#oh i do also need a horrific tie

[infamousjingle-horse]

can’t believe i almost bought disco trousers at boohoo when for the same price at cancer research i got a full outfit including metallic brogues. now all i need to do is write ‘fuck the world’ on the back of my old bikie jacket

[panlight]

I feel there's just so much wrong with the entire imprinting concept in the Twilight books.

The concept of never being able to say no or essentially make your own decisions because of the girl/whoever you imprinted almost sounds like a romanticized version of domestic abuse. Google describes it as "pattern incidents of controlling, coercive, degrading and violent behavior, etc". Now the threatening wouldn't be necessary because they literally don't have any choice or say in the matter. The entire idea of obsession and doing whatever pleases the person I've imprinted on sounds degrading, that you're now longer you're own person capable of making you're own choices. I find this ironic because SM literally tells us the underlying theme of these books is about choice. None of the wolves have a choice. They didn't choose to be wolves (shape shifters), they don't choose who they imprint on and they definitely don't choose what they get to do after imprinting. Did SM find it all romantic? Because everytime it's mentioned it just gives me the ick. The wolves are my favorite characters in the books and seeing them being forced into all this is so annoyinggg! They deserved SO much better.

Also, it shocks me that after all the success SM gained from tts that she didn't donate a penny to the Quileute tribe. It's super disappointing.

Oh, yeah, with you 100% on imprinting. I've never found it romantic. It reads as straight-up horror to me. Who even ARE you if you don't have free will? If you have to be whatever someone else needs? And beyond that it just feels fake and empty to me. Sam loved Leah. When he had a choice, he chose Leah. Magic overruled him and picked Emily instead. Why am I supposed to think his love for Emily is the 'real' love?

I get that the fantasy is supposed to be from the imprintee's POV, the fantasy of having this guy who is 100000% devoted to you, will never leave you, you never have to worry about cheating, he is there for you and will do whatever you want or need him to do. But that's not . . . that's not like a person who loves you, that's like a robot programmed to fulfill your wishes. For me, there's no real love without choice. This dude isn't choosing to show up for you every day if he has no other choice. It feels fake and arbitrary. Like a love potion, like Cupid's arrow.

And hell yes, the lack of choice with the wolves is a pattern and a really unsettling one given that she chose to make these characters Indigenous and tie their wolf-ness to that identity. They don't get to choose to be wolves, they don't get to choose who they love, within those relationships they have no agency and have to be/do whatever their partner wants, and then there's also the Alpha Order! They can literally be forced to obey, no choice there either. Again, this is straight up horror stuff. Loss of free will, loss of identity. That whole passage when Jacob imprints on Nessie is the stuff of nightmares to me. Everything that Jacob cared about, everything that made him who he was, is cut away and he is bound to a half-vampire baby instead. And now he has to keep phasing forever to stay immortal with her. To paraphrase Rosalie: this isn't the life he would have chosen for himself.

There are ways in which Twilight vampires get a raw deal too (when I'm sick and have a sore throat it's like, the Worst, so dealing with that forever and on a supernatural scale sounds horrific) but they still have CHOICES. Carlisle had the free will and agency to run to the forest and starve himself as a newborn. Rosalie had the will to kill her attackers without drinking their blood. Edward chose to leave Bella for a time when we're told Jacob spending any real time away from Nessie would be impossible because of the imprint. The vampires may have to FIGHT their nature sometimes, but SM lets them win more often than not. Carlisle can be a doctor; the Denali sisters can sleep with humans; Edward can resist Bella's blood; Bella can be the best newborn ever and not kill her dad. But the only time a shifter character is allowed to fight his nature is when Jacob defies Sam to break off and form his own pack, and that's only because of the loophole that Jacob was himself the rightful alpha. No one else has that option. Leah has to choose between allowing Sam or Jake to have alpha power over her.

Which is all why I thought Jacob's whole thing would be fighting an imprint. It would be so in character for him and such a good parallel to the vegetarian vampires fighting their thirst. I wanted to see Jacob say 'no, I don't care what destiny says, I will make my own path.' And you know if SM had had him imprint on literally anyone BUT Nessie or Bella she would have written about him fighting it! It would have been so cool! But no, because ultimately this is Bella's fantasy life, and part of her happily ever after is keeping Jacob around literally forever even though HE wouldn't have chosen an immortal life with the Cullens like Bella did.

[atopvisenyashill]

Hey! Just wanted to say that I read your post on Jaehaerys and his daughters — pretty horrific, especially in how it really isn’t that much of a stretch to see the evidence of you’re looking for it. I’d always read Jaehaerys as being a monstrous father to his daughters, especially Saera, but your commentary on Gael was particularly convincing.

I haven’t been able to read through all of your thoughts on this, but I was wondering if you noted Jaehaerys’s strange reticence to outlaw the ‘right of the first night’ (F&B, 263-265)? Gyldayn writes the passage as if Jaehaerys treats the issue dispassionately, but he also says that Jaehaerys was “sympathetic but reluctant,” “uncomfortable,” and that Jaehaerys “threw up his hands” when Septon Barth agreed with Alysanne that the practice was vile. Could tie in with your idea that Jaehaerys showed an entitlement over control of his daughters’ virginities, just as he sought to protect his vassals’ ‘right to the first night.’

Another point that stuck out to me on a first read that I didn’t know what to do with until now was Gyldayn’s assertion that “until the reign of King Jaehaerys, the ancient right to the first night had been invoked mayhaps more oft on Dragonstone than anywhere else in the Seven Kingdoms” (F&B 429). Which implies that the practice happened after the Conquest, too. The only possible perpetrators would be Aegon the Conqueror, Aenys I, Maegor the Cruel, Aegon the Uncrowned, and Jaehaerys, as the only male Targaryens old enough to do so before it was outlawed at the end of 58 AC. What do you think?

Thank you for the compliment first. I do agree I think the Saera and Gael parts are the most solid, and of his children, I think they're the ones most likely to have experienced some sort of overt sexual abuse from their father. I guess if you want My Opinion and not just Meta About His Behavior, I think Jaehaerys was likely molesting Saera starting around when Alysanne starts miscarrying and is put on bedrest, and moved onto Gael after the Second Quarrel ended. I think the freaky stuff with Alyssa, Daella, and Viserra was more likely some deeply weird parenting decisions from Alysanne although I cannot stress enough that I do think there might have been like. idk the beginnings of weird behavior with those three (Viserra's drinking, wanting to marry Daella off so young, Alyssa's sex obsession) that was likely cut off before any of the girls would clock it as inappropriate due to their marriages. I also think it's likely he molested Viserys and Alicent; with Alicent it was probably very similar to the Saera and Gael stuff (and...I think it's likely both Alicent and Otto knew when Alicent walked into that room what was going to happen) and with Viserys it was more along the lines of that repeated "older Targaryen takes younger Targaryen out into Flea Bottom to get fucking and sucking" a la show Daemyra, Visaemon, and Aegond, but probably Jaehaerys (being like, old, creepy, lonely, always imagined that when Viserys was young and skinny he looked much more fem which is part of why he starts Eating His Feelings as an adult, because he feels it makes him more masculine looking, that's just me tho) got handsy and Viserys just kinda let it happen figuring it was normal, so it escalated because Viserys wasn't really fighting it.

As for Jaehaerys and prima noctus...yeah, I think it's so fucking weird and not talked about enough that he really needs to be talked around into outlawing it, and he only starts to give on this after Barth, a man, starts to speak up against it. Before that in the conversation, Alysanne and him are really going back and forth and he is not giving her any ground here. He even seems to defend it when it comes to Valyrians (of course) which I also think is nauseatingly glossed over when it comes to discussing how whack Jaehaerys is about sex and women. And people always wanna say like "oh i bet it fell out of favor post-Conquest" yeah we have no fucking evidence of that. It's the same when people are like "Baelon can't be Ulf's father Baelon would NEVER-" Baelon is a paper thin character who canonicly usurps his beloved brother's niece, you cannot say with any sort of certainty that that man wasn't up to some nefarious sex crimes just like 80% of his relatives. As a matter of fact, I have kinda wondered if the show's little brothel escapade thing is a take on this - that perhaps it was incredibly common for Targaryen men to take younger male relatives out into the villages on Dragonstone and find some newlywed maidens to molest. Especially because like, Orys is mentioned as an example of this, and he has his own last name (rather than being called a Orys Waters), so it makes me incredibly suspicious of what in the fuck Aerion Targaryen was doing and teaching his kids. I think its very likely that Maegor, Aenys, and Aegon the Uncrowned were up to heinous shit like that and it's completely glossed over by Gyldayn because it makes them look bad.

[moutainrusing]

dark fic

911 words, @wolfstarmicrofic

Study sessions usually went predictably for Remus. Some thick kid would ask him a question, he’d pretend to care, they’d leave happy. The only reason he did them was to boost his credit; by being a werewolf, he automatically had none.

He was in the middle of a session with Sybill (she was struggling with her Charms NEWT, and he had no idea why someone so oblivious would even continue with NEWTs), when Sirius sauntered in, claiming he was bored.

Smirking at Sybill, Sirius threw himself into Remus’s lap, and began laving his tongue over Remus’s throat, eyes fixed on her as electrifying storms brewed inside them.

He kept his gaze on her lips as he grinded against Remus, and his heart swelled hearing Remus laugh when her mouth fell open, tongue lolling out as if she were in a trance.

“You bitch,” Remus whispered in his ear.

But then Sybill began speaking. Her voice was quiet and eerie, yet solid and firm. “James Potter is going to die.”

Sirius froze. Remus pushed him off and turned on Sybill. “The fuck?”

“James Potter is going to die,” she continued, deaf to their confusion. “He will be betrayed by one of his dearest friends. Dog. Wolf. Rat. One will betray him. James Potter is going to die. He will be sent to his grave by the one to rat his secret out.”

