#so many questions that will soon be answered!!!

[omgfangirlland]

The Shadows That Nurture 7

Ch 8 is done, working on Ch9 so here is ch7! Enjoy and check the end notes for a bit of explanation(?) 🫠

The action is starting soon- I'm buzzing with the need to finally get into the Viltrumite plot but it still will take a bit, haste spoils the work, and all that.

Masterlist || First || previous<< Chapter 7 >>next

In the week that it took to get all documents done and over with, you and the Graysons grew closer and closer, specifically you and your brother, both of you seemed to sink your claws into each other, acting more like twins in sync than an older and younger sibling duo.

If Mark wanted to go somewhere and Nolan wasn’t around. You’d fly him there, if you wanted something and were too shy or nervous to ask his parents for it, he’d ask for it and give it to you later. And, while you both had bedrooms, every other night there was a sleepover in the others one room, always ending up with you two sleeping under a pillow fort, being kids, having fun.

You loved Debbie, and Nolan was okay even when he was clingy and talking nonsense about training you to conquer words. You were quite sure he was joking, the face he made right after saying things like that reassured you that wasn’t quite what he wanted to say- or it wasn’t how he felt anymore.

It was easy to see that you preferred Debbie, no matter how much Nolan tried to spend time with you, or how close you were to Mark, your priority was always Debbie. You weren’t calling her mom, it felt too soon for you, you weren’t ready, but you were a mama’s girl. You were the first to greet her, the first to offer to help her cook and clean, the first to go shopping with her, even the first to shyly ask her to paint your nails or to just spend time together.

It was so long since you went physically into a shop, even after leaving the Waynes you stuck to online shopping, and the first time you did it was with Debra, your hand shaking in hers as you stuck close to her, quieter than usual. The traffic of the store clearly made you nervous, so the woman made sure to always have a reassuring hand on you if she couldn’t hold your hand. With time you didn’t need to hold onto her anymore. Debbie almost cried when she realized that soon you wouldn’t need her at all.

And then the discussion of school came up. You could have lied, told them that you haven’t gone to school since your mom died- but you didn’t want to be like Bruce, all secrets and lies, you were already keeping quite the secret by not telling them about who your biological father is. So, you told them everything about you skipping grades, showing the diplomas and online school you’ve still worked on.

Neither of the adults seemed happy about you being stuck with online class, and honestly, neither were you. When your question about maybe joining the same grade as Markus, to keep close to him and meet other children your age, seemed to make both as happy as you were when they approved.

Now, it was easy to get you in, you even met William, Mark’s friend, but keeping yourself from correcting the teachers was another thing. You understood to a degree that the curriculum was different, that you were still kids and maybe learning about genocides wasn’t ideal- but when so many of your peers are willing to throw slurs left and right like 4Chan degenerates you were sure they could take the reality of what actually happened in history.  

Then the math teacher accused you of having an answer book, of cheating, of using a calculator when you were told not to- you may have snapped and yelled at him to give you an equation, any equation that was taught in the older grades, and if you could complete it in front of everyone, on the board, he’ll have to shut up about you.

That’s how you ended up seeing the principal, not because of your outburst, but because the teacher decided you were wasting your potential sitting around with the others when you could be in a grade that fulfilled your needs and developed you further. The principal agreed, and he was tired of the other teachers complaining, so you and your guardians were given an option of either taking a test to assess what grade you should be put in- or expulsion due to the many complaints against you.

You took the test. That way you could at least still be in the same building as Mark, and could still socialize, even if the idea of the older kids made you anxious- the high school themed movies didn’t help your expectations. The girls that you hung around in your new class, however, were quite nice, saw you as a little sister, including you in their study sessions and girl talk, braiding your hair. The boys mostly ignored you, and in return you ignored them. It was nice.

Debbie always worried about the older kids, and while Nolan did too, he was more enthusiastic about you being in school for one year instead of the other 4 or 5, after all, surely, you’ll want to help dad with hero work instead of going to college… Right?... Well, no. Your sight was set on the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, their art programs making you go rabid with need- so many options, so many possibilities, you couldn’t decide on what you wanted to apply for. If you had eternity on your side, you’d apply for all of them, not like Bruce will need the money.

The year you spent at school, actually at school, was as fun as it was exhausting. You never realized how much energy it takes to wake up at a specific hour every day, to socialize, to take tests with about 30 other students- It sometimes overstimulated you, making you miss online schooling to a degree. Still, you found solace in your visual arts class.

The teacher loved you, not many other students were that interested in drawing, let alone actually learning and painting on canvases. So, you coming in with sheets of paper as tall as you were, with paints and canvases, with charcoal and markers- oh she could almost cry of happiness. She wasn’t a mean teacher, or eccentric like in the movies, but she wasn’t a pushover either. If you wanted a grade in her classroom, you had better have something to show for it, and you had plenty.

While the others had a theme to follow due to them not taking the class for love of the arts but because they thought it would be easy work, she gave you freedom, so you took it. Your first drawings were of Lady Gotham, racking your brain to remember the stories the kids told you every night of her, not wanting to forget them or where you came from. Your teacher didn’t comment on the small figures you sometimes added sitting on her shoulder.

While you stuck to painting her statue in classes, your sketchbook was full of the many variants of her, everyone seemed to see a loved one in her face, but the only common thing was the long hair tied into a nice Edwardian or Victorian crown-bun, and her dark grey, fancy dress and pale, clawed hands.

If you were to ask the teacher which one was her favorite, she’d say it was your depiction of Death in the first painting you did in her class. It also depicted Morpheus, both of them standing over a bundled-up child trying to find some warmth in the corner of an alley as the God-like entities melted with the shadows, though the one of Persephone lounging with Cerberus and Hades was a close second. To her it was poetic, to you, it was a reality you didn’t want to duel on for any longer.

Time has never flown this fast for you, it was like you blinked and the year was over, finals and graduation looming close. You’ve grown closer to the Graysons, slipped once or twice and even called Debbie “mom”, got quite comfortable being close to Nolan, fell asleep on him a few times as he made for a nice furnace after training, and you and Mark were as inseparable as ever.

This was everything you wanted, more than you could ever dream of. Your eyes sparkled in tempo with the shines of the stars as you lied on your back on the roof. You missed your friends in Gotham, there will always be love for them in your heart- but this isn’t something you’ll be willing to give up without a fight, not when you were getting more and more powerful with each month.

Your hands moved in a similar manner to Atom Eve’s over your day clothes while you got up, making them shine a bright neon green, the color diming down and revealing pajamas once you set foot back in your bedroom.

You’ve learned- you know better now. You’re more than willing to eliminate any threat before they get the chance to do so, to take another loved one from you.

Tag list: @bat1212 @trashlanternfish360 @shycreatorreview @syrooo @a-lurking-fae @alittletiredcry @kittzu @plsfckmedxddy @blackhood1229 @nxdxsworld @leeiasure @dandelion-delusion @lovebug-apple @sillysealsies @tsxukikami

Notes: The green color of her powers is more a nod to the Lazarus water, it can be easily changed in y'alls mind but I think it's an important tiny detail. The reader's powers developed, but she still uses other's heroes moves to use them. And Nolan's training and words have felt a mark on batsis.

Hope I'm not forgetting anything else- 😬

[beautifullilacsky]

It was late, and he had to go to work early again tomorrow. Though, when he mentioned that he was trying to fall asleep after asking me if I am tired, I wanted to help in a way. So, I offered him a massage. Little did I know it wouldn't help him sleep soon at all. We started talking more, and at one point we talked about which parts of my internship I enjoyed, and which I did not. Based on the fact that I am enjoying the designing part, he thought it could be a nice idea to look into jobs in that region. Yes, he was right; I told him about the job that I found interesting; UI/UX designer. I explained it a bit, and he said that the back-end part sounded more like programming. Then, I hesitated for a moment but decided that this is the exact moment to say it. I guess I had been a bit scared. A bit scared he'd find it useless, or out of character, or ... I don't even know. Anyway. Now it was time to spill how I figured that for (a part of) this job, programming might be needed, or a plus. So, that is what I've been learning for the past 2 weeks. He asked what exactly I was learning, so I explained the app and the languages that I was working on. He fairly noted a couple of times that I was getting shy, which, I was. He said I really didn't have to be, asking me to come lay besides him again. "Are you doing it because of me? Or because of the CC thing?", I was happy to assure him that no, I did not learn this for him. He thanked me for telling him about what I've been doing these days. I thanked him that eventho he knows that people aren't using these coding languages, he didn't demotivate me. According to him, it is really good to know the basics. I don't remember the exact order, but I do know he told me I was cute uncountable amount of times, accompanied with many back kisses. Also quite a few "I like you"'s.

