#not sure what it means but i'll keep it in mind

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Rook Hunt - Room Relaxation Vignette

"Happy Birthday"

[Exterior Hallway 2F]

[birds tweet in distance]

Rook: Oh my, that little one over there… Mhhm, welcome back. I see you've decided to spend your winter here this year.

Cater: Hey-o, Rook-kun. Whatcha doin', staring off into the distance like that?

Rook: Oh hi, Cater-kun. It seems like the little bird that left its nest here on campus in the spring has returned. I'm just glad it's doing well.

Cater: A little bird…? Wait, are you talking about that bird waaaay off in the distance? It just looks like a normal bird, doesn't necessarily mean it's the same bird you saw before, does it?

Rook: Not at all, it's definitely the same bird. Each one has a completely different look from each other, so I'm sure it's the same one.

Cater: U-Uh huh… I think it's a little too difficult for me to see.

Cater: Ah, right! I'm changing the subject a little bit, but it's your birthday tomorrow, right?

Rook: Oh là là! You remembered my birthday? I'm floored!

Cater: Obvi! You think your good pal Cay-kun'd ever forget a batchmate's birthday?

Cater: Now, inquiring minds want to know, Mr. Birthday Boy Rook-san! How do you plan on spending your birthday?

Rook: Mhhm, let me think…

Rook: I think I would be content just spending it like any old day, surrounded by good friends!

Cater: Ehhh, come on～ And just when I thought this was my chance to learn a little more about your life that you keep close to your chest…

Rook: You wish to know more about me? Oh my, if you stare any harder, Monsieur Magicam, I'll simply combust on the spot.

Cater: I didn't think I was staring that hard… But I get it, you don't want people prying into your business ♪

Cater: Then, how 'bout I extend an olive branch… Wanna take a pic to celebrate your Birthday Eve?

Rook: Oui, I'd be honored!

[snap!]

Cater: Oh, Rook-kun, your smile's dazzling! Ah, I just thought of something good. I'll send you the photo later ♪

Rook: I look forward to it. See you, Cater-kun!

[Pomefiore Dorm – Hallway]

Rook: ―Confirmation of this week's schedule of events for each grade… Done.

Rook: Ballroom usage requests, confirmation of head counts for each room, equipment returns… Done.

Rook: Oh, look at the time. It just flew by as I was finishing up my Vice Housewarden tasks. The showers should be free by now, no?

[Pomefiore Dorm – Rook's Room]

Rook: Perhaps it was thanks to that hair mask a fellow dormmate recommended me, but my hair feels silkier than usual today.

Rook: It's good to give myself a little special treat before a special day, after all.

[Pomefiore Dorm – Rook's Room]

Rook: ―I've finished my skincare, body care, and haircare routine.

Rook: I'm completely ready to listen to Roi de Neige's melodious voice! His radio program should be starting soon―

Rook: Oh? It looks like I still have a little over 10 minutes left. I must have been a tad too hasty in my eagerness.

Rook: I suppose I could fill out that "Survey on Quality of Life Improvements for the Student Body" in the time I have left.

「Survey on Quality of Life Improvements for the Student Body」

Rook: Improvements, hm. If I were asked any time before this, I'm sure I would have had much to say on the school regulation that has freshmen and sophomores sharing a room.

Rook: Sharing a room with fellow classmates may have its moments, but nothing is better than my personal time alone.

Rook: I still vividly remember the joy I felt when I became a junior and was assigned my own room. This is what I call paradise!

Rook: Not only am I able to protect my privacy, but this is a perfect place for me to surround myself with beauty and love. I have no complaints!

Rook: If I were to come up with one thing to put down… I would like a safe. I'd want something sturdy with a complex lock that cannot be opened easily.

Rook: If I were to have one, then I could keep safe my trove of journals, my precious photos, and even that one thing I got my hands on that one time… Heheh.

Rook: …Oh, whoops. While I was drifting off imagining all the things I could place in a safe, I seem to have completely filled in the field.

Rook: I'm sitting here in a paradise I built for myself, and I still had so many desires to write down… Ah, me, oh, my! How selfish could I possibly be?

Rook: Thinking back on it, I've not had many memories of staying in the same place for years like this.

Rook: Even after three years here, I find that every single day brings new thrills that keep me just as excited as the first day.

Rook: …Well now, with that, the survey is done. ～fin～ And perfect timing, too.

Rook: It's finally time for Roi du Neige's special radio program… I can't wait! I've been counting down the days ever since the day it was announced.

Rook: BRAVISSIMO!! THAT WAS A PURELY BLISSFUL EXPERIENCE…!

Rook: His dynamic vocals sparkled like an étoile in the sky… It was completely different from his usual sweet manner!

Rook: I could feel my heart completely taken in by the way he beautifully weaved from topic to topic that brought to my mind a silky-smooth kaleidoscope.

Rook: What could his "new work" be that they mentioned on the program…? Aah, I cannot wait for more information to be released…!

Rook: When it comes to updates such as this, there's a higher degree of vivacity in receiving it through a live broadcast rather than an article or a recording!

Rook: I wonder which store he got that pie he said he ate "a little too much of" from…?

Rook: If I'm not mistaken, there are quite a few well-known pâtisserie near that recording studio.

Rook: If it's a new place… I believe the actor who will be co-starring with him in his upcoming drama series is known for his serious sweet tooth.

Rook: Perhaps if I look into the shows they've appeared in or check their online posts, I might be able to figure out a hint as to which place it is. I'll check later.

Rook: I must listen to the program once more and record my heartfelt thoughts into a letter… No, wait! I must first jot down every single emotion it made me feel into my diary!

Rook: …This should be all of my thoughts on the radio program. Every single word I had for it meant everything to me that I felt as though it almost became a word-for-word transcript.

Rook: Now, what else stirred my heart today…? Ah, yes, Cater-kun remembering my birthday was lovely.

Rook: Ahh, yes. I should also write down the joy I felt in being reunited with that little bird once more.

Rook: Today was a wonderful day. I wonder what beautiful things I will encounter tomorrow.

[Pomefiore Dorm - Rook's Room]

[door opens]

[door shuts]

Rook: ―Someone's door just opened… Ah, right, there's early morning practice for the track club today.

Rook: As soon as I hear some kind of noise, I snap awake. It may still be early, but I think I'll start getting ready for the day!

Rook: First, I'll take off my sheets and pillowcase… And leave it in a basket in the hall.

Rook: They'll even return it here front of my door after its been washed, so thankfully I can make my bed myself.

Rook: Ordinarily, the laundry ghosts would do everything for me, but… I just can't feel comfortable having anyone enter my room.

Rook: I appreciate them for listening to my vehement non. Now that I've finished with that, I should go wash my face.

Rook: The quiet atmosphere of the washroom in the early mornings always puts me in a refreshing mood. Now then, I think I'll use this lotion today.

Rook: Before, I knew nothing of skincare, let alone makeup. But with my transfer into this dorm, I was reborn anew!

Rook: I may still be a novice in this regard… But as a student of Pomefiore, I cannot allow myself to shirk on the proper regard for skin care.

Rook: For example, when it comes to UV protection, I've learned that it's not enough to simply apply sunscreen, but I must moisturize myself beforehand.

Rook: I had no idea there were so many types of cosmetics. Aaah, this world is brimming with such spectacular surprises!

Rook: The company who makes this one strives on having fragrance-free products, to the point where they even refine their raw materials as best they can to minimize any lingering aromas…

Rook: However, if this is the extent of what a commercially available product is capable of, it may be beneficial to see if we in the Science Club can look into creating completely fragrance-free cosmetics.

Rook: Next, I'll use concealer. When I asked Vil for recommendations, he gave me an array of colors to choose from to help cover my freckles.

Rook: In the end, after taking into account my skin tone and testing out many different options, I selected this concealer because it had no scent and it adheres well to my skin.

Rook: Similar to how wild animals will protect themselves with camouflage, I must evenly smooth it all over my skin… Good, this should be enough for the base makeup.

Rook: Ah, right. I should use the special eye cosmetic palette that Vil recommended to me when I joined him shopping the other day.

Rook: The way the fine pearl powder shines is as beautiful as sunlight streaming through darkened winter clouds.

Rook: LA PERFECTION…! A perfect look for a perfect birthday!

[doors open and close]

Rook: ―It seems the other students are slowly awakening. Mhhm, I'm sure in another 10 minutes or so, the washroom will be absolutely packed.

Rook: I think I'll quickly check Magicam before changing into my uniform. Has there been any news on Roi du Neige's… Oh?

Rook: It looks as though I received a message exactly at midnight. Oh, this is from―

[Main Street]

[Pomefiore students chatter with Rook]

Cater: Ooh, looks like he's already been cornered by folks～ As it should be on a birthday!

Cater: Rook-kun, Happy Birthday! Your makeup is on point today! Can't expect anything less from a Pomefiore student ♪

Rook: Merci, Cater-kun. And I absolutely loved the message you sent right at midnight.

Rook: Not only did you decorate the picture beautifully, your message was extremely heartwarming.

Cater: I'm glad you liked it～ Soooo… Wanna snap another picture now that it's your actual birthday?

Rook: OUI!!

Requested by @farfalla049, @thelonepearl, and @mizumire.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Three's a Crowd 2

Warnings: non/dubcon and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: Steve Abnesti, Steve Rogers, Steve Kemp

Summary: You’re offered a deal without all the details.

Note: happy friday

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

Your eyes stray to the table of cookies again. In the rush of days, blending together with back to back shifts and disparate hours of sleep, you lost track of yourself. When you finally thought to eat, you found an empty cupboard and just as desolate bank account. Rent, electricity, all that ate away at your already leaking reservoir.

Your stomach grumbles and you clasp your hands together, pushing on your middle to ease the clenching. You're so hungry you can barely focus on Caroline. You blink and make yourself listen. You don't want to be disrespectful.

If Kelsey is on shift tonight, she'll let you snag a bag of fries at least. Not the best meal, but something.

You feel weak the more you think about food. A bit dizzy. As you push your shoulders back, your eyes meet another pair. Steve smiles at you from behind his square glasses. You rock and give a sheepish grin.

You do your best to stay alert. You have a half-shift after this and you're not sure how you'll get through. You should have skipped today.

When at last the session lets out, you hurry to join the line, checking your phone for the time. You don't want to miss the bus.

"Working after?" Steve startles you as you shuffle up the table and reach for a cookie. The white macadamia are your favourite. You keep from scarfing it down as you so desperately want to.

"Um, yes," you reply.

