#so this was already percolating

[jamesunderwater]

Jily Microfic: Befriend

@jilymicro-oops - feb 24th, prompt: befriend - words: 1,376 Summary: I got bit by the Academic Rivals to Lovers bug. Lily got bit my a Venomous Tentacula.

Lily shrieked, jumping just out of reach of the Venomous Tentacula’s thorny vine. “Damn thing!” She spat, pulling off her gloves and throwing them to the ground. Wrenching the hair tie from her wrist, Lily pulled her frizzing hair into a secure knot on the top of her head, glaring at the plant as she did so. It seemed to be dancing gleefully in response to her frustration, its vines swaying in circles around its trunk. 

Though Lily was far from the only student yelling swear words at their Tentacula, her shrill tone cut through the rest, drawing James’s attention. He’d been watching as her face collected increasingly more dirt, his eyes unintentionally falling to the rapid rising and falling of her chest as her frustration grew. 

She seemed in particular need of help, though. It was one thing to watch her struggle with twisted enjoyment, but another thing altogether to let her be maimed. 

Lily didn’t notice his saunter – if she’d seen it, she’d likely have given him a few choice words not dissimilar to those she’d given her plant. James arrived at her side with ungloved hands in his pockets, tutting.

“Well, your first mistake was not having your hair up. Really, Evans, I know you’re at least smarter than that.”

Over the years, James had developed a scale for measuring Lily Evans’s rage. It ranged from Level 1 - hardly simmering at all, really more amused than anything; entirely too adorable; dangerous to be around for extended periods of time, to Level 8 - teetering on the very edge of casting a violent spell; a roaring fire should beware her presence; back away as slowly as possible. (It had started with only five levels, but as they got older, the range of her anger increased. James would have liked to make it a rounded ten, of course, but didn’t want to force the issue, and figured they still had a year of school left – there was time yet to discover new levels.)

The glare she gave him now said she was nearing Level 7 – outbursts almost 100% certain; taunting, at this time, would be similar to goading a mother bear with her cubs; warning, warning: will likely ignore you for a week if you decide to taunt anyway. In any other instance, James would have done everything he could to avoid losing Lily’s attention for an entire week. But…Merlin, Level 7 was entertaining.

Read the rest on AO3!

[amethystina]

I'm trying to edit chapter 41 but instead of focusing on that, my brain generously supplied me with the following exchange between Yo Han and Elijah

Taking place a couple of years after canon, is my guess (unrelated to Who Holds the Devil), when they're all a little more settled and Yo Han and Ga On are a long-established couple.

Yo Han: "What would you say if Ga On and I decided to have children?"

Elijah: "You know you can't actually get him pregnant, right?"

Yo Han: "Not for lack of trying."

Like. Yo Han. My dude.

I know that you're joking. And I'm pretty sure that Elijah knows that you're joking. But you should consider yourself lucky if she doesn't try to murder you after you throw something like that at her.

Be kind to your poor niece. She definitely didn't need to hear that.

Also, let's hope Ga On is never made aware of this conversation. He might just die from embarrassment.

Or try to throttle Yo Han.

[dragonji]

Alright yeah new tentative oc loredrop for any interested parties below!:

TBN Jackal (maybe Liu [something]?)- an unsociable artist with a stall near Ghost City's vanity/pleasure house area. Sells masks and enchanted jewelry for facial modifications, skills Jackal developed after becoming a vengeful spirit. Detests people asking for modifications to seduce/make others fall for them ("I'm not even a fox spirit, go somewhere else for that foolishness!" said with a scowl). In life was a regular jackal who was hunted down and burned by farmers who mistook him for the one responsible for their missing livestock. Holds a grudge against humans esp mortal ones bc of this. Willowy and fragile-looking build, burn scars along left side of body and a limp on same side bc of the damage to his hip/thigh. Might carry a walking stick to aid mobility too? Wears many layers of sensible mid-quality robes to hide scars as well as some of his own spelled earrings to glamour away the scars on his face as he's still uncomfortable with others seeing them (besides maybe Alligator eventually). Dedicated to his craft and not much of a life (well, afterlife lol) outside of that. Perhaps alligator gets him out of his shell a bit as they grow closer?

