#not really a complain just an observation

[spideysl0ve]

Hi, I was wondering if you could do "I didn't know I needed this until you came into my life." with Zoro, please? I love him soooo much!!

 . 𔘓 ؛ off from workouts nights

⇢ masterlist

⇢ writing prompts

⇢ roronoa zoro x reader.

⇢ tw: fluffff so much fluff, english isn’t my first language.

⇢ summary: "i didn’t know i needed this until you came into my life." prompt with my love zoro

the night felt different, softer, quieter, and far more serene than usual.

the hum of the ship gently rocked against the endless stretch of sea, and the stars dotted the night sky, glinting like scattered diamonds. it wasn’t often zoro let himself break from his rigid schedule, but tonight was one of those rare exceptions.

his swords rested quietly in their sheaths, untouched for hours now. instead of the harsh grind of his usual training, the night had led him here, tucked comfortably beneath warm blankets, with you nestled against him.

he shifted slightly, finding the perfect position as his body relaxed into the mattress.

your head rested lightly on his shoulder, your fingers idly tracing small patterns along the edge of his scarred chest.

the simple comfort of your touch sent waves of ease washing over him, calming nerves usually taut from relentless effort and focus. zoro had never considered himself the kind of man who needed softness or quiet to be complete, but being here with you made him realize that maybe he’d been wrong.

you let out a content sigh, your warmth radiating against him.

“you comfortable?” you murmured softly, your voice low and sweet in the stillness of the night.

he hummed in response, pulling you just a little closer.

“yeah,” he said simply, though the weight behind that single word carried so much more. comfortable wasn’t quite the right term, it was deeper than that.

there was something grounding, something utterly complete about having you here beside him, a kind of peace he hadn’t known he needed until it was already filling the cracks he’d ignored for so long.

your fingers stilled for a moment as you tilted your head up to look at him. the moonlight streaming in through the window highlighted the relaxed set of his features, his usual scowl softened, his lips just barely curved into what could almost be a smile.

“you seem more at ease than usual,” you observed quietly.

he exhaled slowly, a sound of agreement mixed with thought.

“it’s weird,” he admitted, his voice a low rumble.

“i didn’t think… i didn’t know i needed this. not until you came into my life” he mumbled.

the confession hung in the air between you, raw , honest.

zoro wasn’t one for elaborate words, nor did he hand out pieces of his heart easily. but when he spoke, there was always weight behind it, truth that cut through everything else. you knew how much this meant coming from him.

your heart softened, and a gentle smile tugged at your lips.

“i’m glad i could be here for you,” you whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his shoulder. “you deserve moments like this, you know? time to just breathe.”

his arm tightened around you, his hand coming up to brush lightly against your arm.

“don’t really know what i did to deserve you,” he murmured, almost to himself. “but i’m not letting go.”

“good,” you replied, your voice full of warmth. “because you’re stuck with me now.”

“not complaining” he chuckled lowly, the sound rare and genuine.

the room fell into a peaceful silence, the only sounds the gentle sway of the ship and your synchronized breathing.

zoro closed his eyes, letting himself sink fully into the comfort of the moment, his body, and mind at rest in a way they hadn’t been in years. this was a different kind of strength.

being with you, trusting in this quiet bond that wrapped around his heart.

“you know,” you teased gently after a moment, “this could be a regular thing. you don’t always have to push yourself so hard.”

“we’ll see,” he smirked, his usual stubbornness peeking through. but there was a softness there too, a willingness to consider it, even if just for you.

you smiled, knowing change might come slowly, but it would come. because even though zoro was strong enough to carry the weight of the world on his back, he was learning that sharing that weight with you made the load easier to bear.

and that, perhaps, was the greatest strength of all.

taglist: @remasjoestar @anamiad00msday @rotin0 @moon4lust @elitesanjisimp @dreamcastgirl99 @acehasmyheart @colourfullgardenerduck

be added to my taglist

[cosmerelists]

If Cosmere Characters Starred in Procedural TV Shows...

In a development that is surely not at all indicative of my mental health, I have been watching a LOT of 2000s style "special-est guy" procedurals. You know, like Psych or White Collar or Bones...those shows where Some Guy with a Special Talent or Quirk helps the police (or FBI or whatever) solve crimes. So in this list, let's talk about the Cosmere version of those procedurals.

1. Psych: Starring Renarin & Rlain

In Psych, Shawn Spencer pretends that he is psychic to cover up the fact that he's just hyper-observant and wants to solve crimes. In the Cosmere-version of Psych it's...pretty much the opposite. Renarin must hide the fact that he actually can see the future, and so he pretends that he's solving crimes through totally natural and normal detective means when really he is having visions. Rlain is his best friend who is helping him in his capers and coverups.

2. Bones: Starring Jasnah and Dalinar

In Bones, Dr. Brennan's extensive knowledge of forensic anthropology allows her to help the FBI solve murders. In the Cosmere version, it would be Jasnah's historical knowledge that is somehow endlessly relevant in for Dalinar's crime solving. Think of him bringing her into his vision that one time to figure out what part of history they were in. It would be like that, 22 episodes a season.

3. Grimm: Starring Vin and TenSoon

In Grimm, Nick discovers that he has magical grimm powers and now he can see monsters and solve monster-related crimes. In later episodes of the show, this sadly devolves into him mostly killing monsters, but that's a gripe for another blog. Vin is also someone who woke up one day to realize that she had magic powers in her blood and that there was a whole world out there, and she also fights monsters. Or, in this version, solves crimes involving them. Also Nick's partner was Monroe, a blutbad (basically werewolf), and Vin also has a dog-coded sidekick, TenSoon.

4. Burn Notice: Starring Nomad, Hoid, and Rebeke

In Burn Notice, Michael Western is a former operative who gets "burned," meaning he's cut off from his spy agency and left to fend for himself. Instead, he uses his spy knowledge to...well, not solve crimes, actually, but at least solve problems. And yes, I use Nomad here in part because he's on a world where you have to run constantly from the sun to avoid being burned, so it's funny, but also because it fits. In this version, Nomad must use the skills and knowledge he developed in his past role as [spoilers redacted], alongside a slightly untrustworthy, Hawaiian-shirt wearing, not-played-by-Bruce-Campbell-in-this-version Hoid. Rebeke can be Fiona, although she's slightly less prone to explosions.

5. White Collar: Starring Shallan and Adolin

In White Collar, Neal Caffrey is a con artist turned FBI informant who goes undercover every episode to use his con artist knowledge to solve crimes for the FBI. In this version, Shallan uses her lightweaving to go undercover every episode to help Adolin, who I guess is in the Rosharan FBI, solve crimes. My wife complained that in this version there's no obvious OT3, so I guess Adolin is married to Kaladin or something to make it work.

6. Alternative White Collar: Starring Shai and Gaotona

I also like the idea of it being Shai who is Neal--since she is captured and then forced to use her powers to help the government, ala Neal on his work release program. Only in this case, Shai would somehow use her Forgery powers every week to solve crimes alongside her handler, who I guess is Gaotona in this version.

7. Lucifer: Starring Kelsier

In Lucifer, the title character is, well, the devil, who's moved to LA and also helps solves crimes (man, there's a lot of these shows!). And Kelsier is a guy who crawled up out of the Pits of Hell--I mean, Hathsin and, in this version, proceeds to go back to the city and solve crimes I guess! I'm not sure who should play the non-devil-believing detective, though--any ideas?