"Bus?" He takes a cookie and bites into it with a hum. You're salivating.

"Yeah," you cough. "I should go catch it."

You wrap your cookie in a napkin and step out of queue. He follows.

"Would you like a ride?" He offers.

You nearly trip, "oh no, I couldn't. That's so kind though."

"I don't mind." He drawls. "You work a lot?"

"I guess. But really, you don't have to--"

"You look as if you might fall asleep on the bus," he muses.

"Oh, no, I'm... fine."

"Well, I do hate to keep you then but I hoped to speak with you about something."

"Me?" You utter in surprise.

"Yes, well, we all know each other here. I just thought... well, we all seem rather lonely, don't we?"

"Sure, uh," you look down at the cookie then him. "Alright, I'll take the ride. Can I give you some change for gas."

"Please, don't you even fret," he waves you off.

He follows you to the door and holds it open. You go ahead of him and nibble on the cookie, unable to resist anymore. He points you across the lot to the same car he drove past your window. The memory makes you cringe.

You stop outside the passenger door and chew furiously. He climbs in the other side, "coming?"

"I don't want to get crumbs in your car."

"No worry, please. It's cold."

You look down at your sweater. You're shivering. You're not so much used to the bluster as done fighting it. You cover the cookie and put it in your pocket. You dust off your chest and hands before you get in.

He turns the engine as you buckle your seat belt. A smooth hum rolls through the car. It's so nice you feel as if you might mess it up just by looking.

"Um, so," you begin as he backs out. "What did you want to talk about? I hope... when I asked about your wife, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Oh no, that's what these meetings are, right? We're supposed to talk about all that." He steers and glances over at you. "I appreciated you asking. You're a really sweet girl, you know that?"

'Sweet girl.' The way he says it makes you feel even small. That and how big he is. "Thanks, Steve..."

"I was only thinking. About you," he keeps one hand on the wheel as he leans his other elbow on the arm rest. "Working in that window. Two jobs, you said?"

"Yeah, one's only part-time."

"Still a lot." He remarks.

"But er, well, it's not... you don't need to worry about it."

"I do," he insists.

"Why, uh, well, we don't really know each other." You say as you peer put the window, your words sending a chill through you. You don't know much about Steve and you're in his car.

"I know you work hard. I know things have changed a lot for you since your grandmother passed. And you know how I understand that. That I'm going through the same..."

"Yeah, everyone in the group, I guess, um," you babble dumbly.

"I was only thinking... well, you lost more than your grandmother. You lost a whole life. You've had to adapt a lot more than the rest of us." He pauses and your stomach growls loudly. You wince. "Is that cookie all you've had?"

You shrug, "Steve, I hope... I hope you don't think I'm that helpless."

"Helpless, no, but we could all use help from time to time." He slows as he rolls into the lot of the fast food restaurant. The ride was a lot quicker than the bus. "Which is what I'm offering. Help."

"Ah, oh," you sink. "Is it that obvious?"

"You had a nice wool coat a month ago. You didn't have to fight to stay awake. You... spoke a lot more--"

"Right," you sniff. "It's nice of you to offer but I gotta learn to do things on my own now."

"Do you?" He angles in his seat. "Sweetie, it's no big deal."

"It is to me. I don't even know-- what is it? A job? You know I don't have a degree."

"Mmm, no," he pokes the tip of his tongue out and looks away. "Not a job, but... it isn't safe for you to be taking the bus so late. And definitely not good to be sitting in that cold window for hours."

"Steve, please, you're embarrassing me."

"I... I don't mean to so I'll be honest. I lost my wife, I miss her terribly. And you lost the person who took care of you. So we could... help each other fill that void."

You squint at him then your phone. You have ten minutes. You sigh.

"I don't know--"

"I am trying to be delicate here but... there's men who pay for girls like you. They pay a lot."

"What?" Your voice cracks. "You-- I'm not a prostitute. I--" you pull on the door handle but it doesn't budge. "Let me out. I can't believe-- I never even-- how--"

"I know you haven't before. Which is what I'm saying. I'll pay to be your first--"

You turn to him and hit his arm, "that's...wrong."

"I know. I'm just so... I would make it special, sweetie."

He reaches for you and you push yourself against the car door. Your eyes prick and you swat his hand away. You're humiliated that he would even think you would do that.

"Steve," you reach into your purse and take out a handful of change. You drop it in the cupholder and turn to unlock the door. He touches your shoulder and you shrug him off as you escape. "Thanks for the ride."

[mommybard]

You know, this is why people don't like you damn heroes.

Breaking into my castle at this ungodly hour. Did no one teach you how to send a letter requesting an audience? Or how to tell time? Or even how to simply knock? Nooo, instead you have to kick down the door and start shouting demands, interrupting my night. Shame too, I was going to see if I could hilt that little royal tonight.

Now then, what are you on about? Surrender? To you? Oh, that's just too precious. Let me guess, you heard all those fairy tales about the valiant knight who goes on a quest to save the royal captured by the monstrous villain. All the fables about the heroes vanquishing evil, single handedly saving kingdoms, restoring the crown to its rightful owner!

I mean, don't get me wrong. When you're young, those stories are fun and inspiring. But as you get older...well, other stories start to pique your interest more.

The brave villager rushing to the woods to save the town from the monster who lives there, just to be hunted for sport and broken by its knot. The knight who fights valiantly for their royals honor, but gets captured by the enemy and turned into their breeding bitch. The hero who rushes into the villain's castle at an unreasonable hour and...well, we're in the middle of that one~

Little knight, let me tell you how this is going to go. You have three options before you, that I am quite graciously allowing you. You can turn around and leave this castle. Knowing, of course, that you failed your quest but you get to keep your sanity and body in tact!

You can try to fight me. Cant say I'd recommend that one after seeing you though. So small next to me...really I swear I could lift you and pin you to the wall with one hand. You might be quick enough to get a few good slashes in, sure. But we both know you're going to end up overpowered, panting for breath, on your knees before me with your own blade pressed against your neck.

Can't say I'll be very merciful at that point. The things I'd have to do to you as punishment for daring to lift your blade against me. Though...mmm, could be fun.

Watching you struggling to fight back as I lift you by your throat and tear away your armor. Seeing just how long that defiant look in your eye remains when I'm dragging my blade down your body and cutting off your clothing beneath. Those vicious snarls of yours turning into panicked whimpers and pleas for mercy when I slam my cock down against your stomach so you can see just how deep inside you it'll go.

And it will fit sweetie, don't you worry about that. No matter how long I have to train your body, no matter how rough or vicious I need to be. I WILL make sure you take each and every inch of it, until your holes are perfectly reshaped to handle it. Even if I have to use your pathetic tears as lube to help me out~

Then, of course, there is your third option. You toss your sword away. You fall to your knees. And you surrender to me~

I do mean fully surrender by the way. Your body. Your mind. Your soul. All mine from that point. To do with as I please.

For example, rewriting your thoughts, erasing any stray ideas of rebelling or escaping and instead replacing them with happier ones. Like how good it would feel to have my cock draped over your face, still slick from the royal's holes, getting to drown in the scent and taste. Correcting any feelings of worry or concern for what your life was like before with utter and complete devotion to your new ruler~

Reshaping your body as I see fit. Giving you proper breeding hips, perfectly to squeeze and hold as I drag you up and down my shaft, using you like an oversized fleshlight. Forcing your sex drive up while taking away your ability to cum, just to see how long you'll try to masturbate before begging me for help. Playing with your shape to find something that perfectly suits that inner slut trapped deep down inside.

Well then, "hero", what choice are you gonna go with~?

[claimedcrossbows]

Weyler IS BACK in S2 Of Wednesday (Teaser Analysis)

Alright ladies and gentleman, I really don't even know where to begin. We got a 5 second teaser of the upcoming season.

And for our first real teaser who do we have?

Wednesday and Tyler Galpin!!

Look, I've said for the longest that the Wednesday filmmakers went out of there way to hide Hunter Doohan's role as Tyler in the Behind The Scenes and I felt the only possible reason was because they wanted his role to be a mystery.

The fact that we actually got a teaser centered around Wednesday and Tyler is absolutely huge for a lot of reasons.

For one, Usually a teaser is to give an audience a general concept of what to expect this season without really spoiling too much. That's why often I feel movie/tv show trailers give away too much of the overall plot because it really wants to give your every huge moment to keep the audience engaged. Which is why in this particular case I would argue that this teaser might be more important to the weyler fanbase than whatever trailer is eventually released.

Why do I say that?

Well I doubt too much of anything Weyler related is going to be in the trailer because they do want to keep his role secret to some degree for shock value. BUT they didn't want to leave us completely in the dark, so they gave us just enough to answer some questions as well as provoke some.

So what did this 5 second teaser tell us?

Well for one...

Tyler DID NOT escape out of the truck.

So it was pretty heavily debated on rather or not Tyler escaped custody and would be on the run, I think it's safe to say that this is not the case and that's he's actually been locked up for at least a little while considering how his hair has grown longer.

His scar from Enid is still visible so unless it's permanent I really don't think it's been too long, I don't think a 2 year time jump sounds logical but maybe I'm wrong, it still feels like from what I'm seeing he's only been locked up at Willow Hill for maybe a couple months?

Anyway I'll theorize more about that later..

Moving on

The scene has no dialogue present but a lot can be told with music and facial expressions alone. (Trust me I know, I minored in Film Studies In College 😉) And what this music is saying too me is that it is building up to something.

And from the looks of Wednesday that something could only be a question right?

From the way the music builds, to cutting to Wednesday she looks confident, calm, collected, so we can assume whatever reason she's visiting Tyler isn't too yell at him for betraying her or torture him or anything like that.

I think she's there to ask him a question and maybe even a favor.

(I do however think at some point he's breaking out of Willow Hill either by his own accord or with help from Wednesday but again I'll cover that later)

Now looking at Tyler in this clip...

*Sighs*

Tyler overall looks sick.

Like sick and tired.

And I honestly couldn't tell you if it's the conditions of Willow Hill OR the effects of his master being gone wearing down on him..but he doesn't look good at all. Notice how sweaty he looks? Also paler, eyes darker, and his hair looks greasier..he overall doesn't look like he's well.

Side Note: Where is his shirt?? I mean unless it's an absolutely sauna in there I don't know why he wouldn't have a shirt? This makes me think this is specifically not only for the audience to have eye candy, but for Wednesday's as well..I know even through betrayal she's probably still got some attraction to him, So I'm sure at some point during this scene, she'll be glancing at him shirtless, otherwise why not put a shirt on him? It's to show the attraction is still there between them I would guess...

