#she's constantly fighting clay for my favorite

[merloksdigitaltoes]

MACYART MACY ART MACY AR MACY ART MACY HALBER FROM NEXO KNIGHTS <3<3<3<3#<#<#<#,#,,#,#,#

i'm not a broken thing, or one or the other

[not-so-mundane-after-all]

Now I'm gonna be predictable and ask you for Dick and Rachel for the character thing 💙🖤

My two favorite birds!!!!! Okay *cracks knuckles* here we go

DICK GRAYSON

First impression:

Hot, mysterious, "hmmm I know that face", had this edge about him that had me lean closer to my tv and go "okay, interesting, go on"

Impression now:

The love of my life, a mark on my soul, the blueprint for a Comfort Character™, my #1 TV Dad, must be protected at all cost mostly from himself

Favorite moment:

How can I pick just one? My favorite kinds of his moments are when he gets feral protective over his baby girl (like in 1x07 or 4x08) or any alteration of "I won't let anything happen to you" because all I hear is "I love you"

Extra kudos for all the shirtless scenes 😏

Idea for a story:

One that has been recently lurking at the edge of my mind is giving him an AU where basically everything is the same except his parents are alive — mostly because I want to write them interacting with Kory and the kids

Unpopular opinion:

He gets waaaay too much crap from the fandom, for even the littlest things. He's a flawed character who makes stupid mistakes sometimes. If he was perfect all the time, he'd be boring. He doesn't have to be the best leader, an A+ father figure 100% of the time or constantly kissing the earth the woman he loves walks on to be a good character. Don't like his storyline? Shit on the writers, it's their fault.

Favorite relationship:

There's only one answer to that, always will be.

His light in the darkness. His turning point. His true north. He wouldn't be the man he is now if it wasn't for this one little girl throwing a brick at a cop car and getting herself brought to his station. You can't deny that. The show doesn't. It reminds you, time and time again, who is his anchor. Who keeps him from slipping back into the dark.

Favorite headcanon:

He knows how to play guitar and a little bit of piano because the Haly Circus crew used to jam out all the time. His dad taught him the guitar, Clay was a master of keys and his mother had the voice of an angel and wrote her own songs.

RACHEL ROTH

First impression:

OHHH SHE'S A BABY!!!! I was instantly protective of her and related to her in her loneliness.

Impression now:

FOREVER MY BABY GIRL. Always proud of her, always protective of her. My best girl, my favorite witch. Daddy's Girl and The Best Big Sister-to-be™

Favorite moment:

That walk?! The confidence?! Making dad look all proud in the background?! COME ONNNNNN

Idea for a story:

A while back I wrote down some notes for a concept about adult Rachel and her relationship with teenage Mar'i, inspired by my own relationship with my older sister. There's 19 years between us and the difference between Rachel and Mar'i could end up being similar. I was thinking of writing her as a bestie but also the second mother, ride or die and voice of reason, "dad's gonna kill you" but also "dad's gonna kill both of us if he finds out so we're not gonna tell him". A lot of shenanigans, a lot of heart-to-heart.

Unpopular opinion:

She should have had the final fight with Brother Blood, since this whole thing was about and came from her brother, her heritage, her prophecy.

Favorite relationship:

The simplest reason is because I was just happy to see this child finally being loved. Finally having someone to believe in her and protect her. Finally knowing what it's like to have someone who cares. Finally being held and comforted and understood.

Favorite headcanon:

Girl can SING. But is shy as hell about it. Only Gar knows about it and only because he found out by total accident when he heard her belt out those Ariana Grande whistle notes like it's nothing. They keep it secret until Dickkory's wedding, where she gives a performance of a lifetime.

CODY I LOVE YOU! THANK YOUUUUUU

[froot-batty]

So we know that the dork squad exists in this universe, but what about other groups like the Gotham girls, and such? Joker and Harley also seem to be on good terms, so how did they meet?

oh, definitely! sorry this one's gonna be long i love talking about lore

the dork squad is definitely the most major of them, because out of the entire rogues gallery they're the ones that can stand to be around each other the longest, but we got some others

the gotham city sirens are kind of a group. it's more just a title bestowed upon selina, harley, and ivy. the thing stopping them from becoming an actual friend group is that ivy hates all of humanity, and if she has her way she's either avoiding the other rogues entirely or actively causing them harm. she can reluctantly tolerate harley and selina sometimes, but that's about it. selina and harley are decent friends though

an example of an actual, proper group though is my pair of my favorite c-list delinquent rogues, firefly and maxie zeus. they are as thick as thieves, and they have tentatively named themselves the "elementals" (though they fight over changing the name constantly). attempts to recruit freeze and ivy to their totally awesome themed friend group have been wildly unsuccessful, but they (mostly firefly) are DETERMINED to win them over

there's also the Guys That Live In the Sewers. being down there with your fellow rogues, you kind of get to know your roomies. this includes killer croc, ratcatcher, solomon grundy, and, occasionally, clayface, though clay prefers to stay in an abandoned theatre if possible. they're not really a group, but they're pals

lastly, there is my kind of cobbled together batfam. there are no robins and no batgirls in my universe, as my bruce doesn't believe in child crime fighting, but the red hood and spoiler (and kind of oracle) do exist. they just both have completely different names, backstories, and red hood's a lady. also they gaaayyy

ANYWAY, JOKER AND HARLEY

their backstory is pretty typical for a harley and joker story, except without the swooning on joker's part. they met in arkham while harley was a psychiatrist there, and eventually she sided with the joker blah blah blah

the thing about the joker is that she is, like, an exceptionally good speaker. very cult-leader-esque in the way she can speak and subtly manipulate the thoughts and feelings of others through what she says. the joker was able to sense that harley deep down wanted to go cuckoo bananas and used that to her advantage - not only to bust herself out of arkham, but to gain a friend in the process

they both do genuinely enjoy each other's presence. harley is the can-do-no-wrong golden apple of joker's eye, and the joker is little less than a king in harley's. they do tend to get a little possessive because of this

[relaxxattack]

here by popular demand, wof books ratings

i haven’t read several of these in quite a while-- i might do an updated version of these ratings after i finish my series reread :] also obvious disclaimer is obvious but this is PURELY my opinion. my taste. lol

the dragonet prophecy: wonderful setup to the world, surprisingly dark and graphic on a reread (how was this for children), really interesting and cool worldbuilding in both the sky and the mud kingdom. clay is also a great protagonist, with a nicely done emotional arc, and peril is here in her prime weirdgirlness. introduces queen scarlet, most iconic villain of all time. 9/10

the lost heir: this used to be one of my favorite books due to the murder mystery aspect, and i would reread it a lot. tsunami has a neat emotional arc here about learning maturity, which i enjoy. however the constant coral apologism, the annoyingness of everything to do with riptide and webs, the bland hetero romance, and the upsetting stuff that seems to get brushed to the side constantly, especially in regard to anemone, has caused this book to become way less enjoyable to me as an adult. 6/10

the hidden kingdom: also used to be one of my favorites for reasons that are probably obvious (kins glory). there’s a fun kind of “girl power” message to the way that glory has to fight to be taken seriously by literally anybody in this book. there’s also interesting mystery aspects again. looking back on it, though, the fact that the prejudiced carictures about rainwings turn out to be true is... weird? and of course, don’t even get me started on how this book used to include the one straight couple i didn’t find annoying, until several years later tui decided to retcon an age gap in. now reading this book feels just all kinds of weird, when it wasn’t before and really didn’t have to be. kind of a mixed bag. 7/10

the dark secret: i have no idea why people constantly rate this one so low. sure, starflight’s obsession can be grating at first, but i find the setting and atmosphere writing in this one to be incredible, all the island characters the interesting and fun kind of terrible-- and not to mention this book contains the two biggest plot twists in the whole series. the tension in this one is as palpable as the smoke in the air, and i think it’s really fun and full of a ton of iconic and memorable scenes. 9/10

the brightest night: this one is fun and camp. i enjoy it a lot, and sunny is such a great character to have as a pov. my only problem with it is how it feels kind of rushed-- there’s a lot of emotional legwork done in only the span of one or two thirds (specifically regarding thorn, i think she would have been a stronger character if shed been introduced in a prior book so we had time to be attatched). i like the solution that the dragonets came up with, and enjoyed them putting it all together, and i kind of wish they’d gotten to actually see it through as they planned-- at least a little further than they got without needing magical interference. aka let’s stop using magic as a deus ex machina. 7/10

moon rising: this is probably my favorite wings of fire book. moon’s quiet and anxious pov is wonderful, and the masterful way her abilities were used to give depth and atmosphere to her surroundings and peers was so enjoyable. it feels like you get a bit of everyone’s pov instead of just hers, for obvious reasons. this one also has some of the most iconic scenes, including the introduction of a soon to be infamous villain, and of course some of the most fan favorite characters out there. not to mention the younger characters and the school settings is very fun, there are so many super well-described scenes that hit hard. all in all this book is slightly spooky, slightly sad, but incredibly enjoyable. the best possible start to a new arc for the series. 10/10

