#projections upon projections upon projections

[plainclothesdisaster]

Martian Manhunter has seen many things happen in the Watchtower situation room, but this might be one of the strangest.

One of Gotham’s many vigilantes- Red Hood, if he wasn’t mistaken- stormed into the room, slammed his palms on the far side of the long table, and said, “You need to check what the asteroid is made of.”

The asteroid in question was one line item of many agenda points for this meeting. The radar had picked it up as one on a collision course with Earth, but they had protocols for this. They’d dealt with similar situations multiple times before. It’s not often though, that they have uninvited attendees to justice league meetings. That alone is enough to make J’onn wonder.

“How did you get up here, son?” Superman, always the diplomat, attempts to calm some of the confusion.

“Irrelevant. The asteroid. What’s its composition?”

Batman has less patience. “The protocols are in place to deal with the threat. Red Hood—“

“They won’t work.”

Green Lantern, ever not the diplomat, rolls his eyes. “Kid, we’ve dealt with similar situations dozens of times. Care to explain why this one is so special?”

“Just trust me.”

Batman sighs. “I think we’ve heard enough, Hood.”

“No. Wait. I have it on good authority that the usual protocol won’t work.” He retorts, then stares directly at Batman, as if that statement wasn’t just another empty platitude.

Batman’s jaw flexes. An understanding passes between them.

“What authority?” Diana questions, stone faced.

As if in response, the door opens again. A familiar face pops in, seemingly oblivious to the meeting. It’s a member of the Watchtower tech staff. Danny.

“Ah. Whoops,” Danny stutters. “Didn’t know you all were in here. My bad.”

Red Hood transfers his glare to this newcomer, but Danny seems blissfully immune to it. Batman remains uncharacteristically speechless as Danny steps further into the room.

“But while I’m here—“ Danny hits a switch on the wall and a crisp blue light projection of their solar neighborhood beams into view above the table. “I upgraded the holo projectors.” The planets spin and their clouds swirl and their many moons dance in orbit. It’s incredibly accurate and finely detailed.

“Pretty cool, right?”

And there, just beyond the rings of Saturn, is the asteroid in question.

Danny meets Batman’s eyeline and raises his eyebrows. Another silent exchange. It has J’onn on edge. He trusts the team around this table implicitly. He does not, however, trust those who haven’t earned their seat.

He reaches out telepathically for Danny, intending just a surface level read of his intentions. But Upon making connection he’s met with infinite nebulae, an endless vortex, an impossible cold. He grips his knees under the table, suddenly fighting not to be overwhelmed, and then in a snap he’s cut off. Like a fly being swatted.

Danny’s eyes slide to him, slowly. Sorry about that. Should have warned you it’s dangerous to look too close. Danny’s voice echoes across the telepathic link.

J’onn sits up straighter. Just what kind of creature had Batman let on this station?

What do you know. J’onn demands.

Nothing you can’t figure out. Y’all aren’t that dense.

“It’s Kryptonite.” Superman’s dark tone brings his attention back to the table. Batman’s at the holo controls— he’s zoomed in on the asteroid and data and projection lines flicker all around it.

“No- it looks almost like lantern energy. Like it’s a construct.” Green Lantern has lost his snark. A reprieve certainly, but never a good omen.

“Either possibility makes redirection challenging. Destruction inadvisable.” Batman frowns.

J’onn keeps his eyes on Danny, who now seems to be on the receiving end of a whispered lecture from the still-inexplicable Red Hood. Danny looks unbothered, and indeed instead appears like he is rather enjoying himself.

Voices raise around the table as more solutions are offered and discarded. This is not how he expected this meeting to go.

Or maybe you all are that dense. Danny muses down the apparently still-active link.

J’onn is about to interrogate him further when he stops. He’s arrived at the answer to their conundrum.

“Density shifting.”

“J’onn?” Batman quiets the rest of the table and everyone’s focus shifts.

“We density shift the asteroid so it passes through the Earth harmlessly. Between myself and Miss Martian it should be possible.”

Murmurs of assent fill the room. Batman’s gaze goes again to Danny, and J’onn’s follows.

The supposed mechanic is smiling at them like a pleased housecat.

Batman keeps eye contact with Danny down the length of the table. Danny stands at the opposite head, next to Red Hood. For a moment J’onn wonders if the command of the room has shifted.

Until Danny shrugs and says, “Sounds plausible enough. Don’t look at me. I’m just a mechanic.”

J’onn reaches for the telepathic link, but it’s gone. Danny turns to leave, Red Hood at his heels, but before he does he winks at J’onn on his way out the door.

J’onn blinks. The air in the room shifts and settles as soon as Danny’s gone. Batman begins outlining the logistics of the new plan, but J’onn barely hears him.

He can’t get that flash of endless void out of his head. And yet the link did end up leaving an impression of Danny’s intentions after all: Kindness. Secrecy. And a pure, desperate desire to help.

Very strange indeed.

//

“I could have handled it,” Jason says over his shoulder as he stirs the bolognese sauce.

Danny’s sprawled out on the couch with some trashy tv on in the background. “You did great.”

“I’m just saying— you didn’t have to show up.”

“What if I just wanted to see steam come out of Batman’s ears in person?”

“You get to do that every time we go to family dinner,” he pauses to taste the sauce, adds a dash more pepper. “I thought it was supposed to be risky. Y’know- for you to get involved.”

“It is, yeah. Which is the reason for all this roundabout mumbo jumbo. Making them figure it out themselves. Means I’m less likely to get caught.”

He taps his spoon and turns to face Danny. “Why risk it then? Why not just let them deal with it on their own? They would have figured out how to deal with the asteroid eventually.”

“Probably, yeah. But how late? How many of people would have gotten hurt- or worse- in that process?”

Jason sighs. he knows trying to convince Danny to be less self sacrificing is like arguing with a carbon steel wall. The timer beeps and he drains the noodles.

“I was just gonna go handle it myself on the sly but— turned out that dumb rock had enough ectoranium in it to resist ghost powers.”

“You didn’t have to do that either.”

Danny shrugs as Jason plates the pasta and hands him a bowl. Jason takes his seat on the couch next to him.

By the time he’s settled Danny has already shoved a big bite of pasta in his mouth. “You’ve really outdone yourself.” He says between chews.

Jason smiles, but he’s not ready to let it go. “If you’re gonna keep doing this, you gotta let me help you.”

“For sure,” he replies between chews.

“Like, actually help you.”

“Of course.”

“Danny. For real though. If you get caught— I can’t— ugh.” Jason sets his bowl on the coffee table and turns to look Danny in the eye. “All I’m saying is that if you get yoinked away to some other dimension as punishment I’m going to be pretty pissed, okay?”

Danny puts his fork down and gives him a wry look.

“But really, me helping you can’t be /that/ against the rules. And if it is, surely you’ll come save me if I get yoinked too, yeah?”

Danny releases a breathy laugh. “Of course! Of course.” He sighs, and his smile fades. “I really wasn’t going to get involved. I was just gonna get a degree, get a normal enough job, just try to live a life while I could.”

“So do that. The Justice League’s problems aren’t your personal responsibility.”

“No, but— If I have the power to help people— to save people— and I don’t, that kinda makes me a shitty person, no?”

“Not if it means risking the whole life you built.”

“I don’t have a life to risk, remember?”

“You do to me!” He’s raised his voice without meaning to, and Danny looks up at him wide-eyed. Jason’s stomach flips, but he’s still not ready to back down, because it’s true.

The life Danny brought to him over the past months is apparent everywhere around them. His shirts heaped over the chair, the kind of coffee he likes in the cabinet and the mug that’s become his, the dirty dishes from all the meals Jason would have never cooked just for himself, the shitty punk music he insisted on playing. It’s a warmth and a light that’s seeped into his home, and even deeper into the core of himself. He didn’t know he could still feel so alive.

Danny’s eyebrows stitch together and he goes pensive, which Jason rarely has seen. Jason takes a bite of pasta to fill the silence, lukewarm now.

“Oh.” Danny whispers emphatically. “Shit.”

And suddenly Jason is questioning everything. Is this thing they have not real to Danny the way it is for him? Is he just the plaything of a god?

“Jay. I didn’t think—“ he starts and takes a shaky breath. “You’re not supposed to care about me.”

Jason blanks. “What?”

“Im allowed to be human under like, so many conditions. And even then I’m not sure what the hell I even am sometimes. This could all go away at any second, and I have very little control of if and when that happens.”

“So?”

“So? That means I’m going to hurt you, inevitably, whether I want to or not. And I can’t— I won’t—“

Danny’s hands shake, and Jason wordlessly reaches out and pulls him close. He brings Danny’s head to his chest and wraps his arms tight around him. Danny relaxes into him, ear resting over the gentle thud of his heart.

“I don’t care, you dumbass.” And he truly doesn’t. He likes the way Danny makes him feel. He likes the person he is with him. Even if Danny broke his heart on purpose it would still be worth it.

“You should,” the words are muffled through Jason’s shirt. “You shouldn’t want to be with me.”

“Too bad. Also, false. My boyfriend is a god-king with cosmic powers beyond comprehension. Pretty sure that makes me the lucky one.”

Danny chuckles and lifts his chin just enough to meet Jason’s eyes. “I’m going to cosmically comprehend your ass all the way to Pluto if you say something as cringe as that ever again.”

“Mm. Threats. Hot.”