Anyway back to the main point.

I know we don't get Tyler looking at Wednesday for long really just a second actually, but he doesn't seem to have any type of immediate reaction to seeing her.

Which makes me wonder if he's starting to lose his own consciousness and by that losing his mind/memories?

Again I know it's kind of a stretch to claim this from a split second look he gives Wednesday but I don't know.. it just seems like Tyler isn't really all there..

Which again makes me think that for whatever reason Wednesday is visiting Tyler is probably for another Quid Pro Quo on her part.

Tyler helps her and She helps him, not only break out of Willow Hill..but also probably save him from himself. 🤷🏽‍♀️🤔

Anyway to conclude.

I think this 5 second teaser is probably going to be the most we get out of this Weyler situation before the season starts, but I do think this teaser says a lot about Weyler in Season 2.

Tyler WILL play a big role in S2, and this is just a little taste of something bigger to come!

Anyway what are YOUR thoughts?

[wystiix]

❥ pairing: siren!robin x sailor fem!reader ❥ synopsis: The ocean listens keenly—you should have known that. You were a curious individual, so you decided to test out an old fisherman's tale. A silver offering, a song at sunset, and a voice that hums back from the deepest parts. You should have never sought an answer—but now, the sea has heard you. ❥ cw: major character death, slight mind manipulation ❥ additional tags: second person perspective, siren au ❥ word count: 3.3k ❥ notes: haha i saw the hoyofair art... holy shit robin is gorgeous i just had to write about it. yeah uh ig this is my first hsr work. not sure if i'll write more. i hope to god i didn't mischaracterise her cuz i was just writing about how sirens usually act. and yes i know i know I KNOW SIRENS WERE ORIGINALLY DEPICTED AS HALF BIRD IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY. i was mainly basing this off on how the philippines depicted these creatures (sirena), because "sirena" in tagalog means "mermaid". so ya!! i would also like to give a special thanks to bbg @papiliotao for proofreading this for me <33 love you rei, to the moon and back /p

The ocean was no stranger to you—you had known it throughout your whole life. Since you were a little girl, staring at the shimmering surface turned into a routine. You admired how it seemingly stretched out an eternal expanse of azure blue that met with the sky’s horizon before you. 

You’d dip your feet beneath the shallow waters and allow them to sink into the sand without a care in the world. The tides would crash and the waves licked up your legs. The ocean was your comfort. It was your home.

And yet, you often wondered: what laid beyond the reef?

You had come from a long bloodline of those who were masters of the sea, men and women who lived and died by the waves. Like the masters they were, they taught you everything you needed to know—how to read the stars, predict the tides, how to navigate your way through the waters to avoid getting lost. But above all, they never fail to warn you about the dangers of the deep.

Countless legends and stories have been told to you about the lives of your ancestors being taken by the same waters you had come to love. Monsters, storms, mistakes which eventually led them to their demise. However, one tale above all haunted your family’s stories.

They said the waves would often get mischievous. They led sailors’ boats further astray into the mist where the rocks waited. Among numerous creatures of the deep, none would come as close to dangerous as the ones your ancestors perceived to be beautiful singers.

They had voices like honey, sweet enough to drown out any coherent thought. They often appeared to sailors as women who were part-fish—beautiful beyond words with skin that glittered like the sea itself.

But looks can be deceiving. For those who followed their songs never returned.

However, it didn’t stop there. Some believed that you didn’t have to wait for them to find you. Apparently, you could summon them. 

It was stated that when the sun bled into the water with hues blossoming red and gold, the summoner should bring a gift—something precious, an offering of silver. Toss it into the waves and wash your face on the shore as the waves slowly take it away. Hum a tune, preferably one expressing your deepest yearnings and desires, for it will attract and bring them closer. Then, wait for the sea to answer as the sun fully sets. 

Old fishermen warn you not to cease your melody, for the sea listens keenly. These creatures aren’t particularly known for their patience; silence could summon their wrath instead. Keep your melody alive and listen closely. When you hear a tune drift back to you from the depths, you know you’ve been heard—the ritual is then deemed successful.

If you were lucky, a benevolent creature may grant you mercy. It was a common belief that they may offer you a kiss—one that could grant gifts and blessings. Stories claim that this kiss could fill your lungs with the ocean’s breath and grant you the power to swim as one of them. 

But luck was a dangerous, fickle thing to gamble. More often than not, when these creatures appeared, these gifts weren’t given freely. If they came at all, they never left any witnesses behind. They were more of a misfortune than a boon.

Now, you were a skeptic. You weren’t one to believe in such things. They were merely fairytales to you, and you knew that the ocean was more forgiving than that as long as you didn’t go beyond the reef. Though, you couldn’t help this lingering curiosity eating away at the back of your mind like a swarm of pests.

And so, you decided to test this theory.

One evening, you found yourself standing at the rocky shore. You knew the stretch of this coast well, the rocky areas always seemed to slope faster into the deep strangely. This seemed like a perfect spot to do the bidding.

In your hand was a hooped silver earring, one from a pair you had lost a long time ago. It glinted as it caught the last rays of sunlight as you watched the sun set. While it was precious, it was merely a trinket. You could live with its loss.

This was foolish. Childish, even. Testing an old sailor’s tale? You should have laughed and left it at that.

The faint smell of the salty breeze met your senses as you took a deep breath. Your pulse quickened with anticipation—or was it fear? Either way, there was no turning back now, not after all the trouble you went through to find a trinket you thought no longer mattered and to travel all the way to the beach.

You let the earring fall from your fingers. The silver flashed briefly before the tide claimed it, and it evanesced into the water. 

A sigh slipped past your lips as you crouched by the shoreline. For a moment, you hesitated. What if they were right? What if these warnings weren’t just tales after all?

No, you were here now. This was merely a ridiculous test because you had nothing to do. Nothing was going to happen. Even if it were real, you weren’t one to give in to temptations so easily. You were not exactly easy to impress after all.

The cool water lapped at your hands and you splashed it onto your face with the salt stinging your skin. A stray drop had managed to slip into your lips and you immediately spat it out, grimacing at the bitter taste that settled on your tongue.

Then, you parted your lips and sang.

A gentle tune floated from your lips. Simple and familiar, no grand notes or anything. It was the kind that was second nature to you as if it had always belonged to the waves itself.

The sun continued setting slowly, and the waters were painted with deep crimson and orange. The final note left your lips and you waited. You were unsure if you had done it right. Would anything happen at all? Did you make a fool of yourself?

Your ears strained as you listened. To keep the melody alive, you hummed the whole song over again. The last rays of the sun disappeared beneath the horizon and the ocean seemed to grow still when you finished.

Nothing. You heard nothing. You almost felt foolish.

A frustrated sigh spilled out of you and you stood up. You had just practically tossed your silver jewellery into the water to test out some absurd myth. There was no one to blame but yourself in this situation. You turned on your heel, about to walk away with humiliation.

Until you heard it.

The waves crashed against the rocks. You backed away from the edge so the waves wouldn’t catch you, but you listened closely. 

A note. It rose faintly from the waters, and the sea seemed to hum it.

Upon one summer's morning, I carefully did stray…

Your blood froze.

Down by the Walls of Wapping, where I met a sailor gay.

You weren’t alone.

Conversing with a young lass who seem'd to be in pain,

Saying, "William, when you go, I fear you'll ne'er return again.

Your heart thudded in your chest painfully as you glanced at the water with your eyes wide, straining to see among the shifting tides in the darkness. And there, you espied something.

A head popped out from beneath the surface. Lilac-silver hair and emerald eyes stared straight at you. Confused, you blinked a few times and rubbed your eyes, unsure if your vision was deceiving you. But when you opened your eyes again, it was gone. The water was empty, and the eerie hum of the ocean was the only sound to be heard.

Your pulse quickened.

Had you imagined it? Something told you that this wasn’t a coincidence.

This time, you decided to be a little risky. You stepped near the edge, feeling the moss and jagged rock beneath your feet to take a closer look. Your eyes fixed on that one spot where you had seen the head. 

There was… definitely something beneath the surface. Something was moving, and it looked like a fish tail. Ripples lapped gently at the water’s edge as the head emerged again.

This time, however, it was closer to you, and you could see a few more prominent features. A crown of coral adorned her head, and gills of fish rested by her ears. The same emerald eyes stared at you as if her gaze was piercing into your soul.

“Hello?” you blurted out almost foolishly. “Did I disturb your swim?”

Her intense gaze made you nervous and made your heart race. The figure simply tilted her head as she looked at you, almost with deliberate slowness as if she was sizing you up. Then, she smiled.

“You summoned me.”

A chill ran down your spine. You blinked momentarily, your mouth parting as you thought of what to say. And then the realisation hit you, and you smacked your forehead in embarrassment. Fool, you scolded inwardly. Why in the seven seas would you ask such a thoughtless question?

“I—uh—” You cleared your throat and you felt the heat rise in your cheeks. “I didn't think it was… possible?”

She merely chuckled and rose slightly from the surface, sitting on a rock just close to you. Droplets of water dripped down her face and neck, and for the first time, you could see a creature like her in full display. Her hair swayed gently as if caught by an unseen breeze. Her hair colour reminded you of periwinkle flowers; ethereal, elegant and eye-catching. The three E’s.

Her tail glistened with rich shades of violet and curled around her as she sat. Its scales were arranged perfectly with iridescent patterns that shifted in the light, creating a stunning display of brilliant colours. Were those tiny wings hanging behind her ears? Your ancestors hadn’t provided many details on these beings’ appearances.

The sight of her made your breath catch in your throat.

“Did you think I was going to leave without greeting you?” she asked, breaking you out of your trance. Her voice was smooth and soft like silk, and it almost sounded like a lullaby.

You swallowed hard. The weight of your reckless curiosity was starting to sink in.

“No…” you mumbled. Her fixed gaze on you wasn't making this situation any less frightening. The darkness didn't help either, as the sun had just set. It was as if her eyes were the brightest thing around, glowing faintly.

The sea listens keenly. You should have heeded that warning from your masters.

“I had no idea what I was thinking,” you continued sheepishly, attempting to salvage every last bit of your dignity. “I guess I wanted to know if the old tales were real—”

“Tales.” Her smile widened. “You didn’t think they were true?”

Not until now. The truth had punched you in the gut and you were left feeling lightheaded. Of course they were true.

