#my wicked sense of humor is written all over this

[tobbesdiscordkitten]

has anyone ever talked about their experience being a groupie with axl or having sex with axl or something about axl except from what we already know about erin and stephanie and that girl sheila kennedy? because there are plenty of stories about people who fucked slash, but none about people who hooked up with axl, I NEED TO BE FED WITH SOMETHING😩😩😩😩

Curiosity is getting the best of us lol.

As far as I'm aware, there isn't a public sex tape of him, nor are there any anecdotes from groupies who fucked him. I'm sure it was a double-sided coin with Axl, depending on the kind of mood he was in. For example, if he was in a good mood, it was probably the best sex ever. However, if he was in a bad mood, the sex was probably the worst. Or, if you liked pain, it was still probably the best lay, give or take.

That's all I know. I couldn't tell you anything else because I haven't slept with him (I'm sure we all would tho *winks*)

Since we don't have Axl’s cock to feed us, I can provide you with some other random information about him:

A lot of guys I know, and I'm one...We don't necessarily relate sex with love. It's recreation, it's something I do. It's like people who go skateboard, people who play basketball, people who play pool, whatever. We're looking for girls. It's something I do. So far, with the women that I've been in love with over the years, one of the most beautiful things in the world was watching them have an orgasm. And if they had an orgasm with someone else, and I was there, I loved to watch that because I knew they were receiving something great, and having a great time, and feeling good. And watching them experience this meant the world to me. It's beautiful. You know, an orgasm is beautiful. It's a beautiful thing.

- Axl Rose, MTV (1989)

Sounds like Axl watched and took notes on how to further please his women, hehe. No wonder this man is so experienced. He knows what makes women tick. Wouldn't it be wonderful to experience multiple orgasms by the hands, tongue, and cock of Axl Rose? 😩💦 Count me in!

Speaking of women...and parties...and brawls... Axl was in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2006, at a nightclub - Café Opera - after performing at a concert. He partied all night and was "surrounded by a throng of leather-dressed blonde females and Swedish celebrities." Axl enjoyed himself and drank lots of Jack Daniel's. At one point, "he sat down between two blonde girls and lit up a cigarette." The Swedish TV host, Gry Forssell, who partied with Axl, said, "[he] was in a great mood. He was dancing, drinking, and was surrounded by girls. He gave me a shot and he seemed to be having a very pleasant night." Damn, lucky. Women must've been chasing after him! 🥵

During the wee hours of the morning, Axl went back to his hotel and hoped to continue the party, however, nobody was there. "Where is everyone?Where's the party? I was promised a big party!" Axl became pissed and started cursing.

The hotel security guard asked him to "lower his voice," but Axl continued swearing until he "pushed [the guard] in the chest hard enough to cause him to almost lose his balance...In response, the security guard grabbed Axl's braids and pulled [him] to the floor. That's when Axl bit [the guard] in his thigh. At that point, [Axl] got hold of a nearby vase and threw it straight into an 18th century mirror, worth approximately $2,000."

*nervous laughter* Nobody tell him that's 7 years of bad luck. Anyways, the police arrived and arrested Axl, deeming him too intoxicated to be questioned. He was in the station for 12 hours before being transported out.

I'm guessing Axl partied too hard and blacked out during these events, so he wasn't in control of his mind, or actions, at the time. I swear, if there's a mugshot with his braids, I will lose my mind. It would be my favorite mugshot of his, too. I just gotta find it lol. Gawwd, I'm such a whore for 2006 Axl...*sighs*

Little bonus:

Axl Rose with Justine Ezarik (2007)

HE’S SO HOT!

Moving on. In 2006, Tommy Hilfiger had an altercation with Axl at a New York club called The Plumm. Tommy and his then-girlfriend, Dee Ocleppo, were gonna sit at a table. To make room and not have Dee's drink get spilled, Axl moved it, which provoked Tommy, causing him to smack Axl's hand away and land a blow to his cheek. Axl didn't fight back, but he called Tommy out, and Tommy kept egging him on by showcasing some unusual karate moves.

This story is stupidly funny lmao. A Reddit user once said that the picture (above) looks like a "modern renaissance painting," and I couldn't agree more 🤣

I hope these details fed you well, anon.

[thisblogisaboutabook]

RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT ME

Azriel x Reader - Fluff - One Shot

While getting over a breakup, a performer in a Velaris tavern catches the attention of a certain Shadowsinger.

Warnings: Alcohol, Implied hook-up

The notes flowed effortlessly through my fingers onto the ivory keys of the tavern’s antique piano. I’d played the song more times than I cared to admit over the past several months yet the angst of it had yet to be lost on me.

Tonight was particularly lively as the High Lord and Lady’s inner circle made their way into the tavern. One of the nicer pleasure halls in Velaris yet not as alluring as Rita’s, which was closed this week as they install an updated dance floor and modernize the bar’s serving area.

Once word spread of the prestigious guests, a plethora of onlookers flowed in the front doors. It had been a while since the bouncer actually had a line to attend to.

Attendees made requests, many tunes of a more risqué variety in hopes of a sultry dance against THE Morrigan. Who could blame them? She was lovely. Not in a soft and gentle way - but in a powerful, warm, seductive sort of way. Those that didn’t want to be with her, wanted to be her. Males and females alike tried and failed to get close enough for a dance but she stayed close to the remainder of the inner circle on the dance floor, so lost in the music that she hadn’t even noticed the desire flowing around her.

The Shadowsinger had also come out tonight. Though he evaded the dance floor, guarding their corner table diligently. An emotionless, bordering cold stare plastered on his face as he monitored the place. Ever the watchful friend, ensuring nobody stepped out of line. Many patrons gazed from afar, whispering words of encouragement as to who could work up the nerve to approach. The more brazen guests going as far as to take a few steps closer before being put off by his intimidating presence without him even making eye contact with them.

After a recent break up - recent putting it lightly - it had been months but who was counting? I’d taken to spending my weekends in this tavern. One evening, after far too many shots of liquid courage, I began playing on the piano while singing raunchy limericks and catchy tunes I’d picked up over the years during my travels through Prythian. Despite his odious reputation, some of my favorite limericks came from the High Lord of the Spring Court whom I’d never met personally. The poems coming in slurs from drunken participants of the Great Rite many years ago, the Calanmai where I met my former lover.

We’d connected instantly - literally and figuratively - and spent several wonderful years together. Until, damn the cauldron, he found his mate earlier this year. What are years together in the face of fate? Fate having a wicked sense of humor. How lucky for me that his mate dwelled in the city that I had introduced him to, MY city. They’d come into this very tavern shortly after the breakup, kindly leaving just as abruptly they came in. A futile effort of sparing me the heartache. Truthfully, he wasn’t a cruel male. He didn’t know I played here - and I didn’t hate him. But I resented it. All of it.

Which lead me to the song I was currently belting out at this piano. The song I’d written immediately after arriving back to my apartment that night, whiskey in one hand, fountain pen in the other.

“…And you're sitting in front of me at the restaurant, when I was still the one you want

Cross-legged in the dim light, everything was just right.

I, I could feel the mascara run. You told me that you met someone, glass shattered on the white cloth

Everybody moved on

Help, I'm still at the restaurant, still sitting in a corner I haunt, cross-legged in the dim light

They say, What a sad sight"

Despite the angsty, brooding lyrics, the tone was catchy and very easy to move along to. The more frequent patrons of the establishment had come to know this as a staple in my evening set, belting out the lyrics right along with me.

The song was my closing for the evening as I packed up, ready to head out. One of the attendees brought a glass of my favorite whiskey to me, nodding to the beautiful brooding male at the Inner Circle’s table.

Interesting.

I nodded a thank you with a brief raise of my glass to the Spymaster, as a little shadow swirled around my wrist with a gentle tug in his direction.

Who was I to turn him down? Aside from a steaming bath and smutty novel, I had nothing waiting for me to return home.

I casually strode to his table, giving a little smirk before sitting in front of him. Licking my lip before raising the glass to my mouth, lifting an eyebrow as I locked eyes with him.

“I didn’t realize Spymaster involved sussing out a lady’s drink of choice.”

A cool, bemused expression settled on his face as he took a sip from his own glass. “While my skill set is quite impressive, I asked the attendant for the bartender to send you a glass of your favorite.”

“I see. Well, thank you.” I replied, giving him time to continue the conversation or bid a farewell.

“You wrote that song.” He stated, not a question. Spymaster indeed.

For emphasis, I threw back a large swig of my liquor. “I did. Did you like it?”

He met my gaze with a contemplative glean in those hazel eyes, “Yes, no. Yes, the song was good. No, I did not like the truth behind the words. It felt too… relatable.”

I ran my fingers back through my hair letting it loosely fall back into place, and sighed. “Looks like we’ll both need another drink then.” Turning to the nearby attendee and signaling two fingers.

Two drinks turned to three, and four, by the end of the night we had laughed, one-upped eachother on who was unluckiest in love, and I was practically in his lap as we boisterously toasted a cheeky “Damn, the cauldron!” to which a nearby couple audibly gasped. We both muttered quick “apologies” turning away as we muffled our laughter into each others shoulders. He graciously sent the pair a shot with our next round of drinks.

The place started clearing out as the lights brightened and the keep yelled out a last call. Both of us hesitant to call it a night as we stepped into the brisk cold. “Walk me home, Shadowsinger?”

“Azriel. Call me Azriel.” He smiled. “I actually have something better in mind. Join me for a night cap?” He extended a hand.

