#one reason she ends up in odd places is probably just that they don't use the same pathways as people do

[skyheld]

just like there's a recurring theme where you run into old friends of ameridan, there's a recurring theme of meeting merrill in places where she definitely shouldn't be and which she has no idea how she got to. she has a diagnosed lack of directional sense and no ability to make a mental map of places. she got lost in the druid's grove

baldur's gate will be her death

[asidian]

Set breakdown time! Next up: Niko's room.

As before, I've circled the points of interest and numbered them to make them easier to talk about. Cool? Cool. Let's do this!

1: Niko's mom's name! This part is her and Niko's surname. The kanji are 佐々木.

佐 – sa, meaning help or aid

々 – an iteration mark. When you see this, basically it means "exactly what the last one said, one more time." So another sa meaning help or aid

木 – ki, meaning tree

It's really neat that they picked a last name for her that doubles down on her role in the narrative. Just like Niko is there to support and help other characters in whatever way they seem to need, her surname hammers it home by including 佐 not once but twice.

2: Riza (リザ) Niko's mother's given name. Somewhat odd here is that it's written in katakana and not kanji. Without getting sidetracked too much (you can pop over here to read more if you're interested) most Japanese people write their names in kanji.

Katakana seems like a bit of a strange choice here, unless a) Niko for some reason doesn't know the kanji for her own mother's name (weird, given that she's in high school) b) her mother is a foreigner (a possibility; foreigners usually write their names in katakana) c) the set designer/whoever prepped the letters didn't know the appropriate kanji for "Riza" (seems unlikely, given how accurate all the rest of this is) or d) some sort of personal habit. An interesting side note is that her letter to Niko also puts Niko's name in katakana.

3: Cutesy stationery, used for marking your place in a document or book

4: A cute blue purse!

5: Watermelon! Judging by the shiny material and placement near the other bag, I'm going to guess this is another purse

6: Niko's clothes :>

7: Pink luggage

8: Lots of instant noodles

9: A rice cooker

10: Rice vinegar

11: This girl LOVES her some plants

12: Probably food items…? The one on the right looks like it might be a five-pound bag of rice, but I don't recognize the brand

13: Lots of unwashed dishes

14: A toaster oven

15: Chopsticks

16: A cute octopus pillow. I think I saw someone mention that it's from Ikea :>

17: She often leaves dirty dishes sitting on the bedside table

18: A painting of what seems to be a skyscape

19: Brightly colored pillows

20: Metal art in the shape of a moon

21: A decorative window hanging

22: More plants :)

23: Candles

24: Her tv

25: Cute pens with pompoms on the end

26: Regular tape

27: A cute cat statue

28: Marble Pop Ramune, strawberry flavor. Ramune is a type of soda that's a popular festival drink in Japan. It's sealed with a  glass marble and you have to pop the marble down into the little catch basin before you can drink it.

29: Anime wall décor

30: Fruit jelly cups. In Japan, small gelatin based snacks like this are popular. They're tiny, about an inch tall, and you eat them in just one or two bites.

31: Niko's laptop. She has stickers on it

32: Washi tape! It's decorative Japanese tape, often with bright colors and patterns, used for crafting.

33: A lot of cute magnets, including the bunny one, which serves double-duty as a kitchen timer

34: Niko's grocery list. The only thing on here that's here because she wants it is strawberry ice cream. The rest of the items, licorice tea, manuka honey, and Epsom salts, are all natural remedies. She's been trouble-shooting how to get rid of the effects of the sprites. She knows she's sick, but not why

35: Cutesy craft supplies! Sequins, glitter, and pompoms

36: More washi tape!

37: Niko's manga collection. She is that particular brand of organizational mess that does not put her numbered volumes in order. She has made an exception for the series that makes a complete picture when you line them up, though

38: More plants :)

39: Manga posters! Issho is one of the series that she has on her shelf

40: A decorative jar

41: Little metal bird sculptures

42: What seems to be the only framed picture in her room. The angle is wrong to see what the photo is, but it's interesting that they added just one in here. Maybe it's her family…?

[wren-kitchens]

this started as a little drabble for an au and suddenly it's 2k words oops

in summary, scar is a wizard who was cursed into a statue for millennia, and eventually became the 'secret keeper' because everyone would confide in it. gem was the first to ask scar how it was doing

gem must not have been paying nearly enough attention to where she was walking, because she has somehow found herself in the secret keeper's grove. not that she minds, but- she could have sworn she started walking the complete opposite direction when she left her house. either gem is way worse at directions than she thought she was, or.. well, okay, she can't actually think of another reason, but she wanted to sound spooky. maybe there's some magical fate that has led her to this very spot- or she just doesn’t know her lefts from her rights.

well, whatever reason it ends up being, gem is stood awkwardly beneath the face of the statue, its eyes shut and face relaxed as if asleep. the cracks and vines across its body looks almost like scars, and gem has to appreciate its beauty. she has, of course, heard all the myths about this statue being some- evil wizard who went around killing people left right and centre, and was eventually turned to stone as punishment. whilst she doubts these stories are anything more than fairytales, gem has to admit that it'd be pretty cool if that was actually the case.

resting against one of the stone pillars in front of the secret keeper's statue, gem looks into its face. centuries of people confiding their deepest thoughts to this stone monolith, decades of fears and secrets and accomplishments all told to the resting face of what may or may not be an evil wizard from millennia ago. it's another very interesting thing, gem thinks, about how people will reach for any sense of attachment they can get. maybe that's why the statue was created in the first place; there is something about its face that draws gem to it, in an odd kind of way. 

"you know, I don’t suppose many people have asked how your day is going." gem says aloud, almost startling herself—she hadn't expected to actually say that.

unsurprisingly, the statue doesn’t respond, but something in its face looks- almost curious. is she making that up? she's probably making that up.

"I hope it's good." gem keeps talking anyway, because she honestly doesn't have anything much better to do anyway. "and if it's not, I hope it gets better."

she shifts a little on the earth, getting comfortable. in this new position, gem is instead facing another stone pillar rather than the keeper itself. "you’re a very lovely statue. I imagine it gets boring around here, but I suppose you have a lot of gossip to keep you going."

there's a kind of rustling from beside her, and she chalks it up to a bird of some sort—she is in the woods, after all. although- it might be someone else on the way to the secret keeper. that might be a little embarrassing, if they stumble across her asking a statue questions about its day.

"were you really an evil wizard, or is that just a story?" gem says idly, picking at imperfections in her nail polish.

"oh- i’d say greatly exaggerated." comes an unfamiliar voice.

gem looks up and shrieks in surprise, jumping to her feet. she immediately stumbles, almost falling flat on her face as she processes who just spoke. "you- how the-" 

a figure is now across the glade from her, looking somewhat bemused as it brushes its white hair from its eyes. the shawl over its shoulders is embroidered with sunflowers, and looks as if it'd been worn for quite some time—what with the tears and holes in the fabric. scars run across every visible part of its skin, some akin to the cracks in old stone, and some resembling battle scars.

the secret keeper blinks at her from where it (he?) sits on the grass, underneath the empty gap where the statue used to be. "oh- yeah, long story." it grins, brushing itself off. "I don't suppose you've seen a pair of crutches around here?"

"I- definitely not." gem says, practically frozen in place. what in wrath- how the- the secret keeper is a person now?? "it's- are you-"

the secret keeper scoffs, and gem can’t tell if it's playful or frustrated. maybe both. "oh- they'll have taken them again, no doubt. that's fine- i'll have my revenge!" it calls to the sky, before turning back to gem. "thank you for helping me out there- they've always  enjoyed playing tricks on me like that."

"what- no, I didn’t-" gem starts to say, but the secret keeper interrupts.

"how long was I stone, by the way?" it asks, offhand.

"oh." gem hesitates. "I- I don’t know how to tell you this. um- it's been a while."

the secret keeper pouts, brushing some stray stone dust from its shawl. "has it been a month again? I have things to do, y’know!"

"it's, um. it's been a thousand years, I think." gem says softly. 

she expects a huge reaction—after all, if someone had told gem that she'd been stuck as a statue for millennia, she'd be pretty upset. god- she can't imagine what that would make her feel; losing everything and everyone you know to time, whilst you stay exactly the same.

the secret keeper blinks, drops the pout and shrugs. "could have been worse." it says, voice surprisingly cheery. "oh- I bet my crutches will have disintegrated, or something." it's grinning like this is funny and not just cause for an existential crisis.

"I imagine so, yeah." gem says, as if she's not about to start freaking out over literally everything that's happening right now. "you- what are you gonna do now?"

the secret keeper pauses, and gem feels a little worry in having actually stumped it. "I, uh. that's a good question."

"if you want, you can stay with me and my friend for a while?" gem suggests, hoping that joel won't mind her bringing home a reincarnated statue to live with them. in her defence, he’s done weirder. 

the statue in question snorts. "I hope you're ready to be killed several times over." it grins, and gem's stomach drops. it seems to notice the look on her face and tacks on, "you guys can kill me too."

gem probably looks like she's seen a ghost, based on how the secret keeper frowns a little in concern. "I- how am i supposed to kill you if i’m dead?"

"wh- 'cause you’d come back?" the secret keeper looks as confused as gem feels. "why wouldn't you?"

"what do you mean, come back? if I die that's it." gem grins. "you’re joking, aren't you?"

the secret keeper shakes its head, less confused and more concerned. gem cannot seem to understand what's happening here. "did you- were you not given the blessing?"

"I.. don’t know what you’re talking about." gem says, smile beginning to slip from her face. "what blessing?"

"you don’t- the one that lets you regenerate?" the secret keeper says, almost frantic. when gem doesn’t show any recognition, it continues. "from- when you die? is that- how do you not know?"

gem blinks. "is that a story from when people thought magic was a thing? i’ve never heard of it before."

the secret keeper stares at her. "magic is a thing. i’m- i’m magic. I just got turned into a human from stone- what do you mean magic isn't a thing?"

"that's- yeah." gem pauses. "so- wait, why would we not have that anymore?"

"wh- I have no idea!" the secret keeper throws its arms out. "it's such a simple thing to do- you give the blessing to your baby, and then it grows with the kid! it's perfect! you don’t have to worry about exploding them with too much magic, because it's always just the right amount!"

"that is smart." gem says. "that's so weird- how has that gotten lost?" she tilts her head to the side. "I suppose it has been a thousand years."

"okay, so- I won't kill you." the secret keeper says, and gem remembers what started this whole conversation. "since apparently you guys are mortal. would I still be allowed to come with?"

"'course." gem grins. "I did suggest it. uh- how will we do this?"

the secret keeper looks at her blankly. "well. I assume we'd walk. do you not do that anymore either?"

gem snorts. "no, we do, I just- you said you had crutches. which I assume you would need."

"ohh." gem suppresses another laugh as it seems the secret keeper has apparently completely forgotten about the crutches. "yeah, that's a good point actually."

"I could try carrying you." gem says, and the secret keeper quickly covers its mouth. "what?"

"nothing!" it says, unconvincingly; gem can hear the smile in its voice. she raises an eyebrow. "well- you’re quite a bit smaller than I am."

