#so there's a bit of a balancing act there

[luvst4rc0r3]

Can you write more loser!jinx x reader but a fanfic

Yes!!

"Your going to get me killed"

Jinx x F!Reader

Modern AU.

WC:775

Note:Not my fav fic

Jinx’s house wasn’t exactly the easiest to sneak into.

Not because it was secure—if anything, the place was a mess, with half the windows unlocked and Vi constantly leaving the back door open when she left for the gym. But Jinx was the kind of person who was always awake.

It was like she had a built-in alarm system, except instead of barking dogs or security cameras, it was just her weird ability to wake up the second something interesting was happening.

Which is why you were extra careful as you climbed in through her bedroom window.

You had climbed up the side of her house, balancing on the edge of her windowsill like some kind of chaotic, lovesick ninja. Jinx was still half-asleep when you knocked—more like banged—on her window.

At first, she thought she was dreaming. Or hallucinating. Maybe both. But then you knocked again, louder this time, and she nearly fell out of bed.

Jinx, squinting through the darkness: ”…The hell?”

You, grinning like you weren’t breaking and entering: “Let me in.”

She blinked. Rubbed her eyes. Blinked again.

“You’re gonna get me killed.”

But she opened the window anyway.

The second you climbed inside, you were on her—pressing her back against the wall, hands tangling in her messy blue hair, your breath warm against her lips.

“Hi.”

Jinx’s brain short-circuited.

“H-Hi?”

You smirked. “You’re cute when you stutter.”

Jinx was done for. Her hands instinctively found your waist, pulling you closer, her heart beating so fast she was convinced you could feel it through her hoodie.

“You broke into my house just to make fun of me?”

“Nah.” You tilted your head, eyes dropping to her lips. “I broke in to do this.”

And then you kissed her.

And Jinx? Yeah, she definitely stopped breathing.

It started slow—your lips soft, teasing, like you had all the time in the world. But then she kissed back, and suddenly, it wasn’t slow at all.

She was grabbing at you, pulling you into her like you might disappear, her fingers curling into the fabric of your hoodie. Your back hit the edge of her desk, and she used the opportunity to deepen the kiss, tilting her head just right, making you sigh against her mouth.

Holy shit. Holy shit.

Jinx had imagined this a lot—probably more than she’d admit. But the real thing? So much better.

Your hands slid under her hoodie, your fingers tracing slow circles against her skin, making her shiver. She bit your lip in retaliation, grinning when you gasped.

“Trouble,” you murmured.

“Duh,” she whispered back.

You closed the distance, capturing her lips in a slow, teasing kiss. Jinx made a sound somewhere between a giggle and a sigh, her arms snaking around your neck, pulling you even closer.

She tasted like candy—probably from whatever she’d been snacking on before you got here. Her fingers tangled in your hair, nails lightly scratching your scalp as she tilted her head, deepening the kiss like she needed this.

Like she needed you.

The kiss turned heated fast—Jinx was never one for patience. She nipped at your bottom lip, grinning when you let out a quiet gasp.

You kissed her again, deeper this time, and Jinx swore she could’ve died happy right then and there.

Then—

BANG.

A loud knock on the door.

“Jinx, who the hell are you talking to?”

Vi.

Jinx froze. So did you.

Her heart plummeted to the floor.

“Shitshitshitshit—”

She shoved you toward the closet so fast you barely had time to react. You tripped, cursing under your breath as you tumbled inside. Jinx yanked the door shut just as Vi pushed hers open.

She barely had time to act casual before Vi flicked on the lights, squinting at her suspiciously.

“Why are you awake?”

Jinx, definitely lying: “Homework.”

Vi, raising an eyebrow: “Since when do you do homework?”

Jinx, sweating: “Since… now?”

Vi glanced around the room, eyes narrowing.

“You sure you’re alone?”

From inside the closet, you held your breath.

Jinx forced the most innocent look she could manage. “Yep! Just me, myself, and my crippling academic struggles.”

Vi didn’t look convinced.

Jinx had never done homework in her life.

But after a long, painful pause, Vi just sighed. “Whatever. Go to sleep.”

She turned to leave.

The second the door shut, Jinx raced to the closet, yanking it open.

You tumbled out, wheezing.

“I hate you.”

“Love you too.”

And then, because you were you, you smirked, grabbed her hoodie, and kissed her again.

Jinx?

Yeah, she was definitely getting murdered for this.

I want food

[cursedcanon]

JJK men as dads.

Characters: Gojo, Choso , Sakuna, Geto , Toji and Nanami.

Gojo Satoru – The Ridiculously Over-the-Top Dad

Gojo as a father would be chaotic good. He’s the kind of dad who shows up at parent-teacher meetings in designer sunglasses and acts like a celebrity. His kid? Spoiled beyond belief. Need a new toy? Boom, you have the entire toy store. Want dessert before dinner? He’s already handing you ice cream.

He’d be super playful, letting his kid ride on his shoulders at high speeds (terrifying for bystanders), randomly teleporting them places, and making everything a game. But when it comes to protecting them? No one is touching his kid. Ever.

Pros: Funniest and most entertaining dad, will literally bend reality to make his kid smile.

Cons: Probably lets them get away with way too much, so discipline? Who’s she?

Overall: The "best friend" type of dad but still a powerhouse of protection when needed.

Choso – The Overprotective, Gentle Dad

Choso would be so soft with his kid. He’s been through so much loss that once he has a child of his own, they become his entire world. He’d always make sure they feel loved and protected, constantly checking if they ate, if they’re warm, if they’re happy. If they so much as get a scratch, he’s holding them like they’ve been mortally wounded.

His bedtime stories? Legendary. He’s the kind of dad who will sit for hours telling stories and making shadow puppets on the wall. But if someone dares to harm his child? They’re dead. No hesitation.

Pros: Incredibly caring, super protective, and patient.

Cons: Might be too overprotective (his kid is not allowed to climb trees, ever).

Overall: A soft, warm dad who will also commit a crime for his child.

Sukuna – The “I’m Not a Softie” Dad (But He Is)

Sukuna as a dad would pretend he doesn’t care, but deep down, he’s got that soft spot. He’d be the dad that grumbles about how kids are annoying, but the moment his child looks sad? He’s casually placing their favorite snacks next to them and acting like it was always there.

His parenting style would be strict, though. No nonsense, no whining. But the second someone else tries to be mean to his kid? Immediate execution.

Pros: Will make sure his child is the strongest, and no one will ever mess with them.

Cons: Tough love to the max. “Crying? Weak. You can fight a bear, I believe in you.”

Overall: The dad who acts like he doesn’t care but would burn the world for his child.

Geto Suguru – The “Cool But Protective” Dad

Geto would be the cool dad—the one who’s got that chill vibe and never raises his voice unless he needs to. He’s the type to have deep conversations with his kid, teaching them about the world, strength, and how to handle things with grace.

But if someone messes with his child? He will destroy them. Effortlessly.

Pros: Wise, calm, and genuinely wants the best for his child.

Cons: Might be a bit too hands-off sometimes.

Overall: The dad who gives solid advice and will make sure his child is respected.

Toji Fushiguro – The “Tough but Soft” Dad

Toji would be a dad who tries to act like he doesn’t care much, but deep down, he’s so soft when no one’s looking. He’d teach his kid how to defend themselves from a young age and make sure they know how to survive.

He’s rough around the edges, but he’d do anything to give his child a better life than he had. If his kid ever got bullied? That bully would mysteriously disappear (coincidence? I think not).

