#right now they're still in the 'figuring out what they think of each other' phase

[chipsncookies]

Yukiko hugging a little zorua ❄️💖

Someone's jealous 🦊

[adeleidetheexplorer]

ᰋ  ׅ࣪   ꒰  minors dni 18+ pac reading detailed ♡︎ your (future) person's hidden sexual thoughts  ꒱  

01. 02. 03.

disclaimer : this 18+ reading was made for adult audiences. it contains adult language and content and it may not suitable for minors and may not be for some adult readers. read at your own risk and be open-minded. kindly skip this post and avoid interacting if you don't feel it, stop reporting my posts! *chuu*

01

cards: world, 30C, ToW, QoS, KoW, SoC.

this person's hidden thoughts is that they want to see the reaction of their partner's body and theirs too when having juicy time together. not only that, but they also want to see the reaction of their partner on how they're performing and moaning while doing those things. they would likely want to have a huge mirror in front where they can see both of the oral bodies.

if this is a man, they have a huge manhood, while if this is a woman, they will have a small and tight lady bits. when it comes to the chest part, they are big, well circled, and very delicate to look at and to suck up, no matter what gender it is. i see that they may be interested in collecting different types of sex toys to pleasure themselves as well as their partner. i also don't think that your first sexual encounter with them will be their first; perhaps they will be someone who may have experience with this kind of things.

they also desire to carry, embrace, or own the body of their partner all night or day. they want to enjoy every inch of you; they want this togetherness to happen. they are someone who is very picky when it comes to their partner and places; it's like you can't just fuck this person around and everywhere you want to.

02

cards: 40P, 9oS, the devil, judgement, 60W, PoW.

holding, caressing and handcuffs are the ones i am picking up here. they want to touch their partner's body precisely, they want to own and say each part of it's body "this is mine, this, this and this one". they may want you to look elegant or the first night with them might happen in such milk and honey places.

this person wants to find someone who will able to share their sex fantasies, someone who can match their passion when it comes to sex appetite. this person prefer to do this in a way of secret and dark like a very private meeting. there's also a little bit of desire here where everytime they got crush on someone they usually daydreaming making it with that person. i don't think they will tell this to anyone since they likely embarrassed talking that deep secret of them, they probably gonna keep it by themselves alone. other than that, they purely want to experience unwavering and shivering affection of sex. altogether, this pile is giving me an energy of two couple dancing in unison and making a beat along with the waves of music.

03

cards: hermit, QoC, PoW, 100P, SoS, 90S.

pile 2 and 3, both have two similar cards - this might be means that you maybe a little bit attracted to pile 2, if yes then maybe it have message for you. so as i see here, this person will love this aloneness time together in the near future but right now, they probably prefer doing it alone. if you gonna asked me, they're not really good with it but they trying their best and still on the phase where they still on learning process. they're not yet reading for any sexual things. not yet because they're still trying to figuring it out. if not then this spicy secrets of them is likely to be confidential forever. there's also a fifty-fifty chances that they become obsess with their partner.

but before all of that they do want first an emotional relationship security. when it comes to their favorite parts of human body, they probably like - bum and breast parts and they may want to squeeze, cupping, holding, sucking and massaging it. this is about holding and locking their lover around their arms. i don't know if you would like this part but they fancy phone sex such as vc and chat ones, nude photos, giving head, going down, 69 and anything related to oral sex. they have crave for someone who is foreigner, someone who looks good and someone who is unique from their eyes. if not they likely want to do it in such a far away places most likely overseas. the first time with them or a special getting together might happen in other places, a foreign country as i said and maybe this a honeymoon? or a relaxation for the both of you. cuddling after sexual intercourse is also included to their desire.

©thecelestialperiwinkle

[dokidokitsuna]

The Diary of Penny Polendina

The other day I was inspired to try working on a different NeverFell Projects installment, one that would probably be a lot shorter and quicker to write, because it's not like I care that deeply about Penny, right??

Well, I was incredibly wrong. ^^; So wrong that I'm actually having trouble with this story now...essentially, Penny goes through a bit of a 'rebellious phase' (gross oversimplification, but that's all you get for now) and there are, surprisingly, a lot of aspects of that character arc that I want to explore. Plus, a pivotal connection with Pyrrha, the climax of which I haven't quite figured out yet...

God only knows if I'll be able to finish, or if I'll just write the first 2/3rds of the story and leave it at that. But I figured I might as well warm up by talking about the designs. ^^

Penny's new look is basically 'Disney's Pinocchio, color picked from Arthur Watts' character design'~

I didn't necessarily want her to look evil, just...bolder. Like she specifically picked 'daring' items that maybe her father or Ironwood's PR team would rather she didn't wear, at least not compared to the more innocent frilly pastels she had on before. Between the chest window, midriff, and short sleeves, she's actually showing a lot more skin than before, despite still being 90% covered up. ^^;

Those multicolored wrist accessories are prototype weapons invented by Dr. Watts, that mix and pressurize Dust from the cartridges to cast "artificial magic". This way I get to do a bit of the 'Winter Maiden Penny' stuff in this Vol. 3-locked AU~

Penny's magic usage is one of the things that stumped me when writing this story...In NeverFell, magic isn't just glowy rainbow lasers or weather powers-- it essentially allows the user access to any conceivable semblance at any time; its potential is limitless. Being a beginner, Penny would probably just come up with one signature 'spell' to use in tandem with her Floating Array...but I can't decide what I want her to do. ^^; I think I'd like for her to do something connected to dance, because I feel like that's something unique to her, the way she dances with her weapons before striking. Nobody ever points out how the "robot" in the cast is the one who chooses to spend energy on unnecessary movements that aren't even used to maneuver around an enemy; they're just cute and fun. ^^ I think that's a great encapsulation of who Penny is~

Redesigning Pyrrha is always super difficult, because her original design is so perfect. But I like this end result a LOT. ^^ I may need to adjust the pant legs a bit, but overall it feels like a very believable alt outfit that keeps the spirit of the character.

Pyrrha is another one of the stumbling blocks in this story, because I'm now forced to create at least one malleable personality trait for her-- i.e. one that isn't intrinsically tied to Jaune and/or the plot. Something that she could actually take into a meaningful relationship with a different character... I had the idea to expand her "I'm sorry!" gag into a real guilt complex, where she has trouble letting go of instances where she's made mistakes or hurt someone. In this case, dismembering Penny 1.0 and essentially ending her life. :T She seeks out 2.0 in a desperate effort to make things right, and ends up helping her with ...things, and growing as people or whatever, and all that other stuff I have yet to write. ^^;

I just realized that Pyrrha could use her polarity semblance to pull Penny towards her in a situation where they need to reach each other...that's so cute. ^^ I gotta remember that~

[audliminal]

It's Just a Game, Right? Pt 4

Masterpost

"Okay, so like. We start with this video." Bernard says, bumping Tim's shoulder lightly. Huddling over a laptop together is a familiar experience; before they actually started dating they both regularly used laptop videos as an excuse to get close. It's a memory that Tim sort of cringes at, because now it seems so silly to be scared of Bernard not liking him back, and yet now he finds himself thinking back to those early days. The thrill of huddling together to solve a mystery is a little different from the thrill of being around your crush, but there's something there, a sort of excitement in questions yet to be answered.

"All right, hit me." And as Tim leans into Bernard a little harder, his boyfriend presses play.

The video is definitely weird. That much is immediately obvious. It seems to be a slideshow of pictures, complete with audio, but the pictures just seem off in a way that Tim can't describe and the audio is - it's a little sticky, but that is definitely Space Oddity, only it sounds kind of wrong like somebody's playing certain notes off key.

"Oh, that is definitely a Caesar cipher, huh?" Tim mutters. There's a line of text written beneath every photo in the little slideshow, but they're all garbled nonsense - it would seem entirely random, but Tim can already see a touch of pattern, some of the letters definitely appearing more common than others.

"Spy phase, huh?" Bernard teases. "I should've known you would already be on this stuff."

Tim grins and does his best to pretend he's not blushing. He's never been more grateful for his tendency to go overboard with his interests. The last thing he needs right now is Bernard asking questions about why he knows so much about code-breaking. Sure, he wants desperately to tell him all about Red Robin, but it's complicated with the rest of the family being implicated in your own identity.

The video continues in the same line for the whole duration of the song, then abruptly cuts off the second the last note of the song plays.

"Well, my first thought is that it seems kind of basic." Tim offers, at Bernard's expectant look.

"Right? Like when I first watched it I was kind of like what's the hype even about? But like, every video follows this general format, but the gradient of apparent code just keeps increasing, and it's like. What if there's more here and nobody ever realized they needed to look for it?"

"Okay well, the text has already been deciphered, right? So what does it say, and how'd they decode it."

"Here," Bernard switches tabs, to a document with screenshots of the various images. The first image was a simple photograph of a man, with the translated text reading Jonathan, January Thirteenth. The next photo, which was of an empty street, dusted with snow, read Hawthorn Way, Johnny's birthday. The rest of the photos followed in the same line. Simple labels describing who or what the photo showed and when they had been taken. None of the information seemed odd or suspicious, just the kind of photos that a family might take.

"Okay, it's a Caesar cipher, but each time the alphabet is being shifted a different amount."

"Yeah. And I already tried writing down the amounts in order to see if that meant anything but like.... No luck." Bernard gestures to his notes, where there is indeed a long number sequence.

"Okay, but how'd you solve it? Did anybody look for a clue to imply the shift or did they just brute force it?"

"I mean, there's literally websites that will run it for you, so I think people just did that." Tim hums, tapping his pen against his ear. The number sequence Bernard had shown him -

"None of the shifts are greater than eleven." Tim says. Bernard blinks, and glances back over his list.

"Huh. You're right, but what does that mean?"

"Means we need to figure out what's eleven." Tim reaches out and switches back the video and starts it again. The music still seems weird to him. He's no expert musician by any means, but he did take piano lessons for a bit when he was little, and more than that, he trusts his instincts. "There's only seven notes in a scale so it's not that..."

"A scale? Do you think there's something in the music? I mean other than it just being creepy?" Tim stares at Bernard.

"Bernard, you literally told me that you think it's all been more intentional than anyone realized. If that's true then the music definitely means something."

"Huh. Yeah, that is. Oh, we definitely needed new eyes on this, huh?" Bernard's huffs, then leans into Tim. "Okay well some the notes in the song are just straight up rank so maybe it's something to do with that?"

Tim hits play on the video again, focusing on the music. Six seconds in, a note hits, sounding very off.

"See?" Bernard says hitting pause. "It does that sometimes. Just plays a wrong note. I thought it was just to fuck with us, make us on edge, but maybe it means something?"

"We need the sheet music on this."

"Yeah? Do you know how to transcribe it?"

"Not reliably enough. But I know how to find someone who can."

