#might as well drop my salt here too lmao

[seliipi]

Voltron Season 8 Salt #2

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

Melisandre is one of my favorite minor POVs mostly because of how GRRM plays with the all-powerful mage trope. See the deconstruction with her is that despite her antics, she’s actually very powerful and all her visions are legit. It’s just that she absolutely sucks at interpreting said visions, mostly because she has all these preconceived notions and is very stubborn about them. And even when the answer is staring right at her (literally), she just doubles down. And it can be very frustrating as a reader, to be quite honest.

Like she’s been super gung ho about Stannis Baratheon being Azor Ahai/the Prince that Was Promised, though only R’hllor know why, to the extent that she will flat-out ignore any evidence to the contrary. Her visions in ADWD essentially scream that Azor Ahai is someone different (not Stannis!) but good ol’ Mel just won’t budge.

There’s this very hilarious interaction in Jon’s 10th ADWD chapter that essentially spells out all of her problems with visions and prophecy, with Jon serving as the reader’s proxy in some ways.

This interaction happens during Alys Karstark’s wedding feast and Patchface drops some of his weird jingles, which Mel very unsettled by. So she’s turns to Jon and is like, “ugh that dude is so creepy, all my visions tell me so”. And Jon’s reaction to this is super funny, because he’s like:

“You see fools in your fire, but no hint of Stannis?”

Wow Jon lmao

He just had to call her out like that, unprovoked. But his frustration makes sense. He’s constantly been asking about Stannis’ whereabouts but Mel’s responses just aren’t very satisfactory (in his opinion).

Then we get this next line which really just says everything about Mel’s stubbornness and perfectly embodies the deconstruction of the all-powerful seer trope.

“When I search for him all I see is snow.”

So Mel looks for Stannis, whom she believes to be Azor Ahai, in her fires but doesn’t find him. Instead she sees “snow”. And this part tracks with her POV too. We know from her chapter that she constantly sees Jon in her visions. It’s how we get the very interesting “I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R’hllor shows me only Snow” line.

So one would think that Mel might go: “Hmmm I look for the prophesied savior, but I don’t see Stannis. Instead, I only see Snow. I don’t doubt R’hllor’s power so if my visions are true, then maybe I need to rethink a few things”.

One would think…

But nope!

And Jon’s like “Hey maybe you’re not seeing Stannis because he’s super dead, ever think about that Mel?” And she proceeds to spout the usual Azor Ahai stuff and even mentions Dragonstone:

“When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone. Dragonstone is the place of smoke and salt.”

To which Jon’s replies, “uhhhh news flash Stannis was not born on Dragonstone so that doesn’t track”.

Obviously this is Jon’s skepticism but I like to think that he took the reader’s place here. Because many of us have asked ourselves, why oh why would Mel think of Stannis just because she saw Dragonstone? Like yeah, he’s the Lord of Dragonstone but he wasn’t born there. It’s quite a valid question and how does Mel counter it? She doubles down and twist herself into a pretzel to make Stannis fit (even though he doesn’t fit at all!)

Really, Jon’s reaction is essentially what would happen if someone dropped me into the world of ASOIAF and gave me the chance to meet Mel and ask her a few questions. I’d be quite frustrated, just as Jon is here. And to be fair, the reader has a lot of auxiliary information (e.g., Jon’s parentage) that Mel doesn’t have.

But then the next few lines really illustrate just why poor Mel can be so frustrating. Because Jon’s follow up is,

“And what of Mance? Is he lost as well? What do your fires show?”

And what does Mel say?

“The same, I fear. Only snow.”

…??!

Mel!😭

Seriously, I cannot! This is the exact same situation as with Stannis. She looks for a king but only sees Snow. This makes me wonder then, based on previous wording, if she’s specifically looking for “the King Beyond the Wall” (not just “Mance”) and only seeing Snow - at this point, Jon has all but supplanted Mance.

So once again, one would think that Mel would go: hmmmm I look for the King Beyond the Wall but I see Jon Snow and not Mance Rayder. Seeing that Mance’s power has been diminished and Jon Snow is now taking control of the wildlings, maybe I should re-evaluate a few things”.

Yeah, one would think…

Homegirl is trying her best, she really is. But sadly, her best can only get E for Effort.

And at this point the reader is just done with Mel, and Jon is too:

“You are seeing cinders dancing in the updraft.”

He doesn’t even bother to phase it as a question lmao. He just calls her out and doesn’t care.

And we’re in his POV so he’s thinking of the lower case “snow”. Also, why in the hell is Mel referring to Jon like this?

Anyway, this is why I think Jon serves as the reader’s proxy in this conversation because it’s like a thinking exercise (facilitated by the narrative) that ultimately goes nowhere because Mel is so, so stubborn.

Because if we really break it down:

R’hllor/the Narrative: Who do you see when you search for the king/Azor Ahai?

Mel: Jon Snow

R’hllor/the Narrative: Ok…and who do you see when you search for the King Beyond the Wall?

Mel: Erm, Jon Snow…

R’hllor/the Narrative/the Reader: Great! So say it with me. The king you’re looking for is J-

Mel: STANNIS BARATHEON!

R’hllor/the Reader: …?!

And before anyone claims that this is a misdirect, Mel really is seeing Jon Snow. Straight from the horse’s mouth:

“I am seeing skulls. And you. I see your face every time I look into the flames.”

Friend….I don’t even know what to say anymore…

[genericpuff]

How do you feel about LO fans reading Rekindled? I mean, I know Rekindled wasn't created only for the critical side of the fandom to read, but have you ever had LO fans that read Rekindled coming at you because of your anti lo posts?

Honestly, I find I don't get that much harassment for it here, which has been great. One of the most common criticisms I get are accusations that I'm "riding off Rachel's coattails", but considering I'm making this comic entirely from the ground up, for free, in a way that fuses my style with Rachel's (which means it's still fairly distinguishable from LO) technically I'm harming Rachel's bottom line far less than the legitimate fans who draw Rachel's style 1:1 and sell adoptables and commissions LMAO (and that's not to be accusatory, I think it's neat that there are artists who can replicate it that well, but idk why people get mad at me for doing literally the same thing and I'm not even profiting off it lol it's literally just because I'm a critic and not a diehard fan). And if I didn't genuinely enjoy working on this project beyond getting fake internet points, then I would have dropped it from the starting gun, I'm not good at committing myself to new projects (yaaay ADHD).

I think it helps that I (intentionally) don't use the general LO hashtags, I try to stay away from using any fan-focused hashtags because ultimately the work I do isn't necessarily going to be meant for them and I don't want it getting recommended to them if that's not the kind of thing they wanna see. Of course, that won't stop fans from finding it, but if they're getting recommended stuff from the anti community, then chances are it's because they've already been lurking in it. If a fan of LO finds my work, they're more than free to read it and if they enjoy it, great! I was a fan once too, the comic itself isn't so much for the anti's and "haters" as much as it is for people like me who used to adore this comic and wanted more than what we got.

Considering LO is going to be ending by mid next year, Rekindled will very likely be going on long after it, so who knows, it might even become a new favorite for fans who want more LO-style H x P content. Of course, it'll come with all the layers of salt that come loaded with my content, but that's what we have the Dillyhub mirror for now ;)

I find I tend to get more pushback on Instagram and I can only assume it's because IG's recommendation algorithms work a little differently. I thiiink IG might be suggesting accounts that are followed by other accounts (so through mutuals) so if a fan is following the same people I am (ex. editolympus is one I can think of off the top of my head), regardless of whether or not those accounts use the same hashtags I do, I get recommended to them. I imagine it's a pain for people who don't want to be seeing my content but they can take their own advice for once - don't like it, don't read it (￣y▽,￣)╭

[fletchfeathers]

hi hello i received the bat signal from @danniiiyyyl but i had too much to say to fit in a Regular Reply lmao so i hope you don't mind a rebagel! i've dropped my ramblings under a cut just to not clutter folks' dashes too much bc it got Long, but if any fellow transmascs following me wanna chime in gopher it

disclaimer right out the gate that it's been a WHILE since i've done a full-time bind; lockdown really kicked the habit when i wasn't going into an office and being perceived by the general public every day lmao so y'know take this with as much salt as you feel appropriate.

otherwise though i'm just gonna go through and answer your questions as best i can!

Am I supposed to measure myself bare chested?

yep! measuring for a binder is similar to measuring for a bra fitting. you want to be sure you're getting as accurate a size as possible, especially since you say you're looking to bind full-time (or near enough); if you're on the cusp between sizes, go up a size rather than down - which might sound counter-intuitive but trust me, your chest and spine will thank you later. it'll also help your binder last longer since going down a size means you might wind up stretching it out and making it lose its effectiveness a lot quicker.

Are there any brands that I should absolutely steer clear of?

SO gc2b used to be really good, and the binders i have are gc2b ones from a few years ago and have served me well; however i have heard that in recent times their quality has really deteriorated as they've started cutting corners to meet demand, so if you do swing for a gc2b binder you may have better luck trying to get one second-hand if you can. i also don't know that i'd recommend them as far as your next question - they'd be fine if you were just looking for something more occasional but probably wouldn't stand up to wearing them all day every day, at least not without some wear and tear pretty quick.

i'm not sure where you're based, but if you're in the UK i hear on the grapevine that Spectrum are a good option! i haven't tried them personally but i've seen enough people say they're good to at least point you in their direction. if you're not UK-based, i actually hear underworks have really stepped up their game, so they may be worth looking into! again, haven't tried 'em myself, but they're probably where i'd start looking at the very least if you're not in the UK!

Which brands, if any, would be safe to wear for my full work day (8-9hrs)?

this is kiiiind of a tough one, because it's not so much like ... unsafe, it's just that there's potential for a lot of discomfort (short- and long-term) if you're not careful about making sure you've got the right size and such. i would tend not to recommend wearing one for that long without a break if you can help it, and that is from experience from some very sore ribs/back muscles from binding 9 hours a day 5 days a week minimum without a break.

i do fully get though that it's not always feasible to find time to take it off (or at least like, roll it up past your chest a lil bit) so i suppose my recommendation here is just making sure you're taking it off as soon as you get home, and definitely not wearing it to sleep or for any strenuous activities or anything like that (also guilty as charged lmao, do not follow in my footsteps i make these mistakes so you don't have to)

i would also suggest, if the dysphoria allows (bc dysphoria is a bitch and doesn't always, i feel your fuckin pain) - once you have one don't jump straight into wearing it full-time. if you can, wear it for like, an hour at first before taking it off, then two, then three etc. just to get used to it and make sure it's gonna be comfy during those longer stints at work - better to find out it sucks after 2 hours and be in a position to take it off easily than be like, 2 hours into a workday and being stuck with it for another 6-7 hours.