Pros: Teaches survival skills, fiercely protective, secretly affectionate.

Cons: Struggles with showing emotions, might be distant at times.

Overall: The "tough-love" dad who is actually a big softie.

Nanami Kento – The Reliable, Best-Dad Material

Nanami is the perfect balance. He’s the dad who provides everything his child needs—stability, warmth, and love, but also discipline when necessary. His kid will grow up knowing their worth because Nanami will always be there to remind them.

He’s the kind of dad who comes home tired from work but still helps with homework, reads bedtime stories, and makes pancakes on weekends. If his child cries? He’s holding them and reassuring them with that deep, soothing voice.

Pros: Responsible, loving, and will always put his child first.

Cons: Might worry too much about their future.

Overall: The ultimate “Dad of the Year” type.

[overnightheartbeats]

“Well yes, but she wouldn’t be standing outside your door otherwise.” In other words, he wouldn’t exactly be on her radar if Laurel hadn’t singled him out with her interest. But, he had a point. Apologizing for her wasn’t really correct. If anything, it was more an apology for the hassle and inconvenience. “Okay, well the apology is for not really believing you the first time around.” That one also counted. Still, despite her best efforts to keep the mood light after that debacle, she couldn’t quite get past the disbelief and the shock of having ever defended a roommate like that. To have even fallen for an act like that, talk about gullible. “Yeah,” she breathed out in response. “I don’t want to believe it, but I..yeah I heard her. Kind of hard to deny. I just don’t understand why she was so angry at you.” His reassurance and smile did ease some of her nerves, and she gave him a smile in return, comforted by his soft touch. “Good, I’m glad. It’s not…none of it is true.” Did she know everything that was said between them? No, not exactly. But, she’d still assure it was inaccurate.

Still in her state of shock, but laurel listened to each word. His words swirled around her head as she tried making sense of it all. Demanding, marking her territory. It had also hit her in that moment, Juju’s feeling about her roommate had been right. It hadn’t really occurred to her that she’d taken her dad’s advice too literally. A balance was needed - between what her mom spewed often about not trusting anyone and the world sucks, versus her dad’s more optimistic outlook on life. “I hate that," she said, scrunching up her nose. "You don't deserve that mess," her words trailing off as she met his green eyes. Her train of thought was interrupted, as always mesmerized by him. The green eyes combo with his damp hair falling on his face was too distracting. "I'm...yeah I'm okay. My thoughts are all over the place still, but nothing crazy. You really think so?" Then, she thought back to her earlier realization. Clearly, her judge of character was a bit skewed at the moment. "Yeah, you're probably right. I hope that's not the case, but I'll be careful. Promise, as long as you'll be careful too. I can never say no to you walking me to class, as long as it doesn't keep you from your classes."

She hummed happily, leaning into his cheek kiss. How quickly she was falling, she could feel it. "Mhm, I think we should. Tempting to stay in bed, but I guess since I'm not hiding my whereabouts anymore, we could take the trip to the diner." Snow day, Chicago. His siblings. Was she wrong to read that as a good sign of their connection? The idea of meeting his family or going all the way to Chicago stunned her. Her heart was quick to react, heart rate accelerating at the thought. If her heartbeat could be translated, it'd be a resounding yes. Her mind just hadn't caught up to form the words. It took her a moment to catch up. "Wait, really? I haven't seen snow in a long while, I would love to. But, you're sure you want me to meet your siblings?"

Eli shook his head and sighed as he moved away from the door taking her with him. "Please don't apologize for her. You are the last person who should apologize for her. I know this is hard and believe me I didn't want you to have to find this out this way but really, a part of me is glad you saw how she really is. She plays up the innocent act. I don't think any amount of times telling you she said something would really make you believe. This was something she needed to show you." he shrugged and smiled. "Everything she says rolled off my back. I don't take her words to heart. If I did I wouldn't be here with you." His hand caressed her cheek sweeping the strand of wet hair away from her face.

"She uses you as a crutch. Even if you were at your dads, she still would have come over here and demanded to back off you. Regardless if you were here or not, she'd still want to mark her territory." As he looked into her eyes he had to ask, "are you okay?" Now that Jenny was on the other side of the door he was more focused on making sure Laurel was okay. He had dealt with Jenny for a while now that his words didn't really matter.

"I will say though that she won't stop here. What she'll do I have no idea but I want you to be careful. Maybe I can walk you to class?" The worry was more for her than him but truly he didn't have a great feeling with Jenny.

Nuzzling her face he kissed the side of her cheek and softly closed his eyes. "Did you still want to go get food? Or want to order in and stay in bed? Hey, if my siblings say yes, do you want to come to our snow day in Chicago?"

[mouseycometz]

A Blooming Valentine’s Day

(Art by lillinapoc)

Word Count: 1,000 +

Warnings: None

Pairing: Starscream/OC

Plot: Starscream grows curious about Valentine's Day.

Inside the walls of the Autobot base, Starscream resided in his private sector, training with the Star Saber. He attempted to concentrate with narrowed optics and a firm grasp on the hilt of the powerful weapon. The sword glowed as he swung it, using his frame to balance himself correctly. With the proper stance, he nearly felt at one with the blade.

“Steady….”

Another strong movement.

‘Focus…”

And then, quite suddenly, the image of a certain woman emerged from the depths of his processor. The woman smiled, her green eyes flickering and her glasses twinkling in the sunlight. Starscream squeaked a little before frowning and releasing himself from his fighting stance. He huffed, watching as the mini-cons transformed to the floor. They beeped at him, curiously tilting their tiny helms at him.

“That’s enough training for today.”

Puzzled, they beeped again. Starscream smiled, endeared by their concern.

“I’m fine! No need to worry. Why not take a relaxing energy bath? You’ve earned it!”

With that, the mech made his leave, pretending not to hear their beeps behind him.

Starscream marched out of his quarters and into the main room of the base. Monitors buzzed and computers whined. In the distance, his gaze fluttered to Celeste. She worked at a nearby desk, conversing with Red Alert and the mini-cons, Short Circuit and Swindle. Before she could notice him, however, Starscream then overheard the human children walking near him.

“Hey, so, uh, Alexis, you asked anyone to be your Valentine yet?”

“You wish! Besides, even if I did, it’s none of your business!”

“Come on, Rad, you know how she plays hard to get!”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Carlos?”

Starscream paused, reflecting on their words. He blinked a few times, his wings giving a little twitch.

“Valentine’s Day?”

Apparently, he was too loud. Alexis stopped in her tracks and turned towards him.

“Oh, you don’t know what that is, do you?”

Next to her, Rad spoke, intrigued by the jet’s confusion.

“Basically, it’s a day about love and showing appreciation for someone you care about.”

Starscream was unable to keep himself from feeling the slightest bit awkward, his spark pulsing at the thought of someone dear to him nearby.

“L…Love?”

Carlos folded his arms behind his head.

“Yeah, man, it’s too mushy for me.”

Still, the winged mech turned his helm slightly, catching the glimpses of red in Celeste’s hair.

“And...what is…asking someone to be your Valentine?”

Alexis smiled at him.

“When you ask someone to be your Valentine, you’re asking them to be your special partner during the holiday!”

Rad nodded.

“And don’t forget about the gift-giving!”

Starscream gawked, lowering himself to their level.

“What? Gifts?”

Evidently, there were more Earth customs than he initially realized.

Carlos laughed.

“Come on, man, do you seriously not know?”