winter turning: it’s fun to have such a zuko-esque character take center stage here. following winter’s journey through coming to terms with his abusive upbringing is emotionally cathartic, even if some scenes make you grit your teeth in annoyance at him. winter’s feelings are complicated and confusing, and it’s really cool to watch him slowly begin to change his opinions about things in real time. it’s such a shame his character gets shortchanged later on. also icewing society is very dystopian main character energy, but, it’s a fantasy series for children. and it’s fun and interesting, so i like it. 8/10

escaping peril: yandere characters have never been my thing, and peril seems to ocillate between that and between a sassy weirdgirl. and to be honest, i’ve never been sure how to feel about that. i find the yandere stuff creepy, but when she’s being a normal weirdgirl i find it strange to just pretend all the murder didn’t happen. she’s a complicated but enjoyable character who i don’t have a very definitive opinion on. aside from peril herself, though, her emotional arc in this book is fun, and the peril-turtle duo is something i never saw coming but something i need infinitely more of. they’re hilarious. several points in this book had me gasping and on the edge of my seat when it originally came out. overall a fun book. 8/10

talons of power: this book mainly seems to exist to move characters around and get plot pieces in motion for the next book. i really enjoy turtle as a character, however, and his family dynamics are interesting and tragic. there’s more coral apologism in this book, although in a different tone-- like they figured out she’s shitty, but not all the reasons yet. darkstalker is extremely creepy. the anemone twist is fascinating, and turtle and qibli’s dynamic is a treasure. 7/10

darkness of dragons: they had me in the first half. 😐 in this book they give you like twenty chapters of qibli and winter flirting and cool backstory reveals for qibli before they decide that they’re actually going to wrap this arc up in the most annoying way possible by saying that qibli learns no lessons ever, winter gets completely fucked over by both his friends and the narrative, moon sympathizes with a genocidal overlord and then is disappointed when people don’t agree with her, and then one of the kindest characters in the series commits Brain Destruction on said genocidal overlord. and also the 20 chapters of queerbaiting gets completely ignored in favor of drawing out the annoying as fuck love triangle and then picking the most boring option. i do Not like how this book ended the arc. what a sad way to wrap up the brilliant thing moon rising started. 3/10

darkstalker: a prequel with absolutely RIVETING worldbuilding, fun characters, cool atmosphere, extremely tragic circumstances, and worst of all you know how it’s going to end. we all know how it’s going to end. and yet we all sit there and watch. hoping and begging and pleading that they’re able to change the course of a story that’s already set in stone. wonderful, fantastic, show-stopping, brilliant. i love fathom and whiteout. this story manages to make every touching moment heartbreaking when you know it’s all in vain and all you can do is watch the slow descent. incredible. 10/10

dragonslayer: a prequel where there’s. humans who talk i guess. 😐 who thought this was a good idea. the only redeeming quality is sky, which isn’t surprising considering he’s the Only Dragon. 4/10

[fandomregression]

plz we need regressed chat noir hcs. (He's totally a kitten regressor, I can see it.)

Regressor Chat Noir Headcanons!

oh yeah we all know why adrien regresses like. its pretty obvious.

he regresses as chat more than anything just because its somehow easier. even when he should be doing patrols or fighting akumas, its easier to let himself regress when hes chat

kitten regressor, 100%

when he age regresses, hes usually around 1st and 3rd grade, and he does love playing at the park

ladybug takes care of him when she weasels it out of him why he's acting so Weird on patrol one day. when hes a kitten, she is constantly petting him, scritching his chin, playing with him with cat toys, that sort of thing

when chat is age regressed, ladybug tries to keep him under control so he doesnt accidentally cataclysm the eiffel tower just to see what happens

(it falls down, adrien, thats what happens...)

he learns very quickly that playing tag on rooftops is Not A Good Idea

chat has a bad habit of going to marinette's house when hes regressed, too. he loves just being with her while she works on projects

marinette will turn on cartoons for him, let him play with her ladybug and chat noir dolls, and sometimes she plays with him too (those are chat's favorite times)

also, cuddle fiend. oh my god please hug this boy he needs it so bad

adrien will a lot of times regress because of his father, and he just transforms into chat and runs off to marinette. he'll collapse in her room and just cry. he'll cry until he's out of tears, and just lay there with her petting his hair until he falls asleep

there are definitely people all around paris theorizing and gossiping about chat's mental health. when alya learns from marinette about his regression (a total accident, she was tired and gushing about him being cute) she writes about the benefits of regression on the ladyblog

someone abSOLUTELY capitalizes on that and starts selling both chat noir and ladybug themed pacifiers/bottles/sippies. this does Not help chat keep it together on patrols akzkfxkakxjf

he doesnt even like pacifiers, they annoy him to no end. he likes sippy cups and silly straw cups, and he likes chewelry (he has a green cat one his lady gave him and, yes, he did cry when she gave it to him)

has nearly been akumatized before when regressed because ladybug booped his nose to make him stop running around and tagging her shoulder. he now has to keep a charm on him at all times because he has such big emotions

most common phrase ladybug/marinette hears when he comes barreling toward her is "look what i maked you!!!" and yet every time she acts surprised and so appreciative of every drawing/clay figure/bead bracelet he makes

anyway. i need to watch the new season of miraculous smh

[thetoxic35]

Top 10 Secondary One Piece Characters

I've done crew lists on Twitter before, but I'll quickly run down my 10 favorite One Piece characters that aren't members of the Straw Hats. Some that just barely don't make the cut are Buggy, Kinemon, Senor Pink, Koala, Kyros and Ace.

EDIT: I should also note I've only read/watched up to Whole Cake Island.

10. Donquixote Doflamingo

By far my favorite villain/main antagonist in the series. Doflamingo had so much presence, even in his first major appearance in Jaya. His tragic backstory plays so perfectly into his character as a tool to manipulate others into feeling sympathy for him. What an amazingly written menace.

9. White Beard/Edward Newgate

White Beard is powerful, but unlike others with his status, he is benevolent. His actions as one of the Four Emperors is so engrained into how Luffy utilizes that same power shows that he likely came upon that status the same way; through fighting those who countered his morality. His death sent shockwaves across the world, and it's easy to see why.

8. Corazon/Donquixote Rosinante

The hardest I have ever cried during a flashback was Law's backstory with Corazon. Unlike his brother, Corazon strived to be a good man. He did everything he could to make up for the pain his brother caused, including loving Law. I wish he had lived to meet Luffy. He would have loved him too.

7. Bon Clay/Bentham/Mr. 2

Everyone loves Bon Clay. This goofy selfless man sacrificed so much to protect Luffy, asking for nothing in return. I hope we see Bon again. It would be amazing to see him join the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.

6. Bellamy the Hyena

If you had told me back in in Jaya that Bellamy would be one of my absolute favorite characters I would have laughed. His internal conflict during his rematch against Luffy at Dressrosa made for one of my favorite scenes in the series.

5. Charlotte Puddding

Pudding has quite possibly my favorite secondary character arc in the series. I'm an absolute sucker for antagonist-to-ally arcs (should be obvious from the previous two on this list), but I'm an even bigger sucker for enemies-to-lovers.

4. Trafalgar D. Water Law

Law is such a tragic character that consistently needs lovable goofballs to balance out his seriousness. Sure he is a badass, but his golden heart comes out only when he's around his friends. He'll never admit it, but he loves the Straw Hats.

3. Bartolomeo

Bartolomeo feels like every One Piece fan, gushing over Luffy, Zoro, Robin & Usopp constantly. However, unlike us, Bart rises, shows off his strength, and becomes friends with those he admires because of his strength of character. It was wonderful to see him get so much screen time in Film Red! I love this doofus.

2. Charlotte Katakuri

The most honorable antagonist Luffy has ever faced, Katakuri was the first whose dream needed not to be crushed. His desire to care for and protect his family was only strengthened after clashing with Luffy. Also, donuts.

1. Vinsmoke Reiju/Poison Pink

One of my favorite character tropes is the character that views themselves as an unlovable monster, deserving of the worst punishment, that is actually a big softy that is far kinder than they realize. Reiju embodies that, thus here she is at the top.

[eunoiaastralwings]

Nerdanel after Feanor and her sons left her:

character nerdanel

fandom tolkien- the silmarillion 

a/n gif banner by my beautiful mellon @sorisooyaa​​

warnings angst

- Nerdanel would be in absolute heartbreak- and this was only the beginning. But she would hold onto her tears for the sake of her sons- she wouldn’t let them spill until they are far away- you can barely see them.

- She would crash onto her knees on the shores of Valinor- crying her heart out. Clawing out at the sands and ground as she tries to keep herself together- the heartbreak of her divorce and her sons’ leaving coming at her all at once. Mahtan would have to come and take her away from the shores- as she would stay there until a long time- somewhat hoping Feanor would get into the right mind and come back with their sons.

- She would be fighting him- not wanting to leave and when the death of her youngest, Amrod draws and pain her fea- she screams out- falling apart in her father’s arms.

- Nerdanel would probably try and swim out hoping to get to Amrod’s body- she would like an insane woman fighting her father and wanting to swim the vast sea to get to her youngest.

- Mahtan would have no choice but to drag her back- and it pains him to do so- breaks his own heart seeing his one and only child breaking apart in his arms.

- Nerdanel would have constant nightmares- dreaming of her sons and Feanor with happy times- before it’s all ripped from her- bloodshed and screams in her mind. She would be rocking herself back and forth- whimpering and running her hands through her hair- until it looks unmade and ruined.