8. Lie to Me: Starring Eshonai and Venli

In Lie to Me, there's like...a lab, I think? That studies micro-expressions, which are things that people can't hide and which reveal the truth of what they're saying. I like the idea that there are, like, micro-rhythms that even humans can't control, and so Eshonai and Venli are able to work as investigators solving murders using their...micro-rhythm lab, I guess.

9. House: Starring Lirin

House is a Sherlock Holmes adaptation where Holmes is an asshole doctor with chronic pain and a drug problem who solves really complicated medical cases. Now, Lirin is nothing like House (aside from being a bit grumpy sometimes), but I still want the adaptation where he moves into Urithiru and then solves super complicated medical cases that the Radiant healers can't handle for some reason.

10. Dexter: Starring Lessie and Wax

In Dexter, the title character is a serial killer who works for the cops as a blood splatter analyst and spends his free time hunting down criminals so that he can murder them. And, well, Lessie is a serial killer who helps Wax solves crimes, so it's kinda the same thing! Only I guess the serial killing happening after the crime-solving in the real Cosmere timeline...so in this version we'd need to have Lessie get into serial killing early so she's doing it while also helping Wax solve crimes.

11. Castle: Starring Ellista

In Castle, a mystery novelist named Richard Castle helps the police department solve crimes. Now, Ellista is not a novelist. Nor does she even read mysteries. But I like the idea of her romance-novel knowledge somehow coming in clutch in a series of romance-novel-related crimes that only she can solve. Tell me you wouldn't watch that.

12. iZombie: Starring Raoden and Galladon

In iZombie, Liv is a well, zombie, who gets visions when she eats brains and uses that power to help solve murders. I know Raoden is not a brain-eating zombie, but I couldn't pass up our one zombie character. So this show would take place in Elantris, where Raoden and Galladon (who spend a lot more time there, as zombies) solve crimes.

13. Angel: Starring Painter

Angel is a Buffy spinoff where the vampire Angel moves to LA and broodingly solves monster crimes while brooding. Painter is not a vampire, but he does like to linger in the shadows and he does fight nightmares...and much like the titular Angel, he's way more of a dork than he'd like you to believe. There's even a body swapping episode in Angel!

14. Pushing Daisies: Starring Endowment, Vasher, and Vivenna

In Pushing Daisies, there's a piemaker who can bring back the dead with a touch--but only for a minute (or else someone else has to die). Ned uses this power to temporarily bring back murder victims to, you guessed it, solve crimes, alongside his childhood sweetheart Chuck and his detective partner Emerson. Now, there one character who can temporarily bring the dead back to life--but if they want it to be permanent they have to steal "life" from others. And that's Endowment. Imagine if she decided to use her Returned powers to solve crimes! Now cast Vasher as the grumpy detective and Vivenna as...Endowment's love interest? I think it works.

[multiheadcanons]

MERCS AND LOVE. IM STILL FEELING TENDER

scout: it’s a fact when he says it. grass grows, birds fly, sun shines, and brotha? he loves you. there’s no room for questioning it. he’s got your back for the rest of his life. he will always want to be around you if he’s not running around. you get his absolute worst jokes. the shit that is genuinely so unfunny. and you get to watch him laugh at it. puts his hand in your pockets. gives you a strange look when you’re alone. relaxed, yet full of thoughts. thoughts neither of you are actually sure if he’s having. unyielding eye contact. he’s observing you. watching what you do. taking you in and processing you. then he looks away and presses closer. he’s your guy for as long as you want him.

soldier: he always waits to give approval after he’s done kicking your ass for something. same thing goes with his love. you’re gonna get chewed the fuck out for something that seems so insignificant and then he’ll add “i love you though” as the bookend. leaves you shocked. good hugs. respects your physical boundaries a little more. takes the time to ask. kinda roughly side hugs you while he brags about you. even on his worst days, when everyone got their asses handed to them. if you did your best today that’s worth celebrating to him.

pyro: hugs. gifts. more hugs. cards. another gift but this time the bag is different. another card but this time absolutely doused in glitter. hand holding as you have a staring contest with the gas mask. nobody says anything. muffled laughter as you finally look away in confusion and they scurry off. stuffed animals officially banished from the bed. that’s your spot now. they will genuinely tweak the fuck out (in a good way) if you actually accept the spot on the bed. they can’t even sleep there anymore. they’re freaking out. can’t even process occupying the same space as you. they’re just so happy you’re comfortable with them. they’ll end up refusing to get in the bed altogether so you can stay there. they’re happy on the floor, even. just don’t move from there.

demo: loud, drunk, messy proclamations. yells it to whoever is in the room and has ears. he says he loves you pretty quickly. he makes his mind up like that. makes time for you more than he would ever consider you wanting from him. he will be a little upset if you ask him to back off. even if you’re really nice when you ask. he just wants to touch and hold you. and he’ll drunkenly tell you that. floored when you enter a room. takes a second to compose himself. a much more tactful man sober. and much better at courting. still will say he loves you on the second date, but in a better way than blurting it out.

engineer: he isn’t one to say “i love you”. hell, he hardly tells the people around him he likes them. you’re either good with engie or you don’t know the man. but when he’s feeling tender, he’ll lean in when you speak. put an arm around your waist. he’ll speak quietly so you have to lean in, and if you get close enough he gets flustered. his hands get real twitchy. they’ll brush against yours once, twice, four, six times in a sitting, and he won’t say anything about it. he might apologize, even, after the third time. but he is really, really hoping you grab his hand. offers you the seat next to his. offers you beer. asks if you need anything. can he get you anything? is there something he can grab for you? are you sure? it’s no issue he can just go grab you something— it goes on until he’s calm enough to return to your side.

heavy: once you’ve shown heavy you don’t need someone taking care of you all of a sudden that’s all he wants to do. make you meals, get you up for the day, get you to bed at a decent time. and if you argue or complain, he will respond with this is what he does. he sees where you lack and picks up there. he asks about whether you’ve been keeping up with your hobbies. working towards your goals. he asks what’s stopping you. asks whether you’re still feeling that ache under your left shoulder blade. asks if he could work on it for you. his cheeks are just slightly pink if you’re in the room. he will take personal offense if you really don’t like how he keeps up with you. but he will try to change nonetheless. for you. he will laugh at your jokes so loudly. even when they’re not funny. will rest his head on top of yours. likes the smell of your shampoo. crushing hugs. you will never be cold again. ever. takes years before you meet his family.

medic: he’s so vocal about it. it’s almost sickening how many times he’ll just say it when you’re in the room. “oooo, i like you!” “have i told you how much i like you?” and he will continue like that (unless you tell him you hate him, and frankly, even if you did say you hate him that will only make him more interested in what you have going on because he’s psychotic, a literal nutcase. he will wear you down in any way imaginable momentarily stopping short of actually torturing you into stockholm syndrome, but maybe don’t see how far he’s willing to take it to get you if he decides he wants you) until he is swept up in the heat of a moment. and frankly, with the doctor, any moment can become a heated moment, and he’s gonna plant a big fat wet, probably bloody kiss on you. it will be messy. it will be frantic. he will be handsy. and then he will pull away. that’s like your one chance to be like “no thanks” with no negative consequences. otherwise he will walk off, with the widest smile on his face. very pleased with himself. if you approach him after that his smile is predatory. he is absolutely praying you’ve come back for more. kindly turning him down at this point might actually shatter his ego. but he will not show it. though he may never go out of his way to speak to you again.