Starscream gritted his denta, trying to act aloof but failing miserably. Noticing his shift in expressions, Alexis cocked her head at him.

“Is there…someone you want to ask to be your Valentine, Starscream?”

He huffed, now standing from the three.

“No! Of course not. I have much better things to do than gift-giving on Valentine’s Day.”

From the corner of his optics, his gaze wavered to Celeste. She talked with Red Alert, flipping through the stack of papers on her desk. For a moment, he wondered how she would react to a gift of his own.

But what would she enjoy?

He glanced back at the children.

“But…when is Valentine’s Day?”

…

Days passed. After a week of tireless preparation, eyeing Celeste, and communicating with Alexis, Valentine’s Day finally arrived.

Starscream and Celeste traveled through a warp gate to their desired destination. It was a meadow, filled with swaying flowers, dazzling sunlight, and gentle breezes. Starscream chose the environment on purpose, recalling how Alexis stated that Celeste adored flora and fauna.

The woman sprinted in front of Starscream, the hem of her dress flowing as she twirled within the field of colorful flowers.

“Starscream! Do you remember this place? It’s the meadow where we first met! Gosh, I remember it like it was yesterday! You wanted Short Circuit so badly, and I was…”

Starscream remained motionless, waiting for her to relax. When she turned back to him, he lowered himself and stretched a palm out to her. Inside, there was a bouquet of red roses.

Celeste went quiet at the sight.

“Huh?”

Swallowing his nerves, Starscream spoke.

“Celeste…I…am not familiar with Earth customs or holidays, but I…want to give this to you.”

Her silence worried him briefly, but he carried on, his words merging with the beat of his spark.

“Will you…be my Valentine?”

At first, there was nothing. Celeste’s eyes, vibrant and luminous, gazed deeply into his own. And then, much to his dismay, she began to cry. Panicked, Starscream released a sound of surprise before pulling his servo away a little.

“Why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?”

And then, abruptly, Celeste leaned forward and pressed a kiss to one of his digits. Starscream squeaked as she held onto the bouquet. A smile bloomed across her face like the flowers she adored so much.

“Always, Starscream. I’ll always be your Valentine.”

The mech blushed, hard and fast, completely at loss for words.

Carefully, Celeste set the bouquet below her and rummaged through the bags she brought with her into the meadow.

“I actually…wanted to ask you the same thing!”

From her bag, she retrieved a most peculiar item. With narrowed optics, Starscream recognized tiny images of himself in varying poses and expressions. There were pictures of him flying, sword training, and even laughing. He tilted his helm, remembering that all the pictures were taken with his permission. On top of the small board, there was also his name in the form of perfect calligraphy, another hobby of hers.

A reward? A gift? For him?

“What is it?”

Celeste chuckled.

“A photo collage! Filled with pictures of you!” Her voice softened as she held the present out for him. “I know it isn’t much, but I…really appreciate you, Starscream.”

His blush burned deeper and brighter than before, his spark humming and thrumming within his chest plate. But after a pause, he gathered himself, feeling more at ease than he ever felt in his life.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Starscream.”

He smiled, gently cradling the board in his servo.

“Yes. Happy Valentine’s Day, Celeste.”

After setting both of their gifts beside them, Starscream held Celeste close in his giant palm. When he lifted her to his faceplate, her lips brushed against his cheek, setting it ablaze once again.

[whoreiorcats]

Ok take two dehumanization in severance.

I cannot remember where I read this because this class was years ago but basically the act of dehumanizing someone (treating or thinking of them as less than a full person) is also an act of dehumanization against one’s self.

This is because in treating someone like a subhuman in turn causes you to act like a monster. You literally rob yourself of your humanity.

Helena thinks of the innies as “fucking animals” after she has just completely imploded their lives (raped one, killed another, traumatized all) with seemingly zero remorse. Like Milchick feels bad about it!! He’s still a dick but he does not feel normal about what happened to Irv at least.

Mark insisting his outie isn’t another full human, it’s him (an extension of him?) So it’s ok when he decides to reintegrate without considering innie Mark’s life and if he might be effectively ending it (also did not consider this when he was gonna quit after OTC)

Dylan is discriminated against for being severed. The door guy is disgusted at his choice, not weirded out but disgusted.

Some part of Dylan George was consumed to make Dylan G. His wife certainly seems to see something more in Dylan G than she does her outie husband rn. Until those two halves are reunited, until Dylan G is no longer trapped in corporate hell, Dylan George won’t be able to be his full self.

There will always be “the other one” who is either enslaved or dead because of you. Severance is framed as the solution to work-life balance by Lumon but we don’t seem to see any outies who are like normal and happy (except possibly Burt but we also only see a tiny bit of him).

Idk hot take getting the severance procedure is bad 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 big brain thoughts over here

[outset-or-something]

MEET THE MAiN CAST

Outset (name subject to change) is a story about two dudes, Sasha and Floyd. Floyd is a college freshman, who, due to some curious circumstances, becomes the roommate of a man named Sasha. Sasha has a lot of baggage. Floyd, always curious, gets himself dragged into the mess of Sasha's mysterious and suspicious past.

SASHA

Sasha is a grouchy guy with a past shrouded in mystery. Seemingly a washed-up musician, Sasha spends all his time as a hermit holed up in his apartment. He lives off of coffee and cigarettes, which might be part of the reason why he looks old for his age. He is extremely intelligent and more than talented. He has a small handful of scars around his mouth and chin.

-26

-He/Him (cis guy)

-Extremely skinny

-6'1"

-Autistic (undiagnosed)

FLOYD

Floyd is an upbeat kid, fresh into college. He doesn't have many friends, but socializes well with others. He's very kind and always looks for the best in others. Despite his bubbly nature, Floyd is not naïve by any means, and is notoriously curious. Maybe too curious for his own good.

-18

-he/him

-5'1"

-ADHD

ANASTASiA

A character who becomes important a little later into the story, Anastasia is Floyd's adoptive sister. They are very strong-willed and can be extremely stubborn at times. She loves to bake and is very openly affectionate to those she cares for. Works as a social worker for orphans and children who have been legally taken away by their parents. She has a strong southern accent and smells like lemons. After Sasha is forced to live with Floyd and his family due to being under house arrest, Anastasia becomes somewhat of a muse for him. The two end up forming an on again, off again pseudo-romance.

-24

-they/she

-5'4"

-tiefling

ViNCE

Vince is a super rich guy, and a popular singer beloved by the public due to his hefty monetary contributions to various charities. He is more than happy to indulge in every vice under the sun and lives the classic rock star lifestyle. Seems to know Sasha somehow. Acts a little more than friendly with him.

-30

-he/him

-5'5"

-extremely charismatic

SCOTT

An old friend of Sasha's, Scott is a quiet and reserved keyboardist. He can be sarcastic and knows exactly how to make Sasha upset. He lives a comfortable life with his girlfriend and cat and runs an instrument repair shop. Always willing to help those in need. Choses his words wisely. Extremely patient.

-28

-hispanic

-he/him

-5'6"

MAGGiE

Maggie is something of an older sister to Sasha. A skilled pianist, she now lives recently married with her husband and baby in a very nice house. She is motherly to a default, and knows the perfect balance between gentleness and sternness. She hates putting up with Sasha's bs, but continues to do so because she cares for him. Sometimes she can have a bit of a temper.