Do any brands specifically account for variances in shape/position of breast tissue? I have never been able to find bras that fit my shape 100% correctly, so this factor is a bit important to me.

so binders work differently from bras, obviously, in that they're more about compression than supporting your chest, so it's gonna be one of those trial-and-error things starting out, a little bit - binders don't take shape really into account, so you'll kind of have to adjust yourself to where it feels the most comfy to begin with.

it takes a bit of patience and practice starting out but the best way i've found is pushing your breasts sort of out to the sides, to around where they would naturally fall when you're lying flat on your back; that usually gives me, at least, both the best compression and the most comfort. your mileage may vary but that's hopefully as good a starting point as any!

also, as far as like, styles starting out: i like the half-tank ones that only cover your chest rather than going all the way down over your stomach (don't worry, the compression on the full-length ones is still only at your chest; the bit that goes over your stomach is stretchy but still tight to the skin) because the full length ones can ride up during the day and feel weird, they're easier to ~adjust if you need, and obvs they're a lot cooler in the summer lmao. it's very much a personal preference thing though! i'd maybe go for a full-length one if you have a Larger chest, just to make sure everything is Contained (sorry i know that's not the most ideal way to put it but i am running out of word steam LMAO). cons of the half-tanks are also i've found they stretch out/lose their compression quicker than the full-tank counterparts, so if that longevity is important then it's worth keeping in mind.

also don't tumble dry them - machine washing is fine ofc but make sure you're air-drying them as tumble drying will also nuke that compression material real quick in my experience.

OKAY now that i've written you a novel i hope any of my rambling is useful, and feel free to hmu any time if you have any more questions or anything!! if i can't help i can at least try and point you towards people/places that can!

and good luck, godspeed, you got this <3

My fellow transmascs i NEED your help. I have gotta start binding because this dysphoria has HANDS but I have so many questions. Every online resource is dogshit and I can’t get answers so if you can help with any of this, please do:

Are there any brands that I should absolutely steer clear of?

Which brands, if any, would be safe to wear for my full work day (8-9hrs)?

Do any brands specifically account for variances in shape/position of breast tissue? I have never been able to find bras that fit my shape 100% correctly, so this factor is a bit important to me.

Am I supposed to measure myself bare chested?

[galaxy-lilies]

Can we hear about mermay dream team au? I'd like to think Karl and Quackity are there too, Quackity is a flying fish merman and Karl, maybe a parrot fish for the colors? Idk, I'm not very versed with fish's.

Dream is a glowsquid mer, Sapnap is a shark mer, and George is a selkie. This can be interpreted as romantic Dream Team or just platonic Dream Team

When Dream was a kid he was being attacked by some Drowned. When he was positive he was calamari, a gray ball came hurling at the Drowned. He didn’t bother to see who his savior was and swam out of there. 

He hid in a cave for a while then he heard something swimming near the mouth of the cave. He cautiously peeked his head out and-

“BOO!!”

Dream yelped, accidentally releasing a cloud of glowing ink. 

There was some coughing and gagging before Dream heard the same person go, “Geez at least give somebody a warning!” He turned and was met with the toothy grin of Sapnap and the head of a beheaded Drowned. 

“That’s not exactly how you thank somebody who just saved you,” Sapnap continued to grouch, waving away any remaining ink.

Dream paused. “Wait...you saved me?” 

Sapnap placed the head down. “Well duh. I couldn’t exactly ignore you. You’re literally a walking beacon.” Dream felt his cheeks flush. “I am not!” he said indignantly. The shark mer gave him a look. 

“Dude your skin and tentacles are literally glowing, you just hit me with a glowing cloud of glittery sparkly ink. I’m pretty sure that has to account for some type of beacon.” Dream relented and sighed. He was about to open his mouth when Sapnap cut him off. “And since you’re such an easy target I’ll be your protector!” Dream looked at Sapnap confused. “We literally just met??? I don’t even know your name!”

Sapnap swam up into dream’s face. “Sapnap’s the name, and so what? I don’t have much to do and you seem like a cool guy!” Dream swam back a little.

 “Don’t you have like a pod or something to return to? Why are you bothering someone who is practically prey to you?” Sapnap’s demeanor fell a little. “I um. I don’t have a pod anymore...”

That’s when Dream noticed the scars across Sapnap’s arm and tail.

 “...Poachers?” Sapnap only gave a small nod. “It was a while ago now. I don’t want to think about it too much.”

And that’s how Dream found himself a new friend and pod member. They learned a lot about each other whether they liked it or not. Dream learned that Sapnap can almost kill someone if he smells blood and Sapnap learned that Dream could regenerate his tentacles.

Dream also learned that Sapnap’s teeth were sharp and his face didn’t particularly like that. 

It was an accident. 

Dream had run into some sharp rocks and Sapnap couldn’t swim away fast enough before his instincts took over and he bit a good chunk of Dream’s face.

Dream had swam away, blindly hiding in a cove. He was clutching his face and he tried his best to stop the bleeding. He was alone and scared for 3 days before Sapnap followed the blood trail to Dream. The bleeding had subsided at that point and the salt water helped with disinfecting a little. Dream froze when he saw Sapnap but dropped his guard a little when he saw how remorseful Sapnap looked. Instead of saying anything, Sapnap presented him with a crudely made mask, a smiley face carved in the middle.

“For your face if you want. It might help the healing process if you stuff some kelp under.” Dream silently took it and tried it on. “How does it look?” he asks quietly, his voice slightly muffled behind the material. He saw Sapnap’s face scrunch a little. “A bit funny.” Dream huffed, slightly amused. Sapnap gave him a crooked grin before it fell flat again. He looked nervous. 

“Look, I understand if you don’t want me to stick around. If you want to go find another pod or something-“ 

There was the unsaid sentence. “Don’t leave me please.” It was a silent plea.

Dream swam forward and wrapped Sapnap in a hug. 

And so it was just the two of them for a long time. They’re around their late teens when they come upon the bay where George lived. George is a selkie and a surfer. The thing is George doesn’t know about his selkie heritage. He felt a calling to the sea, but he didn’t know why. He also didn’t know why he could withstand colder temperatures or why he could hold his breath much longer than his peers.

He headed out to surf, decided to exit a little out of the mouth of the bay, closer to the ocean. He was making his way out when he saw a fin poke out of the water. It was a shark fin.

And it was rapidly approaching him. 

He was like “nope nope nope not today satan-“ but he was too far out to get to shore fast enough.

He was full on panicking now. He glanced at the water again and swore he saw a flash of green-blue beneath the surface. That was the last thing on his mind though. He managed to get himself to stand on the board in a desperate attempt to get the high ground but it was too late. The board was flipped over and he was submerged underwater. He flailed a little bit, his classic goggles not on his persons. He could only make out the blurry image of a shark like figure and...a glowing squid? George made a mad swim to the surface and he managed to grab his surfboard to prop him up. He was looking around wildly when he heard someone else surface with him. 

“Hiya there!”George whipped his head around to meet the toothy grin of Sapnap. He let out a (high pitched) yell and somewhat scrambled back. 

“So I noticed that you’re in our- uh my territory and that’s not a good thing because I don’t really like to eat human-like creatures but that’s besides the point so if you would kindly get out of here-“ “Sapnap what the hell are you doing???”Dream had surfaced at that point. Sapnap threw up his arms. “What! I’m being honest with him! Besides any sea creature would know not to tread into shark territory.” Dream let out a groan. “Sapnap you realized that we just revealed ourselves to a human?? Don’t you think he’s gonna report us or something?”

“I’m right here you know!” George said albeit a bit shaky. Essentially the three talk a little and then George takes his leave. And that’s when the two realized “Wait. How did a human understand the language of the sea?” (For plot sake sea creatures can understand other sea creatures but humans cannot understand sea creatures). 

So George gets back to his home, a house that was given to him by his grandparents after they died. He’s trying to process what happened that night but doesn’t think about it. He goes to sleep and he dreams of a chest that looked oddly familiar. George eventually visits Dream and Sapnap often and they get to know each other well. 

The three of them smartly try to see how long George could hold his breath. He nearly drowns trying to figure it out lol (turned out it was 15 minutes). 

George continues to dream of the locked chest and since he became in contact with other sea creatures the call of the sea was stronger than ever. He finds the chest in the attic and when he touched it he heard the sound of a lock unlock. Inside was the family selkie skin. It was locked with magic in order to prevent humans from stealing it. It was a full moon when George found it. He was almost in a trance as he put it on and walked out to the shore. Five days had passed and Sapnap and Dream haven’t seen George. Sapnap swam around Dream, anxious. 

“Do you think he’s ok?” Dream hummed. “I don’t know. He hasn’t left us like this for so long.” Dream eventually proposes to explore the sunken ship a little bit over and Sapnap agrees. It’s there they find a lone seal. The seal looked scared and lost, not to mention this ocean was no place for a seal. That’s when recognition dawned on Sapnap’s face. “GEORGE????”The seal chirped, nodding and swimming around. Dream turned to Sapnap, his face in somewhat of an incredulous expression. “How-??”

“Idk he smelled like George.”

Dream sighed. “Of course.”

The two escort George back to shore where they see the other transform back. “Jesus fucking Christ thank goodness you found me. Do you know how much it sucks being stuck in a seal skin???” And from there the three learn a little more about George and his selkie powers. 

Oh and George somehow having an incredible sense of balance and he managed to surf with Sapnap in his arms lmao. The shark mer was screaming the whole time

[saturnsummer]

hi! i can’t believe i’m doing this, being cowardly and asking anonymously, which is so not like me, but i’m really not sure about the feedback i’ll get from this ask so here goes. i really hope you don’t take this the wrong way. i just don’t know who else to ask and among the authors i see in tumblr you’re the one with all the headcanons and looks into their characterization and all huhu.

i just noticed that in the majority of angst(y) aus, sol (a) is always the one who is constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, prioritising her family over hwi/not considering him her family, or ends up pushing hwi away and then the relationship turns out badly, and by badly meaning it ends. i understand the first one since that’s really been the case for the majority of what we get a glimpse of in her life. but i don’t understand the others and i want to understand because so many people are writing it that way, and i interpret it as: they see something i don’t. maybe there are things about her character that i can’t or perceive differently or my 21 year old brain lacks the wisdom for that i miss how it progresses to that. but since i’m too shy to interact with anyone i don’t have anyone to compare notes with, huhu. i don’t really understand the others them because:

she basically said she’ll root for him in his uncle’s place which isn’t something to be taken lightly, she knows the gravity of what she said and more than anyone else she knows what it feels like to have family leave you behind/alone and all (i hope u get what i mean here and that this is sufficient, it’ll get even longer if i add more explaining)

she has high EQ, she basically hit all the right spots in the before they uploaded the video part (if it wasn’t for assemblyman ko…) and this scene is also another example of number 3 where she ends up opening herself up to him again

she knows he understands her in a sense and has this certain level of trust towards him, it can be seen on how she told him about dan but not about anyone else, and even if hwi didn’t show up at that time it can also be seen that she somehow opens up to him in the drinking water as if its booze scene. I guess i just observed that in the instances where she takes the first step and tries to push him away, she rather ends up opening herself up to him.

hwi also has high EQ or at least towards sol (lmao) and combined with his high IQ and the fact that he understands her contributes to number 3

and not all of these scenes can be considered as “working out alright and happily and greatly” since there are challenges in them but somehow it never reaches to that degree :<

as i said i want to compare notes because i understand only a portion of where its based on. i’m not saying its ooc since there is a bedrock on where that could possibly come from, it’s just that i can’t comprehend how its probable to reach up to that degree based on my understanding of their characters huhu. if it is a writer’s thing though perhaps it’s most likely why i don’t understand since all i’ve ever done my whole life is read and not really the type that writes. huhu.

i’m really not complaining or insulting or saying anything bad about or offending the fics, honestly huhu. i just want to learn more about her character and i’m bad at saying things not bluntly :< i tried my best :<

also, if you’re not comfortable with answering posting the answer publicly but still considering to or want to answer my question (i’ve used tumblr for so long but don’t know how asks work) if know a way to kinda hide the ask but answer it and say you want me to dm you about it, i can :<

hello anon! thank you for this analysis that while lengthy, does give me a bit of insight!