"wh- I can carry you!" gem says, mildly offended. "i’m strong!"

"I don't doubt that!" the secret keeper says. "but I could just use my magic."

gem pauses, processing. "wait- so why do you need the crutches?"

the secret keeper grins, and it's almost uncannily sharp. did it just laugh? for some reason, it sounded too high pitched. "it's a little exhausting." it says, and suddenly the smile looks normal again. huh. "I can’t do it all the time, or i’d just- pass out. for a short time though, i'll be alright if I rest."

"you can do magic? still?" gem says, suddenly excited to see it happen. she's sure joel can make crutches for it when they get back—that won't be a problem. "how does that even work?"

the secret keeper seems a little flattered by her interest. "i can’t see why I wouldn’t. I might look a little weird though—my skin goes blue, my hair goes white, that kind of thing."

gem tilts her head. "isn’t your hair already white?"

"what?" the secret keeper's eyes widen a bit, pulling a strand of hair in front of its face to inspect. something shifts in its expression. "oh." 

there's a stab of worry in gem's chest. if magic makes its hair go white and also exhausts it, what's going to happen right now? does- is there something that could happen? man, she does not know nearly enough about magic to answer any of those questions for herself.

before she can actually ask, the secret keeper just shrugs. "weird! anyway-"

it closes its eyes, apparently concentrating hard on something. the air in the grove seems to solidify, crackling with unseen energy, and gem can’t tell if she's holding her breath or if she simply can't breathe anymore. the secret keeper doesn’t react as it begins to rise off the floor, a blue sheen spreading from its fingertips throughout its whole body—scars whitening until they're essentially translucent. tattered wings unfold from its back, skin spread so thin, gem thinks a strong wind could tear them into pieces.

the secret keeper opens its eyes, and grins sharply, wings supporting its entire body. "ta da! how's that for magic, huh?"

gem laughs in delight, applauding it. what else is she meant to do in the face of that? "that was incredible! you can fly?"

"too right I can." the secret keeper beams, swelling with pride. "now, lead the way- uh. I don’t know your name, do I?"

"gem." she smiles, gesturing for the secret keeper to follow her as she begins to walk out of the clearing. "I don’t know your name either."

"well, gem, I am the one and only scar!" it announces, floating next to her. "named after my many- oh! oh- what!" 

gem looks over, slightly panicked, and sees it inspecting its arms. more specifically, the scars on its arms that gem had likened to cracks in stone. "are you okay?"

"I didn’t have these before." scar says, tracing them with its finger and nearly floating into a tree as it does so. "they look like-"

"cracks?" gem suggests, and scar nods. "yeah- I think, with how long you’ve been stone.." she trails off, a better explanation escaping her.

scar seems to understand regardless, nodding. "I guess. hey, that's kinda cool." it looks back up at her, grinning again. gem has to wonder why (and how) it's so pointy. "that's a story to tell at parties!"

"I- yeah, I suppose." gem says, slightly unconvinced. she's not sure how scar has managed to completely accept everything she's told it without a single panic attack, but she isn't sure if that's a good sign. she hopes that people from a thousand years ago were just way better at processing their emotions. "I think the whole stone thing is also something to tell at parties."

"oh yeah, you guys don't have magic." scar says. it scoffs. "you must be so boring."

gem makes an indignant noise, and scar laughs. "excuse you! we're not boring. you were stone for millennia- if anything, you’re the boring one."

scar is still laughing. "you say that like you didn't just stare at me while I transformed. i’m so cool."

"okay, i'll admit, you are cool." gem grins, and scar pumps its fist.

[stormsthatrage]

Short snippet from the Bleach I Knew You AU.

But before I begin. *Insert deep sigh here.*

Secretlypansexualmango, if you see this, it was supposed to be a response to your ask. Unfortunately, it took a hard left-turn and ended up in. Uraichi shipping territory? Look, IDK, I'm asexual, I don't get it either. Anyway, since I don't know your shipping preferences and don't want to accidentally respond to your ask with something that squiks you, I will be officially responding to your ask in another post that is less likely to be unexpectedly unpalatable. Thank you for your patience, and, uh, I hope this doesn't turn you off the au! (*laughs nervously*)

Without further ado, the snippet:

Breaking into the Shiba family grounds is easy. By sheer comparison, breaking into Shiba Ichigo’s room specifically is almost a challenge, but it’s not anything that Kisuke hasn’t planned for.

The strange, modified kido, and the odd wards Ichigo has placed, are simple to bypass with a bit of fancy footwork and precisely-timed counter-kido. It’s practically child’s play to get past them, now that he's roughly figured out how they work and where they all are.

His job is made even easier by the fact that, for some reason, Kisuke’s spiritual pressure doesn’t wake Ichigo up. Quite the opposite, in fact. He seems to sleep deeper when Kisuke is nearby and has let Benihime out a little.

He has theories about that.

He’s tired of them being theories.

He’s here to get evidence.

Kisuke bypasses the final seal and slides Ichigo’s window open, slipping into his room. He lets his spiritual pressure permeate the air a little thicker than he would in normal company, and as expected, Ichigo’s spiritual pressure slows down as he falls further into slumber.

… And Kisuke is supposed to believe that the first time they met was two months ago? When this is Ichigo’s reaction to his presence? When Ichigo is one of the most paranoid people Kisuke, an ex-onmi agent, has ever encountered?

Kisuke is a genius. He doesn’t need to be in order to see the flaw in that logic.

Kisuke steps further into the room, gliding softly over the old wood floorboards. He pauses in the middle, taking a moment to debate where to start.

Well. Why not with the simplest?

He’s caught it a few times, the barest trace of his own power lingering around Ichigo. A fascinating phenomenon, when he can’t recall a single time he’s drawn shikai around him, let alone used enough power to leave a long-lasting trace.

He draws closer to Ichigo’s bed, until he could reach out and touch him if he wished.

Ichigo breathes deeply, evenly, no sign of waking up. At some point, his covers ended up half kicked-off. Possibly from the heat, probably from nightmares. Regardless of the reason, Kisuke can’t help but think that he looks strangely fragile this way, surrounded by the evidence of his restlessness.

He puts a hand on the the hilt of his soul-partner. “Awaken, Benihime,” he murmurs.

She stirs within him, gently, in a way that is oh so rare. Like the softest, most gradual of ocean tides, she rises, her fragrance of wet iron washing through the air around them.

And together, channeling her power through his eyes, they see.

Glowing crimson threads that they have no recollection of weaving wrap protectively, lovingly, around Ichigo. A thin but strong filament, sewn through the skin from just below Ichigo’s ear all the way to his opposite shoulder, sutures closed what must have once been a deadly throat wound. Another one, obviously originally meant to keep shut a gash down the length of Ichigo’s forearm, keeps it companion.

And beyond the battlefield sutures there are more threads. Hundreds of intangible and deceptively thin and absolutely unbreakable strands of Benihime’s power wrap around Ichigo, crisscrossing over themselves — around his throat and across his face and down his torso and up his arms, visible wherever his bare flesh is exposed — seemingly serving no purpose.

Benihime’s power surges at the sight, a hot delight running through her as she sees Ichigo so thoroughly caught in her webs. Kisuke’s fingers suddenly, urgently ache with the urge to touch, to tighten, to add more.

Soul King.

No purpose other than, it seems, to satiate their own possessiveness.

Kisuke exhales a shaking breath. Closes his eyes for a brief moment. Gets the heat in his blood under control.

No purpose other than to alert themselves, perhaps? Did they know that one day they wouldn't recognize Ichigo anymore, and left this as a clue?

(And oh, what a clue. What a clue it is.)

He lets Benihime’s power fade, taking his hand away from her hilt. He’s self-aware enough to know when he needs to stop tempting himself, and he’s gotten the evidence he came for — far better proof than he could have ever anticipated.

He takes a step back, and the motion is the most unnatural thing he’s done in a long, long time.

He has questions. He has a few theories, too. Amnesia, caused by a very specific type of parasitic hollow. Dimension travel. Time travel. He doesn’t have enough information yet to figure out which is most likely, but he has finally confirmed beyond doubt that Ichigo is his, has been his, and something tried to steal that from him.

Fury flares within him, burning through his veins, and he can’t do this right here.

He takes another step back, this one just as unnatural as the last.

He can’t ask, yet. He can’t get closer, can’t wake Ichigo up with a soft hand on his cheek, can’t tell him that he’s there now, can’t promise him to take care of it all if he would just let him in again.

No.

Shiba Ichigo is in the middle of a chess game — a dangerous one, a complicated one — and Kisuke can’t see the whole board yet. Tipping his own hand might trigger a whole plethora of traps, including another round of amnesia, and he refuses to risk the knowledge he’s regained.

He will have to be careful. He will have to move cautiously.

He casts one last look at Ichigo, lets his eyes trace over that delicate throat that he now knows almost bled out. That delicate throat that had to be held together with Benihime’s webs. That delicate throat that he doesn’t remember stitching back together, despite the fact that he used his bankai to do it.

He was made to unknow a person he loves. He was made to unknow a war. He was made to unknow the fact that danger lurks still in the shadows of Soul Society.

He will know the end of this game. And Ichigo will learn that there is no universe in which Kisuke does not protect what’s his.

Kisuke turns. Takes another unnatural step away from his favorite, infuriating puzzle. And then he wrenches himself out of the room, out into the night, closing the window behind him and leaving as unnoticed as he had come.

[apas-95]

abt the 'exit strategy for capitalism' thing obviously the natural advantages of socialist states will lead to their uncontested military and economical dominance in the coming decades, at which point they'll have both means and motive to buy out bourgeois interests and their 'possessions' and transition the economical system while there's no easy way for imperial core states to outright end these trends, their policies obviously do affect the economical development of socialist states and there's probably enough variance to shift the timetable on all this happening by a couple years, so y'know exert whatever influence you have on the particular flavor of capitalism that's in vogue if done well (and what I'm seeing rn actually gives me hope for that) the capitalists at no point have an incentive to burn the whole thing down out of spite bc they keep earning right until they don't, you know how the saying abt ropes and hangings goes (and if done poorly and they cling to and suck dry the last scraps of the world's economy they control at least everywhere else should be out of reach by then) and my main concern with a revolution is actually that one will 100% get accused of having foreign backing, at which point you just needlessly raise the odds of some general deciding he (or she #imwithher) might as well let those nukes fly (even if they're losing, especially if they're losing) But it's all w/e, I could be convinced either way, this all just makes a lot more sense to me than a succesful imperial core revolution that doesn't end with the northern hemisphere irradiated

fundamentally the notion of a peaceful transition out of capitalism is simply not in agreement with reality. no class has ever abandoned the world stage without fighting to maintain itself, and the imperial core is already both undertaking massive violence and war against the sections of the global south it already has under its heel, and preparing for high-intensity conflict against the communists that have slipped its shackles. there is no point where the bourgeoisie would simply peacefully allow themselves to be stripped of power.

the point of nukes is exactly *why* there has to be revolution within the imperial core, rather than having the rest of the world do the job for them - there is precisely one place the US has no nuclear deterrent against, which is itself. if the thing we're supposed to fear is that both 'the US military's high command, likely facing severe mutiny, rather than ordering a negotiated surrender during civil war, decides to nuke themselves' as well as 'the US strategic missile forces, upon receiving the order to nuke themselves, carry it out', then so be it - such a fundamental strategic insanity would be just as likely to start a nuclear exchange even if there weren't a revolution - which brings us to the final point.

world war is on the horizon. the economic reasons for world war remain as they did a century and a half ago. the world has been fully carved up, and the profits are drying out. the imperialist blocks, principally the US and EU, are driven to compete against each other for their holdings, first peacefully, then through proxy war, and finally through direct conflict. as it was a hundred years ago, the buildup of war is accepted on all sides with the target of the socialist bloc and the potential for its pillaging, but (as has already started breaking out among larger and larger regional powers) any conflict of this sort would manifest as general war and looting, as desperate, recession-wracked imperialists take opportunity as it presents itself. in inter-imperialist war the most ruthless techniques are used, and a nuclear exchange would not be off the table -- and, fundamentally, the conditions that lead to world war are the same that lead to instability, insurrection, and revolution within individual countries.

war is, at this juncture, an inevitability. the only question is whether revolutionary war will win out over unjust war, will convert the war between nations to a war between classes. we are against war, but we are not afraid of it.

