more depth to her during the later half of the first season. We start to see her develop friendships with Yumehara and the others, allowing us to see more of her personality than just her crush on Saiki and her contradictory personality, even if those are still the main focus of the character. 

But, as with most characters in the show, there is a very important change in tone after season two. We do not see Teruhashi Kokomi simply as the pretty perfect girl, but we actually get to see a bit more than that.

Part 3: The real girl

Kokomi Teruhashi is, above anything else, simply a girl. And that fact gets more and more obvious as we continue in the series. Her behavior that appears perfect is a mask, her thoughts that were very judged by Saiki in the beginning become clearly normal thoughts a teenager would have. Even the way she weaponizes her beauty: we see how all of that is placed on top of a real, normal human girl. 

Kokomi uses people as much as she is used, we get to see clearly how hard it is to “be perfect”, and how much it is expected of her. She isn’t allowed privacy even in her own home (I WILL NOT TALK ABOUT HIM), she isn’t allowed to have common hobbies and behaviors, any change she makes to her appearance is seen and judged and she is not treated like a normal person. The show starts to deconstruct the idea that Teruhashi is faking her perfection out of malice or narcissism, giving us a new view of it.

We see Teruhashi’s internal thoughts: how she thinks she's giving people happiness, how she knows people expect her to embody perfection, how she knows the responsibility and power she got from birth. It changes her relationship with her beauty, no longer is she abusing it, but simply taking back as much as it is taken from her. 

With A LOT of the jokes in the anime, when thinking about them for a little bit, some things become concerning: this 16 years old girl is certain that people will get depressed if she doesn’t show up and perform her perfection (which we know to be true seeing how they all react when she is simply sick), this 16 years old girl is sure that giving chocolates to her crush will start world war three (which, even if we see it as hyperbole, is taken completely seriously by her, and whatever it would actually happen or not is irrelevant, as she feels responsible to stop it even at the cost of her happiness). We see time and time again how much she constantly feels responsible for others feelings and actions, completely changing the reason we think she puts up an act.

Not only that, but we see how much she appreciates being treated as a normal person. Her crush on Saiki, born initially from spite, becomes genuine affection as she grows fond of him mainly because he treats her like she is not special. Of course she hated it at first, she never knew what being treated like a person was! Not only that, Teruhashi feels that she is responsible for others happiness, and here she sees a boy that isn’t happy to see her. As much as it hurts her pride, which is the way Saiki sees the situation, it also directly hits the only thing she sees as her worth, as her responsibility. 

Kokomi at first seems very prideful, and it would be a lie to say she isn’t, but mostly we see how to a certain extend that was a side effect of her mask, and as she gets more and more used to being treated like a normal person, especially by Saiki and Yumehara, she starts to care less about it, even allowing herself to make a “mistake” by forgetting a random thing about what a boy changed after fainting from exhaustion trying to be perfect.

Yumehara herself is one of the most important characters for Teruhashi’s growth. We do not know much about Kokomi’s past, but she clearly doesn’t have a lot of friends at the start or before the series. She, as all of Saiki’s friends, is deeply lonely, as even though she is popular she isn’t close to anyone. That is, before she and Yumehara become friends.

Part 4: Being human

One of the main challenges we see Saiki going through the series is his feelings of alienation from the rest of humanity. He doesn’t feel human, always feels like he is different from others and needs to put on a mask to exist in society. We also see this mentality slowly being melted away by having friends, as they pretty much grab Kusuo by the neck and throw him away from this idea, by showing him love and understanding. This is one of the most important themes of the story, and one Kokomi Teruhashi embodies just as well.

Teruhashi at the start pretty much lived simply to fulfill the role that was given to her by society at her birth: be as perfect as she looked. Boys were too shy to interact meaningfully with her while girls were too intimidated to be friends. When people did talk to her it was mostly to compliment her on her appearance or to try and get something out of her. That at first changes with Saiki.

This random boy from her class, a boy that she still finds the need to make a little happier with her presence (a thing that has ALWAYS happened since she was born), a boy she doesn’t even know the name of. This boy simply gave no fucks about her beauty. He saw Kokomi like he saw everybody else, both in appearance and personality, so he treated her like he did everyone else: indifference.

  Of course Teruhashi doesn’t believe it, something like that never happened before. Of course her first reaction is that something is wrong and that she needs to fix it. At this point she is so immersed in her mask that she can’t even see it is not her real self. And the more she tries the more Saiki treats her like a normal human being.

Then we get the second most important character for Teruhashi’s growth: Yumehara. Yumehara is the first girl we see that not only decides to treat Kokomi as a normal human being, but also to be her friend. We clearly see both of them struggle at first, as Yumehara finds it weird to talk to “the perfect girl” and Teruhashi simply has no experience talking with girls. But we see them building a relationship, caring for eachother and, most importantly, we see Teruhashi being allowed to be a normal girl.

With both of them by her side Kokomi slowly starts to truly become herself, gaining a bigger possibility then the role she had been put since birth. And with time even her other friends in the group start to treat her more and more like a human being. From Hairo and Mera (aroace icons fr) that don’t seem to really care about her beauty, to Kaido and Nendo, who even if they do care about it still end up treating Teruhashi as a friend first.