Sirius finally got his voice back. “IS PETER THE TRAITOR?!”

But her trance-like state had vanished. She blinked at them, eyes huge behind her glasses. “Huh?”

Sirius leaned across the table to grab her tie. “IS PETER THE TRAITOR?!”

She stuttered. “I don’t know. What are you—”

“Sirius,” Remus pulled him back. “I don’t think she can remember her prophecy. But yes, the traitor’s Peter. The rat’s the one who rats James out.”

“Oh.” Sirius turned around and slammed his mouth onto Remus’s. He opened their lips to murmur, “We need to kill him.”

Remus nodded, and sucked the words deeply into his lungs as he kissed Sirius even harder.

They were going to kill him.

- - -

The glint of the knife Sirius was sharpening matched the glint in his eyes and the glint of his grin. Remus kissed him, knife in between them, blade honed on Peter.

- - -

They crept out of their bed in the dead of night. Remus opened the curtains of Peter’s canopy, while Sirius towered above the sleeping boy, drool falling from his gaping mouth as his snores permeated the air.

Peter may look innocent. But he was a killer. Sirius didn’t look innocent at all. He was also a killer.

But he didn’t mind being a killer, because he was doing it with Remus. They were killers together, beautifully barbaric and barbarically beautiful.

Together, they raised their wands, and cast the spell to force Peter into his Animagus form. Rat. He squeaked at them, curling into himself as his small, beady eyes widened at the knife in Sirius’s other hand.

Peter tried to transform back, but Remus and Sirius held the spell, wands fixed on him. With his free hand, Remus grabbed Peter—

- - -

“What are you doing?!” James cried, flinging his curtains open.

Sirius kept his wand trained on Peter, now squirming in Remus’s hand. “Saving your life.”

“How is this saving my life?!” James rushed to try and pry Remus’s fist around Peter open.

“Because, James.” Remus simply stretched his arm out of James’s reach. Sirius smiled. He always knew his Moony’s height was an asset.

“We love you,” Sirius finished. “Now, let us kill him for you.” He raised his knife to Peter’s head, poking out of Remus’s fist and twitching horrifically.

“What the fuck?” James stared in horror. “Put the knife down.”

Sirius hummed. “I don’t think I will. I only want you to live. You’re my brother, and I’ll do anything for you.” He grinned violently. “Especially killing.”

“Mm, yeah,” Remus smiled. “We love killing almost as much as you, James.”

James was speechless. He lunged for the knife in Sirius’s hand. Sirius had to drop it in order to punch him away.

They both looked over James’s body, sprawled across the floor. Remus nodded appreciatively. “Mean left hook.”

Sirius looked at him adoringly. “Thanks, Moons.”

Remus’s gaze softened. “You’re lovely.”

Sirius smirked. “I know. Now let’s kill him.”

But as he crouched to pick up his knife, the direction his wand was pointing shifted.

- - -

Peter sunk his teeth into Remus’s hand, and Remus yelped, letting go of both Peter and his wand.

Peter transformed back to his human form, grabbed Remus’s wand, and Obliviated him. Remus collapsed next to James.

Sirius growled in outrage, moving to plunge his knife into Peter’s throat with such momentum that it was easy to dodge. It sank through the wall, and in that time, Peter aimed Remus’s wand at him, and cast, “Obliviate.”

His three friends lay unconscious next to each other.

He’d get revenge for this.

He’d be nice to James. Give him a way out of this cruel world.

He’d punish Sirius. Get him locked up. Dementors would be a nice touch.

He’d scar Remus. More than how the wolf did. Remus would be abandoned and alone for the rest of his life.

- - -

Next morning, James woke up and rubbed his aching skull. “Did we drink too much last night?”

“Yeah,” Peter replied quietly.

Sirius frowned. “Why is my—”

Remus slapped a hand over Sirius’s mouth. “Why’s there a knife in the wall?”

[brainrockets]

I think that the Steel moment from this first episode of Arc 3 is so juicy.

There's some thread about trust and family and how it intersects with the machinery of Empire.

Sort of like, Steel is Suvi's mom, but also her boss commanding officer. And when you work with/for family, there are some lines that can get blurred. We've already seen how this has some benefit to Suvi. In the leeway she has for messing up. But now we see how it cuts the other way when Steel is using the trust she has as her mom to get Suvi to comply with her orders for her job.

Aabria played it brilliantly, sort of noting that she's having this moment where her friends have damaged her trust in them (and Steel really made a hard case to her last arc about trusting anyone but her... like trust me, trust us, maybe don't trust whoever gave you that prophecy tho... oh how sad everyone is too wrapped up in secrets to trust. >.>) and needing fundamentally someone to trust in, so in a situation where she wants to push back, she feels cornered by this need and her need for acceptance and love.

And as I've seen others note, Steel setting the scene super casually as to invoke her family tie rather than her official tie is epic manipulation tactics.

I love the way Aabria and Brennan are building this world together.

And I think it's the tension in Steel's character that Wren observed, that Steel is of the Citadel first and everything else second. Which is why she didn't refer to Steel as someone to be implicitly trusted.

And someone who belongs to an institution first, particularly an imperial institution, can be a lovely person who is nice and who loves their family and who also turns around and does fully horrific acts for their institution. Steel could have been responsible for Suvi's parents' demise and still sleep decently at night if she took those actions for the good of The Citadel/Empire.

Brennan: let's explore how the doers of evil deeds are sometimes nice people interpersonally. An excellent nuance to learn.

Yeah some bad guys are mustache twirling bastards who are rotten to their core. And some bad guys are nice normal seeming folks just doing banality of evil stuff as part of a system.

It's like in real life you have your active pursuit of bigoted behavior folks, full blown fascists, costumes and all. And then you have your folks who are perpetrating the violence of the established imperialist system on folks. And the "if they weren't guilty, why didn't they do thing that wouldn't have stopped or helped the situation" folks.

Brennan:

[gaycrittercentral]

They're done!! also fuck you tumblr how dare you eat ALL THE INFO I JUST PUT IN HERE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

sigh. Anyhow here they are!! My first stab at drawing the seven heavenly virtues AU, which was actually going to be a set of references for a different drawing of them, but then I ended up coloring these instead. Lmao I'll finish the other drawing another time. All that's missing here is Max drooling over them all fjkdsljgslk;fhsh

Also, my handwriting fuckin' sucks so feel free to check the alt text/image description if you need a translation! Anyhow I'm boutta ramble about them a LOT so the rest is under the cut hehe

I'll be the first to say that color is not my strong suit, or at least that I'm not confident in my color choices, but I'm honestly pretty happy with how most of these turned out! probably my favorites are Chastity, Patience and Kindness, just because they get to be a bit unique (and also because conceptually I like them a lot hehe). I almost feel bad giving my favorite color to Diligence bc he's a loser, but whatever, somebody had to get it and he fit the vibe best lmao. Also, funnily enough, he and Temperance are the only ones who ended up having the same hue as their vice counterparts! Weird, huh? Oh actually there's Humility and pikaflute's Pride, they're both indigo teehee. But yeah, I wanted to match colors with the vibe of each virtue, so it didn't end up being a one to one thing with the vices.

Btw I kinda based Patience on that one episode of the cartoon where Sam passed out for fifteen years and woke up a monk, lol. But also I just reeeeally wanted to put him in that bathrobe, also from the cartoon, because um. Well. um. open bathrobe Sam....I don't even like men but like.......

Also there's a roll of toilet paper behind Humility because he's locked in the bathroom, poor baby. Oh and it didn't come out all that clear but that's a trowel Kindness has in his hand, he's helping with about a million things at once fjkdlsgjdlskh. I'm love him

Oh and tbh while I like most everybody, I really think I need to give sin Sam a more original design. Like, let's be honest, if he had some five o' clock shadow, no hat, and his tie back, then he's just noir Sam. And that's great I guess because we all know noir Sam was hot, but like, I don't wanna just ride his coattails. For that matter, if anybody has ideas for potential redesign elements, I'd be interested in hearing them! Can't promise I'll go with them because I'm horrifically picky but I'd love to hear anyhow hhhhfkdlsjfldshfs

ummm and that's it I can't think of anything else to say and I've kept myself up entirely too late doing this so hope y'all enjoy byeeeeee

[acelucky]

Tension Release

I've been working on this for a couple of weeks now, am I entirely happy with it? No. But am I happy enough to post it before it starts to drive me a little crazy, yes.

I absolutely love Abraham's character, he along with Eugene and Rosita have been three of my favourites throughout (and I'm still not over his death or the final episode)... So I wanted to write some smut, as you do.

Summary/Backstory: The reader (fem - afab) is sort of in a relationship with Daryl, but it's been a very slow burn over years. They live together but sleep in separate beds, are the best of friends and will hug a lot but aside from that they've kissed a few times, never slept together and keep it that way. The reasoning is Daryl and the reader not wanting to let their guard down combined with worrying what will happen if they do and both feeling like they don't deserve happiness/to have that and worrying how sleeping together would affect their relationship after all these years. But, the reader gets to a point where she's ready, she's been ready for a long time and Daryl isn't, she is understanding but after several horrific events that affect the group, she needs to release tension, she needs to be close to someone to help her heal and Daryl isn't going to be able to provide this. In the meantime she opens up to Abraham about this a few months earlier and they have this sort of on-going joke/understanding that the day may come when she comes to him for nothing more than sex. It's implied that Daryl also is aware of this arrangement and 'ok' with it - I started to write a 'the following day' with Daryl part but it made me too sad, so maybe in the future.

TLDR - Reader needs to get rid of some sexual tension, Daryl isn't the man to help with this and so they go to their close friend Abraham for some help getting off.

Warnings: Smut - P in V sex - Eating out - Slightly rough sex/rough kissing. MINORS DNI!! 18+ only Word Count: 3,500 Relationship: Abraham Ford x Fem! afab reader

It was late, you weren’t sure he would answer the door but when you saw a light from inside and heard Abraham swearing something about who knocks on this late you felt relieved. Getting caught in nothing but a silk dressing gown by anyone else was not something you’d enjoy.