[ricciardosgirl]

you'll get lost

here in saltburn . .

let me guide you.

farleigh start x reader.

trigger warnings ; mentions of death.

————————————————————

it was an early morning , venetia had left me to gather my thoughts here in saltburn. we were the first to arrive. poor venetia was barely awake , so she decided to go have a nap. i got set up in my room — which wasn't next to venetia's room , which was odd. but of course , i was naive to think anything of it.

i was unpacking before the maids got to it , she told me that they'd throw out anything that they deemed ' scandalous ' and i had a lot of things considered that. until i heard a small knock at my door. i froze for a moment , hoping that it wasn't one of those damn maids yet.

i hurried over to the door , opening it and being welcomed by a tall handsome man , i hadn't seen him when i came in. he gave me a small little smile , looking down on me.

" hey. " he said ever so nonchalantly , i had no idea who the hell it was. it made me nervous. " hey . . " awkwardly , i leaning against my door frame. " sorry , probably just weirded you out , i'm farleigh — i'll be next door to you. " great , just what i needed , a guy next door to me.

the only reason i came to saltburn was to get away from guys — my boyfriend , now ex cheated on me. this was my escape. i nodded my head at him. " i'm y/n. " i hesitantly smiled up at him. " another american ? how wild. " he chuckled , i came from the windy city itself , chicago. " mhm , yeah. " i wasn't paying much attention , i was more focused on getting my shit together.

" what are you doing all the way out here ? " he leaned down a bit , i caught a good glimpse of him. he was handsome , great sense of style. he smelled oddly good. " i go to school out in london , needed a change of scenery. " i eased up a bit . . he didn't seem creepy. " ah , nice. " another smile from him , he's too friendly for his own good.

" so — it's a pleasure to meet you , i suppose you got stuff to do , sure venetia is going to be around here soon. " he tapped the door frame , attempting to leave. " she's not , i think she's napping. " i said , one hand on the door to keep it open. i could use the company , this place was ginormous . . but lonely. " i - uh . . don't really know much about this place , i don't even really know where i am in the house right now. " i tried to make small talk.

" it can feel like that , did venetia not give you a tour ? " he asked , i caught his attention. " no , she just took me to my room and said she was off for a nap. " i sighed , i didn't think venetia would be around for awhile.

" what a shame , this place is really beautiful. here , let me show you around. "

the hours passed as farleigh showed me around saltburn , we formed this slight closeness in the lonely halls. i . . enjoyed his presence , and i think he enjoyed mine. we talked for hours on end , we did have a lot in common after all.

i think i spent more time with farleigh than anything , we did everything together. sometimes i forgot that venetia invited me. i could tell that she was pissed — but i was just having fun. it was the best summer of my life , all spent with him.

but my favorite memory came towards the end of the summer. we avoided the hedge maze on my first go around saltburn , but i begged him to take me. we got lost , just laughing at our stupidity as we walked together. after awhile we reached the middle of the maze - there stood a huge minotaur.

we sat on the edge of the statute , admiring the beauty of the sky and the maze - until i caught his gaze on me. he stared at me , that dumb smile on his face.

" y/n? " he finally spoke. " yeah? " i turned to look at him , i met his gaze. " thank you. "

" for what ? "

" this summer. "

he was talking like he was on his death bed , but we leave saltburn tomorrow. " why are you thanking me ? " i asked , chuckling a little.

" because , it was the best summer i've ever had here. " i could feel my cheeks flush , i'd miss him so much. we never really spoke about what actually happened that summer , the bond we made - the things we did. we never talked about how one night i woke up next to him.

" i don't think i'll miss saltburn as much as i'll miss you. " he sounded hesitant , i nodded my head in agreement. this summer was one of the best i'd ever had , and it was all thanks to him. " i'm sure we will see each other again. " i stayed optimistic.

" maybe , maybe not. " that broke my heart , i stared in disbelief for a moment. " why ? " i looked down at the ground. " because i'm going back to america to be with my mother. " i understood , family comes first.

" then i'll see you next summer. "

" next summer. " he smiled , grabbing my smaller hand and holding it. " let's try and top this summer next year. " he chuckled , i agreed again. i sighed , deep down . . i didn't want to wait that long.

we sat in silence for awhile , birds chirping as time passed , he never let go of my hand. when i finally looked at him , he smiled at me. getting up and releasing my hand. " let's make tonight last. " he got hopeful. " forever. " i said , standing up and following him. i wrapped my arms around his waist from behind.

we stayed like that for a moment , none of us saying a word. he turned around , my arms still wrapped around him. that cheeky smile is all i remember , that moment repeating in my mind over and over again.

next summer , didn't happen. i didn't see farleigh again till we were standing over the grave of each one of the cattons. he held my hand as he silently mourned his cousin while i mourned my friend venetia. we didn't say a word to each other. we just stood in remembrance of our loved ones.

maybe in another life , another time.

[anonymooose]

==== Spoilers for Delicious in Dungeon/Dungeon Meshi! ====

Ok, so, I randomly saw a post by @corvidonia about Falin!Hypnos.

So, I thought to myself, y'know I just started watching too and this seems like a fun mini-project so I started it. Then I subsequently got way too into it and accidently made a whole rendered scene and au concept... welp! It's here now!

For this little crossover Au whatever you wanna call it I did this main drawing but also came up with a bit of background stuff.

In this Meg would be a tall-man paladin in a sort of Chilchuck situation where she's mostly here because it's her job (and bonus, Dusa's here) and she'd be a paladin. Paladin might be an odd choice (?) but I felt it made sense due to her dedication and none of the other martial classes really stuck out to me like paladin.

Zagreus would be the party's Laios of sorts and a fighter tall-man, I imagine that the reason why they went through all the trouble for Hypnos is 50% Zagreus being friends with him and 49% Than not wanting his brother dead and 1% pity. I don't know if there would still be the culinary focus in this Au, probably not, so maybe instead it'd be more about just general monster knowledge. Like Zag and the gang filling out the codex?

Dusa would be a Half-foot, probably the farthest from their Dungeon Meshi inspo character, Senshi, only really sharing the fact that they came into the party late. I imagine that she's kind of in an "I'm the only monster around that has any sentience or emotion??" type situation though I don't really have a worked out reason why. She's also friends with Meg prior to joining and comes because of her.

I translated Thanatos and Hypnos' godhood into having a particular magical ability as elves, so they're elf twins. Than being a sorcerer rouge mostly for the vibes but also because sorcerer powers are innate to their being. Instead of a wand/staff I think he'd just use his scythe as a casting focus. I figure he'd be sort of like a mix of Chilchuck and Marcille, not bound to the party by a job but still kind of obligated to help Hypnos since they're family and all. I don't think he'd be thrilled about having to risk his life to save Hypnos from another screw up though, but he would and I do think he'd be relieved to have him back after the ordeal. (does Falin ever actually 100% come back? I've only watched the anime so idk actually, I like to think Hypnos would here though because I like my happy endings)

Hypnos is obviously the sort of Falin stand-in, but in a very different way I think. I do think he'd be a sort of magic prodigy like Falin but in more of an intuitive way compared to Than/Marcille's book smarts. I definitely think that the connection to the strange would remain but instead of ghosts it'd be personified dreams in the form of something like the Oneiroi. In this Au the starting incident with the monster would be the same but it'd probably be some sort of big bird/sheep to explain the bird/sheep design I went with for the Chimera design and it'd be Than in place of Laios. I also think that he'd be a cleric type situation like Falin sort of is, I like to think he'd excel at healing magic. I do kind of like the idea of Hypnos not being really encouraged to partake in adventuring due to his lack of physical ability but he'd go against that to spend time with Than and try to look out for him. As for Chimeros (As I've been calling it) I think it'd be accompanied by fog from Lethe rather than the harpies in the original and it'd have a similarly blank personality like Faligon (which'd be especially off-putting from him). Added angst potential, I figure his powerset would be very different from Faligon's and revolve around putting everyone to sleep (go figure) and memory erasure, so maybe the main party wouldn't even remember their first encounter with them?

I do actually have ideas for the remaining party, I'll keep it to one bullet though. I think Achille's would be a paladin/fighter or something like that and would be similar to Namari as a weapons expert, probably leaving for a different reason though maybe to join Pat's party? I don't have a particular idea for Shuro's stand-in, maybe switch the Shuro Falin romance thing to Charon Hypnos brotherhood thing and it could work? Idk though.

I did also make a full design for Hypnos as an elf/not Chimeros and here that is. The staff is inspired by actual myth where Hypnos sometimes has a wand dipped in Lethe to induce sleep.

Ramble over!! Congrats if you were able to push through my incessant yapping to actually get here. First Tumblr post btw, who would've thunk it'd be for this. If anyone is interested in using these designs or ideas for art/writing feel free, I'm probably not going to do anything else with this idea but if you want to I'd be very interested in seeing/hearing it! Also, really sorry if this isn't properly spoilered?? I'm not exactly sure what the proper spoiler etiquette is so I tried.

[themightymoose]

trolls au you say?

well.... let's do this... *large inhale*

okay so it'd be a basic swap au where the pop trolls are the villains and the rock trolls are good

"But Moose, isn't that the whole point of the second movie? That the Pop Trolls were the ones who started the whole thing?" Shhhhhhhhh shut up shut up shut up

Anyways-

The plot would basically start from World Tour. But the first movie is a little bit different, but the main character is Barb so we don't really ""see"" any of it.

