#rip shield 💔

[ahalliance]

possibly no stream tonight, but you never know with this guy

[jils-things]

you know you're at a point of not feeling so iffy with your fave if you're unfazed looking at canonxcanon or other selfships with said character

[k0yaz]

hollow.

Pairings: furina x fem!reader

CW: sfw, female reader, vampire au, girls kissing oh no, crackfic(?), wlw, graphic mentions of violence, beginning is very up to interpretation, blood, furina being so adorable im gonna cry, macaroni :3, I made it super short bc I lost motivation since its past the deadline 💔, kinda a plot twist at the end, not proofread.

A/N: FURINAAAAAA AWAWAAAWAWA oh yeah uhm sorry about this being late but part of @edgeray ‘s Halloween event! 🕯️

All surrounding you was nothing but an endless void caging in around you, enveloping your mind as you found yourself stumbling backward. Eyes heavy, your pupils rolled back upon feeling the thick showers of rain trickle down your freezing skin, floods of endless water streams washing over the vicinity in endless pattering. It was quite evident that this time of day, especially in such blinding conditions was unsafe for many. Especially humans such as yourself who wandered mindlessly in the wild, carelessly allowing the scent of your blood to waver wherever you traveled.

The last sight that caught your eye as you stumbled back was a quick glimpse of the blackened sky adorned with dark tufts of clouds, flashes of lightning ripping through the air in sudden bursts while you squinted your eyes at the sudden shred of light flooding your sight in the blinding darkness. Your soaked clothing stuck to your skin, sending shivers through your body as the cold cloth adhered against your exposed self. Each shower of rain descending down as the gray clouds parted only seemed like a warning sign from the gods themselves, casting down an inescapable storm that would leave you vulnerable for the inhuman nightmares roaming the area to tear to shreds.

You honestly didn’t even know why you were out. The shivers racking your body paired with the purple-ish tint faintly dusted along your skin from the stinging freeze was enough to encourage you to head home. Yet, something within you screamed at every fiber in your body. Every inch of you continued to trudge forward against the force of the winds pushing against you, knowing you can’t head back home. You couldn’t head back, or you would be dead. Not even given the courtesy of being buried or having your body kept intact. Rather, you’d be reduced to an unrecognizable pulp, beaten down ruthlessly until blood painted the ground you lay on.

The mere thought of your body not being able to rest after death—possibly worse—only made you hunch inward at the disgusting fate, face dropping in pure terror. Howls of wind continued to rustle against your ears repeatedly as you bit down on your bottom lip in a pathetic attempt to try and warm up the blue tinged flesh dragged between your teeth. You hissed in a sharp breath of pain as the see though nature of your clean white shirt only exposed the splatter of blood soaking through the white cloth of your shoulder and trickling down your arm. How much longer could you handle? How much longer could you endure the bites of cold air poisoning you from the inside out as you only grew more and more exhausted from the sting.

The answer was not long. A sudden gasp escaped your lips as your knees buckled inward, causing you to release your lower lip from your teeth as a shock response to the numbness seeping through your body slowly. You sucked in a breath as you knelt down, brows knitting together in pain as your free hand served to shield the damp blood seeping through the deep wound in your shoulder. Heavy breathing rang in your ears, albeit quite loudly considering it was your own breathing emanating from your hoarse throat as your surroundings grew blurry—the stench of your fresh blood which was evidently piling up in the clearing as it stung your sensitive nostrils only serving to make you more lightheaded.

Quick rushes of a shadowy figure filled the frame of your vision, its movements being quiet and discreet as the rushes of rain only served to cloak any possible sound it could potentially produce. Its dashes back and forth only displayed in afterimages for under a millisecond as its speed only served to blind you further, making you question your sanity and whether you were hallucinating this figure. You couldn’t think long, your eyelids began to droop as you grew light from the cold engulfing you, along with the loss of blood growing exponentially and spinning your surroundings like a globe.

Thud.

Of course. It wasn’t long before your body rocked forward, slamming against the ground as blood pooled below you and patched the once spotless cloth of your shirt stuck to your skin a deep crimson. The grass below you steeled red as the tip of each green blade had a thick red gradient brushed along it. You guess that this was perhaps the end of your story. Succumbing to the cold and your wounds was the fate life had in store for you. And just like that—you relaxed yourself against the grass, rainwater thudding against the back of your limp frame sprawled out against the ground.

…

That was until your eyes shot open.

Blinking open your eyes, you found yourself weighed down by a thick blanket spread out over you, sinking you down into the mattress until your chest. The dim, golden light briefly provided a faint light to the vicinity you had awoken in, your bleary vision beginning to focus little by little as you scanned the room. A sudden surge of pain shot through your shoulder as you finally regained most of your consciousness, stinging further at sunken wound gashed onto your arm. Eyes wide, you ripped off the blanket cloaking your arm, your expression growing perplexed at the sight of your burning shoulder carefully wrapped in slightly crumpled bandages.

You breathed out a huff upon feeling a strange itch located above your collarbone, being unable to recall whether you had an injury there or not while you were in the rain. Gentle flickers of warm air rejuvenated your freezing muscles, easing the tension piled up within you. The candle flickering beside you somehow provided a flaring amount of heat for you to be able to move around normally without the hypothermic chill dragging down your body.

Two small indents were imprinted onto your throat, harboring that same itch which was bothering you from the moment you woke up. You swore those deep, tiny holes weren’t there before, raising your suspicion—and distress to a higher degree. You couldn’t help but also wonder the source of the marks on your neck, with the deep nature, along with the way both holes were a convenient distance from each other…it unmistakably resembled a bite. A bite resulting from a pair of fangs maliciously sunken into flesh, desperate for a taste.

Yet despite your conclusion, you couldn’t seem to pinpoint the creature that could’ve attacked you before you were nursed back to health in wherever the hell you were now. Scanning the room, you swallowed back your uncertainty, carefully peeling off the blankets draped over you before hovering your feet over the creaky wooden floors. You set one foot down very slowly, flinching a bit upon hearing the hollow creak of the floorboards ring throughout the vicinity.