"You know, if you want, you can use my desk or we can get you another monitor". I hesitated a bit, being my comfizone self who is afraid the double screen will be so good I'll not want to live without it. He said he can only offer, and I said it'd actually be nice. "Okay, we will look into it tomorrow afternoon then". He also kept his appropriate distance, while showing me his support, by saying that if I had any questions, I knew who to come to. Yeah. If anyone can answer my questions, it's him. Mt smart smart boy.

Anyway. I thanked him for listening and I apologized for keeping him awake for long. He didn't mind it at all. Instead, he was grateful. He went on to touch me. "Hey, boyfriend, have you looked at the clock?". He again, didn't mind. He was awake, and so was I. If I wanted him to stop, he said he would, but I honestly didn't. After he went down on me for a while, I pulled him back up. He kissed my neck and asked me if I was okay. I was, but I felt the time pressure, making it harder for me to reach that point, putting even more pressure on, etc etc. "Oh no. You don't have to feel pressured; all you should do is enjoy. We have all of the time in the world, okay? Take all the time you need. Really, don't feel pressured", he assured me multiple times. I asked for teamwork, which allowed him to softly tell me more loving words, such as saying he liked me, how I was hot, and how I was being a good girl. After I finished, he asked me if he should stop, and that I could say "no" to the question if it felt good. He sucked on the skin of the area between my neck and collarbone as I came for the second time. That was insanely intense. He already thought I did the first time, but now I actually did start crying. He held me, making comforting shushing noices, "go ahead, let it all out. It's okay, you can cry".

A lot of back kisses, sweet words and a tiny bite later, I fell asleep into his arms. Sjeesj, he made me feel SO SO insanely safe and loved. He said all of the right things, and knew exactly what was going through my brain, using that info to calm me down. He owns my heart, and I wouldn't want it any other way. I am so sure that it is safe in his hands.

[shysuccubusstuff]

L&DS LI are for those that... pt. 2:

Content: Gender neutral reader + Non proof-reader.

Note: I'm so glad that those that read pt. 1 saw themselves reflected on what I hc!! Thanks for reading as always, it makes me so happy to be able to read and respond to the comments, wish I was able to respond to those that repost as well... Something that I find interesting is that the people that like people like Zayne or Sylus are quite similar, at least in my opinion! I feel that the part of Caleb still lacks a bit of knowledge about him, but bear with me while I try to get to understand him better. Please let me know if I messed up big time with Caleb...

Sylus:

Sylus is for those that have spent their whole lives misunderstood. The ones that have always been seen as if they were the problem, always being left alone because of their tough/mean exterior. He is for those that have always been avoided even if they are one of the kindest people to walk on Earth. For those that have been cast away because of something that escapes their own control. He is for those that despite their harsh experiences due to their outer appearance still remain kind, fighting in the dark to prove (they aren't sure if to themselves or to society) that the exterior is nothing more than a façade, something that has no real value when it comes to loving.

Sylus is for those that have been always alone. The ones that either became accustomed or forced to do everything by themselves, the ones that were seen as people "mature" for their age. The ones that were praised for being such a good behaving child, even if this was merely a constant fear of being seen as useless or too naïve for their own well-being. Sylus is for those that have always dreamt about having someone that is always for them, the ones that enjoy having their own time alone but hate the feeling of loneliness. Sylus is for those that despite being aware of their own capabilities, need someone that is there, someone who reassures them that they are indeed able to do that and much more, even if they may fail on their first attempt.

Sylus is for those that hate lies. The ones that have always been feeling as if they are missing out on something, even if they aren't really aware of what it actually is. He is for those that have always felt as if people keep stuff away from them, because how are they supposed to trust someone that is constantly hiding vital information from them? Being able to find someone like Sylus, a person that despite having their fair share of secrets, have never tried for a second to lie to them about who they truly are and their likes and dislikes. Someone who will never make them question their true intention behind their actions, someone who will make sure to reassure them, answering to every single question that their lover may think of. Sylus' voice remaining calm and collected as they explain once, twice or as many times as they need just to make sure that their loved one is sure of his love.

Sylus is for those that live for the trope of enemies to lovers. Those that have always yearn for someone that wil love them even after seeing their worst. The ones that have been dreaming about that slow burn love, the one that despite beginning with harsh words and mean looks soon melts into the purest love, one that is born not just from love, but the feeling of pure admiration for the other. At the same time, Sylus is for those that kept fawning over the bad boys in novels and games, the ones that were always seen misbehaving in class, skipping school every single day, you know the drill. That is of course until they meet the main protagonist, the only one who is able to turn them into a better person while still maintaining that care free nature. This ties with how Sylus is for those that feel suffocated within their daily life, the ones that keep imagining themselves running away from all your responsibilities (even if it's just for a single night).

Caleb:

Caleb is for those that have always yearn for someone to protect them. He is for those that have always been forced to protect themselves, growing claws and fangs just to keep their own selves from being hurt. Caleb is for those that constantly craved for someone that would protect them, the ones that had to endure all kinds of hardships since a young age.

Caleb is for those that love hard, the ones that instead of letting go when they get hurt, choose to bite harder, deciding to sink their teeth deeper into the ones they love. After all, that's the only way you have ever learnt to love, choosing to stick to the ones that may hurt them, even if they are aware of just how damaging this is. Caleb is for those that love like dogs, tail wagging towards those that they love, even if they have hurt them before.

Caleb is for those whose love language is acts of service. The ones that pay close attention to what their loved one likes or dislikes. He is for those that love doing things for the others, making sure to listen to their every word just to make sure that they got everything right. Caleb is the one for those that have grown tired of being ignored, the ones that felt unseen, as even as they tried to let those close to them see their inner world, they simply chose to remain blind. Caleb is for those that always dreamt about being listened to, the ones that love speaking about their interests just as much as they love hearing about their lover's.

Caleb is for those that loved the yandere archetype. The ones that loved having someone head over heels for them, even to the point of causing pain, it doesn't matter if it's to him or to someone else, he is ready to risk it all. You know this may sound twisted, but how could you make someone understand just how much you needed to feel it. That desperation, the hunger... Caleb is for those that need their lover to prove just how much they love them, just how much they are ready to give up just to keep you. Caleb is for those that have lived in a constant state of unstability, the ones that have always feared waking up from that sweet dream of being loved. Caleb is for those that only know how to love too much.

[astra-ravana]

How To Amplify Your Magick

✵Accept That You Do Not Know: It's okay to not have all the answers. You don't have to be certain all of the time. Magick is the realm of the unknown. If it was ultimately knowable, then science would have already measured and verified it. On the other hand, things that would have once been considered magick are now common technology. So, there is a spectrum from useless knowledge to solid fact. It's up to you to decide which is which and keep a sharp, critical mind.

✵Think For Yourself: Anything that someone else has figured out , you can figure out too. The human mind's potential is illimitable. But we are continually duped into believing that we can't do it, that someone else should do it for us. Unless you're ready to think for yourself, you'll end up as a fake, or worse, someone else's pawn.

✵Keep An Open Mind: You have to be open to new ideas. An open mind is half closed, so they say. A door that is half closed is still open, and it's much the same with the mind. Don't accept as truth anything you hear, only accept the possibility that it may be. You'll have to rigorously seek out truth for yourself with a critical mind. The emphasis on truth is essential. Illusion is based on deceit, real magick on truth.