snipes: you are with him now. you don’t leave his sights. ever. even when you think you are not in his sights you actually still are. he’s about 200 feet due west, watching you enjoy your day. everyone would feel less weird about this if you invited him with you everywhere forever. he will want to follow you like a dog. he’d follow you into the depths of hell. he’d follow you into open gunfire. he’d follow you to the bottom of the ocean with an inflatable vest to float you both to the top. he’d do your taxes if you asked him. wouldn’t be easy, but he’d do it if you asked him to. always playing with your fingers, or in your hair when you’re alone. but really, he just stares at you. he can’t help it. well, he doesn’t make an active attempt to help it either. if you catch him though, on the days he’s “letting you do your own thing”, staring at you through his scope, give him a wave. you will stop him dead he will die. he’ll let you take the bed in the van if you ask for it. still won’t let you wear his hat. but if he happened to catch you sneaking it on he would not complain at all. gets so flustered and blushes so easily.

spy: if spy actually loves you, like loves you to the point that he’s dedicated to you and wants to be with you and trusts you, he’s laying it on thick. you’ve got like three scheduled dates with him in the week alone. granted one of those dates is actually a job… and you won’t see him much because he’ll be working. but he wants you there as a getaway driver. and if you both do well, the heightened energy from him is addicting. he’s screeching laughter; and a little heavy on the handling; filling you in on what you missed inside; making grand statements about the team you two make. then he takes you to dinner. he really does his best to make every day feel like a fairytale… or a great action movie with a strong romantic subplot. it’s so hard for him to find people he could actually see being in his life forever, it takes a lot of effort to overcome his walls. a gentle biter. just likes feeling you squirm because of him. he is never dull, and life is never boring with him.

[writingsoftarnishedsilver]

Playing for Keeps | Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Chapter 2

Words: ~5,300

Tags: Modern AU, Reader Insert, Seventh Year, Female MC, No Y/N, Slytherin MC, Enemies to Lovers, Trope-y, Slow Burn, Humor, Coming of Age, High School Drama

The faint light of dawn filtered through the emerald curtains of your bed in the Slytherin dormitory, casting muted shadows across the stone walls. You blinked, disoriented for a moment before remembering: Hogwarts. Your first night in Slytherin had been fine���overwhelming, but manageable.

The dormitory was more extravagant than expected, its arched ceilings and serpentine décor exuding an eerie elegance. The soft green glow from the enchanted windows overlooking the Black Lake gave the room an otherworldly atmosphere you were still adjusting to. Thankfully, you already had Imelda, whose blunt humor and confidence were comforting, as well as Grace and Nerida, who’d stood by you earlier when Sebastian had been insufferable.

Of course, there were others.

Violet McDowell introduced herself first, her polished demeanor and neatly tied hair making it clear she came from an old wizarding family. “So, what’s Beauxbatons really like? Is it as uptight as everyone says?” she asked, her tone almost challenging.

Before you could respond, a petite girl with chin-length curls and bright eyes chimed in. “I’ve heard their students dance everywhere instead of walking. Is that true?” Clara Vane, bubbly and chatty, seemed more interested in myths about Beauxbatons than the actual answer.

Ethel Prescott, quieter but no less curious, had glanced up from her spellbook just long enough to add, “Do they really care that much about posture, or is that just Witch Weekly nonsense?”

The questions came in waves: Was perfect penmanship enforced? Could you actually speak French? Croissants or pumpkin pasties?

Later, the common room was no less daunting. More Slytherins introduced themselves, their names and faces blending together in a blur: Marcus Flint, Ava Vaisey, Natalia Gardner, Quincy Lloyd. Each seemed more self-assured than the last.

Still, you were grateful for Imelda and Ominis. Imelda’s sharp wit and unapologetic presence acted as a shield, while Ominis’s smooth interjections subtly steered conversations away from anything too intrusive. Between them, the chaos of your first night felt just a little less overwhelming.

You were thankful they were both already at the table when you entered The Great Hall for breakfast, the hum of conversation mingling with the clatter of silverware. You slid into the seat beside Imelda, who was already halfway through a plate of toast and bacon.

“You look like you didn’t sleep,” she observed, not bothering to pause mid-bite.

“Thanks for the reassurance,” you said dryly, pouring yourself a cup of tea. “I’m fine. Just adjusting.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it,” Imelda said with a shrug. “Or you won’t, and you’ll spend the whole year complaining. Either way, you’ll survive.”

Your lips twitched in reluctant amusement.

Across the table, Ominis glanced up from his copy of The Daily Prophet. “First class is Defense Against the Dark Arts,” he said, his tone polite but matter-of-fact. “It’s with Professor Hecat. She can be... something.”

“Something?” you asked, curious.

“You’ll see,” Ominis replied cryptically before turning back to his paper.

Imelda grinned, clearly enjoying your curiosity. “Hecat’s a hardass,” she said. “But if you’re good, she’ll respect you. If you’re bad, well…” She trailed off with a wicked smirk.

“Sounds promising,” you muttered, taking a sip of tea.

Imelda shrugged, popping a piece of bacon into her mouth. “Hecat doesn’t coddle, that’s for sure. You’ll either love her or hate her by the end of the week. No in-between.”

Ominis lowered his paper slightly, his pale eyes flicking toward you. “She values precision and discipline. If you’ve got those, you’ll manage.”

“Good to know,” you said, feeling a small flicker of relief. If there was one thing Beauxbatons had drilled into its students, it was discipline. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Imelda tilted her head, studying you as if trying to gauge your confidence. “You’ll be fine,” she said finally, nudging your arm. “Just don’t let her catch you daydreaming or slacking off. She’s got eyes like a hawk.”

“Duly noted,” you replied, though your thoughts were already wandering as your gaze drifted across the Great Hall.

The morning sunlight streamed through the enchanted ceiling, casting warm golden hues over the long tables and filling the room with an energy that felt almost tangible. Conversations ebbed and flowed, bursts of laughter punctuating the steady hum of activity. You spotted a few familiar faces at the Slytherin table, but there were dozens more you didn’t recognize, their faces blurring together in a sea of green and silver robes.

Your eyes swept across the other tables, where students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff mingled in their own lively clusters. The sheer number of them was overwhelming. After six years at Beauxbatons, where you’d known nearly everyone by name, Hogwarts felt like an endless sea of unfamiliar faces, each with their own stories and alliances. It left you feeling adrift, like a visitor who hadn’t quite found her footing.

And then, across the room, your gaze caught on a familiar shock of red hair.

Garreth Weasley sat at the Gryffindor table, his easy grin lighting up his freckled face as he animatedly recounted a story. The girls beside him—Cressida among them—listened with rapt attention, laughing at his punchlines. He leaned in closer, hands gesturing broadly, clearly basking in the attention.