Danny swats at him. Jason just holds him tighter and Danny fights against his arms playfully. Jason knows he could break out at any moment if he really wanted to, but he doesn’t. Instead he settles again, cradled on Jason’s lap.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Jason breathes into the top of Danny’s mop of hair. “And for now neither are you. And I’ll kick whoever’s ass who has a problem with that.”

“Even mine?”

“Definitely yours.”

“Good.”

Danny lifts up and presses his lips to Jason’s in a cheeky kiss. And Jason eagerly kisses him back.

//

That’s all I’ve got planned for this little AU, thanks for reading :3

DPxDC Mechanical Engineer Danny

Danny caught the attention of Batman while studying at Gotham University for his alternative energy projects. He’s hired right out of college to work on the Watchtower.

He shows absolutely no tell of his abilities till there’s a dire situation- Flash’s electric discharge messes with one of his projects in progress and the whole base would have lost air pressure if he hadn’t done a quick fix using telekinesis and ice.

Of course Batman notices.

Batman assumes the worst- he suspects Danny’s a rogue of some kind, someone who has infiltrated the Justice League with an ulterior motive. But he can’t just fire Danny now- he’s the only one who knows how the new Watchtower energy source works. Plus, he’s not letting Danny go anywhere until he’s figured out his true motives.

Cue Batman subtly testing Danny- tossing things at him to trigger inhuman fast reflexes, having him lift too-heavy machinery, setting up convenient opportunities to steal or snoop or otherwise be up to no good. Danny does take advantage but only once, to use a computer terminal with unlocked clearance. He didn’t plant any bugs that Barman could find, and he otherwise kept up his powerless civilian act perfectly.

Still, Batman’s not satisfied. He brings an infrasonic sound emitter to Danny’s lab one day, and that, of all things, is what gets Danny to break.

“I know what you’re doing,” Danny admits with a sigh, finally. “If you’re really that suspicious of me, I can leave, but I kinda like my job so I’d prefer not to. The benefits are insane compared to what’s standard.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure. yeah. How about you turn off the freaking noise generator and we can talk?”

“Hm.” Batman obliges, and he takes the stool next to Danny at his gesture.

“Number one, I’m not a meta. Despite all the data and conclusions you’ve probably drawn otherwise. Number two, I’m on your side. I’m here to work on the base, that’s it. I follow your rules to the letter.”

“The-“

“The classified files I looked at? Yeah that was the one exception. You already know what I looked at, I’m sure, but maybe you haven’t figured out why. It goes back to point one- I may not be a meta, but I am something that organization, the GIW, cares about. I looked at your files on them to sus out your relations. Seeing as I don’t particularly love being the victim to twelve degrees of human rights violations if I can avoid it.”

“Hm.” The Ghost Intelligence Ward was one of many government agencies that the Justice League hadn’t worked closely with. But they also hadn’t been flagged for Justice League investigation. Danny’s comments made him doubt that call.

“Any other questions?”

“If you’re not a meta, what are you?”

“I’m an engineer. A pretty decent one. And I’d really, really like it to stay that way.”

Batman considers, and ultimately lets him stay. He likes Danny (everyone likes Danny), and it would be a massive pain in the ass to replace him. He really is a good engineer.

It’s only much later that his faith in Danny is repaid in spades.

Batman finds Danny on the Watchtower command bridge. Alarms are blaring, the station has been knocked out of orbit, out the window there’s shrapnel floating everywhere as a space battle rages around them.

On the station it’s chaos. Technicians run around, shouts from the med bay, sparks from the walls.

Batman and Danny stand at the main controls, watching the battle outside, stoic, unmoving.

Wonder Woman’s harried voice crackles through on coms: “We need backup.”

“There is no more backup.” Batman replies, while looking pointedly at Danny.

“What?”

Batman doesn’t move.

“What.”

“The impact from Darkseid’s initial attack should have sent this station on a terminal trajectory toward the planet.”

“Well. We aren’t currently plummeting to our deaths, so turns out it didn’t do that.”

“You did something.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re lying.”

“Maybe Superman nudged us back on course in all the chaos.”

“I’ve been watching the trackers. No one else with the capability has come near the station.”

“Can’t you just be grateful we got lucky?”

Sounds of peril screech over the coms. Danny’s face scrunches.

“Luck had nothing to do with it. As it is now, we are going to lose this fight.”

“Isn’t there anyone else you can call?”

“I’m asking you. You can help, can’t you?”

The glare-off lasts a long moment more before Danny breaks.

“Fuck. Fuckity fuck.” Danny runs his hands through his hair. “Shit. You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“I’m asking you to save this and countless other worlds from a genocide. I’m also asking you to save my friends.”

Danny looks at him, hard, weary, and with a kind of deep resolve that feels far too ancient to be on the face of a supposed twenty-something.

“Fine. Fine. Okay.” He steps back and transforms. If Batman is surprised when he shakes off his human appearance like an old coat, he doesn’t show it. But what’s undeniable is the being in Danny’s place has the unmistakable presence of power.

“No one else can know.” His voice echoes in a way that’s sonically impossible, both sounding closer and further away than he should be.

He pulls a gear-shaped medallion seemingly out of thin air and puts it over his head in one motion.

“If I get in trouble for this, I’m blaming you.”

He vanishes. Outside, the shape of the battle changes instantly. The stars seem to glow brighter as the arms of the galaxy flash with the colors of the aurora. Then it’s like the void of space itself comes alive. It moves the spaceships back like they’re toys, plucking them from one side of the field to the other. It finds Darkseid at the heart of the chaos and massive arms of nothingness and darkness wrap around him. He’s screaming as it swallows him whole.

His armies scatter. The battle turns. The JL deal with the stragglers, but the air of relief is palpable.

Danny reappears next to Batman, once again donning his grease-stained coveralls. Arms folded.

“Happy?”

It took all of five minutes. Less, probably. Batman tamps down a thousand questions.

“Thank you.”

“I’m gonna need two weeks off minimum.” Danny snaps. “One to deal with the bureaucratic nightmare you’ve just caused me, and another to recover from the headache.”

Batman blanks. “Granted.”

Danny sighs. “And I’m not fixing the station until I’m back. It won’t fall out of the sky as is. Make up whatever excuse you want.”

“Done.” He considers. “I would prefer to tell them the truth. That you saved us.”

Danny glares. “I’m not supposed to save you. I made a pact not to use my power to influence the mortal realm.”

“A pact with who?”

Danny rolls his eyes. “The embodiment of Time. The concept of Justice. Among others.” He smirks at Batman’s confusion.

“And what, exactly, does that make you?”

He stands, framed by the space window, haloed by the stars. “I’ll give you three guesses.”

Batman frowns.

“Look. I like you guys. I like working on your base. I like supporting the work you do. But you can not go factoring me in to any of your plans or contingencies. This was a one time thing.

“So to answer your question again: I’m an engineer.”

[kyri45]

✨ShadowPeach Bio Parents Bio AU Q&A! 25/02✨

Welcome to the Q&A! A space where I can answer related or similar question about the Shadowpeach Bio Parents AU! If you submitted your ask anonimously, then you’ll have to check the whole post if it’s answered here, if it’s not, worry not! Your asks might have been used for a future comic or just in the queue~

@esmailsadeh ha chiesto: Kyri I have a question...please don't end your amazing masterpiece (LMK AU) there are literally a ton of people that love it , so why must you end it? please reconsider for your fans >.<

The question is... why must I end it? Well cause it's a story and I don't like unfinished fics ahah.

@oddogoblino ha chiesto: Sorry, random dumb thought Think that Wukong or MK would go "kachow" when they're tryna look attractive for their respective partners? 😭 Imagining Macaque or Redson being really into admiring their partners just for their idiot to go "aha, ✨ Kachow ✨ " when showing off intentionally LMAO

haha well they could!

@meisawkwardashecc ha chiesto: Are shadowpeach switches?

Macaque is mostly the top

@anidiotkid ha chiesto: So, does Wukong or MK ever get cramps? And if so, how do they deal with it? (...totally not projecting here 😭)

yes they do! Wukong is a drama queen. MK will neglect his meds until he faints. (and then proceed to be scolded by Mei)

@captain-space-kin ha chiesto: Okay so, I happened upon the Shadowpeach bio parents au update today and then binge read the whole thing instead of doing college work. And I just wanted to say watching your art grow and change is really encouraging to me as an artist. I often times get stuck thinking my art isn’t improving “fast enough”, but seeing the progress you’ve made over the course of comic is really cool! And it also kinda making me want to try out making comics finally. Anyway! Love your art, and I’m very excited to see how the rest of goes!

Thank you!!

@itzlilith32 ha chiesto: Hello kyri, I just came here to say that I really love your Au. Lmk was already consuming my life since I discovered it like a year and a few months ago. And now I also have your Au consuming my everyday, but I wouldn't have it any other way. :3 I've discovered your au like between part 2 and 3 I think, so a while ago. And it's been the most fun rollercoaster of emotions I've been on. I like everything about it, from your art to the storytelling, I honestly can't put into words how much I love it ^^ Since we're in part 9, and the final from what you said, I wanted to say this. These past months have been wonderful, from discovering this au and seeing how it evolved, to now, where we're near the end. Although, correct me if I'm wrong, but I have a tiny bitty feeling that this is just the end of a big chapter. And I can't wait to see what happens next. :D 🫶

Awww thank youuu!!

@virtualjellyfishcolor ha chiesto: uh kyri…. did macaque hear all that…?like uh mk and redson..