- There would be constant dark circles under her eyes- redden eyes from lack of sleep and crying.

- Nerdanel would hold impression of Amrod’s baby sculpture close to her- crying, petting and kissing the lifeless statue- singing his favorite lullabies- she would do this for each of her sons death- cradling them exactly like when they were babies.

- When it was Feanor’s death- she would constantly be tracing the features of his face- before screaming and crying at the statue she made- saying all she wants to say- all her heartbreak.

- Nerdanel would try and sculpt- but she learns she has lost her passion for it and everything she makes starts to crumble away either during or right after she makes them- sometimes she gets frustrated and hits the clay or even the hard stones or marble- ending with bloodied hands- many times Mahtan would come in and see her crying on the ground broken, sharp pieces of stone or marble around with bruised and bloodied hands.

- He would ask her does it not hurt, clearly worried and accidentally lashing out her- and when she said “This- it’s nothing compared to the pain in my heart- this is a small scratch to that” - while looking down at her hands- he never asked her again and only held her closer rocked her back and forth like he did when she was just a little elfling. 

- I have a feeling Celegorm taught her how to speak with some animals, especially birds- so they would constantly keep her informed about her sons in middle earth - the good and the bad- her only happiest news is probably Maedhros and Maglor taking pity and raising the Peredhils twins together.

- On her bad days- perhaps this is after almost all her sons die- leaving only her second son left to wander the shores of middle earth- she would cause havoc in her sculpting room - throwing and destroying everything she made or tried to make.

- The sounds of things breaking is what alerts Mantan- and even Anaire and Earwen- of course Curufin’s wife would be there too- trying to open the door to her room as she continues to destroy everything- crying.

- She would only stop- when she accidentally breaks only of her son’s or Feanor’s statue- before she starts again, getting her hands more bloodied and bruised than ever before.

- It would take Finarfin to break open her door- only for all them to see the room completely destroyed and wreaked- with Nerdanel standing in the middle- breathing heavily and exhausted- ready to fall- utterly broken until she would meet all of them again.

silm taglist: @doodle-pops​​

tara’s taglist: @mslizziesblog​​ @aeonianarchives​​ @spidergirla5​​ ​

[amazingmsme]

Hot Boy Summer

AN: Here’s my fic for the @ticklesofcolor fic exchange! I wrote for @calmturquoise & I had a blast writing this fic for you! So sorry for the delay, I just finished up with my associates & I had to write 2 final papers. I hope you’re okay that I was liberal with your prompt, since I went with Zuko & Sokka it would kind of be hard for him to use his bending to tickle someone, but I still tried to incorporate it! I also completely threw in the towel with this title. I hope you enjoy it! Sokka & Zuko just play off of each other so well.

Zuko was hot. Like strictly temperature wise Sokka told himself. But firebending proved to be quite useful to him. When they were camping, he was the warmest to sit next to. Not to mention, he made great fires for roasting weenies and marshmallows. But Sokka's favorite thing about it was that it meant he was pretty easy to tick off, which made for good fun.

He would never actually get too angry, so he assumed he didn't actually mind it all that much. And the truth was, he didn't. Zuko never really had friends of his own, and the playful teasing, if annoying, was actually fun. The others picked up on the habits too. It ended up with Toph claiming Zuko as her body pillow to hug against while she slept.

"Hey, can you hold this?" Without waiting for an answer, Sokka shoved a wet clay bowl in Zuko's warm hands.

"Wha- uh- sure," he said, perplexed but not setting it down. Sokka's cheeks were puffed out like a frog from trying to contain his laughter. Zuko realized what he was trying to do and huffed to keep himself from chuckling along. "Hell no, go find a kiln," he said, shoving it back in Sokka's hands.

As annoying as it was, it made Zuko feel... accepted. Like he was actually a part of the group instead of the outcast he was so used to being. He thought that they would all hate him: fearing his flame and mistrusting of everything he did. But that wasn't the case. And it felt good. He felt like, maybe, he could return the playful teasing. Toph was surprisingly easy to embarrass when he mentioned how "hot" she must thing he is from cuddling him all the time. Coincidentally, an embarrassed Toph and an angry Toph we're pretty much one in the same, and a sharp rock had launched him several feet in the air.

Katara could see right through his attempts at teasing, at being friendly, but she was still not amused by him. Aang was too happy all the time to get a rise out of him, though it was still fun to mess with the young avatar. Sokka was the most fun however. He had a sense of humor, and even though Zuko's wasn't what you'd consider "good" the other boy could still recognize what was meant to be a joke or a tease and deliver one right back. He was dramatic, and therefore, very easy to evoke a reaction.

He couldn't help but notice how the rest of them were very physical. Like, they'd constantly be touching each other. At first he found it a little unsettling, but they had done a pretty good job of making him get used to it. And eventually, he began reaching out to them.

So when Sokka grabbed his wrist and squeezed a pressure point to make a flame shoot out to toast a mallow. He snatched his hand back and shakes a finger in his face to scold him. "Alright I've had just about enough of you using me as your personal lighter!" he admonished, the smirk on his face revealing his amusement. Sokka's smirk was even wider. More smug and full of pride.

"Why? It's not like you'll do anything," he taunted, crossing his arms over his chest. Zuko glared at him. He was right, he'd probably just let it slide. Except he'd watched how they all play with each other and wanted them to know he could be fun like that too. He always hesitated to reach out, but he wanted to change. So they were both a little shocked when he shoved Sokka to the ground and sat on his legs, just above the knee. He blinked a few times then chuckled. "Nice try flambo, but it'll take more than just sitting on me to teach me a lesson," he sassed.

"I know," he said, looking down at him. He'd seen the others tickle Sokka to tears when he won't knock it off with the lame jokes, so he knew this method would be affective. Except, he didn't really know where to start. He'd never been in many tickle fights with his sister, and when he did he usually didn't win. But it had been years since he'd engaged with someone like this. But he'd watched enough, he was sure he could figure it out!

He gave a tentative poke to his belly, eliciting a quick squeak. Sokka's eyes widen and a nervous grin breaks out as he shook his head. Zuko placed a few more pokes to his stomach and sides before wiggling his fingers over the skin. Sokka was squirming and giggling lightly which... wasn't right. He'd seen the others get him, he should be howling with laughter. So why wasn't he?

"W-wohow you're really bahad at this," Sokka spoke fairly easily. Zuko huffed and shoved him against the ground and clambered away to stand. Sokka sighed and reached up, snatching his wrist. "Hey don't go, I was just teasing."

Zuko glared at the ground, lower lip jutting out slightly in a mix between a scowl and a pout. "Why not? It's true." When he didn't move to sit back down, Sokka yanked him to the ground, none too gently he might add.

"Ow! You didn't have to do that you know!" he complained, leaning to the side so he could rub his sore butt. Thankfully the grass cushioned his fall, but unexpectedly crashing down on your tailbone was never fun.

He shrugged. "I know, but it was the easiest way to make sure you wouldn't leave." He offered a softer, more genuine smile. "Besides, it's not your fault you don't know how. I doubt you had much time for goofing off like that," he said, his voice sympathetic. Zuko nodded shyly.

"Yeah, once mom was gone, things really picked up. And they were never easy before, but everything just got a lot more intense after that," he admitted. After keeping things bottled up all his life, it felt good to get it off his chest. Not all at once, but slowly; small things, like now.

Sokka seemed to mull something over in his head before deciding, "I can teach you if you want." Zuko blinked in surprise.

"Really?"

He nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I mean, I can't leave you all defenseless like that," he teased with a poke to his side. His lip twitched in a smile and he jerked away.

"Hey I can defend myself just fine! But um, who's our first target?" he asked slightly confused, staring out at the others spread around their small camp. "'Cause I think Aang'll be our best bet-" he rambled on, unaware of how Sokka was creeping up from behind.

"You are!" Zuko barely had time to process what he said before a pair of arms wrapped around him and pulled him back against Sokka's chest. He gasped as realization dawned on him and he tried to pry himself free.

"What? Why me? I-I can't learn like this!" he yelped. His friend only laughed.

"You will. You gotta know what different techniques feel like so you can get the best reactions. You gotta try different things 'cause certain things work better on some people," he explained. The way he was so casual about it just embarrassed Zuko even more.

"I appreciate the sentiment but I'm really more of a hands on kind of learner," he said as he squirmed. Sokka practically lit up.

"Then this is perfect! See? Hands-" he held them up for him to see before immediately diving for his stomach. "On!" Zuko practically screamed.

"Nohoho! Thihihis ihisn't fair!" he squealed through his laughter.

"What do you mean, of course it is! I'm giving you a lesson in tickling 101!" he chirped happily, kneading at his sides. Zuko cackled and doubled over, hands weakly prying at his wrists.

"Nohohot ohon mehehe!" he protested.

"Like I said, in order to tickle someone, you gotta know what different techniques feel like. There's light skittering," he said, demonstrating by spidering his fingers over his ribs. His laughter turned breathy and giggly, the squirming dying down as it became slightly more bearable. "Also quick squeezes," he said as he rapidly squeezed down his sides, making him squeal and twist back and forth. "Oh, and poking! But you seem to have that one down," he said, delivering quick pokes all over his torso.