✵Reduce Your Assumptions: An assumption is basically just a guess. We make a lot of guesses in life from if gods exist to whether the floor will be there when we get out of bed in the morning. Guessing is a psychological reflex and its unlikely that we can ever fullybe free from it. The more you can manke conscious your unconscious assumptions, the more you will notice strange and magickal things about yourself, others, and the Universe.

✵Judge Not: Judgment of others clouds your awareness. Like assumption, it's a reflex. Try reserving judgment when you can. Allow yourself the patience the gather more knowledge and insight into matters. If someone seems like an idiot, ask them genuine questions. Get experience with why others think and act the way they do. Whenever you avoid judging others, you can gain wisdom.

✵Shed Expectations: Another habitual block to your magickal potential is your expectations. Our imagination is always in use, whether consciously or unconsciously. Things are going to be as they are, whether you like it or not. The thing about expectation is that people see not what they want to see, but instead what they expect to see. Projecting our image of things on the present moment or into the future is an unnecessary expenditure of energy that can be freed for authentic magickal experience.

✵Stop Labeling Everything: What is our obsession with classifying things? As soon as we have a word or a name for something, we believe that we understand what that thing is. We can't help this, it's just how our minds work. Try to notice when you are doing this. Naming can be a very powerful magickal act, but only if it's conscious. Habitual labeling will actually end up as an obstacle to true understanding.

✵Surrender To What Is: This is about allowing the present moment to just be. We tend to believe that the present is similar to the future, in that we can change it. But the present is more like the past, in that once it's here, it's here, real and unalterable. If you don't accept that, accept that you can't accept it. Look at what is around you and see that is is how it is.

✵Cultivate Courage: Courage is essential in many traditions, and the Universe rewards courage with 'Hamingja', a form of luck or charisma. It goes by many names in many traditions, but the basis is simply that courageous acts are rewarded by the Universe. Start small and work your way up. You may not br able to start with your ultimate fears, but tackle what you can and you will get there in time. The more courage you possess, the greater your magickal ability.

✵Trust The Universe: If you only have faith in one thing, have faith in this... Ultimately this Universe is here for you to learn what you must learn, to face what you must face, and to allow you to find enlightenment. It's not out to get you, quite the opposite. Enthusiasm and playfulness are two of the strongest mindsets with which we can engage in our exploration of magick. Go with thr flow!

✵Meditate: Meditation can be very simple. Sit up straight, focus on your breathing, and the feeling of your life force. Connect with yourself. It will help you master your mind and achieve grounded clarity.

✵Put It Into Action: You can read all the books, attand all the lectures, join all the groups, and talk on and on about magick, but in the end, nothing will happen unless you find some practical means to put it into action. Don't just think, do. Manifest your desires by practicing and experimenting. Learn through trial and error and it will be more valuable and powerful than anything anyone can tell you.

[inkformyblood]

many different ways (SVSSS)

before, after Pre-Relationship, Sickfic. Shen Yuan x Shen Jiu. Canon Divergence - SJ was placed as SY's reflection when he transmigrated.

The door shuts firmly behind Mu Qingfang, the world once again narrowed to four walls and gentle darkness. Shen Yuan remains where he had insisted on staying, half-draped over the edge of the bed, an outer robe loosely thrown over his shoulders and the sheets pooled around his waist. 

He coughs once, twice, his shoulders shuddering as he braces himself against the onslaught, aching ribs screaming, and tips his gaze upwards to the mirror. He’s heard the rumours thrown about because of his choice to move it closer, his recent habit of studying the nearest polished surface, the whispers of vanity and the louder cackles of debauchery, but he ignores them as best he can and his students take care of the rest.

Shen Qingqiu glares back at him, his green eyes acidic, burning through Shen Yuan’s skull. To one side, the System box flickers, the edges fragmenting into bleeding pixels before it stabilises into the current active quest.

‘Bless you, bless me, bless us. 

Get better soon!

Reward: 5 B-Points.’

Minimal risk, minimal reward, and an answer to the age old question of what it would look like if a computer picked up an actual virus. 

Shen Yuan picks at the edge of the sheet, drawing it further over his thighs as he folds his feet beneath the fall of it. The day is promising to be mild, the sun burning through the low lying cloud cover of morning, and it didn’t matter because Shen Yuan is not leaving this bed. One of the windows is cracked, a thin breeze winding across the floor and disturbing the latent scent of sickness and self-pity. 

“Just a cold,” Shen Yuan rasps, scuffing the heel of his palm against his cheek, shoving his hair back from his face. His fingers catch on a tangle, a spike of dull pain shooting over his skull, and he just tugs his fingers free rather than try and extract himself. “A Without-A-Cure flare-up into a cold.”

Shen Qingqiu leans forwards, one hand extended to brace himself against the side of the mirror. He looks as exhausted as Shen Yuan feels, every moment of interrupted sleep staining beneath his eyes, his mouth drawn into a snarl that feels like it had been sewn into place. His other hand knots at the hollow of his throat, drawing the robes closed. His voice is a scratch, run ragged and bleeding already. “You should have let him die. Why did you save the brat?”

“He’s important. They all are, your students.”

Shen Qingqiu moves closer, his gaze burning, anger running so close to embers that it can only glow and spit. “And who are you to make that judgement, demon? You who stole my body and trapped this master like this.”

Shen Yuan tips his face upwards with a groan, layering his hands over his eyes. “I didn’t choose this, I’m just trying to survive. Saving Binghe—“

Shen Qingqiu snarls, near animalistic, and Shen Yuan flinches, jerking back to face the other man and  answering him with a scowl of his own as he continues, “Saving Binghe, I panicked. This humble student begs for his master’s forgiveness.”

“You have killed me,” Shen Qingqiu says. 

Looking closer, there isn’t just anger splashed across Shen Qingqiu’s features. It is the easiest to spot, thin face bruised with patches of mottled red high on his cheeks, across the bridge of his nose, his teeth bared in a fatalistic grin, but beneath it, his eyes are wide, his pupils shrunken to a frantic pinpoint of fear. It’s the same way an animal caught in a trap is driven to chew off its own leg, and Shen Yuan wants to soften the damage he’s done, something in his chest twisting and tearing open.

“Please, this student knows he made a grievous error, but this isn’t fatal. We won’t die like this.”

If Shen Yuan succeeds, they won’t die like he knows they will either. 

Shen Qingqiu’s voice flattens, barely louder than an exhalation in the void between them. “Maybe it would be better if we did.”

Shen Yuan rises from the bed, kicking his feet free of the blankets tangled around his limbs. His head spins, a distant ringing in his ears as he walks, stumbles towards the mirror to kneel in front of it. His movement isn’t graceful, his limbs are leaden, his breath a rough wheeze against his ribs, and he leans forwards, pressing his forehead against the cool surface of the mirror. 

“I’m sorry, I beg your forgiveness.” His words fog the surface of the mirror, concealing Shen Qinqiu’s answering expression behind it. “I’m sorry.”

“Xiao-Jiu?“ Careful footsteps as Yue Qingyuan makes his way into the room, skirting the delicate edge of the boundary Shen Qingqiu had drawn countless times. ”Oh!”

Shen Qingqiu snaps, his voice muffled and thick. “Don’t— don’t call this master that.”

Shen Yuan echoes him, softer. He’s so tired. He just needs to rest for a moment, then he’ll be okay. Just a moment. Just a—

[paperstorm]

The final chapter is up! We had so much fun writing this all season and thank you every single person who commented or kudos'd or just read this fic. Here's a tease from the last chapter. If you're looking for both morning sexy times and the happiest of endings for this little family, we got you covered 😉

Jonah flops against him and Carlos moves in closer on his other side, the two of them bracketing him like protective bookends.

“How’d you sleep?” Carlos asks him.

It might be too complex a question for a three year old, but Jonah grins up at him and brightly answers, “I have a race car bed!”

“You sure do!” Carlos agrees, reaching down and smoothing stray hairs out of Jonah’s eyes.

Jonah looks to TK and asks, “When is Daddy coming home?”

For a moment, the question twists like a GI infection in TK’s gut. He exchanges a sorrowful glance with Carlos, who sadly shrugs a shoulder. They have so much to learn, so many things to figure out on this new adventure together, and how to talk to someone this young is something TK knows he hasn't mastered just yet.