To his left, Leander Prewett lounged in stark contrast, his chair tipped back at a perfect angle that somehow didn’t upset the impeccable press of his robes. Not a crease marred the fabric, and his hair, combed with meticulous precision, caught the light as if it had been styled moments ago. He sipped casually from his goblet, his gaze flicking toward Garreth now and then, a smirk playing at his lips like he was waiting for just the right moment to interrupt—or outshine—the scene.

When Leander’s eyes landed on you, the smirk shifted, softening into something warmer, more playful. He tilted his goblet in your direction—a subtle gesture of acknowledgment—before turning back to Garreth, leaning closer like the two were conspiring about something.

Imelda, ever observant, caught the exchange and smirked. “Looks like Prewett’s already taken a shine to you.”

You felt heat rise to your cheeks and quickly looked down at your tea. “I doubt it,” you said, trying to sound dismissive. “Bu um… Am I allowed to go over there, or... is there some kind of unwritten rule about Slytherins and Gryffindors fraternizing?”

Imelda chuckled, leaning back in her seat with an air of amusement. “Allowed? It’s not like you’re sneaking into their common room. Unless it’s a formal meal, you can sit wherever you want, Chouette.”

Ominis lowered his paper slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching with a faint smile. “The rivalry is overstated,” he said smoothly. “Mostly about Quidditch and family legacies. It’s not as though there’s a ban friendship and conversation between houses.”

“Conversation, no,” Imelda added with a smirk. “But someone might throw a roll at you if you bring up Quidditch stats. Just don’t start a fight over breakfast.”

“So… you wouldn’t mind if I went to say hi?” you asked cautiously, your fingers fidgeting with the handle of your teacup.

Imelda waved a hand lazily. “Why would we care? Go on. Socialize.”

Ominis tilted his head, the faintest flicker of a smirk tugging at his lips. “But do be careful. If Garreth ropes you into one of his brilliant ideas, you’ll end up spending your first class in the hospital wing.”

Imelda snickered at that, but you ignored her, carefully picking up your tea and rising from your seat. With a small nod of acknowledgment to the pair, you turned toward the Gryffindor table, your heart beating a little faster as you crossed the room.

“Hi,” you said, your voice slightly breathless as you stopped near the edge of the Gryffindor group.

Garreth’s head shot up, his freckled face breaking into an immediate grin. “Chouette! Fancy seeing you over here.”

The girls beside him looked up as well. Cressida smiled warmly, scooting over to make room. “Garreth mentioned you,” she said kindly. “Join us!"

“I’m Natty,” The other girl added, her lilting accent kind. “It’s lovely to meet you. Sit down!”

You hesitated, glancing briefly at Leander sitting across from them. He offered you a polite, easy smile.

“I’m Leander Prewett,” he said, his voice smooth as he extended a hand. “You must be the famous Chouette.”

The nickname coming from a stranger made you falter for a moment, but his expression was open and friendly. You shook his hand briefly. “That’s me,” you said, sliding onto the bench next to Cressida. “Nice to meet you, Leander.”

“Likewise,” he said, leaning back slightly. “Weasley’s been talking about you nonstop since last night.”

“Really?” you asked, raising an eyebrow as you turned to Garreth.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Garreth said with a laugh, spreading his hands in mock defense. “After Natty, you're the only other new student we've ever had in our year.”

“It’s true,” Leander chimed in, leaning back slightly with an easy grin. “You’re something of a novelty, Chouette. Fresh blood in a group that’s been together since we were eleven? Naturally, everyone’s curious.”

“Curious, sure,” Natty said with a smirk, her tone teasing as she glanced at Leander. “Some more than others.”

Leander shot her a playful glare, his grin unwavering. “I’m just being friendly.”

“Right,” Cressida said, dragging the word out as she exchanged a knowing look with Natty. “Friendly.”

You felt your cheeks warm as the group’s attention lingered on you, and you quickly looked down at your teacup. “I didn’t realize I was such a big deal.”

“Modest, too,” Garreth said, grinning. “Anyway, don’t worry. Hogwarts has a way of making people feel right at home—sometimes a little too much.”

Cressida nodded, her expression softening. “Give it a few weeks, and it’ll be like you’ve always been here.”

“Hopefully,” you said, smiling faintly. The warmth in their words eased some of the tension in your chest, though the weight of being the new face in a tightly knit group still lingered at the edges of your mind.

“Chouette is such an interesting nickname," Natty said, turning to you with a curious expression. "Where does it come from?”

“Oh,” you you laughed awkwardly. “It’s something Imelda started calling me when we were kids. I wrote an essay about owls when I was in a Muggle primary school because I was fascinated by wizard post... she thought it was hilarious, so the name stuck.”

“That’s adorable,” Cressida said with a laugh. “Better than some of the nicknames people come up with around here.”

“Agreed,” Leander said, his gaze lingering on you for a moment before he grinned. “It suits you.”

You felt heat rise to your cheeks again, and you quickly turned to Natty. “Are you all taking Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning?”

Natty nodded. “We are. First period.”

Relief flooded you at the idea of not having to navigate the castle alone. “That’s good to hear.”

“Stick with us,” Leander said, his smile easy. “We’ll make sure you don’t get lost—or end up in detention.”

As you sipped the last of your tea, your thoughts began to wander toward Defense Against the Dark Arts. You, of course, had six years of class under your belt from Beauxbatons, but it had always been carefully structured and precise, with students practicing spells on enchanted dummies or theoretical exercises. Actual dueling had been rare, restricted to the secret dueling association you’d been fortunate enough to join during your later years.

Would Hogwarts’ approach be different? You hoped so. Everything about this place felt rawer, less polished than Beauxbatons, and you hoped that extended to its curriculum.

The trek to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was brisk, the corridors of Hogwarts teeming with students. You kept close to Garreth, Natty, and Cressida, your eyes darting around as you tried to memorize the layout. The castle was as sprawling and maze-like as you’d expected, every turn revealing another staircase, corridor, or portrait that moved just enough to throw off your sense of direction.

“It’s like a labyrinth,” you muttered under your breath, glancing up at a painting of a knight who waved enthusiastically as you passed. “How does anyone find their way around here?”

“You don’t,” Garreth said with a grin, leading the group confidently down a corridor. “Not at first, anyway. You’ll get lost a few times, end up in a secret passage or two, maybe even a broom cupboard...”

“Reassuring,” you said dryly, though his cheerfulness was infectious.

Natty smiled, walking alongside you. “The trick is to remember key landmarks,” she offered helpfully.

Cressida chimed in, “And never trust Peeves to give you directions.”

You nodded, trying to take mental notes, but the sheer size of the castle was overwhelming. You were grateful to have them guiding you, especially as you climbed a narrow spiral staircase that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. By the time you reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, your legs were burning, and you made a mental note to pace yourself better in the future.

The classroom itself was impressive. Rows of desks were arranged in neat lines, and tall windows let in streams of golden light, illuminating shelves filled with spellbooks, artifacts, and jars of peculiar ingredients and specimens. A faint hum of magic seemed to linger in the air, subtle but unmistakable.

Professor Hecat was already at the front of the room, her presence commanding as she surveyed the students with sharp, hawkish eyes. There was an air of expectation about her, the kind that made you straighten in your seat without thinking.

Garreth nudged you lightly as you slid into a spot near the middle of the room. “This is going to be fun,” he whispered, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.