"Babe, you're doing it again." Bernard laughs. "That could not have sounded more like Mafia energy if you tried."

"Oh my god, shut up."

[mossmittens]

Post-canon Labru where they actually get together pretty quickly except they don't

Laios and Kabru have been working together so closely for months in the castle and become best friends. About 6 months post-canon, they wind up going on a month-long survey expedition with Marcille, Falin, and some scientists. (The survey team is evaluating soil quality and attempting to identify the best sites for settlements.)

The group winds up sitting around the campfire most nights, drinking and singing and telling stories. One night, Laios and Kabru are the last ones out there and they get solidly drunk. Kabru kisses Laios. Laios kisses him back. Nothing else happens that night. But the next? They talk about it in Laios' tent and decide to give it a try. We're already best friends, right? Might as well give it a shot! So the rest of the trip, they spend the whole time flirting and giggling and making out at the fire and fucking in their tents. It's not a secret at all. Marcille is deeply annoyed. Falin is happy for Laios. The scientists are like, "wow, this gossip is gonna make me so popular at home." It's literally so great.

Except when they get back to Melini, it's harder than they expected. The survey was kind of a vacation for them. At home, there's paperwork and appearances and forming alliances and making sure their people are eating and security and it's just so much. The time they had to become best friends was not time that could really be filled with romance. If anything, romance adds to their pile of things they have to deal with: planning time together that isn't filled with work, managing the expectations of their citizens, heirs and weddings and what if some entity offers Laios a marriage that will benefit the kingdom, will he say no, how will this work how will it work how will it work

So they break it off. They love like each other so much and this could be something great, but they just can't do it right now. It's too much. They both put on brave faces but are obviously devastated. It hurts their friendship for months and months, but eventually they get close again.

For years, they stay friends. They both remember how awful that first break up was. Even when things slow down, they're both so cautious because who knows if this time things will break horribly and they won't be able to stay friends.

Kabru dates around a little. Laios seriously considers a few marriage alliances. It all falls through, but they do try to give other people a shot. They're in love with each other but they're still practical.

That's not to say they don't hook up occasionally. Maybe once a year they both get so overwhelmed with work that they have a little decompression fuck. Or they both get drunk at a ball and make out in a closet. It doesn't mean anything, so no big deal.

Then, twelve or so years down the line, they're both working in Laios' study. The kingdom is in such a good place. They've figured out succession, the economy is stable, their relationships with foreign powers are good, citizens are being taken care of. They're in the maintenance phase of everything and planning for a bright future. Maybe it's Laios, who has come into his own and feels a confidence that he never had at 26, who sits back and looks at Kabru and just says, "Kabru."

Kabru responds with a casual, "Your Highness?"

And Laios just throws it out there: "I love you. And I want to be with you, whatever that means for us."

Kabru is taken aback because to be fair to him it is quite random. He can't help but respond honestly, though. He loves Laios, too.

They'd probably spend a moment reveling in it. They've spent years in one state of being, thinking "maybe later, maybe soon" but never really believing the time would come.

Once they sit with it, the workday is over. They're giggling and making out and flirting in the study. It's just like that survey trip all those years ago, except this time they're used to the weight of the kingdom.

They probably move pretty fast. They've been enmeshed in each other's lives for more than a decade, so very little is actually changing on their end. They try to give it a few months before they lock in and get married/legally committed/whatever, if just for the sake of propriety and making sure the country is confident in their relationship. But it's obvious from that first day that this is it for both of them. Of course it is.

[excalculus]

I saw some mentions of rabies going around again and have no clue what's set it off this time, but given recent scientific developments I want to revisit the idea of curing symptomatic rabies.

First things first: there is still no practical way to do this. The famous Milwaukee Protocol fails far more frequently than it succeeds, and even the successes are not making it out in anything like a normal state. It's been argued that it should no longer be considered a valid treatment [1] due to these issues; any continued use is because there's literally nothing else on the table.

However. There are now two separate studies showing it's possible to cure rabies in mice after the onset of symptoms. The lengths you have to go to in order to pull this off are drastic, to put it mildly, and couldn't really be adapted to humans even if you wanted to. But proof of concept is now on the board.

long post under the cut, warnings for animal experimentation and animal death. full bibliography at the end and first mention of each source links to paper.

Quick recap - rabies is a viral disease of mammals usually transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. From a contaminated bite wound, it propagates slowly for anywhere from days to months until it reaches the central nervous system (CNS). Post-exposure vaccination can head it off during this phase, but once it reaches the CNS and neurological symptoms appear it's game over. There will typically be a prodromal phase where the animal doesn't act right - out at the wrong time of day, disoriented, abnormally friendly, etc. This will then progress to the furious (stereotypical "mad dog" disease) and/or paralytic phases, with death eventually caused by either seizures or paralysis of the muscles needed for breathing.

That's the course we're familiar with in larger animals. Mice, though, are fragile little creatures with fast metabolisms.

In the first study's rabies infection model, lab mice show rabies virus in the spinal cord by day 4 after infection and in the brain by day 5. Weight loss and slower movement start by day 7, paralysis starting from the hind limbs from day 8 on, and if not euthanized first they're dead by day 10-13. [2]

This study (fittingly conducted at the Institut Pasteur) had two human monoclonal antibodies, and wanted to see if there was any possibility they could be used to cure rabies after what we think of as the point of no return.

Injecting the antibodies into muscle saved some mice if done at days 2 or 4, and none if done later, even at high doses of 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight of each. Conclusion: targeting the virus out in the rest of the body is no use if it's already replicating in the CNS.

Getting a drug past the blood-brain barrier is, to use a highly technical term, really fucking hard. It's the sort of problem that even the best-funded labs and biggest companies in the world routinely fail at. And that's for small molecule drugs, which are puny compared to antibodies.

But this isn't drug development for a clinical trial. This is a very, very early proof-of-concept attempt, which means you're willing to ignore practicality to see if this idea is even remotely workable. So you can do things like brute force the issue by cutting through the skull to implant a microinfusion pump, which lets you deliver the antibodies directly into the normally-protected space around the brain. Combine this with the normal injections, and you can treat both the CNS and the rest of the body at the same time. Here's a survival graph of treated mice. X axis is days, Y axis is percentage of mice in that group still alive.

Figure 2A from reference 2, accessed February 2024

The fact that the blue, green, and purple lines did anything other than sink horribly to zero is unheard of. When the combination treatment was started at day 6, 100% of the mice survived. Started at day 7 (prodromal phase), 5 out of 9 mice recovered and survived. Started at day 8 (solidly symptomatic, paralysis already starting to set in), 5 of 15 mice recovered and survived. And when they say "survived", they kept these mice all the way to day 100 to make sure. Some of them had permanent minor paralysis but largely they were back to being normal mice doing normal mouse things. So, success, but by pretty extreme means.

Enter the second paper [3]. This was a different approach using a single human monoclonal antibody against Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV - closely related to rabies, similar symptoms in humans) to try for a cure without needing to deliver treatments directly into the CNS. They also made a luminescent version of ABLV that let them directly image viral activity, so they could see both where the virus was replicating and how much there was in a live mouse.

Figure 1 from reference 3, accessed February 2024

Mice infected with ABLV start showing symptoms around day 8. You can see in the figure that at day 3 there's viral replication in the foot at the site of infection, which has shifted into the spine and brain by day 10. So what happens if you give one of these doomed mice one single injection of the antibody into the body?

Done at day 3, the virus doesn't make it to the brain until day 14, and while disease does set in after that around 30% of the mice survive. Days 5 and 7 are much more interesting. Those mice still develop symptoms at day 8, but the imaging shows the amount of virus in their spines and brains never gets anywhere near the levels seen in untreated controls, and within days it starts to decrease. Around 80% of day 5 and 100% of day 7 mice survive.

Okay, sure, you can stop another lyssavirus, but technically you did start treatment before symptoms appeared. What about symptomatic rabies?

The rodent-adapted rabies strain CVS-11 starts causing symptoms as early as day 3 after infection, and untreated mice die between days 8 and 11. The same single dose of antibody saved 67% of mice treated on day 5 and 50% of mice treated on day 7. Without making the luminescent version of the virus there's no real-time imaging of the infection, but you can still track symptoms.

Figure 2 from reference 3, accessed February 2024. CVS-11 is the name of the rodent rabies strain and F11 is the name of the antibody.

Disease score is a combination of several metrics including things like whether the mice are behaving normally and whether they show signs of paralysis. In untreated mice it goes up and up, and then they die. If one of those lines starts coming back down and continues past day 10 or so, that's a mouse that recovered. The success rate isn't as good as against ABLV, but again, this is a rabies strain specifically adapted to rodents and treatment wasn't started until it was well-established in the CNS.

So how on earth is this happening? The antibody neutralizes both ABLV and rabies really well in a test tube, but we've already established that there's no way a huge lumbering antibody is making it past the blood-brain barrier without serious help. Something about the immune response is clearly making it in there though. And it turns out that if you start trying this cure in mice missing various parts of their immune systems, mice without CD4+ T cells don't survive even with the treatment. By contrast mice without CD8+ T cells take longer to work through the infection, but they eventually manage it and are immune to reinfection afterwards.

To grossly oversimplify the immune system here, CD4+ are mature helper T cells, which work mostly by activating other immune cells like macrophages (white blood cells) and CD8+ T cells (killer T cells) against a threat.

Normally, T cells are also kept out by the blood-brain barrier, but we know that in certain specific cases including viral infection they can pass it to migrate into the brain. In the brains of the infected mice for which antibody treatment either wasn't given or didn't work, you can find a roughly even mix of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells along with a whole lot of viral RNA. But in the brains of those successfully fighting off the infection, there's less viral RNA and the cells are almost exclusively CD4+. So the antibody doesn't work by neutralizing the virus directly - something about it is activating the animal's own immune system in a way that gives it a fighting chance.

Again, neither of these proof of concept treatments is really workable yet as a real world cure. The first one is almost hilariously overkill and still has a pretty good chance of failure. The second is less invasive but careful sequencing still shows both low-level viral replication and signs of immune response in the brains of the survivors even at day 139, so it may not be truly clearing the virus so much as trading a death sentence for life with a low-level chronic infection. But now we know that 1. curing rabies after symptoms begin is at least theoretically possible, and 2. we have some clues as to mechanisms to investigate further.

Not today. Not tomorrow. But maybe not never, either.

References:

Zeiler, F. A., & Jackson, A. C. (2016). Critical appraisal of the Milwaukee protocol for rabies: this failed approach should be abandoned. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 43(1), 44-51.

de Melo, G. D., Sonthonnax, F., Lepousez, G., Jouvion, G., Minola, A., Zatta, F., ... & Bourhy, H. (2020). A combination of two human monoclonal antibodies cures symptomatic rabies. EMBO molecular medicine, 12(11), e12628.