"Ohohokahay I gehehet ihit! Stohop!" he cried out. Sokka shook his head.

"Not yet, the lesson's not over!" Suddenly, his hands shot down to squeeze his thighs. Zuko shrieked and kicked out, feet scrambling in the grass. "There's squeezing, oh! And kneading!" he said, switching tactics and demonstrating the new technique on his stomach. His laughter deepened as he desperately tried to squirm away, sucking in his belly and leaning away from the touch. This only succeeded in him pressing against Sokka even more, trapping him further in his hold.

"I can't believe I almost forgot one of the most important steps," Sokka said, managing to bring one arm up to smack himself on the forehead for being such an idiot.

Zuko didn't want to know what he meant by that, but then again, he kind of did. Curiosity killed the cat. "W-whahahat's thahat?" he asked. Now that the other boy had brought it up, he simply had to know.

"Teasing of course!" he exclaimed. Oh no, he really shouldn't have asked. "Sokka nohoho dohon't!"

"Why?" he asked, cocking his head. "Are you too ticklish to handle it?" he asked, raising the pitch of his voice in a mocking tone. For some reason, that made the sensations even stronger and all the more maddening.

"Shuhuhut up mahahan!" he squealed, doubling over and pushing at his tickling hands. "You're really not in a position to be making demands," he said smugly. Zuko managed to growl through his laughter. Sokka chuckled at the noise.

"I can't believe it: even when you're giggling up a storm you still try to appear all broody and grouchy!" he taunted. His cheeks turned pink upon hearing this and he tried to hide his face in his hands.

"Sohohokka ohohokay! I gehet it nohohow!" he pleaded.

"Alright, last lesson. You know what raspberries are, right?" he asked. Zuko could remember how his mother would play with him when he was younger, sometimes blowing raspberries on his pudgy tummy or neck. His eyes widen and he shook his head.

"Don't you dahahare!" he tried to scold.

"Oh, I dare," Sokka said with a sly smirk, placing his lips on the nape of his neck and blew hard. A loud, wet fart noise filled the air along with Zuko's wild cackles. He arched his back as much as he could, squirming and thrashing in his hold. He managed to twist away and shoved Sokka's face back with a little more force than necessary.

Sokka's shit eating grin remained plastered on his face. "You're the worst," he spat out between panting breaths. He closed his eyes and shrugged, clearly pleased with himself.

"You're welcome." Zuko's blush burned brighter and he playfully punched his shoulder. "I didn't say thank you!"

"Yeah but you were thinking it," he teased further. "If you still suck at tickling then there's just no hope for you," he said, patting his back consolingly. A rare glint of mischief shined in Zuko's eyes.

"I think it's coming back to me... Only one way to find out." Before Sokka could react, he slammed into him with his shoulder, knocking him on his back. He wasted no time pinning him.

Sokka stated up at him in shock, already giggling with nerves. "C-can't we talk about this?"

Zuko smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Nope."

[zalrb]

(soa anon) One of my favorite jaxtara things is how Jax says he was crazy about her in high school and that it can't be like that this time but it literally is. I love that he's obsessed with her though it was probably more extreme during the high school years. One of my favorite scenes is when they're outside Cara Cara (I think) and he's like I'll be in five minutes then he turns back to kiss her before walking away.

Same! I love that whole conversation because

The only reason why he says that it can't get as intense as it did in high school is because of Abel, and, like, granted a child is a big reason for why your behaviour needs to change but it isn't even like that kind of intensity is just not sustainable, it's I have another priority now so it needs to be different.

He admits that his feelings could still get to that place because he feels exactly the same

It happens after he killed Kohn so it's like you killed a federal agent for her and you've admitted that you've never killed anyone in that manner before so I'm pretty sure it already got to that place, Jax.

And I also love how after the Kohn incident, she would spend nights at the clubhouse with him and when Tara is adamant that she has to sleep alone back in the house, he leaves but when they see each other the next day he asks her if she slept OK [without him] It's also a small thing but he constantly reaches out for her hand.

And then Gemma tells Tara that she has to be the one to break it off because Jax won't be "strong" enough to, also when they get into the fight at Abel's homecoming, he tells Juice to make sure she gets home OK plus, everyone knows how much he loves her? When Opie is torturing the wrongly accused Mayan member for Donna and Jax is like Opie... he shoots back if this was Tara, you would be ripping his fingers off and he has nothing to say to that because it's true? And when Tara's hand gets smashed and Clay is like Jax is on fire.

[motthe]

Hey! I’m just gonna quickly drop in my submission for the Lumenosity event

1: I’m a 18 year old female, 5’1, bisexual with a heavy preference for women, short fluffy blue/purple dyed hair. I have a septum ring and (plan on) getting a few tattoos. my clothing style either consists of hoodies and sweatpants or crop tops theres literally no in between- I’m very ambiverted so can be both really calm or really hyper. I wouldn’t call myself an empath but I unintentionally tend to read the room a lot, which leads to me behaving similar to the person I’m hanging out with. My love language is mainly physical affection and gift giving. I have a hard time receiving gifts though because I end up feeling bad- but I’ll still cherish the gift and proudly display it when I actually end up taking it. I tend to be a little clingy sometimes and ramble a lot, and have a bit of a short temper with certain things.

2: my favorite colors are pretty much any shades of cool colors, so blues, purples, pinks, and greens. I also like blacks, silvers, and golds. My favorite foods are more junk foods like cheeses and fried things, but I also have a major sweet tooth. I love cooking and baking, so any excuse I have to make food for myself or others I’ll gladly take. My favorite flower/scent definitely has to be lavender. I love drawing/making things like clay sculptures in my free time, and I find myself usually having to doodle to keep myself focused. I absolutely adore animals and currently plan on becoming a vet, but my favorite animal is a cat. I tend to be a bit lazy sometimes, sleeping in whenever I get the opportunity and procrastinating a lot, but my work is (mostly) always done on time. I’m a beginner witch and am also into vulture culture, I have a whole shelf dedicated to my altar and bones in my room. (my bones are ethically sourced, they’re either from animals/roadkill I find that are already dead or they’ve been gifted to me by friends). Im very protective over the people I love/care about, and will gladly cause scenes and pick fights if needed. I love music and constantly need it playing in the background if I’m doing anything active to keep my motivated and productive; I also play the ukulele and guitar.

3: the element im picking is void, cuz I couldn’t think of any elements other than the standard water, earth, fire, and air and I thought it sounded pretty lmao.

4: the strongest trait that represents my personality is my stubbornness. I can be very neutral and laid back sometimes, but when i’ve made up my mind about something it’s gonna be very difficult to change it. (Ive been trying to improve this tho)

5: finally, my favorite Arcane character is Jinx! To be completely honest, I think my initial liking to her was beca of subconscious nostalgia. I know absolutely nothing about league of legends but I remember being little and playing games like minecraft on my family computer while listening to music, and I’d listen to “Get Jinxed” a lot without even realizing what it was from- but after actually watching the show, I love how well written her character is- she’s the kind of character that like even though you know she’s done some wrong things you just wanna hug her and tell her everything’s ok. Plusshesreallyhottoosotheresaplus.

I cant really think of anything else so that’s all I’ve got for now! Ur writing is great and I think the lumen series is adorable, keep up the great work!

ahhh void. awesome pick.

void to me depicts a lumen that have irregular talents. for your the first thing to come to mind is absorbing very small things and brining them back to their soulmate as a little treasure! jinx definitely enjoys the little doohickeys your bring her, always displaying them or working them into her newest inventions. for your color i think your cool tones, more purple than blue in my mind. you have a vivid tail to your lumen and when I say tail i mean more like a tadpole tail—see through and helping you maneuver through the air as if you’re swimming in a sense??? I dont know that’s the vibe i’m getting from you for some reason.

mini blurb: Jinx leans back in her chair, popping her spine from being hunched so long. The wrench she holds is tossed onto the work bench as she stands, humming as her eyes rove the room. She finds you halfway under her pillow, wiggling as soon as she disturbs you. Laughing, she pokes you until you move, stubbornly leaving behind the comfort of her bed to rub against her face.

When you fly circles in front of her she reaches her hand out excitedly. You always have something to give her and she really doesn’t know when you pick these things up, but who cares? She loves your sweet little gifts.

A ring falls into her palm as you seem to study her for a moment. She hums, pinching the jewelry between her fore and thumb fingers. It’s a silver band, the details engraved into it very details and clean. It feels and looks expensive.

“Where’d you get this?” she cackles, sliding it onto her finger. It fits perfectly. She squints at you as you do a flip. “You proposing already, toots?”

She giggles as you nuzzle her face over and over. She’ll take it as a yes.

[purenguyening]

Mononobe no Futo

Favorite thing about them: She gives it her all and then some. 

Least favorite thing about them: Remember that time Futo let Miko gamble with her life? I sure do, I never forget that, ever.

Favorite line: “Let us wager our balls and fight.”

brOTP: Futo/Ichrin and Futo/Youmu (the latter I think it’d be funny if we could get Futo into speaking from the Samurai era)

OTP: My favorite, a rad dish an a radish, aka Futo/Tojiko.

 I’m so sad my meme name hasn’t caught on but I think about how people have wanted to make it catch on. I still think it’s the only good contribution I’ve ever made.