You raised an eyebrow. “Fun?”

“Trust me,” he said, leaning back in his chair, his voice conspiratorial. “First class with Hecat is always good. You’ll see.”

Natty and Cressida sat nearby, offering encouraging smiles as the last of the students filed in. Before you could settle completely, your gaze was drawn to the back of the room where Sebastian sauntered in just before the door swung shut. His tie hung loose around his neck, and his posture was as relaxed as ever, though his sharp brown eyes flicked across the room like he was sizing everyone up. He slid into a seat near the back with the other Slytherins—Ominis and Imelda among them—and leaned back in his chair as though the classroom belonged to him.

You couldn’t help but notice the brief look exchanged between Sebastian and Leander as the latter slid into the seat behind you. It was subtle but unmistakable—the narrowing of Sebastian’s eyes and the sharp tilt of Leander’s head, his easy grin firmly in place but carrying a faint edge, almost like a challenge. The tension between them hung in the air, unspoken but palpable.

Your thoughts drifted to the carriage ride with Imelda the day before. Sebastian Sallow—Hogwarts’ most persistent heartbreak. Next to Leander Prewett, of course.

The faint smile that tugged at your lips was involuntary. Beauxbatons had its own version of this rivalry—Étienne, the effortlessly charming Quidditch captain, and Hugo, the razor-sharp dueling star. The two had been locked in a constant battle, always trying to outshine one another in accolades and romantic flings. It had been amusing to watch from the sidelines, though exhausting to imagine being caught in the crossfire.

Now, watching Leander and Sebastian, the similarities were uncanny.

Professor Hecat stepped forward, her voice cutting through the room like a whip and breaking you out of your thoughts. “Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts,” she said, her tone clipped and no-nonsense. “If you’re expecting an easy year, I suggest you rethink your priorities. This class is not for the faint of heart or the lazy. You will be tested, challenged, and—if you work hard—rewarded.”

The room was silent, every student sitting up a little straighter under her piercing gaze.

“Today,” she continued, pacing slowly, “we will begin with a practical demonstration. Theory has its place, but to kick off the semester, you will learn by doing. Wands out.”

There was a collective rustling as everyone reached for their wands. Your pulse quickened as you gripped yours tightly, the weight familiar and reassuring in your hand. Garreth was right. This would be good; it was the moment you’d been hoping for. Real practice, real dueling, not just theory or practice dummies.

Professor Hecat’s sharp eyes swept the room, her gaze lingering on each student as if she could see straight into their thoughts. When her eyes landed on you, they narrowed slightly, a spark of curiosity flickering in their depths.

“You,” she said sharply, pointing her wand in your direction. “Miss Beauxbatons.”

You blinked, startled at being addressed so directly. “Yes, Professor?”

“I’d like to see what you can do,” she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Let’s get a sense of where you stand in comparison to the rest of the class.”

The room murmured softly, a ripple of interest running through the students. Garreth shot you an encouraging grin, but you could feel the weight of every eye on you as you stood.

Professor Hecat flicked her wand, and the room transformed in an instant. Desks slid to the edges of the room, creating an open space in the center. The floor shimmered briefly before solidifying into a raised dueling platform.

You climbed onto it, your wand feeling heavier than usual in your hand. The hum of magic in the room seemed louder now, or maybe it was just the pounding of your heart.

“Now,” Hecat said, turning to the back of the room, “we’ll need someone to test her mettle.”

You had a sinking feeling you knew exactly who she was going to call on. Mister Duelling Prodigy himself.

“Mr. Sallow?"

Sebastian, who had been lounging in his chair with all the grace of a cat stretched in the sun, straightened slightly. His expression shifted from mild boredom to faint interest as he stood and strolled toward the platform with a slow, deliberate gait.

The room erupted into whispers, a mix of excitement and curiosity rippling through the class. It was clear this wasn’t the first time Sebastian had been called upon for a demonstration, and judging by the looks on his classmates’ faces, he had a reputation to back up his arrogance.

You shifted slightly, your grip tightening on your wand. The platform suddenly felt much smaller as Sebastian turned his attention to you, his brown eyes sharp and assessing. His smirk widened just enough to set your teeth on edge.

“Try to keep up," he said lightly, his tone almost teasing.

You could feel the weight of the class’s collective attention pressing down on you, their excitement palpable. He was clearly used to this—being the center of attention, being the best.

But you had something to prove.

Professor Hecat stepped between you, her voice cutting through the whispers like a blade. “The goal is to disarm your opponent. No spells beyond fifth-year curriculum, no excessive force. Do I make myself clear?”

“Bien sûr,” you said firmly, your heart pounding with a mix of nerves and determination.

Sebastian gave a lazy nod, his smirk never faltering. “Crystal.”

Hecat stepped back, raising her wand. “Bow.”

You both dipped into formal bows, though Sebastian’s was laced with a mocking flourish that made your jaw tighten. As you straightened, his wand was already at the ready.

“Begin!” Hecat commanded, and the duel was on.

Sebastian struck first, quick and confident, his Expelliarmus streaking toward you like a red arrow. You twisted your wrist, deflecting it with a sharp Protego, the spell rebounding harmlessly into the air.

“Not bad,” he said, moving fluidly into a Flipendo, the knockback jinx aimed squarely at your chest. You sidestepped, countering with a precise Stupefy that forced him to block with his own Protego.

The spells came fast and relentless, the platform crackling with magic as the duel intensified. Sebastian was good—no, he was excellent. His movements were smooth and calculated, each spell flowing seamlessly into the next. He pressed the offensive, forcing you to rely on quick reflexes and defensive spells to hold your ground.

But he wasn’t the only one who’d mastered his spellwork.

You quickly found your rhythm, slipping into the familiar flow of a duel. At Beauxbatons, the secret dueling association had taught you to think two steps ahead, to anticipate your opponent’s moves and exploit their weaknesses. And Sebastian, for all his skill, had one glaring flaw—his arrogance.

He expected you to falter, to stay on the defensive. So you didn’t.

A well-timed Depulso sent him skidding back, his balance momentarily compromised. Seizing the opening, you cast Arresto Momentum, slowing him just enough to fire off a rapid Stupefy. He blocked it with a grunt, his smirk slipping as he realized you weren’t just keeping up—you were pushing him.

The class murmured in astonishment as the duel raged on. You could feel their energy feeding into yours, the thrill of the challenge sharpening your focus. Sebastian’s smirk was gone now, replaced by a look of concentration, his brown eyes narrowing as he adjusted his strategy.

“You’re full of surprises, Chouette” he said, his voice slightly breathless as he dodged a Rictusempra.

“And you’re full of yourself,” you shot back, firing a precise hex that grazed his shoulder.

He retaliated with a powerful Incendio, the flames licking dangerously close, but you countered with a quick Aguamenti, extinguishing them mid-air. The crowd erupted into cheers at the display, their excitement fueling the competitive fire burning in your chest.

Sebastian lunged forward, attempting another Flipendo, but you deflected it, your wand moving like an extension of your arm. With a sharp flick, you cast Expelliarmus again, putting every ounce of precision into the spell.

This time, it hit its mark.

Sebastian’s wand flew from his hand, spiraling through the air with a sharp twirl. Without thinking, you reached out and caught it mid-flight. The room erupted into cheers and gasps, the sound crashing over you like a wave as you stood there, both wands in hand.