Mastraccio, K. E., Huaman, C., Coggins, S. A. A., Clouse, C., Rader, M., Yan, L., ... & Schaefer, B. C. (2023). mAb therapy controls CNS‐resident lyssavirus infection via a CD4 T cell‐dependent mechanism. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 15(10), e16394.

[melodyatlas]

Tim's stalking escalates 👀 breaks into Jason's safehouse all the time, maybe steals some pair of pants, just rifles through his fridge to see what he eats, maybe even thinks of bringing some food to stock up stuff

Just, Jason is aware that someone is in his home almost daily, but he can never catch that fucker, at first he thought it was bruce but Bruce wouldn't let this much time pass without a confrontation and not daily

yesssss

The stalking is just normal behavior for Tim- for all the Bats really, but not to the same extent as it is for Tim.

They all traipse all over each other boundaries, breaking into each others places to steal info or tech or sometimes even just a little welfare check.

But Tim takes it to a whole other level; if stalking were an olympic sport, Tim would bring home the gold every time. Dick and Bruce are used to it- after all, its basically how he introduced himself to them all those years ago, breaking into Dick's apartment, and his safe, at the tender age of twelve.

If Jason had known that part, he probably wouldn't have had to jump through so many hoops trying to figure out who the hell was in his apartment all the time.

Look- it's not his fault his mind didn't immediately go to the little freak- he /really/ had no reason to assume it was Tim. At first.

He and Tim aren't /friends/, but they probably have the easiest relationship out of the rest of the Bats. There's a mutual begrudging respect there. And even after beating Tim's ass into the ground so many times over the years, he knows Tim isn't one to hold a grudge, or he wouldn't have bailed Jason out of tight spots so many times since then.

Tim doesn't really bother Jason unless he needs his help, or if Jason's doing something that interferes with whatever Tim is doing. They've managed to work more than a few cases together recently because of the accidental crossover, but it's not like it's something either of them /seek out/.

So yeah, he didn't jump to thinking it was Tim in his place when he noticed it was being broken into, because Tim would just come right to him if he wanted info, and Tim has no other logical reason to really sneak in.

When he first notices his little intruder, he thinks it's Bruce. Maaaaybe Dick. Nothing was missing the first few visits, just some stuff moved around. He wasn't worried about them actually stealing any intel from him, he keeps his shit under some pretty explosive lock and keys.

But it's still annoying as fuck.

He really doesn't need Bruce poking his nose into his daily life- it's not welcome and Bruce should already know that. It doesn't matter that they have a tentative ceasefire- Bruce should know that him breaking in crosses a line that would mean an end to Jason playing so nicely with him.

It's when it keeps happening that he realizes it's definitely not Bruce. The missing food items from the kitchen just /screams/ Dick.

Because of-fucking-course Dickface would break into his place just to make sure he's not doing something he shouldn't and help himself to Jason's food while he's at it.

He didn't think Dick would be so hard to catch in the act though. He's set up various new security measures, both deterants and new surveillance. But he still never catches him.

And he wants the hard evidence if he's going to accuse the golden boy. Last thing he needs is Dick to spin it into some sort of "Jason making excuses to be around him" sort of situation.

He thinks about going to Babs to make sure no one else could get around his new surveillance, but if it is Dick, Babs is more likely to be on his side than Jason's. They aren't together anymore, but they go through these phases where they're weirdly chummy again and right now they're playing besties.

It starts really getting serious to Jason when his clothes start going missing along with his food.

Because, who /the fuck/ is taking his clothes, for god's sake??

It knocks Dick down from the top of the list of probable perpetrators. But who else would he be replaced by at the top of the list? It has to be another Bat, otherwise they wouldn't be able to get through all of his security.

It's only then that he thinks of Tim.

And thinks. And thinks and thinks.

Because seriously- why the fuck is he stealing his clothes?

He has to find out.

So he decides to do some breaking and entering of his own.

Tim's security is good. Levels of security that one would expect from Red Robin all hidden beneath what civilians would expect from socialite Timothy Drake-Wayne.

It's involved enough that reminds Jason of his own measures, and mentally he can't help but give Tim a little pat on the back for getting through all of Jason's security every. single. day. The guy's got patience, Jason will give him that.

He sneaks into the fancy-ass kitchen first, and digs through Tim's cabinets. He deserves to be able to steal some of Tim's food to make up for the little bird's own thefts.

The cabinets are depressingly bare- lots of protien bars and microwavable meals. Alfred would weep if he saw this.

Jason takes a box of protien bars just for the principle of the thing- but really, he almost leaves the kitchen alone because of how sad it is to see.

There's a noise from further inside the apartment, so Jason takes his box of spoils and makes his way out of the kitchen and down the hall. He passes by the spartan living room, walks past the open door of a home office, and a bougie bathroom- he's on a mission, and there's a cracked door at the end of the hall, light spilling out.

Jason assumes it's the master bedroom, based on the rooms he passes on the way. It's definitely where the muffled noises are coming from.

He doesn't want to show his hand just yet, so Jason is careful to stay stealthy and silent as he approaches the door, peeking through the crack-

He nearly drops the box of protien bars at the sight before him.

Tim is leaned back up against his headboard, bare legs spread wide on top of his messy comforter. One hand is down between his legs, holding a dark red silicone dildo, the tip of which is disappearing inside of him, lower lips stretched to accomodate the length as he presses it further inside.

His other hand is covering his mouth, which makes sense as to why the noises Jason heard were so muffled- but it does make him wonder why Tim feels the need to keep himself quiet in an apartment he owns by himself.

Maybe it's a remnant of living at the manor? Or maybe he just likes the feeling of being gagged. Food for thought- but for later. Because the thoughts for now? Well, they're dominated by whats between the sight of Tim's two hands.

Jason's shirt.

One of his Red Hood shirts, actually. It's so big on Tim it nearly swallows him whole, hiding all of the toned muscles Jason knows Tim has. It makes him look younger and more fragile than he really is.

It also makes Jason's pants feel extremely tight.

Suddenly, his missing clothes make sense. Okay. Yeah. This is best case scenario, actually. Far better than Bruce or Dick being the ones breaking into his apartment. /This/ Jason can work with.

[mosscreektarot]

Pick An Image: Who will you MARRY?

All about your FS!

To book a personal reading, DM me or visit my Etsy: https://mosscreekpsychic.etsy.com

Group 1~ Top Left

Group 2~ Top Right

Group 3~ Bottom Left

Group 4~ Bottom Right

Group 1: Liberation: "The Doubts and Fears still come up; you don't believe anymore that they're you."

Your FS sees your "brokenness" and loves the light shining through your cracks. You've been dealt a rough hand in the matters of love, and your FS understands your trauma. Your FS supports you by CHOOSING you. Again and again, no matter what, your FS chooses you. This steadiness and steadfastness to them is love.

Your FS is a bit of a loner, preferring to enjoy the company of few, rather than casting a wide social net. They are an outdoorsy person, frequently camping, hiking, and staying up till morning just to watch the sunrise. Your FS is kind of scatterbrained ("where are my keys!?"), but HIGHLY intelligent. Your FS is the type of person to observe in social settings rather than put themselves in the mix.

Your FS may come from a different country/ethnic background than you, and has deep cultural roots they are proud of. They do things differently than most people and are never phased by the judgement of others.

Group 2: Right Now: "Stay in the present and don't get too far ahead of the Flow. You'll soon trust that nothing more will come than can be handled each moment."

Your FS is one of the most honest people you know. Sometimes their insight into your mind is a little creepy. They are gentle and kind but are unafraid to speak their mind, even if it hurts some feelings or steps on toes. Your FS is the type of person who loves to debate in the comment section and is really fucking good at it. Not to say they are argumentative, but if they see someone saying/doing something blatantly wrong they will not hesitate to put that person in their place when necessary.

Your FS may struggle with their mental health/self care at times and is extremely good at masking their true feelings. To everyone else they are the happiest, bubbliest, most outgoing person. It's not a lie, but there is a duality between their public and private self.

This could be someone you already know who provides you with guidance and support, never letting you guess they are in need of the same. Your FS is their own harshest critic and is constantly working to better themselves. They are a warm and loving person with a pink and blue aura. You may feel like this person could ~never~ be interested in you or is out of your league but your intuition is wrong in that regard!

Group 3:

Change: "When the ego finally sees the utter madness of trying to control everything, you come to a sacred crossroads in your own evolution."

Your FS is a spiritual "go with the flow" type of person. They believe everything happens for a reason, and live very unconventionally. They're the kind of person who communes with trees and spends their free time barefoot in the grass. "Wild and free"~positive vibes, the type of person to look for the best in every situation, no matter how dark or dire. Loves social gatherings and connecting with new people. Your FS may come off as a bit awkward in social settings sometimes, but despite that are well-received and liked.

Your FS is always smiling and wants to bring the sunshine into your life every single day.

Your FS may be a little out of touch with reality and believe they can positively affirm their way out of situations which cannot be changed. They're the kind of person who would get sick and refuse to go to the doctor for a month, even if it's really bad because they think they will magically get better through willpower alone. Your FS will need to find a balance between their spiritual self and mundane reality. They may need you to be the "authority figure" in their life when necessary.

Your FS is disciplined and responsible when it comes to their career and finances. Oddly enough they have a very "serious" career like an accountant or lawyer and make a lot of money. They spend a lot of it on crystals though ;) .

Group 4:

Gratitude: "Fill me with gratitude for all You give! May I be a vehicle for You wherever I go."

Your FS is an introvert who likes to spend their time with their nose in a book at home with their cats. They love to help others and often rush around trying to provide assistance to anyone who asks. They are the kind of person who sees a car on the side of the highway and pulls over to change their tire.

Your FS is pretty quiet and likes to keep their thoughts to themselves. It can be hard to read them or to get them to talk about how they feel. They have their reasons, so please be patient with them. They are a slow and methodical person who always makes lists and ticks off the boxes of what they need to do in life. They live by a routine and aren't one to make rash or reckless decisions.

They often feel left out of their family/friend circle and feel like nobody understands them or that people wouldn't like the "real" them if they said what was actually on their minds. When you come into the picture they let go of a breath they have been holding their entire life. You connect with them in a way they never thought possible and they realize that it's okay to be themselves and that there is such a thing as "true love". They are forever grateful for your presence in their life and show it to you every day by bringing you tea in bed or buying little presents to show you they are always thinking of you.

[herejusttosufferalong]

I've been a Lukola shipper since last year, and I've been reading all the male POVs. So, I decided to ask the dudes in my life about this whole situation. I talked to some of my male BFFs and my brother. I'll start with what my brother, who's 15 (I'm 19), had to say.

Over the past three days, I showed him most of the interviews, especially the unhinged ones, all the hand-holding clips, Tif's edits, etc. Then I introduced him to the GF and gave him a brief rundown of all the antics - Instyle, NY and London premieres, Deuxmoi, pool pics, Milan, GQ.