We can clearly see how much this connections change

Teruhashi's mindset: she becomes less egotistical while still being aware of her beauty, she understands what's more important to her than her perfection, she finally starts to understand that she is allowed to be human.

Part 5: Parallels painted pink and blue

It is so easy to think of Teruhashi’s crush on Saiki as any other joke, like Yumeharas, but there is a very important reason why she and Saiki are placed side by side so much: they are perfect mirrors.

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K is a show about loneliness. Not the psychic powers of quirky people, the main thing everyone in the cast has in common is that they are all deeply lonely. Kaido, Nendo and Kuboyasu are social outcasts, Yumehara and Mera while not being isolated by their peers are also not very social with them, and Hairo, even though he’s popular, doesn’t have anyone to match his freak energy. They all find connection in their weird little friends group. And in this group there are two opposite but mirroring characters: Saiki Kusuo and Teruhashi Kokomi.

Saiki doesn’t feel human, but like a monster. He feels disconnected from his peers as he was born with powerful abilities that, while they can be used for personal gain, he feels responsible to hide as a way to keep others safe. So, he wears a mask of normalcy, not allowing anybody near him and hiding everything that makes him special. He has to deal with the weight and troubles of hiding a part of himself from others, and finds it difficult to show it even to those he knows would accept him.

Teruhashi doesn’t feel human, but like a goddess or an angel. She feels disconnected from her peers as she was born with a powerful beauty that, as it is impossible to hide, she feels responsible to make it as visible and perfect as possible, in an attempt to make others happy. So, she wears a mask of perfection, making it impossible for people to completely get close to her as she hides everything that makes her normal. She has to deal with the weight and troubles of hiding a part of herself from others, and finds it difficult to separate between her mask and herself.

They both grew up with a similar problem: they were alienated from others because of their uniqueness. But, both diverge at the fact that Saiki can hide his powers, while Teruhashi can’t. So while Kusuo fights a part of himself until he doesn’t see it as part of him, Kokomi is eaten by her mask, confusing herself with the mask she wears.

Both characters force each other to confront the truth, as Saiki needs his powers to keep up with Teruhashi and she is unable to mask in front of him. By their similarities they both push each other to become more in tune with their humanity.

Even their real personalities are similar, both being mean to others in their heads while acting very kindly in the end. Both are absurdly competitive, stubborn and even childish at times. They are both good but flawed people, who lost touch with their humanity as it was taken away from them by others because of their unique traits. Even if dealing with it in completely opposite ways, both are, at their core, very similar characters. They are the two who can understand each other the best, having similar problems, from god like abilities and bad brothers (I WILL NOT TALK ABOUT HIM)

Part 6: The haters

Here is where my main problems with Teruhashi haters lie. While anyone is entitled to like or dislike any character, the characteristics that are targeted on Teruhashi are, at its core, characteristics that are very clearly present on Saiki. But, when Teruhashi shows them instead of the protagonist they become a problem.

Saiki is a self-centered guy, who will do everything in his power to avoid others. He is constantly mean to his friends and strangers in his head while being quiet on the outside. Saiki constantly makes it clear, especially in the first episodes, how he needs to lower his abilities, be it physical or intellectual, to keep being normal, because he is better than his peers at both.  

Kokomi does the same, she is self-centered and does everything in her power to get what she wants. She is constantly mean to others in her head while being nice on the outside. She makes it constantly clear that she is prettier than her peers and she does not hide it.

They both have the same unlikable characteristics. but they get framed differently by both the show and the fandom. Saiki can be mean in his head, because if he doesn’t say anything he isn’t being fake, while Kokomi deciding to be nice to others is bad? If Kusuo uses his birth giving abilities to avoid people and manipulate situations it's relatable because he’s being a introvert, while if Teruhashi uses his birth giving beauty and luck (that works in the same level as Saiki’s powers) to get someone’s attention and manipulate situations she is manipulative and a bitch? 

And it’s not only traits she shares with Saiki that are badly seen. She is annoying to Saiki and never leaves him alone? So is Nendo, but when she does it it’s bad, even though we know Saiki never went and rejected any of his friends' affection directly. People will say she can’t take no for an answer when no was never said to her. 

People expect a character who’s whole life was told she is perfect to not think she is. People expect a character who’s been given everything she wants her whole life to not expect that? Saiko thinks exactly that, and like Teruhashi starts to learn that things are not like that, but he still will default to thinking this. But when he does it’s not a problem, but when Teruhashi does it she is entitled and bad.

Like it was said before, disliking a character is something anyone can do for whatever reason, but I do find it important to analyze why you hate a character, especially if the reasons you give are only a problem when given to a confident female character. The whole point of her bit is that, the fact she knows she is beautiful and uses it to her favor is something that would surprise and get people mad, and seeing it be realized by people outside the anime makes it ever so clear why her characters has such a hard time being true to herself. If she didn’t pretend to be perfect the hate that she receives from the fandom would be very similar to the hate she would receive in her world.

