#otp: take this universe to pieces

[lordbelacqua]

For Lyra.

[madisoncounty]

THE AMBER SPYGLASS, CHAPTER 28: MIDNIGHT

[viciousgold]

“The prince of the angels looked at her. It was the most searching examination Marisa Coulter had ever undergone. Every scrap of shelter and deceit was stripped away, and she stood naked, body and ghost and daemon together, under the ferocity of Metatron's gaze. And she knew that her nature would have to answer for her, and she was terrified that what he saw in her would be insufficient. Lyra had lied to Iofur Raknison with her words; her mother was lying with her whole life. Lord Asriel stood up as Mrs. Coulter came around the corner. Everything, every surface, every cubic centimeter of air, was permeated by the falling Dust, which gave a soft clarity to every tiny detail; and in the Dust light Lord Asriel saw that her face was wet with tears, and that she was gritting her teeth so as not to sob. "What did you tell him?" "I lied and lied, Asriel... Let's not wait too long, I can't bear it... We won't live, will we? We won't survive like the ghosts?" "Not if we fall into the abyss. We came here to give Lyra time to find her daemon, and then time to live and grow up. If we take Metatron to extinction, Marisa, she'll have that time, and if we go with him, it doesn't matter." "And Lyra will be safe?" "Yes, yes," he said gently. He kissed her. She felt as soft and light in his arms as she had when Lyra was conceived thirteen years before. She was sobbing quietly. When she could speak, she whispered: "I told him I was going to betray you, and betray Lyra, and he believed me because I was corrupt and full of wickedness; he looked so deep I felt sure he'd see the truth. But I lied too well. I was lying with every nerve and fiber and everything I'd ever done... I wanted him to find no good in me, and he didn't. There is none. But I love Lyra. Where did this love come from? I don't know; it came to me like a thief in the night, and now I love her so much my heart is bursting with it. All I could hope was that my crimes were so monstrous that the love was no bigger than a mustard seed in the shadow of them, and I wished I'd committed even greater ones to hide it more deeply still... But the mustard seed had taken root and was growing, and the little green shoot was splitting my heart wide open, and I was so afraid he'd see..." She had to stop to gather herself. He stroked her shining hair, all set about with golden Dust, and waited. Metatron's shadow-cloaked form appeared out of the golden air and took in at once what was happening: the two daemons, crouching and watchful, the woman with the nimbus of Dust, and Lord Asriel - Who leapt at him at once, seizing him around the waist, and tried to hurl him to the ground. The angel's arms were free, though, and with fists, palms, elbows, knuckles, forearms, he battered Lord Asriel's head and body: great pummeling blows that forced the breath from his lungs and rebounded from his ribs, that cracked against his skull and shook his senses. However, his arms encircled the angel's wings, cramping them to his side. And a moment later, Mrs. Coulter had leapt up between those pinioned wings and seized Metatron's hair. His strength was enormous: it was like holding the mane of a bolting horse. As he shook his head furiously, she was flung this way and that, and she felt the power in the great folded wings as they strained and heaved at the man's arms locked so tightly around them. The daemons had seized hold of him, too. Stelmaria had her teeth firmly in his leg, and the golden monkey was tearing at one of the edges of the nearest wing, snapping feathers, ripping at the vanes, and this only roused the angel to greater fury. With a sudden massive effort he flung himself sideways, freeing one wing and crushing Mrs. Coulter against a rock. Metatron fell to his knees. Mrs. Coulter, falling with him, saw the blood-filled eyes of Lord Asriel gaze at her. And she scrambled up, hand over hand, forcing the beating wing aside, and seized the angel's hair to wrench back his head and bare his throat for the snow leopard's teeth. And now Lord Asriel was dragging him, dragging him backward, feet stumbling and rocks falling, and the golden monkey was leaping down with them, snapping and scratching and tearing, and they were almost there, almost at the edge; but Metatron forced himself up, and with a last effort spread both wings wide - a great white canopy that beat down and down and down, again and again and again, and then Mrs. Coulter had fallen away, and Metatron was upright, and the wings beat harder and harder, and he was aloft - he was leaving the ground, with Lord Asriel still clinging tight, but weakening fast. The golden monkey's fingers were entwined in the angel's hair, and he would never let go - But they were over the edge of the abyss. They were rising. And if they flew higher, Lord Asriel would fall, and Metatron would escape. "Marisa! Marisa!" The cry was torn from Lord Asriel, and with the snow leopard beside her, with a roaring in her ears, Lyra's mother stood and found her footing and leapt with all her heart, to hurl herself against the angel and her daemon and her dying lover, and seize those beating wings, and bear them all down together into the abyss.

[zenaidamacrouras1]

Clint/Bucky aka Winterhawk aka Clucky aka Barneston (?) Fic Recs

Yes I am an (unhinged understatement) Stucky writer but I have a soft spot for Bucky and Clint romantically. Particularly Comics Clint. Something about his crippling self esteem issues stemming from his abusive childhood combined with how deeply, deeply nice he is. In my favorite Clint characterizations, he isn't nice out of naivety, he always knows he's quite likely going to get screwed over for being so compassionate and forgiving, and he just does it anyway. It's really a lovely fatal flaw.

Anyway, shout out to everyone with fucked up abusive childhoods who got all the trauma and none of the circus skills! All of the baggage and none of the archery talent, you know?

So here are some things I love about them together:

So Clint is so chill around Bucky's grief but also deeply compassionate and also a slutty disaster and also funny. I think it's a really good mix for recovering Bucky to let his guard down and be soft.

Sometimes, in some universes, Bucky needs someone who is just as earnest but not as serious as Steve, you know? Clint is whimsical and the Winter Soldier needs a lil whimsy.

Typically, though not always, in fics when Bucky is paired with Clint the other otps are Clint+Natasha as deeply committed best friends/platonic soulmates and Bucky+Steve as deeply committed best friends/platonic soulmates, so it's just a whole deeply committed, devoted, platonic and romantic love situation that really works for me.

Winterhawk manifesto aside, here are some fics I liked presented somewhat at random.

Starving for the Light by thepartyresponsible

@thepartyresponsible hopefully this is the author and not a random person with the same name. Hi! I love your work! My notes: Beautiful modern magical world, beautiful details, beautiful healing. Exquisite levels Clint who is so competent and just not aware of how gifted he is but not in a cheesy way, just kinda heartbreaking till it isn't.

Here is another beautiful piece by the very same brilliant mind:

Got a Heart in Me, I Swear by thepartyresponsible

My notes: Sports AU! Baseball this time but you don't have to know baseball and beautiful characterization + competence remains the shining thing that made me want to eat it.

Redundancies by Noxnthea @noxnthea

My notes: What the fuck. I wanted to read this entire fic at the same time, but it wouldn't fit in my eyes all at once which is my only complaint, but it's a very severe complaint because it is so clever and good. Universe hopping. Must love Clint. All the good things about Clint being so fucking good. It's so sad in the way that makes you feel a deep love of the world and that maybe broken things can be beautiful and happy again, over and over?

Lost and Found by Mariana O'Connor @mariana-oconnor

My notes: Do you like werewolves? Trick question. Everyone likes werewolves. This is a lovely small town full of mysteries that Clint stumbles into. Obviously he starts rehabbing a hotel and taking care of orphans because he is just nice like that. Bucky can't keep away because, ugh, Clint stop being fascinating and competent and sexy. Bucky is only one man and also traumatized have you no respect?

Silhouette also by Mariana O'Connor @mariana-oconnor

My notes: YOU GUYS. Very slow build spy adventure time if you like spy adventure and heists mixed with pining because your mortal enemy is 1. Sexy and 2. Competent. Also Natasha is the best friend and Steve is the best friend. We travel the world. Action scenes. Everyone is so sexy. And competent. I can't make this clear enough. Sexy little mysterious post cards appear in the mail.

Perfect Tense by shatteredhourglass @shatteredhourglass

My notes: Ronin Clint thinks he's irredeemable, but he can't stop having sex with Bucky Barnes. Who hasn't been in this situation? Bucky is very angrily bandaging up Ronin Clint's stupid wounds again, ugh, gah, seriously, surely all this hurt/comfort plus admiration for Clint's combat skills won't lead to falling in love? Feelings, action, intrigue.

Funny story I wanted to include a fic where Bucky kidnaps Clint but y'all there are SO MANY fics where Bucky kidnaps Clint and I can't remember which one. I bet they are all good so maybe I'll do a follow up with like, top ten fics where Bucky kidnaps Clint and they fall in love.

