#simpler but not full on cartoon

[mispatchedgreens]

two idiots and barbie is the getaway driver

[thesilmarillionblog]

WITH YOU, FOREVER

Soldier Boy x Reader

soldier boy being a baby boy dad, mommy reader, fluff, sweet, breastfeeding, baby boi is a supe, protective soldier boy, soft

Word Count: 3515

A/N: English is not my first language.

You can read this one-shot as my other work ANOTHER LIFE's sequel. But you don't have to read it if you don't want to.

While you were busy making dinner, you watched your little son, Jake, who was deeply interested in the TV cartoon and making noises that seemed to be a sign he was trying to communicate with the characters. You made an effort to get his attention, smiling to yourself, but he didn't look at you.

You and Ben thought that it would be best for you to take a break from work for a while because you had just given birth to him seven months ago, which was really difficult to endure, and you were still recovering. Actually, you almost died in childbirth. Thus, you had no intention of working for a while. Ben was happy when you informed him that you weren't willing to go back to work. You didn't have that energy. Furthermore, your only thought was to care for your infant right now. Additionally, you were advised to take a lot of rest, so you didn't voice any complaints about it.

Of course, if your son weren't as supe as his father, caring for him would be simpler. To your surprise, though, he hasn't displayed any signs of immense strength since birth. Still, you had no idea how to deal with him if his abilities suddenly surfaced. The problem was that you couldn't give him breastfeeding properly. You were warned that he may unintentionally tear off your nipple in an attempt to obtain more milk. Jake was built different after all, and he needed more milk. Ben was there to comfort you and tell you that you were doing well, which was a relief as you felt depressed and you felt like you were already failing.

At first, you didn't like the idea of him being a supe, but now you were happy that he had his strength. You felt concerned every time he attempted to do something that would injure him, even though you knew you shouldn't be. Yet, you were still protective over him; there was no need to deny.

Ben, though, was different. He was always keeping an eye on him, and although Jake was enjoying himself with his small toys, Ben was prepared to step in if something went wrong. Ben was also quite cheerful and energetic after Jake was born. With all the work in Vought, he felt more at ease and less nervous. His happiness was apparent, especially since Jake was also full of energy. Jake handled Ben's supe strength pretty well whenever Ben challenged him a little. 

Of course, Jake became tired of his father's kisses and hugs at times. As if he were the infant, Ben demanded all of his attention to himself.

You had just finished setting the table when you heard Ben enter. He said, “Daddy's home,” grinning slyly. As soon as he planted a strong, powerful kiss on your lips, his powerful arms found your waist and pressed your body to his. His tongue instantly dominated yours, stopping you before you could protest about how late he was.

There were moments when you felt a bit uncomfortable with your postpartum weight, but Ben didn't care and, on the contrary, had been behaving more aroused lately. He always had his palms on your ass, just like now. It didn't hurt at all, but your ass had some bruises. In fact, watching Ben act a little kinky was thrilling. 

“It was so hectic today in Vought; I couldn't give you a proper call, you know,” he continued quickly, sounding apologetic. You crushed your body into his as his powerful hands continued to squeeze your ass. He muttered, “Do you have an idea how much I missed you?”

His hardness against his jeans was palpable. His energy for sex was something else too. You didn't have sex for three months after giving birth, which was an especially difficult period for Ben, even though he never complained. You knew he was kind of traumatized because he almost lost you. However, because you recovered and felt more comfortable lately, the sex was even better than it had been. Of course, it would be nice if Jake could sleep and let you have your fun. When you or Ben tried to put him to sleep, he was sort of battling with you. When Ben tried his hardest to put him to sleep, as if he understood his father's intention and wanted to get under his skin, you could tell he was really struggling to stay awake just to make his dad annoyed.

“I could tell something else missed me too,” you said with a chuckle.

Ben's smile turned into a smirk, but your gaze shifted to the floor before he could continue. Jake was so excited that he was muttering and using his little hands to pull Ben's pants. He had crawled swiftly because he was still unable to walk and was unable to stand without clinging to Ben's trousers.

Ben's smile widened when he kissed you firmly once again, and he lifted Jake off the ground with a growl, causing him to giggle as he kissed him on his tummy. “How's my strong little eagle doing, huh?” Ben inquired while continuing to attack Jake's stomach as he could see he was having so much fun.

Jake was feeling a little stressed these days because they couldn't spend much time together because Ben had been working so much. Ben and you both guessed that it must have something to do with the Supe thing. Considering his tiny fingers were on Ben's chest most of the time, Jake adored the warmth that came from it, and he was delighted when his father got to spend time with him. 

“Did you upset your mommy? No?” Ben asked, continuing to kiss him. 

You said, “He's been a little naughty today,” and removed his socks, nearly dropping them to the ground. Jake joyfully moved his legs in relief. 

You let out a sigh. “He really enjoys getting undressed. He obviously took that from you, Ben.”

Ben grinned proudly and said, “Of course he did,” in agreement. “Just like his daddy, he will be attractive, hot, and tough. Right?”

“Not with a massive ego like yours, hopefully.”

He kissed you again after giving you a little spank on the ass and telling you that you should be punished for saying that. Ben changed his clothes, and when he returned, he filled his glass with whiskey. You removed Jake from Ben's arms and used the baby's bottle to feed him while the three of you sat down at the table. As he ate the steak that was put in front of him, he kept playing with Jake's feet. When you asked Ben how things were doing with Butcher and Annie, Jake turned his mouth away and refused the bottle, making you inhale deeply.

With a heavy sigh, you both turned to face him and whispered, “Come on.” You struggled to feed him all day. “I know you are hungry.” 

Ben said, “Maybe he's full,” as he observed his son refusing to drink milk. 

“No way,” you replied, worried about Jake's discomfort, particularly today, because he didn't even drink from the bottle properly. “He's been like this for the last few days. Today, he's even more stubborn.”

Jake was alarmed a little between your arms when he scented the milk coming out of your breaths, just as Ben was going to propose that you try feeding him himself. Again, you were leaking. It felt as though milk filled your entire chest, even though you were continuously filling all the bottles. Given that Jake was a Supe baby and drank more milk than a typical baby, it was obviously a positive thing, but because he was acting this way in the final days, you began to leak, exactly like you did in the first few months.

Although you knew it was impossible, you still wanted to breastfeed him properly. Watching his little hands touch your breasts and watching him gaze at you expectantly hurt.

You pressed the tip of the bottle to his lips and said, "Come on," but Jake pulled his head away stubbornly.

His tiny fingers tugged your blouse between gentle mumbles, trying to free one of your milk-leaking breasts, giving you the signal. You were aware of the risks, so it was agonizing for you when his little fingers lingered on your blouse and his green eyes begged you. You already had a hard time rejecting him and giving him food from a bottle. With a sigh, you continued to gently press the bottle's tip on his lips.

When Ben noticed his son excitedly wiggling his feet and watching the milk drip from your breaths, he stopped eating and attempted to distract him by playing with his small hands while you battled to feed him. 

Ben finally remarked, “He wasn't like this before,” expressing surprise at his son's persistent attempts to grasp your nipple while lowering your blouse. 

“Yeah,” you answered startledly. “He wants the milk straight from the source nowadays.” 

Ben chuckled as Jake was able to lower your top and reveal one of your milk-filled tits, causing your baby's eyes to widen and his entire body to shift between your arms with excitement. His tiny lips curled into a joyful smile. 

After placing the bottle on the table, you inhaled deeply. He couldn't possibly drink from the bottle today. He was being far too grumpy and uncomfortable. Despite your slight fear—in fact, you were terrified—you muttered, “All right.” As you placed your hungry son properly between your arms, you added, “I suppose we'll give it a try, honey.”

“Hey,” Ben interrupted you abruptly in a harsh voice. “You're not doing this. We know the risks.”

When Jake heard his father's rough voice, he jumped a little in your arms, and his eyes began to well up with tears due to his stress. He was quite sensitive to Ben's reactions, even though he didn't understand at all. 

