#so I'm trying to enjoy it while I'm heavily fixated on it

[bbunnyyy]

Desire

/dɪˈzʌɪə/ noun A strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.

!! WARNING !! smutty themes f!reader x aizawa.

☁︎ Aizawa's touch felt like a fresh breath, your bodies flush against each other. ☁︎

Summary: You and Aizawa end up getting stuck in one of the storage rooms in the left wing- not frequently visited. The tension in the air and the lack of space result in something...more.

A/N: hehe :3

A song to enjoy while reading this: if u think i'm pretty ⚬ Artemas

Your eyes fixated on Aizawa's back as his shoulders moved slightly with each step he took. He wasn't in that same old hero attire for once, since there was a press event today. You admired his chiselled figure that was poking through the white shirt and tight pants he was wearing. You swallowed, noticing how much bigger he was than you. The classrooms were running low on paper, which made Aizawa sigh and beckon you to follow him to the storage rooms to grab a few boxes of materials he needed.

Biting your bottom lip, you thought about how the last few weeks with Aizawa had been. Each moment was so warm, yet strangely sensual. It came so easily between you two. Lost in thought, you bumped into a wall- the wall making an 'oof' sound. Since when did walls make those kinds of sounds? Turns out, what you thought was a wall wasn't a wall at all.

"Still sore from yesterday, L/N?" He said smirking, referencing your sparring session. "Maybe." You said dryly, pouting while looking away. Aizawa responded by resting his hand on the small of your back. Your eyes made contact with his inky ones. He maintained the contact, tilting his head as if asking you if something was wrong. Swallowing, he turned away and continued walking in silence.

Aizawa switched on the light, commenting on how dusty it was In there. "Hold the door open for me, need space to get the boxes out," he mumbled, moving to the racks stacked with various boxes labelled with markers in bold lettering. You held the weighted grey door open, waiting for him to grab the materials he needed. Aizawa walked right into a rack, making the boxes tumble.

"Aizawa!" You exclaimed as you lunged forward in an attempt to pull him away. His body stumbled into yours. "I could have taken care of myself, L/N." Aizawa stated, just as a soft click was heard behind you two. You looked at him, whose mouth was slightly open out of shock. Well, this was awkward. You laughed nervously- "Oops?"

"I hope you do remember neither of us have the keys to open this door?" Aizawa stated, rolling his eyes. He tried moving around, your body now facing the door. Aizawa grit his teeth, throwing his head back in frustration. All this moving wasn't helping. The air felt stiff and heavy, the smell of cardboard boxes filling the air. Your chest pressed against the door, and his body clung to yours from behind- no space to move around now. Looking at the floor, you breathed out trying to think while tapping your heels on the floor anxiously.

The tension in the air could be cut with a knife. Aizawa breathed heavily into your ear, bringing you back to the present situation. "Stop moving." He commanded, his voice deeper than usual. You tried looking back to take a look at his face, but his fingers dug into the flesh on your hips. "I told you to stop moving." Aizawa breathed out, punctuating each word with a firm silence. He sounded like he was...out of breath? You didn't understand why, opening your mouth to say something sarcastic when you felt something poke your bottom half.

Aizawa pushed you forward, using his body. You pressed your hands on the shut door, trying to support yourself. He pushed into you, almost out of instinct, a moan slipping out of his mouth, smooth like honey. "I'm- sorry." Aizawa said, his hard-on pressed firm into your ass. "There's no space to mo-"

"You don't sound very sorry." You stated, trying to sound confident but just as nervous if not more than Aizawa. "L/NNhh-" Aizawa breathed into your ear, feeling around your pockets for your phone. "I think we're past last names now," you stated, out of breath yourself- unable to believe this was actually happening. Aizawa hummed, his hips pressed into yours as his hands patted your pockets. His breath was hot and heavy, the moment felt so intimate despite the awkwardness and lack of professionalism. Pulling your phone out, you rested your head against his chest as he switched on your phone. "Fuck." There's no signal here.

"I guess we're stuck here for a while then, aren't we?" You joked, pushing back at him.

[rubra-wav]

how do you think Hazbin Hotel characters would react to a demon with butterfly wings?

The main Hazbin cast x Butterfly demon reader

Part 2 >

A/N: This wasn't really specific with what charas specifically, so I'm just doing the main cast. I'll do a part 2 with more characters, though, if it's wanted (sorry)

Reader's wings are written as colourful and proportionate to their body, so they are pretty big.

Realised there's a 10 image limit per post, which is bs. Isn't how i normally would have liked it to be aesthetically bc of that 👎

Cw: Sfw, slightly suggestive stuff in Angel's, reference to decapitation and cannibalism 💀, kinda a bit angsty in Angel's and Vaggie's, gn! Reader

Charlie

- Charlie would be absolutely delighted by you, no doubt about it.

- She wants nothing more than to be in a place that's vividly colourful and (assuming reader is a somewhat colourful butterfly demon) you'd be that for her.

- She also probably just really really likes butterflies in general though, let's be real.

- I can imagine her just staring at your wings with absolutely starry eyes while complimenting them.

- "They're so pretty ohhh my gosh!"

- I imagine her being lightly jealous, she'd love to have wings like a butterfly.

- Would probably ask if she can touch, and look somewhat sad when told no due to how it would cause your scales to come off. (Assuming reader's wings are the same as normal butterfly wings)

- It may get somewhat uncomfortable if you don't like attention, she would definitely fixate heavily on them. Tell her to stop though and it's making you feel weird and she will tone it down though.

- If not, though, enjoy the attention you're gonna be getting from Charlie over them.

Vaggie

- Vaggie would likely be a bit uncomfortable about seeing demons with wings in general due to her history - let alone you with beautiful, delicate ones.

- I think she'd secretly be hiding some angst and jealously about your wings ngl.

- When she sees Charlie fawning over them though oh boy.

- Yeah she's not gonna be happy about them then. She doesn't blame you or anything for how she's feeling as it's her issue and she knows that, but it still hurts quite a bit - especially in the beginning.

- It gets less and less bad though the more she gets used to it, she kind of just becomes 'meh' about it - especially if you ask Charlie to stop being so gaga about them.

- When she gets her wings back, though, I think she'd come to think they are cool. A normal level appreciation though.

- I can half see you two helping each other out with your wings down the line if you two get closer though.

- There are some things that come with upkeep so wings don't become damaged and stuff, so the people who also have wings? Allies 100%.

Angel

- I'm gonna be fr, the first time your wings come out he's probably gonna be panicked due to his baggage.

- Especially if it happens when you're angry.

- He's probably gonna need reassurance you aren't gonna try hurt him tbh.

- As sad as it is, his trauma would definitely play a part in his initial perception of them.

- After he recovers a bit and stops immediately going into fight or flight and seeing you =/= Val though, the switch up is insane.

- He would be all over you about them.

- I can imagine him calling you a bunch of butterfly related petnames.

- If you remember the 'make those wings flap' comments he made about Husk, its gonna be that on a hundred.

- Even if it's just joking flirting about them, it's gonna be constant because he thinks they are beautiful and it's a lot of material considering you're a butterfly and he's a spider.

- I feel like he would touch them at some point without really thinking and pull his hand back to see your scales have rubbed off onto his hand and go ''oh shit.''

Husk

- I don't think he'd have much of a reaction to it at all - at least not initially.

- Of course he acknowledges that they are very pretty, but he won't comment upon it much at all unlike the others.

- Possibly may make reference to it when crafting bitter statements directed towards you, though.

- Down the line, if you grow closer to him, I can see him as actually being concerned about your wings.

- They are extremely eye-catching and unique for a being in hell, and due to that, it could lead demons to actively target you

- Whether with overt aggressive intentions to take your wings and sell them, or with more covert problems like you being scouted for modelling (ie. By Velvette)

- I can see Vaggie and you trying to set up a wing maintenance group and trying to include him in it. Him being vehemently against it to a level that's almost comedic.

- You eventually convince him even though he's complaining the whole way through it. (He is lying and actually enjoys it).

Pentious

- He wouldn't like them at all in the beginning.

- They're big and bulky and get in the way of everything, including him.

- The amount of times he's accidentally fallen due to 'tripping' on your giant ass wings is greatly irritating and embarrassing to him.

- Possibly thinks you keep trying to kill him by tripping him.

- Could also see his 'hair' (idk how to properly refer to it, haha), accidentally brushing up against your wings with how expressive it is and getting your scales all over him.

- Basically, he doesn't like them because he's clumsy but will take it out on you.

- I also get the vibe he'd be jealous because of how eye-catching they are.

- In his mind, if he had wings like that, then he'd surely have been acknowledged by the Vees in some way.

- If you change your habits with your wings to be conscious of him not being able to walk normally and start getting onto better terms, though, he will likely become appreciative of them and stop being so pissy about them.

- They are very cool looking to him, and once his poor attitude wears off about them, he'll come to admit that.

Alastor

- He'd actually be somewhat weary of you in the beginning.

- It's nature's law that creatures that do not bother to hide themselves are not to be messed with - especially in a place like hell of all places.

- When he sees that you just happen to be particularly colourful, he drops that, though.

- He'd honestly probably be thinking of what it would be like to eat a demon like you after confirming you are, in fact, not poisonous or dangerous at all.

- He doesn't much care all that much for the intrinsic beauty of things as long as they aren't utterly ugly, and as long as they aren't obnoxious and in your face.

- Depending on how bright and vibrant they are and how much attention you bring to them, he may actually dislike them.

- If not, though, he acknowledges they are nice to look at, but again, doesn't really care about them outside of theorising how they would be to eat.

- Would probably make comments about how he could "just eat your wings up," or ask you about how you taste just to try to freak you out.

Niffty

- When she sees them, her eyes grow wide in a mixture of surprise and awe. At the exact same time, an unhinged smirk spreads across her face.

- She then proceeds to leap at you, scissors or whatever sharp object is closest to her raised at your wings.