First movie context: first of all I would want the snack pack to do more and be their own characters, especially DJ (girlie just disappeared off the face of the earth in the other movies) Branch is more like Creek while Creek is Poppy's childhood, gay BFF. Branch also has all of his colors for reasons. So Poppy throws an obnoxiously loud party and Bergens find them blah blah blah (side note: Poppy acts like a mixture between Adam and Alastor from Hazbin Hotel) Branch and Poppy go on their super fun road trip, they still think the other is annoying because they are massive hypocrites. They're kinda in a rivalry, always trying to one up each other with songs, parties, ect. The movie is basically the same. Creek doesn't sell them out and everyone is happy

World Tour: Barb and Riff are siblings for starters. Riff is older and king of the Rock Trolls, also an older protective big bro. Barb kinda has Poppy's personality, making her the odd one out. Branch is the one going out and stealing all the strings while Poppy stays in Pop Village to look after it's citizens. More Pop Trolls are with him, including Creek. Who does not like this at all. Between the first and second movie, Poppy and Branch grew much closer to each other, with rumors going around that Branch is going to be the king of the Pop Trolls. Which everyone is pretty fond of the idea, since he's very popular among the Pop Trolls. And Branch has grown very loyal to Poppy during this time. Then the same thing with the road trip happens, but with some minor changes. Poppy not only wants to take the strings but leave nothing left standing, so Branch also goes to Vacay Island where Bruce and Floyd are and take over that place as well taking over where the Putt Putt Trolls are staying. So on they're road trip they come across Branch's brothers + Viva. Then yeah when Branch takes the Rock string, Creek finally stands up to Branch (Creek probably had a bonding moment with some of the people on the road trip at some point) either way Branch ends up leaving Creek in the rock place while the Pop Trolls go to bring all the strings to Poppy. Branch probably tells Poppy that Creek is traitor and she probably doesn't even question it. Anyway they also kidnap Barb when she lies and says that she's the Queen of the Rock Trolls, while Riff is like "you fucking idiot"

things happen and now the leaders of each tribe are Pop zombies. The ones who aren't hypnotized notice that Branch looks kind of similar to the Pop zombies. Something that Poppy also notices. So apparently Branch would sometimes use the pop string on himself to make him happy and have color so he'd fit in, which Poppy had no idea about at all. Also Poppy has an existential crisis when she learns that Pop Trolls were the reason why they were divided. And things kind of play out the same until the third movie

also Branch gets taken in the third movie instead of Floyd but that's a different post

[danurso]

A new opportunity

(Good god i can't remember the last time i spent so long in such a long post, hope you enjoy)

Another day began at Beacon, and just like always, teams RWBY and JNPR gathered for breakfast at the cantina.

Nora: -which is why i believe that a monetary system based on Maple syrup would be the best solution to an economic crisis.

Ren: . . . . . .

Pyrrha: . . . . . .

Ruby: . . . . . .

Blake: . . . .worst thing of all? that kinda makes sense.

Jaune: *sits down with his tray* Hey guys, what did I miss?

Ruby: Nora was explaining to us how using maple syrup instead of lien would improve the economy.

Ren: If she spent as much time studying as she does thinking about these things, her grades would be better than Weiss'

Pyrrha: Speaking of her, where is she?

Blake: At the headmaster's office.

Ren: Did something happen?

Ruby: Honestly? We have no idea, she's been acting a bit off since she woke up.

Yang: *sits down with her tray* We're talking about Ice queen?

Ruby: Yeah.

Yang: Wonder what's got her panties on a twist. Did you try to serenade her again vomit boy?

Jaune: Of course not, i haven't tried anything since the ball.

Ruby: It's been just a week so….maybe those are still on her head?

Blake: maybe she had a dream with him again, or a nightmare as she calls it.

Jaune: Why am I the only possible reason why Weiss is having mood problems?

Yang: Because no one can push her buttons as far as you vomit boy.

Jaune: I don't. . . . . .*sigh* Fair enough.

Ruby: Hey don't be like that, she hasn't cursed at or ridiculed you ever since the ball, that's some progress.

Jaune: I guess. . . . .though at this point i don't wanna try anything anymore, if she ever wants to talk or try and be friends i'll be here but. . . . .i'll sit in my corner until then, i already pushed her more than enough.

Blake: That's probably for the better.

Nora: Speaking of the devil.

They turned their heads to see the heiress they were just talking about walking towards them with her own lunch tray, her gaze wandering around the cantina with a tranquil expression, until her eyes landed on their table.

The group wavered at her, all of them including jaune who gave a small wave with an awkward smile. He locked eyes with her and expected the usual nasty look before she looked away with a "hmph", but instead he got a warm smile from the usually cold heiress, there was. . . . .something more to it, but he couldn't exactly put his finger on it.

Yang: About time ice queen! Did Ozpin end up talking your ears off?

Weiss: Not quite, he did go on a long ramble, but his words always have a lot to offer.

Yang: What? Wanting to upgrade from teacher's pet to headmaster's pet?

Weiss didn't reply with the usual glare, instead letting out a short chuckle, which was odd enough as it was, but before any comments could arise, they watched in a mix of shock and surprise as the heiress took a seat, and of all places, she took a seat specifically next to the blonde knight.

There was a small moment of awkwardness at that, they all looked at her in disbelief, until Jaune made his move.

Jaune: *hops a little away from her*

Weiss: *hops closer to him*

Everyone: ???

Jaune: ??? *Hops away again*

Weiss: *hops closer*

Everyone: !?!?!?

Jaune: *staring flabbergasted*

Weiss: What? *Sniff, sniff* Do i smell?

Jaune: Erm. . . . .n-no.

Weiss: Then why are you backing away from me?

Jaune: Oh, well, i just. . . .figured you wouldn't want me to sit next to you.

Weiss: *snorts and smiles* Why would I sit next to you if I didn't want you next to me silly?

Jaune: . . . . . . .

Everyone: . . . . . . .

Nora: *whispering* Who's that and what did she do to Weiss?

Ren: *shrugs*

Weiss: What are you all staring at me for? Let's eat.

They all exchanged looks and followed suit, they were still curious about Weiss' sudden mood change, but the topic was readily forgotten once Nora started to ramble again. Well, forgotten to most at least.

Jaune was quite aware of the snow white beauty next to him, it made him really nervous, it was quite the strange situation to be honest. He tried to act normal, but every now and again he would glance at her and she would glance back, he would look away as fast as possible and pretend he didn't see anything, but he was sure she noticed, and was almost certain those exchanges made her giggle.

Jaune: *quickly glances at her*

Weiss: *staring*

Jaune: *pink, looks away as fast as possible*

Weiss: I'm not gonna hit you for looking or anything like that y'know?

Jaune: S-sorry, i didn't mean to stare.

Weiss: Pretty sure those were too short to be called "stares", but I don't mind either way.

Jaune: Uhm, okay. . . . .are. . . .are you okay?

Weiss: Better than ever.

Jaune: Are you sure? I never saw you-!?

Weiss: *sighs, resting against his arm* That was a good lunch, I haven't felt this full in years.

Jaune: *red* Erm. . . .Weiss? W-what are you doing?

Weiss: Resting, I think I ate a little too much. Am i bothering you?

Jaune: N-no! Not at all.

Weiss: *snuggles* Hmm. . . .Good.

Jaune: *extremely confused*

Everyone: *staring* !?!?!?

Jaune: *redder* I have no idea either.

Lunch was over and classes soon began, confusion was still high amongst the group but they didn't have much time to question since Oobleck had just arrived to begin his lecture, and once again, Weiss was found sitting next to Jaune.

Jaune: Ugh, This thing again. . . . .

Weiss: Having problems?

Jaune: O-oh, no, not at all! *Puffs chest* I just. . . .y'know, like to think a lot before writing down an answer.

Weiss: Uh huh. . . .so, what are you having trouble with?

Jaune: I'm not-

Weiss: *stern look*

Jaune: *deflates, depressed sigh* Alloying calculations.

Weiss: Ahh, I remember those. *Leans closer, looking into his paper*

Jaune: *pink* . . . . . .W-Weiss-

Weiss: Ah, I see the issue. You're using the wrong formula, This one is used to calculate the weight of the materials during the process, what you want is the formula for density. All you need is pick is the value of the metal and the area times. . . . .

At some point Jaune's mind turned off from most things around him, he couldn't remember ever being this close to Weiss, especially when she wasn't ready to knock him out, the way her eyes scanned through the material, her soft yet serious expression as she patiently explained it all to him was mesmerizing to say the least, Jaune knew Weiss was pretty but. . . . .wow, he feels like he might fall for her all over again if this keeps up

*Snap*

Jaune: H-huh?

Weiss: Remnant calling Jaune, are you there?

Jaune: *pink* S-sorry, i was thinking about something.

Weiss: I figured, you've been staring pretty intensely at me for some time.

Jaune: *red* . . . . .i'm really sorry.

Weiss: Don't be *small smile* I like the way you look at me.

Jaune: *redder* . . . . . . .

Weiss: I wrote the formula on the corner of your notes, just try and memorize it and you won't have any issues, Okay? *Goes back to her notes*

Jaune: O-okay. Thanks.

Jaune didn't know how to feel, confused? Shocked? Overjoyed? It was a mix of all of those, and Jaune wondered until when this was going to last, would she wake up tomorrow and start hating him again? It was something worth asking, though in all honesty, he really didn't want to know the answer. And so, instead of letting that question eat away his mind, he moved on with his day, and soon enough combat classes started, where he once again found himself in a fight against cardin of all people.

And of course, it didn't end well for him.

Glynda: Match is over, Victory goes to mister Winchester.

Cardin: Hah, what a surprise. 'till next time arc.

Jaune groaned in pain, Cardin's last hit broke his aura and his face took most of the damage, he held his bruised cheek and left the arena, whatever was left of his pride being the most damaged thing in this fight

Nora: You'll get him next time.

Pyrrha: Shouldn't you go to the infirmary?

Jaune: My aura is gonna kick in an hour or so anyways, it's fine. *Sits down, groaning and rubbing the ugly bruise in his cheek.

Weiss: *sigh* You're so stubborn.

Jaune: It's fine, i-

He stopped halfway into his sentence, watching as she pulled out a handkerchief, picked up Yang's water bottle to soak it up and used a glyph to freeze it, sitting close to him and reaching out for his cheek. Jaune reflexively moved away which seemed to be the wrong move, she gave him an angry look and held his face, pulling him really close.

Weiss: Stay still you dolt. *Starts gently applying the ice* if you move i'm gonna give your other cheek a matching mark

Jaune: *flinches and stays still.*

Weiss: Better.

She then held the frozen handkerchief to his bruise, gently pressing against it while using a glyph to keep it cooled

Jaune: You don't need to do this, my aura is gonna kick in a little while.

Weiss: I don't care, you're in pain right? so zip it and let me take care of you.

Jaune: I can handle a little pain.

Weiss: I don't doubt it, but you don't need to handle it. Stop trying to act tough, it's okay to let people help you.

Jaune: . . . . . .

Weiss: There. Feels better?

Jaune: A lot. Thanks Weiss.

Weiss: Don't thank me, just make sure to kick his butt next time.

Jaune: Hah. . . . .as if that is ever going to happen.

Weiss: It will, maybe not in the next match, or the one after that, but it will eventually.