[lonelyroommp3]

*please read the explanations below the poll options before voting*

was thinking about this on my coach home and naturally had to make it into an overcomplicated poll

explanations, disclaimers, etc. under the cut:

until tumblr enables polls with infinite options there is no way for me to account for the entire breadth of human experience here. the categories provided and the examples thereof will not be, and are not intended to be, exhaustive. if you can't find the exact thing you do listed here or you think it falls into more than one category then please use your best judgement to select whatever answer is closest. only choose "something else not covered here" if there is actually nothing even close to what you do listed in the poll (and please elaborate in the tags if this is the case! i'm curious)

i really wanted to include "guy running alongside the moving vehicle you are in" but ran out of options. sorry

if you feel you do two or more of these things in equal measure just pick whatever one answer you want based on vibes

music video: anything you imagine as a standalone, prerecorded visual to accompany the music. this may feature musical performance elements, dance, a narrative, or any combination of the above. if you're imagining your little scene as if it's intended to be viewed on MTV, youtube, etc as the official visual complement to the music, it probably comes under this category

a music video mainly featuring somebody else: this could be you, your blorbos, your self insert OC, another artist you'd like to see cover the song, random actors/celebrities you would cast in the video, etc. whether they are performing the song within the video or not. if the bulk of the "running time" of your daydream is taken up by people who aren't the artist who originally performs the version of the song you're listening to, pick this one

a live performance: this could be in concert (whether a concert version that already exists e.g. imagining taylor swift's eras tour staging when you hear cruel summer, or a version you would like to see), at karaoke, at an open mic night, your acoustic cover that goes viral when you post it on youtube, busking on the street, performing to the other passengers on the bus, etc. could apply to dance as well as singing/music!

a diegetic use in narrative context: imagining the song being performed as a musical number by people in a story that exists beyond the scope of this one song in order to accompany or advance said story. this might be imagining the song being performed as one of many musical numbers in a stage or movie musical, or it could be a performance that takes place in universe (like the performances in glee, or scott pilgrim vs the world)

non diegetic narrative use: imagining the song as the soundtrack to a scene in a story that exists beyond the scope of this one song, but it is not being played/performed/heard by the people within the scene. for example, you imagine a fight scene in a movie taking place to this song, or perhaps it would play in the background during your OTP's first kiss if your favourite fanfiction was adapted into a netflix original tv series.

AMV/edit: a video compilation of existing* scenes from a piece of media, put together by a fan and set to music. (*existing might be taken loosely; e.g. you might be imagining an AMV of scenes from a book with no actual visual media adaptation. the main distinction is that here you are imagining the actual editing process of splicing scenes together as a fan project, as opposed to the music accompanying one continuous scene or sequence of scenes - which would come under "non diegetic narrative use" - or the clips being intended as the official visual accompaniment to a song, which would come under "music video".)

an abstract or lyric based visualiser: 2000s core windows media player visuals, a lyric video, anything that focuses more on objects, scenery, abstract patterns, words moreso than People/Fictional Characters/Animals/etc Doing Things To Music

[whywhatswrongwithblue]

In honour of @tentoorosemonth2023, here's fifteen brilliant and recent tentoo x rose fics i haven't recc'd before! please make sure to leave kudos and comment on these!!

all of these are tentoo x rose endgame.

*=multichapter, E=explicit

the stars collide as the planets turn by hippiebanana132

Author's summary: Her eyes flicker open again, clear just for a moment below the matted red streaks in her golden hair. One hand still clutched in his, she raises her other arm with great effort to reach shakily towards the lapel of his brown jacket, dangerously close to his right heart. He gathers her hand up just as her fingertips brush his shirt, brings it up to his lips, tells himself the contact is for her.

My remarks: A superb slice of life fic in which we see the otp through the eyes of ten. So, so wonderful and emotional ❤️

Warnings: Mentions of a car accident; nothing graphic.

2. and now you are and i am now by @lordy-lou

Author's summary: He doesn’t find a single atom of regret in the ashes of his strictures.

My remarks: A short and sweet introspective piece on the immediate aftermath of the beach scene.

3. Hunger by @metacrisisdoctor (E)

Author's summary: His hands are out his pockets milliseconds later. He walks over to her in three large steps and cups her face in her hands and pulls her mouth to his. It's a hard, bruising kiss. It's a kiss he's held in far too long. It's the kiss of a man who stood at the grave of the woman he loves, and has been gifted with her resurrection.

My remarks: An incredibly in character exploration of how the OTP's first time could've gone down. A shot of serotonin. They ended up together!!!

4. Washed Up Together by @thirdeyeblue *(E)

Author's summary: Not long after being left on Bad Wolf Bay, the Doctor and Rose quietly contemplate why their relationship has yet to progress.

My remarks: An endearing and filled to the brim with good ol' pining take on early days of tentoo x rose; includes a drunk!Doctor and a bar fight 👀

5. The Existence of Pears by @bravehandsomehero

Author's summary: The Doctor is forced to face his greatest enemy in the name of love: Pears. Metacrisis Doctor/Rose.

My remarks: An incredibly fluffy slice of life drabble featuring expectant parents tentoo and rose ❤️

6. hush now to sleep, on the wings of a butterfly by @nostradamus0

Author's summary: Mia pretends to fall asleep in the car so she'll be carried inside.

My remarks: The absolute CUTEST kid fic you will read featuring the Tyler family today. Contains like, illegal levels of soft.

7. in human condition by @queenofthecon* (E)

Author's summary: Rose gives the Doctor nothing short of a miracle; and then the universe threatens to taken them both away from him for good.

My remarks: Compelling character study of the Doctor and how vulnerable being human makes him!

Warnings: Whump, blood and injury, pregnancy

8. Bad Wolf Rising by @wyntereyez *

Author's summary: Werewolves thrive in Pete’s World, and they’re determined to bring about the Empire of the Wolf.

My remarks: This fic is, tragically, incomplete as of now, but it's probably one of the most engaging chapter 1's i've EVER read, and i am DYING to know what the author had in store!! Featuring an extremely in character Pete's world ensemble and a very House MD-ish Doctor who's been permanently injured, and werewolves, this fic is definitely worth a click!

9. shackles by @gingerteaonthetardis

Author's summary: She should've known. Like, she really should have known. Maybe it was just that she'd gotten sort of complacent, sort of used to the comfortable domesticity of their new life. Maybe she was just a fool. But he made it so easy to forget. When he folded her socks and handed her plates of banana pancakes and grumbled at the remote control, how could she not? How could she be expected to remember? That the Doctor was, at his core, incredibly reckless and fundamentally stupid.

My remarks: An incredible and humourous take on the 'handcuffed together' trope!

10. Together by @uthers-bald-head

Author's summary: Christmas dinner in the Tyler household is hectic but joyful nonetheless. Rose finds her mind wandering to the Doctor, but not the one that sits beside her.

My remarks: Short and sweet, with a perfect hint of angst concerning the time-lord Doctor.

11. moonlit kitchen floors by @zmbiicrsh

Author's summary: "You were easily convinced, you just couldn't resist me." Rose jabbed at him with a teasing voice. Though she never really knew when he fell in love with her and neither did he. It sort of just happened. So it really wasn't a surprise when he said sincerely, "No, I really couldn't."

My remarks: Captures an incredibly tender moment of dancing in the kitchen for these two ❤️

12. Street corner at two in the morning by @messierfourtytwo

Author's summary: A day in the life of Rose and TenToo. There’s something that Rose isn’t telling the Doctor…

My remarks: SO FLUFFY. Makes you want to melt.

13. spaces in between by @naaer

Author's summary: The fate of Pete's World is at stake, but the Doctor and Rose still find time to take a minute

My remarks: Tender drabble set in a dystopian!Pete's world. Beggginngggg for an extension.

14. Opposition of the Stars by @abadplanwellexecuted (E)

Author's summary: Post-Journey's End, first night in a hotel in Norway fic. Rose and the Metacrisis Doctor end up sharing a hotel room, and walls come tumbling down.

My remarks: When i tell you my SOUL left my body upon seeing this notification!! Written as it is by one of the all time greats, of course this fic is incredible!

15. Stargazing by @elialys

Author's summary: He's not cradling her bump tonight, nor has he pressed his lips to her tense skin to murmur words she cannot hear, only feel. He’s using one finger on her, the tip of it gently tracing patterns on the curve of her stomach. At first, she wonders if he’s spelling letters, trying out the few names they’re considering for her, but Rose quickly dismisses the idea, not recognizing any letter—nothing English. What he’s drawing isn’t random, though. There is intent in the way his fingertip slowly moves upon her.

My remarks: Intimate and tender and brilliant. Forever manifesting your return to Doctor Who😭😭😭

And that's it for this list!! I missed out on quite a few, so i'll probably make another list next week. Show these stories all the love!!

[yukidragon]

Sunny Day Jack - Cat AU

Okay, so, two particular pieces of beautifully drawn fan art have collided together in my head to create a light and fluffy self-indulgent image that I just had to share with you all.

@okamiliqueur's heartbreaking picture of Jack's lonely and forgotten box from the new demo made me think of cats abandoned in boxes, "free to a good home." Only in the case of the game's story, he was left out in the rain to rot, the owner having given up giving him a good home.

@jazzylovetodraw's picture of Jack as a cat has been buzzing in my mind for quite a while. I just love how precious he looks in both forms, and when I was thinking of Jack being like those abandoned kittens in cardboard boxes... well, the combination was obvious.

I know that Jack's fursona is a snake, and I know being a cat is Shaun's thing, but I'm a sucker for kitties. I'm as biased towards cats as I am for dragons, if my avatar and username didn't offer enough of a hint. ;3 I'd love to see all the characters as kitties honestly.