- She'd be absolutely trying to take a piece out of them for her 'collection' 💀

- You're gonna need medical attention after she's done with you because she's hellbent.

- Her obsessiveness over your wings would vary depending on your gender but either way, she'd be trying to get a piece of them for herself.

- Definitely abnormal level of appreciation of them in the absolute worst way.

- If you can get her to stop instantly trying to cut off parts of them, she's still constantly trying to touch them. You need to complain about your scales every damn time she tries to reach out to touch it without fail.

- it's like your wings are a beacon, and she's the insect gunning for it ironically.

[to-thelakes]

Reader who has an oral fixation and Luke is all to happy to help her with it.

fixation

pairing; luke alvez x fem!reader

summary; luke likes to help you out whenever he can ;)

warnings; MINORS DO NO INTERACT 18+, oral sex (m recieving), brief mention of f recieving oral, reader has an oral fixation, brief mention of p in v, dom!luke, sub!reader, kind of self-indulgent

notes; i saw this ask and uhm, immediately had to do it. i was gonna try and downplay it but i literally have an oral fixation and it's honestly so annoying to deal with but i feel like luke as a bf would make it so much better <3 this is a short and sweet like fluffy/smutty one-shot so please enjoy <3

masterlist

(yes... i'm using this gif, shut up)

From the moment that you joined the BAU, Luke suspected you had an oral fixation. There was hardly a time where you weren’t eating, chewing gum or a pen or drinking something and chewing on the end of a straw. But nobody commented on it.

Well, except once, after too many glasses of wine at Rossi’s house, Spencer had called you out on it after you made a joke about biting. You often liked to mumble that you ‘were gonna bite someone’ if you were in a bad mood or something had pissed you off. It was like a reflex phrase for you and when Reid called you out on it, you had gone rigid.

He noticed that you tried to curb your tendencies for a few weeks after that incident before you returned back to always having something to bite on. It wasn’t a bad thing. At least, Luke didn’t think so and so, when your relationship became romantic, he was always more than happy to help you out in whatever way he could.

He kept gum for you in the car or his bag. He kept mints or Jolly Ranchers or any sort of hard candy in his jacket pockets so that he could give them to you at a moment’s notice. It was an unspoken thing between the two of you and you were incredibly appreciative of him. And well, the oral fixation bled into other aspects of your life that Luke was more than willing to help you with.

Like, right now, he had had his head between your legs, pulling orgasms from you while you whined and keened. Your hands had gripped his arm as he made it hard to think straight but after pulling two or three orgasms from you, he let his lips trail back up your stomach. You were breathing heavily, hands clawing to hold any part of him and after watching him between your legs, you wanted to get between his.

“Luke,” You begged softly, tugging at him to come closer to you. He shifted, his hard cock resting heavy on your stomach as he rested his forehead against yours. Your hands moved to rest against his face, fingers scritching his stubble as you let out a breathy whine.

“Tell me what you want,” He said as his hand moved to brush down your cheeks. Your eyes reopened, hazy from the bliss but you knew what you wanted.

“Need you in my mouth, please,” You began and Luke seemed a little hesitant. You didn’t give him a chance to speak again though, “I can- I can pull away before you cum but I just need you in my mouth, please, baby. Please, I just- I want you in my mouth. That’s all I want. Just for a little bit, wanna make you feel good too, please, please,” You quickly devolved into senseless begging as you looked up at him. He groaned softly, finding it so hard to deny when your voice was so high-pitched and whiny like that.

“Okay, okay.” He gave in and the grin that spread across your face was worth it. He knew that your mind was pleasure-addled but he also knew that there was hardly a time where you didn’t desperately want to take him into your mouth. He slipped off the top of you and you clambered off the bed. Your legs were wobbly but you managed to control both yourself and him. You reached out for him and tugged him to the edge of the bed. His cock was hard and pre-cum dripped from the head and you couldn’t help the way you bit your lip.

You sank to your knees and let your kisses trail up from the crook of his knee. They were sloppy and wet, all teeth and lips as you nipped at the skin the closer you got. His thigh muscles were so strong and you loved kissing and gently biting against them. It made Luke squirm as he tried to keep his hands to himself. This was about you. Your lips trailed from his thigh up to his stomach before you pulled back, admiring his happy trail.

“Love you,” You mumbled before you took a gentle hold of his dick. You spat into the palm of your hand before wrapping it around him. You pumped once or twice and when you were sure that he was ready, you leant forward and kissed the tip of his cock. He let out a breathy groan at the sensation before you let your mouth take him in.

You hollowed your cheeks out and the way his cock stretched your mouth open, how he sat hot and heavy on your tongue. It short-circuited your brain and made it hard to concentrate but you were quick to get to work.

However, sucking his dick wasn’t the only way Luke satisfied your oral fixation. He’d be fucking you, nice and deep and slow and his hand would rest against your throat. He would never squeeze but the presence was enough to bring tantalizing pleasure up your spine. Just the power and control he had over you, did something to you. But he knew you liked to have something in your mouth and while he thrusted into you, he let his hand from your neck move up. His thumb would run across your bottom lip and gently pull your mouth open before he slipped his thumb past your lips and teeth. You would whine and keen at the sensation, sucking his thumb like you would his cock. It was embarrassing how messy you would get just from that action alone.

Luke loved it. He loved being able to fulfill that need in whatever way that you needed and it was hard to deny how gorgeous you looked with his cock - or fingers - in your mouth.

<3

[rockwgooglyeyes]

warning!! this gets really long lmao - talking about themes in Arcane season two - arcane season two spoilers, kind of obvious but need to clarify. i dont talk about shipping in this at all btw! i have ships i like but like that's not here nor there, not relevant for this imo

I was watching an Arcane analysis video and while I wouldn't really go out on a limb and say that "I know what season two was about" like the themes and stuff because the themes found in a work are, inherently, going to be subjective and up to audience interpretation, and obviously, I'm not going to say that "I know Arcane's themes better than anyone else," I don't, that's not what this is about, but I would argue that season two does have a few universal themes. Some of those are carried over from season one, being relationships and love in general, what we are willing to do for love, but there are some that are focused on more so in season two than in season one.

This might have been said before- I don't really touch the analysis/meta side of the fandom, so I am sorry if I'm retreading old ground. Additionally, while I don't think that season two was nearly as perfect as season one, I enjoyed both and I think they were both solid, enjoyable seasons. The writing in season two was not immaculate but it was not bad, either. If not held in comparison to season one, I doubt it would be judged so harshly. Nevertheless, that's a whole other can of worms, and one that I would really rather not open.

Back to the themes- my argument is that, if season one is about siblings (sisters specifically), trauma, and change, then I would say that sacrifice, love, and the consequences of death, are the main themes in season two. These are all themes that are present in season one (Vander's sacrifice for Violet & Powder, the consequences of Vander & Silco's deaths, love is relevant w/pretty much everything) but they are focused on more heavily in season two.

These in particular are seen but not limited to Jinx's sacrifice for Vi at the very end, Heimerdinger's presumed sacrifice for Ekko, (the more sacrifice oriented ones), Jayce choosing to save Viktor, Caitlyn's fixation on Jinx and her descent into tyranny, Mel being forced to kill her mother, and Singed's obsession with keeping his daughter alive (the consequences of death).

These are the themes that stuck out to me as the biggest because, while there are the more philosophical, overarching ideas of fate and evolution and the multiverse, that's not really something that is widely accessible and they are themes, yes but they are not through-lines for every character. I mean, the fate one could be argued, General Medarda fated to be taken down by family, Jinx and Vander both fated to die, Viktor fated to fail (unable to achieve Hextech dream of helping the undercity, unable to achieve glorious evolution), etc etc, and I would say that fate is probably the trickiest of these themes to really dissect because it is carried out as expected as many times as it is subverted. It's also not really what I am trying to address here lmao

I would argue that there is the consistent theme of the consequences of death, which I know is a little bit of a long theme, themes are supposed to be one word most of the time, but I can't just say that this is the theme of "grief" because it's not just grief. It is about what people do in response to the death of their loved ones. Arguably, that could be what the whole season is about, really. Jinx is reeling at the death of Silco and her starting the war with topside, she has a death wish and she wants to "repent" in a way for killing Silco and for choosing to embrace being "Jinx" which is something she doesn't see any way of coming back from. She finds a will to live in Isha, who gives her a purpose and a reason to stay alive, and that gives her the ability to eventually attempt reconciliation with Vi. Caitlyn is screwed up over her mum's death, trying to maintain the relationships she once had in the face of all of her new responsibilities as well as the war looming, and with her preexisting obsession with Jinx being twisted by her mother's death, she wages war on Zaun and attempt to locate Jinx. In this manic grief, she forces Vi to make decisions that Vi isn't able to truly make (asking Vi to become an enforcer) and she kind of ends up burning all of her bridges, irrevocably changed by her trauma. Which, y'know, fair. At the same time, Vi is dealing with the death of "Powder", finally giving into Ekko's philosophy and vowing to hunt down her sister, which she isn't really able to do without Caitlyn there as a guiding light because Vi is fragile as it is, so when that relationship implodes, she throws herself into the deep end to avoid having to actually think about anything. That's interrupted by Jinx and then both of the sisters face a twisted version of their father, Vander, and try to process that.

Viktor is one of the most difficult ones because his story is so deepy intertwined with Jayce's, they have separate arcs but they are woven so closely together that they are nearly impossible to discuss without mentioning the other. Viktor is fatally injured by Jinx's missile and Jayce breaks his promise to destroy the Hexcore and using said Hexcore to save Viktor's life. This is two different sides of the "consequences of death" because one, Jayce's actions are the consequences of Viktor's temporary death, he acted rashly and in desperation, in a successful attempt to save Viktor's life but on the other hand, it gets into the consequences of death because, why was Viktor saved instead of anyone else, such as one of the council members? Why save Viktor instead of Caitlyn's mother? The consequences of Viktor's death was Jayce once again showing how devoted he is to Viktor specifically, against all odds, and choosing to defy death for someone he loves, which against the natural order of things and directly sets off a series of events that Heimerdinger warned of, and also, that Viktor was scared of.