Each ghastly ring of the floorboards pressured under your heels with every subsequent step against the floor shrouded your thoughts in a lake of uncertainty, the current sensation of utter trepidation clouding your mind as you wandered aimlessly through the perplexing twists of the hallway. Drops of wax pooled beneath the abundant candles in a small heap, dribbling down the edges they resided upon occasionally along the deep stone of the walls.

Swift afterimages of a cloaked figure mysteriously flicked back and forth in the field of your periphery, your hand instantly darting up to shield your palm along your exposed 'wound.' Swallowing back a heavy lump sunken in your throat, paranoia flooded your senses at the sight of the dark figure which had just swiftly vanished, your gaze flickering to every spotting and corner of the peculiar residence.

"Ah..you're out of bed? I thought your injuries were too awful to even move. Sorry about that, ma’am.”

The sudden feminine voice alerted you in mere moments, heart nearly jumping out of your chest from the wave of shock that overtook every fiber of your body in that instant. You spun around, being met with the perplexed expression of an alluring woman stood before you. Fluffed white hair brushed with blue streaks striped along her hair, complimenting her mismatched azure eyes. Her arms remained folded over her chest firmly as her gaze roamed over you from head to toe, lips pursed together upon it being unclear of whether you were truly well or not. The woman parted her lips to speak, before immediately curling her lip between her teeth to bite back her voice.

Drips of stray water leaked from the crevices of the ceiling, lining along the cobwebs as they dribbled down onto the floor to briefly remedy the silence. The dampening atmosphere surrounding you and the exotic being stood before you tensed your muscles, a smoke of uncertainty circling the two of you as a sort of supernatural force seemed to radiate around her, uneasiness wavering within you in the deafening silence.

“This..is awkward? Where’s the ‘thank you for saving my life?’ I just stopped you from dying and getting potentially mauled out there!” She exclaimed as a breaker, your head shooting up and growing alert to the conversation she had attempted to initiate. “Ah…right. Thank you.” You murmured awkwardly, palm still cupped over the marks slit into your throat. She delivered an over dramatic bow in return, a smug expression scribbled onto her face as she bared her fangs in a grin.

Wait…fangs?

Pausing briefly, you hovered a finger upward, slowly pointing toward her teeth. Indicating the curved ridges protruding from the corners of her teeth, you slithered your tongue to the roof of your mouth cautiously, slowly lowering your hand shielding the bite mark to observe your neck.

It almost identically mirrored the sharpened ends of her fangs.

You drew in a breath, attempting to keep your quivering voice steady as you firmly articulated your concerns before her. “Were you the one who did this..?” You inquired carefully, exposing your neck and allowing the faint lighting to add a reflective luminance against the dried out hollow wounds. She paused, grin immediately shifting to a rather hushed expression as her breath caught in her throat upon the revelation of her feeding on you. Almost in an instant, she defensively snapped back in an argumentative manner.

“Hey! Be glad it wasn’t that it wasn’t some other vampire that found you all sprawled out! I was just thirsty but I treated it after! Anyone else would’ve put you in a stove by now!”

“I’m not upset, calm down…I just wanted to know.” You responded, slightly being put at ease by her anecdote of nursing you back to health in critical condition. It was understandable as to why she’d feed on you, as you had noted behaviors of vampires from what others had told you. Typically, they’re unable to resist the minute they see even a hint of scarlet running along a human’s skin, the most frequent outcome being someone’s mangled body being discovered eventually.

However, this particular vampire didn’t seem to show any of the insatiable hunger emitted off others, and not too interested in hogging all of your blood to herself, merely a sip to quench her thirst. You stood upright and gently grazed your finger along her knuckles, freehand cupped below her wrist to gently push it up.

“You’re being genuine in the fact that you saved me?” You questioned, eyes fixated on her teardrop shaped pupils for any trace of deception. Yet they harbored none. She nodded bashfully, a faint pout contorting her features as well.

“Why would I even go as far as making macaroni for you if I didn’t..?”

“You made macaroni for me?”

“…it was literally on your bedside table are you BLIND?”

Her outburst caught you off guard, yet you couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped you upon seeing her swiftly whip her gaze away in a faux frustrated fashion. You smiled, taking her hand in yours and causing her to part her lips in surprise.

“Fine..just, come up with me, okay?”

She nodded hesitantly at first, but began to trail directly behind you as you renavigated your path to the room you were in. Raising your eyebrows as you turned around to face her, your hand rested on the doorknob, refraining from clicking open the door in that moment as you spoke up.

“Thank you for saving me, Furina.”

A ghastly quietness buzzed around the two of you, stunning ‘Furina’ into shock, eyes wide as her gaze remained locked onto you. She paused, confusion currently occupying her mind as it made her head fuzzy from the thickness of perplexion overtaking her. Swallowing nervously, she sharpened her tone towards you, eyelids lowering cautiously.

“How do you know my name..? I’ve never told you.”

A/N: im very sorry that I’ve been ending fics on cliffhangers/lazy writing like this bc I really need to focus on school and I’m trying to get these done in a time crunch along with the assignments in the window of time that I actually have to work on them so I’m sorry but I promise when I have free time I will definitely not slack on my fics like I did this one cause I just threw in a shock factor plot twist ending 💔

anyway did u know that I name all fics in my drafts something very interesting before actually coming up with a title just like sprites in game files so this one was named ‘I’m gonna cover myself in garlic everywhere except my kitty’ and holy shit why did I name it that.

[fatum679]

2x08 H+A

The first scene between Aemond and Helaena 💔

I should say right away that I condemn what Aemond did and do not justify it. I will analyze his actions and reactions. The truth is, I would never dream of him hurting his sister. But I tried to analyze all this without blaming the writers, although we all know how mediocre they are.

Helaena is glad to see Aemond, but he came to her and speaks to her not as a sister, but as if she were a soldier, which makes her look at him in confusion. Helaena refuses to participate in the war, Aemond has a fit of anger.

Aemond is desperate because he knows he can't win this war against other adult dragons. Sunfyre and Tessarion are useless against adult dragons, even if Aemond hadn't hit Sunfyre he already had his wing crushed and his belly ripped open by Meleys, even if Sunfyre was healthy he still can't handle adult dragons. TG is initially at a disadvantage. Aemond understands all this and he only has Dreamfyre left because she is older than Vermithor and Silverwing, and Helain. He did not ask her to fight until he knew he could handle it himself, but now he can't do without her.