Carefully, he answers, “I don’t know. It might not be for a long time.”

“Oh.”

“But,” TK continues, slouching further down onto the pillows and snuggling in closer, “you’re gonna live here, now, with me and Carlos. And we love you so much. And everything’s gonna be okay.”

“Okay,” Jonah answers, easily accepting his answer, at least for now.

TK breathes a sigh of relief. TK knows it isn’t the end of the conversation. Jonah’s so little, he has to be so confused, and that makes TK’s heart hurt. But it’s a conversation they don’t need to have this morning. He looks at Carlos again over the top of Jonah’s head. Carlos nods at him reassuringly, moving in closer from the other side so they can cuddle Jonah together.

“Can I have breakfast?”

“Of course you can. What do you want to eat?”

“Pancakes!” Jonah decides.

“Pancakes it is,” Carlos replies. “You two hang out for a bit, I’ll get them started.”

“Stay?” TK asks Carlos quietly, circling his wrist with his fingers over Jonah’s body. “For a few more minutes.” 

Carlos pauses and looks between the two boys in his bed. He must be feeling what TK is feeling, the overwhelming emotion that comes with experiencing their first morning together as a family of three, instead of two. Carlos nods quietly and settles back against the headboard. He lets his arm drape over the pillows that have flattened during the night until TK is curled under it and Jonah is snug between them again.

“I’ll get started on breakfast soon, okay? Unless you’re so hungry now that your stomach is turning into a monster.”

Carlos tickles Jonah’s belly and he giggles. “No,” he says confidently, like a monster could never hurt him. 

TK observes quietly, feeling like he’s in a dream. He knows nights of crying and fear are around the corner, where Jonah wakes up confused and scared and missing his dad. TK knows that it’s not all smooth sailing from here, but right now he looks at Jonah’s resilience in wonder, and Carlos’ natural ability to bond with him, and he feels like the luckiest man in the world.

“Good,” Carlos tells him. “Because you know what the best part about today is?” 

Jonah looks up at Carlos in wonder, four big brown eyes staring at each other. TK is in so much trouble with these two. He could let them get away with anything. 

“What?” Jonah asks, hanging onto every word Carlos says like Carlos is already his hero. TK knows the feeling. 

“We don’t have any plans. Which means we get to sleep in and then do whatever you want.”

Jonah’s eyes grow even wider and his head whips over to TK as if to confirm Carlos’ words. “Whatever I want?” 

TK smiles, squeezing Jonah’s arm. “Whatever you want,” TK confirms. Maybe he and Carlos can be the fun brothers for one more day and spoil this boy beyond belief. He deserves it. Tomorrow, they’ll begin to figure out how to be parents that say no and set limitations, but today, Jonah can get whatever he wants. 

“I want ice cream!” Jonah cries out, and both TK and Carlos laugh. 

Carlos meets his gaze over the top of Jonah’s head, and TK nods. 

“We can do ice cream,” Carlos agrees. “But maybe this afternoon, huh? It’s supposed to be hot.”

“Hot!” Jonah repeats. 

TK chuckles. “Yeah, you’re not used to this, bud. It gets way hotter here than it does in New York.” 

“It does?” 

“Mhm. Think summer all the time.”

Jonah’s grin goes wide. “Yay,” he cheers. “Can we bring Lou-Two with us?”

TK laughs again. “To get ice cream? Probably not, he likes staying here. But you can help me feed him some red peppers later.”

“Okay!”

They fall into silence for a few blessed moments and TK’s gaze naturally drifts to Carlos again. Carlos is already looking back, and his fingers dance along TK’s neck. 

‘Love you,’ Carlos mouths, and TK smiles. 

‘Love you too,’ TK mouths back, and then puckers his lips to ask for a kiss. 

brighter in the morning

co-written with the lovely @paperstorm <3

Sometimes nights together are hard to come by, but TK and Carlos find ways to connect as husbands in the morning. A series of 12 mornings together for each of the 12 episodes in season 5 (plot permitting …)

Chapter One: 5x01 - 7.0k

Chapter Two: 5x02 - 3.8k

Chapter Three: 5x03 - 3.9k

Chapter Four: 5x04 - 2.4k

Chapter Five: 5x05 - 4.2k

Chapter Six: 5x06 - 6.6k

Chapter Seven: 5x07 - 5.7k

Chapter Eight: 5x08 - 2.8k

Chapter Nine: 5x09 - 3.2k

Chapter Ten: 5x10 - 5.3k

Chapter Eleven: 5x11 - 4.6k

Chapter Twelve: 5x12 - 5.4k

[things-arent-what-they-seem66]

(Frankenstein AU)

Lucifer was always obsessed with life and death. He knew that made him an odd person. The only person who really willingly spent time around him was Lilith and that was only because she found him handsome. During his years at university he believed that he could make a new human from pieces of a dead person he found the parts to make this man. The only thing was that the only reproductive organs that could go with the body he was building was a vagina and a uterus. But in every other was the person was a man. He just needed to get a head and Alastor the local mortician who helped him find these body parts found the perfect head.

Alastor: No one has claimed the destroyed body. The head was the only part that remained intact.

Lucifer picked up the head looking at it in wonder. It was a beautiful man’s head with soft brown hair. Lucifer leaned down and kissed the man’s lips.

Lucifer: Soon I will give you a new life. You will be like Adam in the Garden of Eden. In fact I shall name you Adam. He put the head in a bag and took it back to his home and laboratory. Laying on the table was Adam’s body. Even stitched up from different body parts it was beautiful. Both strong and soft with muscles and curves. He then pulled out the head.

Lucifer: This is your new body, isn’t it beautiful and perfect. You shall soon be given life.

He took our thick thread and a needle so he could sew the head onto the body. With the head attached Lucifer could see Adam as perfect. He waited for the lightning to strike the machine attached to Adam to bring him to life. When lightning struck everything went bright as electricity filled Adam’s body.

Lucifer: Let there be light.

Just then Adam got up and stumbled off the metal table completely naked. He looked at Lucifer with eyes filled with innocence and purity.

Lucifer: Adam.

Adam: Is that my name.

Lucifer: Yes.

Lucifer felt himself fall to his knees as if he was going to worship Adam. It was with irony that Lucifer remembered that he was named after an angel that fell. In one of the stories where he fell it was because Lucifer Morningstar refused to worship Adam the first man. Now here he was, Lucifer Morgenstern worshiping his own Adam. Adam reached over with his hand wanting to take Lucifer’s hand and Lucifer took the hand and held it.

Adam regarded the man before him, his creator he supposed. He was short and blonde but very handsome.

He had so many questions and hoped to have answers.

Adam: Who are you?

Lucifer: Lucifer Morgenstern, I created you Adam.

Adam: Why?

Lucifer got up on his feet still holding Adams hand, his creation had so many questions, so curious and sweet. Though, he should give him a better reason other than he wanted to.

Lucifer: I needed a companion.

Adam: Am I that?

Lucifer: Yes.

There were knocks on his front door and Lilith just decided to walk in, she did that a lot Lucifer was surprised that she even knocked this time.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw Adam.

Lilith: What the fuck is that?

Lucifer: This is Adam. Isn't he perfect?

Lilith curled her lip: No. You shouldn't have done this Lu, it'll be nothing be trouble.

Adam's attention was stolen away by a butterfly and he followed it to the window, he held out his hand and it landed on his finger. He regarded it with a gentle innocence.

Lucifer: Oh yeah, he's just scaring that butterfly.

Lilith: You know what I mean. Destroy it.

[svmmersoldier98]

Kindred souls Part 1

Pics are not mine, belongs to Pinterest. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄.. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁.

Pairings: Avengers! X F!OC,Bucky Barnes X F!OC Warnings: blood,stalking,past traumas,mention of Red Room and HYDRA,swearing (A lot),violence,flirting, fluff,angst,mentions of depression,ptsd and adhd Summary: OC was part of the Red Room, got taken at a very young age, escaped thanks to Natasha Romanoff and her sister who took down the Red Room. Now her past hunts her. Word count: 1.4K

I ran through the streets, soaked with water and mud. My clothes were dirty and ruined as I ran. The voices grew louder as I ended up in a dark valley where the only way out was up. It was impossible to get out of there before they caught up with me. I was always stubborn and brave, but that courage wasn’t so good in every situation.