When he returns, Viktor is himself but he is influenced heavily by the Hexcore, at the same time. He isolates himself and creates the utopia he dreamed of making with Hextech thanks to the powers of his Hexcore. He drives Jayce away on purpose, at first, but the more people who are added to the Hexcore, the more detached he becomes and the less he is trying to distance himself from Jayce. Jayce goes through the whole multiverse shenanigans and comes back grimy and determined to stop Viktor.

The arc for Jayce and Viktor in this season kind of mirrors Vi and Jinx, a bit, with the way that Jayce keeps choosing Viktor over and over, similarly to Vi choosing Jinx over and over, and like Vi hunting down Jinx, Jayce has a period where he turns against Viktor. At the same time, it's different, because it's almost as if this is the same arc that Jinx and Vi could have had if Vi did shoot Caitlyn and play along with Jinx's rules, because Jayce is finally absorbed into the Hexcore with everyone else and resolves most of Viktor's conflict by not giving up on Viktor. By choosing Viktor over everything else. By telling Viktor that even if he can't achieve his dreams, that doesn't make him broken, that his imperfections make him beautiful.

Ekko's story around the themes, I think, is more about the way that the butterfly effect works, how little choices make a big different, and how things could have gone if only things were different, as seen in his multiverse episode. That ties into the consequences of death via showing what could have happened if Vi were the one who died instead of Vander, how that would have impacted their family and their relationships, how it changed the trajectory of the plot overall. Additionally, Ekko is one of the characters grappling with the most grief at the very end, having lost Heimerdinger, who was a mentor to him, and Jinx, who he loved.

It's fascinating how Ekko's story shows specifically his response to loss (Heimerdinger) was to take action, make a practical choice. But also, he latches onto one of the most important people in his life who is still alive, Jinx, and while he is focused on saving the world, he's devoting a lot of effort to restoring Jinx, too, which isn't exactly the most practical decision he could be making. Jinx is notorious for her volatility and Ekko has seen that first hand, yet, he pulls her out of the gutter and will not let her give up. So, while he's more tertiary when it comes to sacrifice plots (Jinx and Heimerdinger) but when it comes to love and the consequences of death, he's pretty focal, as his story ends up largely being about his love for Jinx, his love for the world, and how he deals with Jinx's death and Heimerdinger's death.

I don't want to talk about Heimerdinger I don't like him I don't care.

I could talk about Mel and her relationship with her mother as well, the way it parallels Caitlyn's relationship with her mother, but this post is long enough as it is, so if I talk about that, I'm saving that for another day.

[ultrakill-confessions]

No idea if this goes against the rules, I re-read them a bit to make sure, though I'm not 100% confident. This post isn't intended as a vent, although it may read as one. ULTRAKILL has both helped and warped(?) parts of my life. I have a really horrible fixation on ULTRAKILL. I don't tend to scale things because trying to say "I'm a bigger fan than you are because X, Y and Z!!!1!1!" has always pissed me off and generally rubs me the wrong way. However, for me, I do feel like this is in a similar vein (vein like castle v-), and is GENUINELY to a worrying degree imo. Maybe someone else can relate? Unsure.

For context on some of this, I deal with a dissociative disorder, and I'm a split of V1. Even with that, I can only think of one other instance where it complicated an interest of ours this badly. I think about ULTRAKILL every hour on the hour, I'm not even sure if I go ten minutes w/o thinking about it. And I live a healthy (relatively) life! I'm able to do things, go outside, enjoy life to the best of my ability, hold a job, college, etc. and have gotten better w/ socializing (autism really messes w/ this one); I am just fucking insane about ULTRAKILL. This shit consumes a large chunk of my frontal lobe, hand to God. I constantly plan out and/or make fanfictions (though never post em because being an ao3 author is a little spooky, can't lie gehshe), drawings, animations. Dawg I even get GYM MOTIVATION from ULTRAKILL. Body goals? THE MACHINE. I listen to the soundtrack while I work out (my bias to Order, Death of God's Will, Colliding Stars and The Abyss and the Serpent really poke out here). In fact, ULTRAKILL even helped with my gender and sexual (not inherently trying to be NSFW here) identities! Legitimately made me come to the realization that we might align more with being agender than transmasculine, and that we have no idea what our disaster of a sexuality is collectively, so we just say queer! And even though it's still hard to express ourselves, that has helped so much in feeling more .. at comfort? Correct? I dunno. There’s also a lack of need for labels at all now. It feels so fuckin’ goofy to say this because it HAS consumed a part of my life to the point where I feel like I'm peak brain-rotting at times, however it's also really helped, too?? Like in the most oxymoronic way ULTRAKILL has helped me develop as a person. The imaginary scenarios and art I use aids me in my expression and thought and even brings out more of my creativity. Ironically, despite not really wanting to be perceived as a human being, it has made me feel more like a person. I have a love-hate relationship with it only for the intensity of how much I adore it. It makes me upset when I no longer feel like I’m “me” enough, and yet ironically it has helped me to be healthier in other areas. lowkey use it to cope w/ the religious trauma sometimes too haha I will say, though, for a while I thought (and still sometimes do think) it was ruining my mental state. The identity issues, artist envy, missing my source/individuals from it (+ pseudo-memories and heavy dissociation as a whole if I'm being real), and general hyperfixation woes get very heavy at times. Interest so bad I have to look away sometimes when I see voice actor work, SFM's, etc. Not very proud of that. I never express these issues heavily to anybody except my sibling and a few close friends, simply due to the nature of people, especially on the internet, along with the complexity of having to explain an illness that is so severely stigmatized. My current issue is just holding back from spending my money on merch lmao (I may just draw myself with it to cope /hj). I am cringe and I will soon be free! Apologies if this post is depressing and/or repetitive. uhh, I've seen some anons name themselves, so camaraderie anon here?? LOL sorry. (p.s shoutout to the sisyphus likers and people who hate his mischaracterization YOU ARE THE REAL ONES!!!)

-

[icywhip]

Okay, you all survived this long without me doing this, but I'm going to YAP about VANILLA now-

So his whole deal is that since he was a kid, his parents were always telling him to study hard, get a good job, and live well. It was often told to him in strict and comparative ways, with them always telling him to be smart like his older brother. It led to Vanilla having a great education but it made him an outcast who never had time for hobbies or anything outside of school.

After some bullies beat that reality into him he started to wonder who he was or if there even was a Vanilla outside of his parents' expectations. He got into music during the 8th grade when he overheard some kids listening to punk jams on the library computer before getting kicked out. The lyrics resonated with him and he started to take a deep interest in music. He was only ever allowed to listen to whatever his parents had on the radio and while he did enjoy some of his dad's 70's-80's tunes, the rebellious and free nature of punk rock was eye opening to him.

His interest in music was met with indifference from his parents and the more he showed a fixation on it the more they tried to tell him that he needed to be realistic and focus on something stable that would ensure his success. As he grew up, Vanilla decided he would prove to his parents that music WAS something that could ensure his success and trying to prove this led to him really ruining his relationship with music. Where music was once his outlet and something he did to be happy, it became something that he obsessed to achieve perfection with and it ultimately led to him ruining his relationship with the band he worked with and he became heavily jaded.

Thinking himself a failure, he got a part-time job at Vandelay helping clean up around campus after all of the chaos from Kale's run as CEO. He doesn't really talk to any of the human employees much, but he gets along very well with the robots, partially because of how jaded some of them are as well.

He forms a close bond with a SCR-UB he nicknames Rocky like Rocky Road ice cream. Rocky is one of the surviving SCR-UB units from Chai's rampage and he has a strooong vendetta against him. He tries his best to convince Vanilla to help him mess Chai up, but Vanilla just half-heartedly helps Rocky pull pranks on Chai to sate the robot's thirst for revenge for his fallen brethren.

Vanilla also forms a bond with 05-KAR and the robot's optimistic view helps Vani become less jaded. It's thanks to 05-KAR that Vanilla remembers that he fell in love with music over the joy of creation and self expression and he should never have tried to make it into a career to prove his parents wrong.

BUT BEFORE HE CAN REALIZE THAT, Vani lets Rocky's vendetta against Chai get to him. After months of cleaning up after Armstrong festivals and seeing Chai do so well after finding out he was a "college drop out" Vanilla's envy towards him boils over and he ends up becoming very mean spirited towards Chai. He thinks this slacker got big the easy way, not knowing how much Chai has had to fight to be taken seriously himself and how much growth he's been through thanks to the tea-m, so he lets his assumptions of the guy push him into picking fights with Chai and hating him to avoid facing his own problems head on. During this time, he is very Tom and Jerry with Chai, with it being ON SITE. Rocky realizes Vanilla has been attacking Chai without him and is confused because of Vani's previous suggestion they not go a violent route in ruining Chai's life. The SCR-UB confronts Vanilla about it later and Vanilla blows up at him saying that things are serious now and that's why he has to kick Chai's ass. Rocky, realizing Vanilla wasn't taking him seriously, is hurt by this and feels abandoned by the only human he didn't feel betrayed by. (He felt Roxanne betrayed him for hiring Chai after Chai broke so many SCR-UB units during the rebellion against Kale. I thought it would be fun if breaking SCR-UBs had a consequence at some point and Rocky is that consequence.)

Eventually, 05-KAR's talks with Vanilla help him realize he's being a jerk and he decides to make amends with Chai, only for Rocky to have successfully executed his plan to start a SCR-UB uprising, amalgamating with his fellow units into a massive, disturbing, SCR-UB monster akin to the final act in Tetsuo the Iron Man. Chai and Vanilla have to team up to stop him from attacking Roxanne's office and Vanilla succeeds in sating Rocky after apologizing to him and having a heart to heart. After they reconcile, Rocky starts to ease up on Chai in a tsundere manner, realizing how embarrassing it was for Vanilla to act like such a jerk towards him and how much Rocky must've looked like him when he was going on about taking revenge on Chai and Roxanne, too.