TBN alligator- A Yangtze alligator yao working as a courtesan at a pleasure house as a musician and singer, known for her distinct rumbling voice and above average pipa skills. Cheerful and laid-back demeanor, takes things slowly and calmly. Originally a male alligator but saw female humans more often due to the location of her home lake and decided she liked that form better. Very stout and muscular with an olive complexion, likes to wear fancy pale robes and jewelry with water motifs. Big fan of sumptuous foods and relaxed gatherings. Thinks jackal is one of the most talented people around and regularly buys from him just for his designs, no enchantments needed. Idfk why she first came to Ghost City yet maybe neither does she and its just a cool place to hang out¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[jamiesfootball]

I’ve been twirling it around in my head how Ted and Jamie had similar but opposite movies assigned to them, both revolving around the concepts of dreaming and waking up, but which are very very different in execution. Like literally so different, that that’s the only common thread they have.

Ted, son of Dorothy, with the Wizard of Oz. Leaving the tornado back home in Kansas and traveling to another world where he builds relationships with people trying to discover the magic in themselves. Something about a road (but also something about quoting Robert Frost’s ‘the road not taken’). Crossing through the Dark Forest. Making his way to the Emerald (Man) City. And we know the point of Oz is that eventually you can not stay in the dream. The shoes you’ve found and worn will carry you back home - you’ve had the power within you this whole time. But it also begs the question: has Ted met the man behind the curtain yet? Or is that man meant to be the reflection of himself, the person - the dad and husband - he always assumed he’d be? Wizard of Oz is ostensibly a story about growth and questioning your belief in the role you’ve been assigned and when you’re ready, seeing who you really are and what the world really is. You had the power all along. The dream is a wonderful place, but it’s closing time and you want to go home. You want to go home.

“There’s no place like home.”

In Nightmare on Elm Street you are never safe in your home. Freddy Krueger hurt and sexually abused kids when he was alive (in the waking world), and after he died preyed on kids when they were asleep (in the dream world). And even when they were awake, the kids were always afraid that Freddy was after them. Jamie is literally afraid of his own Freddy Krueger. There are no magic shoes. There is no exploration of self, no growth, no learning - there is just constant, exhausting vigilance. The only way to kill Freddy Krueger is with fire, and even then he keeps coming back. And that’s the note that every Freddy Krueger movie leaves on. The idea and hope that maybe you’re safe. Maybe this time. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. So you try to enjoy that possibility as hard as you can, as much you can, but it’s forced, because you know deep inside that you can’t truly know that if you’re safe ever again. Because it’s the hope that kills you.

So Ted. Sweet Ted. Amazing Ted with his red heels and his beloved witches and his strange but wonderful companions and his flying monkeys. Ted probably feels like he is wrapping up in Oz, ready to face the wreckage of the tornado head on. He’s ready to leave the dream. And he thinks as he’s talking to a Jamie from his world, a Jamie that has grown so much and who’s so strong and smart and kind, a kid who’s so so brave. Because that’s what Ted has seen. That’s the role he’s played. From his viewpoint, this is how the movie goes.

But that’s not Jamie’s viewpoint. Jamie may have wandered into Ted’s play, but to him if he ever fit in, it was only because he was pretending. Because he was stopping himself from being a prick. Everyone else is great and does great things - it’s Jamie who needs to try harder. Ted’s dream was a great place to hide for a while, but Jamie was never waiting for the slippers; he was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. One, two, Freddy’s coming for you. You can’t hide from him. You can’t escape him. And he can even get you in your dreams.

Which is why there’s a point in every Freddy Krueger movie when the victim says they’ve had enough of hiding, and they take some sleeping pills, and they decide to face him head on.

So Ted thinks he’s ready to leave Oz behind and that everyone in Oz will be fine once he’s gone, when actually what he’s accidentally done is given Jamie an idea: to wade into the Dark Forest and confront Freddy Krueger head on. Jamie doesn’t h

Ted and Jamie are talking, but they’re not in the same movie. They’re not in the same genre. They’re both at the end of their movies, ready to face the bad guy, so they think they’re having the same conversation. But they’re not.

And once again I’ve typed so far that I’m not sure where I’m going with this, but there’s definitely. More story there. A climax that hasn’t happened. Another story to explore. Because what becomes of the companions after Dorothy leaves Oz? Even if Jamie defeats Freddy, will he survive to the end of his own movie? Does he make it to the sequel?

Will Roy Kent get to fight his dad like Jason Vorhees? Does he already own a machete, and does he borrow the hockey mask from Van Damme?

Now I’ll just pivot down a different somewhat related path (road):

Shoes.

Isaac literally told Keeley he just wanted to do something with shoes. Something about the shoes. Something about Jamie burning the shoes his mum got him. Something about all the football lads fighting over what kind of shoes they’re allowed to wear, and Dani hating mourning shoes and stealing Rebecca’s soft bright cozy ones that she never wears. Jamie being stuck in his socks at the locker room at Wembley. Roy wearing his colorful socks with the yoga mums. Keeley wearing shoes that out her on eye level with everyone else. Trent’s leopard shoes. All these people in Oz with their fucking shoes or lack thereof.