Holding my hand out to squeeze his reassuringly, I replied, “Y/N. I’d be delighted.”

He eagerly swept me into his arms and darted into the sky, aiming for the House of Wind. The city lights quickly fading into twinkling stars.

Our pulses fluttered with anticipation as I nuzzled my head into the crook of his neck. When I pulled back to meet his eyes, he gave me a mischevious grin and briskly swooped down then back up. I flicked his nose to which he laughed, tilting his head downward to plant a kiss on my forehead.

I finally left the restaurant…

And my dress on his bedroom floor.

[sgiandubh]

It all starts with a smoke alarm

This wasn't supposed to happen like that, of course. It was supposed to happen with an ”allow me to introduce myself”, at the least. But hey, I am playing the cards I've been dealt, and since an anonymous ask on Tumblr does not allow pictures or links, this will have to do. We'll have plenty of time later.

Yesterday, I said that reading that Single Report reaped benefits. I have screen capped and summed up all the things that made me rise an eyebrow, to make things easier. Hopefully, this is going to be short: who would wax lyrical about a septic tank, after all?

I did not use my superpowers to do this, but simply the link provided by a very active Anon on several shipper blogs, in order to properly stir shite, I presume: https://corumproperty.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/HomeReport-31.pdf

Armed with my wits and a virtual highlighter, I started to carefully read the whole document. Ownership details aside - this, I discussed yesterday -, I remind you that it should give any prospective buyer a good, detailed idea of the available fittings and current condition of the house put on sale.

In Europe and elsewhere, I guess, inspections of this type are rather a dull and thorough affair. And these people did an excellent job: they checked every single nook & cranny, used binoculars to have a closer look at the roof tiles and listed it all on these papers a good researcher should read, before dropping to conclusions.

This is how we know, for example, that the inspection happened on a rainy day:

.. and that the guttering was overflowing. Does that sound like a well loved, lived-in house to you?

Thought so.

This brought a smile. And the image of a Christmas tree left near a London dustbin in June. Home, sweet home?

Like all properties, this also comes with burglar and fire alarm systems. However, apparently not much has been done, in this respect. Or at least, not recently. Not since February 2022, to be accurate: otherwise, they would have been upgraded. Yet, no such thing: it's up to the buyer to do and pay for the upgrade.

Lived-in? Certainly not after February 2022 and probably even earlier, would be my best guess. But lived-in at some point in time, most certainly.

You see, since I was on the real estate agent's webpage, I also took the virtual tour of the house. It is available to everyone, here: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=AFKibrk8QiD

Now, I don't know about you, but when I visit somebody's house for the first time, I always check the bookshelves: yes, I am a shameless nerd. I am also well aware that the rest of the furniture was staged, it looked that sad, clinical way it does all over the world. Did not expect to find any books in there, to be honest. And yet, there they were.

I didn't bother with the fashion coffee table books, although I thought they were a nice nod to Ms. B's past, and totally the kind of things she might have on her credenza.

A built-in bookshelf in the basement caught my eye. That did not look staged. It looked as she might have left some of her own books in there, like an afterthought, if you want. And people's choices of books are always speaking volumes to me, about who they really are.

It did not disappoint.

More fash-un. And yeah, Tiffany & Co! I knew it!

A Tina Turner bio or memoir. Awww:

Bette Davis and some feminist literature. Her books, I am pretty sure of that:

And, to save the best for last, lo and behold, what do we have here?

Bear Grylls?

That Bear Grylls?

Hahahaha. Of course. I have all the reasons in the world to believe the music producer/PA/whatever is into masculine thrillers written by a world-renowned survivalist, haven't I?

Not a chance in hell, to be honest. I grinned like the Cheshire cat because, ladies, we do know WHOSE book is this, don't we?

Judging by its jacket, well-read. Not a prop.

Belonging to someone with a dry, wicked sense of humor who apparently also left this gem:

A Captain's Duty. At this point in time, I wasn't grinning anymore. I was laughing like an idiot, of course.

Slàinte mhath, ladies. We'll have time for a proper introduction later.

[spacexseven]

HIHI its my first time doing an ask so I hope I'm doing this correctly so I was thinking about your subordinate au and it made me think about a random comic I read where this dude bullies a girl and she’s basically yandere for him so I was thinking yandere subordinate darling with dazai and chuuya and they find out and tease them about it

i have briefly talked about a subordinate reader that has a crush on chuuya before, if you're interested. also please do let me know the name of the comic :> sounds interesting~ i reallyyyyy like this lol i wanna do moreeee

cw: yandere reader, yandere characters, abuse of power, humiliation, invasion of privacy, mentioned stalking, nsfw mentions (of non-con voyeurism) MINORS DNI

as always, dazai finds out first.

when it comes to humiliating you, he's the most eager, after all. you should have taken into consideration that he'd go to any lengths to air out your dirty laundry, even if it meant snooping around your house for something to use. and you, foolishly, had decided to keep a diary of sorts. a diary documenting your...strange feelings for the two executives that never left you alone.

to be fair, it probably wasn't the diary that gave you away. even before that, you weren't the best at concealing your feelings. it was all too obvious that you liked chuuya and dazai more than you should have, painfully clear that you weren't staring in their direction out of paranoia, that you weren't refusing to meet their eyes out of fear. dazai had long picked up on the hints. now, this only confirmed his suspicions.

"what's this about?" his tone, though seemingly inquisitive, is laced with mocking humor, "so you like me, do you? so much that you have a diary about me? can't stop thinking about me, can you?"

he laughs again, a dry, taunting sound, "god, you're so pathetic. look at you, watching me like a creepy little stalker. is this what you do in your free time? and here i thought you'd hate us."

you can't help the way your heart pounds and your head spins even when dazai is sneering at you.

"you think chuuya is pretty, do you? all it took was for you to see him smile and you've fallen head over heels for him? you're going to hurt my feelings, [name], how come you don't write about how pretty you find me? how cute my smile is, and how hot it is when i make fun of you?"

you might be imagining it, but you're almost certain that there was a hint of irritation in his voice. hah, was he jealous? the thought makes you feel an overwhelming sense of self-satisfaction. and to think he called you the pathetic one...

chuuya hasn't spoken a word since dazai dragged you out here. but the moment dazai mentioned what you had written about him, he perks up ever so slightly and looks over at your cowering form.

"hey, don't go all quiet now," dazai doesn't even bother hiding the delight in his eyes, "i really want to know! you like the way we look, don't you? say, do you touch yourself thinking of me? you do, don't you?," he laughs a little, "what else would i expect from you? have you tried following me home? i bet you like watching me sleep, too. do you wait by my window and hope you can catch a glimpse of me doing something filthy? if i read this, i'll know the answer to that, right? or do you have another book, for your dirty little thoughts?"

he turns around to acknowledge chuuya for the first time since they gathered here, "shall we have them read it all out to us?"

chuuya, then, smiles back; a malicious, wicked sight. it's a loud, clear yes that seals your fate.

[thebe4ulog]

A Little Introduction

helloo :D i don’t really know how this works, i’ve been saying for 2025 i wanna start documenting my life a bit more and my friend kind of led me here

i’ve been STRUGGLING like HARD with my sexuality for a while now, i’ll probably go more into my experience in a later post but im tired of pretending im immortal and resistant to shame and internalised homophobia and even abuse like i thought

hobbies

that’s kind of been the talking point of a lot of conversations i’ve had about myself because it’s just constantly on my mind, which is why i’m trying to navigate myself to some more healthy habits this year, for example writing! i’ve always really loved writing and fiction and i’ve wanted to get into it for a while and i’m hoping this year will be the year i do. i’m also a musician, i’ve written a few personal albums and i’d like to release some songs to streaming services one day, but for now i’m okay with my little chord sheets and silly little lyrics. i play ukulele, guitar, banjo, piano and im picking up the saxophone! so that’ll be fun. i also really want to start getting into art and drawing and what have you too.

interests

most of my favourite artists are dead but i love jazz anyway. from frank sinatra to duke ellington, i love it all. some artists that might be more relevant to you though - i mostly listen to will wood and laufey (despite being aroace probably idk i just like the jazz and her music makes me feel pretty) i also on occasion listen to tally hall and lemon demon, so yes that confirms i am autistic. i also really love the muppets, im going to go back there some day makes me cry, gonzo my beloved. <3 games i like tend to be cosy games like stardew valley and minecraft and the like, but im a fan of pokemon too. the following are likely to die out in the next month or so but im currently hyperfixating on wicked and the universal theme parks, so if those tickle your fancy then tumble me or whatever

i mostly speak english but i’m really interested in foreign languages and cultures; i can carry most conversations in spanish. i’m from the UK but i like to pretend im not and rather that im from space or something, mostly because it makes more sense for my stupid little AuDHD self but also because i have absolutely 0 patriotism. and also because why not, space is pretty cool no?

buh bye

that’s a little bit about me and where i’m at at the moment! :) i’m hoping to make friends and share experiences and interests and maybe experiment a little with certain things. i have some general little notices and what have you in my bio, im 17 and really if you’re 20+ i’d probably avoid this blog. but mbti and star signs and all the other bollocks people seem to find relevant is there

i’m honestly not sure what i’m gonna do with this thing or how i should really end it, the latter seems too dry to end it on. do i say over? like it’s a radio communication? that seems humorous i’ll go with that.