Ben tried not to sound angry or anything, and his big hands began to gently touch his cheeks as his gaze softened. He spoke as though Jake might understand him while he toyed with his tiny hands that were stroking your breast. “All right, let's stop hurting your mommy now. Be a good boy.”

Jake neglected Ben entirely and kept mumbling before turning his chin to your breast again. From now on, you knew he was going to reject the bottle. Ben sighed deeply and made a move to take him from your arms, but Jake's face reddened, and he started crying uncontrollably as soon as he was taken from your arms and he lost contact with your breast.

In between sweet words, Ben tried to feed him while holding onto the bottle. But Jake was much more irritated when he felt it on his lips again immediately after his rejections, and he swiftly pushed it away from Ben's hands, sending it falling to the ground with a sudden force that made you both freeze. He had displayed some power on other occasions, but not in a way like this. It was like he was challenging his daddy's strength.

You weren't first concerned about his unexpected strength because the loud noise made him cry much more. 

“What now?” Ben caressed his back in a hurry, attempting to soothe him. He knew that Jake's senses were just as sharp as his, and that your baby could sense the stress you were experiencing. He was crying as a result of both feeling nervous and not getting what he wanted.

You demanded, “Just give him to me,” as his sobbing became so intense that he was gasping for air. His face became so red that you stopped caring about the risks.

Ben unwillingly gave him up since he felt helpless, but his hands were cautious and prepared to take him away as you positioned Jake for a proper breastfeeding. Even if you wouldn't deny feeling a little frightened, you weren't able to ignore and hear his cries for milk. You had theories, but you didn't know why he had been acting this way lately.

Jake stopped crying when you offered him your nipple, which had begun to drip milk, after you took a long breath. His lips swiftly caught it, and you jerked a little in surprise, which also made him uneasy. If he hurt you, Ben's hands were on your chin, ready to stop him at any time. He was only drinking the milk as if he were starving. He didn't hurt you at all. His screams eventually became soft sobs. He kept sobbing some more while he sucked your nipple, but he got relaxed eventually hearing your sweet words and feeling your soft touch on his cheeks.

Ben finally exclaimed, “I don't understand,” as he watched in wonder as your baby strongly sucked milk from your nipple. He would claim that he was drinking milk for the first time in his eight months of existence if he didn't know how much he consumed in a day.

“You know, breastfeeding helps a baby and the mother to form a bond,” you said. “Maybe it's not about the milk.”

You couldn't help but feel depressed when you realized your baby was missing something. But it was calming enough to watch Jake relax and get drunk on your milk. Being the mother he needed from you was all you wanted. He expressed his needs even though he was still unable to speak. That was important.

Ben whispered, “Hey,” and kissed your forehead quickly as his hands waited on your baby's chest and chin. “You're doing perfectly. You already have a strong bond. Look at how much he loves you.” 

Jake's sucking stopped, and he mumbled a smile as though he knew what his dad was saying. Ben replied lightheartedly, “I swear, there was not a single teardrop on his eyes while he cried,” and then Ben laughed loudly. Jake lost his ability to suck for a second since he let out a tiny laughter as well, imitating his dad's laugh. 

Jake produced the same sound shortly after Ben's loud laugh, showing that he was having an awesome time. You both laughed when Ben gave him another hard kiss on the head because of the noise he made. Jake grew louder every time Ben spoke to him and played with his little hands and feet, as if he hadn't just been crying hysterically. 

You said, “It seems like you're not hungry anymore, sweetie,” and reached for your blouse, but Jake's lips instantly went to your nipple in a panic and continued to suck hard. 

Ben was delighted as he saw you breastfeed your little one. His brain was full of dirty things, but his heart was full of warmth and love. He sometimes sucked milk from your tits, but you pushed him away and reminded him that you didn't make the milk for him when he was acting aggressively and actually drained your soul from your tits. Now he had to share you with Jake, obviously, and his little son was kind of challenging him. As though he realized that all the milk and both tits were for him alone, his happy gaze never left Ben's. 

“You're trying to make me jealous, aren't you?” Ben whispered and placed one hand around your nipple, close to Jake's tiny mouth. 

When your son's hand immediately met Ben's, he made a sound of displeasure and pushed his father's hand away from your breast. His annoyed and jealous behavior made you laugh heartily. “You're right, sweetie, it's all yours,” you said, pushing Ben's hand away in support of your young son's struggle. “From now on, Daddy won't get any milk.”

“You know what?” As if to irritate your son, Ben smirked and caressed Jake's belly before planting a firm, wet kiss on your lips. “I'm going to suck all the milk tonight,” he muttered. “I'm not a very generous dad, am I?”

“I guess not.”

Ben licked his lips, and you could tell he wanted to take you by the shift in his eyes. The yearning and longing in his eyes were obvious without the use of words. You really needed him. Ben could sense that the way you smelt there. Actually, after your sex life returned to normal, you were feeling really horny, even though you weren't expressing it. Ben felt the same. But you couldn't do anything while Jake had his mind set on staying awake and made sure you and Ben didn't do any funny business.

Jake was upset when he didn't see you, and Ben was outraged when he heard Jake sobbing during the times he was literally inside of you. At these moments, Ben was acting like a child. You had to hold back your laughter when he had to stop between complaints due to Jake's sobbing, as though he was doing it on purpose. 

“It seems like you're not hungry anymore, sweetie,” you said, reaching for your blouse, but Jake's lips instantly went to your nipple in a panic and continued to suck strongly. But finally, his mouth stopped, and his eyes failed him as he fell asleep. He finally quit sucking. How much he could drink without stopping was incredible. 

“He sucked the life out of you,” Ben complained, being impatient already.

Ben grew impatient and complained about his son being a complete cockblocker since every time he tried to remove him from your arms to place him on his bed, his mouth automatically kept sucking your breast. After some while, he didn't want to drink anymore and put himself to sleep, which was a relief. You fixed your blouse while Ben gently lifted him out of your arms and carried him to his room. You felt a little at ease and joyful now, acknowledging Jake didn't hurt you at all, as though he was aware that you were fragile and he was afraid of hurting his mommy.

He was a sensitive, intelligent boy with a slight temper. Of course, mother is the source of intelligence. That was fortunate.

With a sigh of relief, you turned back to the coach and sat down, deciding to handle the kitchen later. Ben returned with careful steps and swiftly settled you on his lap. You gasped in astonishment since you didn't expect him to act so quickly. Even if your physique had changed a little, you were feeling better and more confident because he still loved and desired you.

You put your fingers on his neck and beard and inquired, laughing, “Is he asleep?”

Ben muttered, pressing your body against his hardness in order to show how ready he was to take you: “Yeah.” For a moment, his gaze softened. 

“You know, baby, you performed flawlessly there. Our supe baby is being breastfed with such confidence... It was such a beautiful moment.”

His compliments filled your heart with delight and satisfaction because you knew that now you were doing well and that your mother's instinct was right.

“Oh, yeah?” you said, grinning broadly at him. “How beautiful was I? You know, I'm not very good at making assumptions. You have to tell me.”

Ben's grin grew wide at your lighthearted demeanor, and he bit his lip as his thoughts were racing with filthy ideas of how many positions to take you in on the couch. “Well, I'm not good at forming words, but... so fucking much.”

As you kissed him, you both grinned at one another's mouths. You lovingly stroked his face and neck and said, “We are doing perfect, don't you think?” You were unable to stop touching one another.

Ben took a deep breath and kissed your shoulder while gently, firmly wrapping his powerful arms around your waist. “Just because you're perfect.” 

“Hey,” you murmured, taken aback by his lack of self-esteem at the time. “Without you, I couldn't possibly manage our tiny supe son. You're doing as well as I am. In this, we are on the same team, equal. However, in other places...” You tried to lighten the situation by saying, “Of course, I'm better than you.” 

“I'm sure you are. He's already strong, isn't he?” Ben asked. You laughed at how proud he sounded. He had his attention on observing Jake's abilities. “You must know that he strongly pushed my hands away from you. He literally attacked me.”

“Ben, he's still a baby.” You laughed aloud as you said, “He wouldn't attack you.”

“You keep saying that.” Ben found it funny how much you were enjoying yourself and feeling good. He was relieved that handling your little Supe guy wasn't as challenging as he had thought. 