Here’s what he thinks:

Luke and Nic LOVE each other. Luke probably loves her more, or maybe she's just better at hiding it. Nic is affectionate towards everyone, so it’s not as apparent. My brother thinks Nic is really funny and obviously beautiful, especially after watching her solo interviews like "9 Things I've Never Tried Before," ASMR, and accents.

Luke is being hot and cold. After I told him about the break after Brasil, he said that makes sense. It seems like whenever Luke goes back to his friends, he comes back acting like a dick. I showed him Luke's hot boy summer phase and the NYE video of them dancing. He said Luke acts like a dick when he's with his friends, especially Rory, who seems like the leader. He even noticed Tom and said Luke should hang out with him more. When I mentioned Rory breaking up with his GF and now dating Sienna (who's 23), he immediately clocked it and said, “Wow, Lukey did the same.” In a very not impressed tone. I couldn't stop laughing.

Nothing happened in Brasil. My brother thinks Nic would never do anything shady. The interviewers and overall vibes of Brasil were super chill, so Luke let himself loose a bit. However Nic seemed the same, maybe a little more giggly.

NY and London premieres:

NY: They looked fine, but Luke seemed pissed for some reason. The hand moment was insane. He thinks the GF blindsided Nic and set up the videos of them hugging, because why aren’t there videos of others?

London: Nic seemed a little wary, and Luke looked downbad. Luke T and Nic either need to work together or date, or both, because they're cute. Simone is definitely a shipper. He also thinks Golda might be a shipper, but she seems to have clocked Luke’s shit and is side-eyeing, which he is too. The Deuxmoi stunt was dumb and embarrassing.

About A, R, and S:

Rory: Luke hangs onto Rory’s every word, so the GF might not be going anywhere as long as she's in the friend group. My brother hates Rory and thinks he's Luke’s constant during the hot boy summer phase. Rory wasn't seen much before that. Other Anons, is this true?

A: A is in the relationship for the perks. The Hailey Bieber cosplay is gross. My brother almost puked when I showed him the thread comparing A and HB’s outfits. A is obviously trolling the fans, which is boring.

S: He doesn’t think there’s anything nefarious going on with S, and it’s good for her that she’s going to Jack M's classes, but it’s weird that it's only happening now.

In conclusion, my brother thinks this whole thing is going to drag on for a lot longer, but that’s a huge maybe since Luke and Nic are coming back for S4. If Luke's friend group manages to infiltrate the sets, it won't matter much because everyone adores Nic and seems protective of her. A is going to stay as long as she can. Right now, my brother hates Luke and thinks he screwed up royally, even as a friend. It’s a bigger deal if there are non-platonic feelings involved. He wants to see Luke make a thank you post for S3, because that's the least he can do. Luke needs to figure his stuff out, and it seems like whenever he's on vacation, things just get worse. Basically, he needs to GET A JOB and things will sort themselves out.

Wow, that was a lot. Never thought my brother would be so mature!

Also can someone clarify if R was still such a huge part of L's life before his HBS?

Damn the 15 yo is smarter than some grown ass folk in the fandom lmao

LOVE x

[evol-astraea]

Höllvania's national flag sure is interesting to look at.

It's displayed nearly everywhere in the tileset (heck, even on some of the manholes!). We players have already seen it first in the subway section in Whispers in the Walls and in the Höllvania Central Mall (on the floor, nearby the sliding doors to the Atomicycle/parking area). I wonder what is depicted on it means within the setting's context.

(personal musings under the cut)

The Sun-headed figure seems to be a lady. She has a noticeable slimmer build compared to her "partner" (for the lack of a better term) and wears a full length gown/dress with a mantle draped over he shoulders. The Moon-headed figure appears to be a knight. Now, I'm not entirely sure whether it's meant to be female or male, but they're definitely a knight! They're holding a Medieval great helm in one arm, wear some armor (visible on the ankles and feet) and a cape. Interestingly enough, the crescent used for their "face" represents the waning crescent Lunar phase. Both figures hold a Skana. The same sword often seen used by the Excalibur frame...As well as Arthur in 1999!

The first thing that immediately pops up in the mind is the concept of Dualism, and how important it was for the Orokin. The Sun and the Moon are are amongst the oldest, most ancient pair of "opposites" since the dawn of humankind. Different cultures of the world have, at various points throughout history, given different interpretations about them. Even from a linguistic point of view!

For instance, in Greek mythology (and Roman mythology by extension) the siblings Apollo and Artemis Diana for the Romans are the Sun and Moon deities, respectively. In Greek (ancient and modern), Latin as well as Romance Languages i.e. descended from Latin; like Italian, French, Spanish, Portoguese and Romanian "Sun" is a male noun, whereas "Moon" is a female noun. In other mythologies, religions and languages, however, the roles are swapped. Therefore you have male lunar deities and female solar deities. And then you have the linguistic wildcards where either one or both become "it" still linguistics-wise asdfghjkl (IMPORTANT NOTE: I could add TONS of examples here but, for the sake of keeping this reasonably "short" lenghty, I won't)

Now, in different moments in the TennoCon 2024 demo as well as the released 1999 demo, we can hear characters invoke the name of Sol. Arthur says "Sol help us if these end up Infested" about some games in the Arcade, during the TC2024 demo. Also Zeke (only heard), a few moments before the Technocyte Coda introduction. "For Sol's sake man, don't take this out on me!" (not sure I remember this one 100% right, though) I assumed it was a figure of speech at first (again, given this is not the real world/"Earth in 199 is not quite like ours" to semi-quote DE Reb) but...maybe it is not, after all? Which ties to this other point that caught my interest. (thanks, WF subreddit) There are posters mentioning curfew and authority being given over to Scaldra's Major Neci Rusalka, found in the tileset. They are signed by "the Sublime Majesties". Does this imply Höllvania is ruled by two rulers/sovereigns? Are they a king and a queen? Siblings? Perhaps a brother and a sister...or two sisters, even? Because if it turns out to be the latter...On this side of the Origin System we have the Grineer Queens, aka the Twin Queens. I don't think this is merely a coincidence. Last but not least musing, because who knows, maybe this, too, was thrown in there...Ngl, the first couple of I saw the figures in WitW/the mall my brain automatically went "Wait, are those two meant to be Operator and the Drifter?" Once more, another pair of "opposites". Then again, even the arrangement on the flag reminds of the Moral Alignement thing we've got in-game. Everything seems to be tightly connected to many things in Warframe. (which is why I love the game so much and all the small details added in each and every major update are a FEAST for my own curiosity)

That said, I'm really looking forward WF 1999 and all the things it will bring. >:)

[liquidstar]

chat i'm once again thinking abt how much i love the development of the emilia/subaru relationship. i just think they way they communicate with each other is so good.

both of them WANT to be together, they make that very clear. however their respective circumstances and traumas make that difficult at the moment, so they're kind of just hanging out. but everything is out in the open! they both know they like each other and wanna be together, but they're making the active choice to not act on it yet. given how fucked up they both are in the head... this is, like, remarkably healthy (and shows a lot of subaru's growth after feeling entitled! and emilia's growth in opening herself up to the idea that she could be loved!)

subaru constantly dotes on emilia, and its something she enjoys and feels comfort with. she feels like something is wrong when he doesnt (like in arc 6 w his amnesia). he tells her all the time that he loves her, expecting nothing back. shes not ready to commit to an "i love you," yet, but she's thankful to hear it, and she still wants to say it back someday. she outright says she can't marry anyone else because she's already chosen him! even if theyre not in a relationship, its like they're preparing for the day when they can be. they still both understand. and subaru is so patient with her about this now, he doesn't feel insecure about whether she likes him or not either. he knows! they both agreed to wait. they both know they're not fit for a real relationship but they're still committed to each other in this Just Hanging Out phase.

and from a writing standpoint i think this is GREAT because they can be a slow burn... and have open and honest communication about all their feelings for each other? thats so rare! literally no one is doing it like them. and i think their eventual relationship will have more payoff with less will they/won't they about the whole thing for it, imo. because 99% of the time w these kinds of stories, you know they will anyway, but what's cool here is that THEY also know they will.

i just think what they have going on is really cool and i love how it shows their growth. yes, its okay if theyre not "really" a fully romantic couple, that's too much for right now. but they can still be together in whatever way works for them, and slowly work their way into whatever comes next. they ARE working towards some kind of future together, but they're taking their time, testing the waters, and not settling into any specific roles just yet. just going with the flow, seeing how things turn out (especially w how hectic their lives are lol), but still undoubtedly loving each other (in emilia's case, even if she's not ready to commit to romantic love, you can't deny she loves subaru in a platonic way, or somewhere in-between).

its cool! its a cool dynamic that you dont get very often! but its also a very real one to me, they really feel like two troubled people just taking their time to figure stuff out with each other. not jumping into anything, but also preparing to eventually, and really communicating to make it work! that theyre both comfortable with how the other feels about them too, and easily settle into this nice peaceful dynamic they have in the meantime. theres no rush! they trust each other, and theyll get there.

[thecelestialperiwinkle]

ᰋ  ׅ࣪   ꒰  minors dni 18+ pac reading detailed ♡︎ your (future) person's hidden sexual thoughts  ꒱  

01. 02. 03.

disclaimer : this 18+ reading was made for adult audiences. it contains adult language and content and it may not suitable for minors and may not be for some adult readers. read at your own risk and be open-minded. kindly skip this post and avoid interacting if you don't feel it, stop reporting my posts! *chuu*

01

cards : world, 3oC, ToW, QoS, KoW, SoC.

this person's hidden thoughts is that they want to see the reaction of their partner's body and theirs too when having juicy time together. not only that, but they also want to see the reaction of their partner on how they're performing and moaning while doing those things. they would likely want to have a huge mirror in front where they can see both of the oral bodies.

if this is a man, they have a huge manhood, while if this is a woman, they will have a small and tight lady bits. when it comes to the chest part, they are big, well circled, and very delicate to look at and to suck up, no matter what gender it is. i see that they may be interested in collecting different types of sex toys to pleasure themselves as well as their partner. i also don't think that your first sexual encounter with them will be their first; perhaps they will be someone who may have experience with this kind of things.

they also desire to carry, embrace, or own the body of their partner all night or day. they want to enjoy every inch of you; they want this togetherness to happen. they are someone who is very picky when it comes to their partner and places; it's like you can't just fuck this person around and everywhere you want to.

