#or it can be a city built on the desire to make life better for people

[yanderestarangel]

꒰♡꒱─ 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐏𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓

TW: afab anatomy, dub con, dark themes, ftm reader, v!sex, sub!reader, stepson x stepfather, dilf!wesker, praise, smut.

─ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐬���𝐞𝐫 - who always takes care of you, always sending you large amounts of money, regardless of what you ask for, he will give you his black card so you can spend it on whatever you want, he will just want his favorite stepson to a little kiss and spend some time with him... especially because you both know that he only married your mother to be close to you.

─ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 - who manipulates you to keep you away from your friends, he just wants you for himself! You're his sweet boy, so don't be surprised to see Wesker using his money and powers to keep you trapped at home, keeping you like a cute, cuddly doll that he can control and twirl around his fingers, like a beautiful marionette.

─ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 - who considers you his only weakness. Wesker would destroy the world for you, he would destroy everything he built throughout his life just to have the guarantee that you would stay by his side forever, regardless of the price it would cost - and when he completes, all his plans, you will live forever next to him, beautiful and molded perfectly by his hands, his pretty boy.

─ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 - who takes you to the most chic and private dinners, with businessmen from the 'umbrella corporation', introducing you as their precious stepson. He will pamper you with expensive suits that adorn your ass for him, getting possessive if any guy tries to flirt with you - he would probably pull you into some room or take you out of the building, throwing you on the expensive leather seat of his BMW, towering over you as he took his hard, throbbing cock out of his pants, while you could see his red iris glow behind the dark lenses of his glasses. "-Are you going to act like a brat and let others take what's mine? Are you really going to do that boy?" Wesker would growl angrily, as he ripped the fabric of your pants, exposing your pussy to him. "-Daddy will teach you a lesson... after all, bad boys don't get rewards."

─ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 - who fucks you with all your desires and dark fantasies, he loves to fuck you in the most expensive hotels and the best panoramic views of the city, making you doggy style and pounding your cunt from behind, while pulling the rope of a collar of diamonds you wore around your neck - obviously given by him "-I could fuck you like this all day..." Wesker grunts in response to your sweet moans, slapping your ass. His thrusts become stronger, bringing you closer to the edge of release. And just as you're about to fall, he slows down once again, prolonging your ecstasy, the buildup almost unbearable. "-Not yet, my dear," he whispers in her ear, his voice filled with wicked delight. "-You will come when I say so. Only when I give you permission, you can do this, right? Like the good boy you are to your daddy hm?" He begins to move, establishing a rhythm that exposes you to the fullness and power of his thrusts, filling you completely. "-Such a good boy, accepting me so well, squeeze those thighs and stick out that fucking ass more! Yes baby boy, exactly like that..."

─ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 - who fucks you all over the house, while praising you for handling his dick so well in your little cunt. "-Such a beautiful and cute pussy, just for daddy's cock isn't it?", "-atta boy, do you feel that, angel? it's all for you... take my cock like a good boy.", "- Fuck-! I love hearing you beg for more... I'm going to make you cum so hard, baby boy...", "-You better get used to this my little boy... Because from now on on. Your life will revolve around me... And I will always make sure you are satisfied, whatever the cost..." Your body responded to his touch, arching into him as pleasure washed over you. You could feel the tension in your body growing, your pussy clenching around his dick as you neared the edge of orgasm.

─ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 - who would lock you up in one of his mansions, in a beautiful golden cage, he would cut your ties with your mom... friends and even normal civilization, nothing exists beyond him now, you are just his, he will leave you just there , for him and for him. "-You will always be my doll boy... won't you?" Wesker would smile darkly, as he handed you the clothes he wanted you to wear. "-You'll never get rid of me... I'm your daddy forever... right my prince?"

𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 ©𝐘𝐀𝐍���𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋 2023. 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲, 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞.

[novemberthecatadmirer]

One thing I always feel very important about the whole Maeglin selling out Gondolin for life & freedom matter is...

Morgoth promised him lordship and Idril AFTER Maeglin already told him about Gondolin’s location and defense secrets.

Yeah obviously the promise of power and Idril might be what kept him in line and continue to cooperate with Morgoth after returning to Gondolin (can be interpreted in various ways from “the world is ending better take care of my own desire” to “the world is ending better preserve what I can still save”)

But the lordship and Idril were NOT what directly caused the initial betrayal.

Here comes my dumb headcanon:

Maeglin initially cracked not because of anything related to Idril and Tuor. 

He cracked because of the torture & what Turgon did to Hurin.

When Hurin came to seek help nearly three decades after his imprisonment, Turgon assumed Hurin was released because he sold out the location of Gondolin for freedom. Turgon was overwhelmed by this assumption and let emotions run over his own judgement (again). He directly told the eagle “my heart is shut,” and refused to take Hurin in.

Of course Turgon changed his mind after calming down. But it took too long; the night fell and the eagles could not find Hurin again. From Hurin’s pov he was abandoned by his friend (or even a father figure), and thus was driven to complete despair, crying out in pain, accidentally letting Morgoth know the general location of Gondolin. 

I think it is rather possible that Maeglin knew of this, at the moment or later.

Then when he got captured by Morgoth and put through tortures, he would realize he was essentially in the role of Hurin.

Turgon did love Maeglin. But Maeglin knew Turgon treasured Hurin too. The king treasured Hurin enough to make an exception and let the brothers leave the city to return home. Probably after Unnumbered Tears Turgon also built statues in Gondolin honoring Hurin. But when Hurin actually showed up at door and seeked help? Turgon immediately grew suspicious and assumed that Hurin betrayed the city.

And Morgoth could even tell Maeglin what really happened to Hurin. How Hurin endured torture for 28 years without betraying Gondolin, but was viewed as traitor and abandoned by the king of Gondolin anyway. How Turgon became the last straw that break Hurin into leaking the location. How ultimately it was thanks to Turgon’s closed heart that Maeglin got captured.

In a word, I think what caused Maeglin’s betrayal was him realizing that

Morgoth could torture him forever

No one from Gondolin would come to save him (And other realms had fallen so there was really no hope)

Even he suffered forever to keep the secrets, it was expected and not appreciated by Gondolin

Even if he found a way to escape back to Gondolin, he might still be rejected/executed by Turgon because no one was allowed to lead danger to Gondolin (according to “of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin”)

Morgoth already knew the general location, no matter he cope or not Gondolin would eventually be found. And then Turgon would believe it was him that betrayed Gondolin anyway.

So yeah.

--------------------

I just think Turgon rejecting Hurin should has more long term damages than letting Morgoth knew the general location of Gondolin (which was already very bad).

It was something that could send out all the wrong messages and greatly damage the morale. I always imagine the event was kept as a secret, and even most of the lords did not know about the matter. 

I think Tuor absolutely was kept out of it and he never knew he was so close to meeting his uncle until after the Fall.

Idril probably knew it, and helped to keep the secret from Tuor, and felt guilty. And that was one of the crucial moments that made she further distrust Turgon’s judgement. (I want all the “my father did an evil thing and I am helping him to keep it as a secret” angst)

Maeglin... Actually fought the losing war along with Hurin and Huor and was there when they sacrificed themselves to help troop of Gondolin escape. IDK I think that’s another “silently pondering in horror” moment for him. And he kept thinking about it, and kept trying to not thinking about it, until Morgoth forced him to think.

[faerunnn]

Reminiscing

(gif found here!)

Tav x Astarion (GN reader)

Word count: 2136

Note: I changed the way the events of the story go a little in this, it just made more sense to me this way. Just a quick heads up! I really hope whomever reads this can find the comfort in the sadness. I know i certainly do. Sending a big hug either way <3 (also thanks again so much for the love on ''Pain'', i really liked reading the notes and reblog comments <3)

The cool autumn breeze flew through your hair, strands flowing with the ever changing directions of the wind. Closing your eyes for just a brief moment, taking a deep breath, a small smile forms on your lips. Somehow this moment felt more peaceful than the last few months have been. A rare moment in an orbit of continued chaos that has become your life. You open your eyes, looking over the bustling streets, sinking paths that lead to other taverns, other houses, other lives. There were a few boats in the harbor of Baldur’s gate, a few more lingering in the lagoon. The sun set a while ago, but the faint oranges and purples are still visible at the edge of the water. Folding your arms over each other you lean more into the railing of the top roof of the tavern. Somehow a moment of peace and quiet whilst the lost voices of people talking, sounds of tankards clinking and music being played slowly fades. You let your thoughts drift off. Only for a moment.

It has only been a few weeks since the city was freed of mind flayers, the absolute and all the destruction it brought with it. Only 8 weeks since you tried to rebuild your life in the only town you could somewhat call home. The process of even remotely taking all the events in has been painfully slow. Slower than you expected. Slower than you wanted to admit. 

When you got abducted by the nautiloid, life moved at a fast pace. You were gone for months, fighting your way back to Baldur's gate. The desperation grew heavier and heavier with each step you and your companions took. You all grew so close in such a short period of time. But that was a given, being together 24/7. It somehow feels like a blur now. You went from not trusting a single soul, ready to fight and kill everyone who even dared to take a step in your direction, to making the best of friends you never had. 

But there was something more. You fell in love. A pale elf, white curly hair and deep red eyes. You could never forget his face. No matter how hard you try. The way he managed to break down the walls you had built and maintained for years so easily. He took a place in your heart, one reserved for him. Like he was meant to reside there. You fell first, but he fell harder. You were there for each other. For the first time in both of your lives you were not alone anymore. Surrounded by people who you cared for and loved you. A terrifying thought, yet the comfort you felt knowing you didn't have to fight your battles alone anymore was far greater than the fear. 

After the big battle there was only one thing left to do. You all had planned this for almost the entire adventure. Cazador was to die. Astarion was to finally be free. The last thing left to do. Stop the ritual, kill Cazador and live free. All he had ever wanted was to be free. So when he decided to ascent himself against your better judgements, you were shocked to say the least. Only wanting him to finally have the control and happiness in his life that he deserved, you supported him. But the outcome was much different than you had ever anticipated. The sweet, soft Astarion you came to grow and love was gone. The nights you spend looking at the stars, talking about everything and anything. It faded faster than snow before the sun. You couldn't recognise him anymore. His desire for more power, to become even greater than anyone the city or even Faerun has ever seen became the number one priority for him. He didn't want to settle down anymore, did not want to live a quiet and civil life in the city, or any place for that matter, anymore. All of it was gone. And there was nothing you could do. You tried staying with him after. Not wanting to give up the bond you had built. But you quickly realized that whatever it was that you were trying to mend, was not there anymore. How could you fix something that doesn't exist? So one night,whilst he was away, you wrote him a letter; left it on the bed and left the palace grounds quietly and quickly. Not even once looking back at the love you had lost. 

