#on the same day at the same time is so so. unlikely....

[nezuscribe]

arguing with arranged!gojo is difficult because he’s not used to arguing with women and you’re not used to arguing period.

it rarely happens, but when it does it gets really heated between the two of you. you pace around your room, huffing as gojo stands there with his arms crossed, nose flaring.

like that one time he found out that one of the new guards the brought in from the west was somebody you used to fool around with.

yeah that was bad.

“why do you even care!” you snap at him, and he can’t find a plausible reason aside from the fact that he was purely jealous.

this guard that they’d brought in from the west, much to your shock, was somebody you used to see in the late hours of the night. you never did anything frisky, just some shared kisses here and there.

but the moment you saw him, your whole demeanor changed. and gojo could tell. it took a bit of picking and prodding (which gojo is great at) but you eventually told him the story.

and he was not excited to hear it.

“i want him gone,” he tells you and you roll your eyes, shrugging indefinitely.

“fine,” you throw your arms up, “get him out. but what about those girls? you think i don’t want them gone whenever we walk into one of those balls or those dinners? when i see the way they look at you? you think that’s easy for me?”

“it’s different,” his tone is unwavering and cold.

you scoff, shaking your head in dismay.

“what? what’s so different? that i kissed him? big deal!” you feel like you want to cry and yell and jump and scream at the same time.

because it was different. for you. because the men didn’t seem to care that gojo had a new wife, or that he cared for her. but the ladies did. they gossiped in frenzied tones, batted their eyelashes at him even more as if that could cast him away from your spell.

so you didn’t know why he cared so much about this one man. why it should matter to him when he’s had far, far more experiences than you.

you felt hurt that he doubted you, angered with his hypocrisy, and tired from spending the entire day ignoring each other.

“this is going nowhere,” you mutter eventually, picking up your pillow as his eyes drop to your hands, “i’m sleeping somewhere else.”

“what-”

“and don’t follow me,” you bite out, not even glancing behind your shoulder as you begin to sulk out of your shared bedroom to your old one all across the estate.

and sure, maybe you’re not being entirely fair. there’s been some petty arguments when he bumps into one of his old girls, but it didn’t hurt nonetheless when he accused you of lying, when the conversation of your old romantic life was just never brought up.

you wipe at the stray tears on your cheek as you slug down the stairs, sniffling to yourself as you curse your husband to hell and back, when a force unlike any other picks you up from behind.

“what?” you squeal, your body manicured over a strong shoulder, your legs near his torso, your eyes facing his back as you kick at him, “let me go, i’m going to fall!”

“don’t make me laugh,” gojo murmured, one strong arm around your waist, the other around your thighs as he hauls you back up the stairs.

“i told you not to follow me,” you grumble, pinching his back but he doesn’t react.

“you’re funny if you think i’ll let you sleep alone.”

your brows furrow, feeling the need to kick him, but also not wanting him to drop you.

it doesn’t take long for him to reach your bedroom, opening the door with his free hand (unbridled strength if the greatest warrior of the north meant he could pick you up with just one hand) and plops you back on the mattress.

you prop yourself up on your elbows, looking away, hoping he can’t see the tear marks.

because it did hurt. his words hurt you. they cut deep. and he notices, his gaze softening slightly.

“don’t cry,” he whispers, leaning down to trace your tears away but you swat his hand off of your face.

“then don’t make me cry,” you say with a heavy sigh, siting upwards, back slightly hunched.

you take a deep breath, rubbing at your eyes as you glance upwards at him. it’s been a while since the two of you had fought, and the first time over something serious, and he looks awful.

“i don’t judge you for being with those girls,” you start with a heavy whisper, “you did what you could to stay sane. but don’t judge me for doing the same.”

gojo breathes deeply through his nose, blinking.

“you’re right,” he says after a heavy second, causing you too look up in confusion.

he nods again, his big hand cup your jaw, his thumb rubbing your cheek as he catches the stray tear from the corner of your eye.

“you’re right and i’m sorry,” he repeats, and you’ve never had somebody agree with you before, “i just…saw the way he looks at you and…i didn’t like it.”

you offer him a small nod.

“but he just looked at me,” you shift so that your resting on your haunches, hands in your lap. he towers over you, one hand going to cradle the back of your head.

gojo shrugs, like he can’t put it into comprehensible words how he felt when that guard looked at you with hunger in his eyes. how only he was allowed to look at you with such starvation.

“i didn’t like it,” he can only repeat, and you know he struggles with his emotions, spent years hiding them so that they wouldn’t become his weakness.

“do you want to sleep?” he finally asks you, and you slowly blink, trying to hide the tiredness from your face.

“i’ll still be here when you wake up,” he offers and you crack a small smile, trying to hide it from him.

but your smile drops as you think, eyes darting up to his.

“it’s okay to not like something, and it’s okay to feel angry that you don’t. but don’t ever, ever, make me feel like that again because of it.”

your stare is unwavering, and he feels a certain sense of pride in seeing that. and gojo nods, one steady movement as he drops down to his knees, trying to be level with your gaze.

“you have my full authority to strike me down if i do,” he promises, his hands cupping your face, his words serious but you can’t help but giggle.

“good,” you murmur, tugging slightly harshly on some of the strands of his hair as he winces, pushing you back onto the bed with the sheer force of his body, climbing up into you as he hold you close to him.

you let out another laugh as he acts like a bear cub, not wanting to move an inch away from your warmth as he cuddles into you, trying to finish his massive size compared to you.

the two of you laid in silence, a comfortable one, as he laid his head in your chest, hearing the steady rhythm of your heart.

“i am sorry,” he whispers, craning his neck to look up at you as he rests his chin on your sternum, “i’m sorry.” he says again, his words barely above a sound.

you blink again, moving some of the hair away from his face as you observe his sorrowful features.

“i know,” you whisper back.

gojo finds your hands, interweaving your fingers together, heart tugging when he feels your ring against his skin.

he brings the finger to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against the ring as you watch him silently. no other words needed to be said, no words left unspoken as he pulls you into his chest.

because no woman would amount to a sliver of you. and no man would amount to a morsel of him.

[tomboy014]

Tamaranean Siblings, Part 2!

After the Body Swap incident, Phantom and Starfire get close.  Really close.  Turns out swapping bodies breaks down a lot of boundaries, and unlike Raven, the two have bonded.  Starfire has always been a hugger, and she’s taken to carrying Phantom around like a teddy bear. Phantom is used to having a red-headed big sister, and ever since his parents worked the ecto-deflectors into their jumpsuits, he might maybe be a teensy bit touch starved.  He loves to sprawl over Starfire whenever they hang out together.

It’s driving Robin up the wall.  Phantom knows he’s been crushing on Starfire for a while, and he goes and does this?!  He can’t help but get more brusque with Phantom, to the point it starts to interfere with group dynamics, and it prompts even Starfire to tell him off for it.

Danny confronts Dick privately to tell him off for being a total dingus.  As far as the two of them are concerned, Kor’i and Danny are basically siblings now.  He’s knows Dick has a crush on her;  that’s why Danny has been trying to talk him up to Kor’i so she’ll give him a chance, and his attitude is not helping.  Dick needs to CHILL OUT!

Robin: … Who?

Phantom: You live with her for pete’s sake! How do you not know her first name?!

This is also where it comes to light that Robin/Dick doesn’t actually have any dating experience.

Robin is a super popular super hero, leader of his team, and supposedly smooth and charismatic.  Dick Grayson is the adopted son of Bruce frickin’ Wayne and beloved by the public. Danny’s at the bottom of the social ladder and he still got a date with the most popular girl in school. Twice!  How are you this bad at girls? 

Either way, things with Robin start to calm down and the group dynamic returns to normal (though Danny will never let him live down his lack of love life).  But things in the training room start to heat up. 

Starfire and Phantom now have a much better understanding of each other’s limits, and the gloves are off.  The whole tower shakes whenever the two of them spar together, and they’re both experimenting with new ways to use their energy powers after seeing how the other uses theirs.  Phantom even manages to give Starfire a black eye for the first time, and she’s ecstatic! It’s a Tamaranean thing.  In their culture, it’s an accomplishment when a younger sibling to visibly injures the elder sibling for the first time.  It shows how much the younger has grown and how well the elder has taught them.  Starfire is super proud and posts it all over SpaceBook.

But Phantom has ulterior motives for pushing Starfire the way he has been.  No one knows his strengths like Starfire does.  More importantly, no one knows his weaknesses the way she does.  If there’s anyone who’d know how to stop him…

Phantom asks Starfire to be his contingency plan, and explains everything that happened in The Ultimate Enemy, about his future self, what he did, and how terrified he is if he one day becomes that.  If that ever happens, he wants her to be the one to take him out.

Don’t try to talk him out of it.  He already gets it enough from his friends and sister that it won’t happen.  That he’s a good person.  He doesn’t need to worry about that, etc.  He’s heard it all before, but… None of them have actually agreed or promised to end him if it does happen.  And if it does… his friends are only human, and they couldn’t stop him before.

Starfire agrees.  She can see how important this is to him, and she won’t lose Danny to a dark path the same way she lost her sister.  The wave of relief that washes over him breaks Starfire’s heart.  These must be the horrible feelings that led him to develop the Ghostly Wail.

Still, she is confident that this future won’t come to pass because he chooses not to let it happen.  She, too, has been flung forward into a bleak future, but she knows nothing in the past, present or future is set in stone.  She fought and changed the future with her own two hands.  She’s knows Phantom is strong enough to do the same. 

While Dick and Danny were never really good at staying in contact with each other, Kor’i is and keeps up her relationship with Danny even after he “retires.”  She knew months before Dick of Jason did that he took the job at Arkham and is happy for him.  It may not be the career path he wanted, but he found a good job and a way to still help people without his powers. 

<<Prev

[suzukiblu]

Day twenty-three of “obligatory sugar baby Kon”; no cut today. prev: (( chrono || non-chrono ))

“That the best you got, babe?” Kon calls teasingly. Tim glances back over his shoulder at him for a moment and sees Kon standing there grinning at him and feels a little–weird, maybe, about how easily Kon just called him that even with his voice raised. It’s not like . . . 

Well. He’s not out, obviously, and very obviously Kon is not out because otherwise Superboy would’ve told the whole damn world exactly what he thought about anyone who had a problem with that, but Tim Drake isn’t a superhero, and Robin isn’t a public figure. There’s not–it isn’t–the same, technically. 

And Tim knows that they’ve been very obviously on dates while out in public and not really worrying about who saw, objectively speaking. Like–he’s perfectly aware of that fact. Obviously. But it’s not like they’re really doing that around anyone they ever have to see again. They aren’t, like–introducing each other to anyone, or inviting each other over, or . . . 

Well–Kon said he couldn’t invite him over, admittedly. Cadmus has clearance or whatever, and the Justice Cave isn’t really civilian-friendly either, even though they use it as a hangout more than anything else sometimes. So technically it’s just Tim not inviting Kon over, but . . . 

. . . . . . should he be inviting Kon over? Is that, like . . . a thing he should be doing? 

Tim spends half a second picturing explaining Kon to his dad and Dana without outing himself and decides that he would actually rather jump off a bridge without a grappling line. Just–no. No, he is not going there. He is buying Kon a cul-de-sac or a condo or a small to mid-sized suburb and Kon can invite him over, if he wants to, and no one’s legal guardians will be involved whatsoever. 

Not that Kon actually, like, has those. Maybe somewhere there’s some paperwork with a “property of Cadmus Labs” rubber stamp on it, but not in any real way. 

Tim spends another half a second seething with rage about literally everything about the state of this bullshit-ass planet, then heads for the edge of the bowl and drops straight down into it. 

He really needs to not be thinking about that shit right now, so yeah, definitely time for some actual skating. 

Mind, Tim doesn’t really know what kind of skate tricks would actually interest Kon, since actually impressing him is realistically very unlikely, given the nature of literally everything about Kon’s entire life experience and also just the fact Kon can literally fly.

[marauder-misprint]

People watching

Part 1 Part 2

Sirius Black x Fem!Slytherin!reader

1.3k words

cw: fluff

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, allowing the sun to warm the grounds of Hogwarts. As if it were written in scripture, students were opting to lounge around outside rather than spend any amount of time inside. You had prepared a few snacks to bring with you while you attempted to study. You made it maybe fifteen minutes before deciding it was too beautiful of a day to be studying, even if you were outside. You wanted to enjoy it fully so now you were eating some of the snacks and people watching. 

You are fairly well entertained when you notice some movement near you. There’s a squirrel, twitchy nose and bushy tail, looking at you. Or, more accurately, the sandwich in your hand. The squirrel moves closer to you, approaching with caution. It was clearly ready to sprint away in a split second if it sensed danger. You pick off a bit of crust and toss it to the side of the creature. You didn’t want to hit it. That would give it the wrong impression. You smile as the squirrel quickly grabs the crust and immediately begins to nibble on it. You swear it looks back at you with hopeful eyes. You laugh and toss a piece further away. The squirrel goes to retrieve the new crust, eats it and comes back, the same hopeful look in its eyes. You repeat your actions, tossing the small crumbs of bread greater distances. You can’t help yourself; it’s just like playing fetch with a dog. 

From their usual spot near the Black Lake, the Marauders are also enjoying the weather. Unlike you, they didn’t bother to bring homework or snacks. James, Remus and Peter were discussing plans and details for their next prank. Sirius wasn’t listening. He had spotted you when they walked out and he hadn’t been able to look away. He was confused at what you were doing, periodically tossing something and laughing. He was too far away to see the squirrel. 

“Oi, Earth to Padfoot!” Peter all but yells, waving his hand in front of Sirius’ face.

“Huh? What?”

“Prongs wants your opinion on dungbombs or enchanted stink pellets.”

“But now I want to know what you find so interesting,” James says, trying to see what he had been looking at. 

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

“It’s Dorcas’ friend,” Remus says, a smile creeping up his face. “The dog person, remember?”

James’ face lights up. “Still intrigued, are you?”

“Shut up.”

“Definitely still intrigued,” Peter confirms. “I’m not sure Padfoot heard most of our conversation.”

“I did so,” Sirius tries to defend. “I was listening.”

“And staring at her,” Remus adds.

“Have you considered, oh, I don’t know, talking to her?” Peter asks. “Or go balls deep and ask her out.”

Sirius rolls his eyes, turning his full attention back to the group.

“There was a moment at the last party. She was leaving and I basically asked her to stay and she didn’t.”

“Maybe parties aren’t her thing,” James offers, trying to be helpful.

“She did leave the other one right after she talked to you,” Remus says.

“Maybe it’s talking to you she doesn’t like. That’d be a first for a girl,” Peter snorts.

“We talk just fine!”

“Maybe you’re draining?”

“Wormtail, not helping,” Remus scolds him. 

“I’m again suggesting that maybe she doesn’t like parties. Or maybe it’s the Gryffindor Common Room.”

Sirius looks at James, a small smile forming on his face.

“It could be the common room. She was leaving the party and I convinced her to come to the Astronomy Tower with me. It wasn’t until I tried to get her back into the common room that she actually left.”

Peter laughs, “You took her to the Astronomy Tower? And you didn't snog her? It’s that your spot?”

Sirius rolls his eyes. “It’s a spot. Can’t say I own it.”

“You’ve taken a fair amount of girls up there though,” Remus adds.

“I went up for air.” The boys give him disbelieving looks. “Okay, and I followed her out because I didn’t want her leaving so soon. As you so kindly confirmed, I am still intrigued by her. Happy?”

James crosses his arms and nods. “Yes. Quite.”

Sirius looks back at you and his smile slowly turns down into a tight lipped frown. Some time during his friends’ interrogation, his brother had made himself at home next to you. Even as far away as you are, you’re obviously comfortable and happy in his presence. An unnerving feeling erupts in Sirius’ stomach. 

---

“Slug Club is having a cocktail party in a few weeks. Old Sluggy seems adamant that everyone brings a date,” Regulus complains, disgust dripping from the last word.

You chuckle, tossing the squirrel another crumb of food. 

“Salazar, Reg, you act like bringing a friend is the end of the world.”

“A friend, no. A date, yes,” he corrects you. 

“Same difference. Pretty sure Horace wants to make sure all his favorites are making the connections he wants them to. No one too sketchy and ill-fitting for him.”

Regulus groans and rests his forehead on your shoulder. You ruffle his hair affectionately.

“Does Slug like you?” Regulus mumbles into your arm.

“Enough, I guess. Not skilled enough in Potions or necessarily connected to anyone to earn myself a spot in the club.” You pause. “As you should know.”

“But if I brought you, he’d approve?”

You look down at Regulus. “You’re desperate for his approval?”

He lifts his head up just to nod it vigorously. His eyes are begging you to agree to his unasked invitation. You give him an amused half smile, your eyes twinkling with mischief. 

“You’re going to make me actually ask, aren’t you?”

You nod, not looking away. 

“Darling, will you go to the Slug Club party with me? If I have to suffer through it, I’d like company I can stand.”

“Oh, Regulus, you sure do know how to make a girl feel special,” you say with feigned sweetness, placing your hand over your heart. Then in your normal tone, “Yes, I’ll go with you. Please tell me I don’t have to dress too fancy, do I?”

“Uh, he didn’t say. I’ll ask.”

You nod and look bad to the squirrel. It’s been inching closer to you and your food. Regulus eyes the creature warily.

“Did you befriend that or something?”

“He’s just a little hungry.” The look of mischief in your eyes brightens. “Do you think I can get him to eat out of my hand? I’ve just been tossing him small bits but now that he’s closer…”

Your voice trails off as you break off a small chunk of bread and place it in the center of your palm. You flatten your hand completely and hold it out in front of you, close to the ground so the squirrel would be able to reach it.

“Ugh, please don’t,” Regulus groans, looking away from what he assumes will be some sort of disaster.

To his surprise, he hears you giggle and tentatively looks back. Your hand is empty. The squirrel is sitting back on its haunches, bread chunk in his tiny hands being nibbled on. You slowly lean forward and run a gentle finger down the animal’s back. It doesn’t seem to mind, but Regulus is fairly certain it’s because the squirrel is too preoccupied with the food you had provided it. 

“One of these days you’re going to get bitten,” he warns, making you laugh. 

“From my experience and from what I've heard, I’m more likely to get a bite from a classmate.”

Regulus’ eyes go wide. “Who is going to bite you?”

“Junior fully threatened to before he got together with Evan.”

Regulus makes a face and then you both start laughing. 

“I don’t think that will stop him if he decides he wants to. Evan might bite you too.”

“And maybe a hungry Gryffindor if I get between them and breakfast?”

Regulus rolls his eyes. “As long as it’s not my brother. You might get rabies.”

“Are we sure that Junior doesn’t have that?”

“No.”

You start laughing harder than before. Somehow during your entire time outside, you never looked in Sirius’ direction and never saw him watching you.

tags: @2dloveshp, @yearninglustfully, @made-for-oliverwood, @ilovejamespottersomuch, @hisparentsgallerryy, @itsseaberri, @corawithfanfiction, @devilslittlehelper, @jllyunn

[jayktoralldaylong]

Alright, there's something I'd like to talk about, and let's come at it with an open mind. When Season one of Arcane ended I was 99% sure that Mel was not going to make it to this season. I was praying for every kind of miracle that could happen just to keep that beautiful goddess on screen but she was the first line of contact for that bomb.

Now that everything has been revealed, I want to talk about that bomb.

Ironically, Season two episode one starts with the exact same shine of gold that ended season one.

See, season one:

Season two:

And when the smoke clears we can see her leaning really close to Jayce, like she got blasted towards him.

Now, looking at the seat arrangements from Season one, I can actually see it a lot better now that I'm taking a second look. We can see that she is standing directly in the line of fire, Jayce is standing to her left and Viktor is sitting in his chair, Jayce's chair. Just about everyone sitting by her right died, Salo is sitting furthest away from the blast, opposite her. He probably saw it just a few seconds before she did.

And when she wakes up, all groggy and out of focus, her hands are on his shoulder. They been there, she did not just put them there, she already had her hands on him. Protecting him.

But what I really want to pay attention to, is the look on Mel's face when she and Jayce take in the damage.

The entire place burned down. Realistically, not a single person should have survived that, especially not unharmed.

Then the damage starts sinking in (Don't look at Jayce, look at Mel):

Look at Mel, as they look around the room of injured Councillors.

Jayce is panicking, full on panicking, he's had his nerves rattled, he's never seen anything like this (unlike Mel who, if the audience remembers, grew up in Noxus). And the sweetest thing is how she follows him around, trying to comfort him, while he's trying to shake Cassandra awake.

And she stays right there by his side, until her mother pulls her away (foreshadowing about their duties pulling them apart perhaps?)

Now, imagine you were in the middle of a disaster, a terrible disaster, and you had the power to save every single person in that room, but you did not know this because no one ever bothered once telling you that you had powers. However, in that moment, you did indeed save one person, without knowing, without even thinking. Who did Mel save?

She saved Jayce. (The craziest thing about that.....is that.... Viktor was literally right beside him. He was right beside Jayce OMG 😭😭).

Watching this scene, I cannot imagine the amount of guilt that threatened to swallow Mel whole ever0y time she saw the aftermath of what happened and a small part of her brain would nag her that she could have prevented it, that she could have protected Jayce's friend.

So why Jayce? Why ONLY Jayce?

"Because she loves him."

Obvious answer, two plus two equals four, but this is Arcane we're talking about, there is more to this simple equation and it is plain to see in their reactions in the aftermath.

Jayce is devastated. He is new to war, he does not know shit about it, it scares him to see all the people that he respects flattened like they are nothing. The Piltover Council means something to Jayce.

To Mel, they are colleagues. They are.... people with names and faces and power. They are people she would help on a normal day, but at the first sign of danger she clung to one person.

Jayce was Viktor's first friend, and he was Mel's too. He was the first person to tell her that she was not crazy. The first person to strangely believe in her dreams, to pour out affection not out of arrogance but genuine care that he was not ashamed or even hesitant to show her. He fought for peace when she began to doubt. When she felt unstable, his naivete and pure heart steadied her.

Mel loved Jayce. Loved him so much that she did not freak out when he was tweaking cause of the Arcane. So much that she fought for him when he was getting outright dominated by his ex. 💀💀 And while it is not the space shattering world changing soul bonded union of javik, I think it is beautiful that Mek loved Jayce.

I think it's ironic that the brotherly love that people keep trying to achieve with Jayce and Viktor was represented so well with Jayce and Mel. I think it's iconic that a male and female character that banged on screen can go their separate ways without a dramatic breakup and without losing the entirety of their care for one another (cause some of it was definitely damaged after their individual trauma).

What I'm trying to say is that Mel loved Jayce. The love was there. Call it romantic or platonic or whatever but she cared about him more than she cared about anyone in that room when that bomb went off.

And it just twists something in my heart....that Jayce was so loved by the two people that meant so much to him. That he gave all of his heart out and they gave everything back because of how selfless his love was. Everyone says Viktor and Mel are out of Jayce's league but they both keep putting him first. (⁠T⁠T⁠) They just cannot resist that all encompassing love of his. It saved Viktor, and it saved Mel who finally found her truth, and lost him to find it.

[my-religion-greek-myth]

Freedom far away - L

I thought today was Monday, so I forgot to go to morning martial arts training RIP 😫

Fem Reader X Agatha X Rio

Warning: None?

Part A | Part B | Part C&D | Part E | Part F | Part G | Part H | Part I&J | Part K | Part L | Part M | Part N | Part O&P | Part Q | Part ? | Epilogue

The first thing you noticed was the warmth. It wasn’t the same kind of heat from heavy blankets or a crackling fire but a comforting, living warmth that cocooned you. Bright light pressed gently against your eyelids, coaxing you into wakefulness. Slowly, you opened your eyes, the unfamiliar ceiling of Agatha and Rio’s bedroom coming into view.

Unlike the cold, polished chambers of your household—former, you corrected with a quiet sigh—this room was filled with a sense of life, of belonging. The faint scent of flowers and something sweet lingered in the air, mingling with the sound of quiet breaths on either side of you.

You turned your head, your cheeks warming as you found Rio to your right, her dark hair slightly mussed and her face peaceful in slumber. To your left, Agatha slept, her wavy curls cascading across her relaxed face, a striking contrast to the perfect composure she always maintained when awake. They were both so close, the memories of the night before flooding back to you in vivid detail.

Your first night being loved so wholly and thoroughly had left you trembling in ways you had never imagined. You stifled a soft laugh, recalling how they hadn’t stopped after the first time, coaxing every ounce of pleasure and emotion from you until you thought you couldn’t take any more.

Carefully, you tried to slip out of the bed, hoping not to disturb either of them. You barely lifted the blanket when a firm hand caught your wrist.

"Where do you think you’re going?" Agatha’s voice was low and teasing, the faint rasp of sleep still clinging to it. You turned to find her watching you through half-lidded eyes, a lazy smirk curling her lips. "Morning exercise hasn’t started yet."

Your face flamed at her innuendo, heat rushing to your cheeks. "It’s daytime!" you hissed, though your voice lacked any real conviction.

As if on cue, Rio stirred beside you, her hand reaching out to claim your other wrist. She opened one eye, her grin as wicked as ever. "Daytime or not, baby," she drawled, her voice husky, "you’re not going anywhere."

You tried to protest, but it was no use. They tugged you back down, their laughter mingling with your half-hearted objections as the bed dipped beneath the weight of all three of you. Whatever intentions you had for slipping away were quickly forgotten as the morning turned into something far more intimate.

Later that day, you sat curled up on a soft couch in the living room, the sunlight streaming through the windows casting golden patterns across the walls. Agatha and Rio sat opposite you, their arms draped casually around each other as they shared a private joke.

"You’re unusually quiet," Agatha teased, her sharp blue eyes glinting with amusement. "Feeling a little… flushed, doll?"

"Or is it embarrassment?" Rio chimed in, her grin as wolfish as ever. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she studied you. "You were much louder this morning."

You buried your face in your hands, groaning as their laughter echoed through the room. The memory of their teasing words and wandering hands during your so-called 'morning exercise' was still fresh, and your face burned at the thought.

"I hate you both," you muttered weakly, though your lips betrayed you with a small smile.

Agatha tilted her head, a sly grin spreading across her face. "That’s not what you said this morning," she replied smoothly, her voice dripping with playful challenge. Her words sent another rush of heat to your cheeks as Rio let out an unrestrained laugh. "Liar," Agatha added with a mockingly sweet tone, her smirk softening into something almost tender.

Rio nudged Agatha lightly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Let’s give her a break," she said with mock solemnity. Then she turned to you, her grin wide. "But only because she’s so cute when she’s flustered."

You couldn’t help but laugh, shaking your head at their antics. Despite your embarrassment, you felt a warmth that went beyond the teasing and the intimacy of the night before—a sense of belonging that made your chest ache in the best way. For the first time in what felt like forever, you were home.

In the evening after dinner, as the three of you sat around a low table sharing sweets, you felt a familiar heat creep up your neck as you watched Rio and Agatha exchange knowing glances. The air was warm with quiet contentment, but their occasional lingering gazes made it hard for you to focus.

Breaking the silence, you asked, "Aren’t you two supposed to be… going out for business or something?" You tried to sound casual, but your voice wavered just slightly.

Rio smirked, leaning back against the cushions as she popped a piece of candied fruit into her mouth. "Nope," she said lazily, her dark eyes glinting. "We’ve got more important matters to attend to."

Agatha arched a brow, her sharp gaze sliding to you. "Much more important," she murmured, her voice low and suggestive.

You felt the telltale warmth spread across your cheeks but resolutely ignored their tones. "What could possibly be more important than your ‘business’?" you asked, trying to sound unimpressed as you took a small sip of tea.

Rio chuckled, the sound rich and full of mischief. "Oh, this," she said lightly, gesturing between the three of you. Her grin turned sly as she added, "Our honeymoon."

You choked on your tea, coughing as you stared at her wide-eyed. "Honeymoon?!" you repeated, incredulous. "We didn’t go through a marriage! How can this possibly be called a honeymoon?"

Agatha smirked, taking her time to answer as she reached for another sweet. "Didn’t we?" she said smoothly, her gaze sharp as she locked eyes with you. "Last night, you told us you were ours. Forever. If that wasn’t a marriage vow, then what was it?"

You opened your mouth to protest, but no words came. The memory of your whispered confession, your desperate declarations of love, and the promises you had made to them last night came rushing back, leaving you speechless.

Rio leaned closer, her grin widening. "She’s got a point, pretty lady," she said, her voice teasing yet soft. "You practically married us last night. So, we're wives now."

"Without the ceremony," Agatha added with a chuckle. "But who needs that when we’ve already claimed you?"

Your face burned as you stammered, "That’s… not how it works."

Rio laughed, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "It works for us," she said, her tone light but firm. "And for now, we’re not going anywhere. This honeymoon is just getting started."

Agatha nodded in agreement, her lips curving into a wicked smile. "Until all our needs are satisfied," she said, her voice dropping to a low purr that sent a shiver down your spine.

You groaned, burying your face in your hands as their laughter echoed around the room. Despite their teasing, you couldn’t deny the strange, inexplicable joy bubbling up within you. Honeymoon or not, you knew you wouldn’t trade this moment for anything.

Time passed—a few months, in fact—since you had moved in with Agatha and Rio, who, much to your exasperation, insisted on referring to your arrangement as a marriage. Your days were filled with a peaceful rhythm, punctuated by moments of playful teasing and laughter that often stemmed from their relentless attempts to draw out your reactions. Their bickering—sometimes affectionate, sometimes genuinely exasperating—added a strange but undeniable warmth to your life.

It wasn’t all lighthearted, though. There were occasional disagreements—between you and Agatha, you and Rio, or even between them. Often, you find yourself caught in the middle, unsure whether to intervene or let them work it out. Those moments reminded you of how new and fragile this life still felt, the adjustments required on all sides.

And yet, even amid these challenges, you couldn’t deny the profound sense of belonging that had taken root in your heart—a feeling you’d never experienced before. Despite the teasing, the arguments, and the growing pains of this unconventional life, it was home. For the first time, you were surrounded by people who saw you, who accepted every part of you, and who made you feel like you were exactly where you were meant to be.

One early morning, as the three of you sat together in the surreal warmth of their world, you found yourself broaching a topic that had weighed on your mind for some time. "I was wondering," you began, glancing hesitantly between them, "if you could… help my sister."

Rio, lounging comfortably against a stack of pillows like a lazy cat, tilted her head thoughtfully. "Help her; how exactly?"

"Keep an eye on her," you said quickly. "Just to make sure Grandfather doesn’t… you know… force her into anything."

Rio’s narrowed her eyes a little; it carried an edge. "You mean like he tried with you?"

You nodded, guilt flickering across your features. "I just don’t want her to go through what I did. Getting targeted by Grandfather because I'm gone."

Rio’s expression softened, and she gave a small nod. "Don’t worry, pretty lady. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her."

Agatha, who had been sipping tea calmly, raised a brow at Rio. "Don’t get too dramatic, Rio," she said dryly. "This isn’t just a one-woman rescue mission."

Rio smirked. "Who said anything about rescuing? I’ll just keep an eye on her. Discreetly."

Later that evening, Rio casually brought up something that made your stomach sink. "Oh, by the way," she said nonchalantly, "your former household has gone into complete chaos."

Your eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"Total mayhem," Rio clarified, waving her hand dismissively, her tone laced with amusement. "Your grandfather’s been storming around the city, claiming I kidnapped you. Officers even came to the ambassador’s residence in the capital, convinced I was hiding you in the building." She laughed, the sound rich and unrestrained, her dark eyes sparkling with joy and the mischief of retelling the incident. "Oh, and for good measure, he’s accused me of corrupting you." Her grin widened, and she utterly enjoyed the moment.

Despite how lightly Rio told the story, you winced, guilt twisting in your chest. "Rio, I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I didn’t think—"

Rio interrupted with a mischievous grin, leaning toward you. "You know, there’s a way you can make it up to me…"

Agatha, seated nearby with her arms crossed, gave Rio a pointed look. "If you’re about to threaten her with love-making as a form of repayment, don’t bother."

Rio shot her a dramatic pout. "It’s not a threat; it’s a very reasonable suggestion."

You couldn’t help but groan, burying your face in your hands as your cheeks burned. "You’re both impossible," you muttered, though there was no real anger in your tone.

Agatha chuckled softly, setting her teacup aside as she leaned closer. "Impossible? Maybe. But admit it—you wouldn’t have us any other way."

Despite the exasperation, you couldn’t help but smile. She was right, after all.

---RAR---

Since you became a resident of the house, your days in the surreal realm became an intriguing mix of comfort and discovery.

One evening, as a starry night spread across the sky, with the occasional falling star streaking the heavens, you sat by the shimmering lake, the peaceful lapping of the water filling the air. Agatha and Rio joined you, and the conversation turned to the enigmatic gates that dotted the realm. These gates, like the one you had entered to reach their world, were portals to distant places.

Rio gestured toward a weathered stone arch etched with runes, her expression thoughtful. "This stone gate," she began, her tone casual yet layered with meaning, "leads to the stone mountain near the second-largest city in your country. A useful one if we ever need to move discreetly."

Agatha’s sharp gaze followed, and she inclined her head toward another gate—a green wooden one entwined with verdant vines. "That one goes to my homeland," she said curtly. You couldn’t help but ask if she might take you there one day, curiosity lighting your voice.

Agatha’s response was immediate and firm. "Not yet," she said, her words leaving no room for debate. There was a flicker of something in her eyes—nostalgia, perhaps, or unease—but she masked it quickly.

Rio, however, was less reserved. Leaning closer, she brushed her lips near your ear and whispered, "Don’t worry. I’ll sneak you there sometime when Agatha isn’t looking."

The conspiratorial grin she wore sent a burst of warmth through you, and despite yourself, you suppressed a giggle. But even as Rio winked, you stole a glance at Agatha, whose steely demeanour suggested that even the thought of testing her patience was a dangerous game.

The black wooden gate stood out the most, its surface carved with the intricate, roaring visage of a tiger. It exuded an aura of authority and mystery, making it impossible to ignore.

"That one leads to the capital of your country," Rio explained, her tone casual but laced with amusement. "Specifically, right in front of the royal palace."

Your eyes widened in astonishment, and Rio, ever observant, smirked at your reaction, clearly enjoying the moment. "Don’t look so shocked, my lady," she teased, her grin wide and mischievous. "I’ve made it the location of my ‘foreign ambassador’s office.’ It’s all a rather convincing bit of magic, don’t you think?"

Rio’s magical prowess often coloured her interactions with you and Agatha, though she rarely used it in daily life unless it was to tweak their realm, adjust the gates, or occasionally transform herself into something or someone else. Her restraint in using magic made each display all the more impressive, her power seemingly limitless yet controlled. For Agatha, it was a double-edged sword—on one hand, Rio’s abilities were invaluable, a cornerstone of their shared existence. On the other, Agatha couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Rio’s occasional theatrical flair, even if it was rare.

Unlike Rio, Agatha loved to wield her magic openly, almost revelling in its display. You knew Agatha’s love for power ran deep, and her hunger to strengthen it was evident in everything she did—including the lengths she went to claim the shaman’s abilities. While you couldn’t deny the awe her magic inspired, there was a weight to it that reminded you of how far she was willing to go for strength. It was a sharp contrast to Rio’s quiet mastery but one that added to the complexity of their bond—and yours with them.

“Must you make everything a spectacle?” Agatha would ask dryly whenever Rio conjured an unnecessary flourish, like a path of glowing lilies leading to their table for tea.

Rio, unbothered, would shrug, her grin playful. “Why not? Life’s dull without a little show.”

For you, her magic was a revelation and a source of quiet intimidation; unlike Agatha’s precision, where every spell carried purpose and weight, Rio’s power was like her personality—playful, bold, and utterly unrestrained.

She often teased you about your amazement. “You’ve got that look again,” she’d say, catching the way your gaze lingered on a gate shimmering into existence. “Careful, or I might start charging you admission.” She nipped your earlobe to draw fire on your face.

But it wasn’t just her magic that left an impression—it was the ease with which she wielded it, as if the very fabric of reality bent itself to her whims. It reinforced the notion that, while Rio might lounge lazily on cushions and crack endless jokes, she was a force to be reckoned with.

This power wasn’t without its complications in your dynamic. When Agatha gave you the task of coaxing a fish from the lake with your budding magic, Rio observed with quiet amusement, occasionally offering cheeky commentary that left you torn between laughing and groaning.

“Come on, pretty lady, it’s just a fish!” Rio called from the shade of a nearby tree. “You can tame animals. Surely a little jump isn’t too much to ask?”

“Rio,” Agatha warned, her tone sharp enough to make even Rio glance away briefly.

Despite the teasing, Rio’s confidence in you was unwavering. “You’ll get there,” she would say in rare moments of sincerity, her dark eyes meeting yours with an intensity that quickened your pulse. “And when you do, it’ll be beautiful.”

The interplay between the two women, particularly when Rio’s magic took centre stage, was fascinating to witness. Agatha’s precision and careful restraint balanced Rio’s audacity, their dynamic often playing out like a dance—sometimes harmonious, other times brimming with tension.

One evening, after Rio created a vibrant, glowing bridge across the lake just to 'prove a point' during an argument with Agatha, you couldn’t help but laugh at their exchange.

“You’re impossible,” Agatha muttered, shaking her head as the bridge rippled like a living thing.

“And you love it,” Rio shot back, her grin smug as she nudged your shoulder. “Don’t deny it, pretty lady—you’re impressed too.”

You didn’t respond immediately, though your smile gave you away. The truth was, you were impressed. Rio’s magic was more than a display of power; it was an extension of who she was, her vibrant energy woven into the world she created. It wasn’t just about bending reality—it was about making the impossible feel alive and real.

For all her playful teasing, Rio’s abilities and her bond with Agatha added depth to your shared life. While Agatha challenged you to grow with her meticulous guidance, Rio reminded you to embrace the chaos and wonder of the realm you now call home. It was a delicate balance—one that, despite its occasional frictions, made you feel more alive than ever before.

One day, as the three of you sat by the lake under a blanket of stars, the light air carried a gentle coolness that brushed against your skin. The water shimmered softly, reflecting the celestial tapestry above, while occasional ripples marked the playful movements of fish beneath the surface. The stillness was comforting, the kind of quiet that seemed to exist only in this surreal realm.

Agatha broke the silence, her voice steady but tinged with an edge of seriousness. "You’ve been practicing your magic," she began, her sharp gaze resting on you. "But it’s time you started taking it more seriously."

You blinked, turning to her. "I thought I was taking it seriously."

Her lips curved into a faint smirk, though her eyes remained intense. "No, doll. You’re trying, but trying isn’t enough. Magic isn’t just a game or a tool for small wonders. It’s survival."

The weight of her words pressed against you, and you opened your mouth to respond, but something in her expression stopped you. Agatha’s gaze wasn’t just commanding—it was distant, as though she were peering into memories she didn’t often share.

Your trips beyond the black gate flickered in your mind. You had ventured into the capital several times now, often with Agatha, loving the little stolen moments in the midst of the bustling market. You’d never been to the capital before your escape; your noble upbringing kept you confined to your household and its surrounding estates. But now, with Agatha guiding you, you felt freer than ever.

You smiled softly, recalling how her hand would brush yours in the middle of a crowded street, how she’d place a steady hand on your back to ensure you didn’t lose each other. Those moments were small, but they stayed with you—whispers of intimacy in a world that often felt too big. Still, there were times you ventured out alone, breathing in the air of the city, feeling its pulse and vibrance. Those solitary trips were thrilling in their own way but carried a subtle edge of unease you couldn’t quite place.

Rio, lounging beside you with one leg stretched out, sat up slightly, her dark eyes narrowing as she glanced at Agatha. "You’re going to spook her," she said lightly, though her voice carried a note of concern.

Agatha’s eyes flicked to Rio, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She needs to hear it," she said firmly. "We can’t always be here to protect her."

The words sent a chill down your spine, and you glanced between them. "What do you mean?" you asked softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Agatha exhaled slowly, her fingers tracing an idle pattern on the ground beside her. "The world isn’t kind to witches," she said, her tone quieter now. "It never has been. And if you’re not ready to defend yourself… it won’t hesitate to crush you."

You flinched, your memories of the bustling capital now tinged with a new unease. It wasn’t just the wonder of the city you remembered—it was the way people stared at you sometimes, the whispers you couldn’t quite catch. You hadn’t thought much of it then, but now, Agatha’s words planted seeds of doubt.

Rio let out a low sigh, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. "Don’t let her scare you too much, baby," she murmured, her voice a soothing counterpoint to Agatha’s intensity. "We’ll make sure nothing happens to you. Always."

Agatha’s gaze softened slightly, but she didn’t waver. "Promises are fine," she said, her voice steadier now. "But preparation is better. She needs to hone her magic—not just for fun or curiosity, but to survive."

You nodded slowly, her words settling over you like the weight of a distant storm. "I’ll try harder," you said quietly, a newfound determination threading through your voice.

Agatha’s expression softened further, and she reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from your face. "Good," she said simply. "Because survival is the first lesson for a witch."

Rio chuckled, her warm breath tickling your skin as she leaned closer. "You’ll be fine," she said, her tone dipping into something playful yet firm. "Besides, you’ve got the two most dangerous women in this realm to back you up. No one’s getting to you."

Agatha smirked at Rio’s words, her piercing blue eyes meeting yours. "Remember that," she murmured, her voice quieter now. "No matter what happens, you’re ours. And no one touches what’s ours."

The stars seemed to twinkle brighter above, as though underscoring their promises. Despite the heavy truths they shared, their presence wrapped around you like a shield, their words a steady reminder that you weren’t alone.

[7s3ven]

NOTES: angst, reader has divorced parents, Simon and reader lowkey aren’t all that nice to each other, closeted Simon I guess, Simon x Jonny

Simon Riley is a tough lover. You don’t really understand what goes on in that head of his, just that you should leave him alone if he expresses annoyance.

He’s more of a distant partner than the boyfriend you used to spend every waking hour with. You aren’t married but sometimes you wished he’d pop the question. Or break up. Anything to ease the tension that had settled between the two of you.

You aren’t an easy person to love either. You overwork and sometimes you’re a little over ambitious. You’ve made time for Simon in your busy work schedule but he never seems to do the same.

Sometimes he comes home, other times he doesn’t. On the rare occasions you hear him creep into your shared bed, you often feel his arm sling around your waist, pulling you closer in an attempt to deny the feeling that your relationship was falling apart.

You love Simon more than anything, perhaps more than yourself. There is nothing you wouldn’t do for him and that fact alone seems to scare him.

You don’t predict the intense argument between you and Simon after you find him in a bar, looking a little too comfortable with Jonny.

You’ve always known there was a spark between them but you’ve done your best to ignore it.

“You said you were at the gym.” You snap. You and Simon are standing outside the bar in the chilly air, entirely aware of how his coworkers are watching through the tinted window.

“I did. Then I stopped by the bar and ran into ‘em.” Simon gruffly responds but he’s never been good at lying, especially not with you.

“I don’t care if you wanted to go to the bar. You should’ve told me. I would have let you go.” You fold your arms over your chest in an attempt to cover up your freezing limbs.

Simon says nothing for a second. “You don’t like Jonny.” He pauses, “If I told who you I was with, you would have gotten mad.”

“So you thought lying was a better option? Simon, I work in this area. Besides, you know why I don’t like Jonny.”

“I ain’t gay, love.”

You stare up at him through your lashes, quirking an eyebrow. “Then how come you never look at me the way you look at him? We used to be close, Simon. Then you joined the military and I barely hear from you. You disappear for months without telling me and just when I’m ready to give up, you come back. It’s a continuous cycle that I can’t stand.”

“My job is demanding.”

You have the urge to slap him. “So is mine. That leaves you with no excuse. You don’t come home in days where I know you’re at the base. And when you do come back, you smell like him.”

You don’t have to specify who you’re referring to. Jonny’s cologne is strong and sharp, a smell you can’t miss. Even now, Simon reeks of him.

“You aren’t perfect either.” Simon chimes in. You roll your eyes, fully aware of your flaws but at least you don’t brush past them. You acknowledge them unlike Simon.

“Simon, I’m going to be direct with you, we’ve been dating for… well, most of our lives. I don’t want to waste any more years on a man who doesn’t love me back.”

Simon knows what you’re suggesting. Either he pops the question… or he risks watching you walk away. “But I do love you.” He insists but you can’t hear any genuine emotion. He’s always closed off, never open with you anymore.

You’re sure Jonny knows more about Simon than you do. You barely even know his favourite color now.

“Then why don’t you fucking act like it?” The way Jonny is staring at you so innocently riles you up. “Ever since you met Jonny, you haven’t treated me the same. Face it, Simon. Between me and him, you’ll always choose him.”

“I can’t love someone who refuses to love herself first.” Simon harshly retorts.

You furrow your brows. “Think about it, Simon. I care deeply for you… but nothing is stopping me from leaving.”

You’re a few steps away from Simon when he speaks again, always wanting to have the last word. “The reason you can’t love yourself is because you are the product of two people who couldn’t love each other either.”

It takes only a second for you to retrace your steps. You’re standing in front of Simon again, silent. Then, without another word, you lift a hand and punch him square in the nose. “As if your parents were any better.” You sneer. “Don’t bother coming home. I’ll leave your things outside for you to collect.”

You spare Simon one last look. Your lip curls into a frown as you glare at him. “Jerk.”

Simon says nothing as you walk off for the second time, successfully disappearing from his sight. His nose is heavily bleeding but he almost doesn’t feel the pain.

His ears are loudly ringing as he stares at the spot where you once stood.

A few years ago, Simon was over the moon for you, despite not visually showing it. Things had changed; he had changed.

In the end, you were right. Between you and Jonny, he would always pick the latter. Once upon a time, you were his top priority but not anymore.

It was just sad seeing a person he knew so well in the past walk away.

That was the problem with your relationship anyway. The two of you were always stuck in the past, trying to rekindle a flame that had already died, refusing to believe that this was the inevitable end.

[1bibypersecond]

I want to rant about a lot of things from Act 3, but I'll start with Viktor's song, The Line.

The Line is such a beautiful song. When I first watched the teaser on Friday, I turned into a puddle of tears. The lyrics were so lovely and described Viktor perfectly. I couldn't imagine myself watching the real episode. I read that they sent the scenes to TOP and got the song back in just three days, which is incredible.

But when I watched the whole scene, I was disappointed. It starts with Viktor saying goodbye to Sky after spending what seems like 3–6 months with her in her beautiful astral form. He says, ‘I’ll miss our talks,’ and Sky responds, ‘No, you won’t.’ She knows he’s letting go of her—of his humanity—which means he’ll stop feeling sadness. She also knows Viktor doesn’t regret it. And that’s it. That’s ALL we get. And it’s the same scene they showed in the teaser, nothing new.

Then it immediately switches to Vander and his memories. I get that they’re drawing parallels—both are transforming into their ‘final forms.’ But Vander already had his moment in Remember Me, so I really thought Viktor would take center stage in The Line.

Personally, I would’ve added a couple more minutes, maybe a scene of Viktor and Sky as kids playing together to give Sky’s character more weight. Another of Viktor and Jayce when they became colleagues or were working together. And maybe one of his parents. His parents loved him, and I feel like they didn’t give that enough attention, unlike all the other characters and their parents. It’s canon that his parents bought him a uniform for his birthday so he could attend the academy, yet we never get any info about them. I get that adding this would be extra production costs, but even a single image would’ve been enough.

Finally, maybe a shot of the three of them working together or Viktor and Jayce with Sky in the background. But no. The song feels so empty when you consider EVERYTHING Viktor went through with Sky during those 3–6 months they were together or all the time he spent with Jayce, his bestie.

This makes me wonder if Sky was just a figment of Viktor’s imagination, which is why he could let go of her so coldly. I know he barely shows affection to others, he was taking her hands and his eyes were tilting, but I felt they could have made it more emotional.

And on top of that, they cut the most beautiful parts of the song.

Completely wasted potential (just my opinion).

[seventeenlovesthree]

Yamato Ishida's clothing style - a meta analysis

Since Yamato has won the fashion analysis poll ahead of Sora, Mimi, Takeru and Hikari, he'll be the second to get one after Koushirou and Taichi. Fortunately - and interestingly enough -, he might be one of the easier cases among all the Chosen Children, because he has very consistent themes and motifs going on, so let's get this on step by step:

Adventure (+ Our War Game), age 11/12:

Even though the kids do not change clothes very often throughout the series, we can still find a few of the aforementioned "themes and motifs" for Yamato here: Starting with his signature sleeveless/turtleneck shirt in Adventure, his favourite - and thus associated - colour appears to be green and since he seems to prefer overall dark colours, you will usually (but not exclusively) see him wear darker shades. This can also be observed during OWG, where he wears a dark brown button-down shirt - which will turn out to be a common theme in addition to dark jeans or pants. Plus, unlike most of the other male characters, you will almost NEVER see him wear sneakers, because he's clearly a "boots" kind of guy.

As for his hair, this is where the classic "cool boy haircut" with the spikes and side fringe found its origins (which is also pretty close to how his father wears his hair).

02 (+ Diablomon Strikes Back), age 14/15:

This is where the "rockstar phase" begins and even though green doesn't make an appearance here, he consistently sticks to dark colours - mostly blacks and browns - as well as complementing boots, button-downs or turtlenecks. Despite him being the leader of his own band, his style is something I would personally describe as very neat, almost unagitated and thus more in line with his introverted side - which can be interpreted as him trying to be somewhat lowkey, not intending to attract too much attention. But at the same time, his style (= dark clothes in contrast to his blond hair) naturally creates a sense of "mysterious aloofness" (as it may be described by his fans, such as Jun. While it is also never explicitly stated, we know that he has European/French genes from his mother's side, so this may or may not add to his visual appearance easily attracting attention and popularity).

In terms of his school uniform, he doesn't go all out on being extravagant either, but instead chooses "the middle ground" between Taichi's "loose and casual" and Koushirou's "neat and correct" style by wearing the blazer closed but leaving out the tie. It's still overall very correct, with a hue of "coolness".

Diablomon Strikes Back then adds two more motifs for him, implying him becoming more and more comfortable growing into "his own": From this point on, we will see him wear little accessories like rings and necklaces - which, as we will see later, may even have a link to Gabumon one way or another. He also starts to wear more layers from now on, such as (college or leather) jackets - which will become more prominent later.

The "cool boy haircut" has grown out a little, softening the spikes. Not only could this be seen as him "differentiating" himself a little from his father (which is a common interpretation of the hairstyle change); it also gives him more of a J-pop-star vibe and makes him appear more "chill" in general (whereas I can only assume he was considered more of a "surfer boy" in Western fandoms back in the day).

Tri, age 17:

While he has cut his (still softened) hair a little bit shorter again, he overall maintains an effortlessly "casual but cool" style: Not only have the green tones returned to his wardrobe, the boots are also still there (even if they're not visible on the picture evidence). The ensemble is usually complimented by elements from his aforementioned DSB/"rockstar" phase: We see him wearing necklaces and chains in his everyday outfits, simple (black, green or even white) shirts with or without prints and with or without cardigans or jackets - and we can also tell he has gotten generally more daring (and a little less "tame") by wearing ripped jeans.

His school uniform is still more or less "neat", but even though he has added the tie, he wears everything more loosely than he did in 02. For his Summer school uniform, he also chooses to wear a long-sleeved shirt rolled up - instead of the short-sleeved ones all the other male characters wear.

Kizuna, age 22:

As a young adult, he basically tries to marry the majority of his previously mentioned themes into one consistent style: His signature cool-boy hairstyle - neat, short, spiky - has returned as well as the dark greens and the boots. In general, his colour palette consists of green, black and white - with an interesting case of grey in the middle of the movie. Similarly to Taichi, this may or may not have some special implications: Taichi wears an asymmetrical shirt, black on the left (covering his "heart"), blue (his favourite colour) and white on the right ("light") side, indicating his insecurities in terms of what's the right path. In contrast, Takeru wears all of his associated colours (VERY colourful green shades), as does Koushirou (orange), while also wearing a pristine white shirt - they're both not at risk of losing their partners, they're both on the light side, whereas Yamato and Taichi are completely at a loss. Yamato, who wears a grey button-down shirt, appears to be just as torn about his future and current situation as Taichi is, having abandoned his beloved music and hesitantly contemplating a future in the military. Which is also why he may wear a dog tag - and, as mentioned previously, this may also be a reminder of his bond to Gabumon after all. (And on a lovely little side note, I assume that Takeru starts wearing necklaces at the time of The Beginning to signify his own bond to Yamato.)

In terms of layers, we see him wear leather jackets, blazers and vests, everything being mostly "neat and correct" (again), with the same sense of effortless coolness he always had (but, if you wanna follow Kizuna's course of action, it may also display a sense of insecurity that leads him to choose style cues from the past over trying to move forward. I do like his Kizuna style and there is nothing wrong with returning to what you are familiar with, especially because most of it is definitely and consistently "him" - but that interpretation would also be in line with Kizuna's message, "forcing" oneself to conform and be a responsible adult.) One interesting addition are the red (!) glasses he wears during lectures, which is a colour we haven't seen him consider before. (Since it's "red", a possible interpretation could be that Sora gifted it to him - Kizuna is very persistent with its colours after all.)

Beyond, ???

Now things are getting a little more tricky, because we do not exactly know how old Yamato is supposed to be in these sketches - since this could be Kakudou's interpretation of post 02/DSB!Yamato as well as him being somewhere in his later 20's, also according to Kakudou's vision. I've tried to put my thoughts on this style into words here already, but to summarize it very quickly here: It's interesting that we see the grown-out 02 haircut again, as well as the earring - if we follow my interpretation of 02!Yamato, this only means that he has grown even more comfortable with himself to dress and present himself as less neat and also "less spiky" (= less aggressive in personality).

The epilogue, approximately age 39:

Last but not least, the epilogue shows our astronaut choosing the same colour palette and style cues 02!Yamato had already been famous for: Blacks and browns, glimpses of beige, a turtleneck and a (leather) jacket. His hairstyle is back to being the exact same as his father's - and as for now, there is not a lot to say about that without having the full context of where "Beyond" may eventually lead him in this timeline.

So my final verdict is: As mentioned at the beginning of this post, most of Yamato's style choices have a coherent theme: cool, effortless, mostly unagitated, sophisticated and tame, but with a glimpse of growing "rebellion". You can tell he confidently knows his favourite colours - mostly dark greens, black and brown with softening tints of grey, beige and white. He loves his (short or no-sleeved) shirts (with or without print), button-downs, turtlenecks and boots - and sometimes even dares to put on something like leather jackets or vests over those. What he appears to be a little unsure about is the consistent usage of accessories - and his hairstyle.

While the dog tag may be one of his more prominent features at this point (potentially signifying his bond with Gabumon), the state of his hair may or may not indicate how comfortable he is with his identity. Next to Taichi and Sora - and due to him still dealing with the aftermath of his parents' divorce -, he is the one who struggles the most with where he sees himself in the future. We know he has a high sense of responsibility (especially for those he cares about) and tries to find rational solutions, but may let his emotions get the best of him sometimes, hindering communication, so that may be where the inconsistencies stem from. While his clothing style is mostly tame and neat, indicating his wish for order, it has these little moments of (emotional) "rebellion" in it at times; rings, necklaces, ripped jeans - all things he tried out at some point, but doesn't seem to be 100% sure of, since he doesn't consistently wear them. Whether that's because he feels like he has to conform and fit into society as he grows older, abandoning music because it's not a "feasible career" - or simply feels more comfortable wearing his signature haircut (and "what he already knows") once again. One could also interpret his return to his old hairstyle as a sign that he may have grown closer to his father, thus feeling more comfortable "merging" all these style elements and finding a middle ground, slowly but steadily - but whether or not that is true, I am not able to tell.

[amuseoffyre]

Fyre's convention adventures - Day 1

I've never done a con before, but for the chance to meet 5 of the folk from my favourite little pirate show, of course I was going to break that streak. Especially since it was a convention entirely focused on them and the show.

And since this is liable to get long, lemme put a lil snip

Since it was a hotel con and only focused on the one show, it was a lot smaller and more intimate than the more intimidating scale (to me) of Comiccons and things like that. Plus loads of people I knew already from fan meet-ups and things were going, which made it sound a lot more fun.

It was also the time for the wider OFMD fan community to meet the OFMD muppets :D My priority was to take down all of the characters of the cast who would be attending, so 5 in all: my latest Stede, Izzy, a new Calypso, Lucius and Jim. And two extras on commission - a second Stede and a full-body Ed in his Penitence Onesie. Seven in all 😅

I had three of them shipped down special delivery and the other four filled my case. Thank goodness for a generous hand-luggage allowance is all I can say. It also turned out to be the best decision of my life to bring them because they cause chaotic joy all over the place.

Did a bunch of mingling and scheming (more details on the Elusive Birthday Scroll later) and then the opening night and got to say it never stops being surreal seeing people off the telly in the same room as you.

Since I was treating myself to the gold ticket, I got to go along to the fanmeet which is basically a group of 8 at a table get a few minutes with each of the guests, speed-dating style (we also did chair rotation so everyone got a chance to sit beside the guests). Since we had enough muppets for nearly everyone, lo, we had them arrayed around the table on peoples' laps :)

I'm gonna do a brief summary of each, pulling in from my notes made the morning after as well.

First up was Vico when I was sitting by the guest seat and I got exactly the "OMG!" reaction I had hoped for when they saw the puppets❤️ Turns out they're super into puppetry (as is their partner) and have been incorporating it into their drag routines and have been planning to do a lot more with it with mention of an N'Sync style puppet routine for themself as well.

They also talked about an actor they've been compared to for years - Roberta Colindrez - and that they have recently done some work together and it made Vico realise that they are the muppet version of Colindrez in human form XD They are so animated as well, all hands all moving all the time :D I also said if I could arrange it, I'd try and get the puppet to them if they wanted it (Con rules are that you can't hand gifts directly to guests)

Nathan was second and went "ooooh those are all so creepy... except that one. He's gorgeous" about the Lucius puppet :D He chatted a bit about the show and adamantly insisted that he is a professional actor no matter what the sandwich to the head scene tells you.

Kristian was our third and for the first time in my life, someone recognised my accent as Scottish 🥹 Turns out we both have family from similar parts over here :D We had a nice chat about the places people were all from around the table.

And, of course, he got to see and hold Calypso :) Unlike all my other muppets, I redesigned her specifically for him. My usual design, the neck would be too small, so instead, I left the back of her head open and scaled up the body with a flat base.Course, he didn't know this and went a-seeking the hole 🤣 I explained she'd been redesigned and he had a chuckle about the fact "I went straight under the skirt there" :D "She's got better make-up than me" as well :D

And when I told him she was for him, his eyes went as big as Puss in Boots. And of course, then started pondering what would happen if he crossed her with his furry Calypso muppet and what kind of babies they would have. Probably furry XD

Next up was Con and with the most perfect timing, he arrived at the table just as one of our gang was shoving their hand right up the Izzy muppet 🤣 "Blooooody hell," says he and just has a good look around at all the mups. Asks who made them and all fingers point my way and he was out of his chair in an instant and around the table to give me the biggest hug and tell me "these are genius".

There may have been a bit of blue-screening in that moment and mental declarations of fealty.

I don't even remember how he ended up holding the Izzy muppet (or why he ended up giving it a snog 🤣), but he happily cradled it for the rest of the chat and looked very thrilled when I said that he could have it after the con if he wanted. Topic moved on and led to discussions of the boyfriend of one of the attendees, who made an... impression on him. Relating to size. And proportion. And how bits... fit 🤣

When asked about cars, he said he likes something sturdy and reliable and a bit like him and someone said, "what? A mini?" XD He also would like to go back to theatre, but says it would absolutely have to be the right piece. There have been discussions but they fell through, and he's off back to America to do some filming this week.

And lastly, with me back in the guest-neighbour-seat, it was our captain, who is very excited about getting back on the road with his stand-up tour and has lots of other bits of work coming his way.

He also talked about the fact that OFMD isn't going anywhere. He compared it to shows like Fawlty Towers, where there's the kind of humour and character stuff in there that was good and funny and loved for years, despite not running long at all.

The Star Trek stuff wot he can't talk about has him all excited but he would also love to do Doctor Who, ideally as some kind of helpful alien, though he wouldn't mind playing a bad guy.

He'd also like to do Star Wars at some point, but after they've stopped doing this oversaturation stuff, because there is so much of it all pouring out all of the time and they've lost sight of the heart of it. He loved Rogue One, though, so more like that :)

They were all so lovely and attentive and enthusiastic and it genuinely did just feel like sitting down for a chat with a bunch of friends. And so. frigging. funny in such different and fantastic ways :D It was definitely a great start to the weekend and it only escalated from there :)

There was some music and discoing, but after early travel and much dashing about, honk-shu time was calling and day one of the Fyre's first con experience was done :)

[eerna]

Hiii I have some thought contributions to the Arcane symposium if you'll have me!

I see people understandably angry at how Arcane handles who is or isn’t a villain and I suppose my two cents is that I didn’t have any hope of them handling it right in the first place, even back in s1 there were always parallels made, always some “both cities have good and bad” nuance when one city doesn’t have air to breathe and is colonized by the other. If anything the beginning of s2 was more consistent in that the second Caitlyn is personally inconvenienced she goes full chemical warfare and mass institutional violence

Personally I thought it unlikely that they suddenly change narrative tones and resolve the plot in a way that was satisfying to me, and I knew the pacifist “choose love not hate <3 zaun and piltover arms in arms” both-sides ending was inevitable, so I’m glad they at least had that whole thing with Viktor and Jayce and the timelines to distract me from it

“they shouldn’t have made Viktor, a Zaunite, the villain” but Arcane always made the villain a Zaunite! Before Viktor there was Silco, Piltover chooses peace but Jinx blows the council up and now they have to do a whole “look what you made us do” arc. This was my beef with Arcane from day 1 (it wasn't emphasized enough, IMO, that the villain is Piltover's oppression and marginalization of Zaun, and that this context renders null any "both cities" comparison)

Also Vi was written so poorly this season what's up with that

All that being said I suppose it’s more complicated to discern “writer’s intent” from that kinda show than it would be in a book or an indie project where there are fewer people involved in the plot writing and less interference. Like one deleted scene or one line of dialogue omitted radically changes the message. But well, there's the intended message and there's the manifest message and as the audience we are allowed to criticize both

Of course we shall, step to the podium~ Truly, the "writer's intent" is truly so complicated here, because anti-capitalist messaging in mainstream art powered by capitalism is always a nightmare to get through.

Oh yes it's a good take, I remember the discussions from s1 era well! However, I still don't think the "both sides have good and bad" thing is a red flag in stories, simply because it's true IRL. A ton of people have trouble committing to a side in a conflict because neither is totally morally pure, which completely blinds them to the truth that NOTHING is morally pure and choosing the lesser evil is the way to go. Silco was a brilliant villain to me because he was an oppressor himself, as people in power are rarely anything else, but that didn't mean that Zaunite ideals were worth any less! After all, Ekko held the same anti-Piltover ideals, but he is morally pure and thus unable to become an influential politician. He can support a small society, but not a large one, because no one really can do that without resorting to some bad shit. Just because Silco dreamed of being the same as Piltover's elite and became a class traitor by forcing his citizens into another toxic work culture, except this time they made HIM rich instead of Piltover, doesn't mean we should just give up on trying to make things better. Zaun during Silco's reign is just as worthy of freedom and equality as Zaun during Vander's reign. It doesn't matter that there are terrorists living there now - that doesn't excuse Piltover's violent actions. And s1 seemed to be aware of that, considering how the Enforcers were depicted, and in the end it's the Piltover council who are forced to give up instead of the Undercity. And the choice of peace wasn't as morally pure as it sounds: the council opposed it and was forced into it by Jayce and Mel's combined power, even Jayce was resistant to the terms at first, AND it still left the Undercity in Silco's hands, fixing absolutely none of the sins they committed there. It wasn't an evil terrorist blowing up a bunch of hippies, it was a hurt Undercity girl setting in motion an event that has been brewing for a long, long time, against a system which gave too little, too late.

So yeah, in short, I don't interpret s1 as ever trying to question whether Zaun was right to demand more from Piltover by saying "well both sides are bad so nothing should change". It simply showed the ugly truth to any revolution: leaders are practically never good people, and those who get too close to it are doomed to very cursed lives. And yet, giving up isn't an option, because the system IS bad and the system HAS to be changed, and if that isn't gonna happen by the way of peace, then you can't help but sympathize with those who were wronged when they do something horrible.

That's why it only worked when it focused on individual characters - that way you can understand why everyone is acting the way they are acting, and you avoid falling into broad strokes. S2 instead focuses on the aesthetic of revolution and war and the characters get lost in the big picture, which absolutely sucks and completely negates everything I've been typing about here. In fact, who knows, maybe my opinion changes too after I sit with s2 for a while and contextualize s1 within it. Maybe I was just wishfully thinking and misinterpreting this whole time. I already feel like a clown for defending this show, so I can totally accept that I could probably be wrong here. But I just wanted to write it all out in the name of discussion and interpretation!

[suzukiblu]

WIP excerpt for lottie behind the cut; "a pocketful of Kons". (( chrono || non-chrono ))

. . . okay, so they were going to the Watchtower, Tim finds out literally on the Watchtower with his two-day go-bag hooked over one shoulder. Bruce literally did not even say they were walking into a disguised zeta tube until he activated the damn thing. Dick looks wry, his own go-bag over his shoulder, but also not all that surprised; Tim is definitely surprised, and also immediately mortified. Bruce brought them to the Watchtower? The Watchtower is full of people! People who will take one look at Stud and see Superman! See Superman and also almost definitely ask Stud’s name! 

And yes, obviously he’s going to need a fake one for him because secret identities exist for a reason, but the thing about being a Bat is, they use the fake names for their secret identities, because Bruce lives and breathes friggin’ 5D chess and is way more “Batman” than he’s ever been “Brucie”, so if anyone asks Tim will, in fact, have to tell them Stud’s actual name. Especially because he’s pretty much positive Stud will be a goddamn brat about it if he tries using a fake name for him anyway, given the other’s clear disdain for anything not a cape and S-shield. 

So yeah, the chances of at least one if not multiple of Earth’s greatest heroes looking him in the eye and asking him what his Pocket’s name is at some point in the next ten minutes are . . . not nonzero, put it that way. 

Tim seriously considers just finding the nearest airlock and hacking through the safety protocols in self-defense. 

Or maybe just the incinerator. There’s probably an incinerator somewhere on the Watchtower, right? There’s gotta be. 

Dick pats his shoulder sympathetically. Tim immediately feels worse, because if it’s that obvious how mortifying this whole experience is about to be for him, it’s going to be even more mortifying than that. 

“Codenames only,” Bruce makes a point of stating, not bothering to look back as he strides down the hall ahead, Cat all masked up and hidden under the fall of his cape. Which as a statement, obviously, is meant for Stud, but given how stubborn and contrary Stud’s been so far . . . 

“Please,” Tim hangs back to add under his breath as Dick heads after Bruce with Star and Red on his shoulders, Red in her own mask and Star not having bothered, for obvious reasons. Stud frowns, looking puzzled. 

“Rob?” he tries warily, still looking a little confused. 

“Right,” Tim agrees, resisting the urge to try convincing Stud to hide under his cape and just following after Dick and Bruce. Chances of Stud being willing to hide are unlikely, and it seems much more likely to annoy or upset him. So like–fight the battles you can win, and all. And avoid aggravating your tiny, unpredictable soulmate who isn’t actually Superman but sure does look like Superman. 

Tim really, really hopes that Stud is Supergirl, because that implies him being capable of turning into a form much easier to explain to his dad and also maybe at least not being just a guy, which is still something he doesn’t know how he really feels about. Even if it also implies Lex Luthor Junior being immediately relevant to the state of his love life. But he’s not really holding out much hope for that right now, considering . . . everything, basically. 

Though dealing with Luthor Junior might be better than dealing with the creepy cyborg guy, whoever he is. 

“Rob Rob Rob,” Stud chants happily to himself as he flies ahead to Red and she gives his head a pat, and Star flies over to meet him and gives him a big, body-squeezing hug, nuzzling into his curly hair as her own half-envelopes him. Stud crows delightedly and lunges into the hug to send them both tumbling through the air, and Star croons affectionately at him and swings him around as she hugs him harder, glowing sunlight-bright at the same time. Stud crows, and Tim hears Cat laugh lowly from inside Bruce’s cape. 

It’s–weird, sort of, Tim thinks for a moment, half-distracted and resisting the urge to frown to himself. The way the Pockets have been interacting, he means. Stud’s been aggressively flirty and boastful and constantly chattering on and on in Pocket-talk and is clearly trying to be charming while mostly being overbearing, which isn’t very much like either Supergirl or Superman and also should have at least Red annoyed with him, and most likely Cat too. 

Except Cat just seems to find Stud funny and Red sort of wryly accepts him, even though neither of them have much patience for anyone as loud and pushy and attention-demanding as Stud’s been acting. And Star flirts back with him a bit, but more playfully than anything else; she’s mostly treating him like she thinks he’s cute–like, cute like a puppy or a baby, not like another fully-grown sapient adult being. And they’re all putting up with behavior they usually wouldn’t tolerate from any man, for whatever reason. 

That’s . . . weird, yeah. 

Very weird. 

Tim frowns to himself after all, then immediately gets distracted by the mortifying experience of Stud zipping over to loop around Bruce’s head and chitter indignantly at him until Cat slips out of the shadows of his cape and purrs up at him. Stud lights up in unrestrained delight, then dives down and snatches her up to carry off back to Star and Red, crowing triumphantly as he does. Cat cackles and Starfire giggles and Red lets out a huffed little laugh of her own. 

Bruce at least ignores him and Dick muffles his own laugh, but Tim is still mortified. 

Stud looks back at him looking way too proud of himself, then chirps excitedly and holds Cat up in–like in display, almost, like he just won a prize or an award or something and is showing it off to him. Cat just chuckles indulgently and scritches him under the chin. 

. . . yeah, “weird” is actually not a strong enough word to go with here, probably. 

“Weird” is so not a strong enough word to go with here, in fact.

[ivanwm-05]

Major Update

Thank you all for all the support and patience you've been giving me.

I've been working on the free roam for Divine Arsenal and God Mode alongside the Eldritch route on God Mode. I'm still not done with some scenes in the god mode update, but I've reached a good enough content level on the Divine Arsenal route free roam, so I decided to upload it first while I continue the work on God mode.

Public Update: All formerly Patreon Exclusive content (Complete Density Control and Enhanced intellect routes. Edith and Scott sidestory.), and Divine Arsenal route.

Patreon Update: Divine Arsenal route (with all scenes)

Note: To access the extra scenes on the patreon version, head to the children and interact with Mike, then head back to the cabin at anytime after day 4.

Important hint: I highly advice you acquire both the Monkey king's crown and Hermes Sandals for the highest chances of survival especially when heading out to forage. To acquire the crown, choose to use your first chance of Traverse to meet with Ruyi Jingu Bang. This is important because unlike Hermes sandals you can't ever acquire the Monkey's king crown again if you miss the interaction with Ruyi Jingu Bang on your first traverse.

Other key updates: I've succeeded in making the divine arsenal barrage random. So whenever you choose to just rain down random weapons on a person or creature it's actually random. But be careful so things don't get explosive or worse. I've also done a lot of other code work and minor tweaks across the game, including the death scene for Necromancy and Pocket Dimension routes. There's still so much left I haven't implemented, from scenes, to other random encounters off camp, to character visits and interactions. But I just wanted to post this update with all I've done so far so you guys get a feel of what I'm heading for. Sorry if the Blackstone scenario ends up feeling rushed. I had a lot of other ideas to bounce off there but it was all going to take too much time. You can use the scene mostly for the massive experience points boost you get if you get things right and survive.

Also, the other routes would be much faster to complete than divine arsenal was. Divine arsenal takes so much time to write and code because of the sheer amount of variables the weapons you may and may not already own in the divine arsenal present.

Again, thank you all for all the support, advice, suggestions, and patience you all give. Starting this out I wasn’t expecting more than 15 people to read or even support it. But seeing this little community growing new reader at a time across platforms is just, unbelievable to me. Thank you all.

One last thing. A lot of things on this update and past updates came from all the suggestions and advice I've been getting from you all. So please remember to always hit me up if you ever have a suggestion. Your suggestions are always appreciated.

P.S. The Patreon link remains the same.

[fanfenomenon]

i just know haytham would be the type to keep a locket with a picture of shay on it

in an AU where haytham took a young connor under his wing, I could imagine that he would give his son the most elite education in languages, literature, arts, and philosophy. one of them being drawing classes. 

when connor grew up, his skills in the arts further improved. being older now, he would notice how his father had grown rather fond of his associate, shay. connor didn't mind it though, he even thought this would be a good thing for haytham. after all, his father has been through so much pain. and with the death of his mother and the only woman haytham ever felt deep affection for, died any hope within the older man to find another lover.

even so, he thought his father deserved a second chance at love. thus begins connor's multiple attempts to win shay's heart on behalf of his father.

his father's birthday was coming up, and he wanted to give him a gift. shay was away on a mission for a few months, leaving him and his father stuck with each other’s company. haytham became more uncharacteristically irritable as the days went by, though connor understood it. communication was scarce, and due to the nature of their work, there will always be the possibility that shay wouldn’t be able to return.

it was unlikely for shay to be able to return on his father’s birthday, and both connor and haytham knew that. every year, the other templars would hold a celebration for the grandmaster, which undoubtedly would be the same this year, but what makes it so different is the absence of his father’s source of affection. well, connor would also be in attendance, as he always was years before, and haytham certainly wouldn’t be displeased with that. the older man missed the first few years of his son’s life and always wished to make up for lost time by celebrating milestones and happy moments with his only child.

still, connor couldn’t ignore his father’s forlornness, and he wanted to cheer him up in a way, but… how?

one night, a few days before haytham’s birthday, connor decided to visit his father’s quarters. he knew he had been feeling a bit lonely recently and thought perhaps he needed some company. after knocking a few times, he opened the door and found the older man fast asleep. walking closer to the bed, he found a letter on the floor. the younger man picked it up and saw the familiar penmanship of none other than shay cormac. he quickly took his eyes off the letter and placed it on the bedside table. he didn’t need to read their correspondence; he was taught to respect the privacy of others after all, and… he really didn’t want to know that much about his father’s love life.

connor looked back at haytham, feeling relief at how peacefully he was asleep. he was worried his father was having trouble sleeping and taking care of himself in the absence of one of his most special members of the order. the mohawk smiled as he glanced at the letter on the bedside table. he really missed his associate…

…and that was all he needed to know to decide what he was going to give to his father as a birthday present.

haytham was having his usual afternoon tea in his garden. he had been trying to distract himself from thinking about the irishman. it only hurts him to know that he’s so far away, that sometimes he even regrets sending him on that mission. but, they both know that they have a responsibility to the order and the safety of humankind itself. he was about to take another sip of his tea when the loud yet familiar footsteps of his son came crashing in.

“what is it now, boy?”

“happy birthday, father.”

oh, was it already his birthday?

he’d been so preoccupied with work that he’d forgotten what most people deem as the most special day of one’s life. he looked at the small locket his son held in his hand and gently took and inspected it a little more carefully. his eyes widened at the portrait of the person within the gold-plated pendant.

“this is… shay…”

connor smiled at how his father’s eyes seemed to sparkle in an instant. 

haytham examined the locket even more closely. the brushstrokes and the colors, he felt like he’d seen a great many artworks that had the same motifs before.

“did… did you make this?”

connor was grinning at this point, delighted to see his father’s surprised expression. before he could nod and comment on his father’s uncharacteristic show of mere shock, he suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around him.

“thank you, son.”

connor stood still, startled at the unexpected physical contact. it was rare for his father to show some vulnerability, though he would always be glad to see his father open up to others more. he hugged the older man back, squeezing tightly and patting his back. as haytham pulled away, the brit couldn’t seem to hide his smile. he looked at the locket again, sliding his thumb over shay’s portrait. he glanced back at connor and asked,

“but, why…?”

“why not?”

haytham sighed, and connor could sense that the other man wasn’t satisfied with his answer.

“well, i’ve noticed that you’ve grown rather… fond… of master cormac.”

haytham slightly blushed at that, looking away from his son in embarrassment. he heard his son snicker and glared back at him. connor wasn’t intimidated at all, however. he stood still, grinning and beaming at his father.

“i’d rather you not mention that ever again.”

connor chuckled at that, placing his hands behind his back, he stood straight and excused himself. 

“as you wish, sir.”

he sarcastically replied, turning his heel to leave the gardens. once he was face to face with the estate’s double doors, he glanced back at his father sitting on one of the benches. there was a gentle smile on haytham’s face, looking peaceful as he was when connor saw him fast asleep in his quarters a few nights ago. he was still holding the locket, gazing at it in pure adoration.

connor smiled and went back to his quarters, thinking perhaps he should also paint a portrait of his father for shay when he returns.

[toothpaste-for-the-skin]

Alr I said I’d go more into some of the odder traits with (my version of) Trixie in this post and then I was busy for the next couple days and didn’t get to it lol- so I wanna talk about it rn:

Ok for starters, I decided to make Trixie half batpony. Her mother is a batpony named Dandelion Dusk (based on her appearance ((as a unicorn)) in an mlp comic but I altered her pretty heavily). Jackpot is still her father and he remains a unicorn (his design is also unfinished lol)

Despite being half batpony, Trixie is still considered a unicorn. I think that even though a pony could be a descendant of and show traits of multiple pony races, whichever of the races’ key traits they exhibit (I.e. wings/flight, a horn/magic, or lack thereof) would be what type of pony they’re largely classified as. Trixie has some traits that make it clear she’s half batpony though. Those traits mainly being fangs, extra fluff, tapered ears, and visually distinct hooves (which is a Pegasi/batpony trait). She also has a generally shorter and more upturned snout, which does hint towards her being a batpony but is not in and of itself a binding trait that all batponies must have. It’s just something that’s more common with them.

However, she has some fairly anomalous traits that are basically unique to her. Some of them might be because she is a unicorn/batpony hybrid, but others just can’t really be explained. The first one I’m gonna talk about is her eyes.

Trixie’s pupils basically always remain as pinpricks, which does kind of give her a bit of a more “unstable” look compared to her actual canon counterpart. Besides being a bit of an indicator of her personality, there’s actually another reason for this. Batponies are well adapted to darkness, and their eyes are naturally used to lightless conditions. Thusly they tend to be adverse to bright lights and are usually nocturnal. Trixie inherited this night vision of the batponies but remains diurnal like most unicorns. Her eyes were meant to be taking in way less light so even light levels that are considered normal for most ponies causes her pupils to constrict almost completely, basically all the time. I imagine this isn’t particularly comfortable for her but it is probably something she’s just grown to live with. Maybe someone should get her some sunglasses..

When she’s in the dark, her pupils will dilate to a normal size. Her eyes will also dilate for the same reasons as other eyes will, like when seeing someone you’re close to. Basically her eyes more or less function as normal, it’s just the levels of light her eyes can comfortably take is a lot lower than with other ponies.

Also when her pupils construct they remain round unlike most batponies whose pupils constrict into slits. This is probably due to unicorn heritage.

The main “inexplicable” trait of Trixie’s is the fact that her mouth is bluish purple. There really isn’t a reason for this and the trait is unique to her. It’s just generally anomalous lol (but kinda fits the idea that’s she’s supposed to be a bit of an oddity as a whole).

Her mouth is also in more of a “:3” shape which I don’t consider super noteworthy ig but it is something she has that most other ponies don’t. I do not think this is unique to her however.

Additional info ig:

When Trixie became a pseudo-alicorn due to the alicorn amulet, she actually gained batpony-like wings. This wasn’t necessarily bc the bat wings were more “evil”, but it was actually because of the fact she was half batpony.

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

So, it seems like eyes may be one of the most important organs for Gallifreyans. Does this impact the optometry and ophthalmology fields significantly, or are they pretty much the same as on Earth?

How does Gallifreyan ophthalmology work?

The layman might be forgiven for thinking the hearts of a Gallifreyan are obviously the most important part of their biology, but while yeah, they're pretty important, Gallifreyan eyes are definitely high on the list.

Their eyes are essential to their culture and technology, and any problems can be very disabling. So, while we don't actually know that much about Gallifreyan medical care (honest to God, if I had one script for Big Finish ...), we can definitely figure out a few things.

🏥 A Different Kind of Eye Care

Gallifreyan medical science is obviously light years ahead of Earth. Treatments can heal skin wounds in under half an hour, and regrow limbs from a single spit sample in just two days. But when it comes to eyes, things get a bit trickier. Gallifreyan eyes are critical to their day-to-day existence—without them, a Gallifreyan is at a significant disadvantage.

This logically makes ophthalmology one of the most specialised and crucial medical fields. It's not just about fixing vision; it's about maintaining an integral part of a Gallifreyan’s ability to interact with the world and even identify themselves. Without their eyes, Gallifreyans would be unable to use advanced technologies and could face a complete disconnect from their homeworld.

🔬 Eye'll Be Seeing You

Gallifreyan vision goes above and beyond human abilities—they can see a wider range of colours, in much greater detail, and even perceive minute details from far distances. They also have topographical sensitivity, allowing them to detect distortions in space and time. This superior vision makes their eyes crucial to their cognitive function and daily Time Lord-y life.

While minor visual issues, like short-sightedness or long-sightedness, are easily corrected with glasses, more serious problems are far more complex to address. Given how important their eyes are for everything from personal identification to using advanced technology, any injury to the eyes should be taken extremely seriously. This means that the field of ophthalmology would likely include highly specialised techniques to manage and treat these critical conditions.

💡 Specialised Care and Advanced Technology

Gallifreyan medical technology would be equipped with cutting-edge devices and surgical techniques designed to help restore sight. Unlike Earth technology, these devices could involve advanced cybernetic implants or nanotechnology, allowing near-perfect visual restoration.

In addition to conventional treatments, there would likely be offshoots within the field. For example, telepathic specialists might work with blind Gallifreyans to help establish a psychic bond with a specially trained creature (yes, kind of like a guide dog - it's a thing on Gallifrey too).

Another interesting angle could involve the use of genetically engineered tissue or cellular regeneration to replace damaged or lost parts of the eye. This approach would focus on restoring the natural function of the eye rather than relying on external devices, aligning more closely with the Gallifreyan focus on regeneration and internal healing processes.

🏫 So ...

The medical field surrounding Gallifreyan eyes is likely highly specialised and stretches out into several areas, including telepathy. While their ophthalmology probably isn't exactly like Earth's, it likely shares similar goals in terms of maintaining vision and treating injuries, but with a much more advanced technological edge.

Related:

💬|👁️🦮Do Gallifreyans use a Braille-like system for the visually impaired?: If Gallifreyan Braille exists, and how it could work.

🤔|👁️🦮How do Gallifreyans cope with extreme vision loss?

💬|👁️✨Could a Time Lord be deaf or mute after regeneration?: Sensory impairments from regenerations and how society could perceive these people.

Hope that helped! 😃

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