At this point, Roxanne has to put her foot down and fire Vanilla for causing a ruckus, even though Chai tries to soften the blow by telling Roxanne that he didn't mind the fighting. Vani's actions still go against da rules of HR and Vanilla accepts his pink slip with dignity(?). Rocky ends up leaving Vandelay to be with Vanilla, feeling like he should also be fired for what he did. Now Vani has to actually sit down and figure out his place in the world. He gets a lot of odd jobs in the mean time to keep a roof over his and Rocky's heads and sometimes his jobs have him crossing paths with Chai and the tea-m again. At times he likes to give Chai a bit of a hard time in a friendly rival kind of way, drilling into Chai's head the whole "work for what you want" lesson that Peppermint tried to bring to his attention before.

I like to think at some point Vanilla becomes a private investigator after someone points out how good he is at noticing things others don't. While he doesn't write music as much as he used to, he still keeps up with new groups. This would be waaay later on in his life though, like, his mid 30's. He's probably an actual PI by 38 or his early 40's.

[asharkapologist]

@astra-galaxie made a really interesting post ranking the primary villainous organizations in CC based on how dangerous they are, and I wanted to ramble about some of said organizations myself!

Astra, you pointed out some things I hadn't even noticed, like the fact that the members of the Irish gang tend to let their emotions and personal attachments get in the way of being powerful. That's a great point, and a sharp contrast to the Italian gang, since Vittorio and Franca were having marital troubles and Franca tried to KILL her daughter. Certainly a contrast to the Irish, and even if Finley had Eleanor in his pocket, she didn't really do much on their behalf. I do wonder what the Rochesters would have done to the Italian gang if they had taken over Concordia. I think that the Rochesters, like Lawson, would have been more interested in controlling just Concordia (considering they saw it as their "ancestral land" due to how they founded the city), but I can see the Rochesters being much more cruel than Lawson. I personally headcanon Lawson as having some sort of undiagnosed PTSD (not that excuses anything) but his control over Concordia was less of entitlement like the Rochesters, but more of him genuinely trying to get rid of corruption that did exist, and going waaaaaay overboard. But despite the harm that Justin did, I think that a Concordia controlled by Malcolm and Horatio would be horrific and even worse. I can even imagine Malcolm killing Horatio, or at least, the two of them turning on each other, in order to get more power, all while controlling the other members of their family. If he's not already dead, Leopold and Bernadine would probably be thrown into the asylum, Archie's life would especially be hell under his father, and Veronica, Clarissa if she's alive, and Rockley would be heavily controlled.

And finally, regarding Ad Astra, I wonder what they would have done if they had indeed controlled the world. I doubt they could make enough Protozone for the over 7 billion people on the planet, and I don't think they knew about the neohumans until Leroux discovered them (correct me if I'm wrong) so they might have just used Protozone on certain people, and used their durability to overthrow governments and govern. But after that....then what? I feel like Bateman would enjoy tormenting people he's controlling, while Joe might start to get bored, or at least maybe have his guilty conscience start to catch up with him. Like the Rochesters, I can see Ad Astra devolve into infighting. They were already having problems with Bateman in canon, so he'd probably be the one starting stuff and starting fights with his fellow members. Julia would probably side with him, Joe and Leroux side together (especially since Louis only trusted Joe enough to tell him about the neohumans' biological, absolute loyalty to their leader), and Rozetta would try to mediate everyone. Either way, if they fell apart, it would probably be Bateman's fault lol

(Side note: I headcanon that Bateman wanted to get Meera in with Ad Astra after he became obsessed with her, and was prioritizing his insane, creepy fixation with her over loyalty to AA. Until she rejected him, of course.)

...Oops, I accidentally rambled about two AU fanfics. Anyways.

[world-where-weeble-writes]

yeah, no one is more surprised than me that i took this long to do this...

hi i'm jae, the mastermind behind all of your favorite blogs: @yoshit-he-dinosaur (the spawn point), @reborn-in-my-limbo (the fandom dumpster fire), and @with-me-under-the-sun (the narrower fandom dumpster fire).

i am many things to many people, hence weeble being in the username, so if you see random nicknames appear on posts or in my interactions with people, well there's your answer, ya little stinker <3.

there are no guarantees for how active this little smau (exclusively for the time being) blog will be, but that is partially dictated by you, dear reader. i will take requests as long as they're within reason (so probably just prompts for oneshots for now) and sfw, suggestive at most (idk how i would artfully put smut in texts anyway and i don't want to think about it).

anon is on, don’t abuse it. on that note, if you would like to be a recurring anon, i would be more than happy to open up emoji tags for you. :)

i know the tumblr community likes x reader stuff (dubiously romantic in my case) so i'll write that, but if you want member x member i don't see any harm in trying as long as we're sane about it, or if you want me to craft some silly little tweets i would enjoy that too.

i will write for:

seventeen

nct (all units except wish, nothing personal i just don't know em that well)

stray kids

ateez

this list may grow and is ordered in terms of comfort, however, i mostly fixate on groups one at a time, so while i like many others, i haven't been heavily involved with them to the point where i could characterize the members somewhat faithfully in a long time.

my masterlist can be found here

here's the taglist form if you wanna be able to have a first look at what i'm up to: taglist

i hope this little romp through the woods is as fun for you as it is for me! <3

[vanillinwrites]

I’ve been thinking about Garma with an artist Darling. Obviously being a Zabi, he could pull from a lot of resources no matter their profession to bring them closer. But being hired to paint the Zabi Family’s portraits? And why not a painting to celebrate a new victory? Or another at every gala? Garma has them booked for the next two years practically.

But I also love a submissive and pretty man, and that’s exactly what Garma is. Perhaps he’d commission his Darling for a *private* portrait. A very ‘paint me like one of your French girls’ moment but he would look so good dressed in some lingerie for it too.

a/n: more Garma, my beloved! Thank you so much for the request. I'm loving writing for gundam, both char and garma alike, and may try to write for other characters as well. Feel free to keep the requests coming! They’ve all been incredible! the requests for my current fixation is helping motivate me a lot! (not to mention i’m starved for gundam x reader content, and if I can’t find it, i’ll make it).

Also, this one got a little bit long, so I’m going to post the suggestive/nsfw part of this request as a separate post! I hope that’s alright! I’ll likely link it back to this post, since it’ll be a direct follow up. 

Garma does seem like the type who might enjoy art, even if he himself isn't skilled in it. It’s unlikely Garma is highly practised in art himself, it’s likely any art skill he has starts and ends with drawing maps and possibly rough sketches of architecture. But he has a great appreciation for the skill regardless, if his personal and family portraits hung around the Zabi residence are any indication. 

He’s been pushed his whole life to strive for military greatness, for political greatness, and that has left his life- lavish and extravagant as it were- rather gray and lifeless. The people are him and stiff and rigid in their unyielding loyalty to the Zabi name, never stepping out of line or daring to speak out of turn. He’s surrounded by yes-men, as it were, who nod and clap to every word from his lips. And in the military, the soldiers serving under him are much the same- disciplined, principled, but devoid of personality; at least when garma is near. 

His family isn’t much better- garma wouldn’t consider them loveless people, but their ambitions and political responsibilities keep them at arms length from others, the family included. The somber and cold expressions they wear in their portraits are more true to life than even a photo. His father, as much as Garma loves him, is often distant, speaking in a controlled and calculated manner. The crown weighs heavily on Degwin Zabi’s head. Gihren is the worst of the family, power hungry and ambitious, leaving behind all semblance of love or happiness in pursuit of greatness and conquest. Kycillia as well, for as much as garma admires her, is ruthless and cold. Dozle is warmer, by far the most personable of the bunch, but he is often preoccupied with his own family with Zena, and his own military responsibilities. 

Garma’s life is beautiful; privileged and picturesque, but it certainly lacks the brightness and light that many others enjoy. Various portraits and artworks around the home and her personal quarters alleviate this, if only slightly. 

Maybe you meet when the Zabi family commissions their newest family portrait- Degwin often hand picked the artist to depict his family for such prominent and important pieces. If you were that artist, or an assistant or apprentice of that artist, your meeting with the Zabi’s and garma would be guaranteed, paid, even. 

Garma watches you out of the corner of his eye, unable to turn his head while posing for a portrait, but he can’t tear his gaze away from you while you're working. There’s something about you, something unsuspecting. A beautiful face and an enchanting laugh when you speak to the family before posing them for the portraits. 

Your nerves are obvious; likely unaccustomed to such prestigious subjects. Everything you say is phrased with uncertainty, ‘maybe kycilia should angle her face to catch the light better, maybe Dozle should stand further back to not overshadow his shorter siblings; despite being the expert, you seem so nervous. Skittish of them and reading into every word. Garma shoots you a little smile, one that he hopes to be reassuring, but it seems to have the opposite effect. You fluster at the little interaction, busying yourself with your work, not daring to lift your eyes again for a long moment, fixation on a small detail of the portrait to keep yourself from thinking too much on it. 

It’s cute, he thinks, more drawn into you by the second. He allows himself to wonder if it’s simply the pressure you’re under, or if maybe it’s him, his smile, his attention, that has you so flustered. He’s not completely oblivious to the fact that he’s considered attractive, but it’s rare that he cares so deeply if someone thinks so or not, almost shy himself when he considers the possibility. He tries to will down the blush rising on his cheeks, tries not to squirm in his own nerves when you watch him with such rapt attention. 

The portrait is completely too quickly for Garma’s liking; he would have liked to have spent weeks of portrait sessions in your company, watching your face as you work, watching your hands deftly move across the canvas. He would have liked to spend more time with you, even if your interactions are limited to polite posing instructions and the occasional meeting of your gaze. Once you leave, and the portrait is delivered to the Zabi estate, Garma finds himself looking it over, absentmindedly, more focused on the memory of you than the actual portrait; spectacular as it was. 