Aemond really cares about his family (except Aegon), he understands that they will all die if they lose. ! I do not condone Aemond's actions towards Helaena ! But we see that his whole family does not take the war seriously (Alicent and Aegon).

Alicent put Aegon on the throne, created a whole party, raised children with the thought that they would be killed (it's true) now she does not want to take responsibility for the situation created, she tells her party's plans and lets the enemy go. (If she wanted to see Rhaenyra as queen, then what were all the scenes in episodes 5, 6, 7 for?) Aegon, who accepted the crown, but spent time with his drinking buddies, was incompetent and decided to get drunk and attack Meleys.

I have no questions for Helaena, she does not want to participate in the war, it is her choice, she has the right to it. Aemond does not understand this decision and does not accept it. He expected that she would be happy to avenge her son, but Helaena is not like other Targaryens and no matter how much I want to see a piece of the conqueror in her, she will never be like Visenya and Rhaenys. She truly values ​​every life, so she takes care of the bugs and does not accept violence. I respect and admire Helaena.

In this scene, Aemond is angry not because he is losing power, as the antis believe, but because his family is about to die and he feels alone because no one takes it seriously. Aemond is truly a man of chaos and destruction, while Helaena is creation and order.

The second scene between Helaena and Aemond 💔

Aemond comes to their secret place for private meetings, he is desperate, his voice is shaking, there are tears in his eyes and he feels a strong sense of guilt because he hurt Helaena, he begs her for help, to be with him, but Helaena refuses. And this scene is beautiful, because Helaena is beautiful. She is truly sinless, she is not angry at Aemond for his cruelty, she looks at him without judgment. She wants him to admit his evil. She does not hate him, there is no hate in her. She wants Aemond to see himself, to see what he has become. We see how Aemond's heart breaks when Helaena asks him if he would do the same to her as he did to Aegon. Aemond ready to shield her with his body from the dragon's flame. Now Aemond answered Aegon's evil with his own evil.

Helaena does not want war and revenge, because she already knows what awaits them all and has accepted it. Helaena understands that they are all just grains of sand in the galaxy and the world will not stop if their lives are extinguished. Therefore, she resigned herself and accepted the death.

Helaena speaks of the future, her voice quieter and tears in her eyes, before she speaks of Aemond's death she pauses, her throat shaking with a spasm, but she delivers the sentence. Aemond thinks she is lying and threatening her like a small, frightened child. What it is like to realize that nothing made sense and life had no meaning because they were doomed. Helaena has lived her whole life knowing all this and now Aemond know.

We expected a kissing scene between Aemond and Healena, but we got a scene where they are both dressed, but completely naked to the bone. Aemond, who wanted to hug her, and cries in despair, like a 10-year-old child. Healena, as in her childhood, tells him about the inevitable, about his fate. She looks into his eyes, and it is really hard for her to talk about his death.

Wie gerne würden wir unser Schicksal kennen... wohin es uns führt. Doch die Wahrheit ist: Es gibt nur einen Weg durch alle Zeiten. Vorherbestimmt durch den Anfang und das Ende, was zugleich der Anfang ist.

There's a lot of pain and longing in this scene. The way Aemond instinctively reaches out to Helaena, as if they'd held hands all the time, like in Episode 9, but now he stops, afraid to touch her because he feels guilty. The way Aemond talks about their blood, like he used to talk about preserving dragon blood as a child. He came to their secret place. He came knowing Helaena would be there. And Helaena knew Aemond would come.

We didn't have a kissing scene or a passionate embrace, but we did have a scene where they both showed their bones. It was the most emotional and heartbreaking scene in two seasons.

[scrompsmilanodiaries]

Hey! I loved your Gamora one! If I could send in a similar request (for the game), please, can you write an imagine where r isn't used to people like looking out for them and Gamora saves r when they're injured and r is confused for as to why and Gamora is all like 💔

Could it be platonic also, please?

You came back...

Thank you so much anon, I'm very happy that you enjoyed that request. I hope you enjoy this one as much :D.

The following weeks after that conversation with Gamora really helped you a tad. You started to see yourself in a more positive light than previously, It didn't matter wether you were strong, smart or fast. What mattered the most was that you were a guardian of the galaxy through and through.

But one day, the group was on a mission to retrieve some intel for a potential client that would pay big time !! It would help get the much needed upgrades.

But as soon you were all sent out, disaster struck. The place was completely rigged with traps, running for your life back to the Milano, Peter was screaming at Rocket for triggering the traps, and Groot was doing his best to shield everyone. But amongst it all, just before reaching the door, you felt a jolt of pain in your leg, one of the traps ripped into your calf, making you immobile. You swore you told them 'go one without me', But you felt an arm pick you up. "Not on my watch"

You watched as Gamora helped you all the way back to the Milano, hightailing it before anyone in that place was alerted. You... Didn't know how to feel... She saved you. Back on earth when you were a kid no one saved you from the bullies in school... or anything really.

"You... You came back for me..." You said as you watched her treat your wound.

She sighed as she tightened the gauze, looking at you sadly. "I already lost family... I can't afford to lose another..."

You frowned, you could see the sweet relief mixed with sadness in her eyes, She wasn't simply going to let you die, you were family to her. That moment the bond between you two deepened, she had your back, you had hers.

A/N: Apologies if this is short, But i still think this is pretty good :)

[seelestia]

YOU HAVE A GUARANTEED FROM CLARA BECAUSE CLARA'S VA IS PRESIDENT AVENTURINE SIMP WHICH MEANS YOU WILL GET DOUBLE EARLY FIVE STARS TRUST ME BRO IM FROM THE FUTURE !!!