I think all your points are valid! about why she’s the one that is the start of the angst, why she pushes him away and not the other way around! I completely get your meaning, and honestly i do see the things you are seeing too!

this is just my personal take on this and how i view sol as being the ‘start’ of angst, why aren’t there fics on joon being the ‘start’ of angst and all, so please do take this with a pinch of salt!

I’ve personally not written any headcanons/fics that are mainly angst centred yet, so I would have to draw on my understanding of sol and joonhwi as characters from law school.

for sol, she’s a big emotional girl. you could see from the way she argues in class, with her friends, with how she reacts all the time. she rides on emotions and uses her heart a little more than her brain. like the bad fama case, she couldn’t give up cause she was emotional about it. like you said, she has a high EQ!

a possible reason to the angst on her part is due to the emotions as well. being someone that follows her heart so closely, she’s easily affected by the people around her and swayed easily. it would make a little more sense for the angst to derive from her, maybe from feeling that she lacks the love for joon. or maybe, a certain incident and she breaks it off.

one other reason is her upbringing. we know that she has biological father that is different from her stepfather. we also know that it is implied that her biological father is not present in her life, and her stepfather is abusive to her mother. as such, this must have been hard on her. imagine growing up in a family far from perfect, would one believe in love? many cases, some say no. they have never seen a healthy relationship before, much less seen one grow in their eyes from young till adulthood. this is the same for sol too. she didn’t see a perfect family, she saw a broken family, no father figure and her mother who endured abuse. this ultimately might make sol think “why is there a need for love? will I end up like my parents? is joon going to leave me, like my biological father did?” it’s undeniable that she might have these thoughts in her mind. thus, it’s a more common catalyst of angst, in a breakup thinking she’s not good enough, or she’s not ready, or undeserving.

as such, most writers might maybe find it easier to draw on this aspect of sol as the angst starter. a short example of this would be in my ongoing “the fairytale you never had (would you believe again?)” fic and in my oneshots “worthy” !

however, I do wonder, “why isn’t joonhwi the one with angst? is sol the only messy one here?” quickly, I thought back to most of the scenes of joonhwi when he is troubled, confused or any sign of him showing emotions.

joonhwi can be an angst starter, but I think it drawn on less since it’s so hard to draw on. from the base line, we know he’s smart. we know he’s probably rich. we know his uncle is the closest person to him. we know his parents died. but all these are just facts, no emotions. in everything that joonhwi does, he does it out of compliance, law abiding, or of a moral code. very few instances does he act of emotions or show a raw side of him.

the only times we could see it would be when he’s confronting his uncle, or the moments with sol later on in the show. he rarely shows emotions, and it’s hard to understand him or his troubles when he doesn’t show many emotions and we don’t know enough about his life. we know he looks up to his uncle, but it’s impossible for him, an orphan, to not miss his parents or have his missing parents not play a role in his development.

thus, his angst would most probably derive from “can i trust her, even after this?”, “is she lying, to cover up something?”, “is sol really the sol I believe in? or was it an entire lie?” his angst would come from one of trust and not from emotions.

i would really love to give a full analysis, but im no good with this. you can always dm me on Twitter or tumblr and we can always have a chat on this! would love to draw from my fellow writer friends to pitch in on this too, since they are honestly better at the analysis. im just a free writer!

thank you anon for you query! do dm me on tumblr/twitter (whichever is comfortable!) and we can discuss more! i’ll keep your identity secret, no worries!

[rocksanddeadflowers]

So true man... (Also Toy seeing Marius chewing on something it knows damn well ain't food and doing that thing with cats and dogs where you grab their mouth and have to pull it out of their mouth lmao. Sometimes Marius is genuinely trying to eat a thing, sometimes he's just chewing (<- i love to chew on things as stim but then i immediately gets nauseous doing it) but sometimes it's specifically to annoy Toy or get attention. Cause all three are what my cats do. Also i don't think plastic was really a thing back then but if it was he would chew on it consistently. Still tons of [chew crunch crinkle sounds] "what are you eating?" [running noises] "GET BACK HERE")

YEAH DUDE ITS CUTE!!! and there's drama :). I'm a sucker for a good happy and healthy polycule... the whole thing finding him stabbed in . bed???? Going bonkers. And I'm gonna overthink it. Specific reason why he was killed and the other two left alone? And neither one waking up the him being stabbed... MANY thoughts and routes:

The other two not waking up, could they have been drugged somehow to insinuate the death being an inside job? (Course they wouldn't have to if it's done silent enough I suppose, it's just a thought.)

Personally I'm a sucker for, when characters share a bed and find the other dead next to them, it having been an illness that took them out. Favorite example is Jane Erye. A piece of me dies to that scene every time I think about it. (the two girls being all each other had and the one getting ill and dying while they slept together and Jane waking up to her gone.......) I also will come back to this bullet point and talk about Winter's Tale.

Imagine if, with the stabbing in their sleep thing, the king waking just as the assassin leaves- seeing their cloaked frame slip out the window and hear the whimpers from his lover- feeling the warm blood seeping into his side from where his lover lay- cupping his face as the light leaves his eyes. :) You know. Something like that. Maybe he screams for help but it's too late by then.

Winter's Tale (2014) thing! The romance of the first 2/3 of that movie are of the main character and a young girl whose dying of consumption. (Takes place in 1916 New York btw.) There's this whole thing where she can't get too hot or she might die (technically she's already supposed to be dead). There's this major scene where she wants to go to a party and dance with her lover, an for once experience life (also later sleeping together that night- like with, emphasis on that this time tho). Antagonist slips something into her drink to worsen the effects of her illness, and between the drink and the overexertion that night, she ends up dying in bed next to him. Just thinking about something similar happening in that scenario...... (I also think I made a post with the vague idea of a violinspector AU of that movie... I am unwell about that film <3)

These are all suggestions and idea rambles tho!!! Cause I can see the parallel between the direct assassination here and the attempted one on their kids hitting really close and sensitive for the parents. (And transmasc Jonny absolutely!!!)

OH and !! Talking about making queer stuff for normalized in this era because its an AU had me thinking- France was/is actually a pretty accepting and queer country!! At least, in comparison to many other countries- both modern and back in the 1700's!!! I obviously don't know the history that well, so do take my words with a grain of salt perhaps? Also, not that it was necessarily the safest place for queer folk in the 1700's anyway, but there was probably tons of queer people that were just closeted (which kinda sounds obvious but still wanted to note it).

Doing a drop of digging around I think that, in 1791, during the revolution, they decriminalized homosexuality, and was the first country to do so! Same sex relations and trans people marked small pieces of history in France centuries back too!! Those are just the nicer things, though, as there were executions for homosexuality and even after the decriminalization there was police brutality (shocker) but it's interesting to thing how much earlier France was to certain queer things than other countries! Again, I'm not actually very knowledgeable on the subject, I just kinda scrolled wikipedia, so anyone correct me if I'm wrong. I just thought about it a little to hard lmao. Sorry for rambling back to AU chewing!!!!

Them playing around at the lake has me going insane I adore it!!!! (Maybe some of the spirits grew attached to them if they visited often, and could see the same spark of them in Nastya and Jonny when they visited.)

The morning after the curse and Lyf is already itching to go explore the woods but doesn't want to run off from everyone too quickly (don't wanna seem inconsiderate/what if they're needed here?) so they're kinda frozen in indecision. Tim and Bertie pick up on this immediately, and they want to grab Lyf and drag them out but there is indeed gonna be a bit of chaos the following morning, so they choose to stay (and explain Lyf's absence if needed, but most people will understand- Lyf forgets how much they're cared for sometimes). They tell Lyf this, and insist they go out to the woods, and hey, tell Marius in case he wants to come along? Which he does and he's so excited to run around the woods with Lyf, and the way Lyf (metaphorically and possibly literally) glows when they're finally out brings him so much joy to see. Also maybe Lyf goes a little feral out there and Marius gets to see their more fae like attributes. Lyf almost gets embarrassed but Marius is just falling for them even harder now.

Spent too long on this lmao... Gonna run now bye!!!

so wait does consequences ts have the same kind of "what the fuck are you" kinda vibe as Brian? since it also is alive through magic, it's not really mortal or fae or spirit it just IS I feel like it must also be kind of uncategorizable. lyf is now double confused cause their friends boytoys crush's MARIUS'S bestie just isn't identifiable like at all

tagging @blazeismyname and @rocksanddeadflowers at the risk of starting another thread it's just the idea is not leaving my head and I want other people's thoughts and also I needed an excuse to call Marius lyfs boytoy

[tatsuodaigo]

yo, if you're still taking writing prompts, how about something beach related? hanging out at morning glory or anywhere else, i just wanna see daigo complain about the sun or the sand or whatever ^^

oohhh yes! the weather here has been very nice lately, and has me wanting to make a seaside retreat, so this is wonderful

prepare for the silly though lmao

and an ao3 link too~

“You alive?”

Daigo groaned, tilting the baseball cap covering his eyes back, squinting up at Shinada, who thankfully was hovering over him in such a way he blocked out the sun.

“Barely,” he groaned, letting his head slump back onto the beach towel, “It’s so warm…” “Well, yeah…”

Shinada fell to sit down next to him, smiling softly. “The least you could do is not look like something that washed ashore.”

“That’s what happened to Saejima…” Daigo groaned again, forcing himself to sit up and rubbing the back of his neck. This vacation to Okinawa was supposed to be relaxing. He desperately needed it after the last…everything in his life.

But he’d forgotten one important thing – he fucking hated the heat.

Within five minutes of arriving at Morning Glory, he managed to scrounge an elastic from Haruka, scraping his long hair into a tiny ponytail in an attempt to keep it off his neck.

Now, on the beach, he could only relax hiding under a parasol, sprawled out on his back and trying not to move much, whilst everyone else was having so much more fun.

“Take your shirt off, it might help,” Shinada said, flicking at the collar of Daigo’s dark grey button up.

Noticing his boyfriend’s scrunched up expression, he sighed a little, nodding. “Nobody’s gonna care about your tattoo here, Daigo-kun. This beach is private.” “Yeah, I know but…” Daigo let out a dismissive breath, wiping sweat from his brow. “I’m not used to going topless in public, am I?”

“Still…” Shinada leaned in, undoing the top few buttons of the shirt, a small smirk growing on his lips. “It won’t kill you to be a little less stiff, huh?”

Noticing the red flush on Daigo’s cheeks change from overheating to bashfulness, he smirked more, giving a quick kiss there. “Isn’t that the whole point of this holiday?”

“Well, the main point really was to visit Haruka and be a good big brother.” Daigo paused for a moment and scowled, taking in what Shinada had actually said. “I am not stiff.” “Yeah you are,” Shinada chuckled, “Like a corpse. Which is what you looked like laying out on the sand.”

Daigo let out a grumble, trying to pull away, but was simply dragged back into Shinada’s hold, being peppered with kisses along his neck.

“You’re not at Tojo HQ any more babe,” Shinada said, cupping Daigo’s cheek, “No need to keep up the act. You can relax.”

Daigo glanced over Shinada’s shoulder, glad to see nobody else was watching. He loved affection, especially the kind Shinada gave, but public displays of it made him a little queasy. Not that he was going to face much judgment around here.

“I’m trying,” he said, giving his own kiss to Shinada’s cheek, “It’s hard, okay?”