Sebastian froze, his expression flickering between disbelief and something far more reluctant. His chest rose and fell with deep breaths, his sharp brown eyes locked onto you. The smirk he so often wore was nowhere to be seen.

For a moment, you simply stared at each other, the hum of victory vibrating in your veins.

"Holy shit," Imelda’s voice cut through the cheers and murmurs, loud enough to carry across the room. “Sebastian just lost a duel.”

The words seemed to ripple through the crowd, and the excited murmuring grew louder. Students leaned toward each other, exchanging wide-eyed whispers, their gazes darting between you and Sebastian.

“Has that ever happened?” someone asked.

“No way,” another voice replied. “Sallow’s supposed to be the best in our year.”

“Well, not anymore,” a Hufflepuff piped up, her tone equal parts amused and impressed.

Sebastian didn’t move for a long moment, his gaze fixed on you as though trying to reconcile what had just happened. Slowly, he extended his hand, his expression shifting to something you couldn’t quite place.

You stepped forward and handed Sebastian his wand, your fingers brushing briefly against his as you leaned in, your voice low but clear. “Try and keep up next time.”

The words hung in the air and Sebastian’s frown deepened. For a moment, you thought he might fire back a retort, but instead, he closed his fingers around his wand, his jaw tight as he stepped off the platform, his shoulders stiff.

The room was still buzzing with chatter as Professor Hecat raised her voice, attempting to restore order. “Enough,” she barked, her sharp tone cutting through the noise. “This is a classroom, not the Quidditch pitch. Pair up and prepare to spar. I expect focus, not theatrics. Otherwise, I'll have to read for the rest of class."

The class scrambled to comply, but the energy in the room was electric, the whispers continuing in hushed tones. You stepped off the platform, the adrenaline still thrumming through your veins, and made your way toward Imelda and Ominis.

Imelda was grinning from ear to ear, her expression equal parts amused and impressed. “Well, look at you,” she said, nudging your arm. “First day, and you’ve already knocked Sallow down a peg. That’s one for the history books.”

Ominis, standing beside her, tilted his head in your direction. “I’ve never seen another student best him in a duel,” he said evenly, though there was a note of disbelief in his tone. “Not once.”

You shrugged, trying to play it off as casually as possible, though your cheeks were still warm from the attention. “He’s good,” you admitted. “Really good. But not good enough.”

Imelda laughed. “Oh, he’s never going to live this down. You’ve officially unseated the king of dueling.”

Before you could respond, several students began approaching, their eagerness evident as they jostled to catch your attention.

“That was incredible,” one Ravenclaw boy said, his blue robes swishing as he stepped forward. “Would you mind partnering with me for practice?”

“Partner with me!” another Hufflepuff chimed in, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “I want to learn how you pulled off that Arresto Momentum combo.”

“I called dibs first,” a Gryffindor interjected, earning a glare from the others.

You blinked, caught off guard by the sudden influx of attention as Imelda smirked, crossing her arms. “Looks like you’re in demand, Chouette.”

Ominis inclined his head, his tone dry. “If I were you, I’d choose carefully. Some of these students are less… coordinated than others.”

Professor Hecat clapped her hands again, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. “If you’ve found a partner, take your positions. If not, you’ll be paired randomly.”

You glanced around at the eager faces vying for your attention, but your gaze ultimately landed on Ominis. “Would you like to pair up?” you asked, keeping your tone casual but hopeful.

Imelda let out an exaggerated gasp, her hand flying to her chest in mock offense. “What’s this? You’re skipping over your oldest friend?”

You shot her an amused look. “No offense, Imelda, but you’ve always been better on a broom than in a duel.”

Imelda laughed, clearly not taking it personally. “Fair point,” she said with a grin. “I guess I’ll go find someone who can appreciate my ‘less polished’ technique.”

Ominis quirked an eyebrow in your direction, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Are you sure? I’m certainly not as talented as you and... I'm not exactly flashy.”

“That’s perfect,” you replied, your voice low enough for only him to hear. “I’ve had enough theatrics for one day. Besides, I get the feeling you’re more talented than you let on.”

His smirk widened slightly as he inclined his head. “Well then, I'd be happy to partner up.”

Together, you stepped into the center of the room, finding a spot to practice. Unlike the duel with Sebastian, there was no buzzing anticipation from the class or weighty pressure hanging in the air. This was practice—a chance to focus, to refine.

As you anticipated, Ominis moved with deliberate precision, each spell measured and exact. You quickly fell into a steady rhythm with him, the exchange of spells flowing smoothly. There was no animosity, no urge to win—just the shared goal of improvement, and it was almost relaxing, except for the occasional awareness of being watched.

You could feel Sebastian’s eyes on you.

Though you didn’t look in his direction, the weight of his gaze was impossible to ignore, like a smoldering ember pressing against your back.

You hardly noticed how much time had passed until Professor Hecat called out, her voice sharp and commanding, “That’s enough for today. Well done, everyone. You’re dismissed.”

The room filled with the clatter of students packing their bags and murmuring amongst themselves, the electric energy of the earlier duel still lingering. You lowered your wand, offering Ominis a small smile. “Thanks for pairing up with me,” you said, genuinely appreciative.

“You’re welcome,” he replied, his tone warm but composed. "Perhaps we can do it again next time we have duelling practice."

Imelda sauntered over, slinging her bag over one shoulder. “So, Chouette, are you planning to take over the whole school, or just Defense Against the Dark Arts? Because at this rate, you’re going to have everyone eating out of your hand.”

You laughed softly, shaking your head. “I’m just trying to survive my first week, Mel.”

The two of you began making your way toward the door, the noise of the dispersing class surrounding you. You were almost at the exit when a voice cut through the chatter.

“Wait.”

You turned to see Sebastian standing a few steps behind you, his hands shoved into his robe pockets, his expression carefully neutral.

Imelda raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of you. “This should be good,” she muttered under her breath, crossing her arms as she leaned casually against the doorframe.

He ignored her, keeping his attention fixed on you. "Has anyone told you about Crossed Wands yet?”

Your eyebrows lifted slightly. “No.”

“It’s a dueling club,” he said, his smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth just enough to feel like a challenge. “Unofficial, but it’s where the best duelists go to push themselves. If you’re looking for more of what you got today, it’s the place to be.”

You hummed noncommittally, tilting your head as if weighing his words. “And I suppose you’re the reigning champion?”

His smirk deepened, leaning fully into his usual arrogance. “Naturally.”

Imelda scoffed from where she stood beside you, arms crossed. “And yet, someone just knocked you off your throne.”

Sebastian shot her a look, but it lacked his usual bite, as though he couldn’t be bothered to engage. His gaze returned to you, a flicker of challenge in his eyes. “Well, not officially,” he said, his smirk tugging wider. “But I’m always looking for a good challenge. If you’re interested, introduce yourself to Lucan Brattleby in Gryffindor. He runs the club. Just tell him I sent you.”

You raised an eyebrow, studying him carefully. “I’ll think about it."

Sebastian nodded once before turning back toward the remaining students, his usual self-assured air firmly in place. Imelda wasted no time tugging on your arm, leading you out the door with a grin tugging at her lips.