Tempting though it may be to go with Fruits Basket rules for kitty Jack, like I toyed with over on twitter, I think I'm going to play with a different and simpler set of rules. In this universe, Jack is stuck as a cat until his sunshine's love allows him to become human again.

Admittedly, it's kind of hard to imagine Jack being alone for very long when he looks so adorable. Who wouldn't fall in love with that precious kitty face instantly? Most everyone would be putty in his paws.

Content Warning: I wind up touching on a couple explicit headcanon details near the end. I mean, I did say this is a pretty self-indulgent image with my OTP.

Maybe Jack was stuck as a cat via a curse ala Hocus Pocus and is guarding the box/tape/etc. Maybe he was stuck as a cat instead of in the tape and no one could see him until MC came along. Maybe he's got a tragic backstory like the cat from Fruits Basket.

Since this AU is more about the vibes, I'm just going to leave the how and why parts of the lore up in the air. All that matters is that Jack is stuck as a cat and left out in the rain in a cardboard box until MC decides to take him home.

I'm just going to switch over to Alice and what she would do in this scenario. Poor lonely Alice is out on the town, when she comes across the box out in the rain and sees an equally lonely kitten. Poor little thing, all wet and sad... She just has to take him home with her.

Alice cleans Jack up, gets him wrapped up all nice and warm in a blanket, and even gives him some chicken she bought for her own dinner that night. She'll have to get cat food and other things for her new furry companion tomorrow, though she should probably look for his owner and take him to a vet.

At first, Jack isn't sure what to do about the situation, though he is grateful. No one has even acknowledged his existence until Alice came along. She's so soft and warm. He loves it when she holds him. She's so kind too.

Alice does find it surprising Jack doesn't put up a fuss when being given a bath. Jack didn't exactly like the feeling of being all grimy, and don't get him started on fleas and other gross things cats have to deal with on the streets!

The vet isn't as fun, though Jack is well behaved, though very clingy to Alice throughout the appointment. He can't help but fear that she'll abandon him too. He'll keep up the helpless and adorably needy kitty act if it means she'll stay with him.

There's no ID chip, no tag, and no missing notice for any cat that looks like Jack. It's clear that the poor guy is a stray.

Alice is hesitant initially. She's wanted to get a pet cat for a long time now, but she has barely been able to take care of herself. How can she handle taking care of an innocent life that needs her when she's struggling so much with her own life?

That hesitation doesn't last long. Jack loves on Alice so much, constantly purring and snuggling up to her. He curls up with her when she sleeps or relaxes. He was hesitant at first, and she assumed that was because he was wary of her, when in reality, he just didn't want to cross any of her boundaries. He didn't want to do anything that might upset her and make her get rid of him. When she started petting and cuddling him, he wholeheartedly returned the affection, absolutely starved for it.

The first thing Alice thought when she saw Jack was that he was lonely, just like her. He's so sweet and can't stand to be apart from her. How can she just get rid of him when he makes her feel loved and needed?

Of course, a cat's life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Cat food is a step down from people food, and a litterbox is anything but sanitary. Jack just skips that nonsense and goes straight to using the toilet despite the awkwardness, which shocks the heck out of Alice. He also snubs all cat food in favor of human food.

Yes, I could go with Jack being a ghost(?) cat that doesn't need food or to use the toilet, but then he wouldn't have gone through the indignities of a vet visit.

Then again... it would be funny if Alice brought Jack to the vet, only for them to think she's crazy, since to them all she's carrying is empty air.

Hmm... yeah, I think I'll go that route. As hilarious as vet hijinks and typical cat care with Jack while he possesses a human mind and identity might be, this would be a more interesting and tragic route. No one else can see Jack but Alice. He's lived for who knows how long in a world full of people that don't see him at all, unable to even be human anymore. It'd be a different type of hell than the one in the video tape, similar to what I talked about in my previous ramble.

Imagine if the 1984 incident Jack died and became a ghost(?) cat because he was secretly a cat shape shifter or something. Or maybe something more supernatural happened during the incident. Either way, cat ghost(?) Jack is very, very lonely.

Man, I just realized, it would be even more tragic (and complicated) if I go with the reincarnation route for this AU. Ghost(?) cat Jack probably had to watch Mary die slowly in the hospital after the incident, unable to help her or let her know that it's him. He couldn't even offer her comfort in her final days. It would've been so traumatizing.

For now, let's just play with this AU without the reincarnation angle, since this is supposed to be mostly light and fluffy feline fun with the OTP.

Jack, even as a cat, tries to do his best to help Alice out. If he can make himself useful, make her need him, then he won't ever lose her. He sneaks out when she goes to work to keep her company even though she initially tried to get him to stay home. No one sees him, so it won't matter. Besides, petting an invisible kitty is a good stress relief when dealing with awful customers, and certainly beats regular stimming.

The more Alice cares for Jack, the more powers he gets back, starting with the ability to talk. It's a huge shock for Alice of course, but Jack makes it clear that it's because of her love for him that made her stronger.

Of course, that love is platonic, at least at the start, which Jack knows full well, but he'll work on shifting things to a romantic love... especially after he gets the power to shift back into a form that has hands.

Like in typical canon, Jack answers Alice's questions as best he can. He probably lost his sense of identity like in game canon, so he references CloudyTown and stuff "he" did there, mixing up the show's lore with his own past. It's also intermingled with his many years spent wandering the streets being ignored and going crazy from the loneliness.

Jack does let Alice know that he used to be able to change from a cat to human. He just... can't anymore. He thinks it was because he was forgotten. He doesn't know why no one can see him until Alice came along.

It's so sad and tragic that Alice can't be unmoved by his plight. Sure, it makes things a bit awkward knowing that Jack is sentient and used to have a human form, but she feels for him. It also makes sense now why Jack always turned away whenever she changed.

Yes, Jack could have peeked. He could have even watched Alice while she was bathing, but he didn't. He refuses to do anything she won't allow. Cuddling her and sleeping in her bed is innocent, but the thoughts he'd have about her when she was undressing were anything but. He loves her too much to take advantage of her innocent trust in him. He needs her to want him to see her in that vulnerable state... even if it drives him crazy lusting over her. Poor pitiful kitty can't even have a good wank off session with his paws.

Still, despite knowing that Jack was human and is sentient, it's hard for Alice not to fall for his feline charms and not think too deeply about that fact. She still winds up cuddling him and petting him.

Of course, when it first hits Alice that she's treating a human like a pet, she stops and apologizes, but Jack insists that it's fine. He enjoys their cuddle time. He gives her the big, pleading kitty eyes as he begs her not to stop, and she can't help but give in.

Awkwardness soon fades and settles into a strange new normal. Alice does wonder if Jack really is real or if she was just so lonely she imagined something this crazy... but his presence is comforting. He keeps her company almost all the time. She doesn't feel alone anymore thanks to him.

Also... now that Jack can talk, he says such sweet things. It's weird to have a "pet" take care of her, but he reminds her of when it's time to brush her teeth, wakes her up for work, helps her get chores done despite how awkward it is with his paws and small size... It's so endearing.

The encouragement and assistance Jack gives Alice is wonderful, and his jokes are so fun and silly, but it's the praise that leaves her feeling flustered. If she didn't know any better, she could swear that he's almost flirting with her sometimes. She's in denial that's what it is, but it feels nice to be told that she's cute, and Jack is so sincere about it... and how can she not melt when he says sweet things with such a sweet face?

It's one morning that things change drastically. Alice's bond with Jack strengthened over time to the point that Jack finally can change back into a mostly human form, though he does have cat ears, a fluffy tail, and whisker markings.

It was a big surprise to them both really, as Jack transformed in his sleep. Alice had gotten used to cuddling up to a talking cat during the night, so it was a shock to wake up in a pair of big muscular arms. Jack was so happy when waking her that morning, giddy to show her his (mostly) human side, that it slipped his mind what a shock it would be.

Naturally, Alice bolted back against the wall away from the stranger in her bed. Jack quickly started reassuring her of who he was and that she wasn't in danger. He stooped down to her level, pretty much wilting really, with ears folded back, as he apologized for scaring her. He was just so happy that he wasn't thinking about how it must look from her side...

Seeing Jack so pitiful and sad, Alice feels her heart go out to him. Once things calm down, she can't help but be amazed by how he looks. Unthinkingly, she reaches up to pet his ears and feel how they attach to his skull. She only fully realizes how forward she's being when Jack starts purring.

Flustered, Alice immediately pulls back, only for Jack to whine at the loss of her touch. He didn't mind it at all. He always loves it when she cuddles with him.

It's a complicated feeling for Alice. On the one hand they've been very close for so long. On the other, Jack is definitely a human, so it feels different now.

Yet, Jack is so sweet. He's mindful of her hesitation, even if he's disappointed. It's harder for him to hide his feelings with such expressive ears. Alice can't help but want to reach out to him, especially after they've already spent so much time together, getting to know one another. He's chased away the loneliness that had been haunting her for so, so long.