When he opened the door, he looked ready to shout but when he saw you his face softened. What followed was the realisation of what you were wearing, he stepped back allowing you inside.

Once the front door was closed you undid the silk tie around your dressing gown letting it fall open and looked up as Abraham turned back around exposing your lingerie to him.

You didn’t need to explain yourself to him, you’d spoken about this several times in the past, there was an unwritten agreement that should the time come…you would come to him and now here you were.

His eyes widened as he stepped towards you, his hands already moving to open your dressing gown further before you stopped him. He had to confirm he understood before you would act, “You know I’d be using you right?”

“Oh I know.” Abraham responded, gruff and exactly how you needed him to be. He leant in a little closer and whispered into your ear, lips so close you felt the fine hairs move sending a shiver down your back. “I’ll be using you in return.”

“It’s how I want it.”

He nodded and looked over his shoulders at the stairs, “Up.”

There was something else playing on your mind something you had to say first, “Abraham, you know there’s a strong chance at the end,” you paused for a moment trying to think of how to continue. It was silly, you and Abraham were friends you needn’t have feared his reaction but still it wasn’t easy to say. “I just think when we’re done, I might cry.”

Crying after sex. What an attractive proposition.

Abraham’s expression softened, his eyes full of lust melted and relaxed. He let out a small sigh and placed a hand on your shoulder, “And if you do, I’ll hold you.”

“But we’d still just be friends with benefits,” you clarified.

“Of course darlin', who said that friends couldn’t also comfort one another?”

You smiled. Now reassured you stopped worrying about all the things that could go wrong along with the emotions that were likely to follow.

“Okay.”

You led the way up to Abraham’s bedroom, careful to tread lightly so you didn’t wake Eugene. There was no doubt he wouldn’t be able to sleep through the two of you fucking, it’s like he had a trained ear, but if you made it to Abraham’s room at least he wouldn’t know it was you.

Once the door was closed with his foot, Abraham didn’t spare a moment, pushing the robe from your shoulders and picking you up in his strong arms. Your legs wrapped round his waist as he spun you round and pushed you against the wall, pinning you against his chest. A beat passed where you stared into one another’s eyes until you could stand it no more and sent your lips crashing into his. Abraham was evidently as hungry as you had been, kissing you back with such force you found it hard to breathe. Your fingers linked together behind his neck, gaining a little purchase so you could hold your own against him.

As he stole air from you and lapped at your wounds you felt yourself grow light-headed but perfectly unafraid and safe in his arms.

When he paused you took the opportunity to kiss his neck. They weren’t the kind of kisses you gave to just anyone, they were reserved for the true lovers and moments of hopeful desperation. Abraham didn’t stop you as you trailed down his neck, kissing and sucking at the sensitive flesh when you reached his shoulders you squeezed his muscle and continued to kiss him, your lips sucking on his muscle, teeth gently digging in.

The moan Abraham gave when your teeth made contact with his flesh had your knees buckling and grateful, he was holding you. Was there any doubt that he’d be the one in charge in this situation?

One of his hands reached to unclasp your bra, which he managed with surprising ease. You took your hands away from his neck, one staying on his shoulder to hold yourself steady, the other slid the bra straps down your arms to it could fall to the floor. The moment your chest was bare Abraham pressed his nose hard against your sternum and inhaled your scent, moving then to kiss the soft flesh of your breasts.

He turned you around again and walked you slowly back to the bed, laying you down underneath him. All you could see was him and, in that moment, he was all that mattered.

Something about the silence felt wrong, felt uneasy and gave you pause to think about what you were doing, so you had to fill the silence. “It’s awful isn’t it, the end of the world and all. I just realised I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“You ain’t gotta explain to me.” Abraham replied as he knelt onto the bed, his weight sinking down into the mattress as he edged closer to you. Straddling you he took off his shirt and vest, revealing his broad, muscular chest and curly ginger hairs. Your eyes dove lower where you could see the start of a garden path leading lower, he cocked his head and grinned on catching where you were looking, unbuckling his belt, removing it and undoing the top button of his jeans to give himself a small release.

The look of adoration is what you lived for and what you longed for from Daryl, but you knew it could take years to get to that point so for now this little piece of heaven would have to do.

Abraham’s large hands explored your body little by little, taking his time with every new piece of flesh to stroke, scratch, squeeze, lick, bite…In return you reached out to gain whatever contact your fingers could make, you wanted his shoulders and to feel them in the palms of your hands spilling outwards. Abraham was safety.

Abraham rest his knees either side of your thighs and gazed down admiring you, your face, your form.

He smiled at you, that goofy smile that meant he could get away with so much. His weight pinning you down was a comfort, a safety blanket that meant just for a moment there was nothing else you could do, nothing else to focus on, you were protected and, in this space, together.

When he kissed you again any trepidation that existed melted away, he believed you wanted this as much as he does and it’s safe, there’s no risk of falling in love or relying on one another. You were both free to be as carnal and animalistic as required.

His kisses trailed down your body, small sucks at your inner thighs, his breath so hot against your underwear. Without warning he pressed a kiss right to your core, “Huh you’ve really soaked these good haven’t you baby girl?” He kissed you again and pulled a little material in-between his teeth, you heard him suck, “Fuck Abraham, please.”

He let go and tapped the side of your hips, his command for you to lift so he could slide your underwear off.

With his face between your legs, you held onto his red locks as if your life depended on it. Although every part of your body craved him and the sweet release he would soon bring, Abraham was in no rush. He took his time exploring you, making you feel all kinds of sensations you hadn’t in years. His moustache tickled your sensitive skin, his …breath making you quiver, the way his hands held onto your hips so firmly. Him, only him.

When he slipped a finger inside you, his name escaped your lips. You’d promised to be quiet, but damn if he wasn’t so incredibly talented and thick, no wonder Rosita missed him.

Your hips raised and bucked into his face, unable to control your own actions as the animal in you took hold. Your body moved with him, desperate to generate any further friction, chasing your own orgasm as you heard Abraham chuckle into you, clearly amused with the show you were putting on and just how much you were enjoying him, how could you not? And why hadn’t you done this sooner, Daryl, Daryl…His name nearly escaped your lips but you swallowed it along with your pride.

You knew your orgasm was close when your body started to twitch and you found yourself struggling for breath, the fingers of one hand clutched the sheets, the other gripped Abraham’s hair tighter, he responded by slipping a second finger inside you curling upwards towards your g-spot. One of his hands slid underneath you, scooping your bum up a little higher, his fingernails digging into the soft flesh.

Your heart pounded in your chest and a voice inside your head said, “Just let go, just let go…”

“Abe, I’m gonna…”

The speed at which he fucked you with his fingers increased, his tongue flicking over your clit with varying intensity to help push you over the edge. Every second was the sweetest torture as you grew closer, afraid that at any second he may pull away and deny you, but Abraham couldn’t have been that cruel, at least not for tonight.

As you came you watched Abraham at work, not wanting to miss a moment of what he was doing to you, seeing his determination and just how tightly he held onto you only increased the intensity of your orgasm. All your efforts to try and stay quiet went out the window as you let out a loud, guttural moan.

Your body shook in waves, Abraham didn’t stop, not until it became unbearable and even then you had to beg. So long, it had been so long since you’d reached climax by the hands of another and now all the tension you’d been carrying simply melted away. He licked you one last time and slowly withdrew his fingers, his grip on your butt softened and slowly he slid his hand from under you. You propped yourself up with his hands behind your head for a moment and watched as he licked each finger clean, “Why would I let this sweetness to go to waste darlin’?” as he spoke you felt another knot in your stomach, almost as if he could feel your body and thoughts he placed a hand on your stomach resting it there a moment.

When he’d finished licking your juices from his fingers, he got off the bed to remove his jeans, you remained entranced watching him as he did so. Once down to his boxers he knelt back where he was before.

He took his time as you recovered from your high, kissing the inside of your thighs and massaging your muscles with the pads of his thumbs, tender, tender…You were sure you heard him whisper, “Tender, tender, there, there…” repeating it several times – some mantra to make both of you feel better. It said, this is okay, you’re okay, I’m okay, we’re okay. You came for me and bared your soul though your heart belong to another, “Tender Tender,” he repeated.

You blinked fighting back the tears, here it came, the inevitable only it was now you realised just how much you’d come to care for Abraham also. He rest his cheek against your leg, just breathing you in as your heart rate fell slowly. You knew it wouldn’t be like this for long, you were only just getting started but Abraham’s actions offered you a small moment of intimacy that had been lacking in your life for years. If only…if only this was with Daryl and not Abraham.

You cursed yourself silently, feeling guilty for both parties even though they both knew the truth. There was no room for lies in the new world you found yourselves in.

Abraham raised his head and slowly kissed up your hip bone, your stomach, in between your breasts. His tongue trailed across to one of your nipples making you shiver at the sensation. Then his lips were on yours, passionate kisses were not something you’d expected to experience with him. Wasn’t that kind of the deal, nothing too romantic they’d said and yet here they were. With every kiss he gave you found yourself chasing another, trailing along his lips, tasting the cigars on him like they were home.

You hadn’t realised just how much you’d needed this until now, just how much you’d need to feel close to another, to have them inside of you and to completely surrender.

With Abraham’s weight on top of you it was almost hard to breathe, at least you could feel the pressure in your chest, the way he pinned you so tightly to the mattress. Mostly he was propped up on his elbows, but those few moments where he let himself go were when you moaned the loudest, when your fingers curled to scratch down his back and he wasn’t even inside you yet. That was bliss.

His kisses and massaging of your flesh with rough and calloused fingers were unrelenting, Abraham careful to ensure you were stimulated throughout.