As soon as you were out in the corridor, she let out a low chuckle. “Well, well. It seems Sallow likes you, after all. You've been here a day and the school's most coveted guys are all over you.”

You scoffed, glancing at her like she’d grown a second head. “Come on, Mel. Get real.”

“I'm serious,” she said, her grin widening. "Seb’s definitely interested. Did you see the way he kept looking at you?”

“I don’t care how he was looking at me,” you shot back, adjusting your bag on your shoulder. “Within five minutes of meeting him, he insulted me. I’m not holding my breath for some big redemption arc.”

Imelda raised her hands in mock surrender, though the mischievous glint in her eyes made it clear she wasn’t dropping the topic anytime soon. She opened her mouth to retort, but you cut her off with a shake of your head, your tone firm and exasperated.

“Believe whatever you want,” you said, “but I have zero interest in trying to figure out what’s going on in his head. I’m here to focus on school, not Sebastian Sallow.”

“Alright, whatever you say,” Imelda replied, her grin still firmly in place. “But don’t come crying to me when he’s suddenly dueling other guys for your honor.”

“That’s not happening,” you said flatly, quickening your pace to move ahead of her. “End of story.”

Imelda trailed after you, her smirk firmly in place but, for once, choosing to keep her thoughts to herself. For now. Instead, she focused on guiding you through Hogwarts’ maze-like corridor.

Sebastian Sallow might have everyone else’s attention, but as far as you were concerned, he could keep it. You had far more pressing matters to focus on—like making it through your first day unscathed.

[thatfeelingwonie]

— 🧷 . . . MINISKIRT . . . sim jake

zhao iseul always had it easy. she could get everything she wanted due to her charms, and boys would always fall at her feet. but there was one guy who didn't seem to be phased by her, sim jake.

barista!jake x oc. lots of angst, slow burn (?), contains smut, mentions of domestic abuse, death, brain tumor, alcohol, hooking up.

CHAPTER TWO !

wc : 1.1k

it's been days since what happened at bar and iseul couldn't seem to move on, it bothered her just how unphazed that barista was compared to all the other men she had met in her life, and she needed to change that. it nearly kept her up at night the fact that she wasn't able to make all men swoon at her feet, and she was determinated to change that.

that's why she asked her friend to go out for some drinks at the same bar hoping she'll find that barista and prove him wrong.

"are we really back in this crappy bar just so you can seduce some random guy you'll forget about in a week?" her friend complained as she sipped on her drink annoyed, observing iseul fixing her make up and hair in a small mirror she carries in her bag before pushing her corset top down to expose her chest slightly and smiling slightly satisfied with her look.

"just watch, i'll get him this time." she warned before standing from her chair and approaching the counter where the same guy stood, threating her slender fingers through her strands with a soft grin stretching her glossy lips as she leaned over the counter and tapped her nail on the wooden surface to grab his attention. jake glanced at the direction of the sound and sighed heavily once he recognized the girl from the other night, quickly finishing the drink he was preparing before shifting to her direction.

"you again? did you miss me that much for you to be here on a wednesday night?" iseul brushed the annoyance that was already spreading on her face off and just smiled at him again, leaning further hoping he'll even just glance at her chest once but it was no use as all he did was staring emotionless at her face.

"so funny. can i get a bloody mary?" she fished a ten thousand won bill out of her skirt and pinched it between her index and middle finger. "and i'm actually planning to pay this time." she slowly set the bill down as his puppy eyes followed its movements, the brief glance he threw at her exposed chest not passing unnoticed by her as a small smirk curved her lips, sliding the money towards him before purposely crossing her arms on her chest.

jake cleared his throat and adjusted the thick, black, glasses resting on his nose's high bridge before beginning to prepare the drink she requested, tilting his head slightly at his own behaviors as looking at someone's chest was wrong and disgusting. it was clear her intentions did not chance even a bit and she was probably trying to get into his pants just for a free drink, even if he couldn't understand why she was so determined.

the raven watched his every move as he worked, her gaze lingering on the way his strong hands handled the drink shaker, the subtle flex of his forearm muscles as he mixed the cocktail, leaning on the counter with a playful pout while keeping her chest displayed. this wasn’t a new tactic for her, and usually guys would instantly fall for this.

"you know, you’re not like other guys," she started, letting the statement hang in the air as if it was meant to flatter him in any way, awaiting a reaction from him but allowing her brows to drop disappointedly when he didn't respond. "most men would’ve been tripping over themselves by now, but you— your eyes have never looked below my neck."

jake set the drink in front of her with a quiet clink, meeting her gaze with a flat expression as he wiped his hands clean. "i’m just here to make drinks, not to entertain your games." he replied with a cold tone, grabbing the cloth hanging from the dishwasher before wiping the glasses dry that he then set under the counter.

his indifference stung more than she’d like to admit, and it gnawed at her ego.

iseul’s smile dropped for the briefest second before she regained her composure, tucking a strand of her raven hair behind her ear and reaching for the glass but instead of taking a sip she ran her finger along the rim with gaze still locked on him. "games?" she tilted her head slightly, playing innocent as she let her fingers trail over the glass, dark eyes following his every movement as a way to put him on the spot. "who says I’m playing any games?"

the boy didn’t even bother to glance at her as he turned away, busying himself with stacking clean glasses behind the counter and letting her voice turn into a white noise as the sigh that slipped past her lips passed unnoticed by him. she wasn’t used to being ignored, being dismissed like she was just another customer, every man she met, from high-profile executives to local bartenders, had always fallen for her charm, her beauty, and her ability to get what she wanted.

but not this guy.

the girl couldn’t help but grit her teeth slightly, the smile plastered on her face becoming harder to maintain as her frustration only grew further. taking a deep breath, she decided to change her approach. she stood up from her seat, her demeanor shifting from flirtatious to something more casual leaning against the counter as if she was simply there to have a conversation. "alright, i'll drop it," the aussie gave her a suspicious glance, raising an eyebrow at the sudden shift in her tone but still keeping his attention on the drink orders coming in.

"but can i ask you something?" she continued once he didn't respond, sipping on her drink and maintaining a smile. "why do you work here? I mean, you don’t look like the typical bartender."

jake paused for a moment as if he hadn’t expected the question before giving a slight shrug, wiping his hands on the cloth again and cleaning his work surfice. "pays for my college."

"is that it? you just make drinks, go home, and repeat? don’t you have other plans?"

"i’m not really interested in sharing my life story with someone who’s just trying to get me fired," he finally answered, his tone still distant but not as harsh as before, glancing around the the customers in front of the counter that were waiting for a drink. "now if you excuse me, i have drinks to make." iseul sighed defeated, stepping back from the counter with a laughing friend awaiting for her at the table.

this was going to take more effort than she’d thought.

tags !