You yawned abruptly and kept your head on Ben's warm chest while the moment of excitement and happiness gradually gave way to weariness. Ben kissed your forehead, and as soon as his heart was full of understanding, his hardness was already forgotten. He groaned into your hair. “I want to stay like this for some time,” he said. 

“For how much time?” 

“With you, forever and forever.”

AN: That was a one-shot. Please let me know what you think. I hope it's not bad haha.

Permanent Taglist: @ladykitana90 @kamisobsessed @artemys-ackles @thecutestaaakawaii @supfan67 @suckitands33

@believeinthefireflies95

Click here and let me know if you wanted to be tagged permanently: TAGLIST!

[c-u-c-koo-4-40k]

Here's a funny kinda nostalgic post for commenting on.

In Husbandry Warhammer what media normally designed more for kids do Space Marines enjoy? (Aka what media are they latching onto because it is healing their traumatized inner child?)

I'm gonna go through some of my totally unbiased opinions. And if you're favorite legion isn't on here...

Comment it with your thoughts!

Thousand Sons - Take your damn pick there's so much magic based media but of course the Owl House is up there for recent examples.

...some of the Loyalist Thousands Sons do get a bit...existential when the plot line of the tyrannical Emperor Belos gets expanded upon.

Ironically despite its fictional nature Thousand Son or other psycher space marines use certain scenes in it almost like training videos for their offspring.

Ultramarines - You can't Tell me these guys wouldn't like Bob the Builder, and Thomas the Tank Engine. The main characters are Blue and so much of trains and building is logistics! And Cyberspace! Logistics is mostly math so Cyberspace is in there too.

Death Gaurd - Zoboomafo, the focus on flora and fauna is quite enjoyable for marines literally in tune with the cycle of life. Children's shows in general often use simpler language which is easier to understand or translate for Marines still coming to grasp with ancient terran languages. The similarly enjoy The Wild Thornberries

Nightlords - Goosebumps. They LOVE Goosebumps and 'Are you afraid of the Dark?' No I will not explain it.

Blood Angels - Art Attack! Never watched the show myself but Damn it looks fun! And perfect for craft inclined Blood Angels.

Alpha Legion - The animated Carmen Sandiego cartoon! Deception, mystery and most importantly disguises! What more could a hydra want? And Blue Clues...because.

Salamanders - Dragon Tails. Love watching it with their family or kids. The show has a big focus on family itself and giant lizards it's practically made for them! Would probably also like Dinosaur Train.

Emerperors Children - Steven Universe. The art, the music, the messy drama of the characters that makes them weep and the existential dread of being similarly tied to a parent or family that is...complicated.

They find a lot of comfort and catharsis in it.

Black Templars - Veggie Tales. Okay JK kinda they would like that just swap out God for God Emperor. Also...Winnie the Pooh.

Is it just because Pooh is Yellow like their gene father? That's not entirely it but they approve of the little yellow bear who isn't the brightest but he does his Best Okay!

I could also see them using it as another weird allegory for the God Emperor loving and protecting because in quite a few episodes of "The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," Christopher Robin shows up to help Pooh and Friends out of their predicaments.

Iron Warriors - Reboot! My sister loved this show as a kid, and given its focus on computers/a digital world I could see them enjoying it! Also they like Cyber Space because Math. And...Chip and Dale rescue rangers But! They like it specifically for the scenes with Gadget because she makes cool things and they also want to make cool things/find a way to make them work.

See a video on AstartikTok about an Iron Warrior making a remote controlled roller skate and putting the families pet rat on it.

The rat is unharmed and even seems to enjoy the ride.

Dark Angels - Redwall. God that series gave me Nightmares but it Was still technically a kids show....technically. Also Jane and the Dragon, they like the medical aesthetic.

Space Wolves - No I'm not saying paw patrol. Blue Clues and Bluey! But All the legions have Marines who like Bluey! There's hardly a demographic on this planet that doesn't have a legion of Bluey Fans!

Also the old Tarzan Disney animated series because it was actually pretty damn hot shit! And full of cool action scenes fighting giant frightening animals.

White Scars - My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. Yes because horses, and yes because it espouses the values of community and collaboration and it has a kicking soundtrack. And White Scars are one of the few legions who both accept psychers but also acknowledge their inherent danger. They have a big focus on meditation and not becoming lost to the power you wield and finding support in those around you. They appreciate the similar messaging in the show.

War Hounds and World Eaters - Lazy Town. Because all of them want to become as strong as Sportacus and be able to lift a fuckin pyramid with a grappling hook from an airship!

Please stop them, the Pyramids of Giza need to stay where they are. Don't let them cause an international incident.

Ravengaurd - Ruby Gloom. They enjoy the macabre atmosphere merged with the cheerful main character. Plus the music isn't half bad.

Some tags for ya'll if you wanna jump in! And don't hesitate to comment about legions already mentioned if you've got more ideas about shows they'd like.

@egrets-not-regrets @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan @bleedingichorhearts @barn-anon

@kit-williams @bispecsual @angronsjewelbeetle @virozero @sleepyfan-blog @passionofthesith

@beckyninja @felinisnoctis

[nai-nyeartwork]

In this AU, Alastor embraces modern technology to stay ahead of the game while Vox stays "vintage". They form a partnership to the point they are somewhat dependent on each other. They're still strong on their own but still, a terrifying duo when fighting together.

More about this AU:

Alastor's powers still use any form of radio frequency/wifi control, giving him access to any devices (both old & new). Using this ability to gain more info and sell it to any demon who fails to return a favor for him or Vox. Alastor still does his broadcasts of cannibal massacres, news/gossip, ASMR segments, music, and of course Vox's favorite cereal brand. Of course, there are drawbacks to being the radio demon and having deer features. Alastor would often get overstimulated by too much noise or information he was gathering. When that happens, Vox takes care of Al by giving him noise-canceling headphones and even mutes himself as they watch silent films together.

Meanwhile, Vox controls visual media/television, but depending on which television device he uses it tends to give him different abilities? Vox prefers the retro tv head because his power has some cartoon logic to it. Other sinners tend to underestimate his abilities, thinking he is the weakest of the duo. But in reality, Vox can transform into an electronic/ink-like monster that brainwashes people using tentacles like wires to connect their brains physically. He can upgrade his appearance but Vox likes taking advantage of any new sinners to trick them into signing a deal with him or Al since he looks "harmless.”

Their relationship can be seen like Jessica Rabbits & Mr. Rogers, in which Vox's appearance and mannerisms remind Alastor of simpler times. Despite the Radio Demon’s modern image, he still prefers old school, especially from the 1930s. If anyone insults Vox or tries to convince Alastor to ditch him, those demons end up in Alastor’s podcast describing in full detail what he is doing to them for all his listeners. While Vox transforms into a monster if anyone harms Alastor and makes sure to record it for his lover to watch later. He once made a vinyl record of Alastor’s worst enemies’ screams as an anniversary gift since Al is an audiophile. 