Luckily his powers were still too weak. He most likely WILL hear what might happen in the future

@busterwarrior2099 ha chiesto: So what's going to happen to Li Jing and heaven now? Because I bet mk and the others are not going trust them again after the stunt they try to pull by kidnapping the guy who defeated the bull demon king,the lady bone demon,azure lion and prevented the world to end all because they learn about his heritage so yeah not a good impression at all

I have... plans.

@kid-of-chaos ha chiesto: Kyri will we get to see the mini monkeys at the Coronation or just around in general again I miss my gremlin friens :d

aww we can bring some of those little guys yes

@blairjojo ha chiesto: yo Kyri are u gunna make this into a full comic and publish it edventioaly (I need to buy it) @amyrosewithoutshadow ha chiesto: Hello! Brazilian fan here! How are you? First of all, love your art. Really, it makes me fell so safe and happy when I see it. Second, do you plan on doing a book or a web comic book with all the parts together when you end the Bio Dads au? I Would die for having the comic in hands and read it when I want and can. Thank you 💕

maybe, not now though (I don't have the time). I need mods and people who help me with the logistic first and a lot of planning

@lordmushroomkat ha chiesto: Your art is so genuinely great that I accidentally got invested in these fictional characters that I don't know just so I could see more of it. So like yeah, good job. I stumbled into it a few days ago and have re-read it like at least 3 times now and every time I get to the giant-kaiju Shrek 2-reference song-sequence I just feel an emotion that is very intense but that I have no idea how to quantify. I think the emotion is positive but there's also such a deep incredulity to it. It is glorious and unhinged and I am absolutely here for it. Loving whatever the hell this whole AU is, you have made me care very intensely about characters from a show I did not know nearly anything about. I've pieced together enough lore to understand enough of what is happening but you have made me want to actually watch the show.

awww tysm!!!

@gtuguzbuzbu ha chiesto: Will Wukong ever know what happened down there? Like he sorta knows that Mama got himself hurt but he doesn't know what exactly happened.

yeah Macaque eventually told him everything and he was condemned to 2 days in the hug-prison

@lordmageofart ha chiesto: Wait.. this instantly hit me but I have to ask! Is Macaque gonna Courtnap Wukong again? Will Wukong try yet fail to courtnap just to show Macaque he loves him? Or is it just going to be like a normal conversation like their normal people? (Probably won't be the last one but I still have to ask)

nah this time they just want to go straight to the point

@metalheaded-freak ha chiesto: Kyri, I just wanted to say… thank you, for creating the Bio Parents Au, it’s been such an emotional journey and honestly? If it wasn’t for you then I wouldn’t have gotten into the fandom the way I did. I guess what I’m trying to say is, you were the gateway for me to fully embrace this fandom and not be afraid to show what I do, so once again thank you!

Thank youu!!!

@classystudentmugdonut-blog ha chiesto: Hello I just want say I love your work I keep rereading it from the beginning even though I should be resting I got sick but anyways I want to who is YOUR MOST favorite in this lmk

MK. he is baby

@cranberrychaos ha chiesto: Considering you now got red bubble merch of the shadowpeach au... would you ever consider us paying to you to color in our favorite scenes from the comic? I got a couple I'd like to see colored and have in my house or wallpaper 😭

I don't take commissions

@redsontheredbull ha chiesto: Do you have a lady bone demon design?

mmm not really.

@astro-lmk-enjoyer ha chiesto: Do you think Red (or DBK) would get offended if people used cow/bull terms? Like bullshit? Or if they are driving and pass by a cow farm? Stuff like this pops into my head a lot and I wanted to know what you would think because all I can imagine is Red Son come face to face with a cow and it being so awkward 😭😭 Bye <3

mmm i think so.

Anonimo ha chiesto: I honestly think it would be funny to see how confused people would be if they just started being nice to each other, with no context as to how or why (Not like all their problems are fixed nice but just treating each other a bit better after their talk)

LOL i think everyone is either confused or glad they finally resolved their sexual tension

@roseltelle ha chiesto: Since Wukong is trans can he get pregnant too?!? Is this something he and Macaque have to worry about?!?

yes he can get pregnant.

@vivian-devoid ha chiesto: "kilani-123 ha chiesto:Does Mk know that Wukong and Macaque are still engaged?👀" WAIT WHAT?! I nearly choked on my water(stay hydrated) when the hell did this happen!?

the day before the brotherhood tried to take over heaven

@sleeo-goos10 ha chiesto: Hi kyri! Thank you for everything?! Just wanted to ask if you have other comics you plan on making once lmk is over aside from sky❤️

first i finish the sky comic, then I'll see

@violetcookie2007 ha chiesto: Do you personally have anymore nicknames for Shadow peach or Spicy noodles? I like all the ones you have in the comic and think they are all very cute and was wondering if you have any more. Also I love you art!

mmm not really. im open for suggestions

@gaybirdlovescrackers ha chiesto: How does it feel to singlehandedly keep a fandom afloat. To keep it trending by pure gay.

it feels illegal to hold this power

@steadylandface ha chiesto: Are we gonna get a Spicynoodles child in the future 👀

Yes, go watch Ninjago Pilot episode 1

@lonelydarkrai ha chiesto: Is there anyone dubbing your comics?

lots of folks are dubbing my comic.

@lordmushroomkat ha chiesto: I suppose now is as good of a time as any to wonder if this means Red Son has accidentally left his jacket with MK. Just like, as a concept.

oooohh yes

@nocturnaldaydreamer ha chiesto: Oh no, realized this a little while ago... But MK is not only the son of the Monkey King, but is gonna be crowned a Celestial Prince. Red Son and MK better be careful, there might be some crazies out there trying to Courtnap him...

Red son will be hissing like a cat to anyone who tries to come closer

@leve4ever ha chiesto: If season 6 comes out will you make more shadowpeach bio parents au?

yeah why not.

@nomadiclegends ha chiesto: 四耳孫小天 ...so is it pronounced "Sì'ěr Sun Xiǎotiān" ??? my mandarin's pretty weak sauce and I'm curious 😶

yes

@this-one-gay-person ha chiesto: For the LMK bio parents au is there like a specific post schedules?

every other day at 1Pm ET

@anxiety-beans ha chiesto: I need you to know that this comic is what converted me into a Shadowpeach shipper. It altered my brain chemistry, I swear.

let's goooooooo

@bonbonfoxyton ha chiesto: A little late asking this buut I'm curious, how did courtnaping go between macaque and Wukong exactly? Is it okay if you'd explain it, it's a 100% okay if you don't want to since I read your boundaries thing and everything to make sure your good with this question

I'll let the fans picture how it happened

@cutvdo ha chiesto: Have you thought of putting your fan comics ISAT: Sky CotL AU and LMK: ShadowPeach Bio Parents AU, on a different website? like tapas

you can't publish fan-comics on Tapas

@the-immortal-restless ha chiesto: Do you think that Macaque or Wukong’s hair ever falls forward? Like MKs does on purpose because style but like… Wukong and Macaque both have the longer fur so does it stay out of their face or does it fall forwards something in your au/opinion? (Petition for Wukong and Macaque to be Mukong… because if sun Wukong is swk then Mukong is MK!)

I think it could, maybe they use gel?

@wolfsbanex-x ha chiesto: KYRIII!!! Hello, I love your art so much. I just want to say that stream where you talked about motivation was very inspiring! I LOVE your comic so much, it’s been a shoulder for me whenever I have had a rough day. I hope you continue to gift us with even more amazing art (sorry if I’m rambling here). YOU CAN DO THIS!!! WHOOO!!!!☺���🥳

Thank you!!

@eneska31 ha chiesto: so we know when MK got his court napping thoughts, when did Redson get his? and can we see what happens in his POV in like a small comic at some point? p.s I absolutely love your art and this comic has brought me so much joy ☺️💛🐵

After MK called him beautiful

@factmeegg ha chiesto: Okay question, When first made this fan comic or whatever. What were your thoughts on this when you first started up to now?

that it would have been a really short and silly thing

@mischiefmelody ha chiesto: Question! Will MK be in his monkey or human form for his coronation? Either way he'll be gorgeous but I wanna knowwwww

He'll be in monkey form

cherrummi ha chiesto: After reading the latest update, I made an animation, but apparently asks don’t support video sooo here’s some key frames instead (I’m going to post my full animation in my blog, so if you’re interested you could check it out): Also: Will something like this happen in the story? 👆 How traditional is DBK and PIF would you say, comparing them to traditional human families? Could you give more insight on demon etiquette or courtnapping? Thank you so much for making art! It’s incredible! ❤️

uhh yeah in a way

they are very traditional, but they know when to put some traditions aside in sake of Red Son happiness

Courtnapping rooms are a must, old schools courtnapping usually last around a year but now days it's at best 2 weeks. The courtnapped person must consent and if not they can leave. The courtnapper must provide everything for their partner, including their hobbies, favourite food, family visits, etc… (it's basically a pre-dating very complex honeymoon

@huntershyperfixation ha chiesto: Your art is beautiful and the lmk fandom adores you ☆

ADFZBFD AGAER THANK YOU

@ithinkimprobablyweird ha chiesto: What is mk in the au? Like gay bi pan or something else?

Demisexual, trans masc, bi.

@cryptoknightpatch ha chiesto: Hi lol I’m curious did you come up with the court-napping idea by yourself or was it actually anything referencing Jttw?

it's a fan headcanon of the LMK fandom

@axtonorian ha chiesto: First up, I LOVEE YOUR ART Its really fun to look at and aesthetically pleasing in my opinion. Second I know Wukong had/has nightmares about Mk but what about Mac? And even if it all worked out in the end would his nightmares about those two get worse after everything that just happened?

he sometimes dreams of hurting him. a lot of cuddles ensue everytime he wakes up with wukong close by

@jinxdrawsstuff ha chiesto: Hi Kyri! Just wanted to pop in real quick and say thank you for your Shadowpeach AU <3 it’s getting me through my first college year, every update makes my day a lot better!

you're welcome!