Shinada stuck his tongue out ever so slightly in thought, letting out a small hmm, before baring his teeth in a grin that made Daigo’s stomach drop a little.

“I can help with that!” “Uh, Tatsuo, my love-“

Before Daigo could finish, Shinada had scooped him up into a bridal hold with little effort and was racing down the beach. Daigo yelped, slapping his boyfriend’s chest repeatedly and trying to get out before-

SPLASH!

Daigo hit the water hard once he was thrown, head dunking under the waves. He luckily had enough time to scrunch his eyes shut, but still resurfaced spluttering ocean water down his chest.

His face went completely red as everyone started laughing, no one lounder than Shinada who was practically doubled over near the shore as he cackled.

“You little-“ Daigo was on his feet again, dripping wet. With surprising speed, he raced over to grab Shinada, wrapping his arms around his middle and lifting him up. It was his turn to yelp, as Daigo dragged him backwards and dunked him under the waves.

Shinada quickly dove up for air, shaking his hair about then grinning at Daigo. “There we go! Less stiff now Daigo-kun?”

Daigo, slumped in the shallows next to him, replied by sticking his tongue out and splashing him in the face. This led to Shinada returning the splash, until they were just sending water spraying at the other.

“Having fun boys?” Haruka called over, unable to stop laughing.

“I think so!” Daigo cried, which earned him another mouthful of salt water.

He raised a hand in a timeout gesture, standing up to unbutton his shirt completely and lobbing the damp mass of fabric to the sand. Shinada smiled, standing up as well and gesturing his head further out.

“There’s this little alcove I spotted,” he said in Daigo’s ear, squeezing his hand, “It’s real pretty.” “We are not fucking on the beach,” Daigo said dryly, raising a brow, “My nephew is like, right there.”

“…for once, that wasn’t where my mind was. C’mon, let’s just go for a swim already.”

[kerie-prince]

We're Worlds Apart (3)

Draco Malfoy x American No-Maj!reader

series m.list | general m.list | previous chp

warnings: cursing, angst(?), Draco being a meanie :(

summary: Draco Malfoy is a pureblood wizard. Magic runs through his veins and has been since his birth. You're a Wiccan No-Maj; a non-magical being with ordinary blood through your veins, but practices what you call magick. And this very practice upsets your neighbor.

a/n: not my best lmao kinda gets cheesy. anyways, Y/M/N = your mother’s name and Y/B/N = your brother’s name

(gif cred)

“Do I really have to get one?” Draco whined in the middle of the phone store, getting his very first cellular device.

“Yeah, man. It's 2008 and you still write letters. Plus, your bird took a shit on my car,” Blaine said matter-of-factly. He found it funny that Draco still used an owl post for communication; the only other person Blaine knew that still uses an owl is his 97 year old grandmother. And even she has a landline in her house. “It's just easier and quicker to use. Why wait a whole day for a letter when you can just text me and I’ll respond in two seconds?”

“I’ve never even used a wall phone, how do you expect me to use a bloody cell-phone, Blaine?” Draco was fidgeting in his seat as he waited for the store employee to finish, what was it called, a credit score? Muggles sure are weird.

She came back shortly with a small, black box that had a weird word on it. What the bloody hell is an iPhone? She explained how it turned on, all the applications it carried, and details about billing and more. Draco was still confused about the whole thing but Blaine said that he would help him understand it better.

“Well look at you, Dray. A modern wizard in America,” Blaine jokes. Draco played with the new device, working out all the kinks of it. He sent his very first text message to Blaine at that moment. Took him precisely 5 minutes to type out a very bland, simple ‘Hello. -Draco L. Malfoy’

It made Blaine laugh so hard that he held his stomach. “My god, we’re gonna have to work on your texting skills, man. First things first, you don't have to sign your name at the end of a text. I know it's you.” Blaine explained to Draco all the fundamentals of texting as they walked through the halls of Santa Marie.

Throughout the day, Draco shared his new number with his department. The more he shared his number, the faster he became at typing.

At the end of his shift, he went to a nearby restaurant where he usually picked up dinner —not one to know his way around the kitchen — and headed home.

It's been a good week for him; his mother had sent him a letter everyday, he finished setting up the guest room for Theo and Blaise, he has this new phone, and best of all, Y/N had not crossed his mind once.

Now he still hasn't accepted what she does in her free time, but also he realized that she’s not exactly harming him nor did she know what he was. He's usually busy with all the work he does, anyway. It was quite a sudden change of heart. But mostly, it was his mother that was able to talk to him and change his views.

My dearest son, had it been during the time before the war, I would have agreed with you. But you have to understand that things are different now. You're different now. Now I am not forcing you, but maybe you should just talk with her just once. If not, just ignore her. After all, she only lives next door.

When he read the letter, he could practically hear all of his friends telling him ‘She's right, you know.’ And deep down, he knew it too. So he went with her advice: ignore Y/N.

—

You’ve had a terrible week; your assistant manager forgot to count the inventory which meant she also forgot to make an order for inventory. A group of teens stole a bunch of little vials of oils you had put on display. And to top it all off, a man stood in front of your shop with signs that had biblical verses written on them, blocking the entrance way and essentially driving away any potential customers. You called security but they never came.

You were used to this happening, it's happened all your life. But that didn't mean that it didn't hurt. I'm not harming anyone, so why does this happen to me? Next week, your mother was flying in from Maine to look around the house to make sure nothing would ‘freak Stephanie out.’ 

Driving back home, you were just waiting to mix some bath salts in your tub, play music, and relax for the next couple of days. By sheer coincidence, as you pulled in you noticed your neighbor that you now knew as Draco pull into his driveway.

This week can't exactly get worse you thought as your legs carried you to his front door. With gentle knocks on the door, you waited patiently. Being rejected once more didn't bother you, but you at least wanted to hear him speak to you and try your chance to become better acquainted.

Draco opened his door, his tie was undone and he looked confusingly at you. “Can I help you?”

Panic overcame your senses and without thinking, you blurted out, “Do you hate me?” You noticed his shocked face as it was probably not something he expected to hear.

“Excuse me, what exactly are you talking about?” he asked in his entrancing British accent. It was too late to take it back, so you just kept going with it. “I’m sorry, but you moved in here four months ago and you seem to have made friends with everyone around here but for some reason, you won’t even say ‘hi’ to me. Did I offend you or something?” You sounded exhausted and sad. Not only at the week you just had, but how Draco wasn’t being so neighborly with you as he was with everyone else on the street. It bothered you so much to no end. And the most frustrating thing was that you didn’t understand why.

“Uh, I apologize that we haven’t been on speaking terms but I don’t think I have to talk to you now, do I?” Draco scoffed. Why is he being such a jerk? “I’m not saying that you have to talk to me, but it’d be nice if you could at least wave or something. But instead, you look at me funny and ignore me. It’s kinda rude.” 

“Merlin, you muggles are so temperamental.” Draco said under his breath. The word sounded funny to you.

“Muggles? Did you just call me a muggle?” The look on Draco’s face didn’t go unnoticed. He stared at you for a few moments, not saying anything. What does that mean? “Is that what you call Americans in the UK? Doesn’t really sound nice.”

Draco started laughing mockingly at you, his grip on his door tightening and knuckles turning white, “Look, I don’t understand what it is exactly you want from me but I will say this; the fact that you are so offended that I won’t acknowledge you is honestly quite fucking childish and if you couldn’t get the hint then I’ll say it plainly for you now. I don’t. Wish. To. Be. Friends. With. You. Got it?” and with that, he slammed the door in your face.

Groaning out, you yelled at him through his door, “Fuck you then! I don’t wanna be friends with some rude prick!” You ran to your door and slammed it pretty hard. The sudden noise frightened your cat and made her run from her tower into your room. What the fuck is his deal? 

You walked to your room, pissed off and tired. Looking up, you saw Draco in his room. You stared each other down before you walked up to your window to close your blinds, flipping him off before it fully closed. Afterwards, you took a regular shower and went to bed. Anger built up inside you, and for probably the first time, you hated another human being. And you had to live next to him for god knows how long.

-

“I mean, did you really have to say that to her?” Ian and Ashley had just listened to Draco explain what had happened the night before. Ian just sat in the chair eating his lunch as Ashley responded to him. “I know things might be different in England, but you should’ve given her a chance. She could be nice. I have a couple No-Maj friends on my block.”

“I’m on Ash with this. Is it really all because she’s Wiccan? Be honest, Dray,” Ian chipped in. At that point, Draco didn’t really know what to say. He thought he could look past it, but he couldn’t. “Maybe, yeah. I come from two families that had very strict traditions and views of muggles. I thought I dropped those views but seeing first hand what they do and-”

“And it makes you feel like a freak? Because you’re a real wizard that can do magic and they sit in some weirdly drawn circle and ‘do’ magic?” Ashley finished Draco’s sentence, making quotation marks with her hands. “I get it, I really do. I was offended too when I had to read about No-Maj’s doing this during school. And then to see movies where witches are viewed as ugly, green-skinned hags with warts on her face and wear rags for clothes. Kinda brings you down as a kid. But I got over it. You should, too.” Ashley held Draco’s hand for a bit before she grabbed her coffee mug and left for her appointments.

Ian sat quietly, watching as Draco was sinking in everything he was advised. “Look man, it’s not really my business to be telling you what you should or shouldn’t like, and who you should or shouldn’t like. And you know what, you’re not exactly in the wrong to get mad about what happened. After all, she just kinda picked a fight with you out of nowhere.” Draco had a face that looked as if he was saying ‘Right? I’m not crazy here’

“But,” of course there’s a ‘but’, “from what I hear around the street, Y/N’s really nice. Super weird for sure, but an overall nice person. I think you should think about it.” Ian nodded at Draco before joining Ashley out of the breakroom. Draco sat there, thinking about what his friends said and also thought back to his mother’s letters. I’m such a child. And I’m the one that called her childish. If he was honest, you were but it didn’t make him better.

He knew what he was going to do after work. It pained him to have to apologize to someone. Apologizing wasn’t something he was exactly used to doing. He’s only done it once to Harry and his friends nearly three years after the Battle. He didn’t even really know what to say to you. But he’ll figure it out. Right?

-

You stood shocked at your doorstep, hands holding onto the sweater as you looked before you. “Mom, you’re here early.”

“I had been given an extra week off of work so I thought I’d just come and see my oldest baby before your brother and Stephanie comes. Also gives me a head start to plan our dinner and get this house situated,” your mother walked past you with her two large luggage cases and dropped them on your living room floor. She looked around the house and eyed all the decorations and pictures on the walls.

To her, everything was nearly normal. You had family pictures posted and some pictures of you and your friends from college. In the living room, you had a tapestry hung up behind your couch that used to belong to your grandmother. “Y/N please, will you take down that blanket? Why don’t you put up a picture of some flowers, or maybe something abstract?”

“Because I don’t want a picture of flowers and that’s not a blanket. It was Grandma’s. I want it hung up there. Ma, you gotta understand that it’s my house now.” Your arms were crossed due to the cold. You had the day off and tried to spend it well as you did your cleansing spell in the morning, but it seems that it wasn’t very effective seeing as your mother came in and immediately started nitpicking everything.