When the voices finally caught up with me and the three men came towards me, adrenaline pumped through my veins and my heart raced so fast it was a miracle I was still alive. I noticed the pattern of their movements and tried to dance my way out of the encounter, but as soon as one of them spoke up, it was clear why they were after me. “2013 March 12”- One of them said. The confused look on my face made him even angrier than before. The other two men tried to calm him down, but they did not have much success. He was almost about to lash out at me when he suddenly stopped, seemed to calm down a little and spoke again.

“You killed my mother, my father and my sister. Don’t you remember? You even looked me straight in the eye and I watched you slaughter them in front of me. And yet you acted as if nothing had happened and left.“- My memories came back and I saw in front of me a small child, about 5 years old, crying in front of me. The bodies of his family were lying on the floor, covered in blood. I was the one who had killed them. I had made his life hell. It was already a great burden on my shoulders, how many lives I ruined in my life, in that short time. I was only 15 years old at the time. It was even a miracle that they sent me on a mission. I was the youngest one out there, the others weren't sent out until they were 20.

But Drejkov saw something in me, that I was capable of something impossible. Just like his other former widow. Natasha Romanoff. I thought I wasn't like her, she was strong and I was just trying to be strong. All that weighed on me every day. And I was still so young, how could I ruin so many lives in such a short time? When I answered him, he was on the verge of losing his temper and now his friends were rushing towards me too. I don’t want to hurt any more innocent people, but I don’t want to die either.  “I’m sorry about that. I had no other choice at that moment.“ -I said and one of them pulled out a gun and pointed it at me. I was fast and very well trained. The boy wasn’t used to a gun, he couldn’t handle it.

Maybe that was the cause, or maybe my mind was telling me not to dodge the bullet. That it would be easier to let it kill me after all the pain I'd caused. I'd deserve it. Then the bullet found me, in my chest, close to my heart, but not close enough to kill me. I pressed on the wound as they just ran away. The kid got more trauma, great. I needed immediate medical attention but didn’t know where to go. I mean, I couldn’t go to a normal hospital with a bullet in my chest, they'd ask far too many questions, and the police would probably get involved too. I couldn’t risk that. As I tried to hide in the shadows of the night, I noticed a large billboard on a building across the street. The Avengers. It was a bunch of guys until a familiar face appeared. Natasha. They had a live/work base, which was also mentioned on the billboard.

Well done Avengers, that’s not a way you hide from the enemy. I only had one chance, hopefully she will not ask any questions and just get the bullet out and I am on my way. After a long walk I was exhausted, I had lost a lot of blood, but I was here. The gates weren’t actually closed so I just pushed them aside and walked in. There was a big field around the even bigger building. A bunch of cars and training grounds. Strange, I thought to myself. Not a guard, but a retinal scanner. It's easy to hack into these things. I mean, I had to learn how to hack, I was supposed to be a deadly assassin. It didn’t take me long to do it, the screen was green and the doors were open. I walked in, stumbled to the elevator, read the signs and pressed the button that would take me to the “living area”. Where I would find Natasha, I assumed.

The elevator opened with a ding and I stepped out... so many people.. "So, um, hello." -I said, a little unsure of the situation. I looked around the room, everyone was staring at me. I was practically soaked from the rain. Water dripped off my clothes onto the floor, forming a small pool underneath me as I stood in front of the elevator. "Who are you?" - one of them asked. A tall, blond-haired, muscular man in a black T-shirt that clung perfectly to his body and gray sweatpants. He looked good, and he looked familiar. "Uh... my name is Ren. And I came here to talk to Natasha." -I said, my voice low as I was a little intimidated by all the people. "That's your first question, Rogers? Well, mine is, how the hell did you get in here? I built the security system myself!" -He was a few inch shorter, had black hair and sported a beard and mustache. "Then you must be Tony Stark." - I said, looking at the man in question. "It wasn't my intention to hack into your system. I just didn't know where to go." -I muttered quietly, waving my fingers around.

Once again, I felt like I did before... "Alright then. Why do you want to see her?" -Asked the blonde, who was obviously Rogers. "She's the reason I was able to escape. And the only person I remember." -My voice shook a little, but I continued. "Besides, I was attacked before I got here. Some people found me and claimed I killed their parents. Which is probably what happened. It's still a little of a blur to remember all this." -I said, heaving a sigh as I stared at the ground beneath me. I didn't tell them about my wound, which was bleeding at the moment. After all, I had been shot. My clothes were already wet, so I didn't think it would show. "You're bleeding," one of them said. A deep, hoarse voice. I felt a shiver run down my spine at that. "No, I'm not," I said quickly. Perhaps too quickly. "Yes, you're bleeding. I can smell it. And it's dripping from your clothes." -That deep voice again. Then a man appeared. He had a metal arm.

I tilted my head slightly to the side as I looked at the man in front of me. "You're the Winter Soldier. He mentioned you a few times. You were supposed to train us, but then you disappeared from HYDRA... " I said, still looking at him from head to toe. He looked different from what Dreykov had shown us. He still had long hair and that pain in his eyes, but something was different. "Who?" he asked simply, but his tone was demanding. "Dreykov. My so-called father. Or whatever he was." -I answered him. Then I heard a soft, low sigh of surprise in the room. "You were in the Red Room?" -a female voice. She sounded scared, even surprised. "Yes, I was. I escaped two years ago when you and your sister blew up that hellhole." - my voice went quiet again. I had never talked about it before. I don't know why I did now. I shifted my weight to my other leg and hissed at the sudden pain I felt in my chest. The bullet. It dripped even more and now soaking my shirt. Now they definitely see it. The tall blonde gasped and quickly rushed over to me, catching me as I nearly collapsed. "We can ask her more questions once the wound of hers are taken care of" he said in an imperious tone. It seemed like he was the boss here, everyone listened to him. I was taken into a white, bright room. Then everything went dark.  

[foggydreamsstuff]

Astro: The Starborn Ghost

A detailed roleplay starter set in the Arcane (League of Legends) universe.

---

Out of Character (OOC) & Organization

Organizer: [Me, @foggydreamsstuff ]

Co-Organizers: [lmk if you want to be tagged]

Roleplay Type: Literate / Multi-Paragraph / Character-Driven

Setting: Piltover & Zaun, Post-Undercity War

Genre: Science-Fantasy, Steampunk, Political Intrigue

Table of Contents

1. World Setting

2. Plot

3. Rules

4. Character Form

5. Roles

6. Events

7. Locations

8. Protagonists & Antagonists

9. Ships & Relationships

---

World Setting: The Twin Cities of Piltover and Zaun

The City of Progress stands taller than ever, yet beneath its golden towers lies a sickness that no Hextech innovation can cure—corruption, greed, and the ghosts of a war long past. Piltover, once a beacon of technological advancement, has tightened its grip on Zaun, suffocating the undercity with regulations disguised as "reconstruction efforts." The war between the two cities ended in silence, but the scars remain, and revolution brews beneath the shimmer-lit streets.

Hextech, the marvel that propelled Piltover to greatness, is now more than just a tool—it is a weapon, a currency, a means of control. The Council, fractured and desperate to maintain order, fights a losing battle against the shadows that slip through its cracks.

And in the heart of it all, there is a ghost.

Astro, a boy with constellations on his back and a mind sharper than the Hexcore itself, lives in the Astrology Tower—a secluded structure built by Jayce Talis, but now home to Viktor and his ward. Astro is frail in body but limitless in mind, his knowledge of Hextech bordering on the supernatural. He is a phantom of the Council House, a forgotten heir, and perhaps, the key to a new future—one that neither Piltover nor Zaun is prepared for.

But with power comes danger. There are those who would see Astro controlled, and others who would see him silenced. The game is set, and the pieces are moving. The question remains: will he be the star that guides the lost, or the one that burns out too soon?