Of course, now that Jack has a human form, Alice finds her feelings slipping into "dangerous" territory. He makes her feel so good, so loved, and she feels for him too. She doesn't want to dare assume he might feel anything more for her than just a friend, but she can't help but notice the way he looks at her, the way he clearly longs to be near her. He's so tender and gentle... and they've already been so cuddly.

It's easier for Alice to find herself cuddling up to Jack, letting him and taking guilty pleasure from his gentle warmth. He pets her hair too in return, and it feels surprisingly good... a bit too good at times.

The line between friend or something more blurs with all the cuddles and petting. Alice feels guilty about it, but Jack keeps encouraging her until, finally, something has to give and their relationship changes. Both of them feel relieved when it does, as they couldn't help but worry that their feelings might not be reciprocated.

In a lot of ways, it's pretty close to the normal continuity, just with some fuzzy ears on top. Jack can change into a cat at will now. As he gets stronger, people can start to see him, perhaps as a feline silhouette, or maybe with some unsettling shadows not from a cat. He's certainly going to be a bit territorial and not be afraid to hiss and use his claws if absolutely necessary.

Still, this kitty is pretty content thanks to Alice. Jack loves it when Alice carries him around as a teeny kitty, warm and snuggly against her chest, even in the cleavage of her shirt at times. Naturally, he returns the favor, carrying her around the apartment as often as possible. It's only fair after all~!

Naturally, Jack wants to get intimate with Alice as soon as she lets him. He's so pent up. Even with hands to take care of himself, all the cuddling and now kisses just make him ache for her even more. He longs to be inside her, biting her gently and growling in pleasure as he takes her.

A bonus with Jack being part cat is that he gets to have some vibrating action when he purrs. It adds a whole new dimension to their lovemaking, whether he's using his mouth on her sensitive parts, or thrusting himself deep inside.

Oh, I'm reminded of the cat-like features I mentioned in the Omegaverse AU. I guess Jack, having feline features, would have a dick that's ribbed for her pleasure too. Tongue too. Neither would be sharp because rule of sexy, but it would add a very pleasurable texture that a clever man like Jack is going to take full advantage of~

Of course, Alice can take advantage of those feline features too. The base of Jack's tail and ears are quite sensitive, and she quickly learns what spots get his motor running. Of course, getting Jack excited will lead to him pouncing on her and getting rather frisky, but Alice would certainly be expecting that result~

I can imagine Jack could make himself look fully human without any feline features, but he knows Alice finds his cat side to be adorable. She has a hard time resisting petting him when his ears and tail are out, and he certainly wants to encourage her to pet him as much as possible. He also wants to encourage her to let him pet her as much as possible.

Of course, if Jack can become powerful enough that other people can see him, he'll have to stick with only cat or human form when out in public. Still, even when other people can see and hear him, he prefers to be in Alice's company. Cats have their preferred human, and Alice is Jack's.

Naturally, Jack would have to be sneaky about showing Alice love when in public if there's a chance of getting caught. Good thing he has that perfectly innocent little kitty form to hide in. I can imagine it would lead to some interesting interactions where someone shows up only to find Alice incredibly flustered with a slightly disheveled appearance, while her "pet" Jack is just casually looking smug, as all cats do.

Person: Whoa, what happened to you?

Alice, not looking them in the eye: Uh... Jack, m-my cat just... ah, got a bit excited.

Person: Heh. Cats, am I right?

Alice: Haha... right.

Jack: :3c

Hmm... I wonder then if the other love interests should have cat transformations in this AU too. It'd be a crime if Shaun doesn't have that ability but Jack does. Jack already gets together with Alice, so I don't want to be extra cruel to Shaun.

Admittedly, I don't have too many ideas for other characters with cat modes. Well, aside from an image of Shaun taking care of his baby MoonPie by carrying her around by the scruff. This post was mostly just indulging in sweet moments with my OTP with a bit of feline flavor sprinkled on top. Maybe I'll revisit the idea again if I get more ideas than just a bit of fluff.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this silly romp with Alice and Jack having some feline fun times!

@channydraws @earthgirlaesthetic @sai-of-the-7-stars @cheriihoney @illary-kore @okamiliqueur @kurokrisps

[arcadiabaytornado]

Yes <3 about reading Pricefield as romantic even if they don't kiss in episode 3. It upsets me how often people claim Bae can end platonic (just read an article that says this too) because with Max's feelings for Chloe existing regardless of your choice that is not gonna end platonic. "I'll always be with you" "Forever" was very romantically said you can hear it in their voices. Even if somehow they didn't know how they felt they would not spend their forever as platonic friends with feelings between them existing as we see in the game. I guess it bothers me so much because it feels... it feels like it's only because they're two girls. And that makes it harder for people to see and understand. If they were a man and a woman I don't think anyone would suggest it could end platonic but because they're two girls a lot of people along with not reading the journal don't pick up on what's right in front of them

I can accept that some people just don't ship Max and Chloe. Shipping is very much a matter of opinion, and if a ship doesn't click then it just doesn't click. HOWEVER, it does drive me crazy when people insist that Max and Chloe are purely platonic and everyone is reading to much into it.

Let's pretend for a minute that Max is a man and Chloe is a women. The first time Male Max saved Chloe from being shot in the bathroom, everyone would be going "Oh! OTP!!! End game! It's all going to led up to them kissing! It's inevitable!!" Like...Male Max wouldn't even need to keep saving Chloe after that for people to be like "His devotion to her is insane!" All it would take to prove his love would be that one act.

More Undercut

Male Max wouldn't have to keep proving his love because his love is assumed. Female Max breaks time itself and lets a tornado wipe out a town for Chloe, and that's still not deemed to be enough.

There are some people in the world can see two women have a canon kiss and love confession and they'll say "WELL. That doesn't mean they aren't straight. They just love their bestie a lot." Yet, a man and women can make eye contact for two seconds and that will validate them becoming canon.

It doesn't matter if they have chemistry, or love, or if they treat each other poorly, as long as they're man and women love will always be assumed to be there. Meanwhile, it doesn't matter if two women have chemistry, or a scene where they longingly kiss in the rain, or end the world in each other's names, their love will always be called to be proven, despite the fact that the people who call have every intention of deeming every piece of evidence inadmissible. For they can accept that a women wouldn't love at all, but they can never accept that a women wouldn't love a man.

So, yeah, I do agree with you that the denial of the bay ending feels like it's mostly because they're two girls. I think if Max were a man and Chloe was a women or vice versa, the bae ending would be universally regarded as romantic. Which...makes me sad on multiple levels. (Side Note: The people who didn't read the journal and then try to police the people who did also drive me nuts. But I went on a tangent about male/female vs WLW relationships so I forgot to address that. Oops. But yeah it is partially because they haven't read the journals. But then again if Max were a man I don't think they'd need to.)

[cariantha]

Friends Again

Book: Open Heart Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Sawyer Brooks) Rating: General Category: Fluff Word count: 2.2K Summary: Ethan loses something important. Prompt: Imagine your OTP where both of them have a piece of jewelry that symbolizes their friendship, and it was just for fun and definitely not serious. But when one of them loses their jewelry, they start to realize that it (and their relationship) meant more to them than they thought. A/N: This is a prequel of sorts to Bad Dream. Some of the dialogue used is taken directly from Open Heart: Second Year.

A week before the conference in Miami…

The hour-long drive seemed to pass in the blink of an eye with conversation flowing easily between the attending and his intern. They had reached their destination, the Boston Medical Library, situated on the University of Massachusetts campus. 

“Thanks again for coming and helping me with this research. I’m sure you had better things to do this weekend,” Ethan said, parking and turning off the engine. 

“You. Are. Welcome,” Sawyer playfully chimed as she unbuckled her seat belt. "And what’s better than solving a medical mystery and saving a man’s life?” 

She didn’t have to add “duh” to the end of that sentence. Ethan heard it in her tone and it made him smile on the inside. “God, where have you been all my life?” he thought to himself.

As they headed towards the library, they couldn’t help but notice the large farmer’s market set up in the adjacent parking lot. 

“That looks fun,” Sawyer remarked as she eyed the various booths from a distance. A variety of vendors sold everything from fresh produce, to homemade baked goods, to arts and crafts. 

Knowing it would make her happy, Ethan couldn’t resist. “Do you want to check it out?”

“You wouldn’t mind?” she asked, surprised. 

“Not at all. Believe it or not, I enjoy going to the farmer’s market. My dad and I would go when I was young. There’s a good one at Copley Square you should check out sometime,” he recommended, guiding her toward the first row of tents.

The pair strolled from booth to booth, inspecting all the different goods for sale. Along the way, they laughed at the silly products, exchanged personal stories, and sampled some of the food and drink. 

“Ohmygod,” Sawyer moaned, the chocolate melting on her tongue. “You have to try this,” she insisted, holding a sample to Ethan’s lips. Naturally and without thinking, he leaned forward eating the morsel right out of her hand, his lips brushing softly against her fingertips.

“It’s good, right?” she watched as he chewed and nodded affirmatively.