For the past 6 weeks you have been staying with Karlach. Finding comfort in talking about everything with her. Shadowheart has been stopping by when she could too. All speaking of the struggles of finding comfort in a quiet life. The battleground and struggles had been the comfort of your lives for so long that everything about this life felt alien, unfamiliar. But it was so nice to not be alone in all of this. Astarion had made no efforts in mending things with you. He knew you couldn't be far. This city was all you had left. Yet he has not once made the effort to find you. 

Slowly you had been trying to get back out there. Doing odd jobs for elder neighbors, taking small walks by the water, reading in the park. Trying to find new hobbies, what you seek comfort in. things that made you truly happy. It had been a tough road. But slowly you were getting there. Rediscovering your interests, igniting old, dull flames of joy within your heart. 

Tonight was one of the first times that you had properly been out of the house without Karlach or Shadowheart. Meeting up with friends from the past had been on your to do list for a while, but the fear of reaching out had been greater than the idea of experiencing the joy of reuniting. But when you ran into Elda while stopping by a local market you had no reason to turn her invitation down. Just a casual night in the tavern you used to go to when times were easier, years ago. 

You snapped out of your memories when you heard someone clear their throats behind you. You stopped slouching over the railing and turned around, expecting a drunk sailor to ask you to move. But you were met with familiar burgundy eyes. Shock washed over your face as you held your breath, not really knowing what to say. 

‘’Hello, pet.’’ He said. A light smirk on his face. You hated how much you loved that smirk. The way it would make you feel inside. You knew that he knew this as well. The amount of times you told him all the things you loved about him. You exhaled and swallowed a big gulp of tears. Not wanting to break down. This was not the time. 

‘’Astarion.’’ You said with a somewhat shaky breath, but still trying to sound as polite as possible. There was no reason for drama. No reason for causing a scene. That was the last thing you needed. 

He smiled oh so slightly when he heard you speak his name. You caught it, but how fast it appeared, it faded as well. A much colder and composed face reappeared again. The one you grew familiar with after the ascension. You gave him a tight smile, almost laughing at how fitting that little interaction just now was. 

‘’I had been wondering where you went.’’ he looked around the area. ‘’I expected a little more class from you, darling.’’

‘’Don't call me that, please.’’ It almost came out as a plea. Which truth be told, it was. The feelings had felt so fresh still. You looked at the ground, not even wanting to make eye contact anymore. It was all too much. The feelings and emotions that you had been trying to push away and bury all floating back to the surface. You turn back to face the railing again, trying to compose your thoughts and now staring at the crescent moon grazing the night sky. 

You hear soft footsteps coming closer and from the corner of your eye you see him leaning down next to you. He is wearing much nicer clothes now. Looking all polished and untouchable. You don't dare to look his way. Not being able to speak a single word. You stand there, recollecting your thoughts in a somewhat comfortable silence. 

‘’It doesn't have to be this way, you know.’’ he states after a while. You notice him glancing your way but still refuse to meet his gaze. ‘’I thought you wanted forever. I wanted to give you forever.’’ 

A lump forms in your throat as you hear him speak. Tasting emotion in his tone. A softer voice, pauses between sentences. He is struggling. Whether it is on the same level as you, you don't know. 

‘’You went down a path i can’t follow, Astarion.’’ You finally manage to get out, trying your best not to let the emotions take over your entire demeanor. You look up at him with glassy eyes. A shaky breath escapes your lips while you try to look for the emotion in his face. Even if it was a trace, ever so small. A trace of the old him. The Astarion you fell to love so dearly. But you see nothing. There will forever be a small amount of hope residing in you that he changes his ways. That he will snap out of it and come back to you. That you will pick up where things left off, making the dreams you created true. Together. You would wait for him. Give him the space he needed. But looking at him now, in front of you. He is not there anymore. His face is cold and unmoving. Not a single emotion or reaction in response to seeing you in this state, speaking these words to him. 

‘’I wanted forever with you. The rest of my life, for however long that may be. Free. From anyone or anything. No more pacts, no more devils.’’ You start. ‘’No more, anything. Just you and me. A small house, here in the city. Or far away. I didn't care, as long as you would be by my side. But you chose a different future for yourself. More power. More status. More pacts, one with the devil. We had different versions of freedom created in our future. I never wanted to be your pet. Your spawn. I wanted an equal, a partner.’’ Tears ran down your cheeks.hot and warm, in a way they haven't in a while. A feeling you've been trying to suppress and move on from for a while now. You look back at the harbor while you wipe some tears off your face with the back of your hand. You take a deep breath before you continue. 

‘’You broke my heart, Astarion. The way you treated me the weeks before I left. I felt like I had lost everything I fought so hard for. You broke me. I let you in, we let each other in.’’ You emphasize the last part of the sentence in frustration. ‘’I gave you all of me.’’ 

He stands in silence as he takes in everything you’re saying. Again, for a split second you can detect some sort of emotion in his eyes. Sadness. But just like before it fades even quicker than it appeared. He has not changed. The little flicker of hope in your heart, dimming. Maybe you needed this encounter. Maybe this was somehow the universe telling you that it is time to let it go, for good. No looking back anymore. No more waiting around for a small miracle. He gave his soul away. He would never be able to get that back, not from the pact he made.  

You take in his silence, and look back at him, one last time. Taking in his features. He still looks as handsome as you remembered. And you will never not remember him this way. You take one deep breath and just let all the tears settle for a second. 

‘’I honestly and truly hope you are happy now. That you feel and experience the freedom you longed for. You out of all of us maybe deserved it the most.’’ You say and you give him a soft but genuine smile before you turn around completely, ready to walk away. 

‘’Goodbye, Astarion.’’ You say and you walk back into the tavern, not looking back while a single tear escapes your eye once more. You feel his gaze burning into your back but you cannot turn back anymore. This was it. He found his happiness, or so you hoped. And now it is time you find yours.

[racefortheironthrone]

fantasy sometimes doesn't afford itself the ability to fantasize about a better world with many of the same problems of real life. thankfully ive found fantasy thatfantasize about things like gender roles, orientations, social status, etc. being more accepting, and the world kinder more often than not. question is, as hard as it is to find solid urban fantasy, are there anyworks you know of that use itself to imagine a optimal city for us urban nerds? magic public works, free dragon transit?

So there is a real problem in the fantasy and sci-fi genres that they often have a failure of revolutionary imagination, as I’ve termed it. We’re so used to not just the world as it is but also the public historical imagination of how change happens, that even in art that’s supposed to be about radically reimagining our world or new worlds, we often revert back to the familiar. (I find this tic particularly annoying in alternate history, which is supposed to be about imagining how the world could have evolved differently, but often reverts back to a retelling of (often bad) history with the numbers filed off.)

(A sadly rare counter-example.)

You raise a fascinating question about the potential for urbanist fantasy. This is often quite rare in urban fantasy, because often out of a desire to maintain the verisimilitude of urban life, they default to a masquerade scenario which renders it impossible to explore the impact of magic on transit, housing, and other aspects of urbanism because the central conceit is that people with magic are trying to hide and thus have no impact on the mundane world.

However, it does crop up sometimes in Magitech settings, because their central conceit is all about how magic would function in place of science and lead to new ways of organizing societies, urban and otherwise. For a popular example, look at how Arcane examines the social impacts of Hextech and Shimmer. My personal favorite example of urbanist fantasy is the plane of Ravnica from Magic the Gathering.

Ravnica is a ecumenopolis, a city-state that covers the whole planet. The city is governed by a guild council, each of whom are responsible for an aspect of the city’s physical and social infrastructure:

The Azorius Senate is responsible for running the courts and the legal system, and sometimes they run the police as well (although they have a jurisdictional dispute with the Boros Legion on that front).

House Dimir are couriers, messengers, journalists, private investigators, spies, assassins, thieves, and librarians, as well as the city’s clandestine intelligence service - if it deals with information in any way, the Dimir have a hand in it…or do they?

The Cult of Rakdos run the city’s entertainment, food service, retail, and labor recruitment (lots of shanghaing and press ganging goes on in Ravnica) - and they’re also a crazed juggalo bdsm blood cult who are responsible for keeping an ancient arch-demon entertained so he doesn’t try to destroy the city, again.

The Gruul Clans are an anarchist collective responsible for the planet’s wilderness areas, which they try to maximize by violent raids that tear down developed areas any chance they get - which also makes them Ravnica’s main demolition industry. The Boros Legion spends a lot of time defending built-up areas from Gruul rampages.

The Selesnya Conclave are a hippie nature cult commune who manage the city’s parks and other green spaces, as well as providing basic welfare services (food, “shelter,” clothing, etc.) to the city’s poor. They also use magic to do weird hivemind brainwashing in the name of harmony and unity, and they can raise giant Ent-Kaiju to defend the city in times of need.

The Orzhov Syndicate are a vampire banker mafia, and also one of the city’s biggest religions. They believe in debt on a spiritual level, and their religion fully embraces indulgences to their logical conclusion. The Orzhov preach that you can literally buy your way into heaven, and that debts to the (Catholic by way of Prosperity Gospel Evangelical) Church or its many front organizations and legitimate businesses will carry over into the next life; the Orzhov practice debt slavery on both living people and ghosts. And lest you think it’s all a cover for profit-making, they can summon dark angels to conduct rituals, lead services, and make war on their enemies. Something above is answering their prayers…

My personal favorite is the Izzet League, an institute of mad scientists and engineers and elementalist wizards who combine science and magic to research, build, and maintain the city’s infrastructure (as well as funding all tech R&D and theoretical and experimental research in physics, chemistry, and engineering) - the power grid, water and sewer systems, heating and gas lines, as well as the city’s mass transit and transportation/freight system, are all powered by their steam and fire and lightning and Magitech gadgets and robots and cyborgs made out of a magic metal named mizzium. Yes, a lot of their devices explode, and yes their golems and robots and elementals have a tendency to go rogue, but that’s the price of progress!