[wholoveseggs]

Heeey, i know that the year is still not over but I’m genuinely curious what is your favorite fic that you wrote this year? 😄

You opened pandora's box with this question... lol. I started this blog in November 2023, and somehow, I’ve managed to write over 100 fics since then (holy shit ~ lmao). Picking just one favorite? That's tough. So here are my top twelve instead… though even narrowing it down to that was a challenge. (These are in no particular order, because I’m indecisive like that.) Also, fair warning... I’m in a yapping mood, so buckle up!

Phantom Desires

Inspired by Daemon being mentally tortured in Harrenhal in HOTD season two… This fic pushed me out of my comfort zone, It’s equally horny and spooky. There’s something so compelling about Daemon unravelling in a place that feels alive with grief and malice, and this fic gave me the perfect chance to delve into his loneliness, guilt, and desperate need for connection. And honestly? Daemon deserved every bit of it.

Ride the Sky

A request from my beloved @elijahstwink !! This idea was such a fun challenge. Even though I'm writing about a fantasy show with literal dragons, magic and shit... I couldn't quite reckon the idea of having actual sex on dragonback in the sky lol. Something about that seemed unrealistic (I know, I know, I'm writing about DRAGONS, but you know what I mean) Anyways, it was a delight to write. Fun fact: the title comes from a song by lightning bolt, and I imagine it's what is playing in Daemon's head when he is up to no good.

Truth or Dare

I had so much fun writing this one! It’s chaotic, awkward, and wholesome all at once, which made it an absolute joy to create. I love writing about parties… the energy, the drama, and all the ridiculous little moments that come with them. The truth or dare game was probably my favorite part to write, coming up with the dares and imagining the character reactions had me giggling the entire time. And, of course, building the tension with Elijah gave the story that little spark of sweetness I couldn’t resist. It’s by far my favorite first-time story I've written.

Indulgences (Series)

This series is heavily inspired by Wicked Games by The Weeknd (And I mean HEAVILY - I stole the ideas from that song and turned it into plot ~lol). I remember thinking Elijah would totally be the sad guy at the strip club, and the rest snowballed from there. It’s wild, sexy, dangerous, and heartbreaking, but also deeply personal for me. As someone who is a perpetual recovering addict, I poured a lot of my own experiences into this story.. especially the numbness that comes with addiction and the feeling of being trapped in a cycle you can’t escape.

Some readers commented that they wished the reader stayed with Elijah in the end, but that was never the answer for this story. Staying would have meant going from one violent life to another (not that Elijah would be violent toward her, but his life is inherently violent). Breaking the cycle isn’t just about leaving toxic elements behind; sometimes, true healing requires sacrificing even the good things.

Bloodbath

It's the first fic I ever wrote (and the third one I ever posted). I’m so proud of that dumb title and tagline (not even Elijah can defeat the immortal evil that is Aunt Flo). I remember posting it, and it had zero interactions for days. I worried that my sense of humor was not translating the way I wanted... Perhaps the title was a bit extreme and that a vampire eating you out on your period was a bit too niche. But you know what? This one isn't for anyone but me, and it has a special place in my heart.

A Date with Klaus

When I came up with the idea of Klaus leaving you flirty little sketches, I was absolutely giggling and kicking my feet like a teenager. It’s pure, unfiltered wish fulfillment with just the right amount of spice. Honestly, the idea of Klaus being an ass man just feels like universal law…I don’t make the rules, I just write them.

Strings

Often, I write the reader to be nothing like me... but with this one, I was projecting hardddd. The push-pull dynamic, the fear of vulnerability, and the emotional walls the reader builds? Yeah, that’s me (I’m also a sloppy drunk). This may or may not be based on a true story lmao. Writing it was cathartic, though...it let me process a lot of my own struggles with letting people in (I’m still bad at it)

Hold

Elijah is all about finding solutions to problems, and this horny af fic is the perfect example of that. The mix of intimacy, his total control, and his ability to completely unravel the reader is everything I adore about this character. It’s equal parts sweet and scorching, and writing this was such a dreammmm.

Decadence

This request had me so excited (hi, I'm a retired goth girl myself ~lol) There’s something so perfect about Elijah falling for this gothy reader. The dark aesthetic, the shared love of the macabre, and their mutual appreciation for art and culture made this such a dream to write. Weaving their dynamic into that decadent mix of gothic romance and feral passion was everythingggg. 

Rules (Series)

I love the love for this series! The concept had been floating around in my head for ages, and I never anticipated the overwhelming passion it would spark. The way everyone engaged with the story was beyond anything I could’ve imagined, and the comments on the final part had me absolutely cackling. (You created the monster in me lol)

Extraordinary (Series - this includes Magnificent and Ménage a Quatre)

It’s okay to love them all, I did. I do. And the stupid titles for this series still make me laugh. I would not survive marathon sex with multiple immortal vampires, but it sure is fun to write about. It’s silly, hot, borderline ridiculous, and I fucking love it.

Warmth (Series - but specifically Part Two)

The first series I ever made, and it still makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I remember being so terrified to post it, agonising over every word, stressing about whether the gif matched the vibe, and second-guessing if I was putting too much of my own personal tastes with the Nirvana references. I kept thinking…“What am I doing out here writing vampire smut? Would Elijah even like grunge? probably not lol” And look at me now… lmao. This one will always have a special place in my heart because it reminds me how far I’ve come. Re-reading it feels like reconnecting with an old friend... it’s a long hug, a warm cup of hot chocolate, and a big bowl of delicious pasta all rolled into one. It’s pure comfort.

Whoops… that got a little personal... But if I absolutely had to choose my favorite, its a toss up between Bloodbath (my beloved underdog) or Indulgences (my therapy session)

I hope you enjoyed reading these as much as I loved writing them. Each one holds a special little place in my heart. Please, please tell me what your favorites are (it feeds me)

[sideeve]

If you’re doing John wick, I have a few requests

1: a very fluffy one shot with John and reader

2: John is in the middle of a job at a nightclub and he asks the reader where his target is. The reader gives the info cause they’re fed up with the target being an asshole.

3: the marquis puts his significant other or sibling reader into a safe house to protect them from John wick.

i gotchu

you swirl you glass of liquor around, staring at the boring football game being displayed on the small television above you. you dreaded going to bars, but you were the gossip girl in this assassination field.

it was your job to know everything. who killed who, where they would be. everything. but spilling this knowledge came with a price.

“i don’t care who wins.” you roll your eyes, closing them as you take a gulp of your drink, the alcohol burning your throat. “i need information on the whereabouts of Ronan.”

the infamous Baba Yaga stalks over you, waiting for you to turn in your chair. “no convo prep?” you sigh, turning around in your chair. “what will i get in return?” you saw him reach down in his pocket, hearing the sound of coins click together. “save it. it was a test to see if you were serious. just kill the bastard.”

“such language. almost sounds like you hate him.” despite his stoic expression, you sensed a hint of humor in his tone. “i don’t care how you kill him. just make sure he doesn’t see the next sunrise.”

he chuckles. “what has he done to you for you to feel that way?” you take a breath, tryin not you get upset as you remember a few memories. “long story he left me for dead once.”

john hums. “i’ll take a stab another stab at him. as revenge for you.” he winks. from hearing all these horror stories from people who’ve encountered him, he seems like a genuine man.

“what about you? why are you goin’ after the man?” your body loosens. “ah,” he takes a sharp inhale, “i have a list of people who participated in taking my life away from you. luckily for you, he’s up there.”

“and luckily for you,” you pull out a notepad from your back pocket, scribbling some words and locations down before ripping the paper off, pressing it against his chest. “i know where he’s been.”

john’s eyes search through yours, finding a glint of attraction reflecting from him to you. “may your journey be quick and his death swift.” you hop off the stool, walking out the bar.

he skims over the paper, his eyes locking with a series of numbers and a “xoxo” written at the bottom. “what a woman.” he smiles, shaking his head, stuffing the paper in his breast pocket as he leaves the bar.

i haven't been sleeping good so if this doesn't make sense...i don't know what to tell you

[elfybitsart]

Top 5 Fave Books of the Reading Year

Starting with # 1: The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall.

This story follows a pirate named Florian, a former street orphan named Flora who had to take up the sword and live as a man to survive and protect his little brother who is also a pirate on the ship named Dove. From there Florian develops a close relationship with a passenger on the ship he's been tasked with attending, an aristocrat woman from an imperial family being shipped off to marry for political reasons during a war, who he ends up attempting to rescue and escape with after realizing the gruesome pirate life isn't for him anymore. This book has racial diversity, queer and trans representation (in the actual main characters and not just a supporting role) sapphic pirates, and an actually interesting romance fantasy adventure plot that keeps you wanting to know what happens next. Like, so much happens that you're amazed it all happens just within a single book, and not a full series, but it doesn't *feel* overwhelming. It definitely filled a hole that Our Flag Means Death had left in my life, and I just know my friends are so sick of hearing me talk about this book! 10/10, will be adding to my comfort books to reread.

Book #2: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree.

This book is just comfy and cozy in every sense of the word, with almost zero conflict at all, and I absolutely loved it. It's sorta a classic tale of 'Tough Person moves to a small, impoverished town to escape and ends up making it a better place through the friendships they make along the way'. You follow Viv, a barbarian orc who decides to walk away from her questing party, hang up her battle axe and settle down somewhere quiet to open up a coffee shop after falling in love with the liquid gold she was first introduced to in the gnomish cities during her questing days. It's very slice-of-life with so much to love in such a short book. Also 10/10, it ticked every box for me.