“It was cute in your room when you were a kid. But you’re 26 now. How would your boyfriend feel if he walked in here and thought ‘oh, didn’t know I was dating a 16 year old.’” Her constant criticism was nearly pushing you to the edge. “Ma, I don’t really want to argue with you tonight so I’m just going to bed-” a doorbell rang throughout the house and you were thanking whoever was listening for giving you a reason to walk away from your mother. 

As soon as you opened the door, you were met with another face that you weren’t exactly excited to see. “Can I help you?” you repeated Draco’s words from last night back at him in a spiteful tone.

Through gritted teeth, he looked at you and said, “I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for being an arse yesterday. I hope we can look past it and become well-acquainted neighbors.”

“Huh, you’re sorry? You don’t really sound it.”

“I know, I’m not really used to doing this,” Draco quipped. “But nonetheless, I would still like to apologize.”

“Yeah, whatever, I’m sorry too.” You were about to close the door until your mother came up and pushed the door completely open, “Honey, who’s at the door- oh! Hello, I’m Y/M/N. And you are?” She looked at Draco with the nicest smile that you had ever seen on her.

“Hello, My name’s Draco. Nice to meet you,” he awkwardly shook your mother’s hand. He didn’t smile, but he also didn’t have the usual scowl on his face when he would look at you. Guess he does have manners. “Y/N, is this a friend of yours?” your mother insinuated with a less than discreet wink. Without missing a beat, you replied, “No. Ma, this is my new neighbor. I just met him. But it’s late, so nice meeting you Draco. See you around.” And you closed the door.

“That was rude, Y/N. You should have invited him in. He’s very cute,” your mother grabbed her bags and headed into the guest room. From a distance, you could hear your mother speak to herself, saying ‘At least this room looks normal’. “It’s kinda late. Besides, we have all the time in the world to talk.” 

You walked to your small closet and grabbed the special bath salts for stress relief and walked to your bathroom. Starting to strip, your mother barged in. “Ma! Privacy, please!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Y/N. I gave birth to you. Anyways, how long has it been since he moved in? Do you think he knows about your witchy stuff?” She asked as she stood by the door, checking her reflection as you continued to undress for your bath. “I don’t really hold a sign around my neck that says I’m a Wiccan, Mother,” you said with closed eyes. Your mother said, “I hope not. Night, baby,” and closed the door.

This is going to be a long three weeks.

-

The morning came and you woke up before your alarm and did your daily routine. The only difference was that your mother was going through your pantry looking for ingredients to make breakfast. “Morning, honey. Do you want some pancakes? I’ll make your favorites! It’s still blueberry, right?”

“No, that was Y/B/N. Mine are chocolate chip and peanut butter.” You said flatly as you grabbed your watering can. “Oh that’s right. But I already bought the blueberries.”

“That’s fine, they still taste good.” Your mother was satisfied with your response and started right away. You walked out to your front yard and watered your plants along the fence. The betony plants were beautiful, its sight was calming your nerves as you poured water over them. The sound of a door closing caused you to look up, watching Draco as he was standing in his yard with what seemed like a cigarette attached to his lips before he took it out and placed it onto an ashtray that was on his porch.

He walked over to the fence that separated your yards. The smell of the cigarette was in the air and it reminded you of your late father. “I meant it last night,” he mentioned his apology. You didn’t really know what to say so you just nodded and went back to watering your plants.

“But if I recall, you did start that fight,” he chuckled. You glared up at him for a few seconds before returning to your task. “Alright, I guess I’m sorry too.” Draco scoffed and just whispered ‘Whatever’ and walked away. “Wait,” you called for him before he walked back into his house and luckily, he stopped. “I’m sorry,” you said with sincerity. “Can we just start over?”

He stared at you, visibly contemplating your question then finally said, “Sure.” He walked into his house and you stood shocked in your yard. Your mother walked out and announced to you, “Honey! Breakfast is ready! Come on, I think your plants are watered enough.” With the snap of your screen door, you were released from your daze and walked inside. Maybe this week is turning around after all.

-

Draco sat in his room, not exactly sure what exactly happened. Was he really going to try and become friends with a muggle? He could imagine the look on his fathers face. Just because he had lost in the Battle, didn’t mean that he magically accepted muggles and muggle-borns. Narcissa didn’t like them much either but she also didn’t hate them as Lucius did.

This would shock not only his parents, but also his friends, Blaise and Theo. Merlin, the person that would probably have a field day about this would be Hermione Granger. He sat there, imagining Granger either laughing at him or cursing him after all the bullying he put her through. All those years of calling her a mudblood and he becomes friends with a muggle. A No-Maj. A Wiccan No-Maj. But then he thought about what Ian said at work. Y/N is really nice. Weird, but nice. And when he agreed to having a fresh start with you, he figured that it would give you a chance to prove him wrong about what you were like.

Or she could be exactly what I always thought muggles to be. Foolish.

—

next chp

(っ◔◡◔)っtaglist: @beiahadid @malfoy-styles-wife @fivenightslaughter @juneballoon999 @leydileyla @fangirlanotherjust @originalsoulcollector @opiomancy @lipstickandloveletters

[imanes]

hi imane this is super general but do u have any recommendations for learning how to cook? like good recipe websites or any general advice? I always enjoy seeing u post about ur cooking!!

hi angel actually i think a good place to start - but from way older videos than the current releases - is pro home cooks, it used to be known as brothers green eat and they basically had these cooking hacks college dorm students or people who didn’t know how to cook certain things or associate flavours which I found insightful. here’s one of their videos where one of them talks about common mistakes made by beginner cooks and how to fix them. generally I think you can learn a lot from watching cooking videos from chef john or laura vitale who explain why they do certain things a certain way, which I think is key to learn how to cook properly, or even domestic geek (i’m not a fan of her recipes but they’re very straightforward and beginner-friendly). basics with babish may not be super basic but again he walks through every step of the recipe and drop some culinary knowledge 101 throughout the process

now my dishes usually end up being good but the process is messy lmao here are some of my very super general advice:

learn the basics of proper knife skills but don’t overdo it, learn just enough to protect ur fingers from an incidental cut and take your time when you chop food

do not cook the garlic before the onion, garlic cooks faster and will end up burnt

onion, ginger and green onion are delicious together

don’t do a lot of things at the same time, better to take your time in the beginning and do one dish at a time rather than run from one kitchen emergency to the other

it’s all about trials and errors but u shouldn’t let it discourage you!

do not let anything unattended ever. sometimes I hear people like “oh it got burnt” and I ask them why come and they’re like well I sat on my couch to chill for a bit and ended up scrolling on my phone too long... don’t be that fool

if the pasta says it needs to be cooked for 8 minutes, set a timer. i am a believer of precision for certain things and technology helps u keep track of things so might as well use the timer app for it

grilled veggies are incredibly easy to make and super tasty, all u need is: vegetable, salt, pepper, dried herbs, garlic, olive oil, and an oven

don’t overcrowd the pan and try to upsize the pan rather than downsize when you’re in doubt

always salt your pasta water, as chef john says it should taste like the ocean

if you’re scared about time management, prep all your ingredients in advance by chopping what needs to be chopped and aligning all spices and condiments that need to be used so that everything is on hand. this might result in you having a lot of time between steps but it’s much better than the opposite, especially if you’re a beginner cook. tbh I still do that a lot, like i’ll leave a few things to do later or multitask with another dish but if I can I will prep as much as possible

when in doubt, go to youtube and just search ���how to + keyword”, like how to cut onions, how to preserve veggies in the fridge, how to sear a steak, and so on, every answer is on youtube in short videos!

hope this helps a lil :-) good luck and ty for your message!

[fyrets]

So I'm not too well versed on ARR (< abbreviated form) so my understanding is gonna be limited and possibly wrong but from what I can see its a deamwidth blog where the admin will make a main post every few months and then start comment chains that visitors can anonymously join via commenting and viola! salt generation commences. Like I said in the OP and tags I'm really drawn to the format for a couple of reasons, though maybe I'm just tired of the tumblr salt blog format lol.. lmao even.

I will say though that ARR also has vastly different etiquette and rules compared to the tumblr format like not forbidding full namedrops (and thus being kinda peeved by the "[Letter] from [Location]" censor format) which is a big double edged sword and whatever. Oh and the anonymous posting isn't really 100% anonymous technically, since admins are able to check the IP addresses of posts. So like, if you ever identify yourself or drop enough hints that you can be identified, the admins will know your IP address unless you use a VPN or something, which some people might be put off by.

[linking it here if you or anyone wants to check it out]

God forgive me but ngl I'm a little tempted to create an anonrerising equivalent but for PB. Idk something about the format fascinates me and it draws such a vastly different crowd than the salt blogs of Tumblr

[themoontaxi]

hi hanna! many congrats on 100, lovely ! <3

this celebration is so cute and creative it took me so long to decide

🧁, 🍦(taylor swift , speak now), 🥞 (large) 🍓 and 🍫

congrats again, and here’s to so many more milestones! :)

- lilacprentiss

neveah <33333 i finally finished it!

it took me an eternity but here we are 💞

first up your lil mood board 🍫 it’s my first :)

you can find the playlist to it here: 🥞

(i added ten more songs since you waited so long :) and put them in an order that i thought had a nice flow)

here’s my thought process while choosing the tracks:

paradise, beautiful, gold, iridescent, heaven, easy to love & all this and heaven too describe your blog, content and you perfectly 💛

the last unicorn because you’re a silver lining in dark times & your grace is unmatched - to a point where some might get jealous and try to hunt you down

too shy & noticed because i’m so glad we’re mutuals and your tags under my posts always make me smile, i’d love to talk more but i’m shy haha

daffodils, magnolias & black water lilies elegant flowers for an elegant lady 🌺

daydreaming & so close to magic because your blog is simply enchanting

white flag & heart of gold because you seem peaceful and kind 🤍

god is a woman and she has your name

aber ohne dich (but without you), i know alone, if i ever lose your love, let your good heart lead you home, herz (heart) & heart-shaped box because you may feel lonely sometimes, but your heart will go on, you deserve a happy-end

stay awake & your moon hello fellow nighthawk 🌚

salt, honey & stars and butterflies just random things i love and associate with you 🦋

every cloud, cloudy shoes & lila wolken (lilac clouds) because i loooved your cloud theme and you often bear the ☁️ emoji

trust & devotion because i’d always trust your eye for aesthetics and you’re devoted to your creations <3

flower of the desert flowers again, mixed with the enduring thing - one drop of water will keep you going

stardust & moonstone are you sure you’re human? you seem ethereal to me ✨

wisdom cries & when i was older because i think you’re wise for your age

i could cry just thinkin about you need i explain?

your 🧁 <3

since you probably can’t speak german: the song is about the ephemerality of perfect moments, about everything moving so fast that it’s nice to slow down sometimes, about falling into your lovers‘ arms and disregarding everything else for a short eternity

Kannst du mich noch einmal in den Arm nehm'?

can you wrap your arms around me one more time?

Noch einmal in den Arm nehm'

wrap me in your arms again

Zieh‘ mich so nah wie's geht zu dir

pull me as close as possible

Und dann dreh’n wir uns langsam

and then we’ll spin slowly

Gegen die Uhr der Zeit

against the hands of time

Langsam

slowly

they were my favorite german band for the longest time :)

as for your 🍦, here are my top 5:

enchanted

sparks fly

haunted

better than revenge

mine

excellent choice btw! and usually i’d tell you my all time favorite songs now as well, since i know taylor swift of course, but i fear i would simply be listing her whole discography lmao

and lastly, your 🍓:

magnolias are my favorite flower, i have two trees in my mother’s garden that i adore with my whole heart

the last unicorn was my favorite movie as a child, although i did get quite a few nightmares from it

clueso (the guy who sings aber ohne dich and herz) is from the capital of my state/region. maybe that’s why his music feels like coming home

lena (who is featured here with stardust) was my idol from 4th grade on for some years. her first album was the first cd i bought for myself

since there were so many songs i couldn’t decide haha

i really hope you enjoy(ed) this, it took so long and was made with love 💜

i would appreciate it so much if you would let me know about your experience here <3

thanks for visiting!