The Golgari Swarm are a subterranean necromantic cabal who run the city’s waste disposal, burial services, and do the bulk of the agricultural production for Ravnica’s hungry masses. All of Ravnica’s citizens are entitled to a food dole provided by the Golgari’s fungi farms as a form of basic income. Just don’t think too hard about what went into the compost heaps or what your rations might be made of…

The Boros Legion is Ravnica’s main police and military, led by a literal host of warrior angels. Imagine the combination of a police force entirely made up of noir detectives and loose cannon Dirty Harry-esque cops and an army with flying fortresses led by fiery angels who are all deeply dramatic lesbians. True believers one and all, the Boros are here to mete out justice and divine wroth upon evildoers wherever they hide. If they had their way, the Orzhov would all be in prison along with the Gruul and the Rakdos, but the damn bureaucrats in the Azorius Senate keep trying them up in knots with paperwork.

The Simic Combine are responsible for the city’s environmental quality, ensuring biodiversity and sustainability in a global metropolis; they are also the city’s universal health care providers. All Ravnicans have access to free health care, as long as they consent to the Combine’s biomantic research. See, the Simic are the other group of mad scientists/mages in the city, except they went into genetics, environmental science, and (marine) biology and they believe in individual and societal evolution through the use of augmentation, cloning, and splicing. After all, why stop at curing someone’s respiratory illness when you could also give them gills? Or giant crab claws? Or tentacles?

I love the world-building and the attention to urban systems and infrastructure in Ravnica. More than most, they’ve thought about what urban life needs to function and made it magical.

[twistedwonderlandimaginesblog]

Can I ask for something rollo x demon-ish male reader?

(I never specified but i imagine reader was just also a dragon fae which can be considered similar enough to what we think of demons)

Rollo Flamme:

As a man of routine, Rollo should have understood.

You had simple pleasures in life and as such, you had to see that your needs were being fulfilled. Greeting Rollo with a fanged smile each morning, getting a grimace in return, it truly brightened your day to know that you had ruined his. His dislike of you had only drawn you even closer to him, intrigued by the man who brazenly hated your entire existence but who hardly knew your name.

He wasn’t the first to address you as ‘demon’, and surely wouldn’t be the last as long as the curved onyx horns remained on your head. It was hardly a bother to be stared at these days, and you certainly were aware of the vicious rumors that had swirled about Fleur City daily since your arrival. Rollo likely wasn’t the cause of the rumors, idle gossip didn’t suit him as he’d surely be loud about protesting your existence if he had the time to do so, but you knew he listened carefully to every word.

“Truly the same lunch every day? You’re a man of strong principles,” You teased, as you did every day since you discovered where he ate lunch. You seemed to have a built-in radar for people you wanted to torture as, even when Rollo moved from his daily spot to somewhere much more isolated, you had still managed to find him with a smug grin on your face. It had infuriated him even more when your teasing was taken a step further.

“Did you simply want to lure me somewhere we could be alone, sweet Rollo? How considerate.”

He had felt rage course through his system at the implication he would ever regard you, you, of all people in that manner. Why would he ever want alone time with you, unless it was because he had a plan to end your wretched existence for good? He had seen you tease others but never with the consistency of him, always pestering, always questioning, never giving him a moment to think. His head was aflutter with why he had been cursed to attract a being such as you, a true demon sent to prey on him and find his weakness so he could never achieve his true goals.

It bothered him more to see your attention focused on other students at Noble Bell College, sharing idle conversation as though you actually cared for their well-being. You had never seemed a person intent on making friends, rather, you just existed to make Rollo’s daily life difficult. You were always within his sight even when you didn’t notice him, with Rollo convincing himself he was keeping tabs on you purely to assure you weren’t harassing other students. No one had ever raised a real complaint about you before but it was better safe than sorry.

It had been a little over a month since you first rudely crash-landed into Rollo’s life, inserting yourself into his daily routine, which on this fateful day had finally gone back to normal. He sat with his lunch in his normal spot and you were nowhere in sight, his heart skipping a beat at the thought he might finally have peace again at last. But you had become part of his routine just as he had become part of yours, which meant his day was now filled with curiosities he had not asked for.

What were you doing instead of pestering him?

Who were you spending time with instead of him?

Rollo couldn’t say there was a part of him that wasn’t relieved but there’s another side that’s annoyed, as if you had somehow snubbed him. Was he not a good enough adversary? Was he not giving you the reactions you desired so you left to find someone more suitable for your tastes? He doesn’t know why these questions continue to float through his head, why he even cared about what you were up to. If you had caused no harm so far to him, a person openly hostile to you, then it was likely no one else would be feeling any of your wrath, which meant his excuse to keep tabs on you had crumbled into little pieces.

Another day passes, and now he’s irritated, because once again his routine no longer feels right.

He glared at the grapes and considered crushing them beneath his fingers but that would mean you won, and he couldn’t allow you more power. He can see in his head one of the first days you had bothered him, how you had invaded his personal space, snatched a grape, and held it tantalizingly between two fingers. You had gestured toward him, motioning for him to open up, that striking smug smile of yours becoming a commonly recalled memory for him after that. He had not allowed you to feed him the grape despite it throwing off his routine, and since that day you had been committed to assigning him a new one despite his protests.

And now you simply expected him to go back?

You truly were a demon.

[candyrain-collective]

hi, my name's lila. i'm the "i want to go missing" alter.

some of you may relate to this phenomenon. i talked to a few people who did. the urge to drop everything you have in your life and run, the urge to forget about everything in your past and start anew...

i think it's really understandable, especially for people with complex dissociative disorders, to have an entire alter dedicated to the feeling. after all, there's so much baggage that we have to live with every second of our lives. there's so much i wish i could just burn away from the patchwork tapestry that is my life, but i feel like even if i burn away parts of it, the tatters that remain are still going to be singed and ugly.

so it feels so much easier to just burn it all and start over.

i know the internet has popularized the fantasy of running away from a boring city life with responsibilities to live on a farm with chickens in the middle of nowhere, so i think this isn't an uncommon sentiment, but...i do want to take a moment to talk about how the desire to drop everything and run can appeal to cdd systems particularly.

a lot of us feel like we were built wrong. like something in our life corrupted us, like we are irreparably broken, like somewhere along the line there was a huge mistake and now we're not allowed to turn back. and we just have to keep living and living with that perpetual sense of wrongness, of being some kind of mistake.

so the temptation to start over fresh feels good. like a chance to build something better over a clean slate.

i think somewhere in here is an obsession with purity, like if we just started over we would do it right this time, that we don't have to drag our dead corpses around all the time if we were just better. better children, better students, better friends, better people. or even better yet - if we didn't exist at all, we wouldn't have to suffer anything, and we wouldn't do anything wrong. there isn't any opportunity to fail if there isn't any opportunity.

...but i think it's important to remember a couple things. for myself, anyway, i don't know how much this can apply to you all - but i need to remind myself that running away would make things ten times harder. that it's not as easy as i think to drop everything and walk into the ocean, that i can still find happiness in the life i currently have.

sometimes walking away is for you. sometimes it isn't. i know it isn't for me. because now, despite everything that has hurt us in our life, despite all the scars we carry...we have people who love us, a safe home to come back to, and a plan to get better. what we have going on may not seem like enough in the moment...but we can build on what's already there to get better.

i'm not a lost cause. im worth the time and effort it takes to heal.

my tapestry may be burned and tattered and damaged, but it's still mine. and there are lovely scenes and colors on it i would hate to burn away. the time and effort i spend into restoring and continuing to weave it is worth it. and one day, ill be able to look back on it, and be proud of what i've created.

...so for now, instead of running away into a bog somewhere, i'll just go back to working on my silly little spreadsheets for our silly little office job.

[natlacentral]

I'm not gonna post my full write-up, but this was a really enlightening listen and clocks in at about 20 minutes if you want to give it a whirl. Here are a few of my favourite tidbits from Albert Kim and Jabbar Raisani's commentary on the official trailer.

They try to visit lots of locations because Avatar is a road show and they want to show the expansiveness of the world

Kim loved the eco message of the original and wants to convey it in the adaption as well

Raisani says Appa is a core member of the team who they wanted to bring to life as much as any of the humans

"Katara is the character who really recognises Aang for who he is, and that is a symbol of hope. And the return of the Avatar for her means that hope has returned to a world that essentially has lost hope for the last hundred years. She's the first one to see that, and over the course of the season, we're gonna see that message of hope spread throughout the world."

The juxtaposition of Katara's POV and Sokka's POV and their clashing opinions is an important dynamic especially in the beginning of the season and informs who they are as brother and sister and their journey coming together to support Aang.

They chose to choreograph and shoot the first Agni Kai, which they describe as the defining moment of Zuko's life, because you understand a lot more of Zuko's character when you see it in real life.

The Agni Kai goes to the core of Zuko's story. "What did his father really want? Does he want him to succeed and find the Avatar and come back? Is he using him against his sister? What is really required of him or desired of him by his father, and then is he going to do that or is he going to do what he thinks is right?"

Momo is a digital creature. They use a puppet so the actors know what they're doing.

It was important to them that Sokka not just be the butt of the joke but have his own humour

"Despite the burden that all these characters are facing and the fact that the fate of the world rests in their hands, they are just kids, y'know? Aang's a goofy twelve-year-old and Katara and Sokka aren't much older and we wanted to make sure that we conveyed that, because that's a really important part of not just the characters but of the story. And if they are gonna be these harbingers of hope, as we said, they needed to express that through their kind of childlike sense of optimism."

Commander Zhao is one of the main villains of the first season and primary antagonist for our heroes. Ken Leung brought humanity and ambition to the character. We see his ego swell over the course of the season as he gets more and more power and comes closer and closer to capturing the Avatar.

Suki will talk about how when you're not a bender, you have to be better than the benders. The Kyoshi Warriors have refined their combat to the point that they can more than hold their own against firebenders.

Sokka and Suki will have a "beautiful journey" in finding commonality in not being benders and what it means within this world.