THANK U, MIREI / USER MILK-VIOLET / TIME TRAVELLER FROM THE FUTURE !!! i am here to dedicate the most monumental wins in my life to you & emily (the avenation's president) o7

so pls allow me to ramble a bit abt how my pulls went:

he came home EARLY !!!! 31 pity counts as pretty early to me like i genuinely did not believe my eyes at first. but who am i to complain 🫣🫣 i also got his LC!!! not as early since it came at 69 pity - but still the first 5* LC that i've ever pulled for willingly LMAO so it's still a win in my book! congrats to this silly guy for breaking my no-warping-for-LC's streak ig 💔

by the time i got aventurine & his LC, i have 55 warps left + 12 more from the starlight exchange for jingliu.... but she did not come home and e2 bronya did instead. this woman is stubborn 😔 so now it's either i continue grinding jades for her or i save 'em all for sunday (delulu) !!!!

MOVING ON - i spent the whole day maxing his traces, so i wanted to show his build aka my blood, sweat and tears. HERE COMES THE BOY !!!! his crit ratio is 30/184 with just the relics - but thanks to his traces & LC (that provide a crit rate boost based on def & a crit dmg boost respectively), this man's stats in combat went 🆙🆙. here's a comparison for my aven's crit ratio out of battle vs in battle!

(ignore the team setup on the right: that's my default farming team with a free slot for support charas that i borrow from friends 🏃 i run him w/ ruan mei, silver wolf and dr. ratio! rip luocha ur services will be missed)

from what i observe, he does a consistent 50~60k with his ult and an average 25~35k with his FUA. i'd say that's good !!! his shield in itself is already op. regrettably, i wished he could have more SPD, but i'll take what i can get! all that matters is that he's here safe and sound <3

[justrainandcoffee]

I did this with us plus our ocs and some characters.

@peakyswritings @emotionalcadaver @evita-shelby @moral-terpitude @call-sign-shark

As the tributes stand on their podiums, the horn sounds.

Reb gathers as much food as she can.

Alfie breaks John's nose for a basket of bread (🤭😂)

Rose runs away with a lighter and some rope.

Eva and Linda work together to drown July .

Arthur finds a backpack full of camping equipment.

Esme and Lucy fight for a bag. Esme gives up and retreats.

→ Eva wtf!!!! Omg!! I'm so sorry, July!! Probably that's her revenge for the horrors 😂😂.

→ All the others just escaped from the cornucopia.

.

Day 1

Quinn and Uncle Charlie hunt for other tributes.

Alfie searches for firewood.

Reb diverts Michael's attention and runs away.

Shark��questions her sanity. (Good for you, Shark! 🤭)

Jessie Eden sets an explosive off, killing John.

Linda overpowers Arthur, killing him (her abuser, so...)

Nina goes hunting.

Lucy, Tommy, Eva, Rose , and Heaven hunt for other tributes.

Ava forces Aberama to kill Flor or Lauren . He refuses to kill, so Ava kills him instead.

→ Ava, wtf!! We're friends 🤧🤧😭😭.

.

Night 1

Ava looks at the night sky.

Eva lets Rose into her shelter.

Reb sets up camp for the night.

Lauren and Quinn talk about the tributes still alive.

Heaven, Lucy, Shark, and Alfie sleep in shifts.

Flor pushes Linda off a cliff during a knife fight. 💁‍♀️

Tommy sets an explosive off, killing Michael (yessss)

Nina passes out from exhaustion.

.

Day 2

Lucy receives medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.

Ava searches for a water source.

Lauren makes a slingshot.

Alfie sprains his ankle while running away from Nina.

Heaven is pricked by thorns while picking berries.

Reb goes hunting.

Shark, Flor , Quinn, and Polly form a suicide pact, killing themselves.

Eva receives medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.

Rose discovers a river.

→ omg!! Rip Shark and me 😔. Hope you miss us.

Night 2

Eva looks at the night sky.

Jessie Eden stays awake all night.

Uncle Charlie ambushes Rose and kills her (why!!!)

Lucy stays awake all night.

Alfie unknowingly eats toxic berries.

Reb goes to sleep.

Heaven, Lauren , Ava, Tommy, and Nina sleep in shifts.

→ not for the first time Alfie and Rose die the same day or night 😭💔.

Day 3

Jessie Eden overhears Lauren and Uncle Charlie talking in the distance.

Reb runs away from Esme.

Heaven, Sabini, Eva, Tommy, and Nina hunt for other tributes.

Ava receives clean water from an unknown sponsor.

Lucy thinks about home.

Night 3

Reb destroys Nina's supplies while she is asleep.

Uncle Charlie and Lauren run into each other and decide to truce for the night.

Esme strangles Tommy with a rope. (Holy shit!!)

Lucy receives fresh food from an unknown sponsor.

Heaven and Ava tell stories about themselves to each other.

Eva starts a fire.

→ Reb, please!! Poor Nina!! She's your girl!!

Night 5

Nina and Lauren talk about the tributes still alive.

Eva and Reb hold hands.

Ava, Uncle Charlie, and Lucy discuss the games and what might happen in the morning.

Jessie Eden shoots a poisonous blow dart into Heaven's neck, slowly killing her. (The fuck, Jessie 👀!!)

Sabini receives medical supplies from an unknown sponsor.

Esme cannot handle the circumstances and commits suicide. (Poor Esme)

The feast

The cornucopia is replenished with food, supplies, weapons, and memoirs from the tributes' families.

Lucy decides not to go to The Feast.

Uncle Charlie decides not to go to The Feast.

Reb, Sabini, Ava, Eva, and Nina track down and kill Lauren .

→ idk, but Ava was after Laur from the first moment 🙃.

Day 6

Eva bleeds out due to untreated injuries.

Uncle Charlie sets Nina on fire with a molotov.

Ava chases Sabini.

Reb travels to higher ground.

Lucy accidently detonates a land mine while trying to arm it.

Arena Event

Monkey mutts fill the arena.

Sabini survives.

Reb survives.

Uncle Charlie uses Ava as a shield from the monkey mutts.

Night 6

Uncle Charlie lets Reb into his shelter. (Please 😂😂)

Sabini falls into a frozen lake and drowns.

Day 7

Reb spears Uncle Charlie in the abdomen. 👀👀

The winner is Reb from District 3!

Good for you @peakyswritings !!! To be honest, uncle Charlie deserved it!! He was out of control!!

[adenei]

Exile

We're back for Era 5 of @cruelsummer-ficfest!