You didn’t know whether to cry, laugh or flee. Or all of the above. Perhaps the ground could open up a hole and swallow you instead, that’d mostly be preferable.

The silence stretched for a long moment. Then, she spoke again, breaking that silence.

“My name is Robin,” she said lightly, as if offering the name was some casual gift. “And what’s yours, sailor?”

Your heart pounded in your chest, unsure if you should be terrified. However, provoking these creatures wasn’t exactly encouraged. Swallowing, you crouched down and answered nervously. “[Name].”

Robin eyed you for a moment before smiling. “[Name], how lovely,” she hummed looking down at her reflection in the water. “Well, [Name], how fortunate for you that I’m feeling quite generous tonight.”

You knitted your eyebrows together. “Generous?”

Her finger traced lazy circles on the surface of the water. “What is it that you desire the most?” she asked. “You had a reason to summon me, did you not?”

“Oh.” Shaking your head, you waved your hands dismissively. You had completely forgotten about that. “No, not at all. This was… merely a test of courage.”

“Shall I reward that courage?”

“What?”

Her tail flicked, scattering droplets into the air as she slid off the rock and sank into the sea once again. “Shall I grant you a blessing to reward your bravery?” She pressed herself against the crag and leaned in just enough to make your pulse quicken. “A curious sailor like you deserves such a gift.”

The water curled towards the rock at your feet. Had you heard her right? A gift? Something about it made you suspicious, yet her gaze seemed sincere.

When you didn’t answer, her eyes gleamed as she continued, “I don’t offer my gifts lightly, dear. A kiss from me, and you could have it all. Swim with the tide, breathe beneath the waves, see the ocean as I do…” Robin sighed and rested her head on her hand. “It’s a rare offer. One that most sailors would beg for.”

“That easy, huh.” You eyed her warily, crossing your arms. There had to be a catch.

Robin’s smile didn’t falter. “Would you rather I make it difficult?”

You blinked a few times before shaking your head. “No, I—” A sharp exhale slipped out of you. 

You were going to say no. You were sure of it. So why couldn’t you?

“So what’s wrong?” she asked, watching you closely. “You troubled yourself to come all the way here and summon me. Surely you wouldn’t just leave empty-handed? Ridiculous. Why hesitate?”

The waves lapped slowly at the rock and the rhythm of your pulse quickened. The ocean seemed to stretch endlessly behind her.

Why hesitate?

The question should have been easy to answer. So many answers, so many reasons. Yet, you just… couldn’t seem to name them.

“You’re thinking so hard,” she mused. “Is it really so difficult?”

You stiffened.

Yes, it was.

“I-I just…” you murmured, sheepishly rubbing the back of your neck. “As much as I appreciate the offer, I would much rather have my feet stay on land.”

Silence enveloped the both of you like a blanket. Robin narrowed her eyes at you, putting her hand down, and her eyes were locked onto your face which made you more nervous. It seemed like she was examining you. Closely.

Did you perhaps tick her off?

Dark waves rolled in like silk as the ocean shimmered. The air felt a lot heavier. It clung to your skin, thick with salt and something else you couldn’t name. Words are unable to be formed and for a moment, you swore you heard the tide humming. 

A haze settled into your mind, thick and intoxicating. The stars had just come out, and they shone in a way that felt unreal. In fact, your surroundings felt unreal.

She was closer now, humming a soft melody to like the lull of the ocean itself. When had that happened? Her cold, damp fingers brushed against your cheek which made your breath hitch.

“You’re trembling,” she spoke softly. “You're not afraid, are you?”

Afraid? No, not at all. In fact, the fear had eroded away the moment you heard her sing. There was something about her voice, something that allowed each note that spilled out of her lips tug at the threads of your heart. Any thought seemed to wash itself out as you drowned in the pools of her emerald eyes.

You felt her hand gently caress your face, inclining your head closer. Before you knew it, soft lips brushed against yours in a tender kiss. Your heart pounded loudly in your ears and your head spun as the kiss lingered for a moment, unable to bring yourself to pull away.

It was an unexplainable, intoxicating allure that had you trapped, rendering any attempts of resisting fruitless. Her lips tasted like sin itself, enticing you deeper—and you wanted more of it. Your mind melted as the world around you seemed to blur at the edges. It just urged you to lean in a little more, fearing that to pull away would shatter this utter bliss.

“Still with me?”

Robin’s voice was a sweet and sugary lilt as she murmured against your lips, and it wrapped around your senses—lingering like the taste of salt on your tongue. You nodded, unsure if you even remembered how to speak. Or think. Or breathe.

Her lips were warm. But why was the water so cold? You could feel it rise to your ankles. Then your knees. Then your chest.

Wait—when did you step into the sea?

Your body swayed and it felt weightless. Somewhere far away, you heard the tide singing and Robin singing along with it. You could feel her hands cup your face and tilt your head deeper into the kiss. A low hum rattled in your chest, vibrating throughout your bones.

The ocean listens keenly. You should have known that.

The ocean listens keenly. You should have known that.

Your lungs felt full as she pulled away. Not tight. Not desperate. Just… full.

She was still so close. You hadn’t moved, had you? But you were closer. You blinked slowly at her as she swam in and out of focus. Were her eyes glowing? Or were yours just dimming? It was hard to tell. She hummed a soothing melody that eased your thoughts.

“I thought you sailors were clever.”

Huh?

The realisation came in slowly like thick syrup, a heaviness that settled in the pit of your stomach. You were sinking. Or had you already sunk?

Something delicately grazed your cheek. A strand of hair, drifting freely into the water. Yours or hers?

…Had you been holding your breath all this time? The ocean was in your ears. Your lungs. Salt was burning your throat and your mind. Your head tilted back instinctively to take a breath as you struggled.

But there was no air left to take.

You tried to lift your legs, but they felt heavy and sluggish. The cold ocean wrapped around you like a blanket, pressing against your skin.

The only thing you could see was Robin’s face. Crown of coral adorning her head, and gills of fish resting by her ears. The same green pools of eyes you drowned in pieced into you.

She was smiling.

“Close your eyes,” you heard her say. At least you think you did. “It’s easier that way.”

The pressure in your chest was heavy but no longer frightening. It felt familiar—like the hundreds of warnings you have heard from your masters the moment you were old enough to walk. They echoed in the back of your head.

You remembered the tales, the stories. How they had lured those before you. How the sea listened so carefully to their songs they were later consumed. You remembered the warnings passed down from generation to generation. The fear it was supposed to ignite.

But now, as you sank deeper, there was no fear. Only acceptance.

Robin’s hums echoed in the depths. It seeped into your bones to your very essence. It was the same melody you heard her sing, the same lullaby your ancestors must have heard. The one they couldn’t escape. You thought you were clever. You thought you weren’t easy to please. You thought you could even have a chance of escaping. You thought wrong.

You parted your lips, perhaps to call out the name of your family, perhaps to scream for help, but your words got lost in the water. They were swallowed by the depths.

Now you understand. Now you understand why they didn’t run, why they didn’t escape—the allure was not just the beauty, but the temptation. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t resist it. The sailors were left with no choice. Neither were you.

The ocean listens keenly. And, like it did to your ancestors, it answered.

You felt Robin’s hand graze your cheek as she gazed at you with that deceptive, soft look in her eyes. You both then shared one last kiss. Her breath—the sea’s breath, rather—filled your lungs.

And you let it. You succumbed to what was promised eternal bliss. It was easier that way.

[5targh0st]

NUMBER ONE GIRL

58. called it (written)

prev // m.list // next

"So," Ryujin takes the seat in front of Hyunjin, "what did you want to talk about?"

"I can't do this to you." He looks distressed.

"What?"

"I don't wanna sound like a narcissistic asshole but I think you like like me and I feel like I'm leading you on."

Now it makes sense. All of Hyunjin's mixed signals and awkward advances followed by radio silence. Of course, Ryujin has to admit he's right. She likes him a lot.

"Why?"

"Cause I have someone else in my mind right now. I like you, I really do; you're amazing and literally everything I've ever asked for, but-"

"You have feelings for Yn." She interrupts softly. She's not blind. She's noticed the way he looks at her now friend.

Hyunjin's voice is barely above a whisper. "Why would you say that?"

"Cause I've been there." She's honest. "Look, I've known Yeonjun for basically my whole life and there was a time when I thought I was in love with him. Maybe I was, I don't know."

How cliche can that be? Hyunjin, however, is fairly surprised by her words.

"You confessed?"

"Absolutely not. I realized I wanted to keep him in my life forever and relationships are complicated. I love him, he's my favorite person ever. But it's a different type of love." She's so sincere and wise, that's why he likes her, but he doesn't know if he can love her.

"What do you mean?"

"I want him to be happy. I don't wanna be with him romantically, but I do wanna be beside him every step of the way. I'm not sure if my feelings where ever romantic but right now they're not. Now I understand there are very different types of love. He found someone and one day I'll do the same but we'll always be together cause we're more than family."

It makes sense. He wants to see Yn happy. His love for her is not the selfish kind. He even likes Yeonjun, he's perfect for her. Different types of love, he knows it in theory, but he never stopped to think about it before.

"You thinks that what I feel for YN?" He just wants someone to give him the answers.

Ryunjin reaches for his hand and smiles at him. "I think you're a good guy and that you love her deeply, but you're the only one who can be sure of what kind of love that is."

"How?"

"Just feel." She says.

"Thank you." He caresses her knuckles.

"For what?"

"Listening and being understanding. For being you."

She laughs and he loves that sound. Love. He doesn't know how or why, but the sudden urge of farting his shit together invades him.

"Let's just have fun together. Today the world doesn't exist. You can worry about everyone else tomorrow."

notes:

we love love ���

beomgyu was definitely screaming when he saw the TS reference

ryujin deserves everything in this world

taglist: open! (17/50)

@estella-novella @poetryforthesad @lisaswifey @angelzforu @ihrtlix @gloriousqueenking @domfikeluva @circus-of-thoughts @conwunder @miniature-tragedy @jeonginplsholdmyhand @sh0dor1 @yourenzoo @tkshairband @realrintaro @castingjinx @amara-mars @hwangrfrnd @nujeskz @jisungs-iced-americano @zeizeisjy @va1entinaa @beomgyusluver @to-toad @akindaflora @hoefororeo @mandydxndy @nyanamii @delulu4-life @thatonexcgirl @starsunoo @4lndr17 @nbjch05

[organic-bloodbath]

Mingle - Part 2

Thanos x Reader

Summary: Thanos wants to protect you at all cost and has to choose whether to continue the game or take you back home. Getting to know you better, the answer is simple.