While Kyoshi can exist in the real world, Omashu can only exist in fantasy, so they built it from scratch. Kim and Raisani would have conversations about the colour of the rooftops and mechanics of the delivery system. They want Omashu to be a city that even new audiences will look at and think, "Wow, that somewhere I want to go to. That's a place I want to visit."

They tried to do practical wherever possible. They'd start with actors and everything around them, build out as far as they possibly can, then extend from there. For the shot of Aang flying over Omashu they started with actors on rigs, filmed on green screen, then did a full digital shot.

They call the sequence, "The Joy of Flight." Like the animated series, they have scenes that are just fun. Aang and Teo could fly from Point A to Point B but they want to make things engaging and fun to watch.

All actors doing bending had to go through extensive training before shooting. The core cast did a six week bootcamp where they had to learn all four bending techniques.

Utkarsh Ambudar (King Bumi) was eager to do everything himself. While they did use stunt performers for parts, he was always down to do another take despite being exhausted.

The Avatar State is the ultimate power, to be treated seriously, so they don't have Aang going into it as much as the original first season so it felt special and communicated that Aang could only access it in specific circumstances. They've tweaked the rules for when and how he can access Avatar State.

"There are certain things we are going to modify, going to change, and hopefully fans will see that it's all for the good of the story as a whole and in dimension-alizing the story and bringing it from one medium to the other."

[sunisglowing]

New Moon in Uttara Bhadrapada Nakshatra- Pick a Card

(sidereal pisces)

WHAT AREA IN YOUR LIFE YOU SHOULD DIVE DEEPER INTO?

PILE 1

First of all, I would say you might be leaving your home and moving to a new city. You are leaving your sense of comfort and security. It seems that you might have been the person who has always relied on your family or a group of people, that have always had your back.

But, on the other side, you are might be getting overly emotionally dependant on those people.

It's time to get into your own power. You should embrace your independence and explore your freedom to grow as a person. Relying on these people to get things done won't teach you the necessary skills you should need to know.

You should dive deeper into how you can use your power, where you have power and take control over your life and game. It only comes with time and putting your out there in the field.

Also, you might not be someone who is very good at distinguishing who is using you or is toxic for you. Protect your energy. Be careful and don't trust others too easily.

Stand in your own feet and trust yourself and rely on your more. With all this much, don't let life make you gloomy and serious. Have fun out there!! You should explore your independence and freedom in the best possible way!!❤️

PILE 2

I'm seeing that you might have been nostalgic and just been reminiscing what happened over the past. Some of you have been letting your past control you. You may be in the sadness which is hindering your present opportunities to be recognized by you.

You might have been very indecisive and unsatisfied with what have right now. It is because your focus is the past, which can be a great thing but not here. Allow what happened with you to motivate you to do or be better, stopping staying bitter.

Let the past go. You can't control what happened but you can control your future with the choices you make right now.

I'm getting you should spend your energy in following your passions and dreams. You should spend time alone thinking about your next passion project and what you should explore next. Do something spontaneous.

Don't expect momentum to magically enter your life. Stop waiting for when the next ride will come to take you off on a new journey. Initiate that new adventure. You don't have to be sure and know about everything. That's the point of it.

Starting indulging or exploring something that you don't know much about. Take time alone to think what all exites you and invokes your free-spirited nature. What are the things that inspire you the most??

For some of you, you may want to start a new course or learn something new. Read and research more. Become a student again and embrace that curiosity.

PILE 3

I'm seeing that you are leaving something that you had grown and cultivated since a very long time. You might have been around a lot of people. And the noise of so many people and crowds have been draining your energy.

For a long period of time, you might have thought that this thing that you were very proud of for a while made you happy. This particular thing got a lot of praise, attention and appreciation from people.

But over time, it became more of a pressure. To you, it feels like you are doing it for everybody else rather than for yourself. Maybe it makes everybody else happy but not you. It has been pressuring you a lot.

You might have built and maintained this thing by so much of your hard work, time and patience. That's why you may be hesitant to leave. You might be hesitant because of the traditional views of your family or society.

You may feel that you have to continue yo tolerate or keep this thing, behavior, expectation or relationship because of other people, your family, peers, or society, but love, this is YOUR life. You can't act like a stranger to your own inner and deepest desires any longer. You want to escape this situation or end this thing.

There's a change or ending coming in your life and you will be the one doing it. You should or will detach from all this burden that is stopping you to live without any fear or pressure. Think logically and sometimes keeping your emotions aside to stand up for your rights is a good thing. Honestly this phase might make you sour but who cares?? specially in such a situation that is eating you up!

Go back to your childhood, what made you so happy?? Go to your childhood place, connect with your childhood friends. What makes you feel like a kid again?? happy and exited?? what makes you wonder and curious?? Go seek your inner light and joy.

listen to set me free by jimin. very on brand.

choose your happiness first!! 🌞🧡

PILE 4

I'm seeing that you might have been betrayed by a group of people. They could be your co workers or people who you worked with on some project. This group might have bullied you or stabbed you in the back, or accused you of something you didn't do.

Anyway, if you are still in this group, know that they are very toxic. They don't have the best intentions for you and they will only ruin your hardwork and job.

They truth about these people will be coming to light. Some people might have been bad mouthing and spreading lies about you. They aren't loyal and they will get caught in doing so.

It might cause you a lot of heartbreak. You will be spending time alone and isolating because of all the drama that has happened in the past. You want to leave all this mess and chaos.

And I think it's good for you to reflect on it alone and away from these people. With all the drama, you aren't able to see things clearly so moving away from these people and spending time alone will be a good thing. That way, they won't be able to manipulate you anymore if you are out of reach. This period of isolation will bring a lot of clarity in work and relationships.

You will be leaving and breaking all ties with these people who have wronged you for the good. You will see the patterns more clearly of how you had been manipulated and be more wiser and cautious next time!

[psielapki]

 little   softie   note   :   let   me   preface   by   saying   this   might   be   an   uncomfortable   read,   not   at   all   spicy   &   smutty,   please   keep   that   in   mind   and   please,   please,   please   proceed   with   caution   !!   big   mwah   mwahs   to   all   who   decided   to   stay   and   check   this   not   -   so   -   little   study,   &   big   mwah   mwahs   to   those   who   didn't.   ♡

 fate   is   panromantic   and   asexual.   gender   and   sex   mean   nothing   to   her   in   terms   of   her   romantic   or   sexual   partner(s).   she   can   enter   polyamorous   relationships   and   be   rather   comfortable   in   them,   though   she   would   rather   identify   as   monogamy   -   leaning.   this   right   there   is   her   only   real   preference.

 fate   has   a   very   unhealthy   relationship   with   her   body   —   caused   both   by   trauma   and   an   (   even   more   )   unhealthy   coping   mechanisms,   as   the   faster   and   easier   accessible   the   better   (   and   thus,   occasional   self   harm   ).   aside   from   her   face   blindness,   because   of   her   incredible   mind   &   unmatched   intellect,   she   feels   very   detached   from   her   physical   form,   caring   very   little   about   it.   though   if   it   can   be   used,   it   will.

 in   verses   in   which   fate   became   a   sexworker,   she's   disinterested   &   indifferent   to   intimacy,   treating   her   body   as   a   tool   and   weapon   —   utilized   to   gather   information,   obtain   money   and   gain   privileges.   at   first,   she   will   however   have   to   dull   her   mind   in   order   to   get   through   her   increasing   panic   caused   by   sexual   abuse   trauma,   thus   in   these   verses,   substance   abuse   and   her   line   of   work   go   hand   in   hand.  examples   of   such   verses   include   :   raccoon   city,   fantasy,   alice   in   borderland,   cyberpunk.

 in   verses   in   which   fate   has   not   became   a   sexworker,   she's   not   only   uninterested   but   also   afraid   of   any   intimate   acts.   staying   sober,   keeping   her   mind   sharp   at   all   times,   she's   having   a   hard   time   getting   through   any   sexual   situation   ;   suggestive   touches   will   make   her   spiral   into   panic   that   ends   with   extreme   aggression   or   extreme   fear   (   or,   worst   case   scenario,   both   ).   let   me   make   this   clear,   though   —   if   intimacy   is   something   her   loved   one   desires,   she   will   try   and   try   and   try   and   try   until   she   succeeds   (   which   may   cause   an   episode   of   short   -   term   hypersexuality,   which   later   turns   into   lack   of   any   sexual   needs   :   the   default   state   of   hers   ).  examples   of   such   verses   include   :   las   plagas,   naruto,   modern   warfare,   jujutsu   kaisen.

 no   matter   which   option   of   the   above   is   being   roleplayed,   the   fate   has   no   sexual   preferences   whatsoever.   she   can   top,   bottom,   dom,   sub,   play   any   role   that's   desired   (   that   applies   both   to   her   customers   &   her   partners   ).   she   can   also   indulge   in   all   sorts   of   kinks   —   be   it   sadism,   masochism,   bondage   (   in   which   she's   excellent,   by   the   way   ),   knives,   guns,   all   that.

 if   she   were   to   dig   deep,   deep   into   her   mind,   she   could   find   certain   scenarios   arousing   —   all   of   them   being   on   the   spectrum   of   extreme   life   or   death   situations   with   her   having   little   to   say   against   the   dangers   she   encounters.

 fate   doesn't   have   a   safe   word   and   refuses   to   set   one   as   she   believes   that   despite   eventual   mutual   trust   that   has   been   built   with   someone   who   might   ask   about   said   safe   word,   they   will   not   respect   it,   so   why   set   the   boundary   at   all.

[mariacallous]

One night this past February, over drinks and moody bar lighting in Brooklyn, Eric Green and his friends were swapping stories of their recent hookups when one mentioned they’d used the app Sniffies to have public sex. A 30-year-old tattoo artist who works in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Green identifies as a bottom, is a frequent user of dating apps, and has an active sex life—only, he’d never heard of Sniffies.

It wasn’t long after that night out, Green was overtaken by “complete and total horniness” while at home, and decided to sign up himself. When he opened the app he was reminded of Google Maps, only instead of restaurants and shopping recommendations, he was inundated with nudes and suggestions for the nearest pump-and-dump. “I expected it to be like Grindr and Jack’d, but after I checked it out I realized it was super accessible,” Green says, referencing two other popular queer hookup platforms. “More accessible than any other app.”