[chirasul]

so when people have sex and approach orgasm they tend to kind of stop paying attention to some of their automatic faculties, such as fine control over facial expressions. the intent focus upon the pursuit of orgasm, and upon maintaining physical exertion, and upon the physical pleasures themselves tend to drive the facial expressions (rather than deliberately controlling the face in order to match the feelings within the body). this is not unlike the unconscious closing of the eyes when one sneezes. this loss of control often results in the following: relaxation of the jaw, opening of the mouth, loosening of the tongue and lips, loosening of the eyelids, and a loss of deliberate ocular focus. the resulting expression has become associated with eroticism, and with feelings of ecstasy or a sense of being totally emotionally overwhelmed. humans make a similar facial expression when falling asleep, experiencing an intense non-sexual physical sensation, or experiencing some sort of chemical high, such as general anesthesia or recreational drug use.

consequently, erotic artists make attempts to emulate this expression as a symbol for extreme pleasure - either symbolizing an an overwhelming sexual stimulation, or the arrival of the orgasm itself. hentai artists in particular take this expression and push it far beyond the inspiration of real life - now, rather than the eyes being unfocused and hidden beneath loose eyelids, they draw the eyes fully crossed. this is odd, considering that crossing ones eyes requires an opposite physical effort than the thousand-yard-stare of a real life orgasm expression. holding one's eyes crossed takes concentration. but for the sake of cartoon extrapolation, crossed eyes is often a symbol of overwhelming stimulus. in addition to crossed eyes, hentai has extrapolated the concept of the loosened mouth and tongue into an expression of sticking one's tongue out completely. this has become a popular symbol of an erotic loss of physical control over one's facial expression, yet it suffers the same incongruity as the crossed eyes: sticking one's tongue out requires effort, and betrays the slackened looseness of the original expression.

this practice of hentai expressions has had its own consequence: now, models and cosplayers have taken to crossing their eyes in a sexual context in an attempt to emulate the eroticism of hentai, in order to appeal to those who primarily consume hentai for their sexual gratification. but this game of symbolic telephone does not survive the journey: the crossed eyes and stuck-out tongue do not appear erotic, but cartoonish and childish. it is as if these models have taken to mocking the very concept of hentai's parody of eroticism for how little these expressions connect with their original inspiration. and, in turn, they mock the viewer for even finding those expressions erotic in the first place. it is as if to say: so, you like to whack your meat when a girl does this? what a fool you are. the viewer can't help but become aware of how disconnected their chosen method of sexual gratification is from the reality aroused facial expressions. and dont even get me started on hentai sex vocalizations. this is just one of many ways that the caricature of real life features tends to dilute that which makes it appealing in the first place, like imitation cherry flavor contained in a hard candy compared to the real flavor of a cherry picked fresh off the tree, warmed by the summer sun. those artists and creators who take the time and effort to convey the fullness of life's sexual reality with their art will be unknown and unappreciated by those who are far more familiar with a simpler, stripped down, distorted sexual parody.

[dotssu3]

i often get asked how to draw fat bodies, and my advice is to start by studying volumes and forms. before tackling full bodies, it is important to build a strong foundation. take a 3d shape (cube, sphere, whatever) and use it to learn how weight sits, moves, and interacts with gravity. in animation, we used the ball and sack bag test to study volume and weight, which also introduced principles like squash and stretch, spacing, and timing. as you get comfortable with these concepts, you can start applying them to drawing bodies. and as you get even more comfortable, you can begin to exaggerate your drawings.

even if you never plan to animate, studying cartooning can teach you a lot about volume, movement, and weight. all that good stuff.

there are so many great art books out there too. morpho by michel lauricella is a popular recommendation and a great reference to have on hand. i also love the animator's survival kit by richard williams (MY GOAT), anything by andrew loomis (THE GOAT), FORCE: dynamic life drawing by michael d. mattesi, and atlas of human anatomy for the artist by stephen rogers peck. there are plenty more, but these are the ones that come to mind.

i apply the same idea when drawing hard surfaces like vehicles, armor, and mecha. understanding perspective and form is important. i break down complex shapes into simpler ones, like cubes, cuboids, or cylinders. this makes it easier to visualize how they sit in space and how light interacts with them. studying the fundamentals of form, volume, and weight applies to almost anything you draw.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY....get really really really really really super into golden kamuy and disco elysium. you will not regret it. here are my befores and afters...

[the-most-humble-blog]

The Day I Learned Wrestling Wasn’t Fake: Papa Shango, the Ultimate Warrior, and a Horrified 8-Year-Old Me

When Your Parents Say Wrestling is Fake, but Papa Shango Starts Casting Spells on National TV

Let’s go back to a simpler time: the early 1990s. A time when wrestling wasn’t just a sport—it was a religion, a soap opera, and a live-action cartoon rolled into one. Back then, I thought wrestling was real, and I’d fistfight anyone who dared say otherwise. But even as my parents whispered the dreaded phrase, “You know wrestling is fake, right?” Papa Shango hit the screen, proving that nothing about wrestling was fake—especially not the dark magic.

And then came the night when the voodoo priest himself, Papa Shango, cast spells on The Ultimate Warrior. Spells. On live TV. And my 8-year-old self? Absolutely traumatized.

1. The Night Wrestling Became Real

I still remember it like it was yesterday. There was the Ultimate Warrior, the unstoppable, face-painted demigod who could shake the ropes with the energy of a caffeinated tiger. He wasn’t just a wrestler—he was a superhero. And then Papa Shango showed up.

This guy wasn’t just a bad guy; he was a whole villain genre. Voodoo beads, a skull staff, and face paint that screamed “your nightmares just got a new mascot.” He started mumbling incantations, and suddenly the Warrior—my Warrior—was doubled over, leaking black goo from his head like an exorcism gone wrong.

Kid Logic: “This can’t be fake. Black goo doesn’t lie.”

2. The Harlem Shake Heard Around the World

And then came the shake. Not the cool kind, like Michael Jackson’s moonwalk, but the kind you do when your body is 90% terrified and 10% possessed. The Ultimate Warrior started jerking around like he’d been cursed by a voodoo god, and I was losing it.

Kid Thought: “If Papa Shango can do this to the Warrior, what chance do I have?!”

That night, I slept with a light on—and my Ultimate Warrior action figure under my pillow, just in case Papa Shango decided to pay me a visit.

3. The Parents’ Betrayal

After the episode, my parents tried to comfort me. “It’s all fake,” they said, trying to sound calm.

Fake?! Did they see the goo? The convulsions? Fake was when the Road Runner dropped an anvil on Wile E. Coyote. This wasn’t fake. This was Papa Shango manifesting real voodoo chaos on national TV.

When you’re 8, logic is irrelevant. If you see it on TV, it’s real. End of discussion.

4. Wrestling’s Commitment to the Bit

Looking back, you have to respect the lengths the WWE (then WWF) went to make these storylines work. Papa Shango wasn’t just a wrestler; he was a whole mood.

The Props: The skull staff? Iconic. The fake black goo? Disturbingly convincing.

The Acting: The Ultimate Warrior deserved an Oscar for that performance. Seriously, someone put that man in a horror film.

The Audience Manipulation: They didn’t just want you to watch; they wanted you to believe. And believe I did.

5. The Day Wrestling Broke My Heart

Of course, as I got older, the illusion started to crack. The spellcasting? Special effects. The goo? Probably corn syrup mixed with food coloring. And Papa Shango? Just a guy named Charles Wright, who would later become The Godfather, trading voodoo for a pimp gimmick.

But here’s the thing: even when you know it’s scripted, it doesn’t matter. Wrestling isn’t about reality; it’s about the spectacle. It’s about suspending disbelief just long enough to let a voodoo priest scare the hell out of an 8-year-old and make millions of people talk about it decades later.

6. Why Wrestling Was—and Is—Magic

Even now, as a full-grown adult with bills, responsibilities, and a brain that knows better, wrestling still feels magical.

It’s absurd.

It’s theatrical.

And sometimes, it’s just real enough to make you question everything.

Lesson Learned: Sometimes, it’s okay to believe in the black goo, the spells, and the Harlem shake. Because life’s a lot more fun when you let yourself get lost in the ridiculousness.

Papa Shango Won That Night

So, yes—wrestling is “fake.” But that night, Papa Shango was real. And so was the fear, the awe, and the sheer ridiculous joy of watching The Ultimate Warrior shake like he’d been cursed by every voodoo priest in history.

Love reliving these absurd, magical moments from your childhood? Follow The Most Humble Blog for more hilarious, nostalgic deep dives and unapologetic truth bombs.

[aycief]

i'm open for commissions right now! for more info and to request a commission please head over to my ko-fi (link) and read my full tos here (link) !

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[on-leatheredwings]

i've found your account only a few days ago but ever since then I've been STUCK here rereading your fanfics, especially ones with damian. i wasn't even a dc fan (heard about some stuf, watched some films and cartoons, but that's it) but now im reading comics since im Obsessed and need more batboys in my life (rip my productivity😔)

Anyway, after Sleepover i'm curious what will Bruce (and maybe even Thalia) think of batboys strange behaviour towards reader. He's smart, so he definitely notices it early on, but how he'll react....