A/N: More angsty than the first part and doesn't follow the show's plot anymore. Thank you so much for all the likes on the first part, i didn't imagine it getting so many notes 🫶🏻 I wasn't sure which way to take this story, but he's 100% obsessed and in love with her.

☆☆☆

You were holding your tray, about to go to your usual spot to eat with your team and following Dae-ho in front of you but you stopped. You looked over Thanos, seeing him by himself.

"I'll see you later," you said to Dae-ho who looked confused. "I'll go sit with Thanos tonight."

"Thanos?" Dae-ho repeated, making sure he heard you correctly. "Why would you-"

You turned around and left, not wanting to answer to any other questions Dae-ho would ask you about your sudden interest to spend time with Thanos. Mostly, because you didn't know what to say.

Why? Because he just saved you a moment ago? You weren't sure if that was the only reason or not, you had to go over to him and figure it out yourself.

When you arrived to the bunk where Thanos was sitting and already eating his food, his eyes lit up.

"Is the invite still open?" you asked awkwardly, afraid that he had been only joking earlier about asking you to join him.

"For you, of course," he said, smiling, and pat the empty space next to him on the mattress. "I saved a seat for you."

You gave him a little smile and sat on that specific spot.

"For a second i thought you had changed your mind," he said, chewing his food.

"Oh, well, i wasn't sure if you truly meant it," you admitted, avoiding his eyes at first. "But then i saw you sitting alone. Why aren't you with your friends anyway?"

"I figured you'd just get uncomfortable with them," he shrugged. "And i wanted to be alone with you, even if just for a moment."

You felt your cheeks turning red. "Why?"

He gently put his hand on your chin and turned your head to look at him.

"I want go get to know you better, pretty flower," he smiled, making you turn even more red and you immediately turned your head away, the nickname making you feel funny inside once again.

"Oh," was the only sound you managed to breathe out.

"You know, from the day one i've tried to approach you but you've been ignoring me quite well," he pointed out. "You could add it on your resume as one of your skills."

"Oh, i mean," you said nervously. "I'm not used to guys trying to get close to me before, so i really didn't think much of it."

"Not used to it?" Thanos asked, acting dramatic and overly shocked, putting his hand against his chest and not believing what he was hearing. "You're that gorgeous and guys haven't gone after you? You're lying."

"Stop it," you chuckled and the smile lingered on your lips longer than before. "Maybe i just can't take a hint very easily."

"Well, tell me something about you?" Thanos asked and thought about something for a while. "Hmm, what's your favorite type of flower?"

"Flower?"

"It's for our future date, i need to make sure i'll get you something you like," he explained. "I don't want to get you roses if you don't like roses."

"Oh, well, i don't really know. Nobody ever got me flowers before," you said, the blush sticking on your cheeks like a glue. "I suppose orchids and lilies are pretty."

"I'll keep that in mind," he nodded.

His words made you feel nice and get butterflies in your stomach, but you really didn't understand what his intentions truly were. You hadn't had many guys to show interest on you before, if any, so you had been used to the fact that you might just stay alone.

You continued your conversation and lost the track of time completely. You asked about his life as a rapper and what his life goals were in the music industry, since that was really the only thing you knew about him outside these games before now talking with him. He asked about your hobbies and in general about your interests - you could sense that he was considering to include some of them to your "date" he had mentioned.

Eventually he changed the subject to the one that you would have prefered to leave alone. The one you hadn't truthfully told even to Dae-ho or Gi-hun yet.

"So, how did you end up here?" Thanos asked. "You know, debts and all."

"Well, i wouldn't want to bother you with that. It's pretty depressing," you said after being quiet for a moment, twirling the rest of your food with your fork. You were a little nervous to open up to him about it now that you were having a nice conversation, him making you even laugh here and there. But for some reason, you had started to become more comfortable around him and able to talk more freely.

"I'd be glad to hear it, if you want to share," Thanos said, encouraging you to tell him, but only if you were comfortable with it.

"Oh, well," you sighed. "The main reason i came here was because my little brother has cancer." You took a deep breath to get the words properly out of your mouth. It was already hard to think about and even harder to talk about it without crying. You tried to say the words as fast as you could, otherwise they would be stuck in your throat. "We don't have money for his treatments, my mom doesn't earn a lot from her work, and if we don't start treating it soon, he will die."

You were looking at your lap, scared to glance back at Thanos. You were feeling your eyes becoming wet and you were afraid you'd start to cry in front of him. He was quiet for a while, speechless. He hadn't been prepared for you having such a heavy reason to be here.

"How old is your brother?" Thanos asked softly.

"He's just 11," you answered and felt tears rising up into your eyes. You hated talking about this because even a single thought of losing your brother broke you. You wiped a tear off your face as soon as it had appeared out of your eye.

"I'm sorry," you chuckled, trying to force yourself to lighten up. "I didn't mean to ruin the moment."

"No, no you didn't ruin anything, it's okay," he assured you, wrapping his arm around your shoulder. "I'm sorry i made you bring it up."

You buried your face on his shoulder.

"I just want to get back home, i don't care how much money i'll get and if it's enough to cover everything," you mumbled. "I just have to go and take care of my brother."

You stayed like that for a while, Thanos comforting you the best he could. Now, the need to protect you at any cost grew even stronger.

☆☆☆

It was time to vote, whether you'd want to stay and play the games or go home with the money earned by far.

Thanos was having mixed feelings. Personally, he would have of course continued the game and played for more money - the current amount wasn't enough to cover all his debts. One more game, that was what had been going on in Thanos' head.

One more game.

But when he turned to look at you, standing further away from him with your group, your gaze stuck on the floor, looking anxious - he felt something sting and break his heart.

Every day here was a new possibility to die. None of you knew what tomorrow's game was, it was always a total surprise until you started playing it.

What if the game tomorrow would be too hard for you and you wouldn't make it? Thanos couldn't live with himself anymore if he had decided to continue the game and survived, but you lost your life, as would your brother.

Player 230.

Thanos stood in front of the two buttons, gaze jumping between them. Before getting to know you, his choice would have been simple. But now?

"Player 230," the pink guard in front of Thanos said, he hadn't realised how long he had been standing there doing nothing. "Please make your choice."

Eventually, against all the odds, Thanos pressed the red button, giving one more point to the X team. He glanced towards Nam-gyu who looked at Thanos like he couldn't believe his eyes what he was seeing. Thanos ignored him and walked to the red side, appearing next to you.

"Told you i'll get you home, pretty flower," Thanos whispered to you.

You looked at him like you were sure you were seeing things. Being here had finally made you to hallucinate. Surely he hadn't chosen to go home only because of you, he couldn't be that attached to you already.

"But you still needed a lot more money," you pointed out, furrowing your eyebrows. You would have understood if he wanted to and chose to stay. You weren't a burden he had to bear.

"And i'll find a way to pay my debts on my own," Thanos answered.

The waiting felt like it took forever. There weren't that many players left anymore, but it felt like everything was happening twice slower than in reality.

Finally, after the last player had voted, you looked at the scores and you felt like your entire world was slowing down even more and you weren't able to get air into your lungs.

The situation was 50-51. The 'O' team won yet again. You wanted to break down and cry, right then and there. When you had seen Thanos approaching you with the red patch on his jacket, somehow you were sure that this time you were going home, as if the decision was depending purely on him.

If just two more people would have voted for X, you'd be on your way home. But no, you had to stay for another game.

"I'm sorry," Thanos said and held your hand, looking genuinely concerned. "I really am."

"It's fine," was all you said until you walked back to your bunk without sparing a single glance at anyone else.

☆☆☆

Laying on your bed on your side you weren't able to sleep. You only stared ahead of you, feeling hopeless. You wanted out of this place so badly and the voting tonight had given you way too much false hope that this could actually be over soon, just to be completely crushed.

You sat up and wiped the tears off your face, trying to calm yourself so you'd be able to sleep atleast a little bit.

You were thinking about your little brother. He deserved so much more, had his entire life ahead of him. If you were able to take his cancer to you, you would take it any day and let him live. What if he had passed away during your stay here? What if you'd go back home and meet only your mother who had been crying for days and refused to eat, sleep or do anything?

You had to bite your lip to keep the sobs inside you, afraid you'd wake up the people sleeping near you.

"Can't sleep huh?" Thanos whispered, you didn't look at him. You had seen him approaching from the corner of your eye, even though you hadn't fully turned to look at him. "Listen," he continued and took your hand in his. "I'm going to make sure you'll get out of here, okay?"

"And how are you going to do that?" you scoffed, accidentally letting out a single sob. "You don't even know the next game."

He sat down on the bed with you and took your hand in his. He didn't know how he could comfort you.

"I don't, but i'll do whatever i can to get you home," he said and tried to give you a comforting smile. "I'll protect you, no matter what, and when the votings come, i'm absolutely sure that we'll get to leave this place."

"What are you going to do? Cheat the system?"

"If i have to," he smirked. He hesitated for a second until lifted his hand to wipe the remaining tears off your cheek.

☆☆☆

It was time for the next game. You arrived into a room which had four shapes on one of the walls.

The same symbols as in playing cards.

♤♡◇♧

The game was called Dalgona. It was exactly the same game Gi-hun had talked to you about in the beginning when he had thought Dalgona must be the second game like three years ago. Only the shapes had now changed.

The reason why they had suddenly brought dalgona back to this year was unclear to you. Unclear to everybody. By now everyone had thought that only the first game was the same and they had changed the rest of them to new ones.

Players were commanded to line up in front of one of the shapes, chosen by their own will. Gi-hun immediately told you to choose the diamond, it would be the easiest one.

Thanos let you go for the diamond, but he chose the heart, even though you insisted that he'd take the diamond too.

"Come on, it's not that much harder, i'll be fine," he assured you with a smile, as if it wasn't a big deal.

If you were going to die just because you accidentally cracked a wrong piece of a cookie off, that would be super embarrassing to explain in a funeral. Although, dying here you wouldn't even get a funeral.

You sat down on the floor, legs crossed, and the time started running down, one second at a time. You took the needle in your shaky hands and carefully started carving the lines of the shape, afraid to press too hard and crack the cookie in half any minute.

One thing you were afraid as well was when someone would be shot, your hand would accidentally slip due to the loud noise and make you fail too.

Thanos took quick glances at you once in a while, to make sure you were still sitting there. His hands were sweating and his heart beating fast.