Access is Sniffies’ main selling point. A map-based cruising platform for men of all sexual identifications (gay, bi, DL, and straight-curious—yes, you read that right), Sniffies has become something like an adults-only Disneyland for queer men interested in sex-positive, no-strings-attached casual encounters. “We really focus on in-the-moment connections,” says Eli Martin, the company’s chief marketing officer and creative director. “On other apps, it’s not always clear what people’s intentions are—some people want to find a boyfriend, others just want to look around—but on Sniffies, we try to make it clear that people are fulfilling their sexual desires and fetishes.”

Sniffies is not your typical dating app, or a dating app at all, really. In lieu of the typical song and dance on Tinder or Bumble, where conversations are bogged down in endless chatter that often never materializes into an IRL meeting, on Sniffies you can anonymously browse a map of guys looking for sex with other guys. Along with web-apps BKDR (short for backdoor), Motto, and Doublelist (think a more streamlined Craigslist personals), it has reignited an appeal in cruising culture that for so long had been taboo, even among certain queer circles, for fear of acceptance or health concerns.

“Destigmatizing casual sex has been our biggest hurdle in general,” says Martin. “It’s been ingrained in us to be monogamous, but we should have this sexual freedom. Cruising doesn’t have to be seedy or something that only happens in back alleys.” Thankfully, he says, that’s changing. “In the last couple of years, we’ve been able to enjoy it more without as much judgment, but it was still hard on day one, because I was like, how do we create an app that’s [not only cool] but going to continually push people to engage in?”

Launched in 2018, Sniffies was the brainchild of former Seattle-based architect Blake Gallagher. A problem-solver by nature, Gallagher was fascinated by the way urban environments influence sexual interactions. He wanted to better augment natural human connection in public spaces, and decided to implement a map feature and geolocation technology as the basis for Sniffies—tapping into what author Jack Parlett calls “the democratic potential of cruising.” Gallagher first tested his idea in Seattle and, with the help of his brother Grant, a programmer, slowly built Sniffies into what it is today—a “cruising app for the curious” with an increasing global reach.

“We really push for the physical aspect of getting off your phone and out and about,” Martin says. And it’s paying off. According to data shared with WIRED, the US cities that see the most action—that is, the horniest cities—are Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta. (These figures are based on the highest number of sessions within a geographic area.) London saw a 475 percent growth in usership from 2022 to 2023, and Vancouver is Sniffies’ most discreet city.

Green says he uses the app twice a week “if I’m actually going to meet up with somebody, but I will go on there and scroll every so often.” (His last name was changed to protect his privacy.) According to the company, the average Sniffies user identifies as vers (25.6 percent of total users), has a penis size of 6.67 inches, prefers to cruise a park, restroom, or a residential tower of some sort, is into edging and cum play, and is most likely having sex on Mondays. Since joining, Green describes his time on Sniffies as “kinda calm,” compared to his friends. The encounters he has had, he says, have been “from apartment to apartment, nothing outside or in the gym.”

BKDR is another rising player among the burgeoning world of queer cruising apps. Eric Silverberg says users on Scruff and Jack’d—sister apps to BKDR (all three are owned by Perry Street Software)—were identifying “a clear desire for a platform that prioritized sexual expression and sex.” Cruising has occurred for centuries, he says, and an app like BKDR is a “direct, no-nonsense product that allows people to get on and get off in a very literal sense.”

The demand certainly seems to be there—and the potential for such apps is only growing. Although BKDR launched less than a year ago, it has already expanded to Latin America and Europe. “It’s early days for us, but over 1 million people have visited BKDR in the past month,” Silverberg tells me, adding, “We think it will be the biggest product in our portfolio.”

Growth brings its own set of problems, however. A recent Reddit post detailed how a more conservative kind of user now inhabits the Sniffies. “Now that [the app] is getting really popular in some places there are a ton of guys on the map in my area and most of them are just there to waste your time. I'm looking for [a] hookup right now,” user @curiousFriend2 wrote. “Sniffies used to cater to lowkey guys and even some cumdumps and the more sleezy side, but now the Grindr crowd [has] come in and a lot of them are not even into those things and publicly announce it.”

Sniffies took off following the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, and Martin believes the isolation of the pandemic led to users being more open-minded about cruising. “People’s mindset changed to realize that they want to take advantage of the moment,” he says.

That’s mainly what Green is after most days, though he says he tries not to use Sniffies as a crutch. “It’s cool to go on during my downtime—late at night or early in the morning,” he says, “because I actually have stuff to do, and I don’t want to throw my day looking for dudes,” he says, before adding that “if you’re solely looking for fun,” it’s unbeatable.

[illarian-rambling]

Thanks for the tags @somethingclevermahogony @the-golden-comet @theink-stainedfolk and @corinneglass!

OC Questionaire (Procrastinator Edition)

My questions:

Do you have any nicknames? If not, what should they be?

What is the bravest thing you've ever done?

Where is somewhere you've always wanted to visit but haven't gotten to see yet?

Are you a good liar?

How do you find balance between your personal desires and your responsibilities?

What is your most cherished memory?

What is the most challenging decision you've ever had to make?

What are your priorities and why?

If you could change anything about your life, what would it be?

What's a hobby that you've always wanted to try?

What is the most important meal of the day?

What drives you to succeed?

Have you ever gambled? (Not just with money)

Let's shake things up and answer for an oc I don't talk about a lot: Lady Daedryn. I'll put this under a cut cause it's gonna be a long one. Get ready for her to fail the no talking about the god of loyalty challenge thirteen times in a row

1. Do you have any nicknames? If not, what should they be?

"I can't say I do. ...Well, that's not entirely true - Jamil calls me Winky sometimes. He's Nantavi's Chosen and we train together often. He's... also the one who took my eye out. It was an honest accident! Training mistakes happen. Frankly, I feel better that we're both able to get some humor out of it."

2. What is the bravest thing you've ever done?

"I always thought I was brave, but I think I didn't know what bravery was for most of my life. It might not be much, however, I was willing to act against the Grand Priestess when her treachery was revealed. I didn't get much of a chance to do anything, of course, yet I was still willing. Like I said - I'm not nearly so brave as one of the Chosen should be."

3. Where is somewhere you've always wanted to visit but haven't gotten to see yet?

"Loqang, my god, tells me of faraway planets with palaces made of crystal and cities built on the backs of birds. It might have to wait until I'm dead, but I would love to see lands beyond Illaros. Perhaps I can convince Him to go on a holiday out there one of these days..."

4. Are you a good liar?

5. How do you find balance between your personal desires and your responsibilities?

"No. I was raised in an honest household and came to adulthood in a temple. That said, sometimes I wish I could spin a lie better than I can. Though distasteful, times sometimes call for untruths."

"What do you mean? I desire to serve Loqang, and am responsible for doing so."

6. What is your most cherished memory?

7. What is the most challenging decision you've ever had to make?

"The first time Loqang spoke to me in my waking hours. I had been having dreams of Him since I was very young, but dreams are just dreams. It was only when I turned sixteen and He informed me that I was to be His hand upon this world, that I knew I was truly worthy of this privilege."

"Whether or not to kill End-Made-Flesh, also called Izjik Meautammera. I never wanted to end her life. She seemed nice, but no matter how much I liked her, I knew that her very existence was a threat to the entire solar wheel. In the end though, I'll stand by my choice even now."

"My first priority is to serve my god, and by extension, my people. My second priority.... Swordsmanship, maybe?"

8. What are your priorities and why?

9. If you could change anything about your life, what would it be?

"Losing my arm was tough. So was losing my eye. But if I could change anything, it would be to make it so that I was better in tune with my heart. I don't want to make the same sort of mistakes I have in my past."

"Gardening! I move around too much right now, but when I settle down, I'd love to try my hand at gardening. It just seems so satisfying."

10. What's a hobby that you've always wanted to try?

11. What is the most important meal of the day?

"Breakfast, without a doubt. You never know how the rest of your day is going to go, so you always want to start out with a healthy breakfast."

12. What drives you to succeed?

"I am driven to succeed so that I may spread Loqang's message of universal comradery and loyalty to all I encounter. I truly believe that the world will be a finer place if everyone understands and respects the bonds that connect us all."

13. Have you ever gambled? (Not just with money)

"I traveled on a ship for a time, so I would gamble with the sailors when I managed to work up the courage to not feel like I was annoying them by joining their card games. As for non-monetary gambling.... Does the fate of every sentient being on Illaros count?

I really do love Daedryn, it's just a shame that her entire arc is spoilers, so I don't post much about her. I'll tag @drchenquill @lagwrites @writingamongther0ses and anyone else who wants to play :)

Your questions:

Have you ever attended a funeral?

What constitutes a lazy day for you?

What animal do you think you could take in a hand-to-hand fight?

[fruit-salad-ship]

@ that mafia au: don't u fucking dare hurt the girls. They're too damn precious. You better save them somehow in the end. 😭😭😭😭

Oh precious one, this is the AU they both die in :’)

Peach gets taken out by a jilted lover, tells her cousins to get plum out of the building they’ve been lured too, she’ll handle this, but fails. they have to dig her out of the building that collapsed on her, plum cries so loudly the whole town can hear. Days it takes them to pry her away. She does not eat, she does not sleep, and she never sings again. She is left in a home that she built with her lover, and sits alone in the confides, surrounded by loss. No one can console her not even grey. She loses all desire to continue.

Plum eventually goes on a revenge driven rampage to kill the woman who took everything from her. She spends days in the house with only one of peach’s revolvers, they’re part of a set, two of a kind, and one was never recovered. She knows who has the other, there’s no one else who would keep it. With peach’s wedding ring on a chain round her neck, and hers still on her hand, she finally makes a direct move forward.

Plum uses that revolver to find the woman with the other half, the missing gun, taken as a souvenir, proof she felled a monster of a woman, plums wife, the only person she’s ever felt true unbridled, immeasurable love from.

In killing the woman who robbed her of her life, she too is shot down, and upon lying on the floor, gets to drift away from reality to a place peach is sat and waiting for her in. The line between life and death, a waiting room. She gets to see her wife once more, not the vision she last had, a cold lifeless body void of anything recognisable, but peach, as she was prior, healthy and well, warm to touch, just as sturdy as she remembered.

THERE IS HOWEVER AN ALTERNATIVE

Because I too couldn’t stand the tragedy of that ending. Every time I try to write it I end up just crying haha!