“Would you like me to pack up a box for you?” an older gentleman approached. 

Ethan reached for his wallet, “We’ll take two boxes.” 

“Happy wife, happy life! Am I right?” the vendor chuckled as he filled a container with chocolate truffles.

Seizing the opportunity to have a little fun at Ethan’s expense, Sawyer quickly replied. “Oh, he’s not my husband… yet. Two years of dating and he still hasn’t put a ring on it,” she waved the back of her ringless left hand. 

Ethan snapped his head to Sawyer and with bulging eyes silently asked, “What are you doing?”

“Back in my day, you took a test drive and either made the purchase or kept looking… none of this leasing business,” the outspoken elder shook his head. “I proposed to my beautiful Margie one month after our first date, and I married her three months later. When you know, you know… you know?”

“That’s what I’ve been telling him!” Sawyer continued the act, gently backhanding Ethan in the gut.

Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose and whispered under this breath, “For Christ’s sake.” 

Sawyer burst out laughing, finally breaking character. When the vendor looked at her puzzled, she confessed. “Sorry, we’re not actually together.” Elbowing Ethan in the side, “I just couldn’t resist messing with him. We’re just friends.” 

“Well, in my experience, that's a good place to start,” the man winked, handing Ethan his purchase.  

As they walked away, he shoved a box of truffles towards Sawyer with feigned annoyance. “Friends? Ha! More like a giant pain in my ass,” he contended. 

A short while later they found a fresh produce booth. Ethan quickly occupied himself, inspecting and sniffing different fruits and vegetables. If Sawyer had been paying attention, she might have learned how capable he was with all the beautiful ingredients, but she was distracted by another nearby vendor. When Ethan struck up a conversation with the produce farmer, she slipped away to make a quick purchase.

“Where’d you go?” Ethan asked when she returned.

“I got you something. Hold out your hand,” she urged.

Ethan raised a skeptical eyebrow, but reluctantly did as she said. 

Sawyer looped a braided leather bracelet around his wrist and fastened it. 

He took a closer look, examining the metal charms. One with the letter E, and another with the letter S. “What’s this for?”

“It’s a friendship bracelet,” she explained, “and since I'm giving it to you, it's official now. We are definitely friends.”

“Is that so?” 

“I don’t make the rules,” she shrugged.

“I’m pretty sure you just did.”

Ignoring his snark, “Oh, and it’s tradition that when someone gives you a friendship bracelet, you get to make a wish.”

Ethan just rolled his eyes. But as juvenile as it seemed, he knew exactly what he would wish for. “I’d wish for you,” he said to himself.

“Hey,” she took his hand and held it for a moment. “In all seriousness, you know I’m here as a friend, right? I mean… I’m learning a lot working with you on this case, and I’m grateful for the experience, but that’s not why I volunteered to help. I’m not here as an intern kissing your ass.”

Ethan knew from the very beginning that Sawyer was someone he could trust. Unlike other interns who would expect something in return, like a leg up in the competition, he knew she had no ulterior motives. Just the kindest and most genuine heart. 

He looked her in the eye and squeezed her hand. “I know, Sawyer.”

Five months later…

Alone in the beer garden at Donahue's, Sawyer sat on her tucked leg, facing Ethan’s glowing profile. He stared straight ahead, transfixed by the firepit's dancing flames.

Having mustered the courage to confront the elephant in the room, Sawyer broke the somber silence that had settled between them. “Ethan, why didn’t you keep in touch?” She watched him take a deep, anticipatory breath. “No word from you at all for two months? After everything that happened between us?”

Ethan took a moment to find his words, then turned his head to meet her eyes. “Everything that happened between us is exactly why I didn’t contact you,” he began to explain. “Sawyer, if we’re going to work together on the diagnostics team, we need a fresh start.” 

Resisting every urge to reach out and take her hand when she looked away from him, he pressed on. “Your professional development is too important to jeopardize it with whatever… whatever it was that we had.”

Sawyer snapped her head back to face him, “‘Had’, past tense.”

Ethan reached for the whiskey bottle that he had grabbed from inside and poured himself another glass. The sleeve of his green leather jacket rode up just enough for Sawyer to notice a braided bracelet wrapped around his wrist. The same one she gave him a week before their relationship went from friends to forbidden fruit. 

“Yes. And the past is where it has to remain,” he added. Ethan’s eyes bored into hers, searching for understanding and begging for forgiveness. 

After a long moment, Sawyer broke the connection, looking down at his wrist again. She thought it ironic that he would wear a reminder of “whatever they had,” while insisting that they must now ignore and bury their feelings for one another. That cheap piece of jewelry meant something to him. And the fact that he wore it now, meant that she did too. 

So without concern for the consequences, she tested her theory. Surging forward, she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and kissed him. A long and gentle kiss. An act of forgiveness, and one that he seemed willing to accept since he hadn’t pulled away. But when she leaned back, she saw the turmoil written across his face. Just as she had months ago in Miami. 

“Dammit, Sawyer.” 

A few weeks later…

As much as he hated to admit it, Ethan desperately missed Sawyer. He missed their easy friendship. The way she always seemed to know what he was thinking. The way he could talk to her about anything. The way he could be himself around her. Not Dr. Ramsey, but just Ethan.

Though they saw each other almost everyday, their interactions were mostly transactional. It had been difficult to let their guards down around each other. Ethan found it too tempting to cross the line, and Sawyer grew tired of the knock-backs.   

The night that she helped him set up his Pictagram account reminded Ethan of the way they once were, before he left for the Amazon. It felt normal again. The friendly banter, the trust, the laughter… everything seemed right in the world for those few hours. 

After she had gone home that evening, Ethan opened his desk drawer, finding a cherished item. It was something that he’d kept near and dear since the day he left for the Amazon.  

“...how are you supposed to know when you’ve met the right person?” 

“It’s love, Ethan… you just feel it…” 

He slipped the leather over his fingers and rolled the charms with his thumb, as their conversation echoed in his mind. Then he thought back to the day Sawyer gave him the bracelet. 

“When you know, you know…” he recalled the old, outspoken man saying. 

There was no doubt he felt something for Sawyer, but was it love? Not having much experience with the feeling, he allowed himself to consider the possibility. But how to know for sure? That’s when Ethan remembered something else the vendor at the market said, when Sawyer told him they were just friends.

“Well, in my experience, that's a good place to start.”

A few days later, Sawyer approached the diagnostics team’s office. She spotted Ethan through the glass windows and paused to watch his odd behavior. He was searching for something, lifting up files, checking around the coffee station, and rummaging through the pockets of his outdoors coat. He was on his knees looking under his desk when she finally entered the room. 

“Shit…” he muttered, unaware of her presence. When she cleared her throat, he startled and stood up.  

“What’s going on?” she asked.

Ethan tried to act normal, organizing items on his desk. “Nothing.”

“You sure? It looked like you were searching for something. Can I help you look?”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” he clipped. Fortunately, June and Baz joined them for the start of their meeting, and the rookie team member didn’t press any further.  

A couple hours later, Sawyer bumped into Bryce as he stepped out of the men’s restroom. “Oof!” he grunted.

“Sorry!” she quickly apologized as he caught her shoulders.

“Geez, Brooks, I know how bad you want to hit this, but at least buy me a drink first,” he teased, soliciting a roll of the eyes from Sawyer. “Whatcha up to?” he asked.

“Just a quick bathroom break, then off to check on our DT patient. You?”

“I’m on Ortho this week. On my way to scrub in for an ACL reconstruction.”

“Niiice. Well, have fun. I’ll catch you later,” she said, putting her hand on the door to the ladies room.

“Oh hey, do you know where the lost and found is? I found this bracelet on the floor.”

Sawyer instantly recognized the accessory. The personalized charms featuring the letters “E” and “S” were undeniable proof. Then it hit her. Was this what he was searching high and low for earlier? 

“Luckily, I know who that belongs to, and I’m more than happy to return it to them.”

“Cool, catch you later,” he waved.

That afternoon, Sawyer returned to the diagnostics suite. There she found Ethan standing in front of the smartboard, studying MRI results.  

Acknowledging her presence with a side eye glance, “Did you need me for something?”

Sawyer demanded that he hold out his hand.

“Whatever for?” he asked, turning and giving her his full attention.

“Just. Give me. Your hand,” she insisted.

He yielded and held out his hand. 

Sawyer fished the leather band from her pocket and wiggled it in front of his face with a satisfied smirk. "Could this be what you were desperately searching for in the office earlier?"

Ethan hesitated, contemplating what he should admit. He finally decided on, “Maybe.”

She took his hand in hers. But before sliding the bracelet onto his wrist, she looked him in the eyes. “Will you, Ethan Jonah Ramsey, be my friend again?”

He rolled his eyes, cracking a big smile as she batted her eyelashes and eagerly awaited his answer. Then he twisted his lips playfully, as if he had to think about it. 

Sawyer squeezed his hand hard, letting him know there was only one acceptable answer. 

“Okay, okay,” he begged for relief, “I’ll be your damn friend.”