[equustenebris]

New drabble time! The Mad Ducktor falls off the top of the Money Bin, but things don't go as expected when he drags himself to the hospital.

Bill is apparently the name I’m giving Gyro's unseen sibling, Newton's father. It was meant to be a temporary placeholder name for me but I guess it's stuck, so this is me committing to it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Also, so car-cans have an official English name, coco-no-nos, but that is not happening lmao. I try to use the official English names wherever possible, but I prefer "car-can" so much more that I'm keeping it.

This was supposed to be a really short drabble aksjfnsb IT GOT AWAY FROM ME

for Whumptober 2021

Eight. Coughing Up a Lung

Prompt - pneumothorax

He staggered back into his hideout, gasping for breath, holding his aching side. Well, that little escapade could have gone better. The tumble he had taken from the top of the Money Bin, courtesy of Mr. McDuck, was a lot longer drop than it looked like from the ground. Fortunately, nothing was majorly injured -- except maybe his ego.

So the direct approach worked about as well as his broken shrink ray, which is to say, not at all. Clearly, next time he needed to do a lot more field testing before he showed up at his nemesis's with a new invention. Having a Plan B couldn't hurt either, lest he get unceremoniously shot off the side of the Money Bin again. He was beginning to understand how Magica still hadn't swiped the Dime despite literal magic at her fingertips; that old man was fierce, and an excellent shot with that salt-loaded blunderbuss.

He closed his eyes, slumping into his desk chair with a miserable groan. Well. He might be covered in bruises, but at least he had managed to escape before the Duck Avenger showed up, so there was that. Small favors.

He winced, carefully tugging off his cape and gloves, not exactly eager to see the damage. His coat followed, admittedly more difficult to remove with the searing burn in his side. He bristled suddenly, seized by a coughing fit. Oh, how his lungs ached -- having to make a fast getaway all the way back to his hideout in the shipping district from Killmotor Hill was definitely not his idea of fun.

He managed to finally peel off his jumpsuit, carefully lifting his undershirt to get a better look. He winced, flinching. His entire left side was already smattered in deep, large bruises and scrapes, feathers speckled with dried blood. It looked bad, he supposed, but nothing a long epsom soak couldn't take care of, and a few days' rest.

He abruptly doubled over, fitfully coughing again, each little movement sending sharp pain tearing through his side. Worryingly, when he finally managed to soothe the tickling in his chest, he struggled to catch his breath. For a few moments he just gasped, each breath laborious, like sucking air through a straw. Maybe it was just the pain? Maybe he bruised the lung? Can you bruise a lung? (Despite the play on words for his villainous title, he was an inventor, not a doctor.)

The pain only seemed to be getting worse. He struggled to his feet, figuring maybe he could start a bath now to help soothe himself, but only made it a few steps before he was seized by another coughing spell, covering his beak with his hand. This time, however, when he finally managed to catch his breath, his palm sparkled with bright red blood.

"Oh...no," he managed breathlessly, dread sinking through his stomach. So yes, he was not a doctor -- but clearly he was going to need one.

---

"Gyro Gearloose?"

He struggled to his feet, following the nurse to the ER bed. Somehow, he had managed to pull on his other self's familiar clothes, and more or less pinned down his head feathers for the blond wig. Breathing was getting more difficult by the minute, but he couldn't exactly go to the hospital as the Mad Ducktor, so his thrown-together Gyro disguise would have to do. Fortunately, the staff was already pretty familiar with Gyro after all of his mishaps in the lab, and didn't ask him for the ID he didn't have. Small favors -- that were rapidly growing smaller in light of the circumstances.

He groaned, lying back on the bed, preparing for the long, mind-numbing wait for the doctor. The long, painful wait, breathing like someone had a weight set on his chest. He closed his eyes, just trying to rest in the meantime, drowsily drifting in and out of sleep as he shivered under the thin, scratchy sheet.

It wasn't long, however, before he was roused by an extremely familiar voice out in the hallway. "Uh, let's not tell your dad about this one, okay?"

"Yeah, Uncle, I think that's probably a good idea... It doesn't hurt that bad, though."

"Yeah, but we should still get it checked out. I'm sorry, Newton. I can see there's still a few bugs to work out!"

He startled awake, heart suddenly slamming in his chest. Here?! Of all the places in all the city, Gyro Gearloose had to be here?! He panted breathlessly, panic rising, sweat beginning to prickle down the back of his neck. He was a wanted criminal, and if Gyro or any of the staff found out about his little deception, his goose was cooked. But what exactly was he supposed to do?

"Hey, Uncle...why are you listed on the board?"

"Hmm?"

"Under the list of patients, look, it says 'Gyro Gearloose' Shouldn't it be my name? Oh, no, wait, there's 'Newton Gearloose' already over on that side..."

"What?"

"Yeah. Do you think you're on there by mistake? Someone should probably tell them."

The Ducktor squeezed his eyes shut, just struggling for breath. Well, come what may, there was certainly nothing he could do about it now.

There was a soft rustling at the curtain separating the Ducktor from the rest of the emergency room. Gyro gave a warning shh to his nephew, then pulled it back, peeking in. The Ducktor met his eyes, wanting to call to him, wanting to say anything, but the air he had to speak with was suddenly gone; he started coughing again, ending the fit with a pained yelp.

Newton made a murmur of confusion, but Gyro quickly slipped inside and pulled the curtain shut behind him. "What are you doing here?!" he demanded, hissed in a low whisper.

The Ducktor wanted to respond to that with some snarky quip, some aggressive hey, captain obvious remark -- but as he struggled for air, he just shook his head, eyes pleading. "I can’t breathe," he whispered back, clutching the sheets.

Gyro's face abruptly softened, as if he hadn't even considered the possibility that his evil counterpart might be at the hospital for a reason. "Are you sick?"

He shook his head, trying to keep his voice low and words short. "I fell," he gasped, grasping his side to illustrate. He decided it was probably for the best that he not share why he fell, or from where.

"Uncle?" Newton attempted to pull back the curtain, but Gyro quickly pinched it shut.

"Just wait, Newton." He turned back to the Ducktor with an uncertain sneer. "He's got a burn on his arm we're getting checked out. A...bit of a mishap with a new invention of mine." He frowned, looking the Ducktor over, considering, then quickly fluffed up his head feathers and took off his button-down, untucking his T-shirt underneath to attempt to change his appearance. "Okay, Gyro. If you can promise me you're not planning to hurt anybody, then Bill and Newton will go wait to see the doctor."

The Ducktor gave a short, breathless laugh, stunned at this sudden change of fortune, and Gyro's unexpected generosity. "Not hurting anyone," he gasped, trying to suppress another cough, "just -- need help."

Gyro nodded, frowning, and slipped out of the curtain and back to Newton, shirt over his arm. "C'mon, Newton, just -- call me Dad for now. I’ll explain later..."

He closed his eyes again, resting back against the hospital bed with a pained wheeze. Not so small favors.

---

Nearly three hours later, he stumbled out of the emergency room, limping, the one pain pill they gave him barely blunting the searing ache. A collapsed lung, they said, but not bad enough to warrant any treatment except waiting and watching. Try to rest and try not to cough. As he began dragging himself on the long journey back to his hideout, badly suppressing another coughing fit, he wondered how exactly he'd be able to do either of those things.

He was so distracted by the pain, he didn't immediately recognize the car that had pulled up beside him at the edge of the hospital parking lot. Hesitantly, Gyro rolled down the window, peeking his head out. "...do you need a ride?" he asked, concern knitting his brow.

As much as he wanted to say no, he found himself already eagerly tugging open the back door. "Yes," he gasped, still struggling for air, "the shipping district."

Gyro frowned to himself, stealing a glance to the anxious-looking Newton squirming in the passenger seat. It had been a long time since he'd gotten to see his nephew. He'd certainly grown. The Ducktor thought he heard his other self mumble something like I hope I don't regret this as he began driving, but he was far too caught up in the elation of not having to walk to care.

Newton peered back at him over the seat, looking uncertain. The Ducktor sat back, just trying to rest.

"...are you the Mad Ducktor?"

He opened his eyes and refocused, trying to concentrate through the pain medication haze. "Yes."

"Oh." He paused for a moment, contemplative. "...are you okay?"

"Collapsed lung," the Ducktor wheezed, "and a fractured rib. Apparently, I’ll be fine."

"Mm." Newton held up his bandaged arm for the Ducktor to see, grinning awkwardly. "Second degree burn. But I should be healed before Dad comes back next month."

The Ducktor smirked tiredly and nodded, turning his attention back to Gyro. "Go left at the light."

"Do you need any help?" Gyro asked, glancing up into the rear view. The Ducktor sat back, grimacing.

"No," he said finally, shaking his head. "You've done enough. Drop me off here."

"Here? But we're in the middle of nowhere!"

"I’m not leading you to my hideout, Gyro," he rasped. "I’ll walk the rest of the way."

Gyro reluctantly pulled over, parking under a hazy streetlight. "Are you sure?"

But the Ducktor was already out of the car, up on the sidewalk. He went to respond, but ended up in a coughing fit instead, leaning on the car for support, tissues he swiped from the hospital held to his beak. Finally, he managed to gasp a few labored breaths. "I'll be fine."

Gyro looked less than convinced, eyeing the blood-speckled tissues clutched in his hand. "...really, I don’t have to tell the Duck Avenger anything about this."

"Can’t risk it," he muttered, straightening up. "Go take the kid home, it's late."

"...I could take a car-can."

"I'm not doing that to you," he snapped, patience wearing thin. "Just go home."

Gyro paused for several moments, clearly reluctant. Finally, he sighed. "...okay, fine, okay. If you're sure."

"It was nice meeting you," Newton called from the passenger seat, so innocent and genuine that the Ducktor couldn't help but give a breathless laugh.

"Nice 'meeting' you too. Take care of that arm."

"I will."

"Say hi to Bill for me."

"Don’t do that," Gyro warned, looking from Newton back to the Ducktor. "We're going to keep this a secret, okay? Just between us three." He pulled the car out of park, frowning worriedly. "...if you need help with anything, I can help you, all right? Just ask."

"Your generosity knows no bounds, sweetheart," he said, gesturing dismissively. "I’ll make do alone. I always do."

Gyro frowned, hands on the steering wheel. "You might be evil, but you're still a person. You shouldn't have to make do alone." He sat back against the seat, eyeing him up and down. "Take care of yourself, all right?"

"Darling, it's almost like you care."

"I do," he snapped, blurting it out without thinking. There was an aching pause between them before Gyro finally turned away, staring straight ahead though the windshield. "...go get some rest."

"Hm. You too," the Ducktor told him, straightening up and giving the roof of the car a soft couple of slaps. "Thanks for the ride."

"Yeah."

He watched them pull away, waiting for the car to disappear over the horizon before he finally started walking, taking slow, drudging steps back to his hideout. He was ready for a nice warm bath, his bed...and the rest of the long night, all alone. He winced, more than just his lungs and bruises suddenly aching.