Song: Exile (Folklore)

Ship: Romione

Read on Ao3

His hand tightens around the bottle of Butterbeer he’s suddenly lost the taste for. He knew she’d be here; why wouldn’t she? But he still hoped she wouldn’t show. 

To make matters worse, she walks in with another man. And not just any man, but the one she knows will cut him the deepest: Viktor Krum. The Quidditch star’s hand is splayed across the small of her back and her eyes shine as she glances up at him, laughing at a joke that Ron is sure isn’t funny at all. 

It’s sick and twisted irony at its finest. Two years ago, they were here in this same spot for the same occasion, only now there is no unknown looming in the midst of a full-fledged war. Now, there is no Hermione in his life either. She’d made certain of that.

It didn’t take her long to pack her things and leave for Australia shortly after the war ended. She’d given no explanation, no goodbye. She took everything he thought they’d fought for and left him alone to pick up the pieces.

Maybe it wasn’t love after all.

Memories of Bill and Fleur’s wedding flit through his mind as he watches Vicky lead Hermione to an empty table. His heart aches as he remembers dancing with her; how just for a moment, things felt normal. Just for a moment, he was a teenage boy, drumming up the courage to seek something more with the girl who meant everything to him. Only for it all to be ripped away in the blink of an eye. 

Now, two years later, everyone who survived the war is gathered again for Bill and Fleur’s vow renewal, where there are no threats of danger looming on the horizon. Only the promise of a well-deserved party. 

But try as he might, Ron cannot find it within himself to be happy. She should be here with him. It should be his hand on the small of her back, whispering a joke about how Percy’s too serious or Mum trying—and failing—to cut Bill’s hair again. And her laugh would be real because he knows what she finds funny.

Instead, he stands on the sidelines, shielded by the circle of his brothers and Harry, who are engaged in some other conversation. His eyes never leave her, though she doesn’t notice him at all. 

Maybe, if things were different, he could ask what went wrong. Where the fine line they always walked between friendship and something more snapped. Why she never gave him a chance. Would it have been so hard to hear him out? To give a warning sign that she was leaving?

Though he’s learned to read her well over the years, he never could read her mind. And he couldn’t turn things around. If she’d just given him a warning, he could have fixed things. He could have followed her. 

But war doesn’t care who it fucks up along the way, and Ron and Hermione are perfect examples of that. A lost love that never stood a chance. 

Sometimes, Ron wishes it was him and not Fred. Even death would be better than the life of exile he leads as he sees her now.

💔

From the moment she arrives, she can feel his eyes on her, burning into her skin like Fiendfyre. It’d been a coincidence, arriving seconds before Viktor. But she appreciated his warm smile and kind gestures once he realized she was attending alone. It was the support she needed to get her through those first awkward moments.

Hermione laughs. Not at the lighthearted joke Viktor makes, but at the reaction she elicits from him. Like he’s ready to get his knuckles bloody and stake his claim. Her heart flutters as she sees a glimpse of the Ron she once knew. The Ron she fell in love with before the war sucked the life out of him.

She tried to wait for him. Gave him so many chances to come to her, to open up, to talk. Even to simply cry as she held him and told him it would be okay. Any of that would have been better than the vacant stares she received instead. The shell of a man who’d had so much personality; all washed away from the locket, seeing her tortured, and witnessing death.

The decision to leave him behind had been the hardest yet, even harder than sending her parents away. Deep down, she knew he couldn’t come with her. She’d lost track of how many tears she cried—and still does. One year gone, and she still misses him more than anything. Still yearns for a chance to be something more. He was her crown; she’s empty without him.

💔

Ron and Hermione spend the better part of the evening avoiding each other. No one urges them to seek the other out. Everyone is careful not to speak the other’s name in their presence. It’s only when Ron finds the atmosphere of the tent too suffocating that he steps out into the grounds of the Burrow for a break, and Hermione follows.

“Shouldn’t you be getting back to Vicky?” he says once he settles by the old oak tree near the pond.

She draws a sharp breath in, not realizing he could sense her presence this whole time. “No. It was nice to catch up with him, but he’s not the reason I came tonight.”

“I would hope not.” Hollow laughter catches in Ron’s throat. “Considering this is a celebration for Bill and Fleur.”

“I didn’t come for them either.”

Ron turns and peers at her in the moonlight reflecting off the water. “Then why are you here?”

“For you,” she says simply. 

The words take Ron aback, and his forehead creases as he watches her closely. 

“Why?” he dares. “You left. Why would you come back?”

She steels herself with a deep breath. “I never left for good. And I never wanted to leave you. But you were���I didn’t know how to help you anymore, Ron. You were broken and everything I tried wasn’t helping. I needed to find my parents. I couldn’t delay my search any longer. And I thought maybe some space might help.”

“Then why didn’t you say any of that?” he snaps.

“I tried! I’d ask you to take a walk with me, joined you in your room after dinner. Every time I tried to bring it up you’d say you were tired or excuse yourself or do something else to avoid any hint of emotion that didn’t wrap you in grief!”

He opens his mouth, then closes it. No words come out as he stares in utter disbelief.

“I never intended to be away for over a year, but the search took longer than I thought it would. I barely found them before I had to return for Hogwarts. Maybe I should have been clearer, but I thought you knew. I wasn’t giving up on us, I swear.” Tears fill her eyes. 

His demeanor softens as he pushes himself off of the tree and takes a step toward her. “You tried to tell me?”

She nods. “I gave so many signs.”

“I never saw them.”

They both remain quiet for a while, neither knowing what to say. After a while, Hermione finally dares to speak again. “You seem like you’re doing better.”

“I guess.” Ron shrugs and kicks his toe into the ground. “There’s still something missing, though.”

Hermione reaches out to touch his arm. It’s a risky move, but she does it anyway. “I’m sure there always will be,” she whispers. “You’re missing a brother.”

“What?” Ron looks up. “No, not Fred. I’ve learned to work through that.”

“Lavender, then?”

“No.”

“Then—”

Ron steps forward, cutting her off. “You, Hermione. You’re missing.” His hands find the sides of her face, cupping her tenderly as he guides her gaze to him.

Tears well in her eyes and a few spill down her cheeks from the overflow. “I missed you. I was so worried we wouldn’t be able to move past this.”