---

Plot: The Hexcore Conundrum

A mysterious Hexcore anomaly has begun spreading throughout Piltover and Zaun. Machines malfunction, shimmer production grows unstable, and even the very fabric of reality seems to fray in places where the Hexcore's influence lingers too long. The Council has no answers, and the greatest minds of Piltover whisper about one name—the Ghost of the Council House.

Astro has spent years studying Hextech, but even he is at a loss. Something is wrong, something beyond calculations and blueprints. When a secret organization known as The Celestials approaches him, claiming to know the truth of his existence, the boy is faced with a choice:

Serve Piltover and maintain order, risking being used as a tool like so many before him.

Side with Zaun’s revolution, hoping to break free from the city’s control but facing the threat of war.

Or forge a path of his own, one that could reshape the very core of Hextech itself.

The story begins on a night when the sky itself seems to crack, a ripple of energy distorting the air above Piltover. The first real test of Astro’s mind is about to begin—and he is not the only one watching.

---

Rules

Literate Roleplay: At least 2+ detailed paragraphs per response.

Respect & Consent: No godmodding, no controlling others' characters.

Canon & OCs Allowed: Balance is key; OCs should fit the Arcane universe.

No Instant Knowledge: Characters must learn information through roleplay.

Stay Active: If you need a break, let others know.

Story Progression: Events will unfold naturally, but major decisions will be player-influenced.

Dark Themes: This RP contains themes of chronic illness, disability, political conflict, and ethical dilemmas in science.

---

Character Form

Name:

Alias/Nickname:

Age:

Gender & Pronouns:

Sexuality:

Affiliation (Piltover/Zaun/Neutral):

Occupation:

Appearance: (Include height, build, scars, notable features)

Abilities/Talents:

Weaknesses:

Personality:

Backstory:

Goals:

Connections (Rivals, Family, Friends, Enemies):

---

Roles

The Ghost of the Council House (Astro): The starborn enigma, caught between worlds.

The Councilor: A high-ranking Piltover official who seeks to control Astro’s knowledge.

The Revolutionary: A Zaunite leader looking to use Astro’s skills to fight for freedom.

The Scientist: A Hextech engineer who studies the anomalies, either for Piltover or for themselves.

The Mercenary: A bounty hunter assigned to retrieve Astro—alive or dead.

The Celestial: A mysterious figure who claims to know Astro’s origins.

---

Locations

Astrology Tower: Astro and Viktor’s secluded home and research space.

The Council House: Where the most powerful figures in Piltover make their decisions.

Zaun’s Depths: The heart of the undercity, filled with dangers and revolutionaries.

The Hexcore Vault: A classified location where Hexcore research is conducted.

The Rift: A newly formed anomaly, distorting reality and drawing people toward it.

---

Roleplay Starter: "The Ghost and the Rift"

The night was thick with smog, the city humming with a restless energy that even the late hour could not quell. Somewhere in the depths of Piltover, the Council House stood tall, its golden halls quiet save for the distant ticking of Hextech clocks.

But in the Astrology Tower, high above the city, a boy stared into the sky.

Astro sat by the open window, his breath fogging the glass as he traced constellations only he could see. The stars whispered to him in a language of silence, and tonight, something was wrong. The sky shimmered—not with celestial light, but with something unnatural. A crack in the atmosphere, a pulse of energy that rippled through the air like a slow heartbeat.

Viktor’s voice broke the quiet. "You feel it too, do you not?"

Astro did not turn. His gloved fingers tightened around the edge of the windowsill. "It’s not just an anomaly. It’s… a calling."

Down below, the city was already stirring. Councilors would be mobilizing, scholars scrambling for answers, and in Zaun’s depths, revolutionaries would be taking this as a sign of change.

The stars had spoken.

And Astro was ready to listen.

---

How to Join the Roleplay

Reply with your character’s introduction, either approaching Astro or reacting to the Rift’s appearance. Whether you are a scientist, a mercenary, or a forgotten friend, the story begins now.

[ateez-himari]

Hi bb!!! I've missed you so so much but we're both busy with life and I've been really tired lately since I'm making up my missed fasts from last ramadan but anywayss.... How have you been?I hope you're doing well and that you're not too stressed😙I had some questionssss as usual

1-you know how parents(typically asian parents) always rush their kids to get married? I wonder if minari's parents are the same. Cause even yoongi said his parents always ask him when he's getting married

2-you've probably seen the videos of seonghwa wilding on stage during the europe tours, soooo hima probably would've been doing the same if not worse so is it possible to get some iconic moments from this tour?

3-you mentioned in your reply to my comment that hima held hongjoong's hand during the show so did hongjoong first find this weird? And how did he get used to it?

4-I wnated to ask this but when all the members had solos/duos (since only jongho had an official solo) who did hima have a song with on the album? Or did she have a solo?also during the iconic chorus part of 'WORK' Choreo who was hima partnered up with?

5-some chaotic moments between hima, yeo, and yunho? Since they share a dorm. Also who did hima share a dorm with first or a room with

Ily so muchh bb please take care of yourself and stay hydrated!!!! Feel free to reply to this ask when you feel like it i don't want to overwork you💓💓

(Also take this photo of baby jjong that is so cute but unintentionally funny since it looks like the pose 28 from dress to impress)

Omg Mina, hi! I missed you too!!🥹🩷 I wanted to answer this sooner but I have so many things due this week that I haven't had the opportunity to get to it. I'm kind of stressed but you know what, without math this semester is a little more calm so I'm doing okay!

• Himari is the only daughter of the Min family, so they originally wanted to protect their precious treasure against the pain of heartbreak, and were in no rush to see her grow to be an adult old enough to stand at the altar with a man. When they met Mingi, they saw how the two acted around one another, always gravitating towards their counterpart, and suddenly could not wait to see them with wedding rings on their fingers. Now when they see him, the very first question is 'have you proposed yet' and said they wanted grandchildren (though it's a sensitive topic for their daughter, so that talk soon ended)

Mingi's parents fell in love with their son's girlfriend the moment they officially met her under this label and they can see how badly he wants to propose - though both have agreed that in the midst of their ever increasing popularity it isn't the right time - so they definitely bring it up quite a bit. They both have her saved in their contacts under the name 'Daughter In Law' and often call her that when the couple comes over, sort of throwing winks their way

• Why do you always know what's in my drafts...I've been continuously re-working the concert moments compilation every concert-. Since you brought him up though I can give one of them away; they occasionally insert an acting stage between the two - which directly follows/transitions from the HongYunHwa act - and during one of them his fingers found their way inside her mouth while he was holding her throat from behind. (Not to throw anyone under the bus, but some members face troubles with the amount of adrenaline that comes with concerts). Here's a few solo moments;

Now I wouldn't say that the maknae was pole dancing when performing 'Addict' during the second day in London...but there was definitely a pole there, and a blindfold, and the male dancer was Mingi...and 'Wake Up' didn't stand a chance

When performing 'Shadow' right after the theft allegations against Hybe came out, instead of falling backward onto the bed like the usual performances, she dropped the (prop) mic and stuck two middle fingers up (like brother like sister)

During 'Work', instead of doing the normal choreography she did the ass shaking version (the one Kiss of Life did) right in front of an atiny that had the banner 'Himari Marry Me' and took off her jacket to give attendees a good view of her hips yk 🤭

• Hima has been doing this since the very beginning of their career, which he used to find somewhat odd because no one was aware yet that she was still in some kind of childish mindset. When she realized he was uncomfortable with skinship she began holding on to his sleeve, until their relationship grew closer and he let her hold his hand, even voluntarily seeking it out sometimes (in great part because he realized it comforted her - though he would never admit that). It's also a way for the maknae to ground herself amongst the overwhelming background noise, helping them communicate through things like the tightness of their hold

• 'Shadow' was actually the track that was used in 'The World EP. Fin: Will'! There were many more contenders, such as the draft version of 'Blinded Red' but when the other members were consulted about it, everyone agreed that if this was the one she wanted to use they had no problem with how dark the lyrics are. For the chorus she was partnered with San, and Mingi was placed in the middle since it's his verse (why is San lowkey always at the scene of the crime with these two...)