The thin material of his boxers was the only thing separating your flesh from his hard member, the glances you had seen when looking down had you gasping in anticipation – he was big, really big. You licked your lips hungrily as Abraham knelt up above you and you watched as his thumbs went under the hem of his boxers.

He looked up catching you gazing so brazenly at him, you wanted to say you were unashamed, but the red of your cheeks suggested a different story. Abraham smirked, “Like what you see doll?” He asked.

“So far,” you replied, a little too nonchalantly, it was cocky and you knew you’d pay for it in time.

“Well, let’s see how you like this,” his chest was puffed out as he spoke, Abraham was a man who took pride in his appearance and pride in his ability – there was no doubt he exaggerated. He pulled down his boxer shorts so they were just above his knees, his cock springing free as he let out a slight moan that came with the feeling of release.

You stared, mouth open a little as you watched it fall heavy, head red and swollen, cock twitching, cum leaking. There was only one word, “Fuck.” You spoke hoarsely, your mouth going dry in that instance.

“Yeah, that’s about the sum of it Babydoll.” Abraham moved off you and stood up for a moment so he could remove his boxers entirely. You sat up, clutching the sheets to your chest, when he looked down at you he looked at the sheets and your hand clutching them, “Hey, what you covering up for? After all I’ve seen,” he whispered as he placed a hand on yours. His tone was kind though, concerned perhaps that this was what you wanted.

“Hey,” Abraham speaks softly. You look up at him, his other hand catching your jaw – his thumb gently traces across your chin, “You still want this?”

You nod, “Yes, yes I know I need you,” he took your lips in his own in response to your confirmation, your confession, your desire, and then pushed you back onto the bed, the sheets dropping from your fists, Abraham straddling you.

You heard him tear open a condom, looking down as you watched him place it on his cock letting out a slow moan as he rolled the plastic down.

Then it was back to business, he placed himself at your entrance and gently rubbed himself up and down you, making you quiver when his head brushed your clit. Teasing gently he let out small moans, ensuring you were thoroughly prepared and wet before he slid into you.

“How’d you want it, want me to put it in slow or fast?” He asked.

Your stomach felt like it dropped from under you, “Slow…just at first,” you clarified.

He nodded and then you felt him pushing to gain access, in response you let yourself relax, fully and completely. Then…oh then you felt Abraham move little by little as he pushed himself into you, your walls contracting and squeezing around his length, the air that you’d been holding in your lungs slowly came up as you wanted to sing. A long almost inaudible moan left your lips as he bottomed out. Fully sheathed inside you he pressed his forehead against yours, “This okay?”

You nodded, your face flushed, “Ah yeah it’s good.”

Abraham rolled his hips, you closed your eyes as he sped up, your teeth biting into your lower lip. Abraham kissed you there a moment later, unable to take seeing you in such pleasure without tasting you again.

“Faster,” you begged as you clenched yourself around him, the small groan Abraham gave every time you squeezed spurred you on, clenching tighter and raising your hips to meet his with every thrust.

“Good girl,” he mumbled in between sharp in takes of breath.

Oh to be praised! The smile was one you were unable to conceal, even if you’d tried he knew exactly how good this felt for you.

“Don’t think I’m gonna last long darlin’,” he confessed.

“S’ok,” was all you could manage.

He picked up the pace again, fully removing himself from you before fully sheathing his member deep within you a split second later. The sound of flesh on flesh, his balls hitting against your butt was the most erotic thing you’d heard in years.

As he got closer, he removed one of his hands from your side, placing it in between your legs, “I want you to come with me,” he ordered as he pressed his thumb against your clit causing you to mewl.

You never could have imagined how gentle his fingers would be, brushing and tickling, moving in small, graceful circles as he helped you get closer.

“Abraham, you feel so good – you are everything.”

Everything, was that the right word? Your brain didn’t have time to process this however as a moment later you felt Abraham tense.

Despite the intensity of his orgasm he didn’t stop pleasuring you and as the first wave of his orgasm hit and you felt his cock spasm, he rest his forehead on yours and you too felt your second climax hit, this time you cried out Abraham’s name, no shame left in you.

Abraham moved slowly in and out of you several times, hissing as he did at the sensation as he milked himself inside your clenching walls. Panting, sweating, he collapsed on top of you, muttering praised and kissing your cheeks, your lips and only after his heart rate had started to settle did he unsheathe himself and silence filled the room.  

Afterwards the tears came as you knew they would, and Abraham he was true to his word. He scooped you up into his arms, still naked before you went to the bathroom to clean up there was nothing you could do to stop the emotion spilling over.

Laying naked in his arms, your cheek pressed to his broad and hairy chest you at least felt safe and loved. Isn’t that all anyone really wants anyway?

Abraham stroked your hair; he didn’t speak but his small gestures showed he cared.

When he got up you returned with tissue from the bathroom and helped you to clean up, despite the flush of red on your cheeks, “What you got to be embarrassed about huh?”

You shrugged, pursing your lips you thought, “I don’t, I guess”.

“Exactly darlin’,” Abraham replied as he got up and sat next to you. His thumb traced your lips, his other hand brushed hair from your of your face and pulled you in for a tender kiss.

It was hard to end it, hard to pull away from him, “No feelings we said.” Was all you could say.

But you stayed the night anyway, cradled safely in Abraham’s arms, though the two of you didn’t speak again that evening and were asleep fast enough you were grateful he let you stay. Tomorrow you’d have to work out your true feelings about this situation, between Daryl and Abraham, what the hell were you going to do?

Abraham sorted to snore, but it wasn’t annoying, rather there was comfort in it and you cuddled tighter by his side, resting your head on his chest so you could hear his heartbeat. Fuck, what were you going to do? Was Daryl okay, in bed alone… What would come next… for now you welcomed sleep and the escape it brought with it.

[actualbird]

what is your ranking of all the main event stories we have received so far? (as in sott, enduring light, skadi etc)

OHHHH THIS IS A FUN QUESTION, THANK YOU ANON!!! let me go from my highest to lowest.

for this question, im taking "main event stories" to mean the Big 4 SSR Events where the event story involves the entire team all at once (so no xmas events or sotn, or solo or duo events). and i will be judging these events primarily on their event story (so not as much as the gameplay, though thatll also be a factor. but i wont be judging the cards)

OH DANG WHY DID I EXPLAIN IT, THE TOT WIKI DOES A MUCH BETTER JOB AT DEFINING BIG 4 SSR EVENTS, HERE, THIS IS WHAT IM JUDGING

anyhoo, here is my personal ranking!

FIRST PLACE: Mysteries of the Lost Gold

my beloved, my favorite, my perfect shining star. lost gold was the first big event i played and it has yet to be dethroned as my favorite event story of all of tot. absolute homerun of a rich story with intrigue, high stakes, a good balance of tender moments and lighthearted ones, and just SO gripping in terms of all of the story threads coming together, plus the absolutely A+ nxx team interactions. my advice to every new player who comes into my inbox is "PLAY THE LOST GOLD DLC" because i love it so much. i will never shut up about how i love it so much. it has our very first raven!luke sighting. it has marius nearly getting stabbed. it has artem with gun. it has vyn doing that THING with the bow and arrow. LIKE. THIS EVENT IS PERFECT TO ME. it'll take something really really special to dethrone it.

SECOND PLACE: Enduring Light

this isnt recency bias speaking but my real honest thoughts: this story delighted me to no end. i was kept on the edge my seat for every single phase, and the sheer novelty of the story's setup and the gameplay was such a nice change of pace after the previous event formats started to get repetetive. i especially loved that this time, we had to suspect the nxx boys as well because that really added to my enjoyment of this event. it really felt like a mystery that had to be solved by us, and not just a mystery that will unravel by itself as long as we keep playing, if that makes sense? my point is i was immensely immersed in enduring light and i love it lots lots lots. luke looking stupendously hot in his outfit during the entire event was also a huge plus.

THIRD PLACE: a tie between Blizzardous Threads of Red & Mystery of Bakerlon

i really loved BTR and bakerlon!!! both of their murder cases were adequately thrilling for me, though towards the end i could feel the adrenaline wearing off, if that makes sense? like by the 4th phase, things were slotting together already in a way that like lowered the feeling of intrigue. also i know i said i wouldnt judge much based on gameplay, but these two deserve a shoutout for MINIGAMES I WANT TO KILL W MY BARE HANDS. bakerlon's crystal tasks were so repetetive to me, and BTR's TIMED ESCAPE ROOM THINGIES heightened my blood pressure several times HAHA

FOURTH PLACE: To My Beloved: Moonlit Eve (anniv 2)

this has a soft spot in my heart for including all of the old NPCs from main story, and that was very heartwarming. while theres no mystery that needs solving, just seeing the team hang out together and have fun together was such a treat for my soul

FIFTH PLACE: Secrets of the Tomb

sott is where i'd say the event story quality is inching towards the meh scale. the mystery here was interesting but was not particularly gripping to me. it might just be a me thing, but i enjoyed the side stories (the ones you get with the boys when you investigate the artefacts) more than the actual event story itself.

SIXTH PLACE: A Love Poem to Skadi

ahhhhh skadi. psychological and medical malpractice horrors skadi.....HJSVKHSJDFDSF. i will admit, the mystery in this story is HORRIFIC and it was enjoyable to unravel it, but here is where i break my rule again of not talking about gameplay but mAAAAAAN THE GAMEPLAY HINDERED MY ENJOYMENT OF THE MAIN PLOT LOTS. it was rather difficult for me to do all the exploration in that manor and that stalled my absorption of the story too. plus, i think the fact that the story is Over made the story have a bit of a muted quality to it. not in a bad way (i distinctly remember i wrote a semi-analysis post about how i enjoyed that the story was in the Past) but it definitely affected the mood of the gameplay, if that makes sense?