02

cards : 4oP, 9oS, the devil, judgement, 6oW, PoW.

holding, caressing and handcuffs are the ones i am picking up here. they want to touch their partner's body precisely, they want to own and say each part of it's body ‘‘this is mine, this, this and this one’’. they may want you to look elegant or the first night with them might happen in such milk and honey places.

this person wants to find someone who will able to share their sex fantasies, someone who can match their passion when it comes to sex appetite. this person prefer to do this in a way of secret and dark like a very private meeting. there's also a little bit of desire here where everytime they got crush on someone they usually daydreaming making it with that person. i don't think they will tell this to anyone since they likely embarrassed talking that deep secret of them, they probably gonna keep it by themselves alone. other than that, they purely want to experience unwavering and shivering affection of sex. altogether, this pile is giving me an energy of two couple dancing in unison and making a beat along with the waves of music.

03

cards : hermit, QoC, PoW, 10oP, SoS, 9oS.

pile 2 and 3, both have two similar cards - this might be means that you maybe a little bit attracted to pile 2, if yes then maybe it have message for you.

so as i see here, this person will love this aloneness time together in the near future but right now, they probably prefer doing it alone. if you gonna asked me, they're not really good with it but they trying their best and still on the phase where they still on learning process. they're not yet reading for any sexual things. not yet because they're still trying to figuring it out. if not then this spicy secrets of them is likely to be confidential forever. there's also a fifty-fifty chances that they become obsess with their partner.

but before all of that they do want first an emotional relationship security. when it comes to their favorite parts of human body, they probably like - bum and breast parts and they may want to squeeze, cupping, holding, sucking and massaging it. this is about holding and locking their lover around their arms. i don't know if you would like this part but they fancy phone sex such as vc and chat ones, nude photos, giving head, going down, 69 and anything related to oral sex. they have crave for someone who is foreigner, someone who looks good and someone who is unique from their eyes. if not they likely want to do it in such a far away places most likely overseas. the first time with them or a special getting together might happen in other places, a foreign country as i said and maybe this a honeymoon? or a relaxation for the both of you. cuddling after sexual intercourse is also included to their desire.

© thecelestialperiwinkle

[mononijikayu]

phase four – 24/7 = heaven.

As she finished showering and watched the washing machine whir to life, she couldn't help but wonder about Suguru's past relationships. How many people had he taken care of like this before her? The thought made her pout as she mulled over the complexities of their newfound romantic involvement. It was already hard to date her best friend, but it was even harder when her logic went out of the window. She doesn’t know if she loves Suguru just yet, in the way that lovers do. But she likes him a lot. The thought of someone else by his side, it made her uncomfortable. It made her…anxious.

Genre: No Curses AU, University Professors AU!

Warning/s: Fluff, Banter, Romance, Co-Workers, One Sided Romance, Childhood Friends, Friends to Lovers, Co-Workers to Lovers, They're Figuring It Out!;

note: i changed the title of this song, but i like to think it really fits, the two of them find heaven in each other one way or another!!!

masterlist

logic ≠ love masterlist

SHE COULDN’T HANDLE THE WAY SUGURU WAS STARING AT HER. As they sat in the cafeteria together, it was a rare moment of respite in their busy schedules. Wednesdays had become a cherished tradition for them, a day when they could steal away a few precious moments to share a meal and catch up on each other's lives. The bustling atmosphere of the cafeteria provided a comforting backdrop to their conversations, a familiar routine that brought a sense of normalcy to their otherwise hectic days.

Normally, their meetings were filled with light-hearted banter and shared laughter. Suguru would take charge of ordering their meals while she caught up with Satoru’s tears over a new BL manga and recently, Nanami-kun and her exchange baking recipes. When her boyfriend would come back, the two of them  would exchange stories about their days, sharing anecdotes and updates on their respective projects. But today was different. Today, the air between them was heavy with unspoken tension, and even the simple act of picking up her utensils felt like a daunting task.

She could feel Suguru's gaze on her, sharp and penetrating, as though he could see right through her facade. The weight of his scrutiny made her stomach churn with anxiety, and she found herself fidgeting nervously in her seat. The strawberry milkshake in front of her remained untouched, the swirling motion of the straw against the rim of the glass a feeble attempt to distract herself from his piercing eyes.

Every glance in his direction felt like a risk, as though she was tiptoeing on a tightrope between revealing too much and keeping her emotions guarded. She swallowed hard, willing herself to maintain her composure and avoid his penetrating gaze. It was a delicate dance of restraint, each movement calculated to avoid detection, yet every fiber of her being screamed with the need to break free from the suffocating silence that hung between them.

“You know….you can tell me.” Suguru whispered to her as he drank his earl gray tea, still eyeing her. “I don’t think you have to keep it a secret from me.”

Suguru's gentle voice cut through the tense atmosphere, his words a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. Yet, his piercing gaze bore into her, silently urging her to open up and share her burden. He was always kind, Suguru. His voice always tends to make her feel calm. Yet, it was hard to feel calm right now. She didn’t know how to. It always gets like this. But then again, she supposed it's her own doing. 

"What are you talking about?" she replied, attempting to deflect his probing questions with a nervous laugh, all the while continuing to stir her strawberry milkshake in a feeble attempt to appear nonchalant.

But Suguru was not easily deterred. Setting down his cup of tea, he leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Feeling the weight of his unwavering gaze, she began to ramble incoherently, her words stumbling over each other as she desperately tried to change the subject. "Maybe we should reschedule our date for another day," she blurted out, her voice trembling. "We might have a day off then, and Itadori-kun might actually do his work, so I won't have to check it later—"

Suguru's sharp eyes bore into her once more, cutting through her flimsy attempt at diversion. "Hey," he interjected firmly, his tone leaving no room for evasion. "If you want me to understand what you're trying to say, start talking straight to the point."

Taking a deep breath, she summoned the courage to meet his gaze. "Suguru," she began weakly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He lifted his tea cup to his lips,  "How's your update progress?" 

Her eyes narrowed slightly at the sudden change of topic, panic setting in. She faltered, unable to bring herself to admit the truth. "About that... I’m……almost done. But—"

"So you haven't written anything yet," Suguru stated flatly, his expression unreadable.

She averted her gaze, her hands shaking as she continued to stir her milkshake nervously. "Yes," she admitted quietly, her voice barely audible.

Suguru had a sixth sense when it came to her work habits—well, more like a 6.5th sense, considering how often she second-guessed herself and got distracted by the smallest of things. It was like he had a radar for procrastination and a built-in alarm system for tardiness. He was the silent guardian, the watchful protector of deadlines, the unsung hero who made sure she submitted what she needed to pass each year, even if it meant resorting to desperate measures like hiding her phone or locking her in a closet until she finished her work. 

It was a comedic dance of cat and mouse, with Suguru playing the role of the strict taskmaster and her as the perennially distracted scatterbrain. But somehow, against all odds, they always managed to pull through—mostly thanks to Suguru's unwavering patience and knack for keeping her in check, whether she liked it or not. She supposes, its why she graduated middle school at all. 

Just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming message. Glancing at the screen, she felt a pang of anxiety shoot through her.

Her editor.

She gulped nervously, her eyes darting between her phone and Suguru.

He let out a resigned sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. "When's the deadline?" he asked, his voice tinged with resignation.

Her stirring became more frenzied, the clinking of the spoon against the glass echoing loudly in the tense silence. "Saturday," she finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Saturday?

Suguru’s brows furrowed.

That was their date.

Suguru sighed, his expression softening with understanding. "I see," he murmured, his tone gentle as he reached out to place a reassuring hand on hers. "That doesn't leave you with much time."

She nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over her as Suguru's comforting touch grounded her. "I know, and I'm sorry for not telling you sooner," she admitted, her voice tinged with regret.

"It's alright," Suguru reassured her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'll figure this out together."

Feeling a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support, she managed a weak smile. "Thank you," she whispered, her eyes meeting him with heartfelt sincerity.

Suguru returned her smile, his gaze warm and reassuring. "Don't worry," he said softly, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We'll make sure you meet your deadline."

She thinks Suguru seems like a god.

She looks at him with deep emotions.

She thinks she’s about to cry out loud.

He gives her the palm of his free hand. “Give it to me.”

You blink, “Huh, what?”

“Your phone.” He says to her with a charming smile. “I have to make sure your editor doesn’t kill you.”

She gulps. He’s right. With a hesitant nod, she reluctantly handed over her phone to Suguru, feeling a sense of resignation wash over her. As he took the device with a charming smile, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of gratitude and trepidation. He was right—her editor might as well have been a mythical beast with a fiery temper, ready to pounce at any moment. 

Suguru answered the phone with a calm demeanor that contrasted sharply with her inner turmoil. "Hello?" he greeted, his voice smooth and composed.

Meanwhile, she couldn't help but fidget nervously as she awaited the verdict of her fate, her heart pounding in her chest. She had no doubt that Suguru would smooth things over with her editor, but the anticipation of what he might say hung heavy in the air.

"Hello, this is Suguru," he greeted smoothly, his voice carrying a reassuring tone. "Yes, I understand the urgency of the situation... Absolutely, the draft will be ready on time... You have my word."

As Suguru continued to speak with her editor, his words were punctuated by nods and reassuring smiles directed at her. Despite the anxiety gnawing at her, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her as she watched him handle the situation with ease.

Finally, Suguru wrapped up the call with a confident tone. "Thank you for your understanding. Rest assured, the draft will be submitted on time this time. Have a great day."

After ending the call, Suguru turned to her with a knowing smile, his eyes twinkling with determination. She knew that smile all too well—it was a silent promise that he would ensure she completed the draft, no matter what. Memories of the past served as a reminder, almost a trauma. Suguru took to tasks very fast; he wanted them done precisely and done as soon as possible. And it didn’t help that tomorrow was a holiday. And then the weekends. She gulped nervously as his hands rested jointly together, his smile widening. He was terrifying when he was serious.

“I’m coming over,” he stated firmly.

She stirred her melted milkshake, nodding in acknowledgment. “Okay.”

“You’re getting this done,” he asserted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“.....Yes, sir,” she replied in an obedient murmur.

“Good girl,” he praised, his tone shifting as he smiled.

Chills went throughout her spine. 

She felt herself become flustered.

She lowers her head and sips her drink.

There’s no logic to why he said that.

IN THE END, ITS HER THAT CAME OVER HIS HOUSE. She couldn't remember how long her eyes had been watery, but it wasn't an unfamiliar sensation. This time, however, it felt more intense, perhaps because she hadn't made any significant progress until that night when Suguru invited her to his house. She had once again gotten distracted and ended up working overtime. He didn’t get mad about that. She already took their date away, but she also made him wait. She could feel guilt eating at her. But he just sighed and patted her head. He tells her that the last train had already left. Since Suguru's house was closer, it seemed like the best option to get things done before anything else. 

In truth, she was nervous about sleeping over at Suguru's house. While she had visited before for cooking sessions and game nights, spending the night was uncharted territory for her. As Suguru nonchalantly led her inside, slipping off his work shoes and offering her a pair of house slippers, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of nervousness. All her life, Suguru had been her friend, and now he was someone she was romantically involved with. The sudden shift in dynamic left her feeling flustered and uncertain. How was she supposed to be? What should she do, to be an even better girlfriend?