[vinylfoxbooks]

February 25 - Chocolate | @into-the-jeggyverse | wc: 856

“What are you doing up so late?” Effie asks, gently as Regulus traipses into the kitchen. 

Regulus freezes, not realising that there had been anyone in the house awake, “Oh, I’m sorry, I don't mean to disturb.” 

“Nonsense.” The woman shakes her head. She gives him a gentle, tired smile, gesturing to the small saucepan that she’s standing in front of, “I take it you can’t sleep. Would you like some hot chocolate and to read a book with me?” 

Regulus hums, watching her for a moment, “Yeah, if you don’t mind.”

“Never.” She hums, throwing in a couple more pieces of chocolate that she chopped and a couple splashes of milk -- oat milk because Regulus is lactose intolerant, which Effie immediately switched to buying upon learning that --  to make sure she has enough for two. 

The two of them remain in the kitchen together silently, Effie’s casual magic filling the air with softly playing music. The woman gently sways to either side while she waits for the hot chocolate mixture that she's making get to the correct temperature and viscosity before she has Regulus grab some mugs for her, which he does. The woman pours out the mixture into their mugs and tells Regulus to add what he wishes. He does so and the two of them settle in the living room with their books, sitting silently and comfortably. 

It became a common occurrence, when Effie and Regulus would both be up late because they couldn’t, or weren’t ready, to sleep. Effie would make them hot chocolate and the two of them would settle in the living room with their books, or whatever art or craft projects they had going on at the time. Regulus carried it over long into his marriage with James, long into them living together. Though, it was usually just Regulus getting up late at night and silently making his way down the stairs. James always knew what he was doing, they knew that he had been doing this with their mum for as long as he had been doing it. So they never minded, just would roll into the middle of the bed and keep it as warm for him as possible. 

Regulus was even doing it long into their adoption and parenting of Harry, though he was careful to be much quieter than before. 

Until one day, Harry comes down into the kitchen while Regulus has his music softly playing, the only other sound being the slight scrape of the wooden spoon against the pan filled with a semi-thick, dark coloured liquid. The boy stops in his tracks when he sees Regulus, but Regulus is quick to smile at his son, “Couldn’t sleep?” 

Harry watches him for a moment before sighing, slinking into one of the kitchen stools, “No.”

“Would you like to have some hot chocolate with me? We can sit in the living room and talk or read or…” 

“That- that sounds good, thank you dad.” 

Regulus just smiles briefly at him, throwing a couple more pieces of chocolate and some splashes of oat milk to make sure that there’s enough for two. He hums while he’s making the drink, “Your grandma taught me how to make this hot chocolate recipe.” 

“Really?” Harry asks, quiet. 

Regulus nods, smiling at the memory, “Papa had just convinced me to finally go home with him and Sirius for Christmas and I couldn’t sleep, haunted by a lot. I just wanted some water- would you grab some mugs for me, mon coeur- but Effie was in the kitchen and I thought that I was bothering her.” He shakes his head, thanking his son when he places mugs down for them and moving to pour the liquid into them, “But she just invited me to drink hot chocolate with her and read a book with her. It was what helped me finally start getting comfortable with the idea of being around the Potters.” 

“Do you do this a lot?” 

Regulus hums, putting a bit more milk into his hot chocolate after giving it a quick taste and grabbing some marshmallows for him to pop into their drinks while Harry scrounges for their whipped cream, “At least once a week. And you’re welcome to join me whenever we’re both awake at the same time. Maybe I’ll teach you the recipe.” 

“Does papa know you do this?” 

“Oh they’ve known since the very beginning.” He hums, thinking fondly on his partner, “They think it’s charming, and they know that it’s my time for me so they’ve never joined me.” 

“Oh,” Harry pales a bit, “I’m sorry to intrude on your time.” 

“Nonsense,” he shakes his head, “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that your papa is the type of person to sleep heavily through the night, and I’m not. So it’s nice for us to have our own space for a while. I’d never mind you being around me.” He shakes his head, gently guiding his son into the living room and sitting with him on the couch, “Now, tell me about your time at school. We haven’t caught up yet.”

[hollyoakhill]

So the most bizarre thing happened last week. I made a small contribution to the new Chronicles of Exandria: the Mighty Nein part two! But it doesn’t end there!

The book was released while I’ve on vacation, so I wanted to have a look at the final product before I came home, so I visited Forbidden Planet in London to sneak a peek. Anyway, I explained to the shop clerk that I wanted to remove the plastic to see how my sketch turned out, and upon learning I am a contributor to the book, asked me if I wanted to sign it(!) So if you’re in London, there are 6 copies of my handwriting waiting to be found!

To be frank, I have mixed feelings about this since it’s a huge work of several amazing artists, not to mention the CR team itself, and I did a single page haha. But I hope that if you’re in London and thinking about picking this book up, you’ll enjoy all the fantastic art that made the cut.

I am so honored to be part of this project, and I have something in the works I can’t talk much about yet (not CR related), but I hope that when it’s time to sign, you all can be there with me!

[karikitdemonrp]

It did take about ten minutes for Core to come back with a hum, still clearly frazzled. "Ah, bath's ready." He chirped, moving to get Kohaku and pick the demon slayer up. "Before you protest that you can walk, I wanna carry you. So I'm gonna carry you. Also I've been kinda working on this for a while now as a sort of side project." He muttered shyly. "It's kinda like a hot spring but inside and just for us." He hummed softly. "Not the biggest but it's enough to fit us at the same time with a bit of room." Core informed with a grin, kissing Kohaku's forehead then began walking a small way from their hut.

Not too far away a new hut came into view, but it wasn't like the usual huts. It was clearly too small to live in comfortably, no room for a kitchen area and barely any room for anything aside from a few bed rolls and maybe a fire pit. However, on the inside was a large pit filled with water, upon closer inspection it was clearly a large pot that had been repurposed into a tub that was put into a large pit. Core did a decent job making this, it clearly took a while of working in secret, though it probably helped that he could use his abilities on most things.

"With you working so hard and getting hurt, I thought warm water on a more regular basis would help you relax. So I built this when you were away. I was worried you'd find it so I used my abilities to hide it as best as I could." Core's tail wagged happily as he sat Kohaku down at the entrance where there was a place to set their clothes and items to get later and some towels for the two to use after.

"There is a fire pit underneath the tub underground to keep the water warm, I'll have to add wood every so often so it doesn't get too cold. I'm still trying to figure out a better system for that. But for now it'll do." Core chirped, hoping Kohaku liked this little get away. "If you'd like I could add some herbs or something so the bath smells nice. I picked some to have a few days ago." The kitsune purred softly, moving to start getting undressed slowly in front of Kohaku, once again trying to give the demon slayer a show like earlier. This time, because he was in a good mood, he looked a bit more flirtatious. Still nervous and shy, but not as much.

Kohaku watched Core rush off, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he leaned back, resting his weight on his hands. “A bit of a show, huh?” he murmured to himself, his grin widening. “You really are adorable, Core.” The blush on the kitsune’s face was burned into his mind, and Kohaku’s heart fluttered at the thought of Core being so flustered for him.

He’d been about to suggest going down to the river, letting the cool waters wash away the grime of the day. But it seemed Core had something a bit more luxurious in mind. The demon slayer couldn’t help but feel a bit spoiled, a warmth spreading through his chest at how dedicated Core was to taking care of him.

Kohaku fell quiet, his playful teasing subsiding as he thought about how far they’d come. He was always the one on the move, always fighting, always pushing through pain. But Core made him slow down, made him feel safe enough to take a moment to rest. It was nice.

He looked around the hut, eyes lingering on the things that had become so familiar. This was home. Not just because of the four walls, but because of the person who occupied it with him.

“Guess he’s in a pampering mood today,” Kohaku muttered with a small smile, his shoulders relaxing as he leaned back further. He knew even with magic it would take Core a bit to get everything just right. The kitsune was nothing if not meticulous.

So, Kohaku waited, his heart steady and his mind calm. He knew Core would come back soon enough, probably fretting over him again. The thought was comforting, and he closed his eyes, letting himself soak in the feeling of being cared for.

[tuesdaykiss]

i could be a florist

rafe cameron one shot, inspired by ‘i could be a florist’ by olivia dean.

summary: rafe is a supportive boyfriend, having empowered his girlfriend to achieve her dream of becoming a florist.

warning: not proofread…

a/n: i have an idea for a part two of this, let me know if you’d want that!

“rafe!” you yelled, playfully thumping his chest with your palm, “i don’t know what to say — you shouldn’t have done this.”

you brought your hands to cover your face, in an attempt to cover your blushed cheeks; though your attempts were short lived as rafe took your hands into his own — cradling them as he stared at you in pure adoration.

“i wanted to,” he simply said, not accepting your rejection, “wanna see you succeed, baby. y’always said you wanted to be a florist.”

“i did,” a smile tugged at your lips, the fact he cared so much about you caused warmth to blossom in your chest, “and i could be a florist… thanks to you.”

bringing yourself to his height, you stood on your tip-toes to pepper kisses along his jaw. a small gesture that communicated your endless gratitude towards the boy in front of you.