-29

-she/her

-half-elf

-5'3'

Thanks 4 reading until the end, I love being able 2 share my characters with others :]

under the link provided you can check out more art of these guys, and some other characters. good for references

[solarsavoy]

Sure, I'll share. I've got a couple of approaches for this, a fandom list, and an original work list. I have surprisingly few ships that are important to me, actually, but I should have enough.

Fandom list:

Karmagisa, from Assassination Classroom: my first and one true ship. I love both the chaos and stability they represent, leaning towards chaos. These characters definitely represent me in different ways, and seeing them matched together, in a way, makes me feel whole. I am a highly intelligent loner with no family at home, hung out in the back of the class by myself when I was in school, and played videogames all the time instead of actually trying. I'm also perceived as super sweet and friendly with people, suffer from incredibly low self-esteem, and show a little bit of my surprisingly dark and twisted side every now and then. I didn't know this when I first jumped on the Karmagisa ship, and then later even learned what a ship was, but the more time I spend with it, the more of myself I discover. So really, I think this is the only ship that represents me quite perfectly, but I will list others anyway because they still matter, just not in the same way.

"SakuSyao", from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles: Even though this was technically chronologically my first ship, I didn't know what a ship was at the time and simply liked them together. For this one, the story matters much more to me than the ship, but I can't say I don't love them together. ^^ (The quotes are intentional, for those that know the story. Warning: if you look up what they're for, you'll spoil yourself on a big part of the story.)

Karushuu, from Assassination Classroom, with a focus on Shuu: so this one's a little weird in concept. I ship Shuu with Karma, but don't necessarily ship Karma with Shuu. I think Shuu needs a little more chaos in his life in order to grow as a person, and Karma is the perfect one to inspire that. I go back and forth on whether or not I want Shuu to be ace or aroace or other, but regardless, I see Karushuu as a necessary ship for Shuu. I admit, I have a lot of well developed, personal headcanons for him, and because of those headcanons, Karma is the one that helps Shuu break free from his trauma, become his own person, and gives him purpose. And in the reverse, Shuu doesn't really do much for Karma. He challenges Karma mentally, and, I imagine, frequently fights with him to get him to conform. I hope that makes sense, and even though it's a one-sided ship, it's still really important to me. I think any ship where at least one person is able to grow internally and become a better version of themselves because of the other is a good ship, even if it is also best set to sail temporarily.

Original list, all are from Krystar:

Rizzy, Roxin and Izzy, canon: Roxin is a hyperactive extrovert that is kind and loves people. He's absolutely crazy about Izzy and always has been. It's like love at first sight cranked all the way up to infinity. Izzy is an introvert who likes working on technology. He often acts like Roxin is a nuisance, but also sees him as his connection to the outside world. Without Roxin, he feels isolated and disconnected, fully aware that this is of his own doing, but he has a problem fixing it on his own. He just feels more comfortable in his own workspace, and is often annoyed by people, but Roxin constantly helps (forces) him out of his shell. And in return, Izzy is a point of stability in Roxin's life. They're also just super cute together. Roxin is really touchy-feely and Izzy hates being touched, but for the most part allows Roxin to do as he wishes, which makes Roxin feel extra special.

Steshi, Stag and Deshi, not canon: I know it may seem weird to ship two people in my own work and have them not get together when it's technically within my own power to make it so, but it just is the way it is. In canon, they work well together. They balance each other out when fighting a common enemy and make up for each other's weaknesses. Stag is wild, unafraid to attack first and ask questions later, great at reading people, fast both mentally and physically, and is quick to come up with short term strategies in battle. Deshi, on the other hand, is extremely tame and reserved, questions every action he ever takes, is completely oblivious when it comes to other people, is slow to react on purpose but makes up for it with his instincts and intuition, and leans on his instincts for more "in the moment" decisions while fighting. They just balance each other really well, and even though it's not canon romantic, Stag does have a crush on him, and I'm a sucker for unrequited love. (Compare "SakuSyao")

Mythren and Gerit, canon: I just love these two and most of it is because Gerit is just so precious! ^^ These two also balance each other out really well. Mythren is quick, thorough, and playful while Gerit is deadly and dense. Gerit is a very unique character for those that haven't read the bit I've posted for him on AO3. It's hard for me to put it into words exactly, but Gerit is lacking in a lot of ways and Mythren not only compensates for those weaknesses but helps Gerit to grow out of them. They're just really good for each other, and like with the themes of most of the other ships I've listed, they fill in each others' gaps and mesh quite perfectly.

I know this was supposed to be a quick list and I went and made a thing out of it, but I know most who might see this won't know any of my original stuff, so they needed an explanation. So, do these ships say anything about me? 👀

Tagging @jackiewepps, @heyhellohihowareyou, @magicalflyingfish, but only if you want to do it. No pressure if not!

I don't wanna hear any of the emotional-wreckage psycho-sexual deviance comments that my answer might arouse

Soukoku

Klance

Jegulus

Next question.

Bonus point for stsg which takes charge whenever one of em is resting

[partyanimal167]

Hello~ I absolutely loved your Cowboy Crocodile headcannon! I desperately need more if you would be willing 🖤😭

Yes!!! Anything for a fellow Crocodile lover! I really do enjoy writing for my nice man. I need to see more of him in the manga/anime~

Thinking more about Cowboy!Crocodile....

Cowboy!Crocodile who didn't think he'd stick to life on the ranch at all. He'd get dropped off at his grandfather's as a youngster and hated it!

Cowboy!Crocodile who was shocked when the horses paid him no mind as a kid and wanted to make those large creatures submit!

Cowboy!Crocodile learned patience from working with the animals over the years. It took different strategies and communication styles. People still irked him though.

Cowboy!Crocodile was never bothered by you though. Oh never you. He just wanted to lurk by whenever someone was too close and it didn't seem related to business.

Cowboy!Crocodile noticed when you'd pop by his office though it was floors above yours. You're always welcomed, but you didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea. (The secretary knew)

Cowboy!Crocodile was mostly attentive when you'd present him with new information about different ranches and studies on cattle raising. His mind did wander to you wearing his hat, and he plotted with the other percentage of his mind.

Cowboy!Crocodile who's shocked when you invite him to a lounge after work. It was not his usual scene or music, but he'd try his best for you.

Cowboy!Crocodile kept an eye out for creeps under the brim of his hat after you insisted on getting the next round of drinks. He didn't mind. He'd slip it into your next paycheck any way.

Cowboy!Crocodile who nearly blushed when you pulled him onto the dance floor and he didn't know what to do because again, not his crowd.

Cowboy!Crocodile who easily maneuvered you closer when someone was getting a bit too close for his comfort even though you weren't against dancing with others.

Cowboy!Crocodile who huffed his cigar smoke when you both were back in your seats. He shot daggers at those who looked in your direction while you were ever clueless.

Cowboy!Crocodile nearly choked on that cigar when you suddenly popped up with the bright idea of riding the mechanical bull. He wanted to stop you, but you dashed away. He might have miscounted the amount of drinks you both had.

Cowboy!Crocodile whose face got hot as he watched you lift yourself up and down trying to keep balance on the bull. His eyes definitely did not peek at your jeans or the bit of skin that teased him.

Cowboy!Crocodile was the first one to help you up after you fell off. You were all giggles though.

Cowboy!Crocodile got you home later that night as you laughed a little tispy recounting the moments he was by your side for.

Cowboy!Crocodile tried to play the gentleman act at your door, but you were quicker.

Cowboy!Crocodile's brain paused when you gripped his bolo tie and pecked him on the cheek.