Peach goes to face the angry ex and the building comes down, plum thinks her dead and is the first one after fighting to get free, sprinting to start digging through the rubble, hurting her hands and not even thinking to stop. And there under a table, unconscious but alive is peach. She’s been shot, but she’s breathing.

The big woman wakes up in a hospital with plum asleep by her side, right there next to her in bed. Her hands in a cast, her arms feel like she’s torn every muscle in them, but she didn’t expect to wake up. Peach lets plum sleep, she’s got a bag there, clearly she’s been here a while based on what’s around the space. Eventually her wife wakes up and sees her just there, looking at her gently. There’s a lot of tears, both of them crack, the singer was so worried, and the mob boss thought she’d met her end. Both just cry, laugh, a euphoria of the reunion. Plum of course hugs her too tight, forgets she’s broken, the recoil and apology that follows something peach just laughs at.

Peach’s family are relieved, they love her to death (mostly), and with her mother standing down after such a display, once healed peach takes up control with plum by her side, criminals in control, both powerful women.

Plum is this overly doting woman who takes up the leg work of the family jobs, she’s the power behind the power, she becomes fury to make sure her wife, dear precious peach has time to recover without the huge stress of her work.

They live a wonderful life full of travel and love, mornings making pancakes, nights sat by the fire, jobs where they’re making deals, killing rivals and sharing the burdens handed to them. It is hard work, but they’d change nothing, they can do this together. Plum carries on with her singing career, the pub is sold, and peach moves her business to the city so that plum can chase her dream and find her fame.

It is a given, she’s got talent, and within a matter of time she sees her name in lights adorning a huge venue, her wife, forever supportive and beside her just smiling. She had no doubt plum would get here, she commands a room, she is a stone cold killer and knows it. Oozing confidence, there was no surprise when the woman got to start recording songs of her own. They truly are perfect for each other, highs and lows, nothing stops them. Despite peach being crime family royalty it is plum, a humble woman from a normal family that is held above everyone, she deserves a crown, a throne, the entire world, and peach would face an army to give it to her if plum asked.

Trust me when I say I don’t know which one to do, both perhaps, one tragic, one happy. Let everyone decide on their favourite outcome.

Heartbreak though hard to stomach makes a story that tugs at the heart, and that’s why I’m leaning towards the tragic ending, but I hate it. This the the AU where they fall madly in love, perfect pair, completely devoted despite the odds going against them. They don’t care. They get it all, the house together, the quiet beautiful wedding, the drama of family, the love of friends, trips to distant towns to enjoy hotels and sight seeing. Peach has her cousins beside her as her best friends, they’re thick as thieves, and there’s even space for the emotional repair, plum never found her people until now, and peach though herself unlovable thanks to her mom. It is all fixed with them finding each other. SO many sweet moments, painfully beautiful little memories made between two women who just couldn’t find their place in the world, when no one really liked who they were, and wanted them to change to fit the mould, they refused and did things their way, and it worked for them.

I think about mafia way WAY too much.

[veliseraptor]

xiao xingchen and (unhealthy) coping mechanisms

how long ago was this sent? no idea. I'm going through my inbox answering some old asks. slowly

does he have any healthy ones? for that matter, does he have any at all?

in all seriousness, though. one of my favorite things about Xiao Xingchen other than everything is how good he is at projecting a "i'm fine, slightly melancholy but generally reasonable, very friendly and deeply invested in the well-being of others" and simultaneously he is a very unwell man.

like, is the above true? for sure Xiao Xingchen's friendliness and care is very genuine, I think he does have the real desire to make the world a better place and the belief that if he really tries he can do so, or at least help some people even if he can't make the kind of change he originally wanted to make. Xiao Xingchen has a lot of big feelings and a lot of them are about how the world just needs a little work and people just need some help and he is going to give both.

and at the same time...I mean, from the jump the first choice we see him make under intense stress is, frankly, pretty nuts! "Have a fight with your friend, give him your eyes and disappear" is not the reaction of a guy who knows how to cope. I've said before that while I think Xiao Xingchen is immensely strong I also think he's sort of brittle, and while you can push him in a lot of directions and he'll bend just fine (obligatory sex joke here), push him just a little the wrong way and he snaps like a dessicated twig. When that happens, he reacts with a kind of frantic, immediate desperation that results in pretty drastic steps (aforementioned eyes, suicide). And I don't think you can really call that a coping mechanism.

I don't think Xiao Xingchen thinks this about himself - that he has unhealthy coping mechanisms, I mean - because the thing is that Xiao Xingchen can bear a lot without flinching. Xiao Xingchen's very outlook on the world and determination to make a difference are a powerful motivator that makes it so that, confronted with what would be extraordinary stresses for most people, I think (at least for a while), he can handle it. Because it's going to get better! he's going to make it better! all he needs to do is try harder. I guess maybe that's his coping mechanism there - the belief that he can fix everything if he tries hard enough - and for a while he gets away with it because he can fix a lot of things, or at least make them a little better.

when he hits the end of that rope, though, he doesn't really have another one to grab onto.

One of the things I think about a lot when it comes to Xiao Xingchen in Yi City is the way that...I think for a long time after leaving Song Lan, Xiao Xingchen was just...drifting. he'd sort of resolved, I think, to separate himself from the world. His efforts to make a difference only resulted in suffering, so maybe he shouldn't try. And then he meets a-Qing, who invites herself along with him and basically inserts herself into his life, and now Xiao Xingchen has if nothing else a person who needs protecting, apparently by him. And then he has another person, who he expects to walk away but never does, who he befriends and gets close to and night hunts with, and it's not what he thought he'd be doing but maybe he's still making some kind of small good difference, for his friend and a-Qing, for the people he and his friend are helping. It's not the grand transformation of his and Song Lan's dream but maybe it's something.

And then it turns out that even that was not just built on a lie, but he was actively hurting people the whole time. And now that means all his trying harder has ever done is cause suffering. What else can he do, in that moment, but remove himself from the world so he can't do any more?

[frogspond200]

𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚂𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚘

Requested by: @f3r4lfr0gg3r

Ask: Hey, do you think Steven could end up meeting someone on his travels once he leaves. Beach City, I love meet-cutes!

Warning: None.

✮﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏✮

Imagine the reader feeling a bit down and lost after missing their ride and getting drenched in the rain. Just as they're contemplating their next move, Steven stumbles upon them and immediately offers his help. With a warm smile, he offers them his umbrella, inviting them to take shelter together and escape the rain. Steven's caring nature and desire to make others feel better would instantly help lift the reader's spirits.

As they walk together, sharing stories and getting to know each other, a genuine connection starts to form between Steven and the reader. They might exchange tales of their respective adventures and find common ground in their experiences. Although they know their time together is temporary, their encounter becomes a cherished memory that leaves an impact on both of them.

Ultimately, the meet-cute could be a catalyst for growth and self-discovery for both Steven and the reader. It could remind Steven of the importance of being there for others, even as he embarks on his own journey of self-discovery. And for the reader, it could inspire them to be more open to unexpected connections and seize opportunities for meaningful interactions.

Upon realizing that the rain isn't letting up anytime soon, the reader invited Steven to their home to dry off and warm up. As they step into the cozy atmosphere of the reader's house, they might lend Steven some dry clothes, ensuring he's comfortable and feeling refreshed after braving the rain.

The reader's house could be adorned with their personal interests, hobbies, and memories, allowing Steven to learn more about them through the glimpses into their life. They could share stories about the pictures on the wall, the books on the shelf, or the trinkets that hold sentimental value.

In the comfort of the reader's home, they might choose to whip up a warm meal together, reflecting their shared interests and creating a wonderful bonding experience. As they work side by side in the kitchen, they could exchange laughter, stories, and perhaps even teach each other a thing or two about their favorite recipes.

Sitting down at the dining table, Steven and the reader could enjoy their homemade meal, savoring the flavors and cherishing the moment. This intimate setting could lead to a deeper conversation, as they discuss their dreams, fears, and the journeys that brought them to this point in their lives.

They might even discover shared interests or surprising connections, finding comfort and understanding in each other's stories. Mutual passions, hobbies, or even shared experiences from their travels could further strengthen the connection they've built throughout the day.

Ultimately, being invited into the reader's home would foster a sense of trust and openness between Steven and the reader. It would create a safe space for them to be vulnerable, allowing their friendship to deepen and perhaps even sparking the potential for something more.

The reader's house becomes a backdrop for a truly heartfelt and intimate connection between two individuals, as they learn about each other's pasts, dreams, and fears. It's within these walls that Steven and the reader can forge a bond that leaves an indelible mark on both of their hearts.

As they finish their meal and bask in the warm ambiance of the reader's house, Steven and the reader might find themselves drawn closer to one another. They could start by sitting closer on the couch, their arms occasionally brushing against each other as they engage in a deeper conversation.

The emotional connection they've established throughout the day creates a safe environment for them to explore physical intimacy. Perhaps Steven shyly initiates a gentle touch, such as brushing away a stray strand of hair from the reader's face or placing a comforting hand on their arm, initiating the first hints of physical closeness.

Feeling the subtle signals and reciprocating a similar interest, the reader might cautiously lean into the touch, appreciating the warmth and tenderness of the moment. Their bodies could gradually slide closer together, finding a comfortable and snug position as they continue to converse and exchange affectionate gestures.

As the conversation becomes more heartfelt and personal, Steven and the reader might wrap their arms around each other, feeling the soothing comfort of being in each other's embrace. The sensation of their bodies intertwined brings an overwhelming sense of closeness, trust, and contentment.

Wrapped in a cozy blanket, they could softly rest their heads against each other or snuggle up while a movie plays in the background. The subtle shift between friends to something more becomes increasingly apparent as the gentle embrace, shared laughter, and lingering glances create an atmosphere of romantic connection.

It's important to note that physical intimacy should always be consensual and respectful. Steven and the reader's relationship should progress at a pace that feels right for both of them. Open communication and awareness of each other's comfort levels are crucial to ensure that their newfound closeness is cherished and cherished by both parties.