“best get decorating, yeah?”

rafe worked tirelessly alongside you to perfect the shop: ensuring it was perfect, completely how you had envisioned it. the walls painted a dusty pink, dark oak accents flooded the space; flowers upon flowers grew around the room — chrysanthemums, lilies, orchids, alstroemeria, carnations… you name it, you had it all.

the two of you had spent weeks in matching overalls. by the time your project had come to a close, your attire was painted with a reminder of the countless paint fights you had endured.

a good, cursive font adorned the entrance; a sign that read ‘blossom and co.’ — a subtle nod to the man who’d put all of his efforts into making the shop thrive… while also taking care of the business side of things for you.

rafe pulled you into his chest, as you both stood admiring your work, “it’s perfect, rafey.”

tears threatened to fall onto the plump skin of your cheeks, as you looked up at your boyfriend. his thumb soon wiped them away, as quick as they had arrived, “s’alright, darling: you did it.”

the bell echoed throughout the shop, signifying the entrance of your first customer. with a grin plastered on your face, you turned to greet them, “hey, welcome! can i help— rafe?”

“daisies, please baby,” he smirked.

you played into his little game, grabbing a bunch of daisies and ringing them up on the till, “that’ll be five dollars.”

a laugh escaped him, as though he’d realised the totally ridiculousness of the situation he had created… but he paid nonetheless, tipped you even.

“didn’t think i’d be serving daisies to crazies this early on,” you joked, earning yourself a wink.

“only thing i’m crazy for is you,” he bowed slightly, dipping his head as he handed you the bouquet in a sort of romantic gesture. you couldn’t help the giggle that escaped you, when he leaned over the counter to kiss you.

this was the first of many of rafe’s visits to your shop … in fact, he stopped by everyday: to buy you a bunch of flowers.

[emmitaaa4]

People will really look at a character who was raised to be a doll—a pretty face to dress up, her dreams dismissed to gardens and pretty clothes, and an asset on the marriage market only if her beauty held—who was groomed to accept that her future would be determined by others’ maneuverings rather than her own, and still say:

“Ahh yes, it must be that the future of this character will indeed be defined by her looks in a black dress and by the unbreakable™ bond that was imposed upon her. 😍."

“… Matter of fact, the author was soo clever in making it so that others' superficial assessments of her character hold more weight in the narrative than her own declaration of belonging… its obviously meant to show us that everyone (but her) knows what's best for her; she does belong elsewhere. (Guys… what about someplace subtle, like Spring because flowers? Or Day because flowers need the sun?!)”

“The poor girl just doesn’t know any better: she’s exactly like her far-more-independent-and-headstrong sister who was wasting away in a Court where she was deprived of social interactio—wait, wdym she has a job, friends, is hinted at scheming behind the scenes, and calls the place a home... ? Sure, whatever, it’s clear that it's not significant, she's in denial; plus she can’t have a unique arc full of exploration & adventure unless she skedaddles away from the obstacles I dislike and never returns! Skedaddle to where, you ask? Easy: her mate’s court with her mate’s friends & her mate’s family, where she'll become her mate's High Lady... just like *drum roll* her sister! Notice how we don't question whether her mate's relationships are genuine and whether the life he's built (also ‘off-page’) matters?”

“Speaking of that MATE of hers, she is bound to come around eventually and realize that she was placed where she should be. I mean, he’s so hot, so she’s def super attracted to him and trying not to jump hi—what? You’re saying her body language shows otherwise? I mean how can you know, maybe she’s just hidin—oh... she' shown visible signs of attraction to another male? Enough signs that literally all characters, bar the oblivious one, noticed? Well then, it’s clearly because she’s projecting her longings for her mate onto the bloke; the bond means more than her pesky little rebellious feelings (Elain, we see you girl, no need to be stubborn!)."

“Btw, I cant believe you guys missed the memo, but the thing she had with that other dude? You know, the one the author gave her significant moments with and who did casual things like lending her his most prized possession & following the sound of her laugh & making his nightstand an altar in her effigy? Yea, it’s all a red herring. Turns out the author couldn't decide whether Mr. Distraction would be an incel or a fickle fuckboy, so she just went with both. Entitled, lustful prick—love him though! But SJM really fooled yall, it was all made so that readers (somehow) forget that she has a MATE who she is MATED to because there's this real MATING bond that she 100% cant break and that tells us that her MATE is the endgam—"

"...What are you saying? Are you really suggesting that the label of mates being all it took for many readers to overlook the on-page development of a romantic relationship between her & Mr. not-her-mate, in favour of said label, makes the bond more likely to be the red herring? Well, you're delusional... plus I thought that these two characters shared a brother/sister relationship up until it abruptly turned into "just lust" out of nowhere... right? Right. You probably just think it's a red herring cause her mate is red-haired. Ha!

You people need to understand that MATES are always the answer, period. They mean everything—why would you want a lesser love for your fav? It’s not like the author has put into question the nature of the mating bond & whether it indicates true paired souls, or like she spoke about how interesting she found the idea of bond rejections in her most recent interview—oh... damn. She did? But what about mates and the allegedly un-rejectable bond that could induce insanity by alleged cosmic blue balls?? Surely SJM wouldn't make a blanket statement reinforcing the status-quo of Prythian's patriarchal society just to have one of her heroines redefine it! I mean, let's be real, is Feyre becoming a High Lady despite there having been "no such thing" for millennia, or Nesta reinstating a female warrior force and winning the Illyrian-male-exclusive Blood Rite alongside an Illyrian woman and a ¼-nymph priestess, really THAT important? Why would the 3rd sister follow the pattern and subvert the status quo, when she could just make it easier for everyone & reinforce it by fulfilling the destiny she was groomed into?"

-----⊱ end scene ⊰-----

“Elain is pleasant to look at,’ her mother once said, ‘but she has no ambition. She will be an asset on the marriage market for us one day, if that beauty holds, but it will be our own maneuverings, Nesta, not hers, that win us an advantageous match."

Yet, here we are, expecting her story to be about fulfilling that prophecy rather than shattering it.

Elain’s story isn’t about conforming to the expectations placed on her—it’s about breaking free from them. And if you think a mating bond and a pretty dress are enough to define her or her arc, you’ve missed the point entirely.

[heavenbloom]

🇵🇸 BEFORE YOU READ: DONATE • BOYCOTT TLOU

ꫂ ၴႅၴ — 𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 | 𝒑𝒐𝒆𝒕!𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒆

a vague continuation of this, but you don’t have to read it to understand this one

song: vicino a te — stevio cipriani

summary: after your first, brief encounter, ellie sends you a letter — with this sweet, foreign feeling blossoming in her chest, she’s too nervous to say anything in person.

warnings: 18+ mdni, fluff, letter format, ellie’s pov, yearning, kinda love at first sight, mentions of (greek) mythology, religious imagery, probably ooc, flowery language, not proofread

a/n: i should be writing other, bigger projects but i love letter writing so much, they’re the purest form of love

Dear moonlit one,

How terribly confused you must be by this letter; I am sorry for it in advance.

Perhaps it might have been more appropriate to visit you, to speak more than a few pleasantries before scampering off into the night, but, as you may have noticed… well, I have no talent for speaking.

How ironic that seems coming from a poet! Words are my profession, perhaps even my religion. I suppose, however, I can only wield them with ink and not with my lips. I have always been this way; a penchant for the quill in preference to conversation.

That is why I write to you. I can be honest here, without my nerves getting the better of me.

I want to express my deepest apologies for my insolence on that revelrous eve. Rushing off without so much as a goodbye in spite of your good nature was unkind of me, and there is no justification for it. Even so, I must explain myself;

Excuse my cynicism and my continuous irony, but I have never believed in a fairytale love. I have an apt appreciation for the picturesque and I feel deeply about many-a-thing; these qualities have made me an adequate enough poet, for I can replicate the beauty of the world that surrounds me. I can structure stanza upon stanza inspired by a scent or a face. I am an observer, therefore I have endured.

But a love that strikes as abruptly as a serpent unsheathes its fangs? A love that robs the lungs of air and renders one’s body feather-light? All because of a glance, a smile, a laugh— of course I was skeptical. How could one not be?

But it was not until I saw you on that argent night, dreamy and gentle, that I could at least come to an understanding. You appeared like the goddess Selene, so very luminous that no words could form in my useless mouth. What was I to say, in that moment? What words spoken could have done justice to the divinity before me?

And your laugh, oh, that laugh… it was as if the sound of your voice was laced with the very harps of heaven. I have not been able to listen to another’s joy without missing the beauty of yours. How foolish I am.

Why do I ramble in such a way? What I mean to say is that your mere existence has awoken me to the pearl ensconced within the centre of our lives. A precious and delicate thing that hit me, unabated. That is why I left you in such a hurry. I was enchanted, and I was afraid of it. In that moment, I was afraid of you, too. The power you held over me was seizing.

But I have gained my bearings. Of course, I cannot say that I love you, a stranger. I know near-nothing about you, and yet, in these sleep-laced hours before dawn, I wish I knew everything.

Sealed within this envelope are dried apple blossoms, birthed from a late-blooming tree. The little buds make the paper smell fragrant, but they also reminded me of our fleeting encounter. And of you; sweet and vibrant. Cheerful, even towards a person you had never spoken to. I hope they soften the suddenness of my letter.

In earnesty, I pray that you write back to me. Even if it is just to reprimand my audacious behaviour, that would be enough.

With sincerity,

E. Williams

[harveyguillensource]

Hi I wanted to know if you guys know where this gif of harvey is from please

I saw it a few days ago but It didn't have a source and the post was too old at that point

thank you !