“I know. I’m sorry I fucked up.”

“You didn’t. You were hurting. You lost so much.”

They’re so close their foreheads touch. She can feel his hot breath on her skin as her arms wrap around his torso, willing him to close the distance. And he does, but not until he responds first.

“Yeah, but I didn’t lose my ‘everything.’” 

Their lips meet. It’s soft and sweet and full of emotion, but there is no urgency to it. Not like there was during the battle. This kiss is a reconciliation, a step out of exile and into each other’s arms, where they’ve always meant to be.

When they break apart, Ron makes a promise. “I know I couldn’t change things around back then, but I’ll be better now. For us. I can’t lose you too, Hermione.”

“You won’t. I promise you won’t.”

I think I’ve seen this film before

And I didn’t like the ending

So I’m leavin’ out the side door

[freakenomenon]

Preface I do not know much about Manya I AM SORRY CHAT IM BEST FAMILIAR WITH THE NOVELLA FIRST THEN GAME 💔

BUT if Manya was a survivor along with Ellen I imagine their sense of love is very quiet. It is not the random bursts of passion Ellen receives by the men for giving them favors, but silent assurances. The small squeeze of a hand before they’re separated by AM, holding another close to shield them from the sudden, blistering cold. Small banter about how out of date their clothes must be, the irony of traveling in heels! Carefully braiding or styling the others hair as though it’s so fragile AM will break it any moment. The gentle cusp on the cheek to ground the other.

Also I am so sorry for the sudden ask the idea came upon me and it must be shared

ONE. don't worry we don't either she is literally a HOLOGRAM in the game but ogugh it burns it burns it burns RIPS OFF MY FACE

it hurts because their affection has MEANING. something that had become something much more negative than positive within the gut of the machine. even if subtle , sporadic or desperate. even FUTILE attempts at what's left of the concept of love, it means something. it has value. all the "services" and cycles of what i can only describe as unintentional self harm.

to have something like that grow within an environment like this is. GHHHHGGGG disassociate into the void thinking about them.

also last thign i remember manya was the daughter of a militant and moved on to MARRY a militant ( ... in the game ) which could be something interesting if you squint idk

[obwjam]

Ok ok- hear me out, ghostbusters g/t.

Now I’m talking og 1980s, none of the remake bs. (afterlife wasn’t terrible)

Ray Stanz - Ray is the heart of the Ghostbusters team and has a genuine love for the supernatural and unexplained. When he saw the tiny person in danger, he would immediately go into protector mode. Ray would be empathetic and comforting, doing everything in his power to rescue and ensure the well-being of the tiny person. He’d definitely be the one to eagerly try to shield them in his palms against his chest.

Egon Spengler - Egon is the brains of the group, and his analytical mind would kick into high gear. He'd carefully assess the situation, looking for the most efficient and logical way to rescue the tiny person. His calm and calculated demeanor would be reassuring to both the tiny person and the rest of the team. The tiny would later become his little lab assistant.

Winston Zeddemore - Winston, the grounded and practical member of the team, would focus on the immediate needs of the tiny person. He would provide physical assistance and ensure the tiny person's safety, whether that meant battling a ghostly threat or finding a way to transport them to safety. Winston's strong sense of duty and compassion would shine through.

Peter Venkman - Peter, known for his sarcasm and quick wit, might make a humorous comment or two upon first seeing the tiny person. A short joke here and there, However, underneath his wisecracking exterior, he cares deeply for people in distress. He would take charge of the situation, ensuring the tiny person's safety while using his charm and charisma to keep everyone calm including comforting the tiny.

BONUS

Louis Tulley - Louis is known for his quirky and often anxious personality. If he stumbled upon a tiny person in distress, he might initially react with a mix of surprise and nervousness. However, deep down, he has a good heart and would want to help. Louis might attempt to shield the tiny person from harm, frantically looking for a way to protect them or enlist the aid of the Ghostbusters. His comedic reactions could provide some moments of levity amidst the tension.

Janine Melnitz - Janine is the Ghostbusters' efficient and no-nonsense secretary. She's used to dealing with the paranormal but not necessarily with tiny people. Her initial reaction might be one of curiosity and concern. She would swiftly take charge of the situation, calling the Ghostbusters into action and coordinating their efforts. Janine's practical and organized nature would ensure that the tiny person receives prompt assistance.

Dana Barrett - Dana has had her fair share of supernatural encounters, especially with the demon Zuul. If she found a tiny person in danger, she would likely remain calm and composed, drawing from her experiences. Dana would immediately work to shield the tiny person from any potential threats and provide reassurance. Her resourcefulness and determination would come into play as she collaborates with the Ghostbusters to ensure the tiny person's safety.

!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS i love ghostbusters so much LOL i had like a mini personal fandom revival when afterlife came out and the g/t thoughts were thunk. omg. i’m a slut for nerdy characters with round glasses so egon was always my BOY (rip harold 💔) he would be so sweet with a tiny. after overcoming his fascination of a borrower and skepticism of tiny people being just as smart, he would be so delighted to have them around to help and to infodump to them to teach them everything he knows ❤️ and their sassy side comes out when they hang out with peter UGH they would all be so soft

[primordialchoice]

💔 talk about crowley B)

Brewing

"Many eons ago, I thought I'd understood what love was all about. It was simple and straightforward in the subtlest way. It didn't sweep me off my feet like most romance novels have portrayed love to do because my fall was steady and gentle. It was like sand pouring through an hourglass, each minute and hour and day I spent with him fascinated me! If I was with him, then it didn't matter that I was out in the barren desert outside of the garden because he felt like Eden to me.

"When he left, I felt my lungs and heart get ripped out of my body. I was so stunned that I had begun to tremble! I felt... cold. So cold in fact that it didn't matter that it had been a warm summer night on Earth because I was freezing from the inside out.

"Have you ever felt such an acute ache in your chest when you think about someone? The type that makes you clutch your chest and twists your face in pain because the sudden pressure pinches your heart mercilessly...?

"I used to feel that a lot before I'd seen him in Golgota. I felt numb for the majority of the centuries that came after... now I'm just angry.