Book #3: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree.

A prequel to Legends & Lattes with an amazing epilogue at the end. I'm buying physical copies of these books just to hug them. 10/10

Book #4: Down the Drain by Julia Fox.

This book definitely isn't for everyone, but if you're a messy bitch who lives for drama, then this book is for you. It's for the girls, gays and theys who've grown up in bad situations and raised themselves due to neglect and abuse, who are now working through that trauma as adults with fully formed frontal cortices that are able to think logically and understand consequences. Yes, a lot of the situations she gets herself out of was only made possible by Julia's white and pretty privilege, but she's very self aware about those facts as she addresses it, specifically. There's so much in here that's relatable as someone who grew up in the 90's/early 2000's completely obsessed with pop culture, fashion, makeup, rock music and BOYS, but also some dark moments that might be pretty triggering for some. I recommend the audiobook narrated by Julia herself. 10/10

Book #5: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire.

This book was WILD from page one and nothing like the movie, but in a fun and unhinged way lol. It's good to know that a gay man wrote this series, because it could be very problematic and definitely not the same humor and feeling if it was written by a straight man. It's fun getting to be inside Elphaba's brain a little more to see how her story unfolds, and I will definitely be reading more of the series. Fully obsessed. 10/10, loved this one to bits.

Honorable Mention: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon.

This book was recommended to me as a "sapphic, feminist Game of Thrones" and uh, yeah it's very much that. The only reason it didn't make my top 5 list is because it's a very lengthy book, with lots of things happening at once to multiple characters, which can make it feel over whelming at times. It took me over a year to finish this one, but I really fell in love with the characters and their fight for love, survival, and a destined seat atop a dragon. 10/10, would follow every character into battle, willingly.

[crowtrobotx]

As promised, for my beloved Heisenmoots, I have written a little something. Just a little extra. A little bit of Ethan suffering because he has to be friends with the worst old man on earth for the sake of Rose. As a treat. <3 This was kind of hastily written as an introduction to a modern/no village AU - if people like it I will happily add continuations to this and make it a little side series, just for yucks. I hope you enjoy and I love you all a disgusting amount. Title: A Rose and A Butterfly Word count: 3478 Characters: Ethan Winters, Rose Winters, Mia Winters, Karl Heisenberg, fem!OC, daughter!OC Warnings: None (unless you’re not cool with cursing)

When Rose came home and excitedly announced that she’d made a new friend, Ethan Winters couldn’t have been happier. He worried excessively about her at the best of times. With the move to a new town after Mia’s recent job change, he knew that they risked making her already precarious social situation even more fragile. Rose had struggled with forming lasting relationships at her old school, due in no small part to the rampant bullying that seemed to have gone unchecked by every single adult responsible for her with Ethan and Mia weren’t present. Perhaps it was a good thing that they all were getting a fresh start. Still, Ethan had tried not to let his expectations run too high. This had happened before, after all. Sometimes it turned out the other kid or kids in question were lying, pulling off some elaborate scheme to just break her heart in the end. Other times they simply drifted apart, deciding that they didn’t want to associate with someone so far down in the social pecking order. From his vantage point, Ethan was pretty sure being a young girl sounded like the most miserable, complicated experience he could imagine.

Fortunately, this time was different. He pulled up to the pick up location outside of the small town’s middle school to see Rose waiting with a much shorter, stockier girl, dark hair wrangled into two messy buns atop her head. There was a woman standing next to them who looked like she was probably her mother, given how their wild curls matched and the way Rose’s friend kept throwing her a pleading look that Ethan recognized well as the please, I’ll never ask for anything ever again I swear face. He rolled down the window of his SUV and waved politely at the two strangers.

“Dad!” Rose shouted excitedly. “This is my friend Lottie! Can I go over to her house?”

Before Ethan could even open his mouth to respond, Lottie had bounded up to the side of the vehicle and was peering up at him with a fiery gaze. “My mom already said yes,” she explained with a firm nod. “I promise we’re not a family of serial killers. Papa’s fridge in the garage is busted anyway, nowhere to store the organs.”

“Jesus - Lottie. Back up, sweetheart.”

Her mother urged her back onto the sidewalk and approached, laughing awkwardly. She reminded Ethan a bit what he imagined a cool art teacher would look like, with her leather jacket and dark jeans contrasted by several loud, colorful accessories. He could see a couple of tattoos poking out from under her clothes and the glint of a septum piercing flashed in the autumn sunshine. She lowered her voice and scratched the back of her neck, looking apologetic.

“I’m sorry, she’s–”

“She’s fun,” Ethan said with a sincere laugh. He could tell why they got along already - Rose had a wicked sense of humor and Lottie had already made it known that she lacked a filter. “I’m Ethan. I hear our daughters are friends.”

“Kris,” the woman’s shoulders relaxed at last. “I know you don’t know me, or my demon child, but I’m totally fine with Rose coming over. You wanna follow me so you know where she is? We can exchange numbers there.”

Rose practically buzzed with excitement the entire drive. It made Ethan nearly want to cry. The poor kid had been through so much - he had done all he could to protect her and nurture her, as had Mia - but there came a point when the world inevitably sunk its claws in and all he could do was sit back and pray that he’d equipped her properly to fight her battles. So lost in thought he was as they drove to a wooded, semi-rural area nearly at the city limits that he didn’t notice Kris’s “How am I driving? I’m not. This vehicle is driven by 700 rats.” bumper sticker until they’d nearly arrived.

Okay, this family was a teensy bit eccentric. It was fine. Rose seemed happy, that’s all that mattered. Kris appeared to be a perfectly competent person and the way his daughter talked about her friend (and how she’d decked a kid twice her size who’d said something nasty to Rose), he had no reason to think these weren’t decent people.

After pulling down the driveway to the house, obscured entirely from the road by thick trees, Lottie and Rose bounded out of their respective vehicles to meet on the lawn and whisper excitedly about whatever little plans they’d concocted. They ignored Ethan’s inquiries about any homework that needed done before scurrying up to the wide, covered porch. Ethan heard a dog barking excitedly when the front door opened, followed by Rose’s giggling and Lottie yelling “Sturm! Get down! You big idiot…”

“I’m sorry about the rusted out cars and shit out back,” Kris said, appearing at his side and gesturing to a rather impressive pile of junk partially visible behind the house. “My husband is a mechanic. He keeps swearing he’s gonna restore that crap or at least break it down for parts but I think aliens will invade before that happens. I promise the inside of the place doesn’t look like that - despite his best efforts.”

Ethan smiled. “Oh, it’s fine. You should see what my living room looks like when my wife decides to go on one of her crafting sprees.” Of course, a bunch of rusting metal that looked like a tetanus amusement park was a little different from a bunch of paper scraps and glue, but who was counting. “A mechanic, huh? We’re new in town. Would be nice to know a guy who could take a look at our cars. He any good?”

Ethan had said the last part as a joke.

“Oh, he sucks.” Ethan gaped. Kris smirked, looking fondly toward the garage. “I mean, he’s good at what he does. Really good. But he’s a cranky weirdo with the social skills of a feral raccoon. And yet, he’s my feral raccoon. I’ll make sure he fixes your shit if you ever need it.”

If the girls hadn’t already gone inside, Ethan might have considered suddenly remembering a very important engagement that he and Rose absolutely had to attend under any circumstances. His anxieties were quelled slightly over the next few minutes while he and Kris dissolved into pleasant small talk - he had the feeling she and Mia might get along well. They exchanged phone numbers and agreed upon a pickup time, Ethan insisting that she didn’t need to drive over and drop her off after offering to make dinner and ensure that any school projects got done.

“Better make sure that nothing’s on fire yet inside,” Kris said before bidding him farewell and disappearing through a side door.

Ethan stood still for a moment, trying to dispel his ever-present worry. He eventually took a few paces toward the car before, in the silence that followed Kris and the girls’ departure, he noticed the sound of a radio emanating from the garage. It was what Rose affectionately referred to as dad rock; this time it was “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. And it was loud. He supposed they didn’t really have to worry about bothering any neighbors out here, but he was almost offended on behalf of the local wildlife.

I should introduce myself, Ethan thought. It was only polite - his daughter was probably going to be coming over to the man’s house with regularity. Kris had made him sound like a curmudgeon, but Ethan was used to that sort of thing at work. At least half of the people who contacted his department were old guys who felt emasculated by the fact that they couldn’t figure out how to convert a Word document into a PDF.

He could handle him. How bad could he be?

As Ethan drew closer to the garage, he became aware of the sound of - and he didn’t use this word lightly - utterly horrific, off-tune singing accompanied by the light tink tink of someone trying to drum along in time with a wrench. He couldn’t see anyone through all the stacked up boxes, car parts and frankly odd bits and bobs - the whole place looked like it was one small seismic event from collapsing. Not to mention that the place smelled like a combination auto body shop and cigar emporium. He wasn’t sure what was more polite - to yell a greeting over the cacophony, or to quietly enter and risk scaring the man.

He opted for the former. “Hello? Mr. Uh. Lottie’s dad? Sir?” Ethan grimaced at his own unwieldy introduction.

The radio almost instantaneously shut off, followed by a frankly eerie silence. Ethan froze. He cleared his throat, trying to sound as pleasant as possible despite feeling like he’d just walked into a horror movie set. “I’m Rose’s dad? Lottie’s friend? I just dropped her off and wanted to–”

The hidden man poked his welding mask-clad head around the corner at last. His shoulder-length gray hair had frizzed in every direction, looking like the world’s dirtiest halo. He seemed to give Ethan a once over before lifting the mask up, grinning maniacally through his unkempt beard.