NOTP: Hm. Maybe Byakuren/Futo, I’ve seen it a thing, not for me.

Random headcanon: I like to think she keeps a bag of sweets under her tate eboshi for the kids (or Tojiko)

Unpopular opinion: I always think the pyromaniac memes are a little exaggerated, the only times I’ve played on it was specifically in the context of Incorrect Touhou Quotes. 

I also think the “Futo is stupid” sort of thing is a bit misleading? I like a Futo that’s more go with the flow or somewhat like Yuyuko where she pretends she doesn’t know anything because doing so is just easier than admitting she’s more aware than she actually is?

I mean given she grew up in a time of war and constantly had to play a diplomat in a lot of it while manipulating both the Soga and Mononobe clan (for Miko’s benifit)...I just can’t help but think she just needs a break from all of that...

song i associate with them: Reikon Mythology - Sally from Sadomasochism 

Easily my favorite vocal arrangement of Oomiwa Legend. The refrain always gets me:

Favorite picture of them: Vento’s Futo’s Day piece where Futo is just curled in a futon is top tier. I love her expression and the fact the futon has the iconic pattern that appears on the corner of her outfit.

--

Soga no Tojiko

Favorite thing about them: She’s 1000% with everyone’s bullshit.

Least favorite thing about them: I never quite understood why she chose a jar to store her soul in and I don’t think anyone ever tried to explore why or if she has any sort of an affinity for clay jars in general.... 

Favorite line: Plot twist she had more than one line:  

“It's finally time to show off my centuries-old grudge!”

Seriously, I think about this Grimoire of Usami line from her a lot. Which is super weird because like, her profiles go out of her way to say that she is coming to terms with being a vengeful spirit. 

I think it’s only Symposium of Post-Mysticism that suggests she had a grudge against Futo for killing her and that her status was being downgraded to that of a ghost that can create lightning, but I’m starting to think that:

1. She never had a grudge against Futo at all.

2. Futo didn’t actually kill her.

brOTP: Seiga/Tojiko, I like the idea that Seiga just brings random shit to help Tojiko pass time waiting for Miko and Futo to wake the fuck up.

OTP: My favorite, a rad dish an a radish, aka Futo/Tojiko. I’m so sad my meme name hasn’t caught on but I think about how people have wanted to make it catch on. I still think it’s the only good contribution I’ve ever made. 

Yes, I really just copied and past this answer because, of course I would, I want “a rad dish and radish” to be a thing. Though I do find it funny that Tojiko’s profiles consistently, including Symposium of Post-Mysticism, go out of their way to say Tojiko does in fact not hate Futo.

NOTP: Miko/Tojiko, I’m not really a huge fan of works that play up that aspect given it was an arranged marriage. Then again, I’m generally have an uneasy relationship with the concept of marriage in general so that’s probably another huge part of it. 

I might also think it’s a bit weird she honors Iruka, who was Tojiko no Iratsume’s nephew who’s shennigans led to Yamashiro, her son she had with Shoutoku Taishi, to die by suicide. But I keep this odd question to myself most of the time.

tl;dr I think there’s still potential for Miko/Tojiko but I think it might be better to remove the historical context behind it. Though, personally, it’s not a ship I’m super invested in.

Random headcanon: Tojiko having a sweet tooth is a very dumb headcanon I just like a lot? 

Alternatively I like to think she just swears every other sentence and this is why ZUN never gives her any speaking roles.

Unpopular opinion: I’m always under the impression Tojiko is quite proud to be a vengeful spirit. Part of it is convenience but I’m pretty sure this is like, a thing, high ranking Soga politicians (them later becoming vengeful spirits, I mean). 

I’ve recently developed the idea that she’s rather attached to the Soga name as being part of who she is. It sticks out to me her Overdrive card, “Vengeful Spirit Iruka’s Thunder” appeared again in Grimoire of Usami and I think coupled with the fact she’s she then explicitly state she still has a grudge...I think she’s still taking the fall of the Soga clan super hard.

Honestly, I feel like in general a lot of people play up her tender-heart but I welcome more explorations of her as a fearsome warrior and politician more...

Song i associate with them: Ephemeral Unnatural Balence’s Unfired Jar of Awakened Vengeance

I’d like her to get a boss theme that would reflect what fighting her would be like.

Favorite picture of them: Soero has a really funny one where it has Futo, Miko, Okina, and Tojiko in their past lives and Mononobe no Moriya burning Buddhist statues in order to roast some fish and Soga no Umako is whacking him for that. I love the fact Moriya’s tear is exactly the same tear you see in Futo’s defeat sprite from Ten Desires, but what really makes it is that Tojiko is 1 year old in the image and she has the look of being 1000% done.

Even at one year old, she knew she’d be in for a life of some serious bullshit.

What’s even better is that this artist knows this is my favorite image from them. 

[talesofthefrontier]

INTERVIEW: Jamie Ryder Might Be Dead By Dusk

Getting your work out there isn't always easy as a writer, so it's always useful to be part of communities that can help to give signal boosts.

The horror community is extremely welcoming and it was through this connection I was interviewed by Ginger Nuts Of Horror, a UK-based horror website that promotes authors in the genre.

In this interview I discuss horror influences, writing AT THE DEAD OF DUSK and philosophy. You can also check out the interview here.

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? I’m a fiction writer based in Manchester in the UK and grew up reading from a young age, which laid the groundwork for wanting to become a writer in as many different avenues as possible. When not writing horror and fantasy fiction, I enjoy indulging my inner pop culture geek with comics and other interests, which include Japanese culture, Stoicism and rum. I’ve mashed all these interests together in a portfolio of websites, which include The Comic Vault, Yamato Magazine and The Rum Ration. Which one of your characters would you least like to meet in real life? Good question. I’m going to say it’d be Agnus Cartwright, a powerful witch from The Tales Of The Frontier series. She’s terrifying and her ruthlessness would make me think twice about crossing her! Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing? The fantasy genre has had a big influence on my writing style and reading habits, particularly authors such as Sebastien De Castell, Andrzej Sapokowski and Neil Gaiman. I’ve always been in awe of writers who have the ability to create a completely new world from nothing and make you believe in the mechanics, concepts and characters within the world. Comics are another major influence, in the sense that having larger than life characters can be grounded in a realistic setting such as the DC Universe and that there are shades of grey when it comes to anti-heroes like Red Hood, Punisher etc. A recent concept that’s also resonated with my writing style is the philosophy of Stoicism and how it can be applied to the practice of writing. It’s about understanding the things you can control e.g. how much you want to write per day, and the things you can’t e.g. how people are going to react to your work. The term horror, especially when applied to fiction always carries such heavy connotations. What’s your feeling on the term “horror” and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions? For me, the greatest kind of horror is found in human action. The lengths someone will go to for carrying out a goal. The justifications we tell ourselves when we think we’re doing something ‘good’ that can be seen as ‘bad’ from someone else’s perspective. Everyone has the capacity to be a monster and it brings to mind that famous Nietzsche quote of “beware that when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster.” It’s in these kinds of everyday, human drama kind of stories that I think there’s still plenty of room to break past what it seen as traditional horror. A lot of good horror movements have arisen as a direct result of the socio/political climate, considering the current state of the world where do you see horror going in the next few years? I think there will be an increase of horror being seen through the lens of more diverse groups such as the LGBT and BAME communities. There’s limitless potential in redefining tropes within these two categories and showcasing stories that are special, spooky and resonant. Given the dark, violent and at times grotesque nature of the horror genre why do you think so many people enjoy reading it? Coming from my own perspective, I enjoy watching and reading horror stories out of a subconscious desire for facing the unknown. The fear of the unknown is actually my biggest fear and if you think about anything outside of your comfort zone too much it can paralyse you worse than any monster, ghost or serial killer. I think that being exposed to horror has the potential to build up your resilience to real-life scenarios. What new and upcoming authors do you think we should take notice off? A couple of authors come to mind. V Castro has been doing some amazing work with redefining Latin horror through stories like Queen Of The Cicadas and Goddess Of Filth. There’s also Eric LaRocca and Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is a tremendous piece of transgressive horror. While Donald Robertson isn’t a new author, he’s new to the horror and comic genres and I’m looking

forward to seeing the release of the graphic novel Verissimus, which tells the life of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult? The editing process is the most difficult by far. There’s the old writer cliché of having to kill your darlings and it’s true that they do feel like your darlings sometimes! But once you move past that initial feeling, you do come away with a much stronger manuscript. Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? I’ve always said to myself that I’ll never write about any subject that I can’t capture realistically on the page, make it believable or do it justice. It’s only after I’m well-informed enough to know what I’m talking about that I’d even attempt to start writing something. Writing, is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years? By constantly writing. That’s the most effective way I’ve continued to develop. Short stories. Articles. Blogs. Poems. Scripts. Exposing myself to different mediums has forced me to think about writing differently and become more fluid in how I approach things. What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing? Don’t worry about whether the first draft is good or bad. Just finish it and then start editing. Which of your characters is your favourite? My favourite character is Clay McNab, the protagonist of At The Dead Of Dusk. He’s an asshole who doesn’t pretend to be anything but what he is and there’s a refreshing amount of honesty when inhabiting the headspace of a character like that. Yet there’s a lot more beneath the surface and it’s so much fun to write an anti-heroic character who’s self-aware enough to see his own flaws and try to do what he thinks to be right from his own perspective. Which of your books best represents you? At The Dead Of Dusk is my first standalone novella, so I’d say that represents me the best (So far!) Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us? There’s quite a few lines from At The Dead Of Dusk that I loved writing. While I’m not going to give away any spoilers, I will say there’s a scene with Clay delivering a monologue kind of speech in a highly charged emotional situation that got me right in the feels when I was writing it. Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? The next story I’m working on is a cyberpunk novel set in a futuristic version of my home city of Manchester. It’s about two brothers who come together to try and unlock the riddles of their father’s death and has a mixture of noir, crime, and sci-fi themes. If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice? That jump scares are the only way to tell a good horror movie. What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you? The last great book that resonated with me was How To Think Like A Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson. In terms of disappointing books, nothing comes to mind as I think there’s something good to be taken away from whatever you read if you’re in the mindset to look for it.