I can see him being weirded out (like he was by Jason's anger issues, before his death), but he also can be an enabler, since Robin (literaly any of them) had a hard life, so if those relationships can help him why not pretend that everything is normal? you'll be safer in a Wayne's Manor anyway

All in all, thanks for a new hyperfixation 💞💞

P.s. About games:

1. Boyfriend to death 1&2 - since you're into yanderes you might want to check this game out. I prefer the second game, but the first is also fun. But beware the trigger warnings!!

2. Long live the Queen - more of a raising sim than dating sim but you still can romance some guys and girls.

,3. Hatoful Boyfriend - mostly a comedy, but there is a yandere.

4. The Royal Trap - it's been a long time since i played it, but it used to be one of my favorites so i'll just mention it.

5. Higurashi - once again not really a romance sim, but its an interesting horror mixed with a slice of life

;A; AWWWW THANK YOU IM SO HAPPY YOU LIKE MY STUFF.... THAT MAKES ONE OF US GIJSDOFAFGHFOJDSD

and yes yes get into DC!!! (girl who hasnt even read a full run since like. injustice)

damn now you got me thinking and excited. incoming spiel

i agree entirely about bruce just knowing how Bad things can get, so to make things simpler, he's like "yes, your darling(s) can stay in the manor, boys. 🙄"

mmm yes..... when it comes to bruce noticing the batboys are yandere, i think it's always sinfully delightful to just have him be reluctantly okay with it. 😈 it's also easier narratively ngl but i also like the idea that the batfam is all just corrupted.

bruce's thoughts are that they (his sons) fight for vengeance and justice but this is where they could use some leeway.... we all need our vice... they fight so hard for gotham, they deserve a little treat (getting rid of your human rights)... it's very "Dad who wants his sons to have happiness even if its not healthy" of him. in fics where bruce is a yandere, well, he's the exact same way so he can't judge. although if that's the case, i like the idea of bruce just being like "yes what we do isn't right. let's not talk about it. just don't kill <3"

still wondering what i like more. a yan!bruce who's self aware what he's doing is wrong but he just refuses to think about it. or a yan!bruce that justifies it all because of his paranoia, Tower of Babel style (if you don't know, that's when it's revealed batman has plans to subdue/kill the justice league just in case they go rogue.)

for the batboys depends on their personality... for damian, he's so resolute in things that i prefer when he just believes 100% what he's doing is okay, if not actually righteous. ^_^

hmmm talia.... I'M STILL UNSURE HOW I PREFER THAT AS WELL... i think talia being a you-arent-good-enough-for-my-son mom is a little cliche but also. she kinda would say that. you'd have to prove your worth somehow but idk how tf darling would do that LOL. in the end, i think talia is just relieved/comforted that her son indeed feels desire and wants love and will continue the family legacy (regardless if youre afab/can biologically have children.)

no THANK YOU FOR THE ASK!!! AND THANKS FOR RECS!!!! heheh yeah ive checked out btd and im not averse to the warnings its more like im not that most of into the designs ngl. fox guy seems cute? AND LMAO FUNNY BC IM ON A HIGURASHI REWATCH (never played it tho)

[natsuki-bakery]

⁎˚ ఎMoral Orel Agere໒ ˚⁎

hellooo can i please request cg!stephanie and little!nurse bendy hcs if it’s ok for u?? have a nice day

Caregiver Stephanie

•Stephanie’s difficult upbringing and experiences in Moralton have made her fiercely protective, especially of those she cares about. She takes on the role of caregiver for Bendy as a way to provide the nurturing she never received

•Given the harshness of Moralton, Stephanie is determined to create a safe and comforting space for Bendy. She transforms her home into a sanctuary where Bendy can feel free to regress without judgment or fear

•Stephanie isn’t overly expressive with her emotions, but she shows her care through actions. She might prepare Bendy’s favorite meal or make sure her favorite blanket is always clean and ready. Her care is subtle but deeply felt

•Stephanie’s voice is naturally soft and calming, which helps soothe Bendy when she's feeling small or overwhelmed. Steph often hums lullabies or reads simple stories in her gentle tone

•Life in Moralton is unpredictable and often harsh, so Stephanie creates a stable routine for Bendy when they regress. This routine helps Bendy feel secure amidst the chaos, giving them a sense of stability

•Stephanie’s own struggles with isolation and loneliness make her particularly empathetic towards Bendy’s needs. She understands the importance of feeling cared for and goes out of her way to ensure Bendy feels loved and understood

•Stephanie may not be outwardly sentimental, but she shows her affection in small, meaningful ways—like making sure Bendy’s favorite snacks are always stocked or quietly joining her during playtime without interrupting her flow

Age-Regressing Nurse Bendy

•Escaping Reality : Bendy’s regression is a way to escape the grim realities of life in Moralton. When she enters little space, she retreat to a simpler, more innocent world where she can feel safe and carefree

•Despite the bleakness around them, Bendy’s little space is full of childlike wonder. She might be drawn to coloring, playing with simple toys, or watching old cartoons, finding solace in these innocent activities

•Bendy often turns to Stephanie for comfort, especially when the pressures of her adult responsibilities become too much. In little space, she become more reliant on her Care giver, needing reassurance and gentle care to feel secure

•Sensitivity to Criticism : In little space, Bendy is more sensitive to the harshness of Moralton’s judgmental society. Stephanie shields her from this, offering a safe haven where she can express themselves without fear of reprimand or scorn

•Bendy’s regression might involve clinging to nostalgic items or routines that remind her of a simpler, happier time, whether it’s a childhood toy, a favorite book, or a comforting bedtime routine that Stephanie helps her with

•The rigid moral expectations of Moralton weigh heavily on Bendy, even in little space. She might worry about being seen as "weak" or "childish," but Stephanie’s unwavering support helps her embrace her regression as a healthy coping mechanism

•The unpredictability of life in Moralton makes Bendy crave stability. Stephanie’s consistent presence and the routines she establishes become a crucial part of Bendy’s ability to feel safe and grounded when she regress

•Despite the darkness around them, Bendy finds genuine joy in her regression, whether it’s through playing games, cuddling with Stephanie, or enjoying simple pleasures like cookies and milk. These moments of happiness are fleeting but precious, making them all the more meaningful in the bleak landscape of Moralton

If you're in the basic criteria , are DSMP fans, vivziep0p fans , h0tel/h3lluva b0ss fans, Owl h0use fans, St4r butterfly fans, Ghibli fans, ddlg/abdl blogs, nsfw/k!nk blogs, anti-agere blogs, or anti Christians/Christianity blogs : just dont interact !

[despazito]

Idk in my idyllic world the use of ai could improve animation workflow and catapult junior level artists into creative leads roles faster if there's less menial work to be done.

We could have artists still in charge of creative decisions and drawing vis dev while the computer assists with the most labour intensive steps of making shows or movies.

For simpler shows for instance it would be neat I think if you could run your storyboard through a script and have the machine import all relevant assets staged to the best of its abilities instead of manually having to drag props and rigs into your shot and scaling everything before you can even begin to animate (does that tech exist already? Probably).

Like nowadays we already have animation programs where you can set deformer limitations.

i could imagine a possible future where software includes or does subscription services to ai trained on work by artists who got paid to draw or animate template motions or anatomy references. something like generating smart bones could become an automated feature. i can maybe even foresee tech that can look at a character model or design sheet you've drawn and generate a rig for it. in all these scenarios you would have to correct stuff and tune things to your liking, but it gives a considerable head start to the work.

More dynamic shots could be made on smaller budgets if we gave ai props or backgrounds and said "give me this but rotated a little" instead of drawing the same damn chair from 10 angles as a prop artist, I refuse to believe anyone's passion in life is to make prop turnarounds or clean up inbetweens.

what if you had an ai that was trained on drawings of heads at every angle, animals in every angle, a slew of expressions and mouth shapes, then gave it a character ref drawn from a few angles and bam it makes the vtuber rig for you.

this still leaves space for original art and would still require a skilled creative to make something look it's best, that could be a gig. more animators could potentially begin their own smaller studios if cartoons are way easier to make. if anyone could potentially make their own movie in the future, charge people to do it right! no computer can replace a human knowledgeable in film or drawing to guide it in the right direction. without creative people at a production's core, i think the future of ai film is just a very, very, sophisticated version of goanimate than can also do art theft.

this could become the weird futuristic version of "i wrote this children's book can you illustrate it for me?" but instead your mom's friend wants to commission a show pilot they wrote a screenplay for.