Stuck with those thoughts, Suguru ushered her in and reassured her that he had a spare room where she could sleep. She felt her heart pound at that moment, but she did not know why. What were these feelings? She sighed, shaking her head before turning back to him and smiled. She soon settled her things, and she gratefully followed him to the designated space. Fortunately, she had brought her drawing materials and an extra set of clothes, so she was prepared for the impromptu stay. Suguru even offered the use of his washing machine if she wanted to freshen up her clothes, further adding to her flustered state.

As she finished showering and watched the washing machine whir to life, she couldn't help but wonder about Suguru's past relationships. How many people had he taken care of like this before her? The thought made her pout as she mulled over the complexities of their newfound romantic involvement. It was already hard to date her best friend, but it was even harder when her logic went out of the window. She doesn’t know if she loves Suguru just yet, in the way that lovers do. But she likes him a lot. The thought of someone else by his side, it made her uncomfortable. It made her…anxious.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Suguru entering the laundry room until he spoke up, breaking the silence. "Hey there," he greeted her with a warm smile, leaning against the doorframe. "Feeling better after the shower?"

She blinked, startled by his sudden appearance, but managed a nod. "Yeah, thanks," she replied softly, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts of their relationship.

Suguru's smile softened as he approached her, his gaze gentle. "What do you feel like eating?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. "I can whip up something quick if you're hungry."

She hesitated for a moment, torn between her appetite and her swirling emotions. "Um... I'm not sure," she admitted, feeling a knot form in her stomach. "Maybe just something light?"

Suguru nodded understandingly. "Got it. I'll make us some sandwiches," he suggested, already moving toward the kitchen. "You stay here and relax. I'll take care of everything."

Lost in her thoughts, she followed Suguru out of the laundry room, watching him move about the kitchen with a sense of grace and purpose. The warmth of the room enveloped her, a stark contrast to the chilly apprehension that had gripped her moments ago.

Geto Suguru hummed a sweet tune as he prepared the sandwiches, his movements fluid and efficient. He looked like he was a prince, a beautiful fantasy before her eyes. She couldn't help but admire the way he seemed to effortlessly navigate the kitchen, his every action imbued with a sense of care and attention to detail. She smiles, leaning against the doorframe.

"Need any help?" she offered tentatively, stepping closer to him.

Suguru glanced up, a soft smile playing on his lips. "No, I've got it covered," he assured her, his eyes warm with affection. "Just sit back and relax."

She purses her lips and nodded, content to watch him work as she sank into a nearby chair. The rhythmic clinking of utensils and the fragrant aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air, soothing her frazzled nerves.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence filled only by the sound of their utensils clinking against the plates, Suguru finished assembling the sandwiches with practiced precision. He arranged them meticulously on a plate, a masterpiece of culinary artistry that he presented to her with a warm smile.

"Here you go," he said gently, his eyes reflecting his genuine desire to please her. "I hope you like them."

She couldn't help but return his smile with equal warmth, feeling a rush of gratitude for his thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Suguru," she murmured appreciatively, reaching out to pick up a sandwich and take a bite. 

The flavors exploded in her mouth like a symphony of sensations, a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that danced on her palate with each bite. Each ingredient seemed to complement the other flawlessly, creating a culinary masterpiece that surpassed her expectations. It was delicious, just like everything else Suguru made. She couldn't help but marvel at his skills, a talent he seemed to possess effortlessly. Geto Suguru had always been good at everything he did. And it seems he’s only gotten even better.

As she savored the sandwich, memories from the past flooded her mind, bringing a nostalgic smile to her lips. She remembered how Suguru had always been good at cooking, even back in middle school when he was part of the home cooking club. Everything he made then was delicious too. It was no surprise that his skills had only improved over the years, he lived alone and had to learn to feed himself more and more.

With each bite, she couldn't help but appreciate the care and attention he had put into making the sandwiches. Cute little happy sounds emit from her lips. Suguru seemed surprised about it, but he seemed to smile a little when she wasn’t looking. He was happy that she liked it. No words were needed.

As they ate in companionable silence later on, Suguru's expression gradually shifted from one of relaxed contentment to a more serious demeanor. He had already finished, but she was savoring the meal and ate slowly. His gaze bore into hers with unwavering intensity, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. 

"I think it's time we focus on your manga," he said softly, his voice carrying an undercurrent of determination. She felt a pang of nervousness as she gulped, realizing the gravity of the situation. "We've got a deadline to meet, and I want to make sure we're on track."

His words resonated within her, stirring a mixture of anxiety and determination. She nodded slowly, steeling herself for the task ahead. And lo and behold, these two days passed as though they were in a crunch against time. As though her finishing this manga chapter would save the world. She gritted her teeth, continuing to draw and draw.

Throughout the past two days, she had shed quite a few tears, sniffling through each stroke of her stylus pen against the drawing tablet. Geto Suguru wore his glasses, his hair tied in a messy bun, and was on his second cup of coffee. He sat across from her, his laptop open, diligently scanning through the shared file document she had been working on, checking for flaws and edits.

"It's coming along nicely," Suguru remarked, glancing up from his laptop to offer her a reassuring smile. "You're making good progress."

She forced a tired smile in return, her eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep and endless hours of work. "Thanks," she mumbled, her voice hoarse from hours of non-stop drawing.

Suguru leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful as he surveyed her work. "Just a few more tweaks and adjustments, and I think we'll be ready to submit it," he said, his tone calm and encouraging.

She nodded wearily, feeling a glimmer of hope amidst the exhaustion. "I'll do my best," she promised, determined to push through until the very end. She sighed, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her fatigue. "I'm really sorry."

He looked at her with a raised brow, his expression softened with understanding. "Why?" he asked gently.

"I really shouldn't have gotten you roped into this," she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion. She sniffled, her gaze fixed on the drawing board on her screen. "You could be rewatching Rome right now, and you're here, stuck with me. I feel horrible."

Suguru sighed, reaching out to gently place a hand on her shoulder. "You really don't have to apologize," he reassured her, his tone gentle yet firm. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy at her pitiful state. "I think even if this isn't my thing... I know you're suffering a lot."

Her tears began to flow once more, and he offered her a tissue from the nearby box, his heart aching at the sight of her distress. "Anyway, can you check page 25?" she asked, her voice shaky but determined. "I corrected a line for that paragraph. And on page 29, there's this blurb of ink on the character's arm. Fix that."

She sniffled, her fingers swiftly moving across the screen to make the necessary adjustments. "You really are too good at your job," she mumbled between sniffles, her admiration for him evident in her voice.

As the minutes ticked by, the pressure of the looming deadline intensified, but Suguru and she refused to succumb to the mounting stress. With unwavering determination, they poured their hearts and souls into their work, their shared dedication driving them forward as they raced against the clock to complete the BL manga chapter. Suguru's steadfast encouragement and support served as a beacon of hope amidst the chaos, and she drew strength from his unwavering belief in her abilities.

Despite the exhaustion that threatened to engulf them, Suguru remained resolute, refusing to let her give up. She cried tears of frustration and exhaustion, but Suguru's unwavering support helped her push through until the very end. It was a grueling battle against time, but they fought tooth and nail, determined to meet the deadline no matter what.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of relentless work and emotional turmoil, they reached the finish line. With Suguru's final approval, she cheered through tears as she hastily compiled the pages into one cohesive file and began frantically emailing her editor the completed manuscript. The sense of relief that washed over her was palpable as she hit send, knowing that they had given their all and completed the task against all odds.

As she sat back, her heart still racing from the adrenaline of the past few hours, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Suguru, who sat slumped in his chair, his exhaustion palpable. Despite the toll the frantic rush to meet the deadline had taken on both of them, she felt a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support and dedication throughout the ordeal.

The guilt of ruining their weekend plans weighed heavily on her mind, and with tears still lingering in her eyes, she turned to Suguru once more, her voice quivering with emotion as she apologized again. "I'm really sorry for ruining our weekend," she murmured, her words laced with regret.

However, Suguru's response was not one of frustration or disappointment. Instead, he offered her a warm and reassuring smile, his eyes sparkling with understanding. "I think this triumphs going out on a date anyway," he said playfully, his tone light and teasing. "It's not bad, to have a date indoors."

His words brought a small smile to her lips, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Suguru's unwavering positivity and lighthearted demeanor helped ease her guilt and lift her spirits.

She blinked in surprise, a faint glimmer of hope flickering in her heart as Suguru's words sank in. "Really?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Geto Suguru nodded, his smile widening as he met her gaze. "Yeah, I had fun," he admitted, his eyes sparkling with genuine fondness. "Besides, it's not every day we get to work together. Let alone a manga, right? I had fun. I mean that.”

Her heart swelled with gratitude and relief at his understanding and positive attitude. Despite the challenges they faced, Suguru had managed to find joy in their shared experience, and she couldn't help but feel grateful to have him by her side. He really was just so kind. No one would have done this with her. Not even her exes. But Suguru? He would. She knew he would. 

"Thank you, Suguru," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Reaching out, Suguru gently wiped away her tears, his touch gentle and comforting. "Anytime," he murmured, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "We make a good team, you know?"

She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, we do," she agreed, feeling ever so warm with him by her side. 

As they stood there in silence, the air thick with unspoken emotions, she couldn't help but admire Suguru's beauty. His earnest gaze held her captive, drawing her in with its intensity. Her lips parted involuntarily as she studied him, her eyes tracing every curve and contour of his face.

Suguru mirrored her actions, his own gaze unwavering as he met her eyes. The tension between them was palpable, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken desires that lingered beneath the surface.

Suddenly, she felt him leaning closer, his warm breath brushing against her skin as he exhaled. Her heart raced in her chest, the anticipation of what was to come sending a surge of adrenaline through her veins.

In that moment, her mind raced with a million thoughts, each one competing for her attention. But amidst the chaos, one thought stood out above the rest.

‘Are they matching?’ she panicked internally, her mind racing to recall the color of her underwear. ‘If we end up going for it, it has to be a match!’

The heavy stain of blush that echoed across her cheeks intensified as she felt Suguru pressing closer, his presence overwhelming her senses. Is he really going to go for it? The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning — Suguru was a man, and he had always been a man. The thought sent a flurry of conflicting emotions coursing through her veins. She was torn between the desire to lean into his embrace and the fear of crossing a line that could change everything between them.

As the absurdity of her inner turmoil dawned on her, she couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh, a feeble attempt to mask the intensity of her emotions. But even as she chuckled inwardly, the underlying tension remained, a silent reminder of the unspoken desires that simmered between them. The air crackled with anticipation, each moment pregnant with the possibility of something more, yet neither daring to take the first step into the unknown.