[sunbird-tells-stories]

I was rewatching one of my favorite episodes of Xiaolin Showdown lately and I’ve been thinking of Jesse’s/Jessie’s character. I really like her a lot. I was always fascinated with that character from the moment I first saw her. Clay was my favorite Dragon, so to learn he had a sister??? Who was a biker girl??? And a BAD GUY?! Like, it was crazy! I loved the episode, and I still love it to this day. I love the lore, the aesthetic, the Black Vipers, the story, and the ending with Jesse under a starry desert sky flying off into the moon leaving behind a magical rainbow trail behind her? Like, tell me that’s not awesome!

So, since I’m bored and have Xiaolin on my mind, I’m gonna rant about her for a little bit.

First off, Jesse’s listed in the credits with the male version of the name, aka Jessie without the “I.” And the first thing I thought about when I mulled over this choice for a name was that it reminded me of Jesse James, who was a famous outlaw back in the days of the Wild West. So it was maybe a crew choice to give her that name as a shout-out to her criminal nature, and because of that, I like to think that in the show’s universe, Jesse used to be Jessie but dropped the “I” the day she left the Bailey Ranch. You know, to show that a) she was starting a new life and leaving her old persona behind and b) maybe to challenge the stifling old gender norms she was relegated to at the ranch. I mean, Daddy Bailey, as cool as he is, did ooze vibes of toxic masculinity in the one episode we saw him. If he was hyper focused on making Clay the manliest man, then it makes sense that he’d push Jesse to be the girliest girl.

But like, Jesse’s her own person, man. She’s hotheaded and stubborn and determined, and she’s got enough grit and pride in her to say “You know what? Screw this. I’m not happy here, I’ll never be enough for you, and life is too short to live in a place where you’re either ignored because everyone’s paying attention to your brother or being pressured and prodded into being something you’re not.”

So she left. I mean we never got a backstory on that (and I would have loved one, trust me), but she left, and she left on bitter terms too, considering Clay’s instinctive animosity towards her on sight. Like, no “hey, how’s life” or “where have you been.” The first thing he did after recognizing her was to call her a varmint. A nuisance. A lowlife.

That’s....uncharacteristically harsh, Clay. You’re supposed to be the sweetheart of the group, and the first thing you do when you see your baby sister after who knows how long...is to insult her?

Wow. There’s a story there. And if we don’t get any background on it, then maybe I’ll write it later? There’s always fandom, kids! And fanfic. And fanart.

But Jessie really does fascinate me as a character. Like even more than Ashley, or Wuya, or Shadow, or even Kimiko! Out of all the (very few!) female characters in the Xiaolin lore, she’s the one I’m interested in the most. It’s everything about her you know? It’s her backstory, it’s her personality, her skills, her likes and dislikes, the way she chooses to live her life, the way she’s constantly double crossing everyone around her - even her brother! No one is safe from her except for her loyal Vipers, who must also like her and trust her a lot too, since as soon as there’s a brief void in the leadership role, they automatically welcome her and her alone back into it, instead of squabbling over who should be the leader of their biker gang. For all their trouble and deceit, the Black Vipers stick together.

Probably because they’re all they’ve got.

I mean the girls live in a MINE! (An abandoned mine, like seriously, how cool is that?!) and they’ve got pet vultures, and know every inch of their hideout, and the place is falling apart in some areas but it’s HUGE and awesome and it looks wicked cool so it balances out.

But that alone implies that none of them have actual houses or trailers or apartments or condos where they actually crash. None of them have a home to go home to.

And why would they? I mean, you don’t just wake up one day and choose to live a life of crime. The show always likes to hammer in the fact that the world’s not black and white. Everyone’s got some good chi and bad chi in them. Everyone’s a shade of grey. And that includes the Vipers. And something tells me that they’re a darker shade of grey than most girls, and not entirely by choice either. Girls don’t just wake up and become bad guys. It’s a lot more complicated than that.

I worry about these girls. All of them are so young, early-late teens at most, but they’ve each got a criminal record and have scored enough infamy to be known all through the American Southwest. That’s kind of awesome. But mostly really, really sad.

Sadly we don’t get much personality from the girls, but I wish we did, I love the quirks in their character designs like WallEyed Short Girl and Tall Freckled Mopey Girl, and even Belle! Yes, the redhead has a name, and it’s Belle. Personally she’s my favorite design out of all four Vipers. The bright red hair paired with the turquoise in her necklace and hat is simple but unique. And her sass! And the fact that she’s like the ONLY XS character with brown eyes. Aaah! I love her so much!

But even with their lack of screen time or even voice lines, there’s enough evidence to infer that these girls are each other’s family. They’re sisters. They’re partners in crime wherever they go, from the arid deserts of Arizona to the neon casinos of Nevada, from the white sands of New Mexico to the empty-hearted prairies of Oklahoma, and hey maybe even as far west as Baja California!

And of course, Texas.

It’s interesting that even though she cut all ties with her dad and her brothers and her mom (I mean, if she even has one), she still wanders through Texas. The last thing she screamed at Jack as he took off in a huff with no Wu was “Don’t Mess With Texas”! She may have turned her back on her family and the ranch, but she’ll never turn her back on her home state. That’s kind of beautiful. It’s nice to think that the big bad biker chick who rules over a gang that kidnaps people and robs them blind....still has a soft spot.

But I mean, of course she has a soft spot. She’s a person, right? Good chi and bad chi coexisting together in a single human being. She’s got dreams, right? Secret wishes that keep her up at night, keep her going when the chips are down, keep her going when things get hard for her gang and she has to be the one to stay strong and lead them through it despite being a KID...yeah. It’s abundantly clear that Jesse is an adventurous soul. I mean, you gotta be if you spend your days riding through the desert and running from cops, and your nights sleeping in a creepy, abandoned mine that goes on for miles underground. That’s certainly not a lifestyle for the faint of heart, but Jesse seems just fine with it.

Because as crazy and as sad as her situation is, a teen girl with no home and, thanks to her record, no happy future to speak of, she’s happy where she is. Probably the happiest that she’s ever been in her life. She certainly has a lot more freedom, and values that freedom to Hell and back (probably.) She’s seriously gotta love the sweet, simple feeling of going wherever she wants and doing whatever she wants. Stealing from people probably gives her such a thrill, and with the jumps she made with her bike during the Showdown in her one and only episode...yeah, our girl’s an adrenaline junkie. Fer sure.

I wonder if she’d ever leave the desert at some point in her life. I mean, being an outlaw is cool and all but it’s definitely got a lot of drawbacks, and it isn’t very sustainable. And, I mean...people change. Maybe someday she’d just grow out of the lifestyle. Maybe one night she’d sit her Vipers down for one last talk, pass her leadership over to Belle, give them all one big hug and wish them luck, get on her bike and just...leave.

I wonder where’d she go then. Definitely not back home. Probably not with Clay. Being a Xiaolin hero, going to monk school, fighting over Warts...that’s his life, not hers. And I mean, she does have that inferiority complex, which aren’t exactly easy to grow out of. Maybe she’d secretly feel that she wasn’t good enough to be Xiaolin. But she definitely wouldn’t want to go full evil and switch to the Heylin side.

Jesse’s not Xiaolin, or Heylin. She’s just....Jesse. And that’s why we love her so.

I think she would wander. She’d wander all over the US, through every last state, seeing all that there is to see. Some places impress her. Some do not. Some remind her far too much of her home back at the ranch and some are so alien and foreign that her heart almost breaks from the loneliness. Sometimes she falls in love. Then, she falls right out of love, never unexpectedly, but only sometimes by choice. And after a few hours of heartbreak and self care, she’s back on her feet again, hunting down her next adventure. If she sees a Wu, she contacts Clay, and waits for him and the others to come. It’s easier to talk to him now, so they talk often. She sends him a pretty postcard from each city she visits. And with each message, she writes an animal fact about a local critter, just for him.

Home is....it’s not home anymore. Daddy Bailey, Mama Bailey, even Patrick...they don’t consider her family no more. At least that’s what she believes. She never writes to them. She doesn’t see the point. As far as she’s concerned, they all said what they had to say the day she left the ranch. Soemtimes she’s overcome with the temptation to give them a call and see how things are. But no matter how hard she tries, she always hangs up as soon as they answer.

It’s too late to fix what I broke, she tells herself.