In the picture, his head is slightly turned towards the light, in a way you said would catch the contour of shadow better. You’d been right, the shadow work is perfect. But more so, Garma recalls how you’d instructed him to angle, and how, when he’d apparently not met your standard, you’d reached out as if you were going to angle his face by hand before pulling back abruptly. He was surprised by the gesture; it was uncommon for someone to be so daring, even if you didn’t follow through. 

He wishes you had.

Maybe you meet by coincidence when Garma sees one of your works, instantly taken with it and insists on meeting the artist, no matter who you are. He likes viewing art; in museums, private galleries, even private collections. Maybe your work is featured in one of these beloved places, or maybe a family member of yours is connected in the art industry, casually mentioning your work in the doting way families do. Either way, garma takes note of it. 

It’s something in the use of color, in the weight of the lines, in the movement of the brush strokes. He’s enraptured with it. And he has to meet you, because all art is a reflection of the artist, and if something you’ve made has captured him so entirely you must be exceptional as well. It’s unlikely Garma expects you to capture his heart the way you do, he was simply hoping for a conversation, a discussion on the piece and possibly a tour of more of your work, but as soon as he meets you, he knows exactly what about your art had called to him. 

You’re perfect; the curve of your smile, the shine in your eyes, the sound of your laugh, the little mannerisms you exhibit while you talk. If all art is a reflection of its artist, then it was no wonder that your art had shone so brightly on the canvas. Any art made by your hand was made in the image of beauty. 

He makes a point to buy at least one piece of your artwork, if not everything you’re willing to part with. It doesn't matter if you're a professional or a hobbyist, or even if you sell your art at all; because everything has a price, and with all the money in the world, there’s no price too high for him to afford. 

He can’t simply buy you to keep in his home like an art exhibit, always under his adoring gaze, but your artwork is a fine replacement for now, hanging in his room, until he can get closer to you. You must have a price as well- something he can offer you in order for you to belong to him. Maybe all it will take is a few more meetings, a charming smile and a bit of conversation. Maybe it’s the wealth and power of the Zabi family, promised to you if you’ll only agree to belong to him. Whatever it is, he’ll figure it out. 

He sits at his desk, working on some busywork, your artwork hanging above where he sits, the colors drawing his eyes up every now and again. If you’d been able to decide, where would you have placed it? What were you thinking about while creating it? Is the subject of the picture real or imagined? Did you have that smile of yours while working, or did you purse your lips in focus as you worked diligently. 

If he commissions a piece by you, maybe he’ll be able to find out. 

Once Garma has met you, he makes a point to keep finding reasons to see you again. 

Would you care to discuss your art over a meal? Maybe you’d be willing to share the secrets of your talent? Do you have anything new you’re working on? Anything for sale? Would he be allowed to commission you? Would you like to come to a dinner party his family is hosting? Would you like to come to the military ball? He’s accomplished a great victory, he’d like to commission a portrait. 

His eagerness to speak with you is apparent, if not to you, then to the people around him. His family notice, one by one, how you’ve ensnared him in your presence. But it’s no concern to them. They’re happy for Garma, if a little put off by his desperate attempts. But you? You’re likely aware of his need to be near you, seeing it as a crush at best, and seeing it for what it is- obsession- at worst. Either way, you’re not in a position to refuse to see him, even if you wanted to. 

He buys your art almost as fast as you can make it, quickly making you a small fortune, one you could easily live off of without another job to support you, so long as Garma continues his generous patronage. 

At first, it’s nice. To be able to stop worrying about money, to even quit your day job if you’d like, and to have someone who adores your work so much. But it’s also strange, just how fixated on you he has become. Surely there’s other artists? Better ones? And surely he doesn't need any more pictures to hang in his home? His room has to be looking comparable to an art museum by now, with the amount of pictures he’s purchased from you. Maybe he really loves art? Maybe he decorates the entire Zabi estate? You try not to worry about it, it’s really none of your business what he does with it all, or why he needs so much. Afterall, he’s good company, and you certainly don’t mind him being around so often. Still, something seems wrong. Off, somehow. 

You find yourself in his company more often than not, and as time progresses he seems more and more entitled to that. As if the happenstance of seeing him nearly everyday is not a welcome surprise but an expected meeting that he seems to uphold at any cost. He seems to dominate your life these days, everything else falling away when he’s near. Maybe that’s his doing, or maybe you’re falling in love with him. You’re not sure which idea is more unnerving.

You shake these thoughts from your head, convinced you're just paranoid. Sometimes good things are just that- good. There’s nothing to worry about, Garma is just an admirer of you and your art who is a little bit overeager, but it’s flattering, it makes you happy, he makes you happy.

Maybe the price of buying your love was only ever a few kind words.

[death-in-a-handbasket]

Whats your favorite cosmetic/lore combo? And how does it affect their relationship with their respective significant other (if at all)?

OMG okay so. ngl I don't like many of the cosmetics in idv at least not for the characters I play (frowns real big over how fugly they make luca so much of the time) BUT. there's one skin I don't have that I do enjoy and it's Fury

AGHHRRHRGRGRHHRG he's like if base philippe embraced his kinks fully and cranked them up to 11

UNWELL ABOUT THIS SHIT !!!!!!!!!

I digress though I'm so fond of how much higher they elevated his fucked up brain and went full tilt with the "oh yeah he's collecting girls" shit. fucking crazy work. does he accept men too cause I volunteer to get preserved and put in a glass case. me next I'm begging me next.

ANYWAYS. I think by proxy launderer also gets more physically violent to match his crazy, like base launderer mostly likes to play the struggle and squirm game when they start fighting but fury au launderer actually hits back, like they will full out slap him and get in scuffles trying to pin him down and hurt him. they are freak4freak to the most physically combative degree I LOVE/HATE THEMMM GAH

at one point I did these two pieces stemming from this poetry my friend gave me

and so I liken the relationship with fury along the same lines as the count de sade and von masoch art I made and as such they're kind of one and the same in my mind

also I have a soft spot for this more 1700s type look and the ways in which it reminds me of robespierre and the sanson family of executioners renditioned in the innocent manga, the whole concept just tickles my fancy as I really really enjoy this man in a harsh and punitive light. how much time will he spend tenderizing the meat that is launderer? who can say. frankly I think it's a toss up for him whether or not he makes them his favorite display piece or keeps them alive just to leech sweet sweet punishment from them. he is NOT above putting them in the stocks and whipping them and boy oh boy is launderer down for that, but trust that launderer is also going to put on their finest heels and make sure to dig them into his chest and laugh at him when he gets nauseous while on a cruise, they are matched in cruelty with him.

they don't really have the objective to expose him for his crimes but rather they just like using that bit as blackmail and an excuse to be equally a punishment back, they simply just want to be the thorn in his side for all his life and they refuse to have anyone usurp that spot which means in this au they are also not above killing people to maintain his fixation solely on them

these pieces from delta of venus remind me heavily of them

[galebrainrot2024]

Gale x Tav Enemies to Lovers Part VIII/8

I'm cooking with gas now folks, I am locked in so I hope you enjoy this journey - if I have enough juice I'll try to extend it through the entire game arc.

Content Warning: Bullying, Anxiety, Language, Herbs (lol)

“Fucking finally,” Karlach huffed, dropping a majority of their belongings and rations. Without her, Lae’zel and Shadowheart, Tav wasn’t sure they would have made it to the Underdark. The men were utterly useless in this regard and so was she. She had many strengths - strength was not among them. “I’m not sorting through what’s what so come and find your own things. Gale what’s for dinner? I’m starving. No… I need to lie down.” 

“As always, I am deeply in your debt my good Lady,” Tav watched as Gale bowed to Karlach and collected his things from her then winked,  “I’ll be sure to make your favorite.” A pang shot through her - not one of desire or even anger. 

It was jealousy. She scoffed, rolling her eyes at her own behavior. Don’t be ridiculous, she chided, Karlach is your friend and Gale is allowed to talk with whomever he pleases… they’ve been spending a lot of time together… besides, you know who Karlach fancies and it’s certainly not Gale… you have no right to be angry after Astarion… 

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably and she turned away as hot bile rose in her gut. She shook it off and began to unpack her things. 

** 

The Underdark. She had studied its existence extensively in her time at Blackstaff and was both horrified and fascinated by its unfamiliar terrain. Their instructor would pull at the fabric of the Weave to make intricate conjurations of the Underdark’s dangerous creatures, wild mushrooms, and native fauna. Some was so startling to her that at the time she was plagued with night terrors. How embarrassing it felt to have night terrors as a teen. It had been engrained so deep that the fear still dug at her skin and she felt the surge of fight or flight acutely.   

Gale had been in that class with her. 

That grounded her a bit, the memory of his ‘know-it-all’ attitude getting him a severe bind. Gale had famously confused the Duergar and Drow and when their instructor, Flhem, tried to gently correct him, Gale persisted. What Gale didn’t realize at the time was that other than Flhem being an expert on the Underdark, Tav’s father was also an expeditionist there. 

She was intimately familiar with the Underdark and had an insatiable curiosity for it. The obsession took hold when she was wracked with panic that her father wouldn’t return from a journey. Tav turned to her fixation on learning in order to soothe her nerves. If she learned everything she could, she could imagine every possible scenario and outcome so she couldn’t be surprised. 

A wave of guilt rose in her when the rest of the memory unfolded. After Gale’s soliloquy, Tav tapped on his shoulder (he was sat in front of her) and she said smugly,  “Gale… I thought you were smarter than that,” all while pulling at the threads of the Weave to manifest replicas of the Duegar and Drow, “Or did you miss the readings? If you look to page 27...” She said while the class held its breath, “there are a number of distinctions between the two races… height being prominent among them.” As she spoke the final word, the two conjurations stood before the class and Gale flipped to the page. She inhaled deeply when she recalled the look on his face when the entire class - including Flhem - burst into laughter. Have you always been so cruel… you wretched thing… the memory weighed heavily on her, and she fingered her amulet. 