When animation was drawn on cels we had entire painting departments whose job it was to paint each individual frame by literal numbers, and it was tedious!! Now we have the paint bucket tool for digital coloring, and software like Toonboom lets you color in one frame then generate the coloring for the proceeding frames. We still have a colour and painting department, it's just different work now. but now we also have people making full color cartoons from their basements because Flash was released for personal computers with said digital tech along with computer generated motion tweening for animation!!

Junior animator and junior bg painter or prop artist roles will probably face an overhaul where more work can be done with less people. But the utopian outcome would be these junior artists can sooner take up lead or supervisor positions where they get to execute their own ideas instead of someone else's. more shows or movies could be produced with less crew for less money, slashing costs when deciding what to greenlight or to take a risk on new talent. The problem is capitalism would make it suck because it only cares about exploiting workers for those cheapest costs possible and forego the necessary human crew required to make the difference between machine-assisted productions and pure ai generated slop

[mandatory-blog-stop-asking]

I feel like the worst thing they ever did to Xavier's character was putting a mild version of him on a pretty popular cartoon and then a movie where Patrick Stewart played him, cuz it made people think the man never goes full-on "the salvations begins and ends with me" pretty early on in his character biography. So when they go to the comics and he's like, a pretty complex character doing bad shit to good people with a straight face on the regular since the 80s, they go "what is this character assassination???"

Like yeah there's been stories where he was the kind voice of reason who could do no wrong, but damn man, that guy's been canonically a "in my house it's clean mutants only" kinda white savior ever since like... the Morlocks popped up. It's a cool exploration of activism from a place of privilege that shouldn't be stifled by people being used to Captain Picard being above those things. That's an adaptation cleaning up messy aspects of the source material, but the source engages with that shit for a reason.

The guy just does what's on his mind as "the kindest thing to do" so often without caring what it does to others that the X-Men didn't even notice he had been replaced by Cassandra as he was monumentally altering their lifestyles by bringing the entire X-Mansion out of the closet on national television without a heads-up or accounting for their opinions, cuz at the end of the day, that's still something he'd do to them, without really minding what it does to their lives. Because in his head, it *is* his X-Men. He means it when he calls them.

People praise Magneto's 40-year-strong character arc from genocidal maniac to symbol of hope on the same breath they basically go "hey I wish Xavier was nicer", yeah that's the point of the character! I wish he was nicer too! Don't implicitly trust your heroes just because you admire them! They're people and people are fucked! Adapt to them or they might take you down a bad path while their idealism turns cynical and their unrealistic dreams turn into realistic replacements for oppression!

It's just a bit frustrating to talk about X-Men as it comes back into the limelight and having people go "I wish the messy character with complicated opinions and too-real politics was simpler like when I was younger." Like... yeah, I get it, but you can't talk about the traps of white people putting themselves above visible minorities as the example to be followed like that. You can't talk about people being thrown in and out of conflict due to imperfect leaders who they slowly stop agreeing with like that. You can't talk about how starting a movement shouldn't elevate you to godhead status like that.

Morrison knew about it and left us clues in their works, I guess is what I'm saying. Even if that story pretty much ruins Magneto, it does bring this side of Xavier to light pretty well. The adaptations making Xavier a perfect activist and a fair and reasonable leader who's always right and only loses when he's tricked doesn't quite have that PROFESSOR XAVIER IS A JERK energy that I find vital to the character.

[garvet]

For as long as G53U could remember, the world had been full of magic. Probably ever since he'd reached for a sleek, shiny air analyzer—bright as cartoon candy—and licked it, saying, “Sweet.” Of course, the analyzer itself wasn’t sweet. The sweetness was the sensation of ions on the surface of his sensors. He learned to distinguish them by their names and properties a little later. Metals, synthetics, gases—everything spoke to him. The world sang, and he could guess the words, putting them together into spells. At first, only in his mind.

After the first Augmentation phase, when he moved into the training group for future systems analysts, he was given access to manuals and reference books from the company feed. Pretty soon, he learned all of them. The only books relatively available to his group were those on engineering and systems maintenance. Part of that contained magic, too.

When G53U first met a construct—brought to the class for analysis—and was able to touch it, it felt like falling into a vat of syrup. The incredible synthetics it was composed of made G53U dizzy. If he’d had the right words to describe it, he could have laid out all the top-secret information about the manufacturing company on the training console. All the connections between artificial tissues and mechanical parts obeying the electronic code. It was mesmerizing.

But for the super-secret chemistry and code, he lacked the words. Even so, he promised himself then and there that he would become the greatest wizard in the world.

After the second and third stages of augmentation, everything became clearer and simpler. The knowledge he lacked, he learned to steal. What he couldn’t steal—samples, tools—he bought. By that time, he had a maintenance job and a small income. He reduced the filtration and air quality levels in his living module to the bare minimum, ate once every two days, and supplemented his lack of nutrition with free syrup from the company coffee machine. Synthetic coffee was given to employees in almost unlimited quantities (four cups per shift), so he lived on it. And it was worth it. One day, he managed to buy a tiny container of strange synthetics. It was love at first touch—a connection to other worlds, endless possibilities.

He dove headfirst into them, surviving on little sleep. Systems analysis and work by day, reading scientific journals and writing his own papers by night.

He made contacts with other scientists. This left him with even less money for food. Sending data bundles through the wormhole, receiving bundles from the far ends of the galaxy—it all cost. He wouldn’t have lasted long if his new friends hadn’t picked up some of his regular expenses. They paid for his one-year subscription to send and receive data bundles and sent him invaluable equipment he could barely fit into his module. The miracle was becoming real. They even offered to buy him out from the company.

He spent several days dreaming that he’d be free to listen to magic in a spacious, real laboratory, without fear, discussing his discoveries with colleagues, changing things, creating, exploring. But it didn’t work out.

“Nothing,” his contact, Ratthi, said—a recent PhD who lit up the world with constant optimism. “Wait a few days, we’ve got a backup plan.”

In a few days, G53U was set to undergo the last augmentation stage. That would raise his value to sky-high levels, shutting off any chance of escape. He’d be the company’s systems analyst forever.

“Sure,” he told Ratthi. “Let’s try the backup plan. No rush.”

After the surgery, he didn’t realize what was happening at first. The world was silent, its voice replaced by the hum of the feed. G53U froze, then calmed down, figuring it was a post-op effect. But the silence didn’t go away after a day or two. The words of the world no longer formed into magical incantations. He clutched the tiny container of strange synthetics in his hand—and felt nothing.

The world was empty.

If there was still magic in it, G53U could no longer hear it.

They advised him to consume more sweets to help his brain adapt to the new conditions. He dutifully drank syrup with a bit of coffee added. It didn’t help.

When his friends managed to buy his contract for a week, sending him to Preservation as part of the backup plan, he still hoped the magic would return. Sometimes, when he drank his oversyruped synthetic coffee, he thought he could still hear the song of the world—right on the tip of his tongue.

[whumpsoda]

Makeover - Malak & Adrastus

WOHEO Masterlist

I am too tired to know if I like this or not :D

Taglist- @softvampirewhump @iys-cloud

cw: non-con body mod, ear piercing, pet whump, vampire whumper, human whumpee

———————————————————————

“Shhh, dear.” Adrastus soothed, adjusting Malak’s head upright. “Stay still for me.”

Malak whimpered as his head was picked up and put back into place by his thick collar, staring with muddled vision into the reflection of the giant mirror. He could make out his own made up face, covered with the mascara, blush, lipstick and other products his master had smeared across his skin.

He warily eyed the thick line of dried up red that trickled down his ear from top to bottom, that had drooled from the source of a slick cut. He whined as he recalled the stinging pain the tear had come with, wishing desperately that it would not return.