“Oh, so you’re Butterfly’s friend’s papa! Didn’t realize you were coming over! Have a seat over here, don’t be shy!”

Ethan was taken aback. This wasn’t the grouchy old man he’d been anticipating - he’d thoroughly expected to exchange a few manly grunts with him before retreating home to nurse a bottle of merlot and feel like he’d been chastised by his peepaw.

“Come on, come on, don’t got all day.”

Ah. There it was.

Ethan squeezed himself through the mess until he found a blessedly semi-clear space, complete with workbench and a couple of metal chairs. He could see now that the man had been working deep in an old car’s engine, and a pretty one at that. He couldn’t quite discern the make and model - a Firebird, perhaps? - but even in the low light he could see the cherry red paint, dashboard hula girl and goofy, fuzzy dice hanging in the rearview mirror. Ethan may not have been a big car guy but he knew a man’s baby when he saw one.

Lottie’s father leaned against the hood, arms crossed over a Def Leppard t-shirt that had seen better days, the print faded so much as to be near unrecognizable. Ethan sat down awkwardly in front of the workbench, charmed to see that in addition to the scattered blueprints and scribbled notes, there was an abundance of crayon drawings done no doubt by Lottie and pictures of her pinned everywhere on the corkboard hanging overhead. There were a couple of photos of him and his wife together, a couple magazine cutouts of antique vehicles, but to see this stereotypical looking man’s man dominate his space with pictures of and done by an 11 year old girl was strangely endearing.

“So,” the mechanic purred, “Lottie’s told me your girl and her are pals. Which means you and I have some bonding to do.”

“I guess so,” Ethan laughed, still somewhat wary. “I’m Ethan Winters. Rose is my daughter - we just moved here from the city a few months ago.”

“Heisenberg,” the man waved a hand, almost sounding bored. “Karl Heisenberg. I’m the poor asshole everyone around here calls when their shit breaks.”

“Yeah, Kris told me that you were a mechanic. I hope this isn’t presumptuous, but I’d love for you to take a look at my SUV when you have a chance - it started making this weird clunking noise when we were halfway through moving.”

“You met my wife?”

“I did, she–”

“Don’t get any ideas.”

Ethan laughed. Karl did not. This man is insane.

“I– uh, I wasn’t planning on it,” Ethan cleared his throat. He was frantically looking around now for the quickest exit, lest he end up on this week’s latest unexplained disappearance crime report. “We met up at school when the girls were out and we exchanged phone numbers just so we could coordinate play dates. I’m happily married myself, I assure you.”

At last, the mechanic’s serious face broke into a grin again.  “ Hah! Look at your face. Oh, calm down - I’m just yankin’ your leg. I know you’re not here for any nefarious purposes. You’d be pig slop in seconds if  you ever tried anything.” Ethan did not want to know what that meant. “You want a beer, Winters?”

Jesus, yes. Ethan nodded. “That would be great, thanks… Karl.”

Karl handed him an open, half drunk can of PBR that was sitting on a nearby stool. He fished around in the broken fridge Lottie had mentioned earlier, helping himself to a fresh one. Ethan stared at the can in his hand, wondering privately when the cast from Punked! was going to burst through the door.

“Yeah, my Lottie said your Rose was having problems with one of the local asshole kids,” Karl said thoughtfully, as if what he’d just done wasn’t incredibly bizarre and off-putting. “What’s her name, Alice? Always thought that kid was a dick. I’ve taught Butterfly from the day she could talk to hit first, ask questions later. Might not be the popular parenting technique these days, but I don’t want her ever taking shit from someone who she wouldn’t go to for advice. Sounds like your kid’s been having some problems.”

Ethan thumbed the beer tab, unsure of how much he wanted to disclose to this relative stranger. “We’ve had to move a few times because of her mom’s job,” he explained. “It’s been hard on her. I worry. This is the first time Rosie’s had a friend last more than a few weeks.”

Karl raised an eyebrow. “Lottie’s a good kid. She ain’t gonna give your precious Rose grief unless she deserves it. By the way, what’s the deal? She stayin’ overnight or what?”

“It’s a Tuesday,” Ethan blinked. “School night? I wasn’t planning on it. Kris– uh, your wife said she’d give them dinner and then I was gonna come back around 7:30. If that’s alright?”

“Fine fine,” Karl took a swig from his can before swaggering over to an open toolbox, fishing through a massive selection of nuts and bolts. “Tuesday’s our movie night. Just wanted to make sure you’re not gonna be throwing off my plans. I’ve been working on this new popcorn machine prototype - those assholes at the patent office never appreciate my genius - that’s shaped like a dragon. It breathes popcorn out of its mouth like fire - fuckin’ sick, Winters. I think I fixed a little bug it had where it would, ah, also spew boiling hot butter into your face at the same time. Shame, that. Just because of a little thing like third degree burns, innovation stagnates.”

“Why.” Ethan stared. “Why… would someone want that?”

“Why wouldn’t they?” Karl snarled, clearly offended. “You haven’t touched your drink I gave you, by the way.”

Ethan really needed to leave - Mia was probably wondering where on earth he was. He felt like he’d been hit by a bus, in all honesty. He’d gone from ecstatic to hear of Rose’s new friendship, to somewhat worried at her going to a new place, to simultaneously terrified and fascinated to meet the people he’d likely have to make nice with for his daughter’s sake. He wasn’t about to jeopardize the first good thing in her life in what felt like eternity, but he also had zero desire to spend any more time than necessary with this bizarre man he was getting extreme stoner uncle with a criminal history vibes from.

Mercifully, the tension was broken by an excited, high-pitched voice from outside.

“Papa! Look what Rose showed me!”

Lottie zipped through the maze of the garage with practiced ease, not paying any mind to Ethan. Karl’s face morphed from suspicious irritation to soft delight so quickly that it seemed like an entirely different man was standing in the room now, casting aside his drink to intercept his daughter and hoist her up into an affectionate embrace. Lottie shoved an item that Ethan recognized to be Rose’s small, engraved knife - a gift from Chris, one that had been entirely unnecessary but remained a prized possession nevertheless - into his face.

“Ah, she just has that in case of emergencies–” Ethan felt the need to explain, lest he look like a maniac in front of the actual maniac. He didn’t necessarily like that his daughter carried it around, but he also didn’t love the idea of her being completely unarmed in case of an emergent situation. His own life experiences had taught him that preparedness was far preferable to playing it safe, even if it wasn’t the way things should be.

“Fuckin’ cool,” Karl grinned like a madman again. “Too bad Mama won’t let you have one, huh? I’ll keep workin’ at her - don’t worry. Looks like plain old Ethan is more exciting than we thought.”

“Plain?” Ethan stammered.

Rosemary appeared at last, casting her father a hesitant smile. “We weren’t doing anything weird, I promise. Mrs. Heisenberg sent us outside because she uhm, she said she wanted to make sure Lottie’s dad wasn’t ‘terrorizing’ you.”

Karl feigned a look of hurt. “I can’t believe she’d ever believe me capable of such a thing! Oh, well. Never fear, Rose - your dad was just leaving, wasn’t he? And in one piece at that. You can assure the missus that nothing bad happened. We’re bros now, right? Ethan? Bros?”

“Papa,” Lottie rolled her eyes.

“We are not bros,” Ethan answered far, far too quickly. “Ah. Not yet.” Please god, not ever. “But, yes, I was just leaving. Thank you for looking after Rose. I’ll be back in a few hours. Unless you want to be picked up early?” He tried not to look too desperate while he waited for his daughter’s response.

“No, I’m good staying for dinner!” Rose rocked on her heels anxiously. “C’mon, Lottie, we better finish that science project so we can get to Mario Kart.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Lottie groaned, resigned. “Papa, will you play with us later? When you’re done?”

Karl smirked, setting her down and giving a fiendish wink. “Only if you kids want your asses kicked.”

“Papa, you’ve literally never won–”

“Bye, girls!” he hummed happily. “Better get some practice in if you wanna have a prayer!”

The daughters exchanged a look before giggling at some secret joke and sprinting off again, leaving the two men in awkward silence again. Ethan stood, trying to think of a decent way to bid Karl farewell without expressing just how deranged he’d found this whole encounter. Fortunately for him, the mechanic spoke first, in a tone that seemed wholly different from their earlier interactions.

“They’re the best, huh? Those little girls. I’d raze a whole village to the ground if Lottie asked me to.”

Ethan blinked, taken aback. “I’d do the same for Rose,” he said without hesitation.

Karl looked back at him, oddly thoughtful for just long enough to be unnerving, before the demented sparkle returned to his eyes.

“So, anyway. When you come back to pick her up later, there’s this toaster I’ve been trying to modify that I want you to look at. To get the “every man” perspective or whatever. Ignore the fact that it sometimes talks about wondering if it has a soul or whatever, I’ll patch that out.”

“Oh, well see,” Ethan began walking back to his car at an unashamedly brisk pace. “Rose has a doctor’s appointment in the morning and I really shouldn’t linger. In fact, it might be my wife who comes and picks her up depending on how the yard work I’ve got piling up goes. But next time!”

Please let ‘next time’ be Rose’s graduation and no sooner.