(that is the third time ive said "if that makes sense" in this response, THREE STRIKES AND YER OOOOOUT)

SEVENTH PLACE: Blissful Fete (anniv 1)

be honest with me.....do YOU remember the event story plot of blissful fete? cuz i sure dont. JVSKDHFSJDHSF. i only remember getting very very mad at luke during that fucking minigame where we guess if the card is higher or lower. that being said, if i cant even remember much of the story, then it didnt make an impact on me and couldve been improved.

so thats my ranking! thank u for the ask :D

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

one of those cdream apologists that harrassed you ships bowspam so they are disgusting https://www.tumblr.com/judgehangman/739384677970919425/i-cant-see-bowspam-where-cdream-is-the-one-whos?source=share

FUCKING IRONY AS SHE IS WRITTEN

Like, I mean, it’s fine. Both Tommy and Dream are okay with ship fic that isn’t sexual. But also like, Man.

Especially since c!Dream, very canonically, Groomed c!Tommy. Adding in Any romantic feelings on Any end makes that fact way grosser. c!Tommy's paranoia about c!Dream is explicitly bc of his own abuse- this would Heavily Imply some horrific shit about c!Dream. Like, no matter how much “well it was unreciprocated” you put in, sexual abuse does NOT require any sexual attraction. It’s about power (which is one of the reasons I maintain c!Dream being sexually abusive is a completely nonsensical read of my writing- he has other, far more violating, ways of asserting his power). c!Tommy's aggression towards c!Dream, in canon, is very explicitly a reflection of the abuse he endured- if c!Tommy's interest is in any way romantic, that immediately accidentally implies some awful shit about Exile which just. Don’t. It makes no sense and it’s just weird and gross.

Don’t harass me over non-sexual abuse and then go on to accidentally imply c!Dream acted in romantic and or sexual ways towards c!Tommy in exile by explicitly tying the shipping to c!Tommy's actions that are specifically a reaction to his abuse oh my fucking God how do you even DO THAT. This implies sexual abuse far more than anything I’ve ever written solely because the writer didn’t think about the fucking implications of specifying c!Tommy's actions that are blatant reflections of his abuse to romantic feelings. Like, it’s very obviously not intentional, but this is why you need to fucking acknowledge that exile is grooming??? Adding any sexual or romantic feelings at all involving these characters that has Any tie back to Exile leaves incredibly dark implications due to the fact c!Dream was already grooming c!Tommy. “A victim having feelings for someone who groomed them.” comes with Implications you have to think about before you fucking speak oh my God this is why I do research on abuse every fucking DAY so I don’t end up accidentally doing shit like THIS it’s genuinely just fucking embarrassing

[victorluvsalice]

Valicer OT3 Week, Day Two: The Cool Kid, The Jock, And The Nerd

OT3 Week (as per @ot3-week) continues with a prompt that definitely seemed suited for a High School AU -- "The cool kid, the jock, and the nerd!" I think we can all agree that would be Smiler, Alice, and Victor respectively. :p At any rate, here's a high school version of the trio hanging out together at lunch -- with Victor having a rather important question for Smiler...

--

“...why do you hang out with me?”

To Victor’s horror, Smiler looked up from their sandwich, confirming that he had indeed said that out loud. “Because...I like you?” they said once they’d finished chewing and swallowing. “Do I need a better reason than that?”

“I – um, it’s just...” Shut up shut up shut up – but now that the door had been opened, Victor found himself plunging onward, needing to know. “You’re easily the popular, well-liked person in this school. The coolest of the cool kids. People think you’re the greatest – and you are!” he hastened to add, waving his hands. “You’re funny, and friendly, and you really s-seem to take an interest in e-everyone – anybody and everyone likes to hang out with you! You could be friends with anyone! And – and I’m–” Victor swallowed, trying to find the words. “I’m – n-not that. I’m – me.”

Smiler gave him a long look – the kind of look that suggested some kind of “Victor Is Having Self-Esteem Issues Again” alarm was going off in their head. Then they put down their sandwich in favor of taking his hand. “And I like you,” they repeated, looking Victor in the eye. “Even if you’re nothing like me. Especially since you’re nothing like me! I don’t need another me in my life – I’ve already got me! But I didn’t have a ‘you’ until I met you. And now I do.” They shot him one of those stunning grins. “And I’m very happy about that.”

“I...” Victor pulled at his tie, trying not to think about how warm Smiler’s hand felt against his. This wouldn’t be half as hard if I hadn’t had a very enlightening dream about my romantic tastes last night, he groused to himself. Why couldn’t this have happened before I realized I had a crush? “I just – don’t get it? W-why you would want a me?”

“Well, for starters–”

“What’s going on?”

Victor looked up as Alice (aka the other person that he was crushing on, and who hopefully would never find out that fact) came over, carrying a tray. “I mean, I can guess from context that Victor just had a self-loathing moment, but fill me in on the specifics,” she continued, sitting down.

“Not much to fill in – Victor just asked me why I hang out with him, and I’m in the process of reminding him that he doesn’t have to be one of the ‘cool kids’ for people to like him,” Smiler told her.

“Ah.” Alice picked up a chip and popped it into her mouth. “Well, allow me to second the sentiment. I personally find ‘cool’ is often overrated.”

“Maybe, but...I-I just have a hard time seeing the a-appeal of me,” Victor said, looking between them. “Especially – Smiler, like I said, you’re already the most popular kid in school. You don’t need to hang out with someone like me if you want company. And Alice – you’re smart, you’re witty, you have an amazing imagination – oh, and you’re an incredible fencer. The absolute star of the team!”

“I’m also the girl who most people avoid because she spent the majority of her childhood in supervised hospitalization after her family died in a horrific house fire,” Alice retorted, taking a swig from her bottle of soda. “And the one who still talks to invisible creatures on the regular, because so far every medication I’ve tried has had side effects that just are not worth it. Just because I’m like, three percent jock doesn’t mean my social life is any better than yours.” She jerked her head to the side. “Do you think I understand why Smiler’s here? They could do damn better than hanging out with the local loony, that’s for sure.”

“What do I have to do to make you both understand I like you and that’s the end of it?” Smiler grumbled, folding their arms.

“Go back in time and stop the murder of my parents and sister,” Alice replied, waving a fry at them.

“Somehow convince my mother that I’m not a complete failure of a human being,” Victor muttered, looking at his feet.

Smiler sighed. “You two sometimes...look,” they said firmly, leaning across the table. “I think you’re both awesome people, all right? Alice, I agree with everything Victor said – you’re intelligent, you’ve got a great sarcastic sense of humor, and you’re frighteningly good with a sword. I respect that a lot. And Victor – you’re kind, and artistic, and really smart yourself! You know so much about butterflies, you could write your own encyclopedia! I’ve learned a lot, hanging around you!”

“Not to mention your piano skills,” Alice said, shooting Victor a little smile that made his stomach do flip-flops. “I know your parents have got you thinking that you’re not worth anything, but – you really are. To us, at least.”

“Yeah – so could you please stop trying to understand why we’re friends with you and just accept it?” Smiler added, reaching over and giving Victor’s wrist a little squeeze. Then they shot him a disarming grin. “Or do I have to kiss you silly to get that to happen?”

Victor felt himself go beet red as a certain bit of a certain dream started replaying itself in his head. “I – uh – you – um–”

“Who put you in charge of kissing him?” Alice asked, with a playful smirk that did not do anything for the images inside his brain. “Maybe I want a go at it.”

“Maybe we should just do it both at once then,” Smiler joked back. “That’d probably reset his brain.”

“...really?”

This time it was both Smiler and Alice blinking that alerted Victor to the fact that, once again, he’d said that out loud. He dropped his head, wincing. Oh no – that’s it, that’s the bridge too far, it doesn’t matter what they said before, me blurting out that I’d be open to kissing both of them at once is sure to make them –

There was another squeeze on his wrist, and he looked up to see Smiler and Alice looking at him with – not disgust, like he’d feared, but simple surprise. And – just perhaps, if he wasn’t seeing things – a bit of interest? Could they possibly... ? “Well,” Smiler finally said with a little wink. “Think that’s a discussion we should have after school.”

Hope alighted in Victor’s heart, chasing all the dark thoughts away. “Yes,” he breathed. “After school.”

[purgemarchlockdown]

miu here again...👋 i don't know if it's anything worth mentioning, but there's this word that's used in both harrow and it's not my fault (and maybe other prisoners have used it too? i haven't really noticed😿) that i find kind of fun. おあいこ basically means being on equal footing, but specifically i think it's fun how it's more about One person's loss of power is offset by the other's equal loss of power.

Sorry for hurting you, but I didn’t mean it I am doing this is just because of being bored We are just the same

I’ll teach you the pain you caused It’s a tie after saying sorry? What are you hoping for?

i just generally think muu is ranked very high on the list of people kotoko would really really not stand. i know her whole deal with seeing the prisoners as Sins instead of people results in her not being able to sympathize with any of them but...0410......0410...also how muu plays the roles of both a victim and a bully might annoy kotoko ? (<-girl who needs them all to be one simple easy-to-hate criminals and sees the world in black and white)

also;

I knew it, look, it's my win. (officially translated as: I told you I’m queen, and it’s always the same)

Sorry for hurting you, but I didn’t mean it

“I didn’t mean to offend”, “I won’t do it again” How many wins in a row?

(kind of off topic, but i think I'm queen, and it's always the same is a similar kind of statement to I don't want tomorrow to come, I want to forget yesterday) (<-she can't get out can she)

Oh those are good catches! I didn't even think about the tie thing...Very much a continuous cycle of horrific power dynamics for both characters where nothing really changes or improves. I think, Kotoko probably gets annoyed by how Muu "disguises" herself as a "pitiful weakling" to harm people. I imagine that it makes her hate her more really as this sort of pathetic person who "pretends" to need saving...since...Kotoko is bad at perceiving nuance.

I like that you highlight the queen line. It seems so positive but it just reinforces Muu's Stagnant Reality. Good stuff.