The evolving physical intimacy between Steven and the reader serves as a reflection of the emotional bond they've formed throughout their shared experiences. This gradual progression brings them even closer together and solidifies the depth of their connection, setting the stage for a potentially beautiful and heartfelt romance…

[ereana]

Alhaitham/Cyno - Kiss in another life

I figured I might as well start posting some of my Genshin fics and drabbles on here as well considering the state of the bird bot.

These were requestesd kiss requests.

Despite the apparent emptiness of the room Cyno doesn’t let his guard down. The ruins of Khaj-Nisut have only just begun to give up their secrets and he has no desire to fall prey to some ancient trap due to his own lack of caution.

A scarab pokes its horned head out from behind one of the pillars, the light pitter patter of its feet seem loud in the quiet. Cyno lowers his spear. This whole place is eerie, it makes him uncomfortable in a way he can’t quite put into words. Hermanubis is uneasy and Cyno flexes his hand instinctively as if stretching out his claws.

There is sorrow here; it clings to the walls, the statues, to the very stone itself and Cyno can feel it press against his teeth with every breath he takes of long dead air. This is far from the first time he’s ventured into such ruins, especially since runaway scholars seem so partial to hiding in them. Fools. The machines of the desert empire were not to be underestimated and at times were even deadlier than the beasts that roamed the sand. Then there were the traps and puzzles that stood testament to their inventors' ingenuity thousands of years after their souls had passed on.

Cyno had been forced to bring back a corpse more times than he’d care to admit when those that fled in fear at the sight of them ran head first into a greater danger than the Mahamatra’s judgment. 

No. This is not the first time that Cyno has walked through corridors built by his long dead ancestors.

But it is the first time he’s felt so unnerved.

The eyes of the wall carvings stare down at him. Blank. Unfeeling. Dead.

Judging.

Why is he here again?

Behind him the noise of hasty scribbling stops.

Ah yes, Cyno is here to prevent yet another foolish scholar from finding death in a place the desert has long since reclaimed for itself. He turns his head to meet Alhaitham’s curious eyes, the pen in his hand still for the first time in half an hour. 

Half an hour since they entered this room. Half an hour since Cyno set eyes on the throne that stood proudly against the wall and felt his heart ache with something old and heavy enough to steal the breath from his lungs.

Cyno does not want to be here.

But he will not leave Alhaitham alone. Not here. Not before that throne which seems to taunt the General with its very presence.

Cyno is so caught up in his own thoughts that he nearly jumps when Alhaitham approaches and sets a hand on his shoulder. He forces himself to keep still and tilts his head to the side to meet the other man’s gaze.

“Are you finished then? I must say it’s been a while since I’ve seen you so…entranced by something.” He asks calmly, mentally shaking himself to refocus on the present. What use is he as a guardian if he lets himself linger on such foolish thoughts.

Alhaitham stares at him intently as though Cyno is a new rare book whose secrets he is eager to uncover. They know each other so well that Cyno wouldn’t be surprised if Alhaitham can pick up on his disquiet through the curve of his mouth or the grip on his spear.

“For today.” Alhaitham says, moving his hand upwards to lie against Cyno’s neck. His thumb rests against Cyno’s pulse and Cyno can feel the familiar calluses that speak to a life of writing and recording on his skin. “The writing on the wall etchings and along the throne will take some time to decipher but I should be able to work on them from the city now that I’ve seen them.”

Cyno frowns. “Surely, it would be better for you to come here to do that? We have the whole week Alhaitham, there’s no need to rush back.” He ignores the voice in the back of his mind that incessantly whispers at him to leave, to shut the doors of this place once more, to let the dead rest in their Golden Slumber.

Alhaitham smiles at him.

Cyno’s breath leaves him once more, but this time for a very different reason.

“No need to martyr yourself my General. I don’t know why you dislike this place so much but I’ll not force you to stay here simply to indulge my curiosity.”

There’s no point in lying.

“I can handle it.” Cyno protests stubbornly. “We came all this way for your curiosity, I’m not going to waste it because this place is unnerving.”

Alhaitham lowers his head to rest against Cyno’s forehead. His eyes shine brighter than the desert sun. Their breaths mingle in the air between them, a sudden gust of life in this long dead throne room. The desert sun casts their shadows long across the floor, stretching towards the seat of a God-King who doomed his people.

“I would not have you suffer even a moment of discontent if I could help it, and as you said this is for my curiosity so I very much can put an end to it.”

Cyno rolls his eyes even as fondness wells up in his chest.

“Liar, it won’t be sated until you’ve found what you’re looking for. You have a better grasp on it than most true, but it will still be there.”

Alhaitham’s smile softens.

“I find that my curiosity is not such a pressing matter as it once was these days. After all, how can it possibly hold my attention when you are in my arms like this.”

Cyno’s cheeks burn with his blush and he opens his mouth to shoot a retort about a certain Scribe delving into Kaveh’s light novel collection only to be silenced when Alhaitham seals it with his own and the words slips from his tongue as he melts into it.

Their shadows stretch across the floor. In the desert haze they almost shimmer into something else; longer hair, a different robe, the weight of a crown. A scene that once happened within these halls many years ago, recreated in perfect symmetry by the two men who embrace at the base of the throne that neither of them have any use for.

A king and his priest.

A scribe and his general.

Cyno and Alhaitham do not see the flickering shadows of past lives that ended in tragedy. They have eyes only for each other, as always.

[ru5t]

(Tech's Annotated) Map of The Zones

There is an official/presumably canon map that was created and circulated around the time of the music videos (viewable here). However, after playing around in this sandbox it quickly feels deeply and entirely too small (the city only around 3 miles across, and then around 15 miles from the city to the edge of the zones — it's simply not enough space) for all of the madness going on inside of it. So here's the headcanon/blog canon version of things!

The zones of the west coast center over Battery City, and are roughly 300 miles in diameter, making for over 30,000 square miles of potentially habitable ground.

Note: "Old world" locations visible purely for irl reference, the city names wouldn't still be in wide use or marked on an official map. The annotations are approximations in some cases, based on info I got from people who made up the locations — if it belongs to you and you're thinking 'hey that's not where that is' please let me know! I will scooch. I absolutely recommend opening this in another tab for better viewing, as it is massive and maybe slightly unreadable at tumblr dimensions. (Oops.)

The roads -some old, some new- are generally passable, but many are very rough. Detours are common as the desert, and killjoys, shift obstacles around. Moving straight east from the city, it would take a person about 5 days to get to the edge of zone 06 on foot, 1-2 days on a bike, 6-8 hours by motorized vehicle, and less than 2 hours by helicopter. Since Better Living patrols are almost never moving in a direct line unless they're hunting specific quarry, they tend to pack heavy, and take multi-day or multi-week patrols that sweep the zones, looking for 'rescues' to make and hostile settlements to squash. There are also a number of Better Living outposts in the inner zones: permanent encampments where employees are left to watch over particularly desirable or troublesome locations, such as the robotic dumping grounds in southern zone 02, and the borders of the annex.

A lot of the livable area is characterized as desert or steppe, partly due to the regions natural inclinations, partly due to the environmental devastation wrought by the wars. To the west and south, the old coastline now marks the start of the salt flats: empty stretches of ground that end at the current coastline some miles out from where it once was, turning the former channel islands into a spattering of rocky, mountain-esqe outcrops surrounded by hard, packed earth too salty to bear much life. Many settlements and travelers prefer the north and east, where the terrain protected some of the valleys and so echoes of the forests and other natural resources remain — as well as echoes of the wildlife. To the south(east), conditions start dry and get drier, providing massive challenge to anyone who doesn't know the way to carve out safety and make use of the weather.

BATTERY CITY

Ten miles in diameter, closed off by a barrier wall with fixed entry points, all of which are heavily monitored.

Battery City is a self-contained and somewhat* self-sufficient city. In the early days -before they built the walls- the plan was always to expand, crawl outward and establish a new world from the rubble of the old. However, conflict with early rebels led to the division of city from 'zones', and the heads of the corporation at the time chose a ten mile diameter to lock behind their main wall. Largely prevented from expanding and lacking the room for urban sprawl, the city has gone vertical to keep up with the demands of its population. Buildings and entire block levels extend both up and down, in sky scrapers as well as some subterranean levels (the latter of which are mostly used for synthetic farming and detainment.) Rather than divide by production, the city is designed so that, in the event of failure or invasion, no one zone of it can be commandeered to cut off the rest. Factories and power plants are interspersed with dwellings and other means of production, and the divides dictate the city's class system more than occupation. The outer wall is dozens of feet thick; the only roads in and out are tunnels guarded around the clock by S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W task force. For more detailed city notes [I will make another post which I will come back and link here.]

It can be easy for things to seem small, with the city so dwarfed by the zones as it is on this map, but the city inside the wall alone covers roughly 320 square miles of land [compared to L.A. (503), New York (469) or Chicago (234)] and hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people live in Battery City. Many of them are descendant of people who never left, and the walls went up around them; many others migrated there, in out of the wild and destruction. Of the three remaining (official) settlements in the US, Battery City has the largest civilian population.

*Battery City does do its own farming, but is supplemented by resources from Fort FISK and the Fishery, another Better Living establishment in the southern US. In a crisis situation where FISK was unable to send supplies, the city could sustain without lifestyle changes for approximately five years.

ZONE 01

Ten mile wide band around the city, marked and separated from the other zones by a series of border walls and fences. Regularly patrolled.

There are many buildings, most of them crumbling, that were once urban sprawl and the suburbs. Thanks to the city's tampering with the weather, zone 01 shares most of the benefits, and can rely on slightly lower temperatures, regular safe rainfall, and even a four-season year (while the outer zones tend to have more like two seasons, dry and wet.)

Despite the city's attempts to section it off from the other zones, 01's borders aren't secure, and a small number of killjoys regularly move through the wreckage of the area. These are the most hostile and often least recognized killjoys — extremists even by the standards of arguably violent killjoy culture. They launch attacks on the city, the walls and patrols and citizens alike, and keep the rubble of the suburbs too unstable for the city to continue to expand. Many die young and unrecognized.

Zone 01 also contains the city's two expansions, as acquired in 2020: the Neon District and the Annex. The Annex is largely agricultural in nature, a proto-version of the much smaller greenhouses the city tried to establish in later years. The Neon District is an expansion of the outer city, mostly containing civilian dwelling. Where once the slums and Neon were the same, now the slums are at least inside the main wall, and Neon has become adjacent to the city. Neon houses almost exclusively registered neutrals, many of whom commute into the city to do undesirable jobs for low pay. On BL/ind paperwork, the Neon District is both a neighborhood in the zones and the expanded dwelling, but among citizens, the Neon District "Slums" of the city and the district's expansion, "Neon", are different places entirely. [Also more details for this in the city post.]