But then the question becomes why? In a show full of self-centered characters, who are inconvenient, who are entitled, who are arrogant, why is Teruhashi the one who gets the most hate for any of these characteristics? While I do believe for some people they just didn’t find her bit funny, I do really think that for most it was simply misogyny. She is a confident woman who knows and uses her beauty to get what she wants. In real life women like this will get targeted and harassed, they are hated simply because they don’t act “pure and innocent” as it is expected, as it is completely shown in the show through Teruhashi. She is a character molded by misogynistic stereotypes, and while I do think the show does well in using them while criticizing it, a big portion of the fandom simply was not able to see this character without the lenses of misogyny the character itself is made to criticize.

I find it to be very important to analyze why you hate Teruhashi if you do so. Did you not find her funny or were you bothered by a woman showing character flaws? Did you get annoyed she got in the way a ship you think is better? While I cannot convince everyone to stop hating a fictional character, I urge you to ask yourself WHY do you dislike her, and to see if you dislike male characters with the same flaws you say you hate. 

Part 7: The tragedy of Teruhashi Kokomi 

Of course, it does sound a bit contradictory for me to say that “anyone is entitled to like or dislike any character” and then write a big ass dissertation on why you should not hate Teruhashi. But there is a big reason why I really wanted to do this: I really really love her character.

It's tiring to see many many people hate on a well written character, and sadly, the reason she is hated is BECAUSE she is well written. The show doesn’t say out loud that Teruhashi is fine, that she is a normal teenage girl that was cursed with unending beauty in a world that will never allow her to acknowledge it. The social behaviors criticized by her character are only made more explicit by the way a portion of the fandom treats her, and sadly, that was inevitable with a character like her.

So in the end I can only hope to see more positive things about her in the future, as I do love this character as much as I do Saiki. And even though I know people will still hate Kokomi, I hope some people can see what a great character she actually is.

[thotsforvillainrights]

HELLLLOOO, IT'S ME AGAIN! (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

May i ask for a (NSFW/SFW) hcs for poly relationship with Muscular and Rappa!? :D

The fandom (or at least a little some of them) has been arguing over their meeting and how would they react whether they'd get along with each other and become buddies! ^⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠_⁠^

Or they'd just get crazy and become each other's enemies forever

So what do think!? :3

(I'll be honest with you, I don't see these two managing to be in a relationship with each other present at first but that's EXACTLY what the magic of fanfic is for!)

(sidenote: this is my first time writing for a poly relationship I think? So if it's not good please let me know so I can improve upon it!)

~Muscular, Rappa, and their S/O~

headcanon|scenario|imagine|match-up|drabble

-You got one in a relationship? Wow, amazing! You got both of them at the same time? How in the hell do you manage this!? It's like having two overactive dogs in a small apartment most of the time! If one day you're not busy trying to keep Rappa from killing some poor stranger on the street then the next day you're busy keeping Muscular out of trouble. And don't even get me started on how much energy it takes to keep them from both going at each other's necks. In fact, they didn't even want to tolerate each other until they realized the end goal was having you. Then they learned how to get along somewhat...It's been maybe 2 weeks so far that you've managed to keep them from going at each other until earlier this morning when you caught them fighting over the last brown egg in the fridge. There were plenty of other eggs but the brown one was essential according to them. Or maybe because it was farm fresh that made them go crazy? Either way, that was how the morning went.

-Later in the evening you managed to get them to make up in time for you three to watch your favorite show together. Watching it was more like watching those two give hilarious commentary on their least favorite characters (which was basically everybody that wasn't violent or vulgar). Still, they both manage to always make you laugh so it wasn't too big of a deal. Also being with the two of them pay off bedroom-wise (depending on reader preference) but I won't go into too much detail here and now.

-These two can be the definition of scary dog privlege. You need not worry about going anywhere and feeling unsafe with these two by your side. The only thing you truly need to worry about is the safety of OTHERS when you bring these two around. Their unruly behavior has gotten then on a couple of hit lists in the past. That's why it's important to steer clear of too much bar time or even some cage fighting matches less you want to have your eardrums blown out by their incessant howling over the match.

-Don't expect much rest because the both of them are gym rats and they always end up waking you to get you involved as well. It can border on the absurd depending on the time or day of things. Rappa knows especially how you have work to do so you're getting rest. However, he's the main one waking you up majority of the time. Sometimes, despite being annoying, it can be a bit of a cute scene. Grown man Rappa waking you up with hoping eyes that you'll go to the gym with them. Then you look over and Muscular has his head peeking from around the corner as he also waits to hear your answer. Maybe just humor them every once in a while and tag along. It'll be a rare chance to watch them behave while in public lol.

-Even though they may seem like they want to kill each other, there are the sweet moments you get to witness when they get along that make it all worth your wild. Another example would be those lazy Sunday mornings when the sun is just barely allowing it's beams to creep along the carpet of your bedroom through the glass. It's illuminating your bodies all bundled up beneath the blanket together. There you can see Rappa's ridiculous morning hair and Goto's soft smile...his genuine REAL smile and not the shit eating grin you're so used to. Both of them making way for each other to hold you closely as they rest comfortably by your side. Everything seemingly at peace until the snoring seems to get louder and louder!