[dyketectivecomics]

what would happen if the nightforce and shadowpact met? Like whod hate or get along with who, what shenanigans would occur? Like what potential dynamics would Occur

Another Long Response, so Under the Cut It Goes! (& apologies if Tunglr fucks up!)

OKAY! so its been a few months since I read Day of Vengeance ofc BUT- iirc, the team by and large got along really well with Lori! I’m sure the Doylist reason for her not joining the team permanently may have been one part her Newness and another part her character being used more sparingly in BoP at around the same time? (I like to think the Watsonian reason tho is Lori deciding “no im evil now >:) hehe” and joining the S6 instead fjdkla i think part of the actual in-universe reason was she was kinda fucked up about the whole thing with eclipso & spectre??? again its been quite sometime since i read it so like. grain of salt on that) ANYWAYS

would LOVE to think that these two teams would crash into one another like this:

Lori revisits the Shadowpact bc Something Something Magic

Lori becomes fast friends with Laura bc Teen Mystics

Laura is introduced to the rest of the NF bc YES! MORE FRIENDS!! HER OWN AGE!!!

Shenanigans Ensue

I did write a snippet abt the Shadowpact Hearing abt Laura hanging out with the NF and i do still Stand by it. BUT... let’s give it just a Smidge More Nuance ye?

From the Shadowpact’s End:

Still Think that Jim would be mainly Distrustful overall of the kids’ intentions but he’d slowly warm up to them as he got to know them! He can’t help his Dad Energy lmao

June would LOVE having more ears to lecture on witchcraft (actually wait..... June leading socratic lessons in witchery with the NF+Laura all together omigod. this is it.. this is exactly what ive been missing fjdkals;a)

Like to think that Rory, Eve, Zauriel & Bobo would be really chill about team-ups & would overall treat the kids the same way that they do Laura, as like, pretty fully formed heroes in their own rights ofc, but still with that Undertone of looking out for them bc They’re Kids 

(I really want Danny & Eddie to go back to being like the Spiderverse Peter B & Miles meme, but they’d probably be a lot more like the Spidermen *pointing @ each other* meme when they see each other again ;-; c’est la vie)

From the Night Force’s End: 

Already talked abt Eddie a little there, but other than maybe having yknow.. TO TALK with Danny, I like to think that he and Rory would get along rlly well after too :D

Raven would latch onto Eve. I can’t fully articulate why I think so fjdka; just vibe with me on that for a moment

its canon that Traci & Bobo have a Back n Forth fjadkl; not gonna change that ye

Zach & Klarion would get on everyone’s nerves but like... Zach’s doing it by accident bc he’s just Like That, and Klari’s purposefully trying to be a Nuisance bc he’s just Like That

Kinda Almost same with Lori, but she gets a free pass with the Shadowpact bc they consider her their Honorary Daughter (Laura is Fully their Collective Daughter tho. jots these things down!)

I’m waffling on if i wanna include Skye or Amy in this run down bc like...  now I’ve been leaning towards leaving Amy on the YJ team and maybe possibly considering dropping Skye since she’s such a one-off but like... idk. they’re both blank slates as far as Interaction With Others go. I’d say they’d just be Agreeable with most everyone fjdkla;

As far as Specific Shenanigans go, I’d love a general crossover with the teams banding together to defeat a Big Bad™, and then some smaller, one-on-one team-ups here n there? Like little groups mix and matching? You can have some of the adults & kids maybe starting prank wars on each other, or pulling pranks together on other mystics who deserve it (*cough* Nabu and Winters *cough*). again, im still vibing REALLY hard with the idea of June taking all of the kids under her wing, and I do kinda maintain that while the JLD might be most ppl’s First instinct to pair the kids up with respective mentors (I know it was certainly mine)... the Shadowpact feels so much more like a family and esp like a team that they’d WANT to team up with and get to know, yknow? 

anyways i think i hit everything? even if the last answer’s kinds vague... actually all of this feels p vague all things considered djkl;afd but also its getting late and i’d really want to like... just straight up write fic abt these two groups hanging out ahhh. talking meta and Potential only goes so far until you want to start like!!! writing it out line by line instead so!!!!! yeah on that note, thanks for coming to my tedtalk \o/

[gabtapia]

Warning extra long ask lmao:

The last three chapters broke me. 😭😭😭

But the worse thing was reading first two paragraphs of ch 31 and having it go from Patroclus’s narrative to third person narrative because Patroclus is dead so he can’t tell the story anymore 🥺🥺😭

I have so much to say so i’m gonna use quotes to help:

“A prophecy,” she said. “That the best of the Myrmidons will die before two more years have passed.”

She draws down the blanket, releasing me into the air. She cups my face in her hands. “Be careful tomorrow,” she says. “Best of men. Best of the Myrmidons.” She places her fingers to my lips, stopping my objection. “It is truth,” she says. “Let it stand, for once.” Then she leads me to the side of her tent, helps me slip beneath the canvas. The last thing I feel is her hand, squeezing mine in farewell.

No. My hands flurry in the air like startled birds, trying to halt the spear’s relentless movement towards my belly. But I am weak as a baby against Hector’s strength, and my palms give way, unspooling in ribbons of red. The spearhead submerges in a sear of pain so great that my breath stops, a boil of agony that bursts over my whole stomach. My head drops back against the ground, and the last image I see is of Hector, leaning seriously over me, twisting his spear inside me as if he is stirring a pot. The last thing I think is: Achilles.

WHY??? Why does Patroclus have to be the person of the prophecy. They made it pretty obvious that it was him but my God actually reading it I-

Calm down Chiara. Say this properly.

WAIT NO THERE IS NO WAY TO SAY THS PROPERLY PARTOCLUS IS DEAD 😭 AND THE FEW PARTS WHERE ACHILLES DOESN’T KNOW HE’S DEAD YET MY GOD I JUST STARTED BAWLING IT HURT TOO MUCH

HIS GRIEF AFTER PATROCLUS DIES IS JUST SO RAW I COULD LTERALLY IMAGNINE PATROCLUS IN THE TENT AND ACHILLES CRYING OVER HIS BODY AND MY HEART-

But he cannot feel it. There is a numbness in him. The writhing field is like a gorgon’s face, turning him slowly to stone. The snakes twist and twist before him, gathering into a dark knot at the base of Troy. A king has fallen, or a prince, and they are fighting for the body. Who? He shields his eyes, but no more is revealed. Patroclus will be able to tell him.

HE SEES THE THING IN PIECES. Men, coming down the beach towards the camp. Odysseus, limping beside the other kings. Menelaus has something in his arms. A grass-stained foot hangs loose. Locks of tousled hair have slipped from the makeshift shroud. The numbness now is merciful. A last few moments of it. Then, the fall.

He snatches for his sword to slash his throat. It is only when his hand comes up empty that he remembers: he gave the sword to me. Then Antilochus is seizing his wrists, and the men are all talking. All he can see is the bloodstained cloth. With a roar he throws Antilochus from him, knocks down Menelaus. He falls on the body. The knowledge rushes up in him, choking off breath. A scream comes, tearing its way out. And then another, and another. He seizes his hair in his hands and yanks it from his head. Golden strands fall onto the bloody corpse. Patroclus, he says, Patroclus. Patroclus. Over and over until it is sound only. Somewhere Odysseus is kneeling, urging food and drink. A fierce red rage comes, and he almost kills him there. But he would have to let go of me. He cannot. He holds me so tightly I can feel the faint beat of his chest, like the wings of a moth. An echo, the last bit of spirit still tethered to my body. A torment.

I’M MAD AT BOTH OF THEM FOR BEING STUPID IDOITS FOR ACHILLES NOT LETTING HIS PRIDE GO AND FOR PATROCLUS FUCKING GETTING HIMSELF KILLED BUT I CAN’T EVEN STAY MAD AT THEM BECUASE HELL THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL AND THEY DIDN’T DESERVE ANY OF IT

And then Pyrrhus? I want to kill the asshole:

“When I am dead, I charge you to mingle our ashes and bury us together.”

There's is a slight pause. “Your father and his companion. Patroclus.” “And why should this man be buried beside Aristos Achaion?” The air is thick. They are all waiting to hear Menelaus’ answer. “It was your father’s wish, Prince Neoptolemus, that their ashes be placed together. We cannot bury one without the other.” Pyrrhus lifts his sharp chin. “A slave has no place in his master’s tomb. If the ashes are together, it cannot be undone, but I will not allow my father’s fame to be diminished. The monument is for him, alone.” Do not let it be so. Do not leave me here without him. The kings exchange glances. “Very well,” Agamemnon says. “It shall be as you say.” I am air and thought and can do nothing.

Pyrrhus’ hand closes on the shapeless, blowing dress of the princess Polyxena and yanks her towards the altar. “This is what my father’s soul deserves.” He will not. He dare not. As if in answer, Pyrrhus smiles. “Achilles is pleased,” he says, and tears open her throat. I can taste it still, the gush of salt and iron. It seeped into the grass where we are buried, and choked me. The dead are supposed to crave blood, but not like this. Not like this.

And then the way Achilles just becomes a cold killer after Patroclus dies reading that part felt so bad because it wasn’t Achilles anymore and i was so glad when he died. But then Patroclus didn’t get a proper bury and i freaked because why??? I thought the book might end with him not being reunited with Achilles in the underworld and i had another good cry because seriously that would be the most unfair thing. I was so, so, so happy when Thetis wrote his name.

So basically i’m not okay right now and ever time i think about them before the war happen my eyes fill with tears because they were just so happy and innocent and in love and it hurts to think of what happened during the war. I’m glad i read this book thought, but i know the pain wont go away for a while watch me punish myself by reading all the fluffy scenes 😭

@in-love-with-themoon did you finish yet? I realize i may be spoiling for you, sorry about that! 😅 tell me if your finished the book! And i will send you bunches and bunches of tissues

Sending you lots of love, hugs, ice cream, and tissues!! 💙

I swear I had to take a break after reading that book

The last 3 chapters are just pain

Tbh I was crying since they said goodbye to Chiron because Achilles told him that they were going to come back in a few days and I was like nope you are not and even Chiron knew they weren't coming back 😭😭😭

Since the prophecy said that "the best of myrmidons" I was like fuck is Patroclus and this is bad

The scene that broke me was when Patroclus said that they didn't say the words (I love you) because they would have more time to say them, like in the night when they talk about their day and I was like please tell him 😭😭😭😭😭

THE MOST PAINFUL THING IS THAT EVEN WHEN PATROCLUS KNEW HE WAS GONNA DIE, HE TRIED TO STOPPED HECTOR BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT IF HECTOR KILLED HIM, ACHILLES WOULD KILLED HECTOR AND THE ACHILLES WOULD DIE AND HE DIDN'T WANT THAT 😭😭

AND OMG I WAS SO MAD WITH THEM, WITH ACHILLES FOR BEING SO STUBBORN AND WITH PATROCLUS FOR FIGHTING EVEN WHEN HE KNEW HE DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE!!! 😭

YES I KNOW WHEN ACHILLES IS SURE THAT PATROCLUS IS GONNA COME BACK AND EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE FINE, BUT WE KNOW THAT HE IS ALREADY DEAD 😭😭😭😭

ACHILLES GRIEVE BROKE ME HOW HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY AND HOW HE JUST WANTED TO KILL HECTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

AND I WAS CRYING MY EYES OUT WHEN HECTOR'S FATHER TALKED WITH ACHILLES AND TOLD HIM THAT THEY SHOULD LET THE DEAD REST, AND ONLY AFTER THAT ACHILLE AGREED TO BURN THE BODY 😭😭😭

WHEN ACHILLES DIED WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT FINALLY HE COULD BE REUNITED WITH PATROCLUS 😭😭😭

Don't let me get started with Pyrrhus I hate that jerk so much I was happy when thetis said he was dead!, When he was taking decisions on his father's name I was like stfu you don't even know him!!