“Winters! Hey! Get back here - ah, fuck you too. I’ll get your address from your wife and bring it over this weekend if tonight isn’t good! Are you even listening to me–”

Ethan Winters had never received a speeding ticket in his life. But as he peeled out of the Heisenberg driveway, still clutching the half full beer can, he wondered if it wouldn’t be worth it to put as much distance between himself and that strange man as humanly possible.

“Whatever,” he finally exhaled when he saw the dim glow of the main body of town coming into view. “He’ll probably forget all about me after a day or two. It’ll be fine. This is for Rose, after all. I can handle Lottie’s upsetting dad if it benefits her. What’s the worst that could happen?”

We’re bros now, right?

Ethan downed the rest of the drink once he was safely back in his own garage. It was going to be a long, long school year.

[gavillain]

Hihi! I love your writing, and your Maleficent writing tips are quite helpful! Do you have any tips on writing the Evil Queen as well?

Thank you so much! And sure, off the top of my head...

Much like Maleficent, you have to contextualize her as a character written for a mainstream audience in the 1930's so her speech shouldn't be too archaic or too modern and she's not really the type to use a ton of purple prose that young people wouldn't understand.

The biggest thing to understand about Grimhilde is that she has two distinct personalities, and they don't/shouldn't blend unless you're specifically doing something intentional with her character to where they would. You have the regal and elegant queen, and you have the sadistic and over the top witch.

As the queen, you're going to want to have a very controlled and poised persona. Every detail and every word is carefully chosen to put forth an image of being the Fairest One of All and the fearsome queen of the kingdom. She's slightly softspoken, but she's firm and commanding with assertive presence to every line. This is not a woman who can be argued with. She tends not to show her emotions very much on the surface, and usually when she emotes, it's in her eyes (particularly rage).

The witch form, on the other hand, is loud, over the top, hammy, and cackling. She has a dark and sadistic sense of humor, and she shows all of her emotions very physically and viscerally whether that's fury or wicked glee. Her speech is a lot less refined as well; she speaks more like a commoner with more colloquialism endemic to the time of the film ("I'll fix ya!"). Basically think of her as Grimhilde letting loose in contrast to the queen being very tailored and specific.

She's not insecure, she's not jealous of Snow White, she's prideful. There's a difference. She believes herself to be the greatest thing in history, and Snow White is a rival to that. She DETESTS a rival. She also does not care if there are alternate ways to deal with the situation. If someone rivals her, she wants them dead for the insolence of opposing her, intentionally or not.

This woman is obsessive and myopic - when she wants something, she laser focuses on it and will stop at nothing to get it done. The things that she prioritizes (mainly being the Fairest One of All) are all that matters to her. She's not one for distractions or for having her fingers in multiple pies at once.

She's also one of the cruelest and darkest Disney Villains. She will take things to any murderous length that she deems necessary, and woe to anyone who earns her wrath!

Magic wise, in the actual film we really only see her working with potions, but she has numerous books on spellcraft. Plus in the Romano Scarpa tie in comics and in the Kingdom Keepers books, she has a lot more occult abilities than she uses in the movie. She's full of magic spells and witchcraft. If you want to treat her as just an alchemist based on what we see in the film, you would certainly be justified in that, but I personally think it's more holistically canon to have her possess greater dark magic than that.

[camgoloud]

🌿💝💥💌

🌿 how does creating make you feel?

oh god. well honestly i feel like it depends very strongly on what exactly it IS that i’m creating… sometimes when i’m writing a character study or an intimate moment i feel intensely vulnerable and open, which is of course both terrifying and extremely cathartic… and then sometimes when i am writing humorous scenes or Cursed Concepts i feel so evil and wicked and pleased with myself the whole time. so which emotions i'm experiencing while i’m actually in the moment of creation can really be all over the map… but of course i can say that once i’ve actually finished creating something i always feel proud of myself! even at times when the piece didn’t come together as well as i was hoping it would in the end, there’s definitely something to be said just for that pure “oh i made a WHOLE NEW THING” sense of satisfaction :)

💝 what is a fic that got a different response than you were expecting?

i’ll be honest, i really thought that Do my friends think I’m dying? (or do I just need to go to sleep?) would get about 20 hits total… i mean, it’s a recursive fanfic (inspired by the excellent good old fashioned lover boy) about an extremely minor ted lasso character with an unintelligible summary and the tags “yes I’ve written a reddit thread as a fic” “sorry except i’m not”; i was really just writing it to have a good time (and oh my god, did i have the BEST time…). but the response to it was actually quite warm, and MUCH larger than i was expecting! and not to brag lmao but i got Many compliments in the comments section about how convincing my various insufferable reddit personalities were… i guess i’ve found my calling! i’ve been meaning to write another reddit fic ever since, actually—it really was a blast

💥 find your least kudos'd fic - say something wonderful about it.

least kudos’d by raw numbers would be my most recent one, Philosophical Shifts in Teixcalaanli Xenocontact! (although i wouldn’t necessarily call it my least warmly received—the kudos-to-hits ratio on that one is actually fairly good, it’s just a very new fic for a very small fandom! but i didn’t go through and calculate K:H ratios on everything, so i’ll just talk about this one.) i think that with this fic i really nailed the voice of the narrator, three seagrass—from her speech patterns to the way she thinks about the world; her love for poetry to her partially-worked-through tendency to exoticize the foreign and the new to the detriment of everyone involved. she was a lot of fun to write and i’d love to try my hand at her again soon!

💌 share something with us about an up-and-coming work (WIP) that has you excited!

agh okay i’m always the WORST person in the world to talk to about wips because i will happily spin you elaborate tales about all the Concepts i’m currently working on and then you will just never hear about them again… but here’s a snippet from something for stranger things that I’ve been tinkering with off and on for AGES and really do hope to get finished… sometime in the next few years… i’m calling it “things that we were working on,” and em, this one goes right out to you: you know exactly what you did. <3

“Hold the phone,” Eddie interrupts, earning himself a glare and yet another eyebrow twitch, but he doesn’t even care to savor the rise he’s getting out of Higgins this time, because he is actually, genuinely desperate for an answer to the question he’s about to ask. “You’re telling me Steve Harrington is gonna be here? In detention?” This day really is just shaping up to be something else, isn’t it. Steve Harrington in detention? Hell had better not have frozen over yet; Eddie hates the fucking cold. “What’d he do?” 

Or, probably more accurately: what’d he do that they didn’t let him just get away with this time?

[fic writing asks here!]

[wickedlyqueer]

i've been thinking of starting the wicked novels. have you read all 4 novels? are they worth the read?

I have read all 4 novels, yes. And whether they are worth it or not... heavily depends on what you want to get out of them tbh.

WHAT TO PREPARE FOR:

dense prose that clearly has its roots in post-modernism. If you're not willing to read long sentences that begin with a deep analogy for racism and end with some sort of sexual innuendo or disturbing event, this is going to be a hard read for you.

Just. So much sexual stuff. which ironically enough you can also easily read over. (The second time I picked up on it sooo much more than the first time reading it. but in my asexual defense, how tf should i have known what "dragonsnaked" meant).

Similarly to the bullet point above: you can easily read over incredibly important plot points. This is because Maguire sometimes doesn't bother to elaborate; skips years within a single sentence; and is unforgiving to the mind who wanders while reads. There's a reason my notes look like this:

No consistency in character arcs whatsoever. This isn't your average fanfic or even YA novel. Just to put it into perspective: the book is called "The Life And Times of the Wicked Witch of the West". Which is just "Elphaba's Life". But Elphaba barely focalizes (her point of view), and when she does, it's at a point in the book where she's starting to lose her goddamn mind, so there's always a sense of an "unreliable narrator". So just know going in that the politics of Oz have the center, and especially in the later books all characters start to blend together, with a similar tone of voice and sense of humor.

Maguire—bless him and may god help him—cannot write women. He tries, he really does, but anything about the women anatomy is so unappealingly written and I was not the least bit surprised to learn he's gay lmao. He also has a tendency to turn women (especially when they get older) into "waifs". When in the fourth book he describes Glinda as being sad she never got kids I wanted to scream and rip my fucking hair out. Glinda Upland of the Arduenna Clan would never want to be a mother. She'd fucking hate it. And I'll forever hold it against Maguire for ever having suggested otherwise. (He also did something similar to one of my favorite side characters in the second book; Sister Apothecaire. She gets an absolute character assassination by the fourth book).

The biggest "reveal" in book four was literally spoiled by the family tree in the beginning of the book. 🤦 so there's a built up for like 300 pages and all the while you're like "WE KNOW!! WE ALREADY KNOW!!" which made book 4 a particularly frustrating experience imo.

WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO:

Understanding fanfics and other fan work much better. A lot of fanfic is based on a mix of musical and book ("booksical"). Even minor characters like Pfannee, Shenshen, Milla, Crope & Tibbet, will make an appearance, even when a fic is more musical based. This was the reason I decided to read the books too back in the day.

Also understanding (popular) interpretations in fanfics better. Like. I tend to write Elphaba as intersex, non-binary and bisexual. That looks very out of the blue when you only have the musical's context, where Elphaba is played by mostly feminine women. But once you read the book you look at those same headcanons and go "word".

Delicious gelphie (sub)text is there, if you want to look for it. But you do have to look for it (twas written in the 90s, lads).

Very queer, actually! And not just in the sense of like "there's a lesbian couple" like we see nowadays in media, but it's just... present. This is written by a gay man, and it shows. You can see queerness popping up everywhere. There's a lot of sexuality and gender stuff going on. And even though nobody goes "I am a trans man" or whatever, you sometimes read stuff and go "that's gender dysphoria babe, idk what to tell ya"

Once you get used to Maguire's writing style... he actually can write some pretty gorgeous prose and he writes with a lot of wit. I like his sense of sharp (dark) humor.