"It's unfair to leave me with so much ache and without even a single HINT of goodbye from his side prior to his departure! He seemed quite happy with me! Proud too! I was stepping up to be his equal; I worked SO HARD to be worthy of him and not just live my life as a vulnerable body he would constantly need to shield. Do you know what he said on the night he left? That he would be with me forever. Psh-hah! Oddly enough, he had delivered! I just didn't think I'd be forever RESENTING him for the confusion and betrayal he's put me through!"

If only she knew the truth.

[deafarcher]

🍼🌷👻💀💘💔🐕‍🦺

(The broken heart is for an ex that Clint still loves)

🍼 - A Child (Theirs or Not) Natasha and I sort of wanted kids but we weren't exactly actively looking to be parents, especially after SHIELD fell, but sort of friends of ours, who got killed standing up to HYDRA, left behind a child, Hope. For some reason, they named us as the child's guardians in case of their deaths and so we ended up adopting her. People are surprised to find out she's adopted, as if Nat's the only person in the world with red hair.

🌷 - Their Mother My mom was a wonderful person in spite of the horrors of living with my dad. She died when I was young, I don't remember her very well at all, unfortunately.

👻  - Someone They Don’t See Often Tony Stark. He really lets his ego blind him to the fact that he's usually the smartest person in the room, therefore he needs to actually explain his thoughts more than he does and that we will still be able to understand him.

💀 - Someone Deceased Can I say someone who almost died? Cause Phil's a very important person in my life, I want to talk about the man who became like a father figure to me and gave me a second chance at life for like two seconds. He was my closest friend before Nat came into my life and I still feel very guilty about him almost dying on the helicarrier.

💘 - A Love Interest Ah, Bucky. I had a crush on him from the day I first saw a picture of him in my history textbook. I actually ripped the page out of it to hang it over my bed, much to my brother's amusement. And then he turned out to still be alive. Natasha on the other hand, I didn't love romantically until after I'd gotten to really know her. It wasn't love at first sight with her.

💔 - An Ex I still love Bobbi. Maybe if we had gotten together under different circumstances, we would still be together. I still love her, and if she wanted to get back together...well, if Nat weren't in the picture, I would probably say yes.

🐶 - A Pet Lucky is the best dog in the world, possibly in the entire universe. You can quote me on that.

[leraneacide]

RIP OMEGLE

💔

The ongoing project "you're watching two strangers" is officially over.

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” — C.S. Lewis

“In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.” — Douglas Adams

Dear strangers,

From the moment I discovered the Internet at a young age, it has been a magical place to me. Growing up in a small town, relatively isolated from the larger world, it was a revelation how much more there was to discover – how many interesting people and ideas the world had to offer.

As a young teenager, I couldn’t just waltz onto a college campus and tell a student: “Let’s debate moral philosophy!” I couldn’t walk up to a professor and say: “Tell me something interesting about microeconomics!” But online, I was able to meet those people, and have those conversations. I was also an avid Wikipedia editor; I contributed to open source software projects; and I often helped answer computer programming questions posed by people many years older than me.

In short, the Internet opened the door to a much larger, more diverse, and more vibrant world than I would have otherwise been able to experience; and enabled me to be an active participant in, and contributor to, that world. All of this helped me to learn, and to grow into a more well-rounded person.

Moreover, as a survivor of childhood rape, I was acutely aware that any time I interacted with someone in the physical world, I was risking my physical body. The Internet gave me a refuge from that fear. I was under no illusion that only good people used the Internet; but I knew that, if I said “no” to someone online, they couldn’t physically reach through the screen and hold a weapon to my head, or worse. I saw the miles of copper wires and fiber-optic cables between me and other people as a kind of shield – one that empowered me to be less isolated than my trauma and fear would have otherwise allowed.

I launched Omegle when I was 18 years old, and still living with my parents. It was meant to build on the things I loved about the Internet, while introducing a form of social spontaneity that I felt didn’t exist elsewhere. If the Internet is a manifestation of the “global village”, Omegle was meant to be a way of strolling down a street in that village, striking up conversations with the people you ran into along the way.

The premise was rather straightforward: when you used Omegle, it would randomly place you in a chat with someone else. These chats could be as long or as short as you chose. If you didn’t want to talk to a particular person, for whatever reason, you could simply end the chat and – if desired – move onto another chat with someone else. It was the idea of “meeting new people” distilled down to almost its platonic ideal.

Building on what I saw as the intrinsic safety benefits of the Internet, users were anonymous to each other by default. This made chats more self-contained, and made it less likely that a malicious person would be able to track someone else down off-site after their chat ended.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I launched Omegle. Would anyone even care about some Web site that an 18 year old kid made in his bedroom in his parents’ house in Vermont, with no marketing budget? But it became popular almost instantly after launch, and grew organically from there, reaching millions of daily users. I believe this had something to do with meeting new people being a basic human need, and with Omegle being among the best ways to fulfill that need. As the saying goes: “If you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door.”

Over the years, people have used Omegle to explore foreign cultures; to get advice about their lives from impartial third parties; and to help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation. I’ve even heard stories of soulmates meeting on Omegle, and getting married. Those are only some of the highlights.

Unfortunately, there are also lowlights. Virtually every tool can be used for good or for evil, and that is especially true of communication tools, due to their innate flexibility. The telephone can be used to wish your grandmother “happy birthday”, but it can also be used to call in a bomb threat. There can be no honest accounting of Omegle without acknowledging that some people misused it, including to commit unspeakably heinous crimes.

I believe in a responsibility to be a “good Samaritan”, and to implement reasonable measures to fight crime and other misuse. That is exactly what Omegle did. In addition to the basic safety feature of anonymity, there was a great deal of moderation behind the scenes, including state-of-the-art AI operating in concert with a wonderful team of human moderators. Omegle punched above its weight in content moderation, and I’m proud of what we accomplished.

Omegle’s moderation even had a positive impact beyond the site. Omegle worked with law enforcement agencies, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to help put evildoers in prison where they belong. There are “people” rotting behind bars right now thanks in part to evidence that Omegle proactively collected against them, and tipped the authorities off to.