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

3 ."I mean, 'Okay, I'll be on your side when they come.'"

TITUS HARDIE - "Yeah..." he snorts. "Just try not to get in the way -- when the whoop-ass flies open!"

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - Beneath the *whoop-assery* it's clear that he appreciates all the help he can get.

3. [Authority - Godly] Establish authority.

+1 Confronted about drug trade. +1 Strange reaction to bullet. +1 Discussed eighth Hardie. +1 Warned about the tribunal.

Before all these bonuses, we had an *8%* chance of success here. It's looking much better now.

AUTHORITY [Godly: Success] - As you look around this room full of sweaty men, swearing, drinking, spitting out tobacco.... does this look familiar?

Where have I seen this before?

"I get it, Titus. You guys really are *the authority* around here."

AUTHORITY - You believe the place was called *Precinct 41* -- it was also filled with (almost exclusively) *men*, sitting on desks, talking shit and wasting time.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Medium: Success] - "You seen Apricot -- old Pidieu's daughter?" asks Lieutentant McCoy. "Uh-huh," replies Torson. "The ass on that one..." McCoy shakes his head in appreciation. "A bit strange the old man named her Apricot, but, I mean -- who am I to judge? Wanna hit the kebab joint?"

"I get it, Titus. You guys really are *the authority* around here."

TITUS HARDIE - "Huh?"

"You must be -- you're just like real cops. Drinking beer and sitting around with your dicks in your hand."

TITUS HARDIE - He leans in. "You got a problem with *beer* now?"

AUTHORITY - Not quite there yet -- push on.

"No, no. I'm drunk on the job too. I don't give a shit, just like you guys."

"No, I'm also a big fan of beer -- *and* jerking off instead of helping people."

"I have a beer-problem, but not a problem with beer. I also have *no* idea how to do my job. Like you."

TITUS HARDIE - "You saying we don't *help* people?" He puts the beer down. "I've been doing this job for *ten years*! Martinaise was a dump before we put this outfit together."

EUGENE - "They don't know, man -- they weren't here." He turns to you. "We had three shootings a week, kids dead, fuckin' *graffito* everywhere -- you cops haven't shown up since the Thirties."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Congratulations on the graffito removal." He turns to Titus. "All I see is you sitting around talking about *Monica's titties* -- while there's a rape victim."

TITUS HARDIE - "So what? What do you want from me? We took care of that fuck." He picks the beer back up.

AUTHORITY - Don't let him drink that. One more push, quick!

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - Just don't antagonize him, you have this already.

"It's not about who did it, it's about the victim. She needs help."

"Someone's been raped. She needs counselling -- we need to talk to her."

ELIZABETH - "Titus..." He looks at her.

AUTHORITY - She stops mid-sentence. That's it -- you got him. He's going to give it up, but on his terms.

TITUS HARDIE - "You wanna *help* her, cop? Fine, I'm, gonna let you help her -- but you treat her with respect."

"If you don't -- if you *question* her, harass her..." Titus taps his chin with his fist. "...a freight train of pain, buddy."

KIM KITSURAGI - "What is her name?" The lieutenant takes out his notes.

TITUS HARDIE - "Klaasje Amandou. She's staying here at the Whirling-in-Rags. A real pretty one, silvery jumpsuit, blonde." Titus adjusts his cap. "That's Amandou with an O-U."

Task complete: Prove your authority to Titus Hardie

+30 XP

INLAND EMPIRE [Trivial: Success] - Shit! The girl... the girl upstairs?! That can't be her. She knows you drank so hard you forgot you were a cop...

HORRIFIC NECKTIE - Oh, it's her. It's definitely her. It's Miss Oranje Disco Dancer.

"K-k-Klaasje?" (Correct your tie.)

"Miss Oranje Disco Dancer?"

[Composure - Medium 11] "Klaasje Amandou. Cool." (Keep your cool.)

TITUS HARDIE - "Sure -- why not. You've probably seen her around." He nods upstairs.

[Composure - Medium 11] "Klaasje Amandou. Cool." (Keep your cool.)

-1 Said you don't remember being a cop. -1 Said you don't remember reality.

COMPOSURE [Medium: Failure] - You inexplicably add "cool" after the victim's name -- with your eyes bulging like some wild beast. Your fingers are fidgeting and sweat starts forming on your brow as Titus looks at you oddly.

TITUS HARDIE - "I don't understand what's so cool here."

-1 Morale

KIM KITSURAGI - "Nothing." He gives you a sideways glance. "We just have a *few* more questions -- then we'll be on our way."

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - Whatever you do, do not to tell him you *know her*. That would sound *off*.

"Uh... so what was her relationship with the mercenary?"

"So, the, erm... the rape. When was that?"

So..." (Scratch your head.) "What is your relationship with her?"

"I think I..." (Laugh nervously.) "I think I know her."

"Thank you, we'll talk to her." (Conclude.)

TITUS HARDIE - "Relationship?! There was no fucking relationship! He raped her, that's their relationship!"

EMPATHY [Medium: Success] - Something is off here. His anger is... possessive.

SHANKY - "It was like that karaoke incident all over again. Or like some of the other girls he was harassing."

ELIZABETH - "Okay, enough. All of this is irrelevant to your stated investigation."

2. "So, the, erm... the rape. When was that?"

TITUS HARDIE - "He did it before we killed him. He's not gonna do it again." He crushes his half-empty beer can. "So what does it matter?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "It would help if we establish a timeline."

TITUS HARDIE - "Alright. Two weeks maybe? I don't know... I need another beer." He turns to Glen.

GLEN - "Here you go, boss!" The tall blond throws him a can. Titus cracks it open.

3. "So..." (Scratch your head.) "What is your relationship with her?"

TITUS HARDIE - "I know her." He looks around and an uncommon silence fills the room.

KIM KITSURAGI - "How well do you *know* her?"

PERCEPTION (SIGHT) [Medium: Success] - A small twitch in the corner of Kim's mouth. He has a hunch about what *knowing* means.

TITUS HARDIE - "Well enough, copper. We partied. She's been here for a few months." He crosses his arms.

COMPOSURE [Medium: Success] - He tries to make it sound real casual -- but the muscles on his neck tighten.

"So she's not from around here?"

"I see, okay. That's cool, that's cool. Another question?"

TITUS HARDIE - "You mean Revachol? Nah. Our Miss Oranje Disco Dancer is an immigrant or a drifter of some sort. Been staying here over the winter."

FAT ANGUS - "Don't you give her any more trouble!" the fat guy blurts out. "She's just had some bad luck, that's all."

GLEN - "Shut up, Angie!" He slaps his forehead. "She doesn't need your help..."

TITUS HARDIE - Titus gives them both a look. They fall silent.

SUGGESTION [Trivial: Success] - What's with all the silences? It's like these guys don't know how to feel about this. You should keep picking at it...

4. "You said you partied. Cool, that's cool. But what did you mean?"

TITUS HARDIE - "What do you think I meant?"

"Was it sex?"

"Drugs?" (Avoid his gaze.)

"Did you do karaoke?"

(Laugh nervously.) "Sex, drugs and karaoke, right?"

TITUS HARDIE - "Yes -- yes -- and no." He looks you straight in the eye. "Got something to say about it?"

"So you're saying the two of you were... close?"

"Another question."

TITUS HARDIE - "No. We just fucked, that's all," he states matter-of-factly. "I'm not gonna give you any details if that's what you're after. So put your dick away."

SUGGESTION - He really went out of his way to seem comfortable with this topic. That's all you're gonna get for now.

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - He's doing a good job here. A commendable performance of *I don't give a shit*.

Suggestion told us not to say we know her.

6. "Thank you, we'll talk to her." (Conclude.)

TITUS HARDIE - "Remember what I said: freight train of pain." He points his beer can at you.

New task: Talk to the assault victim

4. "I'm going to take off now." [Leave.]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kim wants to talk to us.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Officer, what was that?"

"What was what?"

"It was nothing."

"You mean the sweating and fidgeting when he mentioned her name?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes."

"And the... sort of... quivering jello thing with the eye?" (Point to your twitching eye.)

"I think I know that woman."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes."

"I think I know that woman."

"It was nothing."

KIM KITSURAGI - "It's not nothing, you were coming apart at the seams." He looks you in the eye: "Do you know the assault victim?"

"Yes."

"No."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Is there something I should know before we talk to her?"

"I didn't rape her."

"I met her. In the hallway, after I woke up."

"She knows I didn't remember being a cop."

"I tried to hit on her..."

"That's it." [Leave.]

A successful Rhetoric check here would tell us not to say the first thing. I... think we can figure that out ourselves.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Understood -- you were not in good shape on Monday."

3. "She knows I didn't remember being a cop."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Okay," he nods. "That's manageable."

4. "I tried to hit on her…"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Understood." He's stone-faced.

"It went pretty okay, I guess."

"Better not to add anything to that."

KIM KITSURAGI - "It doesn't matter how it *went* officer -- what else?"

5. "Nothing -- let's move on." [Leave.]

KIM KITSURAGI - He nods. "We'll be all right, officer. This is nothing."

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Easy: Success] - You feel fortified by his assurance. It's going to be all right.

+1 Morale

[rockybloo]

i like the way you draw zeke's gashes and gore, do you like horror/have horror recs (any media)

As much as I like to draw mushy wholesome romance between two characters...I love horror to an almost unhealthy extent. It is my favorite genre of anything honestly (I have spent days binge watching horror films back to back to back on Netflix, even the bad ones)

I've never really done a recommendation list before for anything so I can only list my favorites that I could spend a day rewatching no problem. I also need to add that I am a gore hound and the gorier the film or series is, the higher my chances of enjoyment so please keep this in mind.