The only sounds during the game were only the gunshots and the voice announcing which players had just been eliminated. You flinched each time, even though you had tried to prepare yourself for that.

This wasn't a game where Thanos would be able to help you and he hated it. On the first game, he had protected you by running in front of you. On the second game, you had other players in your group to help you. On the third game, he had saved you by taking you to a room with him when you had been left all alone.

Now, you were all on your own, he wasn't able to say a single word for you, you all had to stay quiet and only concentrate on your own task. He didn't think you were weak, not at all, he just needed to be there as a backup plan, ready to catch and save you if something went wrong.

Thanos was afraid he'd crack the cookie any second. If he was to die now, there would be one person less to vote for X and get you back home, though he couldn't know how many people from the blue side would be killed today.

He wasn't sure when had been the moment when he had decided that protecting you had become his number one priority. It just naturally came to him.

On the distance, Thanos saw one player to use a lighter to heat up the needle and then poke the cookie. By the looks of her face, she was subtly looking around her to see if the guards were watching her. He only had the pills inside his cross and they weren't much of a help for him right now.

Thanos was glad that you had chosen the easiest shape and not spades or clubs. He did believe in you and was sure to see you alive on the other side.

His heart stopped when he cracked a small piece off from the tip of the heart when he had completed the task. It was only a very tiny piece and the cookie still looked like a complete heart, but he didn't know how detailed and harsh the system was here. Thanos saw a guard approaching him and showed the heart to him, hiding the slightly broken tip with his finger as he held it up.

Pass.

Thanos let out a breath of relief, being able to breathe again properly. He didn't know why, but that was one of the most stressful games by far.

You were still carving yours as Thanos walked outside, but you weren't far behind. Just barely 20 seconds later, you had finished your task as well.

Pass.

☆☆☆

"Señorita, excuse me," Thanos said, making you stop before you managed to go and talk to Dae-ho, who had finished the challenge before you. Thanos was standing closer than you had expected, though he had seen you first.

"Yes, señor?" you said back sarcastically.

"I have a gift for you," he smiled.

"A gift?"

"I'll give you my heart if you'll let me have yours, after this is all over," he said, genuine kindness in his eyes.

"What are you on about?" That was such a cheesy and odd line to say out of nowhere, but it did make your heart skip a beat.

"When we get home tomorrow, i'll take you out soon, after you've seen your brother."

"How are you so sure we'll get home? People might vote to stay."

"Have a little bit hope, pretty flower."

He took your hand in his, you didn't resist.

"Keep this safe for me, okay?" he said and put something in your hand, closing your fist around it. Then, he left without another word.

You opened your hand, seeing the heart he had carved out from the cookie laying on your palm.

☆☆☆

The fourth game had eliminated only 29 players in total, so there was 72 left.

Thanos tried to count the players how many of them had blue patches and red patches on their jackets, but he lost count and wasn't sure if he had counted some people twice or not at all.

Thanos went to the bathroom where he found his former group.

"Well, well, well, look who it is," Nam-gyu slowly said and crossed his arms on his chest. He had three other guys around him, one of them Min-su. "Coming back to us after betraying us like that? I think not."

He stepped closer to Thanos.

"Sorry to say, but i don't think you're welcome anymore."

"I don't give a shit about you, Nam-su," Thanos said and didn't care to hear him trying to correct Thanos for saying his name wrong again. "Tonight, you better all vote for X or tomorrow i may not be in as good mood as right now, seeing you," Thanos said loudly and then glanced at Min-su, who still had the blue patch on his jacket. Thanos walked towards him and trapped him between himself and a wall. Thanos tried to change the expression on his face to more kind and sweet. "You'll do that for me, right Min-su?"

Thanos gave him a sweet smile, but Min-su hesitated without a word, both Nam-gyu and Thanos looking at him. Min-su wasn't entirely sure which side was safer for him to choose.

"What's up with you anyway? Don't tell me that woman has gotten into your head this badly. I'm not going home yet when there's more money to be earned."

"You can earn your money elsewhere," Thanos stated, gritting his teeth.

"Seriously, dude. I get that she's hot but-"

"One more word and you'll lose a tooth," Thanos threatened, pointing at him with his finger.

To be honest, Thanos wasn't sure how he had fallen so hard for you in such a little time. He had never been so smitten about a woman before, but there was something different about you, and he needed to know you better, no matter what he had to do to achieve it.

☆☆☆

The votings came and this time, it was easier for him to press X than last time. The money he had earned by far wasn't enough for his debts, but he'd figure it out how to get the rest when you had managed to get out of here.

Both of you had now voted and were only waiting for the result. Thanos glanced at you and you looked like you were going to be sick. He took your hand in his, making you jump a little bit for the sudden touch, but you let your fingers wrap between his. He gave you a comforting squeeze.

Internally, Thanos felt terrified. What if he had only given you false promises and you'd have to stay for the fifth game again? You were so broken yesterday that he didn't think he'd be able to see the same look on your face again this fast. You would definitely lose any trust you still might have for his words, not believe anything he would say to you anymore.

You hid your eyes with your left hand, not wanting to watch how the scores were changing and how much X was losing to O.

Then, all the votes were in and for a moment Thanos' heart stopped by looking at the score.

37-35.

"Y/N," Thanos whispered, finally using your real name and not only the nickname he had chosen, and brushed your left hand as a sign to let it drop from your face. "You can look now."

When you saw the scores on the broad, your knees felt so weak that you had to cling on Thanos' jacket not to fall on the floor. He wrapped his arm around your waist, and you broke down in tears.

"Oh my god," you laughed between the tears. "Thanos. Oh my god."

You wrapped your arms around his neck, startling Thanos at first how you pressed your body against his, but he wrapped his arms around you securely. Surprisingly, a hint of red was rising on his cheeks, along with a smile.

"I can go back home," you said against his jacket.

You pulled back and without thinking, you pressed a light kiss on Thanos' cheek.

"Thank you."

"So," Thanos lingered and took your hands in his. "I'll pick you up on Saturday?"

You bit your lip. "Okay."

☆☆☆

A/N: I'm not sure what i think about this compared to the first part, but i hope you liked it 🫶🏻

Tags:

@justsisse

@septywitch

[totallyanopossum]

Monster secretary part 3

Art by me

Link to master post

Part 3, 18+ art below

Art by me

R/totallyanopossum for uncensored art

Part 3, smutty smut smut

The feelings are just getting strong and stronger, she desperately needs some friction, something to clench around. She can't be stuck with this feeling for hours and not do something, it feels like if she doesn't get pleasure she'll explode. She hasn't even touched herself and she's fully soaked, she needs to do something. But she can't, not here in her bosses home, surely not with her boss, right?

It's been a few minutes of awkward silence after he dropped that new knowledge. There's a strong tension In the air, both awkward and sexual.

He didn't mean for it to happen, it's the last thing this situation needs. But her scent is getting stronger and stronger, it's affecting him, and the feel of wet arousal on his arm, he's getting the awkwardest boner of his life.

She didn't realize her feet were resting in his lap until she felt something harden beneath the balls of her feet. She glances down and can't help the cartoon look of shock that's plastered on her face as she realizes her feet are resting on his extremely large boner.

Is he affected by me? Wait, do we have mutual feelings, mutual attraction? Fuck, just how big is he? Oh I know I shouldn't but I wanna press down, feel how firm he is. Maybe he'll moan, or whimper, oh the sinful sounds we could make. Fuck, no, stop it, bad horny self.

Oh this silence is stupid, we are both turned on, both horny, both adults. My scent wouldn't have effected her like this if she didn't already have feelings for me.Even if there is a bit of a power difference here between boss and secretary, but fuck that it doesn't bother me and if it bothers her well the she can dominate me.

They both had that same thought at the same time.

D- “ Y/N”

Y/N-“ Draven"

They both said each other's names at the same time, catching them both off guard, adding another moment of hesitation.

She can't wait any longer, it's become too hard to think straight and focus, forming coherent words is beyond her at this point. She doesn't know what he was gonna say, but she's gonna go based on what his body is telling her.

Fuck it she can find another job, but getting another chance at this, to fuck a monster like him, she can't pass this up, her body is desperate for him and her lusfull mind is winning over her self control.

She grabs the hem of her shirt and throws it off, declaring her intentions loudly as her titties bounce from the recoil of her movements. Now she's like an animal in heat, she leans forward, grabs onto his hand for support as she maneuvers to straddle his arm. She's impressed all it takes is just one arm to hold her up, and how good it feels to grind on his arm. Her mind is so foggy all she knows is to keep bucking her hips and grinding on him, giving in feels so good, feels like a pressure has been released, but that's probably because she just released on him without realizing. Now his arm and pants are soaked with her arousal but she's unaware as she pants, chest raising with each ragged breath, her head hung back.

Whoa. She let loose, looks like she couldn't hold back anymore. Oh she's even more perfect then I imagined, smooth creamy skin, large pendulous breasts, oh those thighs, and perfect round ass. I wanna grab, fuck i wanna grab her but this is all her and she looks so good doing it. Using me for her pleasure. Oh, did she just? She did, all over me. Fuck I didn't get to taste, I'll have to make her do that again over my mouth next time, a few more times actually.

The ach in his pants is now painful, his slacks allowing no room to stretch against his growing length and the stain of leaking precum growing. It's time to say something now, he wants to touch her, to feel her.

D- “ y/n, darling?”

At the sound of his voice, she turns eyes locking with him immediately. Her eyes burning with a desperate hungry look.

Y/N-“ more”

D- “ p..pardon”

She shifts her gaze, eyes darting between him and the obvious bulge straining his pants. He's glad to see her interest in him, glad she wants more, and who is he to deny her that.

Y/N-“ more please”

D- “ of course darling”

He sets her down on the couch, she pouts, looking very upset about her new position and lack of contact. She won't be pouting long though it's his turn to undress. He starts by casting off his shirt and unbuckling his belt. He likes the way her eyes are glued to his every movement, just waiting to get sight of his impressive length. He hopes the size doesn't scare her off, but doubts that will happen with the way she smells, and how she licks her lips as his pants drop. This makes his hunger spike, cock grow to its full length, and his tentacles unfurl. They reach around for something to grab onto, something to squeeze, something to hold down.

Y/N-“ Whoa”

D- “ are you pleased darling?”

She doesn't have the words to convey her reaction, so she acts. She settles on her knees on the couch and reaches out with a grabbing motion, beckoning him over. She wants a closer look, she's never seen anything like it before, so big, both in length and girth.