And sometimes, she believes it.

But no matter what gets her down, Jessie’s a tough girl. She’s smart and clever and knows how to get by on her own. Her independent nature was hard-earned. She can take care of herself. So she does. And she wanders. And she sees the world beyond the desert.

Hey, remember that one line during her episode where she says “the only thing better than riding is flying,” or that out of all the Wu she could have kept for herself - out of all powers she could have had at her disposal - she opted to keep the Wings of Tinabi, aka the flying Shen Gong Wu?

I like to think that Jesse, like her brothers, is a smart cookie. But while Clay’s got animal facts and Patrick’s got computers, she’s more of an engineer. I mean, she’s got to keep her rides in tip top shape right? And those weren’t ordinary motorcycles either. I wonder if she was the one who designed the Black Viper’s iconic bikes. Maybe she built them all from scratch. Maybe they all did.

And maybe building bikes isn’t all she’s good at. I like to think that as Jesse gets older she takes on a whole new kind of project. As soon as she gets enough material and enough space to house her new baby, she gets to work on something she’s always been wanting to make in the back of her mind but never could before. It’s more complicated than motorcycles or cars or even tractors, and there’s a lot to lose if something goes wrong. But Jesse’s a risk taker, and a dreamer. And above all, she believes in herself. She has to. She’s always had to, because no one ever else did. Not until she chose to be her own biggest fan did she ever have someone in the stands cheering her on. She can do it. Of course she can. She’s Jesse Gotdang Bailey, and she can do anything.

I like to think, after a while on the road, exploring every last corner of America, and hey, maybe even Canada and Mexico, she finally gets around to building herself a plane. Wheels and steel are a beautiful combination, but wings? Wings can take you anywhere. They offer a freedom like no other. Hundreds and hundreds of people over countless generations have looked up at the sky and wished to be up there. And Jesse wouldn’t be any different from them.

I like to think that she finishes it right as she reaches adulthood. I like to think that she actually goes legit - for once - and gets herself a pilot’s license. I like to think that she gives her new ride a bright coat of paint, puts on the last finishing touches, gets herself a viper tattoo as a way to honor the occasion, and takes off towards the Xiaolin Temple the very next morning to show Clay how far she’s come.

And I would like to think that on the side of the plane, in beautiful rainbow lettering, is the name she chose for her new aircraft:

The Wings of Tinabi.

[thevoidwell]

100 Reasons to Love Vivia Nihar

Inspired by @wrongshatteredrealms and their post about 100 reasons why Destin Karn is their favorite character from Shattered Realms.  This post took a while to make, but Vivia really deserves it.  It’s quite long, I warn you.

1. She loves her country even after everything the people in it put her through

2. She is a feminist icon

3. Her nickname is “Little Fox” and that’s just adorable

4. She’s so strong in spite of her mental health issues

5. Her mother committed suicide and she still manages to go past the place where it happened all the time without breaking down each time

6. She just cares about Stix so much and would die for her

7. When she realized just how much Serafin has been manipulating her, she tried her best to do something about it

8. She is a pirate princess who also happens to be a lesbian, and honestly you can’t get any cooler than that

9. “Do I look like I care about plums?”

10. “Now would be the right time for the gardener to complain about his plum trees”

11. She has that habit of patting the sides of her face like she’s checking to make sure her mask is in place

12. She calls Merik “Merry” and it makes me laugh every time

13. She’s the Chosen Daughter of the VOID WELL, which nobody thought existed

14. The lack of patience she has with the vizers is amusing, but she takes it to an art form with Serrit Linday and it’s priceless

15. Her annoyed internal monologue about how it seems like five thousand servants have stopped to talk to her, interrupted only by another servant coming to talk to her before she mentally changes the count to five thousand and one

16. All the pining for Stix in her POV chapters with the constant repetition of “Too good for me”

17. When she saves Merik’s life by showing up out of nowhere and cutting off Garren’s head

18. When, upon cutting off Garren’s head, she gloats by saying “Come back from that”

19. Even when Merik constantly misgenders Cam in Windwitch, Vivia still has a hard time believing he’s a girl

20. Later in Bloodwitch when Cam is introduced as a boy, Vivia immediately believes it (Merik, take lessons from your sister)

21. Her own brother thinks she’s intimidating and trying to have him killed, but she really just needs a hug

22. “I could have just as many titles if I wanted”

23. The way that as soon as she realizes Stix is missing, she goes into an absolute panic because what if something happened to her???

24. How she gets chills when Vizer Sotar calls her “My Queen” because no one’s ever called her that before

25. She put in so much work for the under-city but got recognized for none of it

26. She came up with a really awesome speech but didn’t get to say it

27. When Cam is talking about Paladins and magical doorways in Bloodwitch and externally Vivia is like, “Yeah, okay” when internally she’s basically saying, “What in the world is he talking about - ”

28. She completely tricked Merik into believing that the boat miniature was actually representing a Dalmotti trade ship

29. She also tricked Merik into believing that she believed him when he lied about where the miniature was

30. When she’s just so done with Linday in the council meeting and she keeps mentally making her ideal punishment for him even worse

31. Until she’s thinking about how he should be drawn, quartered, eviscerated, and burned to ashes and she gets distracted from the actual meeting

32. How flustered she gets when Stix kisses her on the cheek

33. How she constantly refers to that moment as “the kiss” even though it wasn’t a real kiss because it was so emotional for her

34. She quite literally jumps into a valley filled with seafire to save the people of Lovats

35. When Merik saves her from dying as she plummets through the valley of seafire, she acts like it’s an everyday occurrence and proceeds to just go about her business

36. She has a hard time trusting Cam at first, which makes sense, but as soon as he mentions the message that Stix sent her, Vivia immediately trusts him because it’s better than risking the chance that Stix might not need help

37. “You may lower your water” “Oh may I?  I’m so glad to have your permission”

38. She has plans to put more women on the High Council once she’s officially queen

39. When Vivia, a person who has never had a real conversation with Safi, knows within about five seconds that the reason Safi wants Marstok to trade with Nubrevna is because of Merik

40. Over the course of Bloodwitch, she goes from barely interacting with Vizer Sotar to going to talk to him for literally everything and asking for advice and help

41. Anybody could say any random thing and she’d find a way to connect it to the fact that Stix is perfect and amazing

42. When she gets the message from Vaness suggesting a meeting over trade, she just starts laughing because she thinks it’s a trick, then when Stix says she should go she’s like “okay”

43. That kind of infuriating thing where she writes a message to Vaness via the Wordwitched paper after telling the empress she got home safely and we don’t get to know what she said

44. “You can keep [the pencil].  I have others” “As do I.  We’re not that poor”

45. How she bickers with Vaness for well over two pages about whose fault it was that the Truce got broken and who needed help more

46. When she thinks Merik is dead, the extent of her reaction is pretty much “Aw, that’s too bad” but when Stix goes missing for a day, she’s in an utter panic and asking Vizer Sotar where she could possibly be

47. How she learns to stop apologizing to Serafin and stop feeling guilty over the things he does to her

48. When she’s anxious over something, she stops and remembers [insert advice from her mother].  It doesn’t sound like a lot but when you remember that the whole country thinks her mother was insane and you remember their mother-daughter relationship, it’s sweet

49. That moment in Bloodwitch where her thought process is basically “I like how Stix always calls me ‘sir,’ it shows we respect each other but not in terms of royalty...wait why is she calling me ‘Your Highness’ now, does she not think we’re friends anymore?...oh thank God she called me ‘Viv,’ we’re friends for sure”

50. Nubrevna needed food, and it wasn’t getting food, so she just decided to steal it

51. She’s unbelievably calm when Merik holds a pistol to her head

52. She tries so hard to stop the Fury but doesn’t realize that the Fury is a reincarnated Paladin who happens to be pretty much immortal

53. For all those times Merik thought about how she treated her crew like servants, you don’t see her chaining people to the deck for 10 hours at a time

54. She is shameless about her piracy because she knows it’s for the greater good of Nubrevna

55. When she orders the generals to do something and they refuse, and she realizes that her crown was taken away and she hadn’t even been there for the vote like...poor Little Fox

56. When she has that realization that Jana had managed to bear with the shadows instead of nurturing them as Serafin had, and that made her even stronger than him

57. “Vivia was ready to be Queen” yes!!!