Jaune: You sound awfully sure about that.

Weiss: Because I am. Do you know what's the worst thing about You jaune?

Jaune: I think i can come up with an entire list of things i-oww!

Weiss: *pinching his good cheek* The worst thing about you is this, you have no faith in yourself, despite how hard you work, despite your visible talents, despite all of your friends telling you otherwise, you insist on the idea that you are worthless, when you obviously are not.

She stopped pinching his cheek, instead, she gently stroked it.

Weiss: You are much, much stronger than any of us could ever hope to imagine, there's someone deep down in there that will one day save many lives and protect many people, someone all of us can look up to and that can carry a burden that would crush most of us ten times over, someone worthy of being called a true hero, so don't let your fears and doubts stop you from letting that someone come out.

Jaune: *speechless* . . . . .i. . . . . .i'll try.

Weiss: *smiles* That's a good start.

And once more, Jaune was left wondering what happened to the Weiss he knew yesterday, there was no way to tell how long this would last, and the worst thing of all? Is that after everything that happened, after he finally decided to move on, she suddenly does all of this and jaune finds himself completely and utterly head over heels for her again, probably even more than before.

Was she playing with him? Was this some sort of revenge plan? He doubted it, he couldn't see Weiss sinking to such a low, and even if she tried the others would've intervened, but they were clearly just as shocked as he was.

Weiss: Hey, erm. . . . .i've been meaning to get some things in vale after class is over, would you like to come with me?

Jaune: !?!? You mean. . . .you need someone to help you?

Weiss: No, I mean that I would like to go out with you after class is over.

Jaune: I. . . . . . . .you. . . . . . .you mean. . . . . .

Weiss: *chuckles* Just a yes or a no will suffice you dolt.

Jaune: Y-yes, I would really like that.

Weiss: It's a date then.

Date. . . .Jaune lost count of the amount of times he imagined having one of those with Weiss, never in his life however did he expect this to be how it happened, once again he felt the fear of this being too good to be true, that Weiss would change her mind back how it was before as fast as she changed to how it is now, or that he'll just wake up on his bed all of this would have been a dream, but he couldn't control it either way, all he could really do is enjoy his time with Weiss for as long as he had left.

And so classes ended for the day, and soon enough, the heiress was Found in her room, wearing much more casual clothes and ready to leave, before her team blocked the way.

Weiss: You girls need something?

Blake: Yeah, we do. What's going on?

Ruby: Spill the beans!

Weiss: I assure you I have no beans in my mouth to spill.

Yang: See! This is what we mean! Since when do you do jokes like that!?

Weiss: I've developed a sense of appreciation for silly jokes like that.

Blake: Since when?

Weiss: Since yesterday.

Yang: What's going on with you? Is everything okay?

Weiss: Yes, why? Is my behavior bothering you?

Ruby: No way, you've been really nice all day, especially to Jaune, we just wanted to know where all that is coming from?

Yang: You couldn't stand the guy not too long ago, yeah you tell us what he did on the ball and that definitely earns him some good points, but for you to act like this? Like you're his girlfriend or something? It seems off for you.

Weiss: *sigh* I figured you girls would question. So, do you want the truth?

R_BY: Yeah.

Weiss: The whole truth?

Blake: Of course.

Weiss: For realsies.

Yang: just spill it!

Weiss: Alright then, the truth is that I am not the same Weiss you knew from before, I'm actually from eight years in the future. The world was collapsing and there wasn't any hope left as we got stomped by the queen of grimm, that was until I figured out how to mix the magic I received from four magical women with my time dilation glyphs to send my mind back in time, which allows me to try and prevent the disaster before it even has a chance to strike.

R_BY: . . . . . .

Weiss: As for Jaune's case, he's been my lover for the past three years, well, was at least. I had to watch him getting crushed by the weight of responsibility and the things we had to constantly go through, we didn't have time to go on dates, for romance or much of anything else aside from some rare occasions, his mind was constantly haunted by his own mistakes and even the ones he had no fault of, yet he pushed through everything despite how broken he was on the inside. . . . . .that was, until a year ago, where i had to watch him lay down his life to save mine and give me this opportunity to come back and make things right. . . . .So I intend to make use of every last second of this new opportunity he gave me, and I'll make sure to cherish and love him. Jaune will grow into a formidable man, that much i know, and i know the road ahead won't be easy, but this time i'll be there for him, and i'll be damned if i let this world break him a second Time.

R_BY: . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Yang: Y'know. . . . . .you could just tell us if you didn't want to say what's going on.

Blake: Did you just come up with that? Cause that sounds like a really compelling narrative.

Weiss: Would you believe it if I also told you him he's the rusted knight from your favorite fairy tale?

Blake: Heh, that's a funny one. You should write for a living if you ever give up on Being a huntress.

Weiss: *shrugs* I only gave you the answer you asked for.

Ruby: Ohhh, I wonder what a grimm queen would look like. Maybe a giant spider lady with a biiiig head to control other grimm around her with her thoughts.

Weiss: *chuckles* Of course you'd think that.

Yang: *sigh* Well, nevermind all of that, if you don't wanna tell us what's going on we'll give you some space. Just. . . . .try not doing anything stupid, alright nICE-queen?

Weiss: I'll try my best.

She leaves the room, closing the door behind her only to see Jaune in the corridor wearing more casual clothes, looking through his scroll's selfie camera and nervously fiddling with his hair while mumbling something unintelligible. Many things passed through her mind at that moment, most weren't exactly pleasant, but as she stared at the boy whose biggest concern right now was trying to make himself not look stupid for a date, she couldn't help but feel an incredible warmth building up inside her chest.

Weiss: *giggles*

Jaune: W-Weiss!? *Pink* H-how long have you been there!?

Weiss: I don't know, how long have you been playing with your hair?

Jaune: I-i just. . . . . Y'know. . . . .it's getting a little too long and i-

He stopped as Weiss reached out for his head, brushing his hair with her hand and putting it the way it was normally.

Weiss: I like the longer hair. Also, don't try too hard to style it, it already looks perfect like this.

Jaune: W-well. . . .if you say so. You look really nice.

Weiss: Thanks, you look quite good too.

Jaune: hehe, thanks. Well. . . . should we-

"Miss schnee"

Jaune was cut by none other than the headmaster, who joined them shortly after with his mug in hand as always.

Weiss: Yes?

Ozpin: We looked into the matters you warned us about, and you'll be happy to know we got to isolate the little "surprise" they had hidden in the system for us. As of now me and a few others are going to miss Fall's room to. . . ."discuss" some matters, would you like to join us?

Weiss: It won't be necessary, I'm sure you're already doing what's necessary.

Ozpin: Very well, there's still more I would like to discuss but you seem to be busy at the moment. Please contact me once you're free.

Weiss: Will do.

Ozpin: A good evening for you, and for you as well mister Arc. *Leaves*

Jaune: . . . . . .what was that?

Weiss: Nothing much, don't worry about it.

Jaune: Uhmm. . . .okay. Should we go-!?

Weiss: *hugging his arm and smiling* Let's go.

And off they went to their date, the first of many more to come, Jaune didn't think this day would ever come but every glance at the ivory beauty hugging his arm proved him wrong and made his heart race inside his ribcage, he didn't know what he did to deserve this, but he knew he was going to thank the gods for it for the rest of his life

[l0vergirlatheart]

surprise attack hugs! [omori.]

alt. title; surprising the RL!Sextet (6) by hugging them when they're least expecting it.

warnings/tws; suggestive-spoilers during MARI's part.

req. by; none

chars. used; HERO, MARI, SUNNY, AUBREY, BASIL, KEL.

song of the day; Hug Me - Pharrell Williams & Trey Parker

a/n's; yes i used a despicable me song, what are you gonna do about it? also, platonic or romantic? up to you to decide.

by continuing from this point on you understand that it is your fault if you see any opinions that you do not agree with and that make you mad. you will not take it out on me or anyone else who enjoys/agrees with them, and you especially will not do anything illegal/dangerous to them or myself.

images do not belong to me and belong to their rightful owners.

HERO.

i couldn't find a header for him D:

Ah yes, that one man who always seems to have nearly everything under control... but he really doesn't.

He's quite easy to fluster, as long as you know how to.

It's quite funny and ironic, actually. He's flirtatious with those he's close with (and has nearly the same age with.)

He never misses a beat, but when he does, it's usually 'cause he's either stressed or thinking about something.

Either way, that is your time to strike!

Hug him from behind as he's thinking and he'll jump out of surprise.

He'll whip his head towards you, already blushing also out of surprise.

Give him a wink and a smug smile, and he'll be hiding his flushing-red face behind his hands, mumbling god-knows-what in them.

Pull him closer to you and dude will pass the fuck out.

He has no idea how to respond, and you haven't even said anything yet.

(if you do say something, whisper it in his ear, it'll make him explode.)

in the end, he's frozen stiff in your arms.

if you let go for some odd reason, the "effects" don't immediately wear off, but give him a minute or two. or three. maybe four.

well however long, he'll probably still be blushing 'till the day's over.

he's so cute grrr

222 words.

MARI.

woah how'd you catch her off-guard???

like????

she always seem(ed)s to be ready for everything

so when you manage to give her a surprise hug, she's obviously not prepared for it.

just dont do it by the stairs.

she'll turn around rather quickly, so you'd better be holding on before you fall down!

if you don't fall down, great! she can easily hug you back, just 10x harder <3

if you do fall down, worry not! the great MARI will catch you!

probably catches you in one of those dip-like positions you see in dance moves or those dramatic romance movie scenes

if so,

expect kisses <333 (w/ consent ofcofc,, she's a respectful queen <333)

then she'll help you up and hug you tighter

probably says somethings like 'oh my, you startled me darling! next time please give me a warning!'

all in all, respectful and pretty queen<333

151 words.

SUNNY.

waaah i couldn't find a header for him either :(

dude is spacing out every 30 seconds,,, you can easily surprise hug him nearly 98% of the time

just run up behind him, and hug him!!

it's that simple

my dude probably jumps, flinches, and stiffs up in that order

just be like 'surprise, it's me!!' and he'll calm down.

turns around and owlishly blinks at you a couple of times

then he turns back around, small blush covering his cheeks

dude's temperature went from -34°F to 150°C /hj

naur cause dude barely had any body warmth 'till you hugged him

probably gonna stay inside your arms for a bit longer.

he can't help it!! you're just so warm!!

it's your fault for hugging him in the first place!!

just let him indulge in the moment for a bit <3

dont let him fall asleep though, 'cause he will, and then you're stuck there 'till he wakes up again.

lmao tough luck

but hey

at least he's happy.

for once.

169 words.

AUBREY.

OH EM GEE GIRLBOSS PUSSY SLAY QUEEN???

OFF-GUARD?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?