Hi! Thank you for asking - that gif is from a gifset we made from the trailer for a thriller that Harvey wrote, produced, and starred in, called If You Tell Anyone!

Based on true events, If You Tell Anyone is a psycho-sexual thriller meets glee club. It’s the story of Tyler Delrio, a smart kid with nothing to lose and everything to gain, who finds himself entangled in a dangerous web of lies upon scoring a full ride to the most elite, private university in the country. As he descends into the world of the school choir’s secret society – a haven for forbidden, sexually taboo hookups – Tyler discovers a murder the group has covered up, leading them to kill again as he tries to escape with the truth and realizes he’ll have to die a little inside to make it out of the club alive.

The project was being shopped for development around the time WWDITS began airing, so it may never be fully realized. We'd love to see Harvey in more projects like this, though!

[kalpeavaris]

Honestly, I enjoy how much depth the AS has. Evil AIs are one thing. But an evil AI that is shown to hate romance, get defeated by its own stupidity multiple times and still be a threat because it can plot, is rare to see. The Solver is no GLaDos, it is far more of a person person. And that is its greatest weakness and biggest strength.

Oh hell yeah, that's also why I love the Solver so much. It is an AI, but a hellish one at that. Eldritch Horror AI is so fitting because it constantly evolves around itself and the experiences it takes in.

It being able to create biological mass also makes sense to me when you take into account that it actively evolves like a living, biological being. It takes other shapes, creates and destroys depending on its curiosity, it figures out the inner workings of things, combines them, fuses them (e.g how Cyn fuses Tessa's dolls with a keybug in Episode 5, or how it puts human organs into the Drones it possesses or lends it's powers to, organs that these characters most likely not use fully outside of maybe the lungs/heart (core)).

It has a personality, goals, motivations and that's what makes it so unpredictable. Generally, AIs we see in media are often very logically build and predictable until a certain point. Best example is War Games, a movie about a war simulator AI being tricked into stopping running wild on war simulations which almost ended in real war, by having it conclude that "war never has a winner, it's always a draw" and shut down.

The Solver on the other hand is so sapient in its behavior. It's hardly predictable, it messes up, but it learns and adapts in a very evolutionary way. It's cruel, but it also has empathic values in a sense, though it doesn't act upon them (e.g in Episode 2 when it claims 'Easier to assimilate than explain', to which Uzi responds with 'Not going to happen' and the AS acknowledging her reply essentially with 'Fair, but oh well-'). That's such a human dialogue to happen between two sapient beings to me.

And also later on when the Solver's Cynessa and we can see it emote alongside it's spoken words, it shows frustration, confusion, anger, annoyance in such a nonchalant way.

Bringing up Glados, I think it's hard to "compare" these two, since as far as I know Glados actually has Caroline's memories/consciousness uploaded into her database (correct me if I'm wrong it's been a while since I played the Portal games :'D), while the AS has no clear point of origin, though it seems that it seems to have just "spawned it".

We never see it take in human memories or knowledge (or even a consciousness) and instead, it seems to learn through observing and consuming Drones, which it then uses to mirror their behavior/traits onto the holograms it projects to trick others. It has a very human way of learning and showing its learned behavior, and it chosing to go the "kill everything and adapt anything" route gives a depth to it's evil intentions.

I wouldn't say the AS in itself is intentionally acknowledging as evil or malicious in all of its nature/plans, but it rather reflects back at people. It manipulates, kills, forces and takes what it needs, and aren't these things such human traits as well? It simply reflects back from what it had seen from humans - abuse, ill intentions, malicious personalities. It activated within Cyn and from that point of being introduced to the Elliott Manor all it saw was cruel humanity and the occasional ray of sunlight from Tessa. And these few rays of empathy despite brushing it aside shrine through the malicious personality we see from the AS.

It is a threat with motivations, sapient personality and traits it displays and has influence it's methods.

[irenereru]

What about IDW Stone?

What would happen in the metal virus arc?

Well, well, well...

I think this depends on if Stone works for Eggman before the Metal Virus arc, or if he's introduced with the Metal Virus arc.

Let's explore both, shall we? ;D

If Stone had been present before the Metal Virus arc, we first need to tackle a few things: 1- What happened before this? 2- How does Starline fit into all of this? I think Stone would've found Eggman around the same time as Sonic and Shadow. However, upon finding out he has amnesia, Stone simply stays near him and makes sure he's safe.

But... Once Tinker makes Belle, she and Stone start to bond a little. Maybe Belle asked Stone to take her somewhere to get more wood for their workshop.

And that's when Rough and Tumble take Tinker away.

Upon finding out Eggman's away, he tells Belle to stay at home safe, and that he'll go find him.

And Stone reaches the base Starline's keeping him around the same time Metal Sonic does. Eggman recovers his memories, and the Metal Virus arc begins.

Now, let's talk Stone and Starline, cause I think this would be very interesting.

Starline shows up, seven Chaos Emeralds in hand, praising Eggman non-stop. For some time, Starline takes up Stone's place as Eggman's main assistant, which does kind of upset Stone, but he still keeps doing his job and all that.

Eggman begins his Metal Virus attacks, Sonic is infected, chaos is spread... And then we reach what would be IDW's issue 23.

Starline feels disappointed about Eggman, and how "the man simply doesn't meassure up".

Sonic jumps out at Eggman to try and infect him, but in that moment, instead of falling off, Stone interveens, kicking Sonic away in order to protect Eggman, and falls with Sonic.

Of course, Eggman quickly grabs Stone with a claw extending from his EggMobile, and the trio fly away, leaving Sonic to be consumed by the hoard.

However, upon getting back to their base... Stone finds out he's infected, and tells Eggman.

Now comes the big riff:

Starline insists on just kicking him out of the base, and how he's a liability to them.

Eggman, however, refuses.

Stone has been there for him for who knows how many years (Let's say, since Sonic Adventure 2, Stone being introduced as a G.U.N. agent that jumps ship and is who gives Eggman all the information about Project Shadow and his grandfather), and if Eggman does have something, is that if you do not betray him and stick by his side, he will stay by your side too (See, once again, SA2, and how he tells Shadow to continue their plans if anything happened to him in his confrontation aboard the ARK with Sonic and Tails).

So, Eggman takes Stone and puts him in a capsule, and promises to actually find a cure for him. Starline, however, gets worried that Sonic and friends could get a hold of said cure, making their efforts unnecessary (I am guessing Starline came with a reasoning as to why Eggman hadn't made a cure yet).

They, however, still have the issue that they can't control the Zombots. So Starline brings over the Zeti.

From this point onward, the story stays relatively simmilar (Starline loses control of the Zeti, Eggman fires him as his assistant, Eggman and Sonic team up to figure out a cure), with just a small change at the end: Instead of Eggman being zombotified by Froggy, it's a fully infected Stone the one that does so (Zavok is just that much of an asshole and knew that would hurt Eggman extra, specially due to the fact that Eggman never saw Stone fully zombotified, just partially).

Sonic, Metal and Silver team up, get rid of the Metal Virus, happy ending.

Stone does ask about Starline upon regaining conciousness, wondering where he was. Eggman just says that "he betrayed them" and doesn't mention Starline again.

That's for Stone being an established character before the Metal virus arc.

Let's now talk about Stone being introduced in the Metal Virus arc.

Taking the idea of the Sonic world being occupied by just animals (Since we don't see any other human in IDW), Eggman and Starline just move forward with the Metal Virus plans.

Things, however, make a slight change in issue 23.

Upon falling into the zombot hoard, Eggman is surronded by them. However, just as he's about to be touched by one...

BAM! A human just appears in the middle of nowhere. He calls out to Eggman, and makes his way through the Zombots, keeping them at bay as Eggman follows the stranger into a house.

Eggman is surprised to find another human, but more so that someone would help him in the midst of the Metal Virus crisis.

Stone introduces himself, and explains how he has been on the run for many years, being treated poorly by the towns and cities populated by animals, and having to hide most of the time.

As he explains this, though, he plumets down in excruciating pain. Eggman is about to try and tend to him, but noticed that he's infected.

Stone, however, mentions that it's already been several days since he was infected. It seems like the Metal Virus, for some reason, spreads slower on humans. But, it causes an inmense pain as it does.

Eggman decides to try and help Stone if he allows himself to be a guinea pig to further their research into the Metal Virus, in an attempt to figure out how to control the Zombots.

He agrees, and it's then that Starline calls out from outside the house. At first, he lets Eggman get on to his ship, but refuses to allow Stone anywhere near. In the end he gives in to Eggman's wishes and just takes Stone tied to a rope, dangling off his ship.

From this point on, things remain relatively the same (Stone is taken into a capsule, Starline brings in the Zeti, Sonic and Eggman team up, Sonic/Metal/Silver save the day).

This time, though. Stone was never taken out of the capsule. So when Eggman returns to his base, he finds the man there, cured. Stone, not knowing what had happened, simply believes Eggman when he tells him that he's obviously the one that created the cure, and how they wouldn't have made it without him and Metal Sonic.

Now that he has also fired Starline, he offers his position to Stone, and he excitedly agrees, becoming a main staple in the story.