And for real I thought they would never be reunited and that Patroclus' soul would be strand in the living world forever I was crying but then thetis appeared and for once in the whole book she wasn't a bitch!

Yes before the war they would never imagine what the fate had for them and it's so sad because they just wanted to love each other, and their love was so beautiful and I love their communication because no matter how bad the things were they always tell the truth to the other 😭😭😭

Believe me I already reread their fluffy scenes and it's never enough! 😭

I'm glad you enjoy the book too, even when it left us with a void in the heart!!

[hatsukeii]

I just squealed in my living room because I got a songfic idea and I AHHHHHHHH my mom thinks I have a problem lmao sorry madre

I’m gonna make it up to you with some pure fluff.

No angst, no mental issues, no tragic event, just fluff.

And it’s also not a request because I’ll do those later lol procrastination

And for once I’m giving you a non depressed Tsukishima so cherish the moment while it lasts because depressed Tsukishima is gonna be back

Frozen// Tsukishima Kei x Reader

Word count: 2000+

Warnings: Mild to no swearing

Summary: It’s fluff hours

Your entire body feels hot, as if everything inside of you is burning up. Your nose is tinted red as a blush spreads through your cheeks, a snowflake floating down and landing on the tip of it. Thank god it’s pitch black at night, or you would just dig a hole and crawl into it out of embarrassment. The coat that is draped around you only adds to the effect, warming your body up like a radiation heater. It’s a pretty big coat, considering the fact that it belongs to someone who’s a whole foot taller than you. You hug yourself under the thick fabric, taking in the scent as you snuggled into it. It’s snowing like crazy in the empty streets of Miyagi, and the only thing keeping you somewhat warm is this huge ass trench coat that Tsukishima was nice enough to borrow to you. “Dude, are we there yet? It’s cold as hell out here. I came to sketch flowers, not let you haul my frozen body back home as a statue.” You scoff, letting out a dry chuckle. “No one asked you to give me your coat. And just hold on, we’re almost there. Just take your coat back, I don’t want you getting sick.” The blond rolls his eyes, his face breaking into that iconic shit eating smirk. “You look like you’re getting pretty comfy with it.” “Shut up! I’m trying to be nice over here!” Tsukshima’s fingers fiddle with each other in his pant pockets. Just a few minutes ago, when he saw you start shivering, he didn’t hesitate to take his thick coat off and throw it at you. He would rather die than admit it, but he felt like a million butterflies hatched from his stomach, and made their way all the way up to his chest as well. Under the dim moonlight, if you pay enough attention, you should be able to notice the beet red in the tips of his ears. Although it’s negative two degrees out, he only feels slightly colder than usual. He’s wearing about three layers, not including the coat he gave you. A tight fitting long sleeved shirt, a slightly thicker shirt, and a wool sweater is enough to keep him warm. In addition to that, he’s also extremely flustered, his entire body tingling with warmth. He’s trying his best to flirt with you, teasing you and poking fun at your tiny figure who is now making sweater paws with his coat. His heart is thumping so wildly that he’s somewhat nervous about you being able to hear it. In his bag, a camera, a notebook, his phone, and his pencil case make occasional shuffling noises. Maybe that’s why you can’t hear the drums hammering in his chest, threatening to reveal themselves.

“Right ahead, they start blooming right under that bridge.” You point to a wooden bridge, a field of moon flowers starting to bloom in the pitch black night. The moon reflects off their surfaces, letting them illuminate the area around them a beautiful hue of maya blue. Tsukishima’s eyes sparkle in the moonlight as he stares at the flowers in awe. “Wow, they’re really pretty.” You chuckle, glancing back at him cheekily. “I told you, they look awesome don’t they?” The blond ignores you, completely mesmerised by the blooming moon flowers as he wanders onto the bridge, you trailing closely behind him. He grabs his bag, and sits down, back pressing against the railing. You take a seat next to him, hugging yourself in his coat. He reaches into the relatively large laptop bag, pulling out a camera case. You watch him fiddle with the settings, more so observing his face more than anything else. You watch as his eyes squint slightly as he tries toggling a knob, before bringing the camera up to his face and testing it out, before pouting slightly, continuing his toggling. Finally, he stands up, walking to the edge of the bridge as he snaps a photo of the moon flowers. He walks back to where you are, plopping down next to you as he pulls the picture up, blowing some snowflakes off of the camera. His lips curl up into a rare smile as he stares at the photo. “Nice.” You try your best to stay calm, but deep down inside, you’re about to squeal like a crazy fangirl. You didn’t think he could get any more handsome, but Tsukishima Kei looks like a whole ass god in front of you right now, the cold hues of the night complimenting his looks perfectly as tiny snowflakes make their way onto his lashes. The peaceful smile on his face is soon replaced by a sly smirk. “Enjoying the view or something?” If you knew better, you should’ve been able to tell how much he enjoyed the fact that you were staring at him. He doesn’t care if it’s just some random person that admires him, but when it comes to you, everything matters. You snap out of your tiny trance, going beet red. “I just dozed off with my eyes open, don’t get cocky idiot.” The boy chuckles, pulling his pencil case and notebook out of the bag. He takes a look at the photo, before starting to sketch. You sit there, not knowing what to do. Here you are, alone with the person you’ve liked for a solid two years, sitting in peaceful silence as he sketches moon flowers. This is everything you could possibly ask for, except you’re terrified to say anything. You hold your words back, not wanting to jeopardise the close friendship you managed to form with the cold middle blocker. You rack your brains, desperately trying to think of a way to interact with him.

“Hey Tsukki?”

The blond glances at you, pencil still in hand.

“Yeah?”

“It’s sad boy hours, wanna rant?”

He leads his eyes back to the semi-completed sketch, continuing to swipe tiny strokes on the paper.

“You want me to start?”

You nod, hugging yourself tighter.

Tsukishima sighs, glancing at you once more, before looking down. He contemplates his options. Should he rant about a real issue that had been bothering him forever, or a random thing that happened during school? He weighed the options, comparing the stakes.

“Sad boy hours are the best. I get to rant to you as much as I can. I’m gonna get it out there and just tell you this. There’s this girl that I like a lot.”

Your heart drops, but you play it off and wiggle your eyebrows at him.

“Ooooh Tsukishima salt lord Kei has a cruuuuuush~”

The blond rolls his eyes, feeling his cheeks go warm.

“Shut up and let me talk shortie. There’s this girl I really like, but I can’t tell her anything because if I do she might stop being friends with me. I can’t afford to let that happen, so I stay silent, but it hurts knowing that someone else can swoop in and take her any day. I- damn, she’s just amazing. It’s hard not knowing what she thinks about me. She might hate me, or she might like me back. I wouldn’t know until I ask, but I’m too scared to do that. It’s been bothering me since last year and quite frankly it won’t get out of my head.” He goes silent, waiting for your response.

“Dude, same. I feel you. I’ve liked someone for years, and yet I still haven’t confessed to him. Honestly it bothers me too, but I don’t know what to do myself. I can give you advice, but I won’t act on it because I don’t know how to. The risk is too high and I can’t lose another close friend.” You stop, playing with the hem of the thick coat as wind blows around you two.

“What do you think I should do then?”

You huff out, a puff of steam coming out from your mouth.

“You should totally just tell her. She would understand if she was a real friend. If your feelings end up unrequited and she stops being friends with you because of that then it’s just immature. To be honest she probably likes you too, I mean who wouldn’t? You’re literally top tier boyfriend material, there’s no way she hasn’t fallen for you yet.” Pointing at him, you wave your index finger in circles around him, hyping him up. Although you’re slightly disheartened by the fact that Tsukishima already likes somebody, you’re still determined to help him get to whoever this girl is. As long as he’s happy, your issues can wait.

The blond chuckles dryly, his mind racing.

“It’s not that easy you know. Are you sure this is gonna work?”

You slyly smile, nodding your head furiously. You’re all here for Tsukishima confessing to the girl of his dreams even if it hur-

“It’s you.”

Wait what?

Your mind goes blank for a second, trying to process the words that just came out of his mouth. His statement echoes through your head loud and clear. Your mouth slowly drops, hanging open as it curls up into a wide smile. You start to laugh until you grab your stomach and double over. Tsukishima stares at you in confusion. “What?” You wipe the tears in your eyes, continuing to laugh your ass off while you shake your head. “No way, there’s no way you like me. Never in a million years. Dude stop joking around and call your crush, I wanna see her reaction! Plus, I’m not good enough for you, you’re literally the definition of perfecti-”

You shut up as you feel a pair of lips on yours, and a hand pulling your chin in. You gasp in surprise, not knowing how to react. It’s like you’re suddenly hypersensitive to everything around you. The glow of the flowers seem more vibrant than when you first got here. The wind felt colder than it should have. The moon is blindingly bright, like a flashlight in a cave, illuminating everything. You can feel every single snowflake that lands on you, tingling your skin. Feeling the grip on your chin that loosened, you pull away slightly, eyes agape and face dusted red as you stare back at Tsukishima’s eyes. Those goddamn eyes that get you every time. His permanent frown is now a tiny, but slightly melancholy grin. 

“Does that prove it?”

You don’t know what to say. Your composure is completely broken. The thumping of your heart is heavy and you can’t hear anything apart from that. Your face is completely red, warming you up better that his coat ever can. You try your best to make a clear sentence. “Kei I- I wa- Tha-” Giving up, you do the only thing you can think of to show him how you feel. Grabbing his sweater, you pull him into another kiss, this time squeezing your eyes shut as you appreciate the moment. You know that the moon flowers are still blooming, the snow is still falling, but you don’t care. All you want is for time to be frozen for this. You wish for this moment to last forever, although you know it’s impossible. Just you, and Tsukishima, pouring out your feelings for each other in a field of glowing flowers and silence in the darkness of the night. His hands find their way to your cheeks, cupping them tenderly as he smiles. This is the best he’s ever felt in a really, really long time. It’s as if a weight had been removed from his chest. He no longer has to hide his emotions. This is enough to show him everything. His notebook lays next to him, the pencil rolling off of it and onto the bridge. The half finished two page drawing is made visible by the moonlight, and it isn’t just a drawing of the flowers.

It’s you. He was drawing your expression when you saw the field of flowers, along with the blooming wonders in front of him.

The two of you stay in that position, lips connected, until you feel your lungs give out. Pulling away, you give out an audible gasp, giggling to yourself.

“Well that felt nice. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do that.”

The world might’ve still been spinning, and everyone might’ve still been sleeping soundly in bed, or they might’ve been doing whatever they were doing as the world moved on.

But just for a few moments, you swore that time was frozen for the two of you.

References:

Frozen by Sabrina Claudio

Lyrics from Frozen

A shit ton of weird flower searches on google

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Wow for once Tsukishima is happy on this blog lmaooo

Have fun reading this thing that I spent like hours on