Dreams!

And shoes!

[crossbackpoke-check]

Dysprosium, Mary Soon Lee

dysprosium, AN 66, is a silvery-white rare earth metal. its name is derived from the greek dysprositos, meaning “hard to get at”, owing to the difficulty in separating and isolating this rare earth element. dysprosium is used to measure neutron flux, to fuel reactors, and to activate phosphors. terfenol-d is a magnetorestrictive alloy, meaning that it changes shape when a magnetic field is applied, and is used to manufacture underwater acoustic systems.

jason “robo” robertson, dallas stars #21 for @simmyfrobby’s nhl periodic table poems <3

[pastafossa]

instantly seeing the similarities between jane and maya's stories, and i just know they could end up having the most wonderful conversations with eachother.

this is why i love trt, jane feels like a canon character to the point that after 1 ep of a show i feel like she'd fit in perfectly

Thank you so much! And I noticed that too! There's definitely a resonance here with their backstories, what they became, and the roles they both individually sort of took on for Fisk and Ciro. Which I love since that was NOT planned. They'd absolutely have some stuff to talk about, and I'm already wondering if I can somehow weave in a reference to that flashback fight scene with Daredevil (since we're in his red suit era in TRT). Or have their paths cross somehow. There's just so much gd potential between the two of them as a scene! 😩

[beingatoaster]

Ages and ages ago I had a fanfic idea that I outlined on the Genshin blog but knew even as I did that I was never going to write, because it passed my own mental horizon between "interesting AU" and "this could just be an original work." I wasn't really interested in the latter at the time, but a week or so ago it came to mind and it occurred to me that the plot and premise would fit into an existing setting of mine that I haven't done much with yet, so I'd just have to scrape the serial numbers off the characters (which largely slotted into it as archetypes anyway). And then at the barn today a snippet came to me....

"I am grateful for your courtesy. But I am even more impressed," the sorceress said again, smiling wider. "And surprised that a knight of your quality isn't yet partnered with a sorcerer." "I had a sorcerer, once," [K] said. If she let herself, she could still see his broken body: limbs splayed like a dropped doll's, eyes empty and staring. His blood had splashed all over her, streaking her face and hair, soaking into her clothes, her hands drowned in it. As it touched her skin the last of his magic had soaked into her, glittering and cool, and then faded. "He died." The sorceress made a moue. "Oh, dear. That makes my next question far too gauche." [K] met her eyes as calmly, as evenly, as she could. "It would be unwise to partner with me. I've failed one sorcerer already." "Perhaps, but if you fought half as well as you did in that ring, it must have been against a terrifying foe. Besides, it's not my own defense I want a knight for. It's challenges like that one. The last time I faced [R] and his knight on my lonesome, I was in bed for nearly two months after. You made this round much easier. That's all I would ask of you." The wise course would be to walk away. But [K] had tasted this woman's magic already, wine-dark and sweet. To be offered that in perpetuity, when she thought she had given up such intoxication forever.... How could she refuse?

Who knows if it'll go any further, but I made it a folder and shoved this and a sketch-up of my other thoughts into a document, just to see.

[mollyjames]

my best friend Stuffy Doll would like to be included in this Magic Card poll

if not, no worries.

tap for one damage to you at the end of your turn

Hold off on making your nominations just yet, but yes Stuffy Doll could definitely make the list

[thebramblewood]

The concept is goth chic vampire who's intimidating not because she could drain your life force at any given moment but because she's the coolest person you've ever laid eyes on.

Hair by @sunivaa Clothes by @serenity-cc, @trillyke, @its-adrienpastel, @greenllamas, @clumsyalienn, @miikocc, @sokea-cc, @aharris00britney Shoes by @jius-sims, @serenity-cc Thank you to all!

[crimeronan]

shoutout to everyone who fucking called that there was another grimwalker, i could not IMAGINE how they'd be able to fit that into the narrative with the remaining time and found all the theories far-fetched. shows what i know. you're all geniuses.

however.

i'm not sure i saw ANYONE call that belos would FUCKING EAT HIM,

[doedipus]

I finished up bunpro's beginner level grammar lessons!

...kind of! the points are all still circulating through the review schedule, but it feels good anyway.

[curiouscrux]

You know, if the internet were capable of civil and nuanced discussion, I would