And that's what I've got! I hope you liked my small idea, anon! <3

[talonabraxas]

"All the manifested world of things and beings are projected by imagination upon the substratum which is the Eternal All-pervading Vishnu, whose nature is Existence-Intelligence; just as the different ornaments are all made out of the same gold." ~Adi Shankara

Vishnu and Lakshmi Talon Abraxas Vishnu is the Hindu God for preserving and protecting creation. He is the example of goodness and mercy, self-existent and the powerful power that maintains the cosmic order. Vishnu’s main form is represented as a resting coiled serpent Shesha. Vishnu is the deity of Shanti (peaceful mood), he never sleeps, and he cannot stand ego.

Lakshmi is the goddess of light, beauty, good fortune and wealth. Lakshmi means good luck. People tend to pray to Lakshmi to achieve success, but she does not reside with anyone who is lazy and only desires her wealth.

We all know that Shri Lakshmi is the consort and dynamic energy of Lord Vishnu, that is, Goddess Lakshmi married Lord Vishnu.

The story of their marriage starts with Indra – the Lord of the Devas.

Indra was a very powerful God. He was the king of the Heaven and the ruler of the other Gods. However, all this got into his head which led him to become arrogant and disrespectful towards others.

Indra had a four tusked, beautiful white elephant called Airavatha. Whenever Indra felt like going out of the kingdom, he would occasionally travel on Airavatha.

One such time when Indra was traveling on Airavatha, he met Sage Durvasa coming from the other side.

Sage Durvasa was a powerful sage. As he was immersed in meditation most of the times, he had enormous yogic powers within him However he had one drawback. Sage Durvasa got angry exceptionally fast and also cursed people often.

Sage Durvasa while traveling the world had found a fragrant garland. The flowers of the garland never faded and remained fresh always. He was carrying the garland with him when he met Indra coming on Airavatha.

Sage Durvasa felt that Indra being the King of Gods should be given the garland.

On seeing Sage Durvasa, Indra curtly greeted the Sage without saluting him. In those days, it was customary to salute the wise and learned sages, giving them due respect.

Sage Durvasa however did not get angry at this. He handed over the garland to Indra. “Take the garland Indra. It befits you well.”

Indra carelessly took the garland and placed it on Airavatha’s head. The aroma from the garland was so strong that Airavatha took the garland from his head and flung it down.

Looking at the careless manner in which Indra had treated the garland, Sage Durvasa got enraged, “Have you forgotten how to greet people and how to behave when you receive a gift. You insolent…”

Indra had the fright of his life. He suddenly remembered the long list of people whom Sage Durvasa had cursed and reduced them to nothing. He swallowed…Lord of the Gods or not, Sage Durvasa was not someone to be taken lightly.

He hastily got down from Airavatha and rushed forward fell on the sage’s feet to prevent the sage from saying anything further. Before the sage could complete his words, Indra cried, “Forgive me Sage. I behaved badly. I should have respected you and…”

[therocketeer0501]

Emptiness Machine

Starscream X Reader (Mech Pilot AU)

Author note: Hey everyone just for this chapter I wanna explain that in this universe scanning a spark signature can reveal a designation. If you have any other questions send me an ask. Enjoy!

Chapter 8:

Your optics come online and you sit straight up at the sound of your designation. How did he get ahold of this information? The Autobots had been so careful not to let any information slip about the secret project Dr. Antonov had been working on. Humans weren’t even involved in the conflict until a cycle ago when they were called upon to deal with an actual Decepticon on the surface. You narrow your optics at him as he smiles at you in a sadistic way. Chuckling he turns and addresses the drones stationed outside the door.

“Restrain the prisoner I wish to speak to them unobstructed by this.”

He waves a servo at the humming energy wall that separates you. At that you sit up ready to fight, but your servo immediately goes to your forehelm as dizziness overcomes you. you had taken the Energon, so why were you still struggling? Sifting through the error messages you can’t make sense of the situation. You hadn’t been poisoned or drugged so what was the issue? One message though sends alarm jangling through you. ‘Unable to disconnect. Disconnection unavailable.’ What on earth could that mean? You hadn’t even noticed the approaching drones or heard the energy field disengage. They wrenched your servo from your helm and had you in cuffs before you could react. Something was off with your connection and you didn’t like it.

Looking back up at Starscream where he was stepping inside your cell, he looms over you. Wings flared out and bent over slightly to keep his helm from bumping against the ceiling. Clearly this cell was made for much smaller bots. You sit on the bench restrained at the wrists but nothing more. They were underestimating you again. That or they knew more about your current status than they were letting on. You vent and meet his optics. There was no choice but to talk to him. You let your helm lean back against the wall behind you but don’t break contact with his optics.

“Alright. I’ll speak with you. I cannot promise answers to everything and for that you might have to take me offline. But I will let you speak.”

He seems surprised for a moment, looking awkward in the cramped space. He shifts on his peds and produces the data pad and speaks once more.

“So it can speak in something other than obscenities. Very well. We were able to obtain very little information about you from our sweep of the digital network here.”

He pauses and his optics flick to your chassis and back up to your faceplate. So he was curious. He was speaking to you like an intelligent being and that was a start at least. Though the tone of his voice suggested he thought of himself as the higher life form here.

“Shockwave was the only mech Megatron wanted interacting with the native life. Unwise in my opinion.”

You raise an optic ridge at him. Why was he telling you all of this? Wasn’t he afraid you were going to use it against them? Of course he didn’t expect you to make it out of here still online. That was most likely the reason. You nod and respond.

“Whatever his reasoning for that is I’m sure it’s monstrous. Especially if it has to do with that mech.”

He looks at you and then back at the data pad.

“As second in command, it’s my job to be an advisor to Megatron in matters of great importance.”

He seems to preen before continuing.

“He however, believes I should have disposed of you. But how is it…that you look exactly like us. Down to our very biology. It’s…”

He doesn’t finish but instead he shakes his helm as if trying to get rid of a stray thought.

“Just what are you?”

His voice a dangerous growl that rumbles through his entire frame as he asks the question. So he thinks you are an abomination of some kind. You look him up and down.

“You are the alien here. You came to my world. So what exactly are you?”

Your tone accusing as you turn the question on him. Of course you knew Cybertronians well and why they were here. For a moment he looks affronted and his wings flick up, tapping the ceiling. You suppress a wave of amusement as he looks for a second like a bird whose feathers had fluffed out in indignation. He sputters for a before replying and regaining his composure.

“I suppose…but that’s beside the point. Here I am talking to what I thought was a very offline Cybertronian femme. Shockwave had torn out your spark. But here you are sitting in front of me as if none of that happened. And that-”

Emphasizing the word Cybertronian as he says it, he lays a digit on the seam that ran down your chest. The very same one that opened to reveal your true self.

“-that is in no way a Cybertronian spark. It’s something different altogether. An abomination.”

The scientist in him became morbidly fascinated with the new scans that had been taken of your form when Knockout and Hook had done the repairs on your frame. Where once a newspark had been detected, there was now a fully developed spark signature. It had a designation assigned to it and everything. An EM field, a scannable signature, it gave all appearance of a Cybertronian spark. But he wasn’t about to tell you that. Something had happened in the aftermath of that broken connection. Something that made his plating crawl in an unpleasant way. He continued to speak.

“Whatever those Autobots are doing is just as unethical as whatever morbid experiments Shockwave is conducting.”

He mumbled and that made you sit up straighter with a snarl as you reply to him.

“Never compare us to the likes of him! You are the bad guys here. You are the reason I was created in the first place. So that Earth had some defense against you. You are the reason Cybertron is ash and you had to come all the way here to find Energon!”

You had taken it too far. In a flash his servo was around your throat lifting you as Megatron had done. He was visibly shaking in anger. His red optics flashed and he bared his denta. Rage barely contained as his wings flicked fitfully behind him.

“You dare! You have no idea what happened on Cybertron! You insect! We tried to save Cybertron and your so called chosen leader doomed it!”

He seemed to take a moment to calm himself as he took a shaky vent and released you. Your optics were wide at his outburst. You swear you could have seen a hint of regret and pain behind his expression. It made you wonder what exactly he meant by what he said.

“What do you mean? Are you saying Optimus doomed Cybertron? That’s not right. He said you bombed it all to slag. Trying to get rid of everyone but those who aligned with your beliefs.”

Starscream looked as if he might have another outburst but instead he just spoke through gritted denta. Leaning forward so his face was barely an inch away from yours. Barely contained rage seeping out of his every word.

“Those deceivers would have you believe they were the spotless victims of this war? What if I told you there wasn’t a war before Optimus Prime became what he is?”

He didn’t get to finish before several drones rush in and the main door to the circular room slides shut. There were distant klaxon to be heard before the noise was abruptly cut off. They hurriedly took defensive positions and Starscream looked around, more annoyed than alarmed.

“What the pit is it now?”

He places a digit on the side of his helm activating his communicator.

“Report. What’s going on out there.”

You couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation but he ducked quickly out of the cell. Throwing a brief ‘stay put.’ over his shoulder at you. The energy field hummed back to life caging you once more in the small room. Whatever it was must be big because there were now eight drones in the room with you.

Still reeling from the conversation you just had, you try to imagine what on earth he could have meant by that. There was no way Optimus Prime started the war on Cybertron. You couldn’t think about that right now. Whatever was happening most likely had to do with the Autobots and that made you smile. It was only a matter of time before they came for you. Their fierce protectiveness of the human race was one thing the Decepticons couldn’t flip around on them.

There was a thunderous crash and rubble bounced off of the energy field as the door to the cell block was blown open. Dust and smoke filled the air and there was shouting. Familiar voices made you stand, that hope filling your lines as you try to see through the smoke. Drones opened fire and were taken down with ease. Two familiar color schemes make their way towards the field. One pair of big worried blue optics stare through the field at you, making you almost sob with relief and recognition. The field drops and a flash of yellow was all you see before you are practically taken off your peds. The yellow mech clinging to you like you might just crumble in his servos. Of course you’d recognize him anywhere.