Cowboy!Crocodile thought about that moment as he stared at his boots once home. He'd give you a proper kiss next time.

~~~

Aaah thank you for requesting! I hope this wasn't rushed. I don't normally get requests, so I didn't want you waiting. Crocodile come spoil me please~~~

I want to find all the Cowboy!Crocodile art I can. I'm obsessed!

[alacants]

nadalcaraz as a dynamic is so interesting to me. rafa playing at the philippe chartier like always. He knows this place so well and this is probably the last time he is playing there and he going for the ultimate prize for his country which he has done countless times before but only this time. this time he isn't alone. there is this kid with him who wants it as much as he does only. he wants it for him. for rafa. he could etch history and focus on solidifying his name even more in the history books but no. he is here for his idol smiling and tussling and being a bit silly and lost but he is giving so much. for rafa. and then it doesn't happen. and the other thing doesn't happen as well. (credit novak djokovic but that's a whole other ghost and story.) but rafa is there for him after that in a way he wasn't before? cheering for him at the davis cup on his feet (again. he is doing it for him.) congratulating him on both instagram and twitter (in emoji code too mind you.) and just yeah. Nadalcaraz. sorry for the rant lol

NADALCARAZ. man there is so much there. because in a sense they're both trapped in this relationship imposed upon them. i'm not trying to imply they wouldn't have wanted to have one anyway, just that it's out of their control. the moment carlos won a grand slam at nineteen he became the new rafa and there was nothing that either of them could do about it. 

SO given what has been imposed upon you, you can fight the relationship or embrace it. and both of them have embraced it.

on rafa's side—i've wondered if his enthusiasm for carlos was a sign that he'd more or less come to terms with walking away. this is an imperfect analogy, but i'm always, always thinking of serena williams and sloane stephens, after sloane's ao victory in 2013, when everyone was like, wow serena must be like a MENTOR to you and the response from both of them was, "hell no. absolutely not."

and like yeah, that was about racism. obviously. but i do think the response was not just pushing back at the racism, but also the raw reaction of competitors in their prime. i'm not here to teach/to learn, i'm here to kill the pretenders and feast on their bones/i'm here to overthrow the queen and take MY place on the throne.

(got a great ask-essay about novak and jannik that touches on this idea, op i am slowly but surely making my way to it!) 

sure some of that is just, like, their personalities. i just doubt that the relationship would look exactly the same if carlos had hit the scene even like… 5 years earlier. to quote @oldlizzie's juanki tags that i am always thinking about, they're trying to bury you but you're not dead. until you are.

meanwhile, it's tough for carlos because yeah. you have to live up to THAT. and we see him and juanki doing their best to politely push back on the comparisons—which is a hell of a balancing act, "of course i love rafa, of course i'm flattered, please don't"—because i mean! this is a doomed comparison! for reasons that have nothing to do with talent, carlos is very probably not going to win 22 grand slams! (though, like, i can't see the future. who knows.)

don't let the comparisons get to you. don't let the hero down. don't let him down at his last olympics. don't let him down at his final tournament ever. (the way the stress manifested during those olympic doubles matches was actually so funny, iirc it went like—rafa would indicate something unintelligible and carlos would be like where do you want me to go senpai you have to tell me i don't understand.) it would be very easy to resent this person who is going to shadow you for the entirety of your career no matter what you achieve. but he doesn't. 

like you said, it would have been easy for carlos to want to focus on singles. it would have been easy for rafa to back away from sharing the spotlight and setting himself up for an unflattering side by side comparison. but they both wanted to live that experience of tennis together—to create a moment where pastpresentfuture collide.

so yes. nadalcaraz. :')

[maacbrem]

(I put this in tags then had too many tags so forgive the addition)

The ‘lack’ of an Assembly arc is actually the presence of Caleb Widogast (and thus the presence of Liam in Matt’s world), and I like him way more than any imaginary political coup arc.

The ‘dissatisfaction’ of not seeing the Assembly fall is, as shown, vital to understanding Caleb’s arc and I would ALSO argue that it’s vital to understand Liam’s contributions to the setting itself. All three of his main campaign characters (and a lot of his Exandria oneshot characters) are at the core representations of aspects of grief, and the way they navigate their initial losses and the fallout are what shape the story they are parts of and thus the wider narrative of Exandria. Exandria of course wouldn’t exist as we know it without any of the cast and all the contributors to source books, extratextual material, etc, but let’s talk about Liam via Caleb and let’s talk about tragedy.

I’m using the term tragedy here to mean a story in which failure is inevitable, but inevitability is tricky in the context of ttrpgs. So for the medium I’d say tragedy in practice is a combination of backstory (immovable, malleable perhaps in form/detail but not core concept - Bren always kills his parents, Veth always drowns, Elaina is always killed by a dragon), gameplay and presented narrative (the DM sets the standards of possibility and the players must act within them, but upset is not off the table - see Fjord, whose journey of faith snuck up on everyone at the table including Matt and Travis but could be folded in mechanically and was a natural evolution of the story the players were building for themselves within Matt’s setting), and the players’ instincts (the dice turn up a number, but the player tells us what that means to the character), and Liam has a instinct towards the dramatic.

Which is a lot of words to say: Liam is interested in tragedies and their aftermath, so he asks variations of the question “what do you do when you try and still fail and keep failing, still lose and keep losing?” And the answer has been in essence “love anyway” (Vax) and “make it better for the people who come after you” (Caleb)

(and i get the sense that his angle as Orym was intended to be a sort of combination of the two - you keep living and you keep fighting, but Orym’s greatest flaw was imo his denial of his own potential agency having already failed once, Orym as a shield and a blade, a background extra not an actor, and I see the groundwork of a story in which he learns to balance his sense of responsibility towards others with his ‘selfish’ desire to move forward in the absence of the people he lost- but the structural failures of c3 didn’t give any themes room to breathe and much like the Nana Morri deal lots of character beats got lost. But that’s pretty much speculation on my part, ANYWAY)

Liam asked his questions and answered them with his characters; Matt saw his answers and built parts of the world around and in his own answer to them; the rest of the cast saw Liam and Matt and asked ‘where do i fit?’ Amidst all of their own stories and the world they were also building with Matt and each other. And the interpersonal relationships became the driving force of Caleb’s growth - he was always going to have an arc towards Ikithon and his parents, but the angle of approach was altered by the sudden intrusion of people caring about him and him caring about them in return.

Matt built Exandria. He invited his friends to enter it, to get down in the gears and wires and invent the Briarwoods and the Aramente and the goddamn Rexxentrum Toy Authority. And the setting changed in response to them. Vax made a choice and now the Raven Queen’s Champion is a brother, an uncle, a lost lover, a bit of an asshole who likes practical jokes and once teleported inside a dragon and cut his way out. Caleb made a choice and the Assembly didn’t fall, but Ikithon was brought to justice and then punched to death and trapped in a cursed rock that was eaten by a dragon. Liam proposed a tragedy and acted out the aftermath, and the worldstate responded. His friends as their characters acted on Caleb and Caleb responded. The world changes Caleb and Caleb changes the world; Transmutation.