“Good…” she said, her tone more serious as she slid the bracelet over his hand, “because I’ve really missed that lately.”

“Honestly�� me too,” he confessed quietly.

“There. That’s a much safer place for it. Wouldn’t you agree?” she asked, making sure the reminder of their friendship was snug and secure.

“I suppose you’re right,” he agreed, giving his wrist a twist.

“Well, friend, maybe we can talk later tonight and catch up a little?”

“Sure, call me,” he started, but then, “No, wait–”

Sawyer’s face fell immediately, assuming he suddenly remembered that he was trying to maintain those infuriating professional boundaries. 

“What are you doing right now?” he asked. “How about a walk to Derry’s for a coffee break?”

Sawyer’s happy smile returned. “I would love that… bestie.”

“Let’s not push it, Sawyer.”

Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics @peonierose  @potionsprefect @trappedinfanfiction @jerzwriter @queencarb @coffeeheartaddict2 @quixoticdreamer16 @jamespotterthefirst @liaromancewriter @zealouscanonindeer @tveitertotwrites @tessa-liam @youlookappropriate @kyra75 @socalwriterbee @txemrn 

[lycheesodas]

a place where both our hearts may rest | A @tolkienrsb collaboration between @maironsbigboobs and yours truly! This is the first of two art pieces I submitted this year :3

Summary: He remembered how they had once desired glory. How they had once wanted to take part in great deeds. And how that battle had ended in nothing but betrayal and bloodshed. No, Mablung did not wish to be a warrior any longer – he longed for his books and journals, for the comfort of song and the company of friends. Beleg exhaled deeply. “We will not be soldiers again; not captains, not lords, only Beleg and Mablung.” - Beleg and Mablung survived the First Age. In search of a better future, they set off on an exploration of Eriador, but peace is not always easy to find. Word Count: 16,831 Rating: E Characters: Beleg Cúthalion, Mablung of Doriath Relationships: Beleg Cúthalion/Mablung of Doriath Additional Tags: Second Age Road Trip Memory, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Hurt/Comfort, Mentions of canon events and deaths

I will never skip out on an opportunity to draw Beleg and Mablung, my best boys and OTP 😌💕 I've always wondered how things might turn out for them had they survived.. And Heather my fellow Beleg enjoyer (some might say THE Beleg enjoyer) was the perfect writer for this!! They're living their best cottagecore life in this fic, while interacting with a charming cast of character both familiar and original :D

Thank you so much for putting up with my silly little requests throughout the process 🥺 I hope you enjoyed writing for them as much as I did drawing this. And dear (future) readers, I hope you enjoy reading this, too! 💐🌸🌱

Plus, look out for extra doodles from me soon 👀

🌷 commission info | shop

Credits: Paper texture

Textless version under the cut:

[lordbelacqua]

Now she looked Lord Asriel full in the face and seemed to speak to him alone, her voice low and passionate, her brilliant eyes glittering.

[average-mako-enjoyer]

Or Mordin (for the character ask) since we're having Mordin feels this morning.

From the character ask game.

This is very, very interesting, thank you! Finally, I have a chance to talk about him.

Favorite thing about them He's one of The Characters. One of my top 3.

He's so complex, so morally ambiguous, so intelligent and yet so short-sighted at times.

He heals and he kills, but not with medicine.

He has to see the results of his actions for himself, to see with his own eyes the people whose lives he has impacted.

He's passionate, he's asexual, he's ruthless, he's one of the most compassionate people you'll ever meet.

He's everything at once.

Love him, love him, love him. Least favorite thing about them Don't get me wrong, I like his redemption arc, but it feels half-baked and toothless to me.

He's the best damn character in ME2, and I feel that ME3 kinda forgets how badass he actually is. So he takes a back seat in his own ME3 story until the final climactic moment and that's it.

I think this is the only instance where making completely atrocious renegade choices (killing or betraying Wrex, killing Maelon, destroying his data and thus killing Bakara, and pushing Mordin to sabotage the cure) feels more rewarding because it has the same moral ambiguity that is an essential part of Mordin's character. Favorite line "Life is a negotiation. We all want. We all give to get what we want."

"No tests on species with members capable of calculus. Simple rule, never broke it."

"Hard to see big picture behind pile of corpses." brOTP Bakara, obviously.

I think their relationship is incredible. It's based on mutual respect and care, and I think it's one of the rare cases where Mordin doesn't just see her as a patient or a curious piece of research, but as a person, and that person interests him as much as her genetics and physiological reactions. OTP I've seen someone suggesting Aria/Mordin, and yes, this sounds like FUN.

But realistically? Mordin/Immortality. Just give my man all the time in the universe so he can continue his studies.

I think he would have been fascinated by the post-control ending Shepard. nOTP Mordin/Shep.

I've seen some cute art, but… how about no? He's clearly not interested in romance or fucking, leave him be. Random headcanon He's also a painter and he does abstract art with names like "The Presumption of Anger p.3", and you look at it and it's just a long vertical black line on a purple background. And he's very serious about this stuff. Unpopular opinion I don't think it's that unpopular, but Gilbert and Sullivan plus the seashells quote did some irreparable damage to his image in the eyes of the fandom.

Yeah, the games portray him as this quirky, babbling genius. Oh, he tests biological weapons, but not on the crew, of course not, why are you so nervous, Joker? But that's just the surface.

There's so much to Mordin behind his mannerisms and behind his sweet relationship with Bakara. There's really so much darkness in him. And all that just gets ignored, and it's so shitty?

He gets babyfied a lot, and considering the fact that he's also a positive autistic+ADHD rep in these games, it's a little insulting tbh. Song i associate with them I don't really have one, but in the spirit of pulling random indie music recommendations out of my ass, I think he would've enjoyed the sheer ridiculousness of Hydrogenuine by USS Favorite picture of them This one.

[viciousgold]

“what if?” psst this is a long ted talk, I apologize

so because of a conversation between me and @secondbetrayer, a thread between me and @evebeforethefall, and a post I saw @soulstcne make, I’ve been thinking about something all day; what if Marisa through some circumstance had been taken out of her world and put into ours? be it someone time traveling or someone in the right place, right time, or if marisa had simply chosen to remain in our world after her first visit to it. and let’s say for the purpose of this thought, eliminate the whole “you can’t live outside of your world for 10 years” thing, imagine it doesn’t exist, bc let’s face it, it mainly exists so we can have a tragic ending for will and lyra. 

what I will be taking into consideration though, is the prophecy. now, what exactly is it that we know about the prophecy?

it’s a centuries old prophecy

the witches were the first to hear about this

the alethiometer revealed to those who asked that lyra was the subject of said prophecy

the prophecy is basically that lyra, marisa’s daughter, is “destined to bring about the end of destiny” aka bringing an end to prophecies, bringing forward true free will, but this isn’t the only element to the prophecy, a key part of it is also her ending death, or at least, death in the sense of, when you die, you go to this purgatory and you stay there for eternity. 

PART 1 of the prophecy: bring true free will. she’s meant to do this through being tempted in the same way eve is tempted by the serpent and allowing dust (also known as what truly allows beings to have sentience and free will) to freely flow.

PART 2 of the prophecy: free the dead. she’s meant to do this through literally going to the land of the dead, opening a way out back into the world, and freeing the souls back into the earth instead of being trapped in purgatory for all eternity.

something to also consider: it’s a caveat of the prophecy that lyra does all of this in complete ignorance, never being told what she needs to do, never knowing about the prophecy itself, because, as it says in the series, “But she must fulfil this destiny in ignorance of what she is doing, because only in her ignorance can we be saved.”

so you also have to consider a few things: 

1. rebel angels are the ones pulling all of the strings for the circumstances of this prophecy to happen. lyra and marisa and asriel etc are still making the choices, but as xaphania tells mary, angels have been guiding humanity for a very long time. this prophecy is centuries old, at least, if not older. meaning that rebel angels like xaphania have been designing the circumstances of this prophecy for centuries.

2. because of that, the angels are very determined to have this prophecy happen, no matter what. 