58. No matter what Merik does, chances are her response would be “ugh” or rolling her eyes because they are Siblings™

59. She doesn’t have as many of the action or fight scenes as the other characters, but I’m still always so excited for her next chapter because she’s just so amazing

60. When she decides it’s time to stop trying to be a good daughter and start trying to be a good ruler

61. When she mentally agrees with Vizer Sotar that Cam’s “door” is, in fact, a wall

62. When she’s simultaneously annoyed and impressed by how much clay and water Vaness put out before their meeting to make her feel safe against the empress’s Ironwitchery

63. That trick she does with the water at the meeting with the vizers

64. She reminds the High Council that it was Jana and not Serafin who signed the Truce, so he should not get the credit

65. When she stands up to her father and says that there is no way he’s fit to lead an army after having almost died

66. “I decide who holds the title of Admiral and I haven’t appointed you”

67. When she basically tells Serafin that he’s a pathetic soldier and he exaggerated all of his accomplishments, like Vivia, you tell him

68. The internal jealousy when she thinks Stix is seeing someone else

69. When she canonically thinks that Vizer Sotar is the only one on the council who has a fully operational brain

70. She does such a good job of pretending that Merik is dead at his funeral

71. For all she was talking about how the meeting with Vaness would be pointless, she actually stayed in touch with the empress and it’s a good thing she did

72. For that matter, she didn’t give up on Vaness’s negotiations when the empress had to end their meeting abruptly to talk to Habim

73. She isn’t physically described too much in the books, so the reader gets to have their own image in their head of what she looks like, more or less

74. Even though she’s proven to be good with a blade, most of the time she honestly doesn’t need one because of her Tidewitchery

75. When she sends Linday off to do something menial just so she can have a moment alone, but (unfortunately) he barks at some servant to do it instead, and she has to put up with Serrit Linday for even longer

76. When she internally calls Linday “slimy”

77. She stays so remarkably composed while the vizers tell her that her throne has been reclaimed by Serafin, even though her life is falling apart

78. She still goes to Jana’s garden sometimes

79. Most of the country thinks she is weak because she’s a woman and because her mother committed suicide, but omg Vivia can GET THINGS DONE

80. When Vaness dropping the pencil is actually reassuring to her because it means that she’s a human and not 100% perfect, 100% of the time

81. Her friendship with Stix is just amazing - so much mutual respect and support

82. Her self-esteem is nonexistent, but Stix trying to boost it always seems to make her day

83. She worked so hard to get the food for Nubrevna that it was so heartbreaking when she realized it was all for nothing

84. For that matter, the same goes for her efforts for the under-city

85. In Windwitch she mentions how she hates spiders, but later she gets a spider off Merik when he doesn’t notice it’s there #SisterlyLove

86. After Stix kisses her on the cheek, she literally just stands there because she’s just so 😍 overwhelmed 😍

87. When Serafin jokes about Vivia possibly having arranged for Vaness’s death and she’s horrified at the idea but externally is like “yeah...ha ha ha”

88. When she was a kid, she found an abandoned room in one of the palace wings and she decorated it herself and called it her fox’s den, which is the cutest thing ever

89. When she realizes that the Void Well is the Void Well and she knows she should bring her father down to heal him but some part of her doesn’t know if she should...she’s just so confused and, I repeat, really needs a hug

90. That moment where she’s so busy that she doesn’t try to put on a façade and Stix actually notices and she’s just so touched

91. When Vivia decides that even though she doesn’t know Cam, there is no way she’s going to stand there and do nothing while Garren cuts off his finger

92. When she has no idea what just happened but she’s glad she saved Merik’s life, so this one time she has no regrets

93. When she is so overwhelmed by all the negative things happening that she thinks to herself that this must be what drowning feels like, and it’s just so painful to read

94. That moment in Windwitch where she’s so scared that something might happen to Merik or her crew and she feels like she’s somewhere between Serafin and Jana and she doesn’t know which side is the better one, so she makes that decision to save the city even though she thinks it’ll kill her

95. When she manages to start over with Merik and put everything in the past

96. How all of her irritation towards the vizers goes out the window whenever she talks to or thinks about Stix

97. How she’s so frustrated by Vaness at first but by the end has a lot of respect for her

98. The way she acts in front of the council in comparison to the way she acts when she’s alone

99. She’s part of Vix, an amazing ship!!!!

100. In conclusion, Vivia is such an incredible character and deserves all the love in the world.  Thank you for reading 🙂

[space-whalesharks]

About the Character

Tagged by @starsandskies​

― your muse’s name:

Alex Wyatt

― one favorite picture / faceclaim of your muse:

― two headcanons you have for your muse:

Before she fell in with the Mutts, she had spent months trying to convince Will that leaving Bear Valley was the best choice for them/their family. It’s enough to make her feel guilty after she’s killed and she gets to see the Pack vs Mutt fights in person. Still, meeting the Pack and getting a new found family is enough to make her fall back in love with the town and stay. 

Absolutely adores little kids, and almost went to school for Early Childhood Education before her love of baked goods was all “alright hold up what about ME.” 

― three things that your muse likes doing in their free time:

Reading.  She’ll constantly have a Jane Austen book or something similar on hand. 

Baking in her free time. She doesn’t know how she doesn’t get sick of baking in her professional and free time, but she considers herself lucky for it. Baking is her love language, so she thrives on it. 

Running ‘PR’ for the Pack. She’ll ‘return the favor’ of them lookign out for her until the day she dies, and that includes trying to be a mediator for the Pack and other non-Mutt supernatural groups, or even the actual general public when the secret eventually gets out. 

― seven people your muse loves/likes:

Jeremy Danvers, Christine Wyatt, Nick Sorrentino, Elena Michaels, Clay Danvers (though by extension, he’s still too intense for her), Will Harper, Karl Marsten (he’s part of the gang, he’s charming, and he’s funny, so he counts - she’d fight anybody who told him that, though)

― a phobia your muse has:

Claustrophobia, developed after the Mutts lock her away. She actively tries to condition herself out of the fear once she’s safe and stable. 

–

Tagging: Y’all have been tagged already but to my knowledge y’all have multiple kids I wanna see, SO: @teamhawkeye, @foofygoldfish, @statichvm, @seedlingsinner,  @eliios, @josephseeds-rosary​, @amistrio​, @geronimo-11​ @weekend-writer​ @callmeredhood​ @words-and-seeds​

[retvenkos]

“we are epic”

THE PEVENSIES AND CASPIAN IN A HIGHSCHOOL! MODERN! AU WOULD JUST HAVE TO INCLUDE... (also, keep in mind that this is based on my experience in the american school system, any classes are ones that are offered at my own school.)

Edmund

okay, did someone say clubs? because edmund is made out of them

chess club, debate club, and film club where he just gets to be really critical about cinematography and stuff

but he’s also on journalism where he has an entire review section for himself

restaurants, plays, concerts, sports, edmund actually has a social life because of it

lucy takes pictures for his section in the newspaper

edmund loves english and history and is that kid that doesn’t really participate in group discussions, but will decimate everyone in review games

he’s a really good student who will study late into the night

and everyone thinks that means that he has some good test and note taking strategies

but nope!

this boy has a mess for notes and while he’s okay at taking tests, he always retakes his science ones

and he struggles in science

which makes eustace tease him non-stop

Peter

okay, hear me out, peter is an sbo

maybe not president, but definitely vice president

he’s nice enough, and all the girls like him, so he’s a pretty popular dude and i mean, he’s a king so he’s good at having high postions and stuff

he has really nice handwriting and his signatures are on point because he’s had so much practice

okay, so peter actually kinda struggles with history and edmund is constantly trying to help him out

it’s just the dates he doesn’t understand

he gets oddly into the customs and culture of a place, though, so he does well on essays because he can just wow the professor with that kind of knowledge

but he does write some great poetry (he loved to read it in narnia) and so he’s definitely also the leader of the poetry club

he was chosen to be president unanimously

occasionally he’ll put a poem of his in the school newspaper

he’s in the school choir, too and absolutely loves it

he’s actually pretty good at chemistry

Susan

so susan is 10/10 the president of debate club

she is very proud when she finally gets to pass that title onto edmund

also, you can fight me on this, but she has a painting class that she adores, and she wins first place in almost every art competition

she takes french and italian and is just really good at languages???

she takes the most pretty and helpful notes in her classes and when people borrow them they just take pictures because they don’t want to ruin her... art

she also color codes her binders and notebooks like a nerd

she sucks at creative writing though, words don’t come easily to her unless they are argumentative and a bit distanced from emotions

he is the most organized person in the school and we all know she is going to be valedictorian, it’s only a matter of time

the entire school staff wanted her to be the sbo president because of her work ethic and schedule, but she said she didn’t want to and they couldn’t argue with that

she will not be caught dead in a physical education class

she took all of those online over the summer and peter made fun of her

then she invited him to a boxing class with her for “the credit” and totally almost won

Lucy

fight me on this, but lucy is a wizard at math

she’s a year ahead but could easily be two

and if you ever need help she is so patient and will spend the entire day with you until you understand it

also, lucy is on track and field and swim team

they are good stress relievers for her and she is such a social butterfly that everyone loves to have her on the team

but she is a disaster when it comes to art

she took a ceramics class once, and she always managed to get chunks of clay caught in her hair

but she is wonderful at photography and takes pictures for the school newspaper.

she writes entirely in glitter pen and it upsets her english teacher to no end

her favorite class (after math) is probably cooking because while she’s not the best at it, she has it right before lunch so she always has time to eat it

she goes into the library after school and has a library aide class so the librarians love her

they always give her candy and edmund pouts that he didn’t get any

Caspian

here comes the jock of the group

caspian is on the football team, fight me on that

he teases peter for chickening out and not trying out all the time

he’s co-captain and only ever mentions it around his crush (and it’s excessive)

caspian only ever writes in black pen

he also really likes physics

no one knows why, not even him 

it just makes sense to him

but he’s actually one of the jocks that tries in his classes and manages to keep a B average

he’s really nice to everyone who talks to him and definitely is the equivalent of the football team uber

he persuaded the band to play baby shark at the homecoming game and it was glorious

can’t take notes to save his life, but he sure does try

AND FLUFF ENSUES.