He hadn't even said anything in retort. Gale had just quietly shut the book and had turned to look back at her before he left the room. The look he gave was one she would never forget. It made her sick.

Suddenly she felt something graze her back and she jumped, swinging her arm to strike. 

Astarion’s hand caught hers and he rose a brow. A grin spread across his face. “My, my, somebody’s on edge this evening."  Tav huffed, her entire body rigid from the start. She shut her eyes and took another breath to steady herself. “Oh,” Astarion said more seriously, “Are you alright, Darling? Can I get you something?” 

Tav tilted her head curiously. Astarion? Going out of his way to ask something nice? Assuming she heard him incorrectly, she said, “Nothing a bit of Hafling Root can’t fix.” 

“Oh?” He said in a sing-song voice, “Looking to get a little stoned this evening? Far be it from me to keep you from your appetites. Ugh,” he straightened his shirt, picking a piece of lint off his sleeve. “I wish I could still experience that. I’m afraid I’d need an entire field to feel a damn thing. Enjoy for the both of us,” he looked at her and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, his voice low. “Maybe I’ll join you, still.. keep you company.”  

Tav felt the familiar rush of arousal flood her when Astation’s hand brushed her cheek. Although they had little in common and she wasn’t sure if she even trusted him, biology was a strange experience. In that same moment, her eyes locked on Gale’s - his gaze an abyss that was almost wild. The same one that made her sick all those years ago.  

She took a sharp breath and neither she nor Gale blinked. She fell into the void of his eyes, hypnotized. Had he cast hold person on her? Astarion’s voice pulled her abruptly back into her body, “Well.. you know where to find me.”  

When Tav turned back to look for Gale he was gone. 

[stoopid-turtle]

On the Acceptance of Unsteady Ground

Throughout this whole dive into turtle world, I've been very conscious of just how LITTLE access to information I have. I'm relying so heavily on English translations and platforms, and most of these are from turtles, so I'm fully aware I'm getting a biased perspective.

I've tried to read stuff from solos or even just neutral third-parties. The neutral parties don't have much depth of information, though, and I found solos heavy on accusations and declarations but light on actual...evidence. And they sometimes use some really nasty rhetoric against the idea that gg and dd might be gay.

Don't get me wrong, turtles get weird too. There's plenty of clearly false rumors, deceptively edited videos, silly stretches of logic, weird ideas of what how people in a relationship would act, etc. But there's at least enough English-speaking turtles that I can find some who are giving open and, as far as I can tell, accurate information (honestly, I find tumblr turtledom better at that then other platforms). I haven't really found a similar pocket of solo fans.

I'm also aware that there's always going to be a limit on how much I can know. I don't speak the language, so I'm always relying on translators. I have limited access to Weibo (even putting aside the language barrier, I'm in text confirmation limbo in actually getting an account), and I have little familiarity with the culture. I don't get a lot of the jokes or references, and stuff may strike me, an English-speaking American, differently than it would someone in China.

Add on top of that the fact that I'm trying to find out purposely obscured information about two celebrities, and, yeah, I'm fully aware that I'm on unsteady ground here. I can do my best, but I'm never going to know anything for certain.

But I've become okay with that.

It took a while. The dissatisfaction with the unknown (and unknowable) is what drove a lot of my early fixation and subsequent fall into the turtle pit. But now, especially after laying out my thoughts, I've reached a zen place with it. I'm 100% certain ggdd were together during filming/promo, and I'm 95% certain they're still together (I had this at 85% originally, but then the whole dd being sick and gg changing his schedule thing happened and I'm just...welp, guess I'm in this confidence interval, then).

Just having that certainty means I can enjoy updates from them without anguishing about "proof" or uncertainty. Oh, gg took the day off on dd's birthday? That's really sweet! I'm not gonna fuss about if it's coincidence ENOUGH to convince me, because I'm already convinced. It's a good place to be.

I typically don't care about celebrities. In fact, I've long been bewildered by celebrity culture here in the US, and I've often been actively annoyed when people assume/expect me to have opinions on things celebrities do. I'm the nerd who doesn't get why the actors get all the attention when the writer or director would be much more interesting.

So the fact that I've gone all fangirlish over two celebrities is bizarre to me, and I appreciate the irony. Well done, me. I attribute some of it to just being able to watch the bts and see their early interactions play out like a story. I find stories compelling, and both gg and dd are charismatic, attractive and have great chemistry. Whatever disdain I have for celebs, I do love a romance.

In my foray into the ggdd world, though, I've also had to learn more about c-ent, and y'all. It's nuts. Like, US entertainment is nuts too, but c-ent ratchets it up to 11. I've been in fandom a long time, and I thought I'd seen some weird stuff, but it's got nothing on c-ent. Just wrapping my head around the culture these guys are in took a lot of learning.

But I appreciate being able to dive into this culture and this country, because I knew very little about China beyond the antagonistic politics. It's been refreshing to get a view on life on the ground in China to humanize the folks there and get a clearer picture of the country.

I started this thing bc I had been spending so much time on Youtube watching clips, and I had thoughts and opinions and nowhere to put them. I already had a tumblr that I use to lurk on some fandoms and I had started following turtles too. I figured tumblr would be a decent place to splurge out my thoughts, so I set up a throwaway account to do so.

I get the vibe that a lot of new turtles come to bjyx through the same route I took? They watch The Untamed on Netflix. They get curious about the show and start watching some clips on YT. Next thing you know, they have 3 playlists full of purported "proof of love" and they need a whiteboard to connect everything together and their wife thinks they've gone completely bonkers supports them in all their oddities.

Like, I was really confused by turtles at first. I was just trying to watch bts videos on YouTube and I didn't know what bjyx meant, but the videos with the label were weird and had strange disclaimers that they were "only for turtles" and I had no clue what that even meant.

My confusion continued as I tried to read more. The fake story disclaimer convention is hella confusing as an outsider, and my first impression was that turtles were kinda crazy. The videos I saw gave overviews of candies without context, and some of them explicitly said they were proof of Yizhan love while still having that fake story disclaimer. Basically, it was a big confusing environment, and it's why I resisted buying into bjyx so hard for so long. It all seemed delulu.

But in reading more, I guess part of that is the point? Recognizing that gg and dd are in a vulnerable position should their relationship ever come out, having so much noise to muddy the waters makes a twisted, clownish sense. I don't know who came up with that convention or if it just kinda happened (is it a normal thing in c-ent? I don't know enough about celebrity fandoms), but hats off, I guess.

With the supertopic recently hitting 4 million active fans, there's something heartening about such a depth of support for the guys. I'm not naive enough to think all 4 million (plus international fans) are allies to LGBT folk in general, but it surely means something to ggdd to have that sort of support for their relationship. Honestly, it means something to me, as a random gay chick on the other side of the world, to see a gay couple get that kinda of support behind them.

I started watching the bts because I was afraid there'd be a lot of cynical homophobia on the set or some evidence of all the male cast being icked out by the whole thing. Instead, I got gg, who was so passionate about WWX being gay. I love that everybody knew they were telling a love story with as explicitly as they could get away with. I love that the guys wanted more Wangxian scenes and that the cast and crew made "everyday is everyday" jokes in a non-mocking way. I'm glad that the whole shoot seemed like such a positive environment for the cast and crew to being themselves and tell a type of story that they may not be able to be involved with ever again.

So, yes, this is my zen turtle place. When I set up a soapbox for myself, I didn't think too much about the fact that people would respond, but I'm so grateful to have had a chance to talk to some other turtles! Everybody is lovely and thank you for sharing my enthusiasm.

Like I said in the beginning, I don't have the time to keep super-active in the long-term. I had intended to write up my thoughts and poof away. But I do also plan to keep up with gg and dd and turtles, so instead I'm just gonna leave off with the potential for further posts down the line.

I'm not gonna be incredibly active, so please don't expect frequent updates or interactions from me. But if I have more Yizhan thoughts I'll pop up again with a post (I mean, I do have lots more thoughts, but nothing energizing enough to write about), or I'll leave a comment somewhere if I have something I simply must say. I'm also open to responding to asks about the timeline or anything else. And if I ever do stumble across anything groundbreaking with regards to the timeline, I'll probably add that in, because I'm particular about things being complete.

So thanks for being so welcoming! It's been a joy to clown around and make up completely fictional stories with everybody here. 🤡🐢🙇🏼

[aliypop]

Soldier Boy

Word count: 1,761

Prompt: December 25th, 1957 Elvis Presley receives his draft papers moments after his Engagement

Warning: None so far

Note: This may become a series

Chapter 2

Taglist:

@darkmoviesquotespizza

@sissylittlefeather

@richardslady121

@thegettingbyp2

@presleyenterprise

@dkayfixates

@rjmartin11

@thetaoofzoe

@your-nanas-house

@zayurir

@60svintage

@sillybookmarks

@leapresley

@everythingelvispresley

@dreamondina94

@elvismylove04

@pocketfulofpresley

@elvispresley1956

@poeandmoonknightgirl

December 25th, 1957 Graceland,

“Oh, isn’t it stunning!”Cecelia exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as they fixated on the engagement ring that adorned her finger. The radiant pink garnet caught the light, casting soft, rosy hues that danced across her skin. “How on earth did you find such a unique gem? she inquired, her voice filled with wonder. Deep down, she knew that even if Elvis had presented her with a simple candy ring, she would have cherished it just the same, the meaning behind the gesture far outweighing the material value."Ya know, I ask myself that every day just lookin' at'cha." He kissed her cheek. Their loved ones looked on, captivated by the radiant joy of the newly engaged couple, who had been basking in the warm glow of their exciting new chapter together.