ZONE 02

Fifteen mile wide band around zone 01, marked off in some places by (often unmaintained) border fences. Regularly patrolled.

As in zone 01, what remains of the old world's sprawling boroughs make up most of the landmarks, though here in zone 02 they're less stable. More spread out, and prone to one day shaking apart for no entirely clear reason. The landscape begins to shift in the north and northeast, turning hilly. The city's weather control effects taper off within this zone, so that the inside mirrors a lot of zone 01's weather, while the outer sections reflect more of the desert. Overall, the two often clash, and weather in zone 02 changes at the drop of a hat. It's rarely dangerous in and of itself (typically no acid rain or poisonous fogs) but the speed and frequency of the changes make attempts to travel through and settle in zone 02.... interesting.

Scattered around zone 02, amidst the crumbling infrastructure, there are both Better Living outposts, where patrols sent out from the city stop or bed down, as well as some more permanent installments. The unlucky are sometimes shipped out for a few weeks at a time to man these watch points, such as the Better Living building that overlooks the robotics dumping ground south of the city, just beyond the old coastline. Just as equally, there are killjoy encampments dotted across the zone, populated like a forward front, often taking in anyone who manages to escape the city, and serving as an early warning system to the rest of the zones. Zone 02 is often considered a "buffer" zone: too chaotic for the city to really want it, but too valuable to leave untouched — too controlled and close for the killjoys to claim it, but too dangerous to let it be absorbed. Thusly, it sits as something of a no-man's land, and is arguably the most dangerous part of crossing the zones in either direction.

That is, it's the most likely place to get killed by a person in the name of the grand conflict, anyhow.

ZONE 03

Twenty mile wide band around zone 02. Occasionally patrolled.

Many of the old buildings are gone, dusted away by the bombs of the wars or scorched up by the fires or crumbled away in the time since. Those left are the most sturdy, or else the ones rebuilt by dedicated zone dwellers. There's a few old neighborhoods, but mostly things aren't so closely or neatly laid out as the old-world neighborhoods used to be. Weather takes a turn for heat and dust and desperation: desert standard from here out.

As the beginning of proper killjoy territory, zone 03 is the most densely populated, and what most people think of when they're imagining the chaos of large groups and the vibrant party scene. Despite a decent number of permanent settlements, Better Living patrols don't sweep though very often, in part because they almost never find any actual killjoys, only the signs of life. (The rest, because it's simply too large and push back is too strong for the company to dedicate the resources to trying to lock it down.) Rebels living in 03 are heavily interconnected, and experts at avoiding patrols. With a whole system of bells and whistles and warning phrases, entire trading grounds empty in minutes ahead of patrol warnings only to go right back to their dealings the moment the coast is clear.

Popular destinations include Tommy Chow Mein's place, an old motel repurposed into a trading market in the east, Regal Riotess's Battlegrounds, a sparring and entertainment venue in the north, and the Hyper Thrust, a club and musical venue to the south. The Sun Sandbox, a music and event venue famous for its reflective quality, shines out in the west here. Many other traders center themselves in 03, coordinating into pop-up markets or setting up more permanent locations -such as the Wind Stop on the fence to the northeast- as killjoy movements across the zone support or demand.

ZONE 04

Twenty-five mile wide band around zone 03. Rarely patrolled.

Another fairly populated zone, though things spread out as the terrain and crumbling structures demand and groups become more distinguished. Drier, often flatter terrain means dust storms pick up in frequency here, and, though rainfall is typically sparse, flash floods run the risk of sweeping straight over things without much obstacle when they pour down out of the ridges in the northwest.

As opposed to the tight-knit nest network of zone 03, groups in zone 04 tend to be more distinct from and less trusting of each other. Turf disputes aren't entirely uncommon, though conflicting groups usually prefer boxing rings (one 'champion' from either crew battling it out) over all out brawls. Growing distances between settlements means radio contact becomes more important. It's thought, though it hasn't been proven, that Dr. Death runs the WKIL out of zone 04. Better Living patrols only ever cross into zone 04 if they're on the hunt for a specific target, and as such they're usually more hunting parties (colloquial "murders") than route 'patrol' parties.

04 houses a diverse mix of groups and locations: the infamous Fabulous Four's Diner sits to the north, while in the east a neutral settlement, Jasper, has planted their roots into an old lake bed. There's a little less of the party scene here, but it includes the Fuck You!!!! House, an establishment that promises bloodshed every evening, one way or another, and out in the flats there's Electric Starlight, part bar for their regulars who dwell around the old Channel Islands, part destination venue for the massive rave-like parties and shows that take place there as often as can be put together by the owner.

ZONE 05

Thirty mile wide band around zone 04. No patrol schedule.

Ambient radiation levels are a touch higher in zone 05, and pockets of danger exist that travelers and those trying to tame the outer zones should be wary of. Rainfall also takes a turn for the worst, as it becomes more common for it to be toxic to consume and/or cause burns to exposed skin from this point further (a happening not impossible but more rare, in the inner zones.)

To go with growing environmental dangers, there's a sharp drop-off in cooperation around this zone too. Groups tend to be less generous with their supplies, and while the waves remain a vital tool for communication and keeping ahead of things, crews that come face to face aren't likely to trust each other very much, if at all. The stakes are simply too high, the margin for error too narrow. Bad news is all too common: contract killers and more radical groups are easier to find, and easier to bump into.

Somewhere near or perhaps even within the Dead Zone to the northeast, a particularly vile and violent group of DESTROYA worshipers has set up permanent residence. They journey out from whatever base they have to attack others, city and zones alike, without prejudice. They're known to descend on churches or shrines of other desert deities with greater regularity and more demonstrative end results, but won't say no to fucking anyone up just for fun. The wise give them a wide berth, and heavily vet individuals who might only be posing as lost and looking for help...

ZONE 06

Thirty-five mile wide band around zone 05. No patrol schedule.

Sights include sprawling vistas of desert skies and plenty of odd happenings, but not much else goes on in 06 on the regular. The terrain gets tougher, less tame and more churned apart by the wars and the rattling of the ground since. Radiation ticks up a little higher, and the places where it really clings will have an unwary journeyer dizzy and good-as-dead before they can even guess what's going on. It's easy to stumble into a gruesome death, out here.

Many zone dwellers don't go this far. Those who do are often the spiritual (or crazy) type, drawn by the odd sightings and phenomena such as lights in the sky, voices in the air, and landmarks that move. Any of it may or may not be real, depending on which story gets told and who is doing the telling. The other dustkids who travel through 06 are typically only there to pass along messages:

Several churches to various zone deities are tucked away here and there, ready to welcome the lost or, in the case of the unmanned shrines, offerings to the likes of Papa Sol and the Phoenix Witch. The mailbox sits in a little valley due east, and marks the outside border of the zones — "the end of the world".

ZONE 07

Isolated location also called The Anomaly located in the western quadrant.

Plopped down on the coast like something that crawled up out of the ocean and gave up on trying to walk across the flats, 07 is a mystery of a thing. It is consistently drenched in heavy fog no matter the surrounding weather. On approach, the ground quickly gives way to a soggy, sticky mess typically found in bogs or marshes, and it's presumed the ground within the fog cloud is the same.

Presumed, because no one goes into 07. No one who wants to return, anyway. Even Better Living has stopped sending investigative probes, manned or otherwise. The readings never make it out, and the people only rarely do, and only do so greatly changed. Often, reduced to vague shadows of their former selves, or else entirely delusional, sometimes even violent.

The superstitious types often refer to zone 07 as 'the mist', 'the veil', or 'the thin place', believing it to be a location where the world of the dead comes into contact with the living. This rumor is largely fueled by the human-like shadows often seen in the mist. Whether they are spirits or simply shadows or something else entirely, no one can say.

Pursuing answers in the matter of what, exactly, 07 is never ends well.

ZONE SEVEN

An approximate 'safe' band of 5-10 miles around zone six.

So named because the city had already designated the anomaly on the coast as "zone 07", meaning that killjoys could refer to something by that name and it wouldn't immediately set off any alarms. This zone seven is mapped almost exclusively by word of mouth, it does not feature on Better Living maps ((it's only on this one for visual aid)), and is rarely written down by killjoys to better guard their knowledge of things that just might begin to be out of the city's reach.

A hostile terrain pitted with unstable ravines, there is little shelter, even less water than the established zones, and further threats of radiation spikes, electrical & sand storms, and a variety of hostile wildlife drawn in from the wilds by the potential for someone to eat. Even those that know the landmarks, where to find shelter and make use of what little water can be found, take risks going out into this area. So they tend not to, unless things are bad enough.

As things are now, The Haven is the only known establishment of any kind within zone seven. It is, technically, a lighthouse, a location that will offer aid to anyone who finds their way to it, but as you can imagine they don't typically get a lot of outside traffic. (In other words: it was absolutely bananas cage mad behavior to set up a permanent encampment of this size out here. Anyone who doesn't know the Haven for trade reasons probably only hears rumors and thinks they're all insane for trying.)

THE EMPTY ZONE

Officially, anything beyond the edge of zone 06: which is to say, “nothing.”

The perfect truth is that the lines aren't so rigid as is convenient to mark on a map, and there's all of seven to account for, with more gradually being explored, word of more safety spread as it's found. But it's dangerous work. Unforgiving work. Few people dare to push the limits of the outer edge, believing instead that the way to true freedom lies in dismantling Better Living, not running from it. As things are, the empty zone beyond the end of the world, the untamed wilds, really is nothing but nothing. In theory there are livable lands, ways to cross the old cities, looting or building, striking out. In theory there could even be settlements that don't and never did belong to BL/ind, people who survived and continue to scrape their way along, or maybe even thrive. In practice, there's no guides and no guarantees, no promise of anything. In practice, to push beyond zone seven is all but certain suicide. Very few dare try it. Even fewer return, and it's been many years since anyone attempted a major excursion.

Even Better Living goes under the earth to cross the distances between their cities.