• Hima was rooming with Matz in their first dorm, sleeping on a futon bed next to the window despite their protests for her to take one of the bunks! Here's some chaotic occurrences in the new dorm;

Hima came home from the studio (during Golden Hour Part.2 production) and found the two men holding fire extinguishers while their smoke detector beeped incessantly - they tried to make dinner since she was definitely going to be tired yet failed miserably and set the fried rice on fire...in the pan

The first time either of the boys did laundry they had to go ask their maknae if it was okay for them to touch her 'you know what', which obviously confused her, and when she finally got the word out of them she realized that grown men were asking if it was okay to touch her underwear-

The members can be very forgetful when it comes to her hearing loss and one night Yunho decided to go to the kitchen to get an energy drink (at 11PM...) while she was doing the dishes, but when he slipped past her he put a hand on her hip to make sure she didn't move and hit her head on the open cabinet door, which resulted in her getting scared (because she didn't notice him) and punching him in the family jewels out of pure instinct

Ily so much more sweet! Once this week is over I'll rest a lot and take care of myself don't worry! 🥰🩷 You take care too and get plenty of rest! Also OMG I don't think I've ever seen this one he's so cute ksehfwen 🥹 (he really does look like that pose though)

[skeletwinsauaskbox]

Hey, guys! Sorry I didn't answer many questions today. I was having a bit of an off day and my motivation went kerplunk on most things.

Aaaaaaaaaaanyhoo, that said, I'll still try to answer as many questions as I can tonight. But FIRST! I just want to show you guys the upcoming chapters (basically the ones in the planning stage or have already been planned). I have a list of them here, and I'll give cheeky little synopses/tidbits/explanations for the chapters below!

Hehe, it's all under the cut if you wanna read.

Heart Drive (currently writing) - Mettaton and Napstablook will make their debuts in this chapter, but they won't be the main focus. They have significant roles in it, but it's actually focused more on Sans and Alphys' friendship and their flaws. I think it's also the first long Sans chapter too, so that's neat.

Snail Races (planned) - Napstablook is a major character, Gerson makes his debut, and lots of chaos and ancient magic lore. It will also introduce an important plot point involving the twins and how their magic works in this AU.

The Snowdin Snowathon Championships! (planned) - This one's just pure shenanigans, really. Papyrus basically enters an annual sports event and Sans ends up being a goofy commentator for it. I've been thinking about sports events that we humans have and thought, "I wonder if monsters have sports events like we do. What would that look like?" Thus, this chapter was born! Haha!

Undyne and Sans (planned) - A short chapter. Undyne and Sans meet in person for the first time and talk about Papyrus. That's about it.

Ketchup To My Level (planned) - A lot of you send in ketchup-themed asks for Sans, and I understand why! He just hasn't drank ketchup yet! Well, this is a chapter literally all about that, except me being me, I've basically expanded it and contextualised it for this AU. Long story short, Sans kinda goes insane, but in a comedic way. Honestly, I'm excited to write this one.

Spaced Out (planned?) - This is a unique, experimental chapter because the narrator for the majority of this one is not the regular narrator, but SANS AND PAPYRUS THEMSELVES. They come up with this crazy story together with aliens and giant robot dogs. No, nothing makes sense. It's Sans and Papyrus, the definition of goofballs, of course they're not gonna make sense!

Mandatory Training (planning) - Undyne and Papyrus' friendship gets a bit more development, there's a demonstration of the twins' musical powers acting up, and we get Sans being a lazybones and Papyrus showing more of his insecure side. That's all I got so far.

Honestly, I'm trying to make the best of the more goofy chapter before things get a bit more serious in chapter 34 onwards. I consider chapter 34 to be the "turning point" of the fic, honestly, despite it being a short chapter. It's just where things get a bit darker. Enjoy these goofy chapters while you can! :D

Anyway, see ya! I'll get to answering your questions again soon!

[kingofmyborrowedheart]

Since Taylor has called The Eras Tour a “journey through the musical eras of my career” I wonder if she will will open with something from Midnights and then dive into the previous albums or if she will start from debut and end with Midnights.

[thechaotichorselord]

hey hey lil thing

howdy hey horselord here with some horselore/rambles

i just wanna say; in the Unwanted Guest AU Stanarrator isn’t canon AT THE BEGINNING—

Stan and Nar go through a bunch of character development throughout the AU, and they don’t like each other at all

Stan thinks Nar is a power hungry psychopath who loves watching him be in pain

Nar thinks he’s just doing his job and that Stan doesn’t really matter

BOTH OF THEIR OPINIONS WILL CHANGE IN THE FUTURE, GOOD AND BAD.

Stan started off liking Nar but quickly grew to loathe him due to being stuck in a loop for a long time.

Nar started off thinking of Stanley as nothing but a boring protagonist he’d have to waste his time on to make the Crows happy, but after seeing how fascinating Stanley is he grew attatched (PLATONICALLY for now)

Any Stanarrator art I draw is purely silly and fun because fuck it, I wanna draw my men being happy even though they aren’t close to being happy.

If they got into a relationship right NOW, like right in the beginning of the AU it would be toxic and bad. So I draw them being cute outside of the AU. The doodles I draw are with some of their lore and not a lot of character development, but what they would act like together as a happy cute couple.

The actual couple they’d make is…well, you’ll see. Just wanna clarify the cutie patooties you see aren’t canon…yet :3

anyways have low quality doodles

[good-beanswrites]

A little something featuring Fuuta and Es after talking about their criminal lack of interaction in fanworks with @waivyjellyfish ! You had such awesome ideas (a few of which I'm still bouncing around in my head to post at some point,) but this one ended up taking over my brain -- I hope you enjoy 😅 Attempting to answer the widely-debated question:

“Oi, why didn’t you hit me?”

Es looked up from their paperwork.

“Prisoner number three. Most people are glad when they’re not struck.”

“Well, I’m not.” 

Es usually left the door open at this hour, in case anyone had any last-minute complaints before curfew. No one usually took them up on the offer. They figured that if there was any prisoner they could count on to complain, it would be Fuuta marching through their door.

“You hit all the other guys. You even hit some of the girls that were giving you trouble. So what? You think I’m too weak? You think I can’t take it?” Fuuta spread his arms. “I can, so show me what you’ve got!”

Es sighed. They put down their pen. They folded their gloved hands together, resting their chin on top. “Fuuta, I’m not going to hit you.”

“Why not?”

“As of right now, I have no reason to. If you’re referring to the interrogations…”

They reflected on the first one they'd shared with him. To be fair, the thought had crossed their mind. It would have been satisfying to give this rowdy prisoner a taste of his own medicine – striking him after such a dramatic charge at them. But Es was always good at reading people. It didn’t take them long to understand Fuuta was the type to lash out first and ask questions later. In fact, that was likely what had landed him in Milgram in the first place. 

Although Es knew they weren’t here to do any reformation, they wanted to try to show these prisoners where they’d gone wrong. So, they resolved to act as the bigger person. They’d prove that senseless violence was just that. By keeping their composure, they’d show Fuuta just how childish he was being. 

That wasn’t my only reason. I guess that's true, my actions weren’t all purely righteous. I still spent the entire time looking for ways to make him squirm… But it wasn’t all cruelty. I really did want to understand. I wanted to help. That counts for something, right?

Es never struck the prisoners out of anger, or as a petty show of power. It was a way to force the prisoner to mind their ego. When they’d gotten a bit too full of themselves, a bit too comfortable with the awful deed they’d committed, Es’ blow encouraged them to feel a bit more humility and guilt. 

By the time the second trial arrived, Fuuta oozed guilt. 

The moment Es entered the interrogation room, it was clear that he needed no lesson in humility. He hugged his arms to his chest. His remaining eye darted around the room in thinly-veiled hysteria. His voice trembled when he spoke. It didn’t require any people-reading skills to hear the remorse that underlaid all of his accusations and threats.

Hitting the others felt like giving a dog a tap on the nose after breaking a rule. Meanwhile, Fuuta snapped and snarled like a stray who’d been kicked time and time again.

Of course, he could never know any of this. Any way Es phrased it, Fuuta would misunderstand it as pity.