"Suguru, if we're gonna do this, maybe wait until it's pink," she blurted out, her voice trembling with nervousness as she struggled to articulate her thoughts.

Suguru's brows furrowed in confusion as he looked at her, clearly taken aback by her sudden comment. "Wait until what's pink?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

She felt her cheeks burn even hotter, her blush deepening as she realized how her words might have sounded. That was stupid, that was horribly stupid. "Oh, uh, it's nothing," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper as she hid her face in her hands, mortified by her own awkwardness.

But before she could dwell on her embarrassment any longer, Suguru reached into his laptop bag and pulled out his Nintendo Switch, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hey, do you want to play a game?" he asked, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I don’t have a pink controller, but would this do?”

With a mixture of relief and amusement, she couldn't help but chuckle softly at Suguru's playful demeanor. "Yeah, sure," she replied, her voice still tinged with a hint of nervousness as she accepted the Nintendo Switch from him.

As they settled into a comfortable silence, their attention focused on the game, she felt a sense of ease wash over her. The tension that had filled the air moments ago seemed to dissipate, replaced by a light-hearted atmosphere as they immersed themselves in the virtual world before them.

As she sank deeper into the comfort of Suguru's presence, she couldn't help but appreciate the way he effortlessly eased her anxieties and allowed her to be herself. He had a way of making her feel human, of reminding her that it was okay to be imperfect and vulnerable.

"I swear, you're getting better at this," Suguru remarked with a teasing grin as he watched her lose yet another game.

She chuckled softly, shaking her head in defeat. "I don't know about that. You're just too good at this."

His grin widened, a playful glint in his eyes. "Maybe I should go easy on you," he suggested, leaning closer to her as he reached for the controller.

She playfully swatted his hand away, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "No way. I want the full experience."

Suguru was about to reply something back to her, but then he heard the doorbell ring. His brows furrowed lowly. He wasn’t really expecting anyone and especially not at this hour. She looks at him and he shakes his head and shrugs. He wasn’t expecting anyone either.  

As Suguru got up to answer the doorbell, she blinked in surprise when she followed him to the door. Suguru pursed his lips at the unexpected visitors standing outside his door. There, at Suguru's doorstep, stood Suguru’s closest friends: a smiling Gojo Satoru, a disgruntled Nanami Kento, and a smoking Shoko Ieiri

"What are you doing here?" Geto Suguru frowned as he opened the door to find Gojo Satoru, Nanami Kento, and Shoko Ieiri standing outside his apartment.

"Is that how you talk to the love of your life?" Gojo Satoru echoed with a fake gasp, his face exaggeratedly sorrowful. "How dare you, Geto Suguru? Forgetting about me, your one true—"

Nanami Kento swiftly placed his hand over Gojo's mouth, cutting off his playful banter. "I'm sorry for disturbing you this late," he apologized, his tone calm and composed.

Shoko couldn't help but snicker at her friend's words as she casually took a drag from her cigarette before stomping it out on the ground. "Honestly, you shouldn’t feel bad about disturbing Suguru and his little love session," she teased. "He’s not at that second base yet."

Suguru's face flushed bright red at Shoko's remark. "I really didn’t miss you at all. Go back to Utahime or something."

"That crybaby Kyoto for work, so I really don’t have anything to do," Gojo chimed in, removing Nanami's hand from his mouth with a mischievous smile. "Which is why we’re here!"

“My girlfriend is not a crybaby, Gojo.”

Satoru grins at Shoko. “But she is!”

Suguru glanced at Gojo with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, while Nanami simply sighed. "He's had a drink," Nanami remarked, his voice tinged with mild disapproval.

"Tsk, lightweight," Suguru muttered under his breath.

"What do you say, bangs?" Gojo turned his attention to him with a small frown. You wanna go?”

"Well, what are you saying, grandpa?" Suguru quipped back with his own glare. “Yeah, come on, throw down, right now!”

"Oh, it's begun," Shoko observed with a smirk as Gojo and Suguru exchanged playful glares. She then turned to her with a friendly wave. "I haven’t seen you yet, nice to meet you!"

Feeling slightly stunned by the lively interaction, she managed a small wave back. "N-nice to meet you too."

“Satoru, we should go home.” Nanami was pulling his lover out of glaring at his best friend. “You’re drunk.”

“No, I’m not.” The blue eyed man argues back. “I only drank one cinderella!”

Nanami shakes his head. “You drank more than a cinderella.”

“Lightweight.”

“You wanna go, stingy bangs?”

“Bring it on, paint brush!”

She blushed at Shoko's words, feeling a mix of embarrassment and warmth at the attention. "It's nice to meet you, Shoko," she said, offering a shy smile. "Thanks for dropping by."

Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red at Shoko's compliment, feeling a flutter of nerves at the unexpected attention. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, trying to compose herself as she exchanged glances with Suguru.

Suguru rolled his eyes at Shoko's playful banter, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "She's not going anywhere, Shoko," he replied, his tone teasing yet firm.

Shoko chuckled, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she leaned in closer. "You're really pretty," she whispered in her ear again, sending another wave of warmth through her cheeks.

Suguru let out an exasperated sigh, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he watched their interaction. "Okay, okay, enough with the flirting," he interjected, unable to suppress a grin.

Shoko grinned back at him, her playful demeanor undeterred. "Aw, come on, Suguru, where's your sense of fun?" she teased, nudging him playfully.

He rolled his eyes again, but there was a fondness in his gaze as he looked at Shoko. "You're lucky you're my friend," he remarked, unable to hide a small smile.

“You should let us in,” Gojo Satoru insists to his black-haired friend. “Have a drink or two?”

Nanami shakes his head at his boyfriend. “You couldn’t handle whiskey.”

Gojo frowns. “It tastes like crap, Nanamin.”

Suguru's girlfriend smiles at them and says, "We have some wine left over, come in."

Suguru frowned. "We don't have to let them in."

She shakes her head. "They're your friends, we can't just turn them away this late."

Suguru crosses his arms. "Yes, we can."

"Listen to your girlfriend," Shoko teased. "Or she'll leave you."

Suguru's eyes rolled skyward in a display of mild exasperation, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "As if," he muttered under his breath, though the fondness in his tone was unmistakable. Reluctantly, he stepped aside, gesturing for his friends to enter with a resigned shrug.

“Sorry for this again, Suguru.” Nanami says, shaking his head. “He wouldn’t stop going on about how he needs to drink with you.”

Suguru sighed. “Nothing I can do about this idiot.”

As Suguru's friends made their way into the room, she felt a surge of conflicting emotions coursing through her. The sight of them filled her with a flutter of excitement, tinged with a touch of apprehension. It was an unexpected visit that brought forth a whirlwind of emotions, ranging from curiosity to nervousness, swirling within her like a tempestuous storm.

As Suguru's friends settled into their living space, it felt like a delightful departure from the routine work-related interactions they were accustomed to. She observed the dynamics between Satoru and Nanami, their affectionate banter and the comfort that emanated from their shared space. The two seemed like a perfect match, and she couldn't help but admire the ease with which they conversed, Satoru laying on Nanami's lap as they talked about everything under the sun.

Shoko, on the other hand, was a captivating presence, even surpassing the vivid descriptions Satoru had shared about her in stories. Her vibrancy and charm were enigmatic, and she radiated an energy that made her think Shoko would make a perfect romantic partner. It made her wonder what sort of person her girlfriend was, what sort of lover she was like. She seemed so perfect. She purses her lips for a moment. Inspired, she grabbed her phone and quickly jotted down an idea for a story, the creativity sparked by the lively atmosphere around her.

As Suguru's friends settled more comfortably into the living room, their presence brought an energetic and lively atmosphere to the space. Nanami, known for his responsible nature, took charge in the kitchen, determined to whip up something to help sober up Satoru, who had indulged in more wine than he could handle and was starting to feel the effects. Meanwhile, Shoko, with her vivacious personality, took the initiative to set up the karaoke machine, eager to showcase her vocal prowess.

Taking a swig of her beer, Shoko launched into another song, her voice filling the room with enthusiasm. Suguru, knowing his luck that his nearest neighbor lived a couple of houses away, couldn't help but smile at the spirited scene unfolding before him. Satoru, always up for a good time, joined Shoko with a mischievous grin, ready to belt out tunes and add to the jovial atmosphere.

Amidst the music and laughter, she found herself swept up in the infectious energy of Suguru's friends. Singing along to the karaoke tunes, dancing to the rhythm, and sharing in the laughter, she couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and belonging. It had been a while since she had experienced such genuine fun and she cherished every moment spent in the company of Suguru's little circle of friends.

Suguru observed the unfolding scene with a mix of amusement and exasperation, a faint sigh escaping his lips as he acknowledged the unexpected disruption to their evening. With a gentle turn towards his girlfriend, he offered an apologetic smile, his expression tinged with regret. 

"I'm sorry about all this," he murmured softly, a hint of concern evident in his voice. "You must be tired from your work."

His girlfriend simply shook her head, a warm smile gracing her lips as she reassured him. "It's nothing," she replied with genuine affection shining in her eyes. "I'm happy to see your friends around too. It's nice to have everyone together like this."

Her understanding and acceptance brought a sense of relief to Suguru, who couldn't help but feel grateful for her unwavering support. He met her gaze, his eyes widening slightly before a soft smile curved his lips. "Okay," he responded, his voice sincere and warm. "Let's do this more often."

She grinned in agreement. "Whenever you want!"

Taking her hand in his, Suguru smiled tenderly at her. "And for the record," he added playfully, "they're your friends now too."

She blinked, touched by his words. "Really?"

"Yeah," Suguru affirmed with a gleam in his eyes. "They're here for you too."

Encouraged by Suguru's words, she felt a rush of warmth fill her heart. It was comforting to know that she was not just welcomed but embraced by his circle of friends. As she glanced around at the lively atmosphere in the room, she couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging settling over her.

"Thank you," she whispered, squeezing Suguru's hand affectionately. "I appreciate it."

Suguru flashed her a grin, his eyes softening with affection. "Of course," he replied warmly. "We're all in this together."

With a contented smile, she settled back into the cozy atmosphere, feeling grateful for the bonds of friendship that surrounded her. As the evening unfolded with laughter, music, and shared moments, she knew that this unexpected gathering would be a cherished memory to hold onto.

She was glad to be here together.

She was glad she was laughing

She was glad to be dancing.

She was glad it was with Suguru.

Suddenly, she felt her heart jump.