The snip, snip, snip, of long, thin scissors was always coming and going as Adrastus made their way around his full head of hair, that of which was dissipating with each open and shut of the blades. His skittish eyes trailed along with each curl that fluttered to the floor, collecting in a pile beneath his feet.

Every so often, when the vampire had decided his hair was far too much of a hassle to deal with, Adrastus would sit him down and take care of it themself.

“Hey.” Adrastus scolded, gripping tightly to his shoulder after yet another nervous jerk. “Calm down. You’re going to make me cut you again.” They stroked down his scalp with their knuckles, sending a wave of relaxing serenity down his frame.

Malak wasn’t the biggest fan of his hair long, but especially wasn’t fond of haircuts. As much as he would like to obey, it was ridiculously difficult for him to stay still and conscious, resulting in repeated nicks to his soft skin.

“Maybe next time we’ll have to do this in the living room… the television would be a nice distraction for you.” They mumbled to themself, fixated on the task at hand. Malak let out a quiet buzz in agreement. 

He liked the TV. Adrastus favored putting on mind numbing, vibrantly colorful childrens cartoons, which he was fond of. Ones he could turn off his brain too, ones he could easily find himself distracted in while his master absentmindedly pet him.

But he liked mature programs, too. Not exactly the dramas his master would occasionally watch to fill time, but the informational films or shows. While it proved often easier to simply view for the visuals and block out the words, sometimes, when he was awake enough, he could actually watch.

Sporadically picking up words, simpler phrases, actually digesting them. Malak always felt so smart watching those. Like he was learning something. Even if Adrastus always ensured his brain was much too mushy to really remember them afterward, he was so delighted in the moment.

Malak quickly lost his train of thought once slender palms snaked their way to both sides of his face. “Hmm…” the vampire hummed, studying his features in the mirror. They’d placed the scissors to the counter, evidently finished with the task, their thrall’s hair nice and manageable. “Those pretty little ears… they’d look so nice pierced, don’t you think?”

Malak’s heart stopped, breath hitching. Pierce his ears? He didn’t want that, not one bit. Piercing would hurt. Malak didn’t want to hurt.

He’d never wanted ear piercings, not before and not now, but no longer did that decision lay within his own hands, and he had to be compliant with his master’s wishes. If they wanted it, he would too.

Adrastus shifted his head with both hands, eyeing the pristine reflection of his lobes with a satisfied smile. “Yes, that’s just what you’re missing. We can even match!” They exclaimed, scratching behind them.

Distracted by the satisfying touch, Malak nearly disregarded the churning tense of his belly. His insides pooled in anxiousness as the vampire left, and in time returned with a handful of tools. 

He mindlessly eyed the pile on the counter as Adrastus dug through disorganized cabinets, searching for more items.

“Ah, here we go.” Adrastus beamed, turning to their thrall with glittering jewelry in hand. They lifted a pair of earrings up to either side of him. “These would look just splendid on you.” They cooed, and Malak’s heart lifted from the compliment.

Adrastus then picked up a moist, rubbing alcohol dipped wipe. They cleaned up the area of his ear with the tool, ridding it of the old blood and making room for the new. Malak’s nerves were only increasing with each knead, beginning to resist.

“Shhh, relax.” The vampire shushed, caressing their thrall and washing warmth over him. “It’ll all be fine if you can stay nice and still. Be a very good boy and do that for Master.”

Malak nodded as he trembled, lip quivering as Adrastus pressed an icy cold cube to his skin. Upon the sudden contact he yelped with a jolt, before his master’s touch firmed, keeping him from trying to escape.

“Malak.” In a second their voice lost it’s usually bubbly tone, and he was quick to settle back down. “I’ve done this before, I assure you. There’s no need to be afraid. You trust Master.”

“Nngh… no, no… nnneed…” Malak repeated, melting back into the seat as the ice worked to numb his ear. “trrrust…”

After his feeling had effectively grown fuzzy and his skin dripped with chill droplets, Adrastus finally pulled away. Malak’s chest pulsed as his breathing quickened, eyes growing wet and distorting in distress. 

The vampire plucked up the thin, almost unnoticeable sewing needle between fingers, gripping it intently. “I’ll be so quick, darling. It’ll only hurt a bit, I promise.” 

Their words did no comfort as tears pricked at his eyes, lip trembling in terrified anticipation. “N- nn… no, no, no…!” He struggled in panicked yet hazed confusion.

Adrastus dropped their hand, taking the needle out of sight, and leaned their head against his. “Sweetheart, c’mon. You aren’t being very good right now, are you?” His pleas instantly died in his throat. “A rotten, naughty pet is what you’re being right now.”

Malak pushed down his emotions of dismay, allowing them to fester in his tummy, focusing himself instead of the twirl of his master’s fingers around a shaggy curl.

He wanted to be good. He would be good. He had to be.

As a stifled tear ran down his supple cheek, he watched through watered vision as the vampire slipped something from their pocket.

Delicately unfurling a crinkled foil wrapper, Malak perked up with muddled excitement. His mouth parted with expectation, salty liquid collecting at his lip as Adrastus plopped a lush chocolate delicacy atop his tongue.

They readied their tool again, clutching the thrall’s ear as his teeth sliced the savory sweet in two. The point of the needle pricked his ear as they carefully dug it into his skin, a sensation still picked up around the fuzziness. 

Malak began to continue fussing as the needle burrowed deeper and deeper, wriggling in discomfort. “I- I, no, nnngh!” He whined, the area beginning to sting. 

Sticky chocolate and saliva tainted his teeth, turning to a mess in his mouth as he cried.

“Almost… there…” Adrastus grunted through gritted teeth, the sting contorting into a wicked sear as the edge dipped through his skin. 

“N- no! No, no, no, no!” Malak wailed, repeating the only word his clouded brain could manage through the pain. He desperately tried to drop the urge to move as tears and snot collected in a dripping mess at his chin. “No, n- no, no, no!”

He was overwhelmed with the need to leave, and yet his body worked against him. Master said he had to remain still, and that he would, no doubt about it.

He wailed, a shrill, guttural sound, as the needle finally struck all the way to the other side, thick globs of blood already oozing from the wound. He sobbed and sniveled as Adrastus released in satisfaction, picking up a singular earring. 

They patted his head happily, swiping the moisture from his cheek. “Just wonderful, baby. Just stay very still, like a cute statue.” They ordered, as another cry escaped the thrall once the red covered needle was slipped from the hole it had created. 

Quickly the vampire set to work, plunging the bulky end of the earring into the tiny area, burning the sensitive area as it stretched. Malak moaned in ache, voice cracking and fingernails digging into his legs.

Adrastus struggled to get the piece through, and Malak struggled to follow their orders. Still, he had to stay put. 

It hurt, it hurt, it hurt.

He gasped as Adrastus finally pushed it through, allowing himself to loll forward as they let go. “There we go!” They declared, their glee contrasting the distress of their thrall.

Malak hiccuped as a new wave of tears came on. Why did they hurt him? He just wanted to be their docile, beloved pet, rewarded with candies and gentle pets and rid of unwanted feelings. His stupid brain just couldn’t wrap itself around the confusing situation.

“Oh, dear, come on.” Adrastus chuckled, burrowing their hands into his scalp, massaging his pounding head. Malak pressed into the blissful touch, wishing for nothing more than for the sore throb of his ear to go away.

They guided his gaze back to the mirror, only to be met with his twisted expression and blood dripping flesh. “See how adorable you look? Definitely worth the discomfort.” The cooed, their nimble fingers working their heavenly way through his fresh cut.

He didn’t think he looked very adorable.

Adrastus smiled at him inside the reflection, one that met their eyes, unbridled love encompassing them. “Now for the second one.”

[fererawr]

A Christmas Memory

"The Changing Magic of Christmas: A Teenage Reflection"

When I was a kid, Christmas was magical. Our house would come alive with the sounds of laughter, joy, and the warmth of family. My cousins would visit, and we’d spend hours playing games, opening gifts, and cherishing each other’s company. I can still picture my grandparents on my dad’s side, whose love and presence brought a sense of completeness to every gathering. They were the glue that held us all together, making every Christmas feel like a moment frozen in happiness. I was a carefree and loud child, sharing my excitement with everyone without hesitation. Back then, everything felt perfect, as though the world was wrapped in love and boundless joy.