WHAT KIND OF SORCERY IS THIS??? (the power of plot, baby /hj)

just like

make sure that before you hug her

she's not ready to attack you with her bat

'cause that'll hurt like a fothermucker

so if she isn't ready to commit 30 charges of aggravated assault and 27 acts of public disruption, go for it!

don't aim for the neck tho lolol

she'll probably throw you off by spinning around so fast

so like

hug her by the stomach/waist

and pull her close

and then

GERMAN SUPLEX

and then put your head on her shoulder, and whisper a small 'hi'

her face is almost as pink as her hair

and you've only said one word

lord help her she is such a tsundere

she'll just like

freeze up for a second

and if you're doing this in front of her friends???

lord expect a really long scolding

even though it's more yelling than scolding

eh, whatever

but doing it in private is your best option

she'll just look away and pat your arm a bit

you two are then left alone in comfortable silence <333

200 words.

BASIL.

bestie he will pass out out of pure fear /hj

but after he realizes it's you,, he'll just be flustered

i mean, he could never even imagine having the courage to do that to someone

especially not you /pos..???

but that's just him

back to the point,,,

you,, are hugging,,, him,,, willingly???

he's so confused

he doesnt know why but

he still likes it anyways

he'll let out a nervous laugh before giving your arm(s) a little squish

in return for the hug, ofc

he knows its not much but

it's still something

and something is better than nothing!!

100 words.

KEL.

i was too lazy to find a real header😋

yeah this man

he loves hugs

but surprise hugs,,,

he will marry you if he gets these at least once a day

i mean, how could he not?

his love/crush is willingly hugging him, and as a surprise!!

who doesn't love surprises????

he does, for sure, and if you do creep up and hug him

he'd be elated!

he'll spin around and hug you right back immediately!

just be careful if it's after he finishes playing basketball

he'll probably be sweaty

like

really

sweaty

and stinky

so be prepared!!!

but overall, hug him as much as you want, he just loooovesss hugs in general!

113 words.

THE END.

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[silvermaplealder]

Star always confused me to her purpose in the movie. She never really struck me as "damsel in distress" because she never really seemed distressed. I wanted to look more into her character and figure out why she acted the way she did. And you know what? She had the perfect set up to be one of the antagonists...

My new theory: Star is actually one of the antagonists trying to manipulate Michael with David's help.

Star and David are platonic friends who are mutually benefiting from each other. However, she is also a minor antagonist who was manipulating Michael to get what she wanted: her own freedom. Michael was probably not the first one that she lured to the vampire den, though he was the last.

Star manipulates Michael to get protection against becoming a vampire. She doesn’t want to live as a vampire, and Michael is giving her an out. The reason David doesn’t seem to care is it benefits him too. Star brings home men who would “save her” and it would lead to the Lost Boys either getting a meal, or Star being freed. David wouldn’t care if she’s “freed” because the only way for her to really become free is if someone kills Max, which would benefit him. Either way works, and David doesn’t seem to be that attached to her as he is the rest of the boys. So David’s using Star as a lure for finding someone to kill Max and in return Star gets a roof (if you want to call it that…) over her head and support from the boys. It would make sense that David couldn’t give less of a crap when she sleeps with other men because he’s in a platonic relationship with her. This would also help make sense of the line “David wanted you to be my first.” David either 1) never said such a thing and it was a line Star made up to create tension between Michael and David or 2) was something David said to get Max pissed off and use Star as a scapegoat if she killed Michael. Either way, both benefit David. 

Whether David was into Michael (I believe he was hella thirsty, but I digress) would not have mattered because the events that took place were supposed to have been calculated: either David getting Michael as a vampire or Michael being killed. The biggest flaw of the plan was also the most important though- Star couldn’t know of Max and vice versa. If Star knew that Max existed, it would have jeopardized David’s plans. And if Max knew that Star existed, he’d know David was behind the whole thing. 

Star has some other lines within the movie that cover her if Michael ever became suspicious. Such when after David brought Michael to the bonfire, Star says she "tried to warn" Michael about the blood in the bottle, but everyone knew damn well that wasn't enough to stop him from drinking it. She also claims that it is "all her fault" and guilts Michael into helping her and Laddie in the end.

Another thing that always seemed odd to me was that Star knew where Michael lived... so did the boys. The boys must have told her. David knew where Michael lived at the very least because he brought Michael home after the bridge. Star also knew everything that was happening between Michael and the boys making it very plausible that she was working with David the whole time. There's also a fair chance that since she had decent control of her powers that she was able to stalk Michael in the house as well.

When it comes to the final battle, I find a couple things interesting. First, during the cave scene where they go to rescue Star and Laddie, Star is woken up when she's spoken to in a quiet voice. Earlier in the movie Michael is also woken up when spoken to. But when the vampires are in the cave upside down, none of them appear to wake up to voices or Sam's little scream. They only wake up at Marko's scream, which is... I mean loud but so are the kiddos. Y'all know my other head cannons about how I don't think that the boys really died... but I digress.

In the end, Star was just another antagonist who gained her freedom. We do know that they stayed together after the movie, so it would be that she ended up having feelings for Michael in the end.  The classic "went in without feelings and fell for the person" trope.

Tagging: @misslavenderlady @ria-coolgirl

[destinysbounty]

I'm literally so sad that Cole wasn't in Seabound. Like isn't he the master of Earth? Isn't the seafloor like the deepest place to be? Wouldn't he be closer to his element if he went in the deep sea? Man.

I'm not the first person to bring this up, and I probably won't be the last, but it is a bit odd how Wildbrain feels so intent on splitting the team up all the time. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a good split-up in theory - hell, seasons 4 and 9 are some of my all-time favorites, and overall I think the concept of splitting up the team gives us the chance to explore unconventional dynamics in similarly unconventional situations. There's just one main problem with how Wildbrain handles split-ups: 1) there usually isn't a particularly strong narrative reason for it to happen.

Now if I list off every arbitrary split-up and exactly what made it arbitrary, we'd be here all day. But seriously, next time you watch Wildbrain, try and pay close attention to this sort of thing. Once you notice the way they love to split everyone up at the barest hint of provocation, you can't ignore it. It's everywhere. Obviously there are times where they do have narratively satisfying reasons to split up (s13 is an example of this done well imo), but the sheer volume of arbitrary split-ups kinda sours things a bit - for me, at least.

Which brings us to Seabound. I genuinely don't understand why Cole and Kai couldn't have come along for Seabound. They give this argument that "oh, we need someone to stay behind and hold down the fort while everyone's gone", but...first of all, when has that ever been a pressing issue for them? These assholes leave Ninjago City unattended all the time. And even if they did finally decide to make that a priority after all these years, why is Kai staying behind??? If you ask me, not only would Kai realistically want to be involved in the quest to fix his beloved sister's powers, but Kai also would have been way more effectively utilized by the plot, by actually being part of the plot. Y'know, in the submarine with everyone else. Not only because we'd get the chance to see his fear of water get some resolution, but the whole narrative about Nya's childhood trauma would pack a lot more weight to it with Kai present (for obvious reasons).

And as for Cole...y'know what, up to this point I'd never really thought of a good way to give Cole something to do in Seabound, but you present a great point. Maybe there could be some scenes between Cole and Nya, talking about how overwhelming it can feel to be completely surrounded by your element. In this version of events, maybe Cole takes on an almost mentor-like position as he tries to help Nya connect with her element as he had done at the end of season 13. And for maximum angst, perhaps at the end of the season she takes his lessons and puts them to use - but instead of simply connecting with her element like he taught her, she's becoming one with it. This isn't perfect, of course, but at least now we've found a way to make Cole and Kai feel more relevantly involved in the plot.

Don't get me wrong, as much as I'm criticizing it I absolutely adore Seabound. BUT if I were given the task of rewriting it, personally I'd have the whole gang accompany Nya down to Merlopia. And as for having a land crew to watch over Ninjago in the meantime, I'd throw in some supporting characters. The ninja go "oh hey we need someone to hold down the fort and look after Ninjago while we're away", so they round up a ragtag crew of support characters from past seasons to sub in for them. Y'know, Skylor, Dareth, Karlof, and other characters of that caliber. And then we occasionally cut back to this reserve team, whoever they are, as they get up to all the adventures Kai and Cole would've been up to in the original canon version.

(Or if we want to create a lead-in for the next season, then perhaps they get the mayor or commissioner's help in recruiting a reserve team to look after things in their absence, and then this reserve team becomes the New Ninja during Crystalized).

Again, I don't want anyone to mistake my criticism for dislike - Wildbrain holds a special place in my heart, and I do enjoy it a lot. But I also have to admit that this relentless and at many times painfully arbitrary team-splitting is starting to get a bit annoying.

...oh wow, that was a long rant. I'm not entirely sure if any of that made sense, but either way just know that I agree with you 100%. Thanks for the ask!

[f1letters]

question…? | ls18

"did you wish you'd put up more of a fight when she said it was too much?"

summary: she was just planning a fun night out with her best friends, but an unexpected reunion changes everything

warning: angst, cheating, toxic relationship, swearing, alcohol consumption, mentions of a one-night stand, mentions of anxiety, suggestive language

pairing: lance stroll x reader

word count: 3.4k

note: everything in bold are song references and in italic are thoughts, which includes memories from the past.

and with that, I hope you enjoy my first-ever story here! had to start with the song that started this whole idea! as an angst lover myself, expect a lot more to come in the next stories! haha

masterlist

I remember

Nervous was an understatement. Y/N wasn't the type of girl to go out clubbing often, at least not anymore. However, she had exhausted all excuses to deny her older sister and her best friend's invitations, leaving her only with the option to finally say yes. One night won't hurt, she thought, probably in an attempt to convince herself.

As she finished getting ready, she stopped to see her reflection in the large mirror leaning against the wall of her bedroom. The chosen dress stood out so easily, not only for the way it fitted perfectly along the curves of her body but also for its stunning dark green colour. She liked what she saw. She felt confident and beautiful for the first time in a long time.

Unconsciously, her hand searched for the silver chain around her neck and touched it gently. A nervous tic that became ordinary in her daily life, seeking some comfort in the delicate piece of jewellery that meant so much to her.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her bedroom door opening, her two companions for that night appearing. Clearly too excited to be sober, they were laughing like this was the best night of their lives, which was partially true. Just the fact that they were finally able to persuade Y/N to go out with them, an idea that had seemed impossible a few days before, was reason enough to celebrate. So why not start partying now and have a few shots while they waited for her?

"Oh. My. God. Who are you?!" "Damn, looking hot, sis!" Maddie and Noa said excitedly, their eyes admiring the look. The three girls laughed, as Y/N took a little spin, showing off jokingly.

"Thank you, thank you!" She said, giggling a little nervously. "Are you guys ready to leave?" She asked, grabbing her small black purse.

"Let's go, bitches! The club awaits us." Maddie announced and grabbed the two sisters by their arms, pulling them along the stairs towards the exit.

They called an Uber and set off toward their destination, knowing full well that none of them had plans to make it to the end of the night with the ability to drive back to the house. It was their night to enjoy and have fun after all.

About twenty minutes later, Y/N's eyes couldn't help but appreciate the glamorous and luminous entrance with some nostalgia, as they waited patiently in line to get in. The contrast between the pink and green neon lights adorned the name of the place. Y/N hadn't been there for months. Too long perhaps, she thought.