All that said, the fight against crime isn’t one that can ever truly be won. It’s a never-ending battle that must be fought and re-fought every day; and even if you do the very best job it is possible for you to do, you may make a sizable dent, but you won’t “win” in any absolute sense of that word. That’s heartbreaking, but it’s also a basic lesson of criminology, and one that I think the vast majority of people understand on some level. Even superheroes, the fictional characters that our culture imbues with special powers as a form of wish fulfillment in the fight against crime, don’t succeed at eliminating crime altogether.

In recent years, it seems like the whole world has become more ornery. Maybe that has something to do with the pandemic, or with political disagreements. Whatever the reason, people have become faster to attack, and slower to recognize each other’s shared humanity. One aspect of this has been a constant barrage of attacks on communication services, Omegle included, based on the behavior of a malicious subset of users.

To an extent, it is reasonable to question the policies and practices of any place where crime has occurred. I have always welcomed constructive feedback; and indeed, Omegle implemented a number of improvements based on such feedback over the years. However, the recent attacks have felt anything but constructive. The only way to please these people is to stop offering the service. Sometimes they say so, explicitly and avowedly; other times, it can be inferred from their act of setting standards that are not humanly achievable. Either way, the net result is the same.

Omegle is the direct target of these attacks, but their ultimate victim is you: all of you out there who have used, or would have used, Omegle to improve your lives, and the lives of others. When they say Omegle shouldn’t exist, they are really saying that you shouldn’t be allowed to use it; that you shouldn’t be allowed to meet random new people online. That idea is anathema to the ideals I cherish – specifically, to the bedrock principle of a free society that, when restrictions are imposed to prevent crime, the burden of those restrictions must not be targeted at innocent victims or potential victims of crime.

Consider the idea that society ought to force women to dress modestly in order to prevent rape. One counter-argument is that rapists don’t really target women based on their clothing; but a more powerful counter-argument is that, irrespective of what rapists do, women’s rights should remain intact. If society robs women of their rights to bodily autonomy and self-expression based on the actions of rapists – even if it does so with the best intentions in the world – then society is practically doing the work of rapists for them.

Fear can be a valuable tool, guiding us away from danger. However, fear can also be a mental cage that keeps us from all of the things that make life worth living. Individuals and families must be allowed to strike the right balance for themselves, based on their own unique circumstances and needs. A world of mandatory fear is a world ruled by fear – a dark place indeed.

I’ve done my best to weather the attacks, with the interests of Omegle’s users – and the broader principle – in mind. If something as simple as meeting random new people is forbidden, what’s next? That is far and away removed from anything that could be considered a reasonable compromise of the principle I outlined. Analogies are a limited tool, but a physical-world analogy might be shutting down Central Park because crime occurs there – or perhaps more provocatively, destroying the universe because it contains evil. A healthy, free society cannot endure when we are collectively afraid of each other to this extent.

Unfortunately, what is right doesn’t always prevail. As much as I wish circumstances were different, the stress and expense of this fight – coupled with the existing stress and expense of operating Omegle, and fighting its misuse – are simply too much. Operating Omegle is no longer sustainable, financially nor psychologically. Frankly, I don’t want to have a heart attack in my 30s.

The battle for Omegle has been lost, but the war against the Internet rages on. Virtually every online communication service has been subject to the same kinds of attack as Omegle; and while some of them are much larger companies with much greater resources, they all have their breaking point somewhere. I worry that, unless the tide turns soon, the Internet I fell in love with may cease to exist, and in its place, we will have something closer to a souped-up version of TV – focused largely on passive consumption, with much less opportunity for active participation and genuine human connection. If that sounds like a bad idea to you, please consider donating to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an organization that fights for your rights online.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who used Omegle for positive purposes, and to everyone who contributed to the site’s success in any way. I’m so sorry I couldn’t keep fighting for you.

I thank A.M. for opening my eyes to the human cost of Omegle.

Sincerely, Leif K-Brooks Founder, Omegle.com LLC

To contact Omegle, please visit here for more information.

[evolutionvintage]

Part 2/3: I’m so thankful Lisa was so brave and bold in sharing her gifts. I’ve always enjoyed her music. She spoke her truth. She was a no BS kind of person. Rightfully guarded but with her heart on her sleeve for all to see, criticize and judge. Fame and money do not shield anyone from the pain, loss and tragedy we all suffer in this life. I would argue that they magnify. them. She tried to find her way like we all do but every word, look, and step was scrutinized, often misconstrued and always exploited for someone else’s profit. We all have the luxury of being humbled and heartbroken in private. To suffer the loss of a child is something many of us cannot even fathom and even fewer have experienced. I could never imagine how this impacted her. 💔 She was also giving and philanthropic. She fought against the psychiatric drugging of children in schools and testified to Congress acting on behalf of The Citizens Commission for Human Rights. She formed The Presley Foundation (2007) and opened Presley Place Memphis and one in NOLA, a transitional housing facility for homeless families. She has tirelessly helped preserve her fathers legacy alongside her mother Priscilla for current and future generations of music lovers to enjoy and explore. By all accounts her biggest achievement and sources of joy were her 4 children - @rileykeough Ben, Harper and Finley. #lisamariepresley #lisapresley #RIP https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn0owyYLaUC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[camlyee]

dw i understand, i’m a regular in the hsr discord server and it’s.. Yeah (but i enjoy chatting there nonetheless 💔). and make sure u have aven in the middle of the party so he can get hit more freq. and do fuas (since those help apply shields n all)..

honestly you can probably sacrifice some def for speed, if u wanted to run him on spd boots instead of def boots (thatll take u to around 133-ish spd).. since ideal def is technically around 4k. that might be easier to do instead of ripping ur hair out over spd substats

The Aventurine fund is coming along quite nicely if I do say so myself. I've got a guaranteed 50 and decent amount of pity. So now it basically comes down to playing the waiting game.

I swear I'll be the most insufferable person you've never met when his next banner comes out.

Until then I'll just keep posting about how unbelievably pretty and well-written and amazing and awesome and amazing and everything good and awesome and cool he is.

[lesbiradshaw]

bestie you can’t just say that you have a whole stevebucky wedding planned and then NOT tell us!!!!!

i’ll write it one day i swear … but for now just know it def involves bucky staging all of the music and sam being steve’s best man