One of my fondest memories was waiting until midnight with my cousins. We’d sing Christmas carols with our hearts full of cheer, pray together as a family, and feast on the delicious food lovingly prepared for Noche Buena. Afterward, we’d gather around to watch cartoons, our laughter echoing through the house as the lights twinkled around us. Those moments were pure, untouched by worry or doubt. They taught me that happiness wasn’t about material things it was about connection, love, and the simplicity of being present with those who mattered most.

Now that I’m a teenager, Christmas feels different. The gatherings are quieter, and some of the faces I used to see every year are no longer there. Life feels more complicated, and the carefree magic I felt as a child is harder to grasp. I often long to return to those simpler times, to the version of myself who found joy in every little thing. But looking back, I’ve come to realize that the essence of Christmas hasn’t truly changed it’s still about love, gratitude, and togetherness. While the people and circumstances may shift, the lesson remains: treasure the moments you have, hold your loved ones close, and keep the spirit of joy alive in your heart.

[ordinaryschmuck]

So, I finally watched Hazbin Hotel...

Weird, given how I talked about it a bunch. Heck, one of my top rated posts at the moment is my interpretation regarding the fear in Alastor's eyes during his breakdown. But despite having opinions on Hazbin Hotel, I've never really checked the show out, especially as it was coming out. I was kind of waiting for all episodes to get released so I could binge it all in one sitting, but I kept pushing that off until TODAY, and...I have thoughts.

Pros:

Love the animation of the show. Every praise I could give animation is present, with each character being incredibly expressive, their movements fluid, and the animators know when to be stiff for comedic scenes and giving their all for the big musical numbers or action.

I also love the way these characters look. I hear people complain about how overdesigned everything is, and that's valid. I would NOT want to animate this show due to every detail that I'd have to keep track of. But...if we can still praise Spider-Verse despite the animators being under torturous conditions as they make every frame a work of art, we can give the animators the same pat on the back here for making this show look as good as it is. Besides, a few years ago we had people complaining how every western cartoon looks the same. Now we have a show that's the most visually distinct than a lot of animated series coming out today and now we're complaining about that? I'm a man who admires effort more than anything, and while I agree that simpler is better with televised animation, I'm still proud that the animators pulled through in this.

The songs are all great, with personal favorites being "Loser, Baby," "Hell's Greatest Dad," "Stayed Gone," "Hell is Forever," and "You Didn't Know." The weakest one is probably "Whatever it Takes," but it's not really BAD, not me. Just not as strong as the others. I dug this soundtrack and it was the main thing that suck me into this show.

Charlie, as a protagonist, is pretty strong. I love the irony of the daughter of Hell is the nicest person in existence and her frustrations in making the Hazbin Hotel a success a delight because you WANT her to succeed as much as everyone else does. Plus, where most adult comedies make their protagonists cynical a-holes, it's a nice change of pace to have a hopeful one that apologizes as she's fighting people. Love it.

Angel Dust is easy to root for. What he goes through with Valentino is...something that someone like me can't fully grasp and understand, let alone judge. But I personally feel like it does the job to show the tragedy that this character goes through and allows you to root for him to get better.

And I like that Husk is right there to support Angel Dust, being a sort of conscience to protect him despite how much Angel gets on Husk's nerves. I also dig that they grow closer together, treating each other with mutual respect and admiration. It's sweet and I hope things turn out well for these two. Plus, he's voiced by Kieth David. The man can't do wrong.

Nifty is the funniest character in the show, and I will hear no disagreements about it.

Sir Pentious is a lovable loser who's the second funniest character. He reminds me of Papyrus from Undertale, trying so hard to prove that he's strong and powerful only to hilariously fail at every turn. You really root for the guy to get better and feel grateful that he finds happiness in a way I'm not sure anyone could have expected.

Rosie only appeared in one episode, and she's already my favorite. The gal's chipper and supportive towards Charlie, to the point where I completely forgot that she was a cannibal overlord who killed her partner to take full control of the business. Again, I love the irony of characters like this.

Lucifer was more fun than expected. I thought he'd be Mr. Serious, but he's just as bombastic and fun-loving as Charlie and Jeremy Jordan sounds like he's having the time of his life being this character to the point where it's addicting.

Vox has the potential to be a great antagonist and it's a crime that he only has ONE episode with relevance. Hoping he gets more in the future.

And Alastor. I love the concept of a character always smiling with the only thing betraying him are his eyes. As someone who takes joy in facial expressions, I always have a great time trying to analyze a character's restrictions and seeing how they emote, especially when animators and artists utilize a character's eyes to do most of the talking. That's done here in spades, making Alastor more interesting of an evil character as he keeps people guessing with his devious smile, not even dropping it when he's having a mental breakdown.

All and all, I can see how this show can draw in an audience...BUT...

Cons:

The comedy misses more than it hits. The funniest stuff comes from Nifty and Sir Pentious, but other than that, I don't really laugh much with this show. The dramatic moments work decently enough, so that's a pro, but when it's trying to make you laugh, it crumbles for the most part.

The constant swearing does get on one's nerves a bit. Dialogue, more than anything, depends on character. And to have EVERYONE swear almost consistently feels like a misstep. Because if everyone shares a similar level of lingo, then how can you differentiate a character's line on paper. Plus, I feel like it cheapens certain character. Saint Peter, the man who greets you at the pearly gates, shouldn't be another character that goes, "Oh, shit" when him going "Oh, shucks" speaks more about who is compared to everyone else and gives a glimpse into how different Heaven is from Hell.

The dialogue also hurts a character like Adam too. I want to buy that he's Earth's first man, but having him talk like a douchebag rockstar kind of takes me out of it a bit. Like, the way he talks doesn't sound like how the first human being should sound. He sounds like a guy who died in the late eighties, which SHOULD be funny but it's too distracting too much of the time when a character who talks like an old man who's ignorant to modern thinking could have had so much to say about what Heaven deems as worthy to be up above. They nailed the ignorance, but had him speak it in a way that doesn't fit humanity's first man. Maybe less "Call me Dickmaster" and more more "Call me Sir."

Vaggie...is FINE, I guess? But her character faces the same problems as Millie in Helluva Boss, where most of her personality and character is dependent on the relationship she has with another.

I'm also not a fan of Chaggie. I'm sorry. I'm in love with the ship dynamic of the stern, responsible one paired with the bubbly optimist. Heck, I'm a Lumity shipper because of it. But Chaggie just...WHELMS me. I don't hate them together but I'm not foaming at the mouth with each cute scene they share either. Honestly, I ship Charlie more with Emily than I do Vaggie, which...sucks for Vaggie, I guess. But Emily deserves love in her life too, dammit.

And the pacing for this season really is bad. I don't think the problem with this show is that it had eight episodes. Less is more is a phrase for a reason and we don't need twenty episode long seasons for EVERY show. I prefer it, don't get me wrong. Allows characters the a chance to breath and allows the story to take its time more. But what kills Hazbin Hotel's first season is that it feels like a three-season long story just got wrapped up into ONE. I'm sure there's more plans with Heaven, the Vees, and especially Lilith, but to have the season end with the next extermination feels like Avatar ending its first season with Souzin's Comet. There's so much the characters need to do and prepare for in so little time, ending a status quo shaking event, that I feel like a smarter idea would have been splitting this season's story line up into three parts. I mean, unless the cast and crew didn't know ahead of time that they'd only get eight episodes a season, why not have a little faith that they could have split the story up better? Because otherwise, it makes the show feel like it went by way too quickly. Eight episodes isn't a problem, but how they use those eight episodes DO.

So, while I can absolutely see why Hazbin Hotel could have its fans, I can also see how it can put people off. The style and characters work well enough, but the dialogue, jokes, and story need much more polish. It's not the worst, but not the best either. I hope things improve in Season Two and that the show itself can redeem ITSELF in the future.