As they walked inside through the dark, long hallways to the bar, her heart skipped a beat. What are the odds? What are the chances that it's playing the exact same song from that fateful night? She looked at the other two beside her and saw them start to sing and dance, carefree. They don't even know, snap out of it, Y/N. The young woman gave them a fake smile, trying to look equally unbothered. 

But that was a lie.

She still remembered. She still remembered that night when she met him, in that very own bar.

Good girl, sad boy

Big city, wrong choices

We had one thing goin' on

I swear that it was somethin'

'Cause I don't remember who I was

Before you painted all my nights

A color I've searched for since

Her sister quickly managed to get drinks for everyone and pulled them with her onto the dance floor, ensuring the party would go on. The three friends started moving to the music together, laughing and hugging each other. It meant so much to them all to be there with each other. It had been too long since the last time.

However, Y/N couldn't escape the feeling that something was going to happen. Maybe it was just anxiety talking, maybe some kind of premonition. Who knows? Regardless, her right hand escaped again towards her necklace. As soon as she felt the cold from the silver against her skin, she felt a shiver down her spine. You're being ridiculous, Y/N. Forget it.

She tried to let go of all those nervous thoughts. However, she realized it was going to be mission impossible as soon as his face popped into her head. And with that, all the associated feelings. The pain. The heartbreak. Brought by something so unexpected and unplanned... But it was special, it was intense, it was... unique.

"Hey! I know what you're doing, so stop it right now!" Maddie said loudly in her ear, trying to be heard over the music. "C'mon! We're here to have fun. Don't think about him. Forget it, it's been a year." Y/N felt some discomfort in her best friend's voice, maybe even a bit of annoyance. But who was she to judge? Her friend was the one that had to pick up the pieces of her heart after that one-night adventure.

"I know, I know! I promise I'm here to be with you guys, not to be in a bad mood!" Y/N nodded.

"Enjoy yourself! Go dance with that hottie over there! He won't stop looking at you." Noa smirked, joining the conversation.

So you did exactly that. Time passed, her mates nowhere to be seen, as she continued to dance with the young man, whose name she didn't even bother to ask. It's just an innocent flirt, she thought. The front of him against her back, his body heat warming her up. He did try to make some advances, but so far without success.

And then, like a meteor strike, she saw it. 

She saw him.

And the whole world stopped just like it did one year before.

But one thing after another

Fuckin' situations, circumstances

Miscommunications and I

Have to say, by the way

I just may like some explanations

And he saw her too, almost like magnets attracted to one another.

He remembered everything. Absolutely everything.

Her soft eyes. Her amazing body. The way it moved. Her contagious laugh. Her sweet voice. Her passionate moans. 

The world changed for both of them on that fatidic night, so they just stood there. Staring in shock. They never thought they would see each other again... Especially with the abrupt way that night ended, ruining that once-in-a-lifetime magical and blissful experience. 

His eyes strayed from hers, filling with jealousy as he looked at the body behind her. The audacity of this man, the girl thought. And with that, she grabbed the plastic cup in the mystery man's hand beside her, drank it in one go, in search of liquid courage, and started her way towards the man before her.

"Y/N." He whispered, frozen to the ground as she approached him.

"Lance. I just would like some explanations."

Can I ask you a question?

Did you ever have someone kiss you in a crowded room

And every single one of your friends was makin' fun of you

But fifteen seconds later, thеy were clappin' too?

Then what did you do?

Wearing a much more conservative dress, clearly stolen from her older sister's closet, Y/N ended up sitting alone in that bar, abandoned by Noa who was somewhere on the dance floor with a random guy. This was not her typical vibe at all and it was her first time in that club. So, she was bored out of her mind, having fun just people-watching.

Her eyes eventually gravitated to a drop-dead gorgeous boy as he took the seat beside her, but she wasn't going to approach him. I could never, she thought. Maybe Noa would, but I could never.

Y/N couldn't help but glance in his direction from time to time, curious. But since she wasn't going to act, fate got to work and the girl ended up losing her balance against him, accidentally pushed by a boy who was too drunk to walk straight.

"I'm so sorry. Someone bumped into me." She looked at him, apologetic. The tanned man, not a word. Just a quick nod and completely ignored her, not even looking at her.

Oh, okay.

She couldn't forget that awkward interaction and, without thinking, spoke in the direction of the brunette.

"Can I ask you a question?"

As their eyes met for the first time, butterflies invaded her stomach.

Did you lеave her house in the middle of the night? Oh

Did you wish you'd put up more of a fight, oh

When she said it was too much?

Do you wish you could still touch her?

It's just a question

"Are you okay? You look sad." She asked, shocked at her own behaviour.

He can't explain it, but for some inexplicable reason, he found himself venting to a complete stranger in a bar about all the stress he felt due to his work. Not mentioning what he actually did, of course. The season was going bad. The worst of his career possibly. But talking to someone who didn't have a clue who he was was refreshing.

And the way she constantly nodded, and said small words, to assure him that she was hearing what he was saying.

She was beautiful. Her flushed cheeks revealed her shyness, but that made her even more charming to him.

Eventually, tired of talking about himself, Lance took a risk and pulled her gently by the hand towards the center of the floor. His arm went around the girl's waist, and her arm followed, circling his neck. 

The tension that had been building since the moment Y/N questioned him continued to evolve. Their eyes met, under the club lights, for a few seconds. Until her eyes strayed to the young driver's soft lips and noticing this, Lance kissed her in the middle of the crowded room.

Half-moon eyes, bad surprise

Did you realize out of time?

She was on your mind with some dickhead guy

That you saw that night

But you were on somethin'

"You left." She said, consumed with rage. "You left me. Alone, without explanation. Without a word, a note, a phone number. You just disappeared and now, on this night of all nights, you decide to show up here?"

Her eyes began to sting slightly, tears forming and threatening to fall. His eyes were filled with guilt and regret. Seeing her like this is punishment enough for what I did, he thought.

"It may have been just a one-night stand for you, but not for me. For me, it was so much fucking more." And with that, the young woman stormed out of the club, heading for the exit, leaving Lance speechless, motionless, not knowing what to do. 

Don't lose her again, his brain screamed. So he ran after her like his life depended on it. When he finally reached her, he gripped her wrist, harder than he'd anticipated, driven by desperation.

Feeling the man's strength around her hand, she jerked her arm to free herself, pushing his chest for Lance to move away from her. However, her body moved towards his, contradicting herself. Her pain controlled her now, as she began to try to hit him in the chest, tears now flowing freely.

Lance couldn't take it. Not the pain, that I deserve, he thought. But being away from her. So as his hands managed to make her stop, his arms pulled her in, leaning his cheek against her head as she sobbed against his heart.

He could only understand one sentence.

"It may sound impossible, but I swear I fell in love with you that night."

It was one drink after another

Fuckin' politics and gender roles

And you're not sure and I don't know

Got swept away in the gray

I just may like to have a conversation

"And I fell for you too!" His voice rose. He cupped her face gently by her chin, allowing eye contact between the ex-lovers.

"I was in a difficult position, and you know it! It was an impulsive decision that I should never have made, but believe me when I say I regretted it the second I walked out that door!" His unexpected feelings exploded on his face and he was taken completely by surprise, eventually making an irrational choice that had plagued him for months. "I wanted to go back, but I didn't know how to reach you. I felt the same way, I swear on everything sacred in my life. I fell in love that night... and now, looking at you... I know these feelings never went away."

Time has stopped for them. Mirroring the past, they found themselves in the same place, in the same position, hearts beating fast. Almost as if they had never been separated by circumstances and miscommunications.

He smoothed her hair, trying to calm her down, feeling her grip on his shirt. Lance's first tear fell. 

For the first time, she heard the words she had been searching for all this time. 

"I'm sorry for what I did."

Can I ask you a question?

Did you ever have someone kiss you in a crowded room

And every single one of your friends was makin' fun of you

But fifteen seconds later, they were clappin' too?

Then what did you do?

After the kiss, they pulled away, staring at each other for a few seconds. Consumed by the atmosphere between them, it was as if no one else was in the room.

Until Y/N hears a random guy yelling a name. Looking over her shoulder, she saw two boys: one tall, skinny and the other blonde, handsome. "Go, Lance! Get it, my guy!" His friends made fun of him, clapping happily.

She laughed. "I think they are your friends?" The man chuckled nervously, hand behind his neck, and pulled her toward the exit, fingers intertwining.

As soon as she felt the cold outside, she turned to the brunette. "I was so fascinated by you that I totally forgot to ask your name." Embarrassed, and nervous, she continued. "I never do this kind of thing and now I'm kissing someone I don't even know."

He held her face and said softly. "I'm Lance, and you are...?"

"Y/N." She relaxed against his strong hands.

"Well, Y/N, you're the most gorgeous girl I've ever seen."

Did you leave her house in the middle of the night? Oh

Did you wish you'd put up more of a fight, oh

When she said it was too much?

Do you wish you could still touch her?

It's just a question

Fuck it, she thought to herself.

"Do you want to get out of here?" She asked, carried away by spontaneity.

Quickly, they ended up at her apartment door, lips pressed together, his hands exploring the curves of her body as Y/N searched for her house keys.

When they entered, she pulled him by his chain to her room. The tension continued to rise, hands and lips exploring their skin as if they were afraid to wake up from what felt like a dream.

Bodies aligned, as well as their souls. It was the two of them, just the two of them in the world during those hours.

However, as they descended from their highs, one of them remained on top of the world, while the other was overcome with guilt. What have I done, Lance thought, as reality hit him.

Working up the courage to look at her, his chest ached as he saw her with the biggest smile on her face, and half-moon eyes. He swallowed nervously.

"I have something to tell you."

Does it feel like everything's just like

Second best after that meteor strike?

And what's that that I heard? That you're still with her?

That's nice, I'm sure that's what's suitable

And right, but tonight

"You're sorry?" She couldn't help but ask. "That night, you made me feel things I never felt again. You took me to the top of the world… only to throw me down."

She changed. After the heartbreak, she spent months clubbing, hoping to see him again. She looked for him in other bodies. She cried. She screamed. She was never the same.

But worse than that… She never found what he gave her. It had been an experience of a lifetime she knew she would never get over. How many people can say they experienced love at first sight?

They stayed silent for a while until Lance's hands reached her face and he let his forehead touch hers. He sighed, eyes closed, at the comfort of his skin touching hers again.

He noticed the silver detail around her throat. Her necklace. His necklace.

As he was leaning in slowly, afraid to kiss her again after all this time, she interrupted. "Are you still with her?"

Can I ask you a question?

Did you ever have someone kiss you in a crowded room

And every single one of your friends was makin' fun of you

But fifteen seconds later, they were clappin' too?

Then what did you do?

"What the fuck do you mean you are with somebody?" She screamed, jumping out of bed.

"I- I have a girlfriend. I know it sounds bad, but I can explain-" Lance tried to justify his actions, desperate and scared.

With her sheets wrapped around her body, she started to cry. She felt used, and played.