Once more, logic has no place in love.

extra, monday back to work;

The atmosphere was serene as Suguru and his girlfriend savored their brief reprieve from their demanding work schedules. Seated comfortably beside each other, they cradled steaming cups of coffee in their hands, the rich aroma wafting around them like a comforting embrace. The gentle hum of the coffee shop provided a soothing backdrop, contrasting the bustling energy of the city streets just beyond the window. Despite the hectic pace of their lives, they cherished these moments of tranquility, grateful for the chance to unwind together. With each sip of coffee, they felt the tension of the day slowly melt away, replaced by a sense of contentment and relaxation. It was a simple pleasure, yet one they both treasured deeply. As they sat side by side, lost in the quiet intimacy of the moment, they exchanged soft smiles and knowing glances, their connection unspoken yet palpable. In the midst of their busy lives, these stolen moments of togetherness were like precious jewels, reminding them of the strength of their bond and the importance of prioritizing their relationship amidst the chaos of the world. "Hey, I have something for you," Suguru said suddenly, as he took a bag from the corner. There was a glint in his eyes. “From what you said last time.” She looks at him confused. “What about last time?” As Suguru handed her the bag, her grip tightened around her coffee cup, almost causing her to spill its contents as she struggled to suppress a sudden bout of nervousness. His casual remark about her previous mention of pink sent her mind into a whirlwind of panicked thoughts. Did he really just buy her pink underwear? The thought alone was enough to make her cheeks burn with embarrassment, and she found herself echoing in horror at the possibility. Before she could voice her concerns or protest, Suguru deftly pulled out the pink Nintendo Switch from the bag, and relief flooded through her like a wave. Her eyes widened in realization, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude mixed with embarrassment at her initial assumption.  "Oh, that pink," she murmured, her voice tinged with both relief and embarrassment. Suguru's chuckle was warm and reassuring, his smile widening as he confirmed, "Yeah, this pink," his gaze filled with genuine amusement. "Do you like it?" Her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment, but now also tinged with relief, she nodded eagerly. "I love it," she confessed, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she reached out to take the gift from him. "Thank you, Suguru." He beamed at her, his eyes sparkling with happiness. "You're welcome," he replied, his voice filled with affection. "I thought it would be a nice surprise."

[nalyra-dreaming]

Helloo , I am actually wondering about how close they are adapting the first book into the series because now we all know that the trial scene is going to be a hard one for the Lestat and Louis’s worshippers like myself because somehow I want to see a possible “happy” ending for Lestat and Louis at the trial. Also I couldn’t wrap my head around the possible foreshadowing of the ultimate betrayal of Louis over Claudia, because the whole -you and me- ending of the first episode in season 2 was a lot. But how? Louis will be there on the trial stage, maybe they push Louis with the decision of choosing one over another as a punishment because they are the two most important figures for him. By giving Claudia a life and taking Lestat’s life he broke two rules and this choice is the biggest punishment for him, and also we see a little now that he is not feeling so good for killing Lestat so maybe Lestat’s hold over Louis leads to the ultimate betrayal. I just don’t know how. Daniel interviewing Armand and Louis also is not sitting right with me, where is Lestat to tell his side and also where is he in that time zone? A huge gap to fill for me. I have to see them together in real time if there is going to be a rockstar Les happily living with Louis. I don’t know, I need to see them being together forever. Sorry if there is a confusion with my words, I feel confused. I want to understand why there is no trace of Lestat’s while Louis is there with that snake Armand in Dubai.

Hey!

Well... first off - Armand does love Louis. Just as a note. (And I wouldn't call him snake either, he does what he thinks is best. Which... does not always align with what others think is best.)

Lestat is likely asleep or in a coma in modern Dubai. There are phases where he is "out of commission" in the books, so to speak, and I think this is one of them, because otherwise he would be there, if he knew about Louis' state of mind. Lestat will have time to tell his POV in s3, cast and crew have been very clear about that by now.

The trial... So, first off - s2 won't have a happy ending in Paris. It will be harrowing and brutal instead. There might be a (more) happy ending in Dubai, but I think we're going to get a cliffhanger of epic proportions instead. 😬

The show maybe foreshadowed the show making Louis... choose, maybe even as part of the punishment. Which will be... brutal. We'll see. But I actually think they'll stay close to the book there, and that Louis will be entombed, and Armand will free him and get him out through the catacombs (we saw in the trailers).

Lestat does not have a "hold over" Louis in the sense of the word (or as it may be in other vampire media). They're not ... linked to each other outside the sheer fact that they are maker and fledgling - and that they love each other, and fatally so. (The silver cord is a bit of a different thing and does not influence them like that.)

If that being in love will lead to (a) betrayal on the stage? We'll see. It might.

But, nonny... I personally do not think we will get modern day rockstar Lestat - I think that happened in the 80s. And even in the books Louis does not end up living happily with Lestat right away. There's too much history between them, and they're both not ready on their respective character journeys. That takes time.

Still, I think the dance in s1 foreshadowed the ending which we'll hopefully get, and which is in the books.

As per your confusion why there is no Lestat - that is the (deliberate) mystery at this point. They're building up to the trial and then to what will happen in Dubai.

Just... wait a bit. He isn't much in the second half of (book) IWTV after all, and they already give us much more content than is in the book. This will probably the longest you will have to go without Lestat in the show.^^

The happy ending will come, no worries, nonny.

But not in Paris.

[writtenbyaris]

my creative writing process as a planner 🌟

the idea:

story ideas come to me at the most random and inconvenient of times. right before i fall asleep, when i'm in the shower, during my classes, etcetera. my main rule is to always write them down, whether it's in my notes app or a slip of paper or a journal... i'll forget it if i don't.

i try keeping it simple at this stage and not thinking too deeply about it, otherwise it becomes quite overwhelming. sometimes ¡'ll make a pinterest board depending on what the idea is. if it's more of an aesthetic, then i can make a moodboard out of it to help inspire me more. however, if the idea is a plot of some sort, that can be a bit more difficult.

character and world building:

this is my favorite part. once i have an idea set in stone and i'm ready to work on it, i begin building the characters and the world around it. i figure out the mechanics of the idea and how it can relate to characters and the world they're in.

at this point, i'm definitely making pinterest boards, playlists, and picrews to feel more immersed in the skeleton of the story.

i still keep it as simple as possible, and try to enjoy it. when i try juggling too many things at once, i end up wanting to abandon the project. slow and steady is the key for me :)

creating the story:

now we get down to what being a writer actually is.. transforming the idea into a story. i have to at least come up with one major plotline to start. i usually write in my journal during this stage, but sometimes i'll use notion to organize everything and keep track of it all.

oftentimes, the main plot will come to me when i'm working on character and world building. sometimes it's even the idea that first popped into my head. the story is usually influenced by dreams i've had, my own every day experiences, and other media i consume.

arcs, subplots, themes, etc:

this stage is for the smaller details that are vital for the story to flow and actually work. it's like a puzzle that's finally coming together.

for me, a story isn't a good one without arcs and themes, so those are of utmost importance. subplots are necessary to make the world more immersive, give readers insight on the characters, and keep the story naturally flowing. everything has to be woven back in to the main plot or idea, though.

i will say, this is the stage that tends to give me the biggest headache :P

zero draft:

jumping into a first draft as a heavy planner is too scary for me. so i came up with the idea of a zero draft. basically- zero expectations.

this is the backbone of my story. in this stage, i'm basically just taking myself through the steps of the story. i organize the plot and subplots into chapters, and with each chapter i go through all the beats of each scene. literally every. single. thing. that happens.

i don't usually include dialogue in this phase, but i do mention when a character will be in a conversation. all the focus should be on putting a needle and thread through the story and tying it all together.

first draft:

the first draft is somewhat easier for me because i do a zero draft. so, i know everything that will happen in a chapter and just have to utilize my writing abilities to make it rhythmic.

this is the first stage where i write dialogue, so it tends to be corny. a lot of my writing can be cliche and basic as well. that's what editing is for though!

i usually stress the most when writing my first draft, because it's the first time the story is actually being written in the format of a novel. by the end, it's not always very good either. but i do not look back at all, which means absolutely no editing until the first draft is finished.

and so on…

once the first draft is finished, then comes draft two. it's enjoyable to be able to read your own work all over again, though it's sometimes embarrassing as writing does improve with practice.

i focus on one chapter at a time-reading slowly, editing, filling in plot holes, fixing anything that changed later in the story. i try to catch as many details as i can.

usually, after as many rounds of editing one likes, the draft would be sent to an editor and beta readers. then i'd look into publishing companies (can you tell i haven't gotten to that point yet? lol)

are you a planner or a pantser?

[secriden]

I am truly finding your descent into the utter madness that is joongdunk very entertaining. Probably because I get you. I only discovered them a few months ago and now I am swimming deep in the trenches of their lore. And I am loving every moment of it. I want to share my joy with you because you seem to be having a great time too.

I am the anon who sent you the mv and short film ask btw. I'm sorry I forgot to mention the horror aspect of the short film.

I fell in love with joongdunk dynamics, both on and off screen. On screen, I love the way they portray their characters. Off screen, I love the way they interact with each other. They are just so hilarious and wholesome. I guess my favorite part about them is how Joong feels comfortable enough to completely let go and be his most unhinged and crazy self with Dunk, and Dunk just accepts all of it without batting an eyelash. I love that while all of their antics are absolutely hilarious, you can also clearly feel the genuine love and respect they have for each other.

Sorry for the long rant, I truly am deep in my joongdunk feels lately. Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss more joongdunk. And thank you for sharing your journey.

Hello!! Its lovely to meet you and yes thank you for both feeding and empathising with my tumble into the joongdunk abyss xD

Oh no worries! I mean I figured it had to be horror themed given it was a Halloween project but I just did not expect them to go that hard with it. It has all the hallmarks I associate with the (very few) Asian horror movies I've seen in my life and there's something especially terrifying about them (vs Western horror films). Which speaks to the genuine effort that was poured into that pet project but also its nice to see them doing something outside of the college romance zone since that's all I've seen from them so far.

Ohhhh I love that insight about Joong feeling like he can be completely himself around Dunk. *O* I mean the man does seem to have the most minimal filter on the best of days and Dunk literally is never ever phased by any of it. Its amazing to watch in the best way.

Also its peak comedy when Dunk does something to make Joong speechless. Usually its also something that makes me think, "guys, you're on camera right now?? shouldn't this be in private??" like the time he got (fake?) mad about Joong sleeping over at a friend's house and got all pouty about not being informed/implied that he thought he thought Joong was only sleeping at his house. xD And Joong was left just like O 3O and not really knowing what to say. xD

I'm still very far from getting a sense of their personalties and characters. I can tell they're incredibly affectionate (as individuals) and that Joong at least is very physically expressive about it. But I want to watch some of their longer interviews to get a feel for what they're actually like, y'know?? Any recommendations?

Also omgosh please do not feel sorry, this is blanket permission to rant at me about JoongDunk and their shows and their projects or whatever else is tangentially related to them. I'm already bought in. xD I was on the fence until I watched SIMM and despite its flaws it still made me feel ALL THE FEELS and most of that was just the sheer intensity that JoongDunk brought to their on-screen moments.