I think Exandria as a setting would have been less interesting if C2 had an Assembly take down arc. Post-C2 we saw a world in which a powerful institution was temporarily embarrassed but not diminished - and boy isn’t that familiar - and then in C3 we saw what kind of person builds an institution like that in the first place and how they maintain it. For all the campaign’s ultimate flaws the initial political state of C3 Exandria is a fascinating piece of world building. And we don’t get that without the dissatisfaction of watching Trent get locked up while the rest of the Assembly circle like vultures, while Astrid takes her abuser’s seat and props up the system that facilitated her abuse because she can’t, for the sake of her sanity, see another way. They could have done another arc - i also expected it and was at first a bit disappointed that it didn’t happen - but looking back i think the choice not to was the right one. And i think that it shows not just good instincts on Matt’s part, but an understanding of the themes Liam wanted to play with via Caleb - that you can’t take it back, whatever it is you did, and as part of that you can’t shortcut your way through or dodge around the hard parts. You can’t risk reality to save your parents; you can’t dismantle the Assembly with your bare hands. No matter how much better you might feel, you have to bury your book of letters and spend the rest of your life doing the boring, quiet, necessary work of making a world that will no longer tolerate the horrors you lived through.

I am certain that this has been said before, by myself and others, but because we're talking about it, let's look at the Trent situation in some depth, shall we?

I will admit, I was among those who was of the opinion that there might be another arc of campaign 2 to deal with the Assembly, since they were positioned as the entity pulling strings in Wildemount, they had been tangentially associated earlier with a plot to release Tharizdun, and because they were of minor to major interest with regard to character backstories, not least with multiple members being involved in the Aeor arc (and when it was still believed that Veth might've had some relationship to Doolan Tversky). Nevertheless, in hindsight, I don't feel that there's any issue with the positioning of the Assembly by the end of the campaign. They are a problematic entity that continues to exist in the world as grounding, because such entities are not generally one-note villains to be killed and destroyed; they are generally systemic and entrenched, and require sustained and systematic collaboration to dismantle. The same can be said of the Clasp, or the Myriad. And indeed, Caleb will be focused on this dismantling for at least the next six years.

Looking at Trent in particular, though, requires considering Caleb's narrative arc in full, and in particular, the shift that he undergoes from the beginning to the end. He begins the campaign specifying that he is seeking to take down Trent, "among other things", which we know from his later wishes entails turning back time and undoing his parents' deaths—though, given he doesn't give details on the matter at the time, we can't say then whether or not his plan entailed attempting to leave the timeline unaltered, essentially leaving his younger self to succumb to the guilt and subsequent trauma of the Asylum. It's possible that he had considered that then, and it was simply a pragmatic attempt to preserve the timeline and prevent a paradox, but it's also possible that that element only came later, when Caleb found that he was capable of forgiving himself.

By the time he gets to the point of telling the whole group about his history, before they have dinner with Trent, he specifies that his intent was to atone, but "that idea has evolved quite a bit over time, and I'm not sure what the exact answer is. But I mean to atone." It is worth noting that in this conversation also is the exchange with Caduceus about the goal being no more kids on the pyre. This also only comes after the Nein have shifted from their early extreme murder hobo mercenary tendencies to a group with diplomatic ties who have already navigated a minimum of two governments to end a war, so their methods have changed and their options have expanded, not only in terms of their personal abilities but their social influence as well.

At this point, we know, he has not let go of the potential to turn back time—he admits to Essek later that he doesn't know what he would choose if the thing that he wanted was placed in front of him (incidentally, mere hours before it was). Which means that his idea of atonement has shifted in other ways. In that first conversation with Beau and Nott, Beau says that, "There are two options here: you can selfishly try and go after this guy for your own vendetta, or you can use your motives to keep others from getting hurt in a very similar way," and Caleb admits in response that both are appealing. We must infer then, based upon this information, that what has shifted over ninety episodes later in his idea of atonement is that he is no longer motivated by a selfish dedication to his personal vendetta.

In fact, he seems to slip back into that vendetta later, if not in the asylum (where it is unclear how much he is acting out of necessity than due to a regression, but I would suggest it is a bit of both) then when he attempts to convince the Nein and then Essek that they should invite Trent and the scourgers to join them in Aeor, in an effort to eliminate Trent beyond the view of the rest of the Assembly or the Empire. Even as they prepare to go to the asylum, he admits that he wants Trent dead for ruining his life, though only after extensive pressing from Veth as to whether he is avoiding confronting Trent out of fear, and he adds that he does not want to risk the rest of the Nein in the pursuit of it. I've argued previously that Caleb realized when Essek challenged him on it that he was willing to jeopardize their true mission—to prevent Cognouza from wreaking havoc on Exandria in Lucien's hands—in pursuit of this goal, and this was truly his final wake-up call about the dangers of the path he had been on.

The Assembly has a habit of distancing themselves from the responsibilities of their fellow members; the Assembly as a whole turned on Delilah the moment she ran afoul of the law, Ludinus and Vess both distanced themselves from Trent, and later Astrid distances herself from Ludinus, even though we know she is part of the reason he remained untouchable through the trials against Trent. When members are expelled or eliminated, they are framed as fringe criminals, whose actions and activities were unsanctioned by the Assembly and therefore beyond the control of the others, regardless of the truth of that.

Caleb recognizes that there is plenty of evidence to tie Trent's activities to the Assembly, but likely also understands that Trent will not be tried or convicted in death, and as such the scourger program will not come to the attention of the Empire's legal system if he takes revenge before he gets justice. And by this point, what he wants is justice, because only with justice can he prevent further harm. He admits to Essek that, "I know what it means to have other people complicate your desires and wishes," and frames this as not only a good thing, but indeed the only thing that might save either of them. He ultimately neither kills Trent nor returns to the past, and this is what allows him to move forward out from under the weight of his sins and sorrows.

So by the end of the campaign, what Caleb has attained is this: a reorientation of his priorities, a commitment to his own future, and the means to not only gain justice for himself but to ensure that what happened to him will not happen, in this manner at least, again in a manner that is sanctioned by the Assembly.

To argue that the "Assembly plot" was not wrapped up by the end of campaign 2 is to fundamentally misunderstand both the nature of the campaign, which was one driven by character interests and histories rather than external plot, and to additionally further misinterpret Caleb's actual goals. There was no Assembly plot in campaign 2; there was only Caleb's plot. The end state of that plot is determined not by the elimination of one unchanging villain (though it does, technically speaking, still satisfy that requirement, the Solstice blast notwithstanding), but by reaching a point at which Caleb can begin to recognize that he can live with himself and the efforts he is undertaking—but also, more fundamentally, to recognize that he can live.

[dothestarsshine]

don't take this the wrong way

pit fighter!vi x reader

summary: you knew your regulars. some better than others. so, when a hot mess with a bad dye job doesn't show up like she normally does, you start to get a little concerned.

time period: between 02 act 1 and 02, act 2, post jinx betting on vi.

a/n: guys bear with me this was my first time writing in a WHILE. it's probably ooc but take it anyways

word count: 2.0k

warnings: mention of drugs, drinking, reader is a bartender, rebound behavior, implied self-destruction (vi)

To say you hated your job was an understatement. You were a bartender, which was actually a pretty nice gig down in the under city. But, you were a bartender across the street from one of the biggest fighting rings in the entertainment district, which meant that every night there was a fight (which was more often than not) at approximately 2:15 AM, a horde of people would walk in, demanding drinks to either waste away like the money they just lost, or celebrate their winnings. Either way, all you knew was that it meant so. much. work. Not to mention, your shift started at 1:30, so it wasn't even like you got to soak up the calm atmosphere the bar offered before then.