“What’s all this excitement about?” Alfonso asked, stepping inside from the chilly air. His cheeks were flushed from both the frosty temperature and the smoke of the cigarette he had just been smoking outside, despite knowing he really shouldn’t indulge in such habits. The warmth of the house enveloped him, contrasting sharply with the biting cold he had left behind, but the thrill of whatever was happening inside stirred his curiosity. He glanced around the room, trying to catch a glimpse of what had everyone so animated.

"Daddy, we're engaged!" Cecelia giggled as her father looked between the pair. Elvis had a crooked smile, while Cecelia beamed with a wide grin. "It's about time," Alfonso said, patting Elvis on the back, "You treat my little dumplin' good ya hear," Alfonso smirked as Elvis gulped but shook his head, "Everythang okay my boy?" Alfonso asked. Typically, Elvis would have had a clever remark ready, but this time, he appeared somewhat lost in thought.

"I'm doing okay, so you just go ahead and enjoy yourself," Elvis said with a friendly smile. At that moment, Alfonso tipped his hat, a gesture of camaraderie. "If you ever want to have a good chat, country boy to countryman, I'm right here for you," he added, his voice warm and inviting. "Thanks," he replied, feeling grateful for his kindness.

Sitting by the gleaming white grand piano, Elvis drew in a deep, shaky breath, the weight of the moment settling heavily on his shoulders. He fished around in his pocket, pulling out a few crumpled papers that seemed to carry the burden of his unspoken thoughts. His heart raced at the realization that he would soon have to break difficult news to the two most important women in his life: his mother, Gladys, and his beloved Cecelia. As he mulled over the impending conversation, he glanced up, and his heart momentarily lifted at the sight before him.

Cecelia sat on the plush sofa in the living room, the dim winter sunlight filtering through the window, casting a warm glow on her hair as she laughed effortlessly with Gladys and Denise. Their voices danced through the air. The sight of the three women so engrossed in their lively chatter, filled him with joy and trepidation. A soft, genuine smile spread across his face, momentarily pushing aside his worries as he observed the warmth and connection they shared. These were his three favorite ladies, a source of comfort and strength in a world that often felt chaotic.

"So, what colors are we thinking for the wedding?" Gladys asked eagerly, her voice filled with excitement as she leaned forward, anticipation dancing in her eyes. She was keen to hear Cecelia’s thoughts.

Denise quickly interjected, feigning seriousness as she raised her hand dramatically, "And please, for the love of everything beautiful, do not say pink!" Her tone was light-hearted, but there was an unmistakable edge of genuine concern behind her words.

Cecelia let out a soft sigh, a blend of exasperation and amusement washing over her. “Well,” she began, her brow furrowing slightly as she considered her options, “I was thinking of a soft pink, something delicate, like the blush of dawn paired with a rich, inviting blue, reminiscent of the evening sky.” Her voice grew more animated with each description, prompting Gladys and Denise to lean in closer, intrigued by the imagery that swirled around in Cecelia’s mind.

She paused, a warm smile appearing as she continued, “But honestly, I don’t care what the color scheme is. The most important thing for me is that Elvis is there to celebrate this moment.” A dreamy look crossed her face as she added, “We could even get married right there on Beale Street, surrounded by music and laughter, and that would mean the world to me.” Her heart swelled at the thought of the day, underscoring her belief that love and companionship outweighed any hue or theme.

"You love him don't'cha."

"Mama Presley, I love you with all my heart," she gleamed.

"Not to interrupt, but, um... Mama, I have some news to tell you... alone." Elvis said pulling his mother into the secluded piano room,

"Elvis what's this about..."

"Well, mama... I-I... got drafted..." As those three words hung in the air, Gladys felt the very foundation of her world begin to crumble beneath her feet. A deep ache settled in her chest, a familiar pain that she knew she was powerless to change, yet it stung fiercely nonetheless. Her thoughts spiraled into a dark abyss of fear. She simply couldn't fathom the possibility of losing another son. With her heart racing, she choked out the question, "Does Cece know...?" Tears streamed down her cheeks, warm and bitter, as she confronted the crushing weight of uncertainty and loss.

"Is everything okay?" Cecelia asked, her voice trembling slightly as she noticed the stack of papers clenched tightly in his hands. A sense of dread settled in her stomach.

"Cece..." he began, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with unspoken pain.

"Please tell me those papers aren’t what I think they are..." Her voice broke as tears spilled down her cheeks, glistening in the dim light of the room.

Elvis felt a heaviness in his chest, unable to meet her gaze. Whenever Cecelia or his mother cried, it pierced his heart, leaving him feeling helpless. He looked away, his thoughts racing, unsure of how to respond to the overwhelming emotion flooding the space between them.

Cecelia's brow furrowed with concern as she studied Elvis's face. "They are..." she started, hesitating as she tried to find the right words.

"And are you going..." Gladys pressed, but Elvis nodded slowly, cutting her off with a gentle affirmation.

"For how long?" Her voice trembled slightly as she continued. "And where will you be going?"

Elvis took a deep breath, his eyes drifting to the floor for a moment. "Three years," he finally said, his voice steady but filled with an underlying heaviness. "Germany… I-I’ll write to you every day, I promise." He sighed, the weight of the upcoming separation evident in his expression.

"Just promise me," he added earnestly, looking from Cecelia to Gladys, "that you'll take care of each other, and of Dodger too." As he made the request, a small, warm smile broke through his anxious demeanor, shared between him and Gladys, hinting at their unbreakable bond even in the face of uncertainty.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the last echoes of laughter and conversation faded into the night, Cecelia found herself alone in the cozy kitchen. The remnants of a lively gathering still lingered, the smell of the evening’s feast, scattered utensils, and half-empty plates told the tale of a joyful gathering. With a contented sigh, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to tackle the mess.

Beneath the warm glow of the overhead lights, her mind began to shift gears. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the cleanup, she felt a familiar tug towards the comforting ritual of baking. It had become her method of coping with stress, an intimate ritual that transformed chaos into something delightful. She gathered her ingredients: flour, sugar, and eggs, intending to whip up a batch of cookies that would fill the home with warmth and sweetness.

As she meticulously measured out each component, the rhythmic sound of her mixing bowl seemed to drown out the remnants of the chaos from earlier. The kitchen filled with the soothing scents of vanilla and chocolate as she creamed the butter and sugar, her mind drifting peacefully with each fold of the dough. In these moments, amid the solitude and the gentle whir of the oven, Cecelia found solace, allowing her worries to melt away like the chocolate she was about to stir in.

"Are you okay?" Elvis asked gently, settling behind Cecelia, his voice laced with concern. She turned her head slightly, feeling his warmth, but he quickly added, "And before you say yes, I couldn't help but notice you just dropped an eggshell into your batter."

Cecelia let out a resigned sigh, her shoulders slumping as she faced him. The mixing bowl, once brimming with a creamy, sweet mixture, suddenly felt heavy with her worries. "No, I'm not okay," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm worried about you, and you know that."

She paused, her heart racing as she thought of the dangers he faced. "I can't lose you out there," she said, her lips quivering, betraying the anxiety that clutched at her.

"Cece—" he began, his tone soothing, but she cut him off, a surge of emotion bubbling to the surface.

"As your best friend and as your fiancée, I just..." Her words faltered, the weight of love and fear pressing down on her.

Elvis smiled softly, leaning in to kiss her neck, and she couldn't help but giggle despite herself. "You stop that..." she replied, trying to regain her composure.

"And you listen to me," he insisted, his gaze earnest. "I'll be back in your arms right before you know it."

She searched his eyes for reassurance, her heart aching with the impermanence of his words. "Promise..." she whispered, holding onto the hope that it wouldn’t just be a fleeting moment.

"Promise," he affirmed, the corners of his mouth lifting in a warm smile as he watched her resume her baking, carefully spooning the batter onto the wax paper. The kitchen, filled with the sweet scent of vanilla and sugar, felt like a cocoon against the uncertainties of the world outside.

"Aht! Aht! these are for tomorrow..." Cecelia swatted at his hand, "You have to go to bed,"

"I think you mean we darlin." He scooped her up as her laughter reminded him things would never be the same after tonight.

[liesandspookyfairytales]

Day 18: Mirror sex

Pairing: Poly!recoms x Recom!reader (can be read as character x reader)

Word count: 1.5k

A/N: Trying to get the other prompts out asap. Also, I'm curious, do you guys think my kinktober headcanons fit the Recoms? Or not? or would you change certain things about how I write them? And what do you guys think of my characterization?

Kinktober masterlist

🌍 Recom Miles Quaritch Miles would look incredibly attractive fucking you from behind, but what about doing it in front of a mirror? His abs would be flexing, and drops of sweat would be racing down the side of his face. It's like he's relentlessly pounding you while all you can do is moan and whimper like the passionate lover you are. He would grab your hair and force you to watch as he fucks you. He would whisper things in your ear like, "Look at yourself while I make love to you" or "You look so beautiful like this, my darling." You would appear disheveled, with your hair tousled in all directions, bite marks scattered across your body, and dark purple marks on your thighs and neck. But in his eyes, you would look like a heavenly being sent from above. He would hold your arms behind your back with one hand and have another hand in your hair while he admires the movement of your ass with each forceful thrust. "That's it, my love, just like that, make love to me." You would push your hips back against his while gazing at him through the mirror. You observe as his perfectly sculpted face contorts in pleasure as you bring him to climax, and in return, he gives you the release you desire.

😈 Recom Lyle Wainfleet Lyle enjoys watching himself disappear inside of you in the steamy Recom gym mirrors. He loves hearing your pleasurable sounds and the way you respond when he takes you from behind. The reflection of your bodies entwined on his cock is a sight that drives him wild. Your effort to keep your eyes open and connected with him, despite the lewdness of it all, is incredibly arousing to Lyle. Every time you moan his name, it sends him over the edge. He loves seeing your jaw drop in pleasure and feeling your hands desperately gripping his thighs for stability. Lyle would have you spread your legs wide and position yourselves near one of the full-length mirrors. This way, he can hit different spots and press you against the mirror if he desires. He showers you with praise for being so good and obedient, never tearing your eyes away from your reflection. As he indulges in the moment, Lyle lets out soft hums and moans, leaving marks on your shoulder in the form of hickeys.