“Bee! Oh thank goodness!”

[mongoosingisme]

Lil’ bit of Harvey smut under the cut. Enjoy! Or don’t! Totally up to you.

Involved: lab coats, interruptions, and unprofessional behavior in a place of healing.

Word count: ~800

Rating: Explicit - 18+ only, if you would be so kind

Harvey looked good in a lab coat.

You’d noticed it the very first time you met him. You’d stumbled into his office with a gash across your calf. Harvey had been behind the counter, but he'd rushed out as you'd opened the door. His coat had swished around him, adding to the confidence he projected, his authority as he sat you down on a chair, knelt before you, held your legs with gentle hands as he examined the wound.

The whole thing gave you a little thrill, if you were being honest. Absolutely contributed to the crush that blossomed within the first three minutes of being in his presence.

And now that you were "together," now that touching was something you could do, and you didn't feel like a total creep for ogling him while he was just trying to do his job?

Well.

You'd stopped by the clinic with some coffee. Maru was off that day, so Harvey was behind the counter when you walked in. He lit up upon seeing you, smile wide, cheeks a little pink, those adorable crows feet crinkling up behind his glasses. He was wearing his lab coat, crisp and white, his name embroidered on the lapel. He looked so good, so done up and professional with that perfectly knotted tie and ironed dress shirt that you couldn't help it, you had to muss him up a little, grab him by the tie and pull him over the counter to kiss him long and hard and deep.

"Hello to you too," he gasped as you broke apart.

"How long until your next appointment?"

He blinked at you. You could practically see the gears working in his head, trying to keep up. "Um, twenty minutes I think?"

"Perfect," you said, and kissed him again. And he was responding, mouth opening, tongue delving, hand coming up to cup your cheek, coat sleeve falling back to reveal a strong wrist. His other hand came to your arm, pulling, and why the fuck not, you followed it up onto the counter, still kissing, arranged yourself facing him, let him press in between your legs, hand bracing behind you as you ran your fingers through his hair.

“You look nice today,” you gasped as he broke away to drop kisses on your neck.

“So do you.” He was pulling you to the edge of the counter now, pressing the heel of his hand between your legs. “Don’t have much time, sweetheart.”

With Harvey it never took long anyway. His hand was perfect to grind into, firm and steady, and with the way his mouth was moving over your shoulders, leaving open mouthed kisses and small bites behind, it wasn’t long before you were clenching and shuddering beneath him.

And don’t think you didn’t notice that bulge in his pants. Like you weren’t going to slip down to your knees in front of him, take his finger into your mouth as you unbuckled his pants (Yoba, the way he gasped when you swirled your tongue around it). As if this wouldn’t end with his cock between your lips, his hands in your hair, his body rigid in front of you, hips making tiny thrusts as you welcomed him back into your mouth.

The door to the clinic opened.

“Good morning!” You didn’t quite recognize the voice - perhaps it was Pierre, maybe Kent?

“G-good morning!” Given the situation Harvey sounded remarkably calm. You backed up into the space beneath the counter, watched as Harvey’s cock seemed to follow you as he pushed his hips firmly against the board.

“Got any of those muscle treatments? I did something to my shoulder yesterday and it’s killing me.” Pierre, definitely. You pressed your hand over your mouth, trying not to giggle as Harvey completed the transaction, cock bobbing above you, just as hard and red as it was when it was in your mouth.

“Take care,” Harvey said, then deflated dramatically as the clinic door closed. “Sweet Yoba,” he gasped. “That was -“

You didn’t give him a chance to finish, swallowing him back down as if nothing had happened. He groaned, hands coming to rest on the sides of your face, those crisp white sleeves brushing against your cheeks. From there it was simple work to finish him, swallow him down, look up at him with a smile as he softened in your mouth.

“Enjoy the coffee,” you said, rising to your feet and giving him a peck on the cheek.

Harvey made a strangled sound, somewhere between an “uh-huh” and a “thanks.”

You fiddled with his tie, pulled a little askew. “There,” you said. “Perfect.” You left him flushed and stuttering, just in time for his next appointment. And the lab coat? It looked just as good when you found it on your floor the next morning.

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Planthopper Parasite Moths: the caterpillars of this family attach themselves to the bodies of planthoppers and then gradually suck the fluids from the host's abdomen; this is one of the few known examples of predatory and/or carnivorous behavior in caterpillars

Moths of the family Epipyropidae are often referred to as planthopper parasite moths, because their larvae are ectoparasites that typically feed on the hemolymph (i.e. "blood") of planthoppers and cicadas. The family contains at least 40 described species, all of which are parasitic or parasitoid.

Predatory and/or carnivorous behavior is rarely seen in caterpillars (or in adult lepidopterans, for that matter) and this family contains some of the few known examples.

Above: Fulgoraecia exigua caterpillar feeding on a planthopper

The caterpillars have hooked claws that allow them to cling to the host's body, and their mandibles are used to penetrate the cuticle that surrounds the abdomen; the caterpillar then inserts a proboscis-like structure into the planthopper's body and feeds on the fluids within. Planthopper parasite caterpillars generally spend 4-6 weeks feeding on their host, often tucked up under the wings.

Above: Fulgoraecia exigua

Early instar nymphs that are preyed upon by these caterpillars rarely survive the process, and the survival rate for more fully-developed nymphs and adult hemipterans is also quite low.

Above: a caterpillar of the species Epipomponia nawai is shown feeding on a cicada (top) and another caterpillar of the species Fulgoraecia exigua is shown feeding on a leafhopper (bottom)

The caterpillars can measure up to 7mm long, which is about half the length of a fingernail, and their bodies are covered in waxy white filaments that make them look like tiny cottonballs. Those features seem to mimic the "fluffy" appearance of many fulgoroid planthopper nymphs, making it easier for the caterpillar to sneak up on its host.

Above: planthopper parasite caterpillars are tiny, often measuring just 3-7mm long

When the caterpillar is ready to pupate, it detaches from its host and then uses a thin strand of silk to abseil down to a leaf or a branch, where it spins a cocoon around its body and enters pupation.

Above: cocoons of Fulgoraecia exigua

Planthopper parasite moths have very distinctive cocoons, with delicate layers of silk that are folded together to form ridges and spikes across the top of the pupal case. Some cocoons have wider, flatter folds of silk that look almost like rose petals.

Above: cocoon made by an unidentified moth from family Epipyropidae

Sources & More Info:

Maryland Biodiversity Project: Planthopper Parasite Moth

Moths of North Carolina: Fulgoraecia exigua

Bug Guide: Family Epipyropidae

Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control: Biological Anomalies in the Sugarcane Leafhopper Pyrilla perpusilla Due to Parasitism by Fulgoraecia melanoleuca

Journal of the Lepidopterist's Society: Predatory and Parasitic Lepidoptera

The Lepidoptera: Form, Function, and Diversity: Epipyropidae

Bombay Natural History Society: On the Biology and Morphology of Epipyrops eurybrachydis

Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology: Behavioural and Phylogeographic Observations on Epipomponia nawai

Species Connect: Carnivorous Butterflies and Moths

[twistedpink]

Read this GreekGod!Aot au awhile ago, this is heavily inspired! Warning for half-baked historical language. Heavy implication that this is Hephaestus and Aphrodite

You will never love your husband. He who is lame of leg, dark of heart, and blind to any worldly semblance of normal is not deserving of your affection, or your bed for that matter- He wraps around you like a cage in the night, a gilded prison for what should be a sensual embrace of lovers. He owns you, but does not love you. You’re not entirely sure he can, considering that you possess the radiance of one thousand suns and all the beauty of the world, but your husband can’t even bring himself to rut into you like humans do.

“Idia, after all that time burning oil in the workshop I’d expect a world of tension. Won’t you indulge? If not for yourself, then for me?”

“There is no need.”

“Ah! So you strip me of my lovers, confine me to your pit of chastity, and can’t bring me to completion? Pathetic. If you hadn’t begged for my hand, I could’ve bedded tens of men tonight!”

You back into his crotch with all the grace of a titan barreling through Athens- If you could get even a rise from him, you’d be satiated enough to sleep. Maybe even treating yourself to a touch of voyeurism would fill the void in your astral projection.. All the thoughts of loving couples you could bless are interrupted by the strong arms of your husband, clutching the fat of your hips, and burying his face into the vulnerable muscles of your nape with an innocence even you’d struggle to muster.

There are few things you concede are attractive about your spouse- You’ve had stronger, scarred men before. Even the rare breed of a human smarter than Idia, which is hard to happen upon even in your never ending search for one worthy of your splendour. But both of those with his monstrous maw is enough to make your lower half buzz,, He could rip out your throat, in this very moment, and it’d be the happiest you’ve ever been with him. But he won’t, your jailer is never so accommodating.

“I have.. No need. No desire for you to perform in the sanctity of your home - If you truly wish to placate me, I wish to bask in your presence. To love.”

“And to be loved in return, I presume?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. I’m a fortunate god to be your husband. Even more so for you to insult me, the vigour of your hate is more than enough.”

There are times you don’t hate your husband, and it’s a terrible moment for this to be one of them. He’s a wise man to see your greatness- He may grow to even bring you happiness, instead of jewelry, but that’s neither here nor there. In your bed, with your Idia, there is peace like never before. You embrace your prison with open arms.