You sighed to yourself as you glanced at the clock. 2:00 AM. You could hear the roars of the crow from across the street, so you knew the fight was ending soon. A few minutes later, commotion from in the street proved you right. A few regulars walked into the bar first, most wearing a sour look. You pulled out their drink from under the counter before they even had to ask.

You had gotten into the habit of pre-making drinks a while back, once you realized the post-fight pattern. So, now at about 1:45, you started making 20 or so drinks for some regulars you knew would be coming in.

The night turned into a blur as you balanced making drinks and chatting with various patrons. You didn't even notice the lack of a certain regular until it was almost 3.

A quick glance at the drink you made for her reminded you. Your head started to swivel as you looked around for her. She usually sat at the bar, but maybe she wanted to try something different. You found no trace of her, but before you could keep looking, someone ordered another drink.

It was almost 4 now, and you still had seen no sight of her. You almost wanted to say you missed her.

Dye job, as you and your co-workers called her, was a whirlwind if nothing else. She came in, had one too many drinks, and then left stumbling and slurring her words. Not to mention a few of her co-workers had had to break up fights between her and another customer. Most of your co-workers hated her, always mentioning how disruptive or demanding she was, yet you had grown rather fond of her.

She was never disruptive whenever you were working, though. Sure, at times maybe a little distracting, sitting there with her busted lip and blue eyes that didn't seem to match the rest of her persona, but never disruptive. When you weren't talking to other customers, she would strike up conversation with you, asking about your life, your job, your interests.

So, the lack of Dye job tonight almost made you a bit sad. You collected the last few serpents someone had left on the counter for you, throwing them into the register behind the counter, before throwing your rag down onto one of the many spills that littered the bar.

"Hey there." She said, her voice gruff and... horse? "You uh.. got my usual?" You spun around to face her, taking in her appearance. You've seen her on a lot of bad days, but somehow, this one seemed worse. Her right eye was swollen and bruised, along with her hands and knuckles. She had cuts above her eyes and along her lip, and you could see bruises forming... basically everywhere.

"Yeah," you say softly, reaching into the cooler (where you'd placed her drink a few hours ago), and grabbing the small glass. You placed it in front of her, yet it was immediately off the counter and into her hand the minute yours left it. "You sure that's the best use of alcohol right now? Looks like your face needs some more than your liver." You say smugly, before returning to mopping up the surface of the bar.

"Here I thought bartenders didn't judge." She said sharply, her voice cutting through the silence of the now quiet bar. No one was drinking at 4:37 AM. Well, no one except her.

"Whoever told you that was lying. We judge the most." You say lightly, chuckling a bit as you continue cleaning. You were supposed to close at 6, but with the lack of clientele, who was to say you couldn't start to close a bit earlier. She got a bit quiet after that, and you were worried you had said something wrong. She just finished her drink.

"You wanna make me another?" She asks, though you knew you couldn't really tell her no. You make quick work of pouring her another, giving her slightly less alcohol this time, not that she was lucid enough to notice. She grabs the cup with insane speed for someone who was so beat up.

Every time you looked at her, you could almost feel how much pain she was in. Not just physically. Physically, of course, but also emotionally.

You tossed your dirty rag to the side, before pulling out a clean, new one, and pouring a bit of vodka into a glass.

Dye job lets out a quick chuckle at that, before making a snide comment. "Drinking on the job? Am I that much of a-- GOD!" She hisses as you push the rag up towards the cut above her eye, jumping back away from you. "Janna, you don't just do those things without asking."

"If I asked were you gonna say yes?"

"No."

"So I didn't. Ever heard the phrase better to ask forgiveness than permission?"

"You can't just go around messing with people like that!" She exclaims, almost animatedly. You prepared a reply, but then she added, quieter now: "I'm already miserable enough. Can't you just let me be?"

"It doesn't matter how miserable you are; those wounds are still going to get infected."

"Yeah, well maybe I deserve it."

Listen, you sure as hell weren't a therapist, but you knew that type of thinking couldn't be good.

You sighed a bit, before responding, "I'm not sure I believe that."

“Listen, I don’t come here for fucking therapy,” she starts, her words laced with a venom that you haven’t heard from her before, “I come here for a fucking drink, so back off.” She finishes, sliding back into her bar stool.

Your heart starts to sink with guilt. For some reason, you didn’t know, you felt bad for having obviously crossed a boundary. You started to worry: was she going to leave now? Never come back? Only come back when you weren’t working? 

“You owe me a drink for that shit.” She sighs, and you feel your heart begin to lighten at her joking tone. 

“Sorry, sorry.” You start, a more profuse apology almost slipping from your lips before she speaks again. 

“Nah,” she says, shrugging you off. “You’re probably right. It’s just been a uh… well hard few months now.” She sighs, downing the last of her drink. Another one slides itself into her hands, and she throws you a dangerous smirk. You feel your heart lighten, the same way it did a few moments ago. 

“Hey, I uhh. I get it. I’ve been there too,” you say softly, your head filling with unpleasant thoughts of a time you’ve long since wanted to forget about. You don’t even notice when Dye job’s eyes land on your face, studying you. 

The two of you sit there in silence for a second. You, lost in thoughts of something else, and her studying you. She watches you, taking in every part of your face, your lips, your cheeks, and Janna your eyes. 

“I guess that’s how you end up working at a bar at 5 in the morning on a Tuesday,” you smile at her, hoping that your horrible attempt at a joke wasn’t too painfully obvious. (It was, don’t worry.) 

She meets your eyes at that. The silence falls upon you both once again, this time a comfort, rather than a division. 

“So, Dye job, you got a name?” You start, after a moment, your hands placing another glass upside down on the rack above you.

“Dye job?” She repeats, almost offended. “Oh come on, it ain’t that bad.” She says, suddenly running her hands through her hair. 

“I mean, sure. Maybe when you first started coming in, but now…” you trail off, about to lace your hands through her hair to show her what you mean when you remember. Your hand stops midair, before you realize that you need to do something with your hand, so you awkwardly go to place it behind your head. 

You however, were not slick, and she most definitely noticed. She chuckles at your attempt at hiding it, but she decides to leave it be. 

“Violet.” She says suddenly, and you almost can’t remember what your original question was. Then it sinks in. You can’t help the laugh that escapes your mouth.

“Oh come on!” She chastises. “I didn’t pick it.” That doesn’t help. Once you finally regain your composure, you turn towards her again. 

“No, I just– I mean Violet does not suit you. Like at all.” You say, staring at the angst filled woman sitting in front of you, comparing her to her namesake, purples and blacks clashing in your mind. ‘

“What about you, bartender, you got a name?” She diverts the conversation, and you respond with your name. She repeats it a few times, you hearing your name a way you haven’t ever before. She laces it with curiosity, with desire. “Unfortunately, that suits you.” She prods. 

You turn away from her for a second, needing to place the glass that you were drying under the bar on the other side, leaving her and her thoughts alone to contemplate. 

“What time do you guys, uh, close?” She starts, her voice carrying a wave of hesitancy that you hadn’t heard from her yet tonight. 

“Technically, 6 AM. But no one ever comes in between 5 and 6, so usually I’m good to go at like 5:15-ish. Why, you want another drink?”

“No, I was uh, gonna ask if you were chill with me hanging here until you guys close.”

“Oh, uh yeah. Sure. That isn’t gonna be much longer. You sure you’re gonna be able to get out of that chair?” You tease, and she rolls her eyes.

“Yeah yeah, make fun of me all you want.” She says, her tone carrying a lightness it didn’t beforehand. You formulate a response, but she cuts you off. “Uh, don’t take this the wrong way, but would you wanna do this again?” 