My FAVORITE horror films are:

Brain Dead/ Dead Alive: I need to state that this film basically has EVERY trigger in it and did not age well AT ALL in terms of some of the jokes. However, having watched it when I was young, it was a crucial part of me becoming a horror fan and I love this trainwreck dearly...for its special effects. Mainly just the special effects. I do appreciate how the film is kinda split in two. The first being funny zombie comedy stuff and the last half being...well a shit ton of blood and gore. Also it has stop motion in it at some points which I love as someone who also adores stop motion.

The Final Destination Franchise: Not recommended for the paranoid but I love this 2000s ass film franchise. The premise is creative as well as the deaths. I also love that Death is super petty in this series and refuses to just kill someone up front and instead chooses the Rube Goldberg approach to offing people. Plus the original voice actor for Kratos pops up in one of the films which is a bonus if you are a God of War fan like me. If I had to pick a favorite out of the franchise, I'd say it's a tie between the first and the last. HOWEVER, the last film is oh so more rewarding if you watched the entire franchise-I will not spoil why but just trust me.

Candyman: The original film specifically. It's so interesting how the antagonist is a living myth and is so poetic in his words that sometimes I kinda forgot he was the villain. I love his design and the fact this film deeply touches on certain issues and not just being focused on being a typical slasher.

The Haunted Mansion: Yes the...original Disney live action film with Eddie Murphy. I count it as a horror film because it was genuinely scary to me as a kid. There's still some horrific stuff in it now. I mean, you got the opening credit scenes leading up to a dude straight up hanging himself, the zombies looking like straight up corpses, A DUDE GETTING DRAGGED TO HELL. The music still haunts me to this day.

Nope: A recent addition but this is def one of the best horror films I've seen. It is filled to the brim with so many details that you don't catch on the first watch. Plus, the "spaceship" is such a well designed element that I still think about how it works and how smart of a concept it was. I love the protagonists in this film as well and the bit of humor sprinkled in. I actually enjoyed this film so much I read the script for it since it was online (which I've never done for any film before). Cannot recommend this film enough.

Us: This film is just a level or horror that I only feel when reading Junji Ito stories. The idea of a doppelganger never scared me until this film because the entire concept is your other self hunting you down to kill you. There's a murder spree scene in this film that is so well framed and done because you see both everything and nothing at the same time because of the camera angle. The Tethered are underrated as monsters.

The Thing: The old one with the husky dog. The original Among Us and the best "WHO THE FUCK IS THE KILLER" film. The special effects are amazing and the fact that the audience cannot tell who the alien is is so great because we feel just as scared as the crew members. Plus...the alien absorbing people is just straight horrific.

This list is getting long and I have so many horror films I got jingling around in my brain but my last one is Pet Semetary. I was gonna put Poltergeist, which is also a favorite and is the only paranormal film I enjoy (I am not a big fan of ghost movies but that's because I love gore and carnage), but I kinda...don't really see it as a horror film. It certainly is one but there's so many cute and funny moments and it's kinda more whimsical than scary to me.

ANYWAYS BACK TO PET SEMETARY-There's an unsettlingness to it that I can't really explain. It's not just the dead pet aspect, it's just the vibes in it. The happy music becoming twisted as well as the always foreboding mood where you know something bad is gonna happen. There's a couple things that are left up to the audience's imagination but there's enough context that you just KNOW something terrible happened (like that ending). Plus, the little kid actor going on a killing spree is...kinda funny. He's just a little fella with a knife having a good ole time before bedtime.

ANYWAYS-I'VE RAMBLED ENOUGH ABOUT HORROR FILMS!

[anendtopursuit]

UM UM UM fav npmd song?

OH GOD HARDEST QUESTION YOU COULD'VE ASKED. i am notoriously indecisive and there is not a single skip in this whole tracklist BUT ALAS. I WILL TRY

ummm um um uh. i'm gonna have mercy on myself and make it a tie. i'm allowing myself a tie

nerdy prudes must die - i love a good villain song. the reveal of max's new costume/makeup (STUNNING btw, especially considering how stressful it must be do to makeup whilst a show is actively going on - doing a costume change between acts is nerve-wracking enough), will branner's endless charisma and stage presence (literally devastated he's new to starkid bc i need more of him NOW), and his and jon matteson's fucking gorgeous vocals... both the chorus and the "who will pray for me?" section are CONSTANTLY looping in my head. absolutely 500% deserving of title track status.

as cool as i think i am + reprise / if i loved you - i'm counting all 3 of these as one bc i honestly can't decide between them, and i love them all for the same reasons. acaitia is such a well-done establishing song for peter's worldview - both his perception of himself (and how that shifts and skews more positive as he psychs himself up) and his perception of steph (the "smarter than she thinks she is" line always gets me - he thinks so highly of her and is so respectful of her even this early on when they're still bickering, and it sets the foundations for how strong their relationship ends up becoming). it's also just really nice to have a nerd character as a protagonist who has some confidence and, whilst steph liking him certainly helps with that, his sense of self-worth isn't inherently tied to her, it's inherently tied to himself and how he lets himself exist (he's as cool as he thinks he is - if he allows himself to think he's cool, then he's cool - which also has an interesting sort of parallel to max's sue sylvester "you are what i say you are" philosophy). then of course the reprise is absolutely devastating (i have absolutely no shame in saying i was openly sobbing) and serves as such a good example of how things have changed throughout the story, especially in terms of his sense of identity and relationship with steph. then ofc if i loved you is just... SUCH a fun song about their dynamic, and how they both clearly adore each other but aren't willing to admit that until forced. "not saying what we mean, except we literally are, just backwards" is one of my fav kinds of song (also - it reminds me a bit of i could do without you from calamity jane, if that's anything).

the summoning - villain song, horrifically catchy, and the lords in black having their moment. the distorted background vocals, the childish way the lords present themselves contrasted with the heaviness of their song and the darkness of their lyrics ("stephanie has got a gun, tra-la-la-la, how fun!" - they're DELIGHTING in their suffering)... it's just really fuckin good. i also don't super mind the dialogue interrupting it since it's part of the pacing, and the lords breaking into song in the middle of a serious discussion feels very on brand for them

honourary mentions include literal monster (for similar reasons to as cool as i think i am, but for max's character instead - also, again, villain song) and hatchet town (i ADORE hatchetfield's ensemble-heavy songs, and i think this one sorta encapsulates the whole vibe of the series). i also have soft spots for dirty girl and go go nighthawks, but that's in more of a "this is REALLY fun" way than a "i have deep opinions abt these songs" way. obviously just for once is also devastating and a beautiful song that serves as a great demonstration of lauren lopez's skills but i'm trying not to say "every single song, actually"

...i realise i just listed 90% of the tracklist but i justified most of it??? so hopefully u at least got SOMETHING from this answer idk

[tentacledtherapist]

Bonus Letter: The Weekend

This weekend was TRULY MADNESS. I got to do so much fantastic mad science and the drama was a delight. As I alluded to previously, I play an undead Victorian who now works as a doctor/surgeon in the middle of a zombie apocalypse full of the undead and mutants and all sorts of things. Her name is Mairin, her gender does not match mine but I love playing her all the same. This weekend she and some townsfolk were kidnapped by mutants and brainwashed and injected with something to turn them into mutants too. When they were released they had to find an antidote so she vivisected her friend who was also infected and removed her kidney. They were actually attacked in the middle of surgery by the mutants and nearly died, but were protected by the townsfolk of the apocalypse settlement, and managed to finish the surgery. By testing the kidney she was able to determine how much of the chemicals were filtered since time of infection and how much more they need to take to filter the chemicals, and completely cure the remainder of the townsfolk who were kidnapped. It was insanely fun to tie down my friend while they thrashed about and reenact a surgery. The way the fake blood got all over my hands and made it difficult to sew with the needle slipping was too real and oddly thrilling. It's funny, the other person who plays a doctor with me is a former EMT in real life so my friend who was our patient gave us a delightful analysis afterward about how my technique and his technique differ and how they are similar. I've watched a lot of surgical videos so I have a decent understanding of procedure, but I also alter it on purpose to match what my character would know and how she would act. Which influences why, unlike real doctors, next time I am using a damn thimble!

- Creature

!!!!!!!

oh my god that sounds so so fun!!! was this, like, a long term event that you were only part of for the weekend? or did the whole story play out over the weekend? the worldbuilding, jeezus… zombie worlds are often some of the coolest conceptual worlds, cause you get to futz around with the Everything of how the world works, without having to, like, build a world from scratch? even if you get a lot of cinemasins-types nitpicking the logistics of how your zombies work, or whatever

so… weird fun fact: i can’t watch surgery? or even reenacted surgery? something about it just grosses me out. i can watch slashers doing horrific murders in movies all i want, but the moment a medical drama brings out the scalpel, i get kinda sick. it’s, like, the main reason why i dropped out of pre-med school and did physics instead

anyway, i’m pretty sure the blood is why most doctors use tweezers to hold the needles while they do sutures, cause thimbles are there to protect your fingers from either: a) getting stabbed by the needle, or b) developing pain and/or a callus from pushing and pulling a needle through thick fabrics? (thimbles are a life saver when i’m sewing patches onto things like my brothers’ battle jackets. >:( thick denim and/or leather are the bane of my fingers and i gotta hand stitch ‘em since a sewing machine can’t get into the small areas of the jackets)

- Lisa

[leaderpinhead]

Delwyn - Building A Snowman

Delwyn fidgeted with his braid. The ends of his scarf fluttered in the cold breeze. The cold nipped at his nose and cheeks, but he felt more comfortable in the soft flurries than he would sitting next to a cozy fireplace in Pomefiore. 

He stared out at the field blanketed in a fresh layer of snow. He had been worried when a symphony of frantic knocks rang upon his door earlier. He had barely opened it and registered Rook’s wide grin when Yuu grabbed his arm. “Hurry, Wyn. We need your help!” 