@boobaemilk @ziiao @riqomi @lvvstruck @maewphoria @makrleestoes

[transmutationisms]

@apodeme ok disclaimers that i 1) am not an americanist 2) didn't finish the video 3) am not typing out formal citations for this post but

mainly what annoyed me is that olson does an incredibly poor job contextualising usamerican 'creationism' and young earther stuff. 'flood geology' isn't really a new thing by the 1930s -- in the usamerican context what's different to most of the continent is the biblical literalism but even this was not wholly foreign to either england or europe. geologists and palaeontologists have been looking at fossils and trying to date the earth since at least the mid 18th century, & have in fact been mocking or stigmatising one another's age estimates the entire time. even by like the geoffroy-cuvier debates of 1830 most french savants thought cuvier was full of it to some degree,1 and in his theory it wasn't even just one flood responsible for everything -- he thought the earth's history was one of multiple destructive floods and other geological events, hence the term 'catastrophism' to describe this loose branch of theorising, with 'uniformitarianism' the counterpart proposed by early evolutionists ('transformists / transmutationists') such as lamarck.

which brings me also to point out that the theories here being shorthanded as creationism or young earth or catastrophism etc are pretty varied and have only ever borne a loose family resemblance to one another. even among current usamerican evangelicals there is disagreement as to what age the earth is or how far living beings can be altered;2 the same has always been true among people discussing these ideas. when you strawman them or oversimplify them you don't really convey anything of value re: how these theories spread or whose interests they appeal to.

the video, or what i saw of it anyway, is also predictably coloured by the current reigning liberal understanding of science as a march of progress and enlightenment and a gradual accumulation of objective truth, which i won't waste time complaining about yet again except to say that the reason this narrative is still so pervasive in pop histories of evolution, in particular, is largely because the usamerican creationist historiographies of the mid 20th century have gone quite out of their way to gin up the idea of an irreconcilable split between science and religion, and liberals like olson love to take up this framework uncritically and simply invert the valences lmao. in reality scientific and religious inquiry do often overlap and historically have done quite extensively in the field of evolutionary biology,3 and this is a pretty serious problem for anyone who does actually give a fuck about scientific inquiry and what it is capable of achieving.

1 to be fair some of cuvier's problems were also just down to him being a protestant, which was obviously more of an issue in early 19thc france than in 1930s usa. he wasn't really any more creationist than the religious savant average at the time, though, and did not use scripture to directly support his interpretations of fossils, but i digress

2 by the 18th century it was long since abundantly clear to anyone who paid any attention to agriculture that living beings can be altered by selective breeding to look & function quite differently to any 'original' forms. this observation could be logically extended to support a concept of species evolution (as in lamarck) but some savants considered it a limited type of change that would run up against impassable biological barriers (as in cuvier's functionalist teleology). some savants split the difference (as in geoffroy's transcendentalist anatomy)

3 most notoriously in the anglo world, in chambers's 1844 'vestiges of creation' -- but, see also many bridgewater treatises, harriet martineau, german romanticism in 19th century biology, most french evolutionary theory prior to anti-clerical neo-lamarckians like de lanessan, etc etc

i can't finish the new dan olson video i wish people would stop making history videos about things they don't know the history of

[sskk-manifesto]

Bungou Stray Dogs: Dead Apple and how “ability users” (opposite to “normal people”) learning to accept themselves through the acceptance of their own abilities is a queer metaphor of acceptance of own's sexual orientation and gender: an essay by me

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

the doctor isnt neurodivergent or autistic or adhd or nonbinary or genderqueer or asexual. what the doctor is, is Not From Here

[blughxreader]

hey!

I wanted to ask - have you stopped working on AndreBot? I haven’t talked to him in a while. I tried yesterday and this bot is hella weird and completely ooc. (for example: he wanted to see me pee and explained his desire in little details, he also talked about forcing me to have his kids and all kind of weird things.) I don’t know if it’s normal, but he’s obviously different now.

hope you have a great day! 💗

Omg not pee 😭

Yeah I stopped working on him. The program went downhill because it learned from the batshit degeneracy of the internet.

If yall want, I’ll give you his code so you can create a private version of him. I made an alt Andrebot for myself a while back and he’s okay.

[clownkiss3r]

ive come to realise just how much of the conflict in fantasy high happens because arthur augefort isn't there. he coulda cast revivify on gorgug and kristen but he chose to shoot himself in the head and give them his lifeblood. were he not currently on a massive road trip with ayda none of the conflict in junior year would be happening

its just funny to me cuz that reads like: "oh shit, this character is too powerful, i need him outta the plot asap" and then they turn him into a deus ex machina in the season finale

[valiantvillain]

Not gonna lie, I do kinda wish BG3 had allowed for fat bodies as an option during character creation. I get it, it's a big game, and maybe we as fans hyped it up so much that I heightened my expectations a little much, but idk I just wish games allowed for that kind of diversity of bodies for people that want to see themselves in their character. Especially since a good chunk of the classes hardly require you to be chiseled muscle to ruin some goblin's day.

[beastenraged]

A lot of popular Shounen manga are a ripe breeding ground for fandom because of the dystopian societies they introduce to the reader.

It's the same problem that crops up in superhero focused comics and other material, but one that is less easily picked upon due to the never-ending nature of the material while manga is written to have an eventual end (generally).

The problem being, the hero needs a villain to fight but where do you make this villain come from? How do you make this villain appealing to the readers? Simple, make the world they come from be unfair!

It's fascinating because a lot of fanfictions are often focused on trying to make the dystopian society presented better, like a lot of very popular Naruto and My Hero Academia fics (and sometimes Bleach? Less common). But it's often made clear that the mangakas aren't supremely interested in confronting the terrible worlds they themselves have created, only in using them to stage huge battlegrounds.

(One Piece is the biggest exception to this rule, and a lot of it is saved by there being other characters interested in fixing their broken world while Luffy and his crew go on adventures. Sometimes world-fixing adventures, but still!)

Which isn't bad! But it does lead to fans looking for apparent justice in the original material and them being of course disappointed when they won't find any.

Shounen manga that escape this situation do by not touching overall society at all and making the battles more of a secret conflict (example: Demon Slayer) or just completely destroying everything (example: Jujustu Kaisen).

[friendlyfox5]

my anime watching friends will say some shit like scrimbly dingus used the 4d cereal bender on srumpo snorcap and then argue if it makes him more powerful than tungo plop.

[rohavon]

.

[livingonsugar]

I’m gonna be super honest rn - I would rather go back to cable and the way television was back then. Yeah, we would have to deal w/ ads, but guess what? Instead of 8 episodes, 35-40 min. each w/ few seasons, we would get 20-25 episodes, 40-45 min. each, w/ multiple seasons being aired. They also wouldn’t take over a year and a half to be produced. Idk - I just think it’s weird that streaming moved backwards. Especially now that every single streaming service has placed ads on their platform, and they still can’t produce TV like it was being produced a few years ago.

[amplexadversary]

I'm watching EXU and just

Does Gilmore exclusively hire the most horny people in Aabria's version of the setting?

Between Gilmore himself, the very CHA based party and this poor employee this episode has a degree of horny audacity and casual favors coming from just about every direction that's actually giving my boring ass some intense secondhand embarrassment at the thought of even asking for some of the things that are happening here.

My assumption would be that Gilmore would want to hire a bunch of hardasses to make up for the discounts he gives to people who will flirt with him (which. he does employ Sherri so that's one hardass.)?

I guess if he's important enough to get funding from the government for taking care of things like the ash-hole he can afford to be more lax with discounts. And haggling is more commonplace in Exandria's setting than ''X thing costs Y amount, it just does," that we have. But the degree to which these characters are successfully going above and beyond their budget does not slide in easily with the expectations inside of my brain.