3. the circumstances leading up to this prophecy are really, really fucking bad ones and also, were all necessary to have the prophecy happen. you have to consider, how was lyra able to reach the land of the dead in the first place? she had the combination of will, who had the subtle knife that could cut through worlds, as well as a deep connection between her and her best friend, who had been killed, and was reaching out to her from beyond, who revealed to her the existence of the world of the dead. already, the prophecy relies on something so tragic as lyra’s best friend being killed. but that’s just the beginning. why did lyra feel the need to go to her best friend in the world of the dead? because she felt responsible for his death. why did she feel responsible? because she was the one who technically led him to her father, asriel, who killed him. why was her best friend killed? because asriel was intent on breaking through to another world and his options at the time were limited. using the energy of separating a child from their daemon to forcefully open a window was one of the very few options he had in such a limited time, while trapped in a limited area. why was he trapped in that limited area with a limited time? because marisa had him trapped there. why did marisa have him trapped there? because asriel forbade marisa from seeing lyra and the only way she was able to see her was trapping asriel. why did he cut off access to lyra? because marisa gave up lyra and turned her back on both of them. why did marisa do this? because she didn’t want to give up likely what would be her one opportunity of having a real career. why did she have to give up lyra for the sake of her career? because of two things; the society she lived in was incredibly sexist and there were very few opportunities for a woman to have a career in a scientific field, and she had an affair with asriel that ended in a scandal and lyra being born out of wedlock. why did this happen? because she married edward first before ever meeting asriel. why did she choose her career over her child and the love of her life? she valued self preservation above all things. why did she? because she was raised by a mother who taught her to, as well as abuse her. and similar pieces lead to lyra finding will, the other necessary piece of the prophecy. without any of these things happening, the prophecy falls apart

with all of this in mind, we basically know that the prophecy is

inescapable

requiring lyra to be born obviously

requiring her to be born to unfortunate tragic circumstances

if you change the tragic circumstances that lead to lyra’s birth, my conclusion is that the angels would’ve had to rework things heavily, but still not without tragedy, mainly because of how driving it is, and how tragedy is what leads lyra to the world of the dead, along with meeting will. so here goes my personal theories of how I think things would play out if:

-marisa finds the window at a young age, is adopted by someone in our world. someone kind, loving, and a healthy parent.

for the prophecy to still work in this circumstance, the angels would have to

figure out a way to still get marisa and asriel to meet, be together, and conceive lyra

figure out a circumstance that requires lyra to both meet will, and have a need to go to the world of the dead. 

keep marisa and asriel alive and guide them to help lyra fight metatron, who will be determined to kill lyra after freeing the dead from his prison.

these are the two essential pieces of the prophecy. with that in mind, maybe things would play out like this:

angels play more of a role of guiding asriel to find what he’s looking for, specifically a window to our world

he meets marisa, realizing she’s another person with a daemon like himself, he takes interest in her

like in the original timeline, they fall in love

unlike in the original timeline, marisa is a scientist, a successful one at that. she’s happy. she’s got at least one parent who loves her unconditionally

her relationship with asriel is still fairly complicated; they love each other, but also similarly to the original timeline, they’re still both dominant, headbutting personalities that clash often and have power struggles

overall though, their relationship is more healthy. they have marisa’s parent, they have therapy, they have marisa’s healthy coping mechanisms and conflict resolution. despite their naturally spitfire personalities, they more-so now have the tools to handle it rather than becoming as volatile. they also don’t have the circumstance of marisa feeling pressured to marry at a young age, leaving her to focus on her career, and unattached when she meets asriel

once they find out that marisa is pregnant, they decide to marry. marisa gives birth to lyra and they both do their best to raise their child while still both being heavily focused on their careers. they go through a lot of therapy, nannies, lyra’s grandparent intervening. overall though, because marisa was raised with 1. morals 2. a good childhood 3. a healthy mentality., they do their best to parent through all their mistakes and are actually a very loving family despite everything. 

as lyra grows older, she begins to be more and more curious about why she and her parents have daemons, but no one else does. she doesn’t understand why they have to hide their true natures-- asriel has the reputation of an eccentric rich man with a snow leopard, the same going for marisa with her golden lion tamarin, neither daemon is allowed to talk in the presence of other people, and lyra is asked to hide her daemon entirely until he settles. and for her sake, they hope pantalaimon settles into something passable like a dog or a cat. 

at some point in lyra’s youth, asriel gives lyra his alethiometer as a gift, unknowing that she would come to possess the ability to read it.

lyra, now eleven years old, is desperate to see the original world they came from. asriel is more strict in his answer of no, that she’s not allowed to go there, ever. marisa tries explaining the harsh reality of that world. from her early childhood memories, and everything she knows about their world from asriel, she knows that there are awful realities in that world. the magisterium, a totalitarian government ruling everything, all of the sexism, lack of democracy, lack of freedom, among a whole list of things. she tries explaining this to lyra, but she’s still far too enamored by the stories told to her by her father growing up; stories of talking ice bears, stories of witches, stories of other people with daemons. lyra is determined to see their world one day. 

meanwhile, asriel and marisa work together on what asriel is working on through most of the og trilogy in the og timeline; building the republic of heaven and waging war against the authority. lyra tries involving herself. her parents forbid it. one day, marisa and asriel do go back to their own world, with the intent of only going for a few weeks. unbeknownst to them, lyra follows

an argument happens when she’s found by them, and marisa tells lyra that she’s going to bring her back home. hearing this, lyra runs off and escapes before she can be brought back to the other world

marisa begins frantically searching for lyra, much like she does in the first and second book in the original timeline. unlike before, asriel is also helping her search. 

in exploring this new to her world, their original world, lyra meets roger, her best friend in the original timeline. the two quickly become friends, playing together, running about the college where the boy works, looking out for each other as lyra tells him that her parents are looking for her, to take her away from here. she shares with him that she lives in another world, but in that world, they don’t have daemons. roger’s horrified by the thought, and understands lyra’s desire in not wanting to go back. roger helps lyra evade her parents

without marisa growing up in this world, the maystadt process was never invented, thus the general oblation board was never invented; billy, nor any other child gets kidnapped by the general oblation board. however, once nearly found by marisa and asriel, lyra and roger run away from oxford together. 

even without the general oblation board, however, the magisterium is still doing very corrupt and evil things. innocent people are arrested for heresy, sentenced to imprisonment and even death in extreme cases. the angels guide lyra to someone who is a labeled heretic, but someone kind, generous, completely willing to take in lyra and roger. however, this person is soon arrested and taken away. this is what drives lyra to go looking for them and drives lyra to go against the magisterium. lyra, being a naturally protective person, wants to help find the person who helped them. 

from here, we have similar events to the first book. we have lyra working with people to fight the magisterium, one of these people showing lyra how the alethiometer works, which leads to her figuring out how to read it, using it to help people who all have had their loved ones wrongfully taken away and/or killed by the magisterium. like in the first book, lyra helps fuel an uprising against them, through her charisma, bravery, cunning, and wit. all the while, her mother, and now her father, are searching for her. 

it gets to the point where lyra, roger, and the others are raiding a magisterium prison to release people who were wrongfully imprisoned by them. in this raid, roger is shot and killed. like in the original timeline, lyra blames herself for this. she was the one who roped roger into all this, she tells herself. she was the one who took him away from his home in oxford where he was safe, she insists.

marisa and asriel find lyra after the raid, once again through the subtle guiding hand of the angels. at this point, lyra is conflicted about wanting to go home and wanting to stay and fight, to avenge roger’s death. asriel tells lyra that she can help them fight, as the fight against the magisterium, as the fight against any agents of the authority, is their fight too. with this, lyra willingly returns to our world with her parents.

now twelve years old, lyra goes to a new school, where she meets another student there, will. similarly to the original timeline, the two of them get along and connect. everything that’s happening with will’s life is still happening the same; his mother is unwell, his father is missing, and carlo is investigating them. much of the second book goes exactly the same, only now, lyra is helping him through the beginning. carlo’s men break into will’s house looking for the letters, will accidentally kills one of them in self defense, and he goes on the run. lyra first tries offering to help by her parents hiding him, but will doesn’t want to put lyra and her family at risk. lyra being lyra though, she still wants to help. so she shows will the window back to their world, where they can escape. he follows her, and they go through the window, though lyra knowing that her own world isn’t safe either, they go through the window leading to cittagazze. 

almost all of the major events of the second book happen from this point-- they meet angelica and the gang of kids, the town’s still overrun by spectres that have pushed out all of the adults. carlo still tries using will to get the subtle knife, stealing lyra’s alethiometer for leverage. will still fights tulio for the knife and becomes the bearer, with this he and lyra still trick carlo and get the alethiometer back without giving him the knife, serafina still heals will’s wounds.

in going back to search for lyra yet again, marisa and asriel find the shaman jopari, aka stanislaus grumman, aka john parry, will’s father, and its there they learn that the subtle knife is important to their fight against the authority. john still has the conversation with will, telling him that he needs to go to asriel and marisa and help them fight against the authority using the knife, as the knife bearer. he isn’t shot, however, because unlike in the original timeline, the magisterium has yet to find out through marisa’s searching that lyra is the child of prophecy, so there aren’t magisterium soldiers in cittagazze. they do find out soon, though. also different, because lyra trusts and loves her parents, she and will willingly go with them once marisa and asriel find them. 