He can't deny her and steps closer, making her level with his cock. His tentacles have a mind of their own, one pulling the tie from her hair making it fall cascading over her shoulders, the other fondling her swollen breasts making her moan with just the slightest squeeze.

His leaking cock bobs infont of her face as she admires it. The way it's girthiest at the base, how the tip is slightly flared with barbs just underneath, all the textured ridges, the way it's alright glistening with precum, and those tentacles already grabbing her.

Oh fuck this is going to break me, split me in two. That's if it will even fit, but oh I really want it to fit even if he breaks me this will be worth it. I need this, I need to be stretched, I need to be stuffed, I need to be broken.

She reaches out grabbing at the base with both hands, her fingertips don't even have a chance of reaching around him. She looks up at him while she licks and sucks on the tip, just the tip fills her mouth, stretching her jaw wide open, but it's so worth it. She's never tasted anything like this, the flavor delicious and indescribable and she wants more, needs more, she's gonna milk him for everything he's got.

He didn't expect her to be so bold, or for her touch to feel this exceptionally good. It's been so long since he's been with someone, he's embarrassed that just with a minute of her mouth on him he already feels his climax quickly approaching.

He lets out a deep growl and carefully fists her hair, his claws accidentally brush against her scalp eliciting a breathy moan muffled by his cock in her mouth.

D- “ im.. I'm gonna”

This makes her suck and flick her tongue more vigorous, like she wants him to cum quickly. But that's because she does, she's being driven by greedy hungry intentions of milking her boss.

He's about to cum, his tentacles squeeze her breasts hard, he bucks his hips and uses his hold on her hair to drive himself further in her mouth, making her let out choked sounds and the huff of heavy breathing coming from her nose. He hasn't released in so long, this load is very large, seeming endless, wave after wave hitting the back of her throat.

Delicious. Thank fuck he didn't pull out, can't waste a drop of it. Oh this is addicting.

Once he comes back to reality, he looks down admiring the way her lips are stretching around him, the tears rolling down her reddened cheeks, and that hungry devious look.

Oh she wants more, good so do I. She's gotten to have a taste of me but I haven't gotten a taste of her yet, how unfair, time to change that.

He pulls out of her mouth, making a lewd pop sound. He wrangles his tentacles, getting them off of her. It's time to take this to the bedroom so he can properly enjoy her.

He leans down and picks her up, placing her over his shoulder, grabbing her ass and squeezing as he takes her to his bedroom. Her plush soft body against his feels amazing, his fingers digging into her ass and thighs, her large breasts pressed against his shoulder and back, heavenly.

He playfully throws her down onto the bed, loving the way her body jiggles from the impact.

Oh he's perfect. Ravish me.

He goes to his knees at the foot of bed, reaches out grabbing hold of her thighs and drags his meal to the edge of the bed. He slips a claw under the soaked fabric of her underwear and cuts them off of her. Now she's fully bare to him.

She's perfect. What a pretty leaking pussy. A delicious meal all for me. Oh my dreams never came close to this.

He inhales her scent right from the source, the pheromones are intoxicating. Large hands pinning her legs open to the bed, he knows this will make her wriggle and writhe but she's not gonna escape his grasp. He glides his tongue between her slick folds getting his first taste of her delicious arousal, he immediately dives in sinking his tongue deep within her making her gasp and fist the blankets.

His tongue, fuck I already feel a stretch and it's just his tongue, his massive cock is gonna break me. Break me please. OH SHIT THATS MY CERVIX. DID HE JUST? HES TONGUE FUCKING MY CERVIX!

Good girl, yes gimme more sinful lewd moans. Try all you want, you're not going anywhere. That's it let me open you up, good girl take it.

Her back is arching off the bed, she's writhing under his expert tongue. He changes his hold, using his forearms to pin her thighs and his hands on her chest to keep her down. She looks so small and helpless trapped beneath his hold, so beautiful the way she struggles uselessly.

She clenched down around him hard, her legs shaking, body trembling, eyes rolling back as she cum harder than she ever has before.

Mouth open pressed against her pussy he waits for his treat, his delicious meal. He drinks up every drop, savoring everything she gives him. He slowly pulls his tongue out, leaving her empty clenching around nothing, feelings so empty. He releases his hold on her and just gazes at his beautiful little human as she slowly comes back to reality.

Eventually she opens her eyes, sits up a bit and looks at him, she's amazed and hungry for more. She never thought she’d be in a position to beg her boss for sexual acts but here she is. He said orgasming would ease the horny hunger but now it just feels stronger and unimaginably desperate, like if she doesn't get impaled on his cock soon she'll die.

She manages to sit up and grabs onto the horns coming from his collar bones for stability, not trusting herself to stay upright.

Y/N-“ more please”

He stays silent, he wants to see if she'll beg for more, for him.

Y/N-“ Mister Draven Please fuck me, use me, fill me. Please Boss I need you to fill me up, I'll do anything”

D- “ anything?”

Y/N-“ Yes!”

D- “ good girl, your gonna take everything I give you, your body is mine, we're not done until I say so, understood”

Y/N-“ yes, yes, please”

She's perfect and all mine. She'll get everything she begged for and more. I didn't know my scent hormone was this strong, poor Lil thing needs more pleasure, needs my cock.

He scoops her up, feeling her grip on his horns tighten as she's lifted off the bed, her legs over his shoulder, wet cunt dripping against his chest.

He climbs in bed, lays her down, and straddles her body hovers over her, loving how tiny she is beneath him, he's gonna have to be careful not to hurt her. 1 set of tentacles bind her breath together so he can titty fuck her while the other set trace along her neck and face. He lines up and thrusts, with each thrust her whole body gets jiggled. He's never felt something so soft or smooth before as he slides between her around breasts, he lets his head tilts back and enjoy the heavenly softness.

His tentacles really do have a mind of their own, the free set not binding her have taken interest with her mouth. They goes for her mouth, it's already open, panting,so they slip in, feeling around her cheeks and tongue, then exploring further back into her throat. She starts to choke, making Draven check to see what's happening, for a moment he's concerned but knows she can handle this.

D- “ swallow darling, let them in…. Good girl just like that, don't resist”

He's not in control of his tentacles but he can feel them and the feelings of her swallow around them is pushing him over the edge. A few more gulps and his thrusts become erratic and desperate. He lets out a loud growl as he releases all over her chest and face.

The tentacles release her breasts and come out of her throat, each tentacles scooping up cum and taking it to her mouth. She sucks off every bit of his delicious cum, noticing the whines that escape Draven as she sucks.

She needs to cum again, the feeling so urgent it's her only focus. Breathing, surviving, all secondary concerns tossed aside, there's only one goal and she needs it NOW.

She turns and gets In doggy position, presenting her ass and dripping cunt to him. She even wiggles her ass back and forth trying anything to get him inside her.

Wow she's presenting her ass to me, I have made her wait but she'll get her prize now.

He repositions herself, resting her on the balls of her feet, while his tentacles wrap around her thighs and waist to hold her in place. He slides his tips back and forth between her wet folds getting himself lubed up while teasing her overly sensitive clit. He's a bit worried about making it fit, he might break her, but she did beg to be filled, and how can he deny her, his cute little needy secretary.

He lighs up with her entrance and slowly starts to push in, it's slow going at first, not much progress he'll have to be more forceful.

Y/N-“ please please fill me Draven”

D- “ I don't want to hurt you darling”

Y/N-“ i don't care, fill me, fuck me, I need you inside me… Please”

Her voice is heavy with desperation, she sounds on the verge of tears with her last ‘please’. That sound of her distress triggers his instincts he now feels a strong deep drive to give her what she's begging for.

He pushes hard forcing his way in, she whines, moans, and claws at the bed while the pain mixes with pleasure. She cries out loudy as she finally opens up and he sinks in half way. The girthiest portion is still unable to fill her, but half is good progress. His tentacles increase their grip on her as she starts to lose her balance.

He had the intention to start slowly but instincts and hunger have taken over. The room filled with the lewd sounds of her wet cunt getting abused, his growls, and her sinful crying moans. As he drills into her she starts to open up more and more, he's almost balls deep.

Nothing will ever compare to this, my pussy belongs to him now. I didn't think I could stretch this much, I feel like I'm gonna break, I'm stretched to the limit, it stings so good.

No pussy will ever compare to hers, I've never been inside anything so tight before, so wet. I'm never letting her go.

Her body has gone weak, only being held up by him as he drills into her. She's come so many times she's lost count, her body in a constant state of over-sensitisation, twitching and squinting making a mess. Each powerful thrust pushes her tear stained face into the bed, as her walls stretch to their limits, cervix being slammed with every ball deep thrust.

The fog clouding her mind is taking over, her vision going dark, her limbs completely weak, she blacks out her mind and body have reached their limit.

Did she pass out? She did, oh little darling got more than she bargained for but I'm not done and she did agree her body is mine and we're not done till I say so, so more of her swollen little cunt for me.

He's getting close, and his tentacles are a bit upset to have missed out on the fun when the game is almost over. They don't need to restrain her fully anymore so the set holding her waist releases to explore her ass. Her cheeks are already spread apart, her unsuspecting ass just waiting to be filled. Her body unconscious and relaxed, the tentacles twist together forming one and they begin pushing into her empty hole quickly.

This new sensation startles her awake, she lets out a yelp, very disoriented trying to figure out the new sensation. She felt impossibly full before but now she's just amazed at her body's capacity to handle so much. This stretch though isn't that good sting, this pain would be unbearable if there wasn't the pleasure of Draven drilling into her pussy. Another way of orgasms hit her, bringing her tired body back to the brink of consciousness again.

Her wave of orgasms has her clenching down hard, tipping him over the edge instantly and he spills a huge load deep inside her, filling her up. His seed adds to the lewd puddle of their arousal pooling on the bed, her little cunt just couldn't handle all of his load.

He pulls out, gets his tentacles to retract fully, and carefully lays her down on the lounge chair so he can clean up the bed. His poor little secretary isn't a match for his stamina, maybe with time she'll be able to go a few more rounds.

Once the beds changed, it was time to clean her up. When she wakes they can take a proper shower but for now a quick wipe will have to do. He gives them both a washcloth bath, taking care to be gentle with his little darling she did so good today. He lays her in bed making sure she's tucks under the covers, all safe and settled. He's not wiped out tired like she is, so he dressed, grabs a book and sits next to her bed, he doesn't want her to wake up alone.