“I’m here every Monday, Thursday and Friday night,” you shrug, honestly a bit surprised she didn’t already know.

“No I meant, uh, not here.” 

Oh. Oh.

“Oh. Uh–”

“Listen you don’t have too–”

“Sure.”

“I promise– what?” 

The two of you bounced off each other like tennis balls. 

“I said sure.”

“You promise you aren’t just saying that? Listen I get if this is just a work thing–”

“Violet,” you caught her attention, her eyes reflecting a look that not many have seen, “I promise.”

She gave you the slightest smirk at that, before she made a motion to get up from her perch at the bar. 

“I guess I'll see you on Thursday.” She says, tipping a hat she wasn’t wearing at you. 

“Don’t let those wounds get infected!” You call out after her. 

“No promises!” You hear her faint voice, accompanied by the sound of receding footsteps. 

Suddenly, you were alone. Suddenly, you felt yourself waiting for the next time you had work, the job you hated seeming more bearable. You place the last glass upside down to dry, before gathering your stuff and locking the door, not dreading the next time you had to walk through these doors. 

[moonlit-tulip]

A gimmick which I think would be interesting in a visual novel: small variation in the visual designs of the sprites and backgrounds based on who's narrating a given scene. Not large variations, mostly—buildings are going to have generally the same architecture, people are going to have generally the same outfits, et cetera—but lots of details shifting around on the margins, showing the texture of the characters' thought-processes through the visual design of the world as they see it, rather than only through the text of their narration.

So, for example, one could have one viewpoint character be unusually faceblind, and portray this by having all the sprites have Same-Face Syndrome when viewed from their perspective, even as they hold onto more variation face-wise in everyone else's perspectives. One could have one viewpoint character who's unusually conscious of the fine details of their physical environment, and portray this by drawing the environment-art with much more fiddly detail when in their perspective, showing wood-grain and electrical wiring and other such things which are abstracted away in others' perspectives of the same areas. Et cetera.

[lilidawnonthemoon]

[poisonedspider]

Okay, honestly? This wasn't bad at all. Not that he had thought it would be, far from it, but he didn't want to confuse fantasy with reality. He had expected, if anything, that Vox would put all his focus on Valentino and want nothing to do with Angel. He had accepted that, if this were to ever happen, so this was incredibly pleasant. And the more content he was, the more he was able to completely lose himself without nerves.

His eyes were naturally trailing over Valentino's naked form, as if he hadn't seen it ten thousand times in his afterlife. The purple contrasted with the pearls was stunning, Angel's face left in awe. He only got distracted once Vox was tugging at his dress, the arachnid laughing almost angelically - light and soft and musical. A side of him that usually only Valentino got to see, because he was used to putting on the act in front of others.

He felt like a bit of a desperate slut grinding against Vox the way he was, balancing on his lower arms and leaning back slightly to give the two of them room to make out. His initial instinct was to shift away entirely, but Val was keeping them both pretty firmly there, so instead he simply watched with blown out pupils, moaning softly as he admired the two Overlords. Hips pushing harder against Vox's thigh, not just from the pimp's help, but because his own arousal was increasing and he needed the friction.

And then before he could do anything else, Valentino was kissing him, the spider's upper arms immediately moving around Val's neck, pulling him desperately closer. Sucking on his tongue like his life depended on it, taking all the poison that he could get, until his whole body would feel like it was on fire. Which, speaking of. His lower arms are reaching behind him, grabbing at the zipper to the see-through dress and tugging it down.

He only separates the kiss from Val for mere seconds, grabbing the already incredibly bunched up dress and pulling it fully over his head at this point, tossing it aside without question. Leaving him in just the black bra and panties that were visible even under the sheer fabric. As soon as the dress was off, he was grabbing for Val again, forcing lips together as teeth clashed with the force of it, hands that were removing his dress on Vox's chest, just to touch him and feel connected there as well.

@mothvalentino

On his end, Val only chuckles when Vox and Angel discuss the ins and outs of his partner's mouth. The other Vee's slight huffiness is amusing, as is his top star's eagerness to give his boss exactly what he asked for.

When Vox insinuates that this triumvirate constellation may not be a one-time thing, the moth gives a deep hum of approval, glowing red eyes momentarily dropping to the TV demon's hand on his thigh. He would kiss the CEO right then and there if he hadn't requested to watch them. It's probably because they're celebrating his birthday but Val can't help but marvel at how accommodating Vox behaves during all of this. He's much more open to it than the pimp expected.

Things are heating up quickly, prompting Val to shrug out of his suit jacket. Thanks to his lower arms being free, there's no need to stop stroking himself while he puts the white blazer aside. Left in his lace cincher and unbuttoned pants, the moth shifts his position, pushing himself up on his knees. His upper hands move behind his back, untying the satin ribbons keeping the cincher in place.

ཐིཋྀ "Careful, Voxy. If I keep getting my way, the three of us won't be leaving this room for a week..."

Snickering, Valentino stops touching himself, if only to fully slip out of his undone clothes. Once he's left in nothing but his platform heels and the pearl chains dangling around his neck, the former stripper makes a show of spreading his long legs in the air, dropping them on either side of the two demons in front of him. Scooting closer, he keeps Angel and Vox between his thighs, placing a hand at the back of each.

While dark fingers once again encircle his length, the pimp darts out his tongue and licks a wet stripe up Angel's neck. Pressing his lips against his pulse point, Valentino moans against his skin, half-lidded eyes narrowing to slits. His hand slides further down the spider's spine and pushes him firmer against Vox's thigh. When the two men unlock their mouths to breathe, the moth lifts his head and licks both of their extended tongues. Swiping from Vox's to Angel's, then tapping their tips with his own.

Val briefly considers taking out his phone to film but he doesn't want to interrupt them right now. Not when the different textures and sounds of his lovers drive him positively insane with lust. His body dedicates every little detail to memory anyway, the subtle dance of their tongue enough to make his breathing heavy.

After teasing them with little licks and nudges, he turns toward Vox and kisses him the way he wanted to before. Putting his gratitude into an open-mouthed caress, tongue slipping in and out until his poison drips down his screen. Then, he smoothly switches sides, sharing the taste with Angel in a no-less passionate clash of lips. Meanwhile, one of his lower hands opens Vox's pants. He pulls down his fly and palms his partner through his underwear while he makes out with the spider, giving his bulge a light squeeze.

@hellmxses

[pianokantzart]

How likely do you think it is that Mario and Luigi Brothership has any sort of direct reference to the movie, and how would you feel if they actually did that?

I wouldn't bank on a direct reference, but I know that Nintendo and Illumination worked pretty close together on the film, with Shigeru Miyamoto himself acting as co-producer. Given the huge success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I'm thinking Nintendo is taking measures to very subtly make the games and the film reflect each other.

What happened with the cover of Princess Peach Showtime comes to mind:

Say what you will about the design change in and of itself, but you can't deny that whatever happened there was influenced by the movie.

I think something similar (but much more subtle) might have happened here:

It's easy to see how that pose might have been based on that shot from the film, but it's also nothing so drastic that people who are only familiar with the games are going to feel out of the loop. Or perhaps it's just a coincidence. Who knows, really.

If there does end up being a direct reference to the movie in "Mario and Luigi: Brothership"? I'd be thrilled. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is the thing that got me hyperfixated in the first place, so I'm always going to be on board with references to it.

[mariocki]

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

"You have one choice, boy: sex or the saw. Sex is... well, nobody knows. But the saw, the saw is family."