🍬 Recom Z-dog You're seated with your back to her chest, nestled between her legs. There's a mirror right in front of you. You're completely bare, exposed, and she's gently pleasuring you with her hand. Whenever you close your eyes or look away, she pauses until you're gazing at your own reflection again. "Look at how stunning you are," she whispers in your ear. She continues her actions, showering you with compliments, moving her hand at an excruciatingly slow pace as you breathe heavily, your eyes half-closed, fixated on the mirror. Eventually, she picks up the pace, skillfully working your body like only she knows how, always ensuring your eyes are open, focused on your own reflection throughout. She insists on making you watch as you reach climax, releasing all over her fingers, your face flushed. Z-dog adores you, she adores your physique, and she wants to ensure you can fully appreciate your own sexiness.

🥽 Recom Walker She's skilled at stimulating you with her fingers. Her fingers are lengthy and slender, allowing her to reach deep and stimulate your pleasure spot effortlessly. Walker enjoys watching herself finger you in the mirror from behind, with her chin resting on your shoulder. Her groans of pleasure are so arousing that your legs spread involuntarily, and her attractive smirk only adds to the excitement.

😎 Recom Mansk It’s a sight to behold in the bathroom mirror, the way he holds you close. He moves his hips slowly, one hand spread wide across your lower belly, the other resting in the curve between your breasts, keeping you connected to his chest. You observe as he makes love to you, taking his time and showing his ownership, causing your eyelids to flutter with each deep thrust. "You belong to me, my love," he whispers in your ear, his fingertips gently tracing up your chest. "You understand that, right?" Your words of affection are whispered as his hand delicately covers your throat, so tender and gentle. His thumb strokes a gentle rhythm against your pulse as he thrusts deeply into your warm, velvety cunt. "You are completely mine."

🧯 Recom Prager "That's my good kitten," Prager says with a smirk as you moan beneath him, tears of pleasure welling up in your eyes. You've lost count of how many times you've climaxed tonight, but you're not complaining. Prager has kept you on the edge of ecstasy all night long, and he's enjoyed every moment of it. With your bodies facing the mirror, he's watched every reaction, every moan, every whine. He loves seeing you in your full glory, with nothing hidden from view. And he's not done yet - he thrusts into you once more, desperate to see that look on your face just one more time.

⚕️ Recom Ja You're lying on your bed, completely vulnerable, facing the mirror propped up against the closet doors across the room. He jumps on you, kissing and exploring your body, teasing and pleasuring you. He positions himself behind you, using his strong thighs as a seat for you to move up and down. "Look at yourself, see how beautiful you are. See yourself as I see you," he insists, making you blush even more. Whenever you try to look away from the mirror, he grabs your jaw, forcing you to watch as he intensifies your pleasure. "See those amazing breasts bounce," he growls in your ear. "They look even better when they bounce in my face." "Watch my cock, my love, see how eager your cunt is for it," he moans. "Watch it - going in and out, you're getting wet, darling." "Look at your little clit. Does it want attention?" He teases, with a condescending tone as he rubs your clit. He enjoys making you watch yourself cum. "Oh, you're getting close? I can tell. Your pussy is gripping me so tight. Watch yourself cum, love. It's the most beautiful thing," You can't help but stare into the reflection of your own eyes, mouth hanging open and nothing but incoherent moans escaping. He praises you, slowing down the intense rhythm of your movements to help you come down. Mirror sex quickly becomes a weekly ritual.

🧢 Recom Brown When he gazes into the mirror, his focus is usually on himself. However, when he's with you in front of one, his attention is solely on your body. He takes in every inch of you, positioning you in a way that allows him to fully appreciate the sight of you while he's inside you. It's a sight that he finds absolutely mesmerizing and one that he could never tire of. If you're not comfortable with mirror sex, he won't pressure you into it. Instead, he'll work to build your confidence and reassure you of your beauty. He understands that it's not for everyone, but if you're willing to give it a try, he'll put in the effort to make it an enjoyable experience for both of you. What's surprising is that he's not just into mirror sex, but he's also full of praise. Despite his severe personality, he's quick to shower you with compliments and encouragement. He wants you to feel confident and comfortable with him, and he's more than willing to reciprocate the praise. In short, mirror sex may not be for everyone, but with him, it's an experience that's worth trying. He'll make sure that you feel comfortable and confident, and he'll show you just how great it can be.

📿 Recom Lopez Lopez has a firm grip on your throat, his fingers clasping your jaw tightly. He's making you look at yourself in the mirror, taking in your flushed face and glazed eyes, as well as your bouncing breasts as he effortlessly thrusts into you. You feel even more embarrassed as you try to turn away from your disheveled appearance. Lopez, however, urges you on, cooing and nibbling at your neck while meeting your gaze in the mirror. "Come on, Mami," he whispers, "see yourself the way I do."

⛓️ Recom Fike Fike loves fucking you in front of a mirror. he loves seeing his cock slide in and out of you and he loves that you’re seeing how beautiful you look while he’s fucking you. Definitely the type to take it slow and sensually when he’s fucking you in front of the mirror. He gets totally lost in watching you watch yourself in the mirror. He’s kinda in a daze and he doesn’t notice anything else but you. The others definitely walked in on you guys more than a few times.

[atrueneutral]

I have been unfathomably OBSESSED with your writing ever since discovering you on AO3. I'm curious how you cultivated your vocabulary because I am so god awful at remembering words while writing. You have inspired me to take a stab at the devil and I fear my words may fall short in the process of writing. (I owe you my life btw, your writing got me through exam week. May both sides of your pillow always remain cold.)

First off, I'm elated I could be there for you when you needed me most - exam week! I hope you got the best scores with help from Raphael and Tav.

Second off, thank you!! 😊

As for your question, it would be nice if I could type out 'I cultivate my words through reading. I read so much, let me tell you!' but that would be a lie. :( These days, any reading done is me engulfing any fics that pique my interest for my latest fixation, and I'm not even doing that anymore because I'm focusing more on writing.

I enjoy watching period films and tv shows, so I'm sure some of my word retention comes from there.

I think the true answer is I throw myself at the feet of Word Hippo. It's an online thesaurus that I always have open in another window next to my word document. I heavily try to avoid using the same words too much in the same chapter, so that's where the cute, pink hippo comes in to remind me that 'there's another and a better word for this - maybe 'imbibing' will work. Then that word is soaked up into my sponge of a brain for future use.

(I should not be giving advice) but my advice for those who use a thesaurus is to select words that add to the flow, not detract from it. Don't over-complicate your sentences by picking a fancy, intellectual sounding synonym for the sake of the word not being 'drink'.

Lastly, yes! Be like Tav, and take a stab at the Devil! Do it!

I (lovingly) scream at you all: give life to the ideas swimming around in your head!

[duhragonball]

Who is your favorite non-Sayian, non-villain character in the Dragonball series? I really like Piccolo and Tien for instance. Or do you only have room for the major players?

Probably Bulma, Piccolo, or Krillin, depending on my mood. If I show greater appreciation for Saiyans and villains, it's only because they have a greater presence in the show, so there's more for me to talk about.

Even so, I still enjoy minor characters, or even obscure ones. To give you an idea, or just because I need to get it out of my head, I'll say a few words about my latest fixation, Ivy from Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?

I just woke up today and somehow got reminded of this cartoon, which was promoted heavily on Fox back in 1994 while I was trying to watch Batman: The Animated Series. Carmen Sandiego is the thief from the old computer games, and the cartoon introduced a pair of detective characters to chase her, a brother-and-sister team named Zack and Ivy.

Zack is pretty easy to read. He's a computer whiz, voiced by the same guy who plays Robin in the Teen Titans cartoons, and he's basically this adolescent sidekick type. Ivy, on the other hand, I could never quite figure out. And the show is unwatchable, so that didn't help much.

Like, okay, in 1994 I was 17, and I kind of had the hots for Ivy. She kind of looks like a prototype Kim Possible, so I guess that gives younger people an idea of what I'm talking about. I think I just assumed she was also 17, but sometimes the show plays her off like she's an adult. I mean, she's a professional detective, and she seems pretty experienced, and from what I've read she has a "history with Carmen" according to the show. The implication is that she's been working this job for several years, so maybe she started when she was Zack's age and she's about 24 now. I'm just spitballing.

On the other hand, that's kind of dumb. It's a kids show, and Zack's a kid, so why wouldn't Ivy also be a kid? You see her in the same scene with Carmen and it seems obvious. She's older than Zack, but not by that much.

On the other hand, the two detectives are in contact with a live-action character known as the "Player", which sort of suggests that the entire cartoon is taking place inside a computer game, and Ivy doesn't actually exist. That would explain why no one can find a woman in a bright red trenchcoat, and why Zack is considered the second most qualified person to catch her. So Ivy could be any age, or no age at all. She's not a character so much as an avatar for the faceless Player.

Anyway, I only got this far because I looked up information on the show over the course of the day, because I had completely forgotten the character's whole deal. I just remembered the red hair and the bomber jacket. But while I was looking it up, I found out they made a whole other Carmen Sandiego show in 2019, and in that one, Zack and Ivy are Carmen's accomplices, which kind of blew my mind. Apparently Carmivy is a popular ship in that fandom, so I feel less silly for crushing on Ivy in 1994.

I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that I always admired the Ivy design, even if the character concept was frustratingly vague and inconsistent. And this is just the example that I've been thinking about today. I find myself latching onto all sorts of obscure characters, wanting to find out more about them, and then getting frustrated when I learn there's not much to be had.

And this is my roundabout way of saying that of course I like the supporting cast of Dragon Ball. Characters like Tien and 17 and Zarbon are what make the whole thing come together, and a lot of them have lore that's much more satisfying than Ivy's.