like in the original timeline, lyra still hears roger calling to her from the world of the dead from her dreams. they aren’t as strong, but she still has the dreams. meanwhile, she, will, her parents, and their army are working together to wage war against the authority. eventually though, enough of the dreams start to make sense and feel real and lyra feels compelled to find the world of the dead and go after roger, to apologize and try to make things right. marisa and asriel don’t approve of this, and maybe there’s even a whole thing where the knife breaks and they have to get it mended again like in the original timeline, but either way, lyra is adamant and they cut through to the world of the dead. this part is, unfortunately, almost exactly the same as in the original timeline as well, complete with lyra having to leave pan behind when she goes to the world of the dead, at this point the magisterium have used their alethiometrist to ask about the child who fucked up a lot of their operations, and they find out she’s the subject of the prophecy that they believe will cast the world into sin, so they still try killing her. here’s where things get tricky again: without marisa’s daemon severing technology ever being invented, the bomb to target lyra is never invented either, as it heavily relied on the existence of the maystadt process. however, remember how in the first book, there were certain witch clans working for the magisterium? yeah, we’re gonna keep that and the magisterium is gonna send a witch after lyra to kill her. this witch uses magic to track and find her, and guess what? we also learn in the books that the daemon separation ritual all witches undergo once they reach adulthood involves witches going to the world of the dead and leaving their daemons behind, so guess where witches can go? yep, to the world of the dead. so a witch goes to the world of the dead and tries to kill lyra, and almost succeeds, but like in the original timeline, lyra had told stories to the harpies, true stories, and it’s one of the harpies that kills the witch to save lyra’s life, and it’s this harpy that lyra names gracious wings just like in the og timeline. she still makes the deal with gracious wings that if people share their true stories with her that she’ll lead the dead out to the window that will cuts out of the land of the dead. so will does this, they lead the dead out, the souls become part of the universe again, no longer trapped in purgatory. and also I didn’t mention it before but mary’s storyline, again because most of the second book’s storyline remaining the same, still happens too and thus she’s still on her serpent journey and with the mulefa. mary’s journey in this timeline is still 100% the same.

after freeing the dead, lyra and will go back to marisa and asriel where they find a metatron who is very angry that his purgatory prison has been prison breaked by some kids with a knife, and is intent on killing them. however, since will is working with the republic of heaven in this timeline, guess what, he goes with asriel and marisa to fight and he actually does what we see his father telling him would happen, will uses the knife to destroy metatron. the authority thing still happens too with him cutting open the box and the air killing him, that’s the exact same too. 

so yeah, they continue fighting agents of the authority such as the magisterium and other agents in other worlds, the fall still happens of lyra being tempted by the serpent (mary) and lyra and will realize their love for each other, their daemons settle, and like, fuck philip pullman for that “you can’t live out of your own world” thing just for the sake of having a tragic end for them, since that’s removed, they get to stay together and like???? it still took a lot of tragedy to get here but it’s still a damn happier ending at least.

if I missed any important details lemme know and I can add my take on them in anyway that’s my unhinged ted talk ok bye

[sixty-silver-wishes]

Hmm gonna make a classic film ask game!

(for the purpose of this game, I'm defining "classic film" as films made up until the 1960s.)

1- Silents or talkies? 2- If you could see one lost classic film, which one would it be and why? 3- Who is your favorite classic film director?

4- What is your favorite decade of film? 5- Favorite actor/actress?

6- What's a popular classic film that you dislike? 7- What do people get wrong about your favorite film? 8- Give a fun fact about the production of a classic film! 9- Have you ever seen a classic film screened in a movie theater?

10- How would you adapt a classic film of your choice?

11- Does your favorite classic film have a sequel and/or remake? If so, do you like it? 12- If you were cast in a classic film, which one would you want to be cast in, and which character would you want to play?

13- Favorite instance of practical effects in a classic film?

14- Hot take!

15- What's the oldest film you've seen? 16- What's your least favorite role of your favorite actor's?

17- Which film do you want to see that you haven't seen yet?

18- Where do you go to watch classic films? (Physical media? Streaming services? Internet?)

19- Does your favorite classic film have source material, such as being based on a book or play? Have you read or seen the source material?

20- Thoughts on colorizing black and white films?

21- Which film do you prefer- Nosferatu (1922) or Dracula (1931)?

22- Do you own a physical copy of your favorite classic film?

23- Have you shown your favorite classic film to someone else? What did they think of it? 24- Is there a classic film you watch as a holiday tradition (ie, "It's a Wonderful Life" around Christmas, "Arsenic and Old Lace" around Halloween?)

25- Have you seen any classic films made outside western Europe or the US? If so, what are your top favorites?

26- How did you get into classic films?

27- Whose acting do you prefer- Charlie Chaplin's or Buster Keaton's?

28- What is "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920) actually about?

29- Least favorite classic film?

30- They're making a Muppets adaptation of your favorite classic film. Who's who?

31- Peter Lorre or Dwight Frye?

32- Has a classic film ever genuinely scared you? Which one?

33- What's your comfort film?

34- Is there a classic film that makes you cry?

35- Favorite comedy?

36- Best Hitchcock film?

37- Best Fritz Lang film?

38- Favorite Universal monster?

39- What's your classic film character OTP? NoTP?

40- Thoughts on talking during a silent film?

41- Favorite Lon Chaney role?

42- Ingenues or femme fatales?

43- Favorite pre-Code film?

44- Without the Hays Code in the way, would you change anything about your favorite Code-era film?

45- Which actors do you think were snubbed with the roles they got?

46- Do you own any classic film memorabilia- ie., autographs, photos, etc.? If so, what's your favorite piece?

47- Which role do you wish your favorite classic film actor got to play, but didn't?

48- Favorite classic animated film?

49- Black and white or glorious technicolor?

50- Favorite classic movie musical?

[qwertycake]

cute squishy platonic otp prompts :) very fluffy and good smiley face

FOUND THESE ABANDONED IN MY NOTES FROM 2021! Some of these are very specific so feel free to alter them to suit your situation/tastes. Some of these are more targeted towards the mundane “imagine this” scenarios which aren’t great for writing an extended piece about but they can still get your creative juices flowing. These are all geared towards platonic and squishy, but I suppose they could be used in other contexts too. Enjoy!

“You’re very good at that instrument, Person A, but please put it away it’s two in the fucking morning” AU

“We went out to stargaze but you keep saying that every cluster of stars is Orion’s belt and I’m starting to think you’re trying to impress me with the astrology knowledge that you don’t have” AU

“You walked into our house/apartment/whatever sopping wet from the rain because you forgot your umbrella, here’s a towel and I’m making hot chocolate by the way let’s watch movies” AU

“That’s a cute bouquet and all but why are the neighbours’ gardens barren” AU

“We’re playing smash bros together on the couch and I’m teaching you to play and you kick my ass and the worst part is that I wasn’t letting you win” AU

“The party’s over and we now have a ton of helium filled balloons hey what if we drank the helium and prank called people come on you know you want to” AU

“We went to a rocky beach and now have a rucksack full of cool rocks that we’re never gonna use” AU

“Look I know it’s two in the morning— hey stop asking how I got in your room that’s not important— I need you to make a Hot Wheels track with me” AU

“We both keep dream journals and are sharing our weird dreams” AU

“We’re performers waiting outside the venue because we’re tired of the loud noise and need a breather, also hey is your group also going to the McDonalds afterwards? I’ll see you there” AU

“We’re camping and a random dog/cat just waltzed up to our tent and we don’t know where their owner is so we have to take care of it in a really small space oh my god” AU

“We’re both isakaied away into another world but you became a cool mage and I’m just Some Dude” AU

“We’ve been trying to get this goddamn plushy from a grabbing machine for literal hours to the point where we broke it and the poor worker, person C, just walked up and unlocked the chamber and gave us the plushy out of pity” AU

“We’re at a library and I’m intimidated because everyone looks super stoic and serious but then you waltz up to me with a kids encyclopaedia of dinosaurs and ask me which one’s my favourite” AU

“We’re having a snowball fight but we both can use insanely powerful magic and end up wrecking havoc on the whole area” AU

“Oh your winter clothes got wet, here have my hat and gloves I don’t feel cold— in fact you know what let me warm your hands for you, give em here” AU

“I’m driving us home from the airport/ferry port/whatever and its late and we end up falling asleep in the car park of a service station. You wake up before me and buy me service station food for a three in the morning breakfast and it’s really sweet until we realise that we still have an hour to go before we’re home ugh” AU

“Can you catch the bus with me I’ve never caught it before and I need to get used to it” AU

“We’re astronauts and we’re going into space together and it’s really scary but you’re pissing me off already and we’ve barely gotten ready for launch fuck” AU

“We both crash landed from a plane into a woodland and are staying in an abandoned shack and chatting over a can of warming beans” AU

“We’re in control of making the new universe and we can’t agree on anything stop putting cat ears on the humans and take this seriously goddammit” AU

“I work at a drycleaners and you’ve been bringing your bodypillow/ahaego hoodie/whatever here for the past three days and I just want to know why please you’re killing me” AU

“There’s only one bed but we actually get gradually more pissed off at one another as the night goes on because you kicked me and I took the blanket and whatever until I cave and sleep on the couch, but you make me breakfast in the morning so all is forgiven” AU

“You look depressed here have a bathbomb go have a bath I insist do you want wine” AU

“You’ve never made a pizza from scratch before? Here let me show you how” AU

“You’ve never played hop scotch before? Here let me show you in public” AU

“You’ve never built a death ray before? Here let me show you— hey hold on stop screaming it’s pointed away from you it’s pointed away” AU

“Mario Maker: Endless Easy” AU

“Whenever we go out to eat you always tell the staff that it’s my birthday when it isn’t and I always get happy birthday sung to me and I hate you now pass me that slice of cake goddammit” AU