[guillemelgat]

Language Goals 2025

As I said in my last post, I'm slowly getting better at figuring out how to set goals which both push me out of my comfort zone and which actually orient me towards what I'm trying to do. This year my main goal is to just remember how to be a learner again; I feel like recently I've gotten a little too in-my-head about how I need to be perfect before I speak, and actually this tends to be a problem I have in general - I won't talk to people unless I feel like I can talk perfectly, but that's not how you learn. I'm also trying to get better at setting reasonable timelines for what it takes to get to a particular level of language, which I have a better feel for at this point, and taking into account how much time I'm spending on the language every day (it shouldn't feel overwhelming if it's supposed to be a brief warmup). With these in mind, here are my goals for the year:

CATALAN

This year, I really want to speak Catalan with more people. That's the bottom line. I'm at a level where I need to be doing language immersion, and that means not being shy about not knowing how to say things or starting off the conversation wrong or any number of things (this historically has been less of a problem for Catalan with me, but for some reason I was absolutely taken out last summer and essentially went partially mute from social anxiety, so we're going to find out what was up with that and try to coax me away from it). I also want to learn to speak the Valencian dialect of Catalan better, and hopefully I'll get the chance to do that!

I'm planning to continue my reading challenge as well, but I'm going to make a separate post about that.

BASQUE

I want to improve my Basque vocabulary, and also my listening comprehension skills. I want to finish Eskamak kentzen and also watch/listen to more things in Basque. I think I just need a whole bunch of audio input - I know a lot of the words, but it's still very hard for me to parse them in speech. In order to improve my vocabulary, I want to do a quick vocab review every day when I get to the library, before I start my work. That way, I'll have a constant, easy, long-term exposure to a wider variety of words, and hopefully after a few months I'll start remembering some!

WELSH

I'm not entirely sure what I want to do with Welsh this year - I feel a bit directionless with it, so I might put it on pause until it feels like the right time to take it up again. But I'd also like to get more listening and vocabulary practice - I can understand large portions song lyrics without looking them up, which is a huge step forward for me. If watching Rownd a Rownd seems like the vibe, I might try to take that up again. We'll see, this one is more open.

MALAYALAM

Mostly, my goal with Malayalam is just to keep taking class, but also I'd really like to get over my fear of speaking. I struggle to pronounce a lot of the letters, and I don't know a lot of words, but if I work on these, I think I'd feel more confident. (I do also just need to feel okay with looking like a fool, though.) By the end of the year, I hope I'm able to have conversations in class or with my family without wavering too much, even if I forget something or mess up the pronunciation.

OTHER LANGUAGES

One main thing I want to work on is learning how to learn a small amount of a language but still being able to use it with people. There are a few different languages which I've wanted to learn for a while but haven't had the time - I'm hoping that maybe I can work up the courage to learn a few phrases, talk to someone, and perhaps learn a thing or two. This is very open-ended, but it's more a challenge for me to expand my comfort zone.

Aaaand that's a wrap! Here's to 2025 being a good year for languages, at least!

[pinnesasong]

Aw—How sweet of you to think of dear old me! I'm blown away by such care; Y'know, I will keep that in my mental notepad because my dear friend advised it to me. Spoiler alert, that's you, Toddy dearest. Don't you worry, I'm going to have fun thinking of gifts for you and Neil, while also getting myself something in the process.

That's more like it! Thank you very much for looking at it from our perspectives. I really mean that... And—Oh, please! Worry yourself not over it! It's all meant for your ears, and at the moment, I am in no need for you to say cordial things my way! I don't mind, really! All in your own pace and time! I love saying pleasant things about my friends, y'know, especially if they rightfully deserve it! Sure, tout à fait! You're actually a part of a list of people who has told me that over the course of my young life. (Alright, I won't! Heh.)

... Really now? Well, I'll think about your suggestion, Todd. I should bring an old blanket, huh? I do admit, such a simple fix has evaded my mind for quite some time. (It's that blasted trigonometry test recently... Didn't do so well on it...) You're quite the insightful individual, what a delight it is to have you!

Ah—I totally forgot! My deep apologies for my accidental ignorance, I don't mean to encroach upon your private space with Neil! It definitely feels like the Germans during the Second World War, driving their rusty tanks and boisterous vehicles all over the courtyard of the Chateau de Versailles, encroaching on the regal atmosphere of that human monument to splendor and opulence! I'll go see if Stephen and Gerard have some space to spare in their room—If push comes to shove, maybe I can talk to Mr. Nolan, make it seem like my parents want to rent me one of those unused dorm rooms in the upper floors of this building. Pray for me so that I don't get haunted by or get possessed by a ghost or some shit—

just noticed that stick is the shortest student that mr. keating has lmao

[palamedesnutz]

[beargregor]

Chef greg delivery just for you. it's a wonder I hadn't bearified him yet, he's my fave greg too 🔪

gays literally only want one thing (to be chopped up and eaten by a depressed man) and it's fucking disgusting

[manasurge]

1/3 of the way done of this last page, then I can finally post it all o|-<

[realmbred]

some would refer to him as simple minded, but klogrog saw it as just paying attention to what was important. like not breaking stuff so that he would lose out on some of the coin he was going to get.

“then i will make sure to follow whoever you have as my guide. as long as i slouch a little, i think i should be able to make it through any spaces that you might have.” although that wasn't certain. the half-giant had never been inside of prince solomon's castle. for all he knew, everyone was short and skinny and could fit in the most narrow of hallways. he hoped that wasn't the case. “i'll be careful. nothing you need to worry about.” he might have been a brute in the battlefield, but he also knew when to remain low and try his best not to call any attention to himself.

which included not breaking things, so his mind was already set on walking slow and steady when they got there. he nodded once. a part of him preferred to keep his answers short. especially since he didn't really know the politics of this land. at least solomon seemed to be accepting of outsiders, but up to what point. “handsome sum indeed. although they were late upon arrival, so that's in the past now.” just because the offer brought him to the new kingdom didn't mean that he felt any loyalty to his alleged new boss. especially when someone else offered up money. both quicker and with added benefits.

　　while he listened to the giant's noble promises, the prince's green gaze remained fixed on the road ahead of them. a very familiar route, but he did not want to risk any possible accidents.

　　"i will make sure you are properly guided through the kitchens. you do the job of two men, which should make it easier for everyone." no need to have two servants doing their best to coordinate their movements through the narrow spaces. "there is not much for you to break, nothing too costly at the very least.. if anything were to happen, you would have to pay in coin." if that was enough to discourage clumsy moves, solomon hoped so. "your invitation to stay and dine remains, however, for the time you are serving us alone."

　　just the fact that klogrog was concerned about breaking anything was enough for solomon to trust that he'd make an active effort not to cause any trouble. it did bring a smile to the prince's features, feeling his trust put on the half-giant was being more validated with each passing moment. "that must have been a tiring journey." his brow raised. chasque was quite a far away kingdom, and it surprised the prince that klogrog would come all the way from there just to meet a client to protect. "your client to protect must have promised quite a handsome payment for your care, if it brought you all the way here."

[todayisafridaynight]

So Allegedly Infinite Wealth is 100 hours... not that you can't already spend that long on the games if you really want to, but I'd say it's the first time that could be said to be the base experience rather than a time only hardcore completionists are likely to get.

Yokoyama was talking at length about wanting to make the game worth the price tag since the team is incredibly conscious about the value of the players' time and money. They essentially feel they owe players ten times what they paid, so they're aiming for "an enjoyable 100 hours, but also an unforgettable 100 hours."

If they pull it off, I personally think it'd be 100% worth it and not just a "well other studios are doing it so we can get away with it too" price hike... I'm at least happy to know that's not the intent, and I'm intrigued to see how everything pans out and what the ratio is between story and side content

oh yayaya i saw that article this morning!!! 100 hours is actually so unfathomable to me in terms of an rgg game- i mean y7 was At Minimum around 45~50 hours but when i think of other RPGS that easily dip into 70's and 100's of hours, i'm not too surprised to see LAD start to climb towards those numbers now. it'd be such a jump in rgg's terms tho, so i'm TRULY curious to see where the nearly doubled gameplay hours comes from..

i really appreciate yoko's respect not just to RGGS but also to its customers: they want to make a great product, but they also don't want to sacrifice what they want to do to do that in the process

[goldentigerfestival]

Forgot to post this earlier but I did in fact comb the entire Vesperia script to determine how many times he uses ま/まあ throughout the game, along with a few other phrases he uses repeatedly. This counts all of main story, every single sidequest, and every single skit in the game.

Final counts were:

ま/まあ: 280

Ma/Maa; translates to "well". He uses this at the beginning of a sentence usually, but it's sometimes in the middle. "Ma" is usually more quick and snappy. "Maa" is more thoughtful and/or prolonged. Obviously it can vary based on context, but that's the general breakdown.

んじゃ and any variants: 133

Nja, along with variants such as "ja", "soreja", etc. Variants are counted when they're all used to express "let's get going", when they're about to head off ("ja" could be used in a sentence such as "ja/but then, why is xyz like this", etc). They encompass translations such as "well then" (let's get going implied. includes "so then", "then" "alright then", and so on), "we should be off", "let's get going", "let's go", etc. (not to be confused with 行こう(ikou), 行くぜ, (ikuze), and other similar versions of this phrase. That can also mean "let's go", but any instances of Yuri using that particular phrase was not counted because it wasn't a variant of, specifically, んじゃ, which is also his most common "let's go" ja variant).

おい / おいおい: 66

Oi/Oi oi; translates to "hey"/"hey, hey", though "oi" is more or less an accepted word in English nowadays.

おっと: 12

Otto (not to be confused with "oto", referring to sound); an expression of surprise that can translate roughly to "whoa there" (which is the most common translation I do see for it and what I'd use in most cases too, context of course varying). The reason I included this one despite it being so seemingly low in number is because it's not a particularly common expression, much less one used multiple times by a single character? It's so rare from anyone else, which is just a regular thing relative to Yuri and his dialogue/speech (i.e. most characters sparingly use phrases repeatedly, as compared to Yuri... as you can see lol. Other characters use these words/phrases, but nowhere near as regularly, if regularly at all).

Realized along the way I should've included やれやれ (yare yare, "good grief", "oh dear", "oh boy" etc), but by the time I realized I should have in case it was an interesting count, I was too far into the script to be able to handle going all the way back through it LOL.

No. No, I am not joking that Yuri used ま/まあ 279 times throughout the course of the game. That is to say, it could be more if I missed any, but on the assumption I didn't, that's where it stands.

Why do I love this so much? Because it's a very specific character quirk of a character I adore. I'm very fond of his repetition. Thank you.