WORLD BUILDING! I honestly just read the other three books for world building for my own fics, more than anything.

FINAL VERDICT:

I do generally recommend reading at least the first book. Especially the first half of the book is just so solid. There's a reason why "Shiz Era" is so beloved in this fandom. Easily the best chapters out of the entire series. It gives so much more backstory to the musical (and bigger Oz lore). The latter half drags on imo, but that's also kinda the point?

The other three books..... depends. I read them for my world building in my fanfics. And I honestly found the second book to be rather cathartic, because it really goes through the motions of mourning Elphaba and that's what I kinda needed after the devastating ending of the first book, but I've heard other people say book 2 was their least favorite.

Basically. If Maguire hasn't utterly broken your spirit by the first book, the other three books still have plenty of joys in them. (For instance, I fucking love Nor. and whenever Glinda shows up in the sequels, it's always the biggest joy ever!)

Usually I describe the novels as such: "I didn't enjoy reading them, but I sure am glad I've read them."

[theforgottenmcrmy]

Growing Strong Chapter 13 Update and Preview

Hi guys! I hope you guys are having/had an awesome weekend.🖤 I just wanted to hop on here really quickly to apologize for the amount of time it’s taking me to get the next chapter of Growing Strong put together. I promise I am working on it though, and as proof, I’ve put two scene excerpts from it below. I’m a little under 2/3 the way done with it (with 90% of that being written over the past 2 days), and it’s already over 12,000k words, so it’s gonna be a doozy. It’ll be divided into 3 parts, but I wanted to make sure that all of it was written and edited before I start posting any of it, so that proper connections between chapters can be made and that there aren’t any major delays for those reading it.

Thank you all for your patience, and an extra thank you to those who have continued to follow and read this story.🖤🖤🖤

“I tried to convince her to see reason once before,” Queen Alicent confessed quietly, staring blankly into the flames of the roaring fire across the room. “But I fear I was too… brazen, then. Such an oversight cost me dearly. I will not make that mistake again. There may yet be another chance to sway her to see the truth. She is a mother now, and no mother desires her children to live through times of war.”

Ah, yes. The children. Two of which had almost become collateral damage in Larys’s unyielding quest to appease his Queen. They were safe, for now, but there was no telling what would need to be done. All three of the children might still become pawns in the larger scheme of the game that he and their parents played. But what Queen Alicent did not know would not always hurt her.

Larys would protect her. He would protect her interest by ensuring that his brother and Good Sister were none the wiser about the tragic fire at Harrenhal. And, if there were any lingering suspicions, well…

Larys was no gardener. But he thought himself more than capable of pruning a few roses.

“You look well, Lord Beesbury.”

“You flatter me, my dear. I turned six and seventy earlier this year, did you know?”

“Forgive my failed memory, My Lord. If it is any consolation, you do not look it.”

Lord Lyman gasped. “My goodness, Lady Y/N. You have a dark sense of humor, I shall grant you that. I suppose the gods would prefer it if I ‘book it’, wouldn’t they?”

Time had granted you leave to forget how hard of hearing Lord Lyman truly was. Louder and more clearly, you corrected, “No, My Lord. You do not look to be six and seventy. Look.”

“’Crook’?” Lord Lyman inquired bewilderedly. He looked about the room with a disapproving look upon his face. “... Yes, I am inclined to agree. These are the proceedings of a ‘crook’.”

In front of you, you could have sworn you heard Prince Jacaerys snicker as though he had overheard your conversation. But there was no doubt Prince Daemon had overheard, and found the conversation rather amusing- his shoulders bobbing with his silent laughter gave him away.

***scenes subject to change with final edits***

TAGLIST:

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[dannythedog]

hey fam, saw your post. can you do me a sammy scenario where he and y/n are friends and he confesses that he's in love with her?

With Movies Come Confessions: Sam Kiszka x Y/N

Of course!! Thank you so much for requesting! Sorry if this is a little rough, this is the first thing I've written in years.

~

Sitting in bed just wasn't an option anymore. The gray walls of your bedroom were slowly driving you insane, reminding you slightly of a short story you read in school.

You didn't bother changing out of your leggings and tee. You simply needed to get out. Grabbing your phone and keys, you texted your best friend Sam on the way out of your apartment. He and his brothers were just the people you needed tonight.

'Hey, Sammy. I need to come over. It's an emergency.'

'What? Of course you can come over. Is everything okay?'

You giggled at his sweet concern. Sam was always so caring, it made your cheeks burn and heart flutter.

You pushed those thoughts out of your mind. He was your rockstar best friend. There wasn't room to think like that.

'I'm DYING of boredom. Be there in 15 :)'

You ignored the dings of your phone on your drive over to the Kiszka residence. It was surely Sam telling you off for scaring him like that.

As you pulled up, you were greeted with a scowling Sam through the living room window. His long brown locks fell in front of his eyes as he pouted his pink lips and shook his head. You felt your heart clench at the sight of him, butterflies arising at the fake intensity of his gaze.

"You scared me, idiot," he groaned when you waltzed through the door.

You laughed at his attitude. "But it was an emergency! I would've died if I went one more day without you guys."

"Damn right you would've. We're just the best people you know!" Josh called from the kitchen.

The clinking of bottles and the sound of the microwave led you to where the other two Kiszka boys were.

"I'm glad you could join us," Jake smiled coolly. "We were gonna get tipsy and watch movies."

"Sounds fantastic to me," you grinned, grabbing an already filled shot glass and tossing it back. The liquid burned as it went down, helping you get rid of the butterflies Sam had caused.

"Here's a bowl of popcorn, and you should just bring the bottles of liquor. We don't need to be burdened by the formalities of glasses," Josh ordered while making his way to the living room.

Sammy helped you scoop up the bottles and remaining bowls of popcorn before settling into a little nest on the loveseat. Josh had already turned on some rom-com that didn't look interesting in the slightest.

"Do you want some of my blanket?" Sam's breath fanned over your ear sending chills through your body. He had leaned in close as to not disturb his brothers.

The proximity of your faces made your own heat up. You desperately wanted to push these feelings away, but Sam was so captivating. The way his eyes were so expressive, his cheekbones caught the light perfectly giving him a pretty glow, the way he unabashedly cared for you. All of those qualities made you convinced he was out of your league. There was nothing but friendly feelings from his side.

"Sure," you nodded. He draped half of his blanket over your legs, scooting closer as he did so.

You tried to ignore the electricity coursing through you, but the way he was leaning into you made it impossible. With every brush of your fingers as you reached into your shared popcorn bowl, you grew visibly more flustered.

"Are you okay?" Sam questioned, chocolate brown eyes scanning over your face.

"Yeah, this movie is just too cute. It makes me sick," you lied. "I just kinda wish I had something like that sometimes."

Sam gazed at you quietly. You were afraid you made your feelings obvious somehow.

"Why don't you have something like that then?"

You stared at him for a moment, unsure of how to respond. He reached for your hand, gently cupping it in his own.

"You're beautiful," he started. "You're kind and fun. You have a wicked sense of humor. You're warm and you just feel like home."

Your hands began trembling, movie long forgotten by now. Did he mean these things? The pink tint on his cheeks says yes, but he was an affectionate guy. He was just trying to be a good friend.

"Thanks, Sammy," you said through an airy laugh. "But you don't need to flatter me."

"No, Y/N, I mean it. Every word. Yeah, you're my best friend and this might fuck everything up, but I want to give you everything in the movies. God, for years now I've been dying to just hold your hand or cuddle up with you at the end of the night," his eyes held truth and intensity. You felt those butterflies bubble up in your stomach once again.

"If you'd let me, I'd like to give you every ounce of love I have. I love you, Y/N."

Your heart soared at his confession. You were speechless. Sam Kiszka loved you. The same kind of love you had for him. His eyes began to dart around, nervous that your silence meant rejection.

"If you don't want that, then I understand completely. I just thought-"

You cut him off by lacing your fingers through his silky mane.

"You have no idea how badly I've wanted to hear that," you grinned, pulling Sam closer.

His fingers danced around your waist, a new nervous energy filling the air. One of uncharted territory.

His nose brushed yours. "Is it too soon to kiss you?"

You shook your head and he closed the distance. His soft lips pressed against yours gently, filled with sparks and unspoken feelings. He kept a hand planted firmly on your waist as the other travelled up to caress your cheek.

When he pulled away, you couldn't help but trail after him a bit. You were completely mesmerized by the feel of his skin on yours. A new drug to you.

"I'd love to kiss you all night, but my brothers are still in the room. I'm shocked they haven't said anything yet."

You giggled and glanced at the twins. The television had them in a trance. You cuddled into Sam's side, content for now.

"Stay the night with me?" he muttered into your hair.

You softly nodded, placing a sweet peck to his hand. "Anything to be close to you."

~

Hi!! I hope you liked it! I wasn't quite sure where this was going to go, but I think it turned out cute. Please feel free to send in more requests!!

[ingravinoveritas]

My first impulse after watching this clip was to comment how David is going to have a coughing fit when he sees this, but I remember the Doctor Who era and this man will not be easily shocked, nor flustered, when it comes to fandom and smut. Sometimes I feel like I'm one of the very few people in the fandom who know how very much not innocent and oblivious David Tennant is. So many suggestive jokes, flirting and kissing and teasing about fanfiction and different ships. He's just as much of a bastard as Michael. 🙄 We'll be having a blast during the next few years with these two, gosh.