Well, wasn’t it? I thought he looked like a kicked puppy – that sounds a lot like pity. No, it was out of respect. Does that mean I didn’t respect the prisoners I did hit? No. I respected them too. Then, what’s the difference?

Fuuta was still staring at them, asking the very same question. What’s the difference?

“Each of Milgram’s prisoners is unique.” 

They were met with an unimpressed glare.

Es chose their words carefully. “Each one responds best to a variety of treatments. Some need attention to be comfortable, while others need time. Some need validation in order to confess. Others, a bit of debate does the trick. Some need a show of force. You –” remind me too much of myself  “– require something else. I’ve learned to change my approach depending on the person I’m dealing with.”

Fuuta’s features flashed with confusion, then shame, then his usual mask of anger. “Tch. How pathetic.”

“Excuse me?”

“So you just change your personality when it’s convenient? You put up fake smiles and fake attitude? Have some balls and just be yourself.”

Es was caught by surprise. “... I am. Those are all pieces of myself. I choose to bring out different parts when it would be most helpful.” 

“Sounds manipulative as hell to me.” 

It makes sense he doesn’t understand. He’s a very clear-cut person, with every aspect of his personality lining up in a way that makes sense. I find that predictability fun. Or, is it something that I envy? Could it be both?

They had no time to dwell on it, as Fuuta was struck with an idea. “Though, if you can do it on command, why don’t you give me the ‘you’ that wants to hit someone?” 

He spread his arms once more, hands gesturing to his chest. Es pretended not to notice him wince. They remained in their seat. 

“What are you waiting for? Hit me!” 

“I will not.”

“You just said you can change your personality on a whim, so let’s see it!” 

“That is not what I said.”

His good eye began to look frenzied. He raised his voice. “You scared? The big bad warden of Milgram, nothing but a big coward!”

“Stop this. You’re acting childish.”

“No! You’re treating me childishly! Let me see the Es that kicked Shidou! The one that slapped Kazui! Treat me like you treated them!”

“I hit them because they said something stupid. They deserved it.”

“Are you fucking kidding? I deserve it too! I deserve it! Come on!”

At the last word, his voice broke. He stumbled to his knees. He let his head drop. He sucked in strained breath after strained breath. Shidou would surely give him a lecture about getting so worked up with his injuries. 

Es finally stood.

They made their way around the desk. They knelt on the floor in front of him. 

“Why?” he wheezed. “Tell me…”

“Fuuta.” 

Should I just go ahead and do it, just to make him happy? No, I want to talk it out. But what do even I say? I'll tell him that I care. I can’t. None of the prisoners understand that I care. Why? Why is it so hard for them to see? I’m trying my best, why can’t they see? 

Es extended their hand carefully. They didn’t know what they hoped to accomplish, but in that moment their thoughts were too loud and conflicting. They needed to do something.

Fuuta saw the gentle intention, and immediately raised his own hand to strike. It froze midair, though whether it was from Milgram’s restrictions or his own hesitation, Es would never know.

Neither of their gestures connected.

Footsteps. Then Yuno’s voice, hesitantly from the doorway. “We heard shouting, is everything alright in here?”

Es retracted their hand.  A beat. Fuuta dropped his, too. 

“Yuno. Yes, we’re fine. Fuuta was just heading to bed. I’m going to walk him to his cell.”

“I can handle myself.”

“I said, I’m going to walk him to his cell.” 

Es stood, nodding to Yuno. When she’d gone, they turned their attention back to the prisoner crumpled on the ground. They made an effort to quiet their ever-racing thoughts. 

“Listen. I know you can handle yourself. I’m not doing this because I think you’re weak. You’re strong. Don’t think for a moment that I don’t see that.”

They held out their arm to help him up. He didn’t move.

“Sometimes you are a bit too strong, if you ask me. I mean, picking fights with your prison warden, really?” They clicked their tongue. “You should be grateful for a superior that gives you second chances.”

At last, Fuuta  took their hand. He avoided meeting their eyes, but his voice had softened considerably from his rant. “The only thing you give me is a headache.”

Es offered a dry smile as they pulled him to his feet. “The feeling is mutual.”

[cluescorner]

WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH KAEYA AND VENTI?? Like, of all the relationships I want explored in genshin theirs is the most fascinating to me. Do they know who the other is in relation to their origins? Are they both in the dark? Does one know and the other doesn’t? What are their real feelings towards the other person, not just the expressed ones based around their personas? Why was Kaeya left in Mondstadt specifically and does Venti have any thoughts on the matter? Are we gonna get a big reveal scene where Venti shows himself as Barbatos and Kaeya is like ‘AYO WHAT THE FUCK’? Are we gonna get one where it’s vice-versa and Venti loses it onscreen? 

Does Kaeya know that Venti is Barbatos and is friendly with him regardless? Or is it to get more info on the Archon? Or is it to perhaps ingratiate himself to Venti in hopes of not fucking dying like literally almost everyone else? Is he completely unaware and if Venti admits his identity to Kaeya that will be yet another instance where Kaeya’s trust has been broken by someone close to him? Or will he lash out at Venti because it is heavily implied that the Abyss Order/Fatui/tbh everybody related to Khaenri’ah in some way hates Barbatos in particular for some reason? Or will he just go on as normal in hopes that Venti doesn’t recognize Kaeya as Khaenri’an? Or will he have a fucking panic attack immediately because bro I would too if one of the people who killed-or-worsed literally my entire nation just showed up and oh no he was my fucking drinking buddy? 

Does Venti know that Kaeya is an Alberich and simply not care? Or is he pitiful of the man whose freedom was restricted at a very young age? Or does he feel intense guilt stemming from whatever the fuck he did in Khaenri’ah because SERIOUSLY WHY DO KHAENRI’AH-RELATED GROUPS SEEM TO HATE BARBATOS IN PARTICULAR? Or is he perhaps afraid of what Kaeya might do to his nation and hopes to get as close to Kaeya as he can to prevent anything from happening? Did Venti always know that Kaeya was there even during his sleep? Did he wake up and wander into the city and suddenly BOOM, DESCENDENT OF THE ABYSS ORDER IS YOUR CAVALRY CAPTAIN AND YOU CANNOT DO SHIT ABOUT IT? Does Venti not know that Kaeya is an Alberich/Khaenri’an and are we going to get a big reveal wherein Venti will once again be placed in a position where he might have to compromise his identity in order to protect the greater good? Or will he try to kill Kaeya because honestly if I took part in the mass-destruction of an entire civilization I would assume that if somebody reveals themself as a part of that civilization that they’re here for revenge? Or will he treat it like it’s no big deal because he already knew/doesn’t care because Kaeya has made it clear that he’s loyal to Mondstadt? Or will he collapse into a big puddle of guilt and beg forgiveness for everything that’s happened because, when you really think about it, none of Kaeya’s suffering would have ever occurred if Celestia hadn’t nuked Khaenri’ah? Even outside of the other bullshit, Kaeya’s freedom was restricted at a very young age due to the actions of Celestia which Venti played a direct part in. Does Venti feel guilty for this or like he’s wound up betraying his own value? Does KAEYA feel that way? 

THEY DO NOT HAVE VOICELINES ABOUT EACH OTHER! Kaeya and Venti get them for such a menagerie of Mondstadt characters (including ones they never even interact with) that the fact they don’t have them for each other drives me insane. That HAS to be intentional, why the fuck do y’all not talk about each other when you should probably have THE MOST AMOUNT OF THINGS TO SAY ABOUT EACH OTHER?! They are making me crazy. LET THEM INTERACT AND BE HONEST WITH EACH OTHER! WHERE ARE THE FICS WHERE THEY REVEAL THEIR IDENTITIES/LITERALLY ANYTHING RELATED TO THEIR HIDDEN IDENTITIES HAPPEN AND THE OTHER REACTS TO IT?? WHERE ARE THEY?? They are easily the most fascinating yet utterly unexplored dynamic in Genshin. I see more fics about Childe and Kaeya interacting than Venti and Kaeya and I get it and no hate BUT WHAT THE HELL MAN?!

[clowningcrows]

lol i pregamed a tiny bit for agatha but now after finishing im just taking shots for coping reasons