Delwyn hadn’t questioned the prefect at the time, but he was beginning to think he should have taken Rook’s grin into heavier consideration. Ace, Deuce, and Grim ruthlessly bombarded each other with snowballs on the other side of the field, their boisterous laughter underlaying their fierce battle. Jack stood at the top of the hill by Ramshackle Dorm with what looked like a makeshift sled. Epel stood beside him, eyeing the sled with obvious dubiousness. Asher sat on the sled and blinked up at the two boys like he was waiting on them to make a decision. 

"Wyn!" Delwyn turned in the direction of Yuu’s voice. She waved at him from across the field where she stood with Rook, Sebek, and Merle. Three large lumps of snow were piled behind them. He left the safety of the gate and came to a stop beside a grinning Rook. 

Yuu dropped her waving hand to rest it on her hip. “We need your help.” 

Having four pairs of eyes focus on him with unwavering attention made Delwyn nervously pull on his braid. “How may I be of help?”  

Yuu pointed at the two frowning boys. Both were noticeably bundled in more layers than the others. Sebek’s nose was a shade redder than his cheeks, like he had been rubbing it more consistently. The bottom half of Merle’s face was entirely covered by a knitted, Diasomnia green scarf. “They’re saying their snowmen are better.” 

Merle huffed and batted away a few flurries that had settled in his pink hair. Sebek mimicked his huff and added with a voice a tad on the nasally side, “I am merely stating fact! Yours does not even have a button nose!” 

“We agreed not to discriminate!" 

Delwyn blinked. “I am not sure I understand. Do you need help making the snowmen?” 

“No,” Yuu said with a shake of her head. “We need your help judging. Rook said you were a snowman connoisseur.” 

Rook chuckled at the quick glance Delwyn shot him. “I have heard many stories of your snowy adventures!” 

The icy wind couldn’t chill the sudden heat in Delwyn’s cheeks. He would think twice about divulging any childhood memories to Vil again. From the way Rook was grinning, it was the more embarrassing “adventures” that had been shared. He cleared his throat and searched the area. “Where are your snowmen?" 

Merle pointed at the three mounds. “They’re right here. Mine is the one with the tie.” 

Merle sounded incredibly proud of the Diasomnia tie he had wrapped around the far left mound. Sebek gestured to the mound next to him, which had a small button planted on the top of it. “Mine actually has a nose!” 

Yuu pointed at the last mound, which looked like nothing more than a small hill. “I named mine Mo.” 

Delwyn made a tiny noise before he could politely hide it. “Oh, dear. Have none of you ever seen a real snowman?” 

Sebek sputtered. Merle scratched the back of his head and gave his "snowman" a critical look. “That’s how I saw the kids make them back home…” 

“Mo is a special snowman” Yuu answered without hesitation. Her eyes narrowed. “He’s a part-time crime detective. By day, he is a simple snowman bringing holiday joy to everyone who passes by him. By night, he searches for the perpetrator attempting to snuff out the enchanted fireplaces on campus, which led to the horrific death of one of the campus fire fairies. He has three main suspects: the head cook who obviously holds a grudge for his life ending too early; the librarian who’s hiding a dark secret; and the headmage, who is just suspicious by nature. He also has a snow lady on the other side of the campus who has obviously been flirting with him, but his grungy past has made him wary of loving ever again.” 

Delwyn slowly blinked. “Is the staff aware you are including them in your noir fantasies?” 

“We agreed not to divulge their back stories!" Sebek protested. He pointed at his button-nosed mound. “I gave you grace for revealing your snowman's identity, but I won’t allow you to take the advantage any longer.” Sebek smirked widely at Delwyn. “Behold, Zigvolt Junior! He comes from a long, infamous line of powerful soldiers. He trains endlessly to become a proper retainer for Lord Malleus!” 

Delwyn took a small step back in response to Sebek’s…passionate explanation. He turned to Merle as an excuse for his silence. Merle blinked at him. “Mine’s just a snowman.” 

Yuu leaned forward to look around Sebek’s puffed chest. “That’s not what you were saying earlier. Tell us his dramatic back story!" 

Rook hummed. His irregular silence had nearly made Delwyn forget his presence. “Please share your passion with us, Monsieur Corbeau!” 

Merle’s eyes narrowed above his scarf. He didn’t look like he could be moved by their eager peer pressure, but he soon said, “He’s a snowman who refuses to melt until he achieves his one goal.” 

Delwyn tipped his head. “And that is?” 

“To punish the evil Prince who promised him a life as a normal human before the Prince’s true nature was revealed. He now plots the Prince’s socio-political demise.” 

Yuu dramatically gasped. Rook just as dramatically framed his cheeks with his hands. “Ooh la la! A true tale of betrayal and revenge!” 

Merle’s eyes had become mere slits. “Anger burns hotter within him than the sun on his icy skin. Not even direct contact with the sun’s molten surface could compare.” 

Yuu and Rook enthusiastically clapped for Merle’s dramatic words. Sebek muttered under his breath. “I knew I should have added more emphasis on mine’s loyalty!" 

Delwyn hummed. He gave each snow mound a final glance before deciding. “While I am impressed by each of their origin stories, I am afraid I must disqualify all of your snowmen.” 

“Disqualify!” Sebek sounded more horrified than angered. “How could we be disqualified? I have never been disqualified in my life! How am I ever going to show my face in front of Malleus again?” 

Yuu hummed and rubbed her hands together. “Yeah. One of our snowmen should be a winner. What’s your reasoning?” 

Delwyn hummed, noting Merle’s slitted gaze was solely focused on him. He was beginning to wonder where the inspiration for the snowman’s background really originated. “Well, I can’t really decide a winner when...there’s not a snowman to judge.” 

All three freshmen gave startled gasps. Unable to face their shocked expressions, Delwyn turned to Rook. Rook continued to grin as if he had anticipated this outcome from the very beginning. There was that knowing glitter in his eye. “I am afraid I am just as confused, mon Prince de Glace. You must tell us what your standard for a snowman encompasses.” 

“Yes!” Sebek’s shock had transitioned into a fierce determination. “Tell me exactly what your standard for a snowman involves. I will not be disqualified again!” 

“I’m starting to wish I’d just stayed back in the dorm with Porfirio,” Merle mumbled, his voice more muffled by the scarf. Delwyn noticed a faint blush creeping above the exposed half of his face. “Who cares who can make a better snowman?” 

“I agree with Sebek,” Yuu said. “Tell us what’s wrong with our snowmen so we can make them better.” 

“Well...” Delwyn chewed on his bottom lip. He knew turning to Rook again wouldn’t help, and he certainly didn’t want to make this worse. “I suppose to begin with...a snowman at least has to have a head.” 

All three first-years simultaneously pointed at their snowmen. “It does have a head.” 

“Right there!” Sebek jabbed his snow mound with emphasis. “Right where the button nose is!” 

Rook chuckled when Delwyn caved and turned to him for help. The glitter in Rook’s eyes grew brighter. “Perhaps an example would work best in this type of situation.” 

“Yes!” Yuu agreed with a tiny clap. “Build us a proper snowman, Wyn!” 

Delwyn felt a slight bubble of panic in the base of his throat. “I haven’t made a snowman in years...” 

Sebek harrumphed. “Then your credentials as a snowman connoisseur were false. In that case, I demand we find a proper judge. One who has more experience on the topic of snowman building.” 

Sebek’s haughty tone dissolved the bubble of panic with startling ease. Delwyn felt himself prickle with the same indignation Epel displayed after one too many corrections from Vil. It was irrational, but Sebek’s words felt like a direct insult to the many memories Delwyn had of making snowmen with his younger brother as children. Yes, Delwyn hadn’t made a proper snowman in years despite Dai insisting they make them every year when they vacationed in the snowy mountains. 

That certainly didn’t invalidate Delwyn’s entire experience. 

Delwyn tugged the thin sleeves of his sweater up to his elbows. “For starters, you need a proper base for your snowman. Right now, all of your snow people look like tiny hills of mush.” 

Someone emitted a tiny sound of offense, but Delwyn did not allow himself to focus too much on the noise. If he did, then he would allow his nerves to overwhelm him again and prevent him from compacting the snow into a recognizable ball. He gathered up the snow to make a proper base for his snowman, allowing his nervous energy to translate into explaining what he was doing like he had with Dai years ago. 

His fingertips tingled with an almost refreshing bite from the cold snow. He could feel his magic fluttering to the surface of his palms, begging to be released. Another sudden spike of panic made him pause. 

A small duet of shouts made Delwyn glance up from his work. A large white dog shot past them, pulling the sled with Asher and Epel hysterically laughing. The sled kicked up a line of snow in their direction. Naturally, Sebek was the one to loudly protest. “Take your sled racing elsewhere! You risk damaging our snowmen!” 

Delwyn glanced beside him. Three smaller balls of snow were rolled up next to his larger one. They weren’t as perfectly round as his, looking more like various sided polygons than proper spheres, but they were already better than the mounds the three had before. Yuu crouched over the ball closest to him. She continued rolling her ball around to gather snow until she glanced up and noticed he had paused. She widely grinned at him. “This is already better than how we just shoveled snow into one spot!” 

Delwyn returned her grin with a small smile and continued the impromptu instruction. By the time a stray snowball from Ace pulled Sebek into their snowball fight and Asher had convinced Merle to join them on the sled, Delwyn had relaxed enough to give Rook a small shove when he expounded on the “lifelike quality” of the snowmen. After finishing the snowman with the carrot Yuu offered as a nose, Delwyn took a picture of it and sent it to his brother. The response he received was almost immediate: You can’t say NO the next time I ask to build a snowman! 

Delwyn smiled, and he only had time to send his brother a brief response before Yuu pulled him into the snowball fight with Rook. He didn’t stop smiling even when Vil arrived and forced him to pause long enough to fix the mess his braided hair had become. “I know you’re enjoying pelting the spudlings with snow, but you don’t have to look like a spudling yourself in the process.” 

Vil didn’t have much more to say about hair after Delwyn’s next snowball hit him square in the chest with deadly accuracy.