I absolutely love, love, love what Michael said tonight, and not just for obvious reasons.

As much as I love Graham Norton and believe he is funny and quick and truly a talented interviewer, I have really come to dislike what he does with fanfic/fanart. In any number of past interviews, Graham has brought up fan works, and not only read excerpts of fanfic starring the actors he has on as guests, but shown them pieces of (often explicit) fanart drawn to look like them, too. It’s a “bit” of his that hangs on the edge of derision, not-so-subtly being condescending toward fan works and insulting the people who create them by trying to make the actors who play these roles uncomfortable, and a lot of the time, it works.

But not with Michael Sheen.

I have written on this blog before and been saying for years how much I wish the subject of fanfic would come up while Michael is on Graham’s show. Because I knew--I knew--Michael would not flinch. And like you said, Anon #2, Michael not only didn’t flinch, he brought up fanfic first, and--apropos of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING--talked about how gay it all is and actually uttered the words “me and David Tennant having sex.” I mean...you’re really going to try and embarrass the man who does that? Who openly defended fanfic right when GO first came out? Who has definitely read and/or written GO fanfic/possibly read RPF and probably has his own account on AO3 with bookmarks that I am DYING to see?

Nope. Nuh-uh. No way. Not today, Satan. Not today.

(By way of disclaimer: This does not mean I endorse sending Michael fanfic. As my good friend @daziechane pointed out, Michael may wholeheartedly approve of it, but that does not mean it’s okay to send him fic. Especially since he knows good and god damn well where to get it if he wants it. Oh, yes...)

As for David, Anon #1, I am completely with you, because David is not even remotely as innocent or oblivious as some people think or as he pretends to be. I discovered that myself a while back when I started getting more into David, and his sense of humor is completely wicked and dirty...he’s just more discreet about it (these days, at least). But all I could think of is how David would have reacted if he was with Michael on the show, and there is no doubt in my mind that he would have smiled and happily nodded along with everything Michael said, just like he always does.

Hell, I’d be willing to bet that if/when David watched Michael tonight, he texted him right after that wanting to know exactly what fanfics Michael has been reading. Or maybe they FaceTimed, just so David could see Michael’s face. I imagine their expressions would have been something like this (but more intimate and cuter because David would have his glasses on and it would be just the two of them):

There is no question that this is just the beginning. GO 2 isn’t even finished filming yet, and Michael is champing at the bit to talk about him and David having sex. I MEAN. And the best thing is that Michael and David will encourage and egg each other on with the suggestive comments and innuendo. They also did it on the first press tour, of course, but now things are so different, and Michael and David have gotten SO much closer over the past year that the press tour for GO 2 is going to make the first press tour look subtle in comparison. And I, for one, cannot wait.

I didn’t want to get my hopes up high for 2022, but to start off the year this way just feels correct, and like maybe things won’t be so shitty after all. Michael Sheen is truly the gift that keeps on giving, and we (and David Tennant) are so lucky to have him...

[vrishchikawrites]

You know what would be cathartic?

JC getting the ass whooping he deserves.

I can't get over how he gets zero repercussions for the massacre of the Wen remnants as well as torturing and murdering who knows how many people for 13/16 years... Etc. Sure after Guanyin temple we get a spark of hope that he might at least mend his ways, but then in the extras he's back to his old ways so 🤷

The only post canon I accept for him is that he finally manages to cross one line too many and someone just beats the shit out of him and wipes the floor with his mug (preferably WN or LSZ because those two are such good boys and they deserve a little violence as a treat but LWJ and WWX could get to let out some steam as well) meanwhile the rest of the cultivation world watches on like "yup he had it coming"

(this is way, way post canon but I had a vision in my head. I hope it works)

Age has done nothing to temper Jiang Wanyin's personality. He's still entirely too quick to anger, always a hair's breadth away from violence. Lan Xichen finds it distasteful but he's a Sect Leader and must maintain proper relationship with his peers.

His amiable masks strains, just a little, when his youngest nephew is pushed back by the fury of Jiang Wanyin's blade.

It was supposed to be a lesson but Xichen knows Jiang Wanyin's true motives.

Lan Zhenxing is Wangji and Wuxian's youngest child, adopted when he was discarded at the gates of Cloud Recesses as a little baby. He may as well be Wei Wuxian's natural-born son, given how much he resembles him in personality.

His uncle is very displeased but Wangji is not-so-secretly enamored. Nothing pleases him more than finding traces of his husband in their son.

The quality that Wangji adores, Jiang Wanyin detests.

Xichen has always wondered why Jiang Wanyin is so determined to remain bitter. It hurts no one but himself. Wuxian has moved on, it isn't in his brother-in-law's nature to linger in the past. Xichen has witnessed his blissful happiness first hand and is forever grateful it turned out this way.

There's no reason why Jiang Wanyin couldn't follow the same path; build his family, nurture new ties, and take the path of peace.

Now, as he watches Jiang-zongzhu pressure his little nephew, his 14-year-old baby Lan, he can't help but feel angry.

It is supposed to be a lesson, a way to correct the child's sword grip, a way to help him become lighter on his feet.

Xichen had permitted it, nudging his intimidated nephew gently.

It was a mistake.

His little nephew's face is white and eyes are wide. He is visibly terrified and there's no parent in the crowd unbothered by it. He sees several cultivators step forward with disapproving frowns. There are a few who even dare to call Jiang Wanyin's name, asking him to slow down.

The Cultivation world is very familiar with the man's temper but this is the first time they see his capacity for ruthlessness so starkly.

"Jiang Cheng," Xichen turns around to see Wei Wuxian walk forward and breathes a sigh of relief. Wangji is nowhere to be found but he assumes he's still engaged in writing a report of their most recent Nighthunt.

The differences between Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian couldn't be more stark.

Wuxian has a genial air and a youthful face. He barely looks like a father of three children, two of them already adults. Diligence and innate brilliance have allowed him to reach new heights of cultivation.

In terms of power, no one but Wangji is his match.

Jiang Wanyin, in contrast, has the look of a bitter, worn-down man. Xichen has always found it fascinating.

In Wei Wuxian, that Golden Core had thrived and shone with the brilliance of the Sun. In Jiang Wanyin, it has lost all of its lustre. It remains powerful, but nowhere near as potent as it should be.

Twenty three years ago, Wei Wuxian had gotten a weak body and a weak core. He build it up again and now he stands tall, strong, and practically glowing with the might of his spiritual prowess.

It is perhaps the person, not the core itself, that determines a cultivator's power.

Wei Wuxian steps between a furious Jiang Wanyin and his son, running a gentle hand over the boy's head to reassure him, "Go keep your A'die company, a-Xing. He's stuck with paperwork and would love a distraction."

All traces of fear have already left Zhenxing's face and he is back to his good-humored self. He bows to his father and Jiang-zongzhu cheerfully and walks away.

Wei Wuxian stares down at Jiang Wanyin with no trace of kindness on his face. The gentle father is gone, this is the Wei Wuxian his brother has carefully brought out with years of love and unceasing devotion.

Confident, self-assured, and absolutely unwilling to be anyone's victim.

"If you're angry, take it out on someone who can actually beat some sense into you, Jiang Cheng."

"Wei Wuxian!"

"Jiang Wanyin," His brother-in-law echoes mockingly, "Did you think you could harass my son and I would just let it go?"

"He's a weak if he needs your protection, even now." Jiang Wanyin says and Wuxian's expression turns frosty.

He unsheathes Suibian, "It seems like you need a sound thrashing."

Xichen coughs to conceal his laugh as Jiang Wanyin scowls furiously and rushes at Wuxian.

It is a short match. Sandu races forward and Wuxian spins out of its way, Suibian singing through the air as he cuts a shallow slash across Jiang Wanyin's chest.

The sight of blood silences everyone.

Wei Wuxian doesn't falter. It would seem everyone has forgotten just how ruthless the Yiling Laozu can really be when provoked. Wuxian presses Jiang Wanyin like the Sect Leader had pressed Lan Zhenxing. He becomes a swift, merciless, overwhelming force that has Jiang Wanyin scrambling backwards to avoid the more deadly strikes.

All the while, Wei Wuxian is calm, his lips quirked and clothes unruffled. He spins in a flurry of rich black silks and brings Suibian down with such force, Jiang Wanyin loses control of Sandu.

The sword clatters to the ground and Jiang Wanyin looks up at Wei Wuxian with fury and embarrassment.

"My son is weak, huh?"

One must wonder, Xichen thinks absently, how a man with every advantage in his corner manages to squander his potential so completely.

Jiang Wanyin is of noble birth, handsome in appearance, and posses a golden core that had immense potential.

And yet.

Xichen shakes his head as other cultivators nod in approval of Wei Wuxian, murmuring among themselves.

Apparently, no earthly advantages can overcome the faults of one's character.

"The good and righteous are always strong," His uncle says with grim satisfaction and Xichen looks at him in surprise, "Even if their bodies are weak." He thinks back on the young Wei-gongzi, back from the dead in a weak body. "The wicked and resentful are always weak." Lan Qiren starts walking away, following Wei Wuxian out of the training field, "Regardless of the power they hold."

Xichen looks back at Jiang Wanyin, who is stalking away with humiliation written on his face, ignoring the disapproving frowns aimed at his back.

What a pity.