He tried to grab her wrist, preventing her escape, but with no success. "This is too much." She said as she got in her bathroom, locking herself. She just sat there, on the tile floor, as her tears fell freely.

"Please." He pleaded. "Listen to me." Lance tried.

She just stood there, alone with her feelings. After some time, her crying stopped and she was just mad. She stormed out, asking him. "Why?" But she was left shocked.

He was nowhere to be seen. He had left. 

With only his necklace left forgotten on her bedside table.

Did you leave her house in the middle of the night? Oh

Did you wish you'd put up more of a fight, oh (More of a fight)

When she said it was too much?

Do you wish you could still touch her?

It's just a question

"No. I broke up with her shortly after that." Lance admitted. "I couldn't keep you out of my mind. The guilt was eating me alive."

"I tried to talk to you." She told. "I came out of the bathroom, ready to hear you out, but you weren't there anymore."

Lost in their revelations, they both travelled through a thousand "what ifs", wondering how things could have been different.

"I never thought I would see you again." The driver confessed, interrupting.

"Do you wish you'd put up more of a fight?" She asked.

"Every day." He looked deeply into her eyes. "You made me feel complete for the first time in a long time. Only for me to be the one who screwed it up. It was a mistake."

"Do you think I was a mistake?" He can't, her head was spinning, afraid of suffering again.

"Not you. But my actions: the way I acted with you, with her. It was unfair." He admitted.

For the hundredth time that night, she unconsciously touched her necklace, noticing that his hand had found a place there as well.

"I'm sorry, and I hope you'll give me a chance to make up for my mistakes. Even if it takes every day of my life." He whispered, hopeful.

And just like that, she kissed him, putting together the pieces that had been left apart on that magical night.

"This might be the worst idea ever, but I'd love to start over." She spoke honestly, but now with a large smile and only love in her eyes.

He pulled away from her, leaving her confused.

"I'm Lance, and you are…?"

She laughed, holding out a hand for him to shake, playfully. "Y/N."

He ignored her hand. Instead, he pulled her face up to his and let his nose fondly caress hers.

"Well, Y/N, you're the most gorgeous girl I've ever seen."

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[lucius-morningstar]

Magic Happens? (Part 2)

Awkward conversations and Panic. ------- Lucius: Okay so what did you want to talk about? Charlie: I'm about to ask a question that's going to be very uncomfortable for us, so I need you to answer me honestly and quickly so it doesn't get anymore awkward then it needs to be. Lucius: Okay. Charlie: Who of you in this hotel had sex in the past couple weeks. Lucius: Charlie the fuck. Angel: I don't kiss n' tell dollface. Husk: The fuck you talking about, that's all you do. Angel: Well way to make it less fun. Cherri: Yeah I fucked, I can't recall when or with who. Mostly out of it Charlie: Okay thank you Cherri for being the only one to give me a straight answer. Angel: I mean you know me babe, I'm always fucking with someone. So yeah more then likely. Husk: Probably but I don't have the best record of it so apart from last night, no. Charlie: Lucius please don't make me ask again. Lucius: I am not answering that because I love you too much to admit I've had sex. Angel: I can answer that. He snuck off the Carmine place last night. Vaggie: How the fuck do you know? Angel: He texted me, let's see he said "If Charlie asks, tell her I am fucking Compound Pussy." Then it autocorrected to which he kept trying to write Clara's name but it came weird before he said "Fuck it, you know what I mean, just say I'm smashing ass n' that my phone will be off until tomorrow." Lucius: Ugh.. Bees fuckin honey, stuff makes me share too much Angel: Husk fucked me last night. Husk: Angel the fuck?! Angel: She wanted honesty, don't have a lot of details but I have the claw marks on my back to prove it. Charlie: I don't need visuals, just a confirmation. Husk: *Sighs* Can I ask why? Charlie: Uh.. Well so I was letting dad know the baby news, he asked how? Husk: Please don't give us a play by play. Charlie: No, just anyway I explained that I tried the creation spell and it overloaded and kinda blew all sorts of fuses in the hotel. He asked me if anyone was in the hotel aside from ya know me and Vaggie. Lucius: Weird question to ask. Charlie: I thought so too, so I asked him why and he said and I quote "Nephilim magic is new, stronger and unstable in new hands so the effects could be far bigger and far more.. Uh. Wild in the hands of someone whose still learning." Lucius: What'd he mean by that. Charlie: That I have to keep an eye on everyone for the next couple weeks. Lucius: Why. Charlie: Nothing serious- Lucius: Charlie please just spit it out! Charlie: There's a risk the creation spell might have worked on everyone in the hotel.. Whose been intimate in the past couple weeks. Lucius: What the fuck does that mean! Vaggie: It means that there's a risk that if you've had sex, unprotected especially, that there is a huge chance your fertility odds have doubled.. and tripled in some cases. Cherri: I thought we couldn't have kids in hell. Charlie: In normal standards yes but.. my magic may have reversed it on accident. Cherri: Please tell me this is some kinda sick joke. Angel: Yes please tell us it's a sick joke. Husk: Why are you panicking, you're a guy. Angel: No-No reason. Charlie: Gender is irrelevant, the chances are high regardless. Lucius: Fuck! Charlie: It might not work on you Lucius. You're a Nephilim too, it's possible the spell didn't even effect you. Lucius: Well I fucking hope so Charlie. I just got with Clara and Carmilla will kill me if in the first two weeks one of her daughters ends up knocked up. There's only one place and person she'll be looking for and that's me! Vaggie: Well it's too late to complain now. Charlie: Lucius it might not even mean anything. It could be completely false and nothing could happen. Lucius: R-Right.. Charlie: But.. Yo-You still gotta tell Clara. Just in case. Lucius: I-I can't. I can't fuck this up more when we're actually in a good place. Vaggie: You think she'll like you if she finds out on her own and finds out you knew and said nothing. Lucius: ..I fucking hate you so much.

[paradoxcase]

Gideon the Ninth audiobook, rest of Part 1

One thing you can say for audiobooks, they go faster, especially since I'm not essentially reading everything twice now. But I don't feel like I would retain it in the same way I do when I read visually, if this were the first time through

I am getting used to the pronunciation of "Nonagesimus", as expected

More voices:

Teacher is not at all what I expected, I expected more disconcerting jollity and less creaky old person voice. The nonbinary priest I expected to be more creaky, but their voice is not creaky at all

Cytherea's voice is basically exactly what I imagined, though

Also, Teacher's pronunciation of "Naberius" doesn't match the pronunciation guide here, or the pronunciation in the Dramatis Personae, which is odd

More stuff I noticed:

Aiglamene said, when looking for a sword: "I'm looking for a blade in the style of [Ortus's] great-grandmother's." Is this the great-grandmother who owned Nonius's sword that Ortus was talking about with Abigail in Harrow the Ninth?

Gideon asks "How are you going to get Ortus back, anyway?" and Harrow has a moment where she reacts to that - originally I though this was just reluctance to break it to Gideon that she was replacing him, but I now I think it's that they have gotten the news that the shuttle exploded

Gideon makes a joke that by being Harrow's cavalier she would be responsible for aiding "Harrowhark Nonagesimus's fascist rise to power." But what historical reference does she actually have for fascist rises to power? Nobody remembers WWII anymore. Arguably the only fascist rise to power they have a reference for is John's if you want to label him that way, and certainly none of them objected to that (or, I think, even have much information about it). I don't think this universe has the historical and political depth for a character to be making a joke like this

Aiglamene tells Harrow that if she doesn't free Gideon after attaining Lyctorhood, she would consider it a betrayal, because she's trying to secure freedom for Gideon in order to get her to go along with the plan to go to Canaan House with Harrow. I think this goes a long way to explain why Aiglamene is very angry at Harrow at the end of Nona when she finds out that Gideon died

Harrow says "we're not becoming an appendix of the Third or Fifth House" when talking about why it's important to not reveal the state of the Ninth to anyone. I missed this the first time through, but it's making more sense to me now why Harrow didn't want outside help

Harrow says "I'll mix bonemeal in with your breakfast and punch my way through your gut" which I have seen other people comment on, although I can't remember if I ever said anything about it myself. But my thought is that the reason Harrow was able to conceive of and execute the soup assassination while incredibly sleep deprived was that she had already worked out and finalized the whole plan back on the Ninth when she was coming up with ways to torment Gideon. It was probably just lucky that that plan also turned out to be effective against a Lyctor

I know the sunglasses are mostly a meme, but I'm wondering now why there were sunglasses on Pluto for Gideon to find. That seems like the last place in the universe for there to be sunglasses

The description of Teacher's belt doesn't really resemble the friendship bracelets, I don't think, although it is described as being rainbow colored

The narration says "her legs ran as swiftly as her awful judgement" when Gideon is running to rescue Cytherea, which seems a bit like foreshadowing, since I think on the first readthrough the reader doesn't have a reason to find fault with her judgement here

[nicoathogwarts]

Been thinking more about the roman nico au I came up with awhile back. Specifically about Hazel and her role in everything.

I think Hazel and Nico would switch places just a bit. Instead of Nico getting captured in the jar it’d be Hazel. Kept alive by Gaea for strategic purposes to be used later either to lure the demigods into a trap or maybe as a weapon. Either way Hazel’s just barely alive in that jar. And Nico can’t stop dreaming about her so obviously, there needs to be a rescue mission.

Nico’s also one of the seven in this, mostly by accident. The fight between the greeks and romans breaks out in New Rome and Nico tries to flee, he ends up shadow traveling onto the Argo II and by the time he emerges to see where he ended up, they're in the sky and everyone realizes that he's the seventh demigod.

Thing are tense on the Argo II. Nico refuses to talk to either Annabeth or Percy, every time the approach him he finds some way to get away from the two of them. Mostly by hiding away in his room and/or spending time with Frank, who shoos the two of them away.

He talks to Leo and Piper, but any attempts to learn more about him are immediately shut down. Talking to Jason is odd, because it's not Jason. It's not his friend who saved him from the titans and took him under his wing. Jason is worse then a stranger but they find some common ground on Jason wanting to know what he was like before. Nico tells Jason what he was like before, and in return Jason never asks Nico about his own past.

Back to Hazel. The seven rescue her, though it takes a little convincing on Nico's part.

But she gets rescued, and she tells everyone she doesn't remember her past. But she's seems to avoid Leo, when confronted she chalks it up to de ja vu and the questions stop for awhile.

Until we get to the cupid fight. But instead of Cupid, Janus (god of beginnings and ends) is the one that Nico and Hazel have to fight.

And instead of Nico admitting to being gay, both of them have to tell the other what they've done. Nico has to tell Hazel that he'd joined Luke before being found by the Romans. Hazel knows the basics of who Luke is because someone (probably Annabeth) told her about the Titan war and who Luke was.

And Hazel has to tell Nico that she's the reason that Gaea's waking. She died trying to prevent it, killing her mother in the process.

They come back with the scepter (or whatever cupid was guarding, I don't remember) and are a lot closer then before.

Eventually, their secrets will come out and the others will find out what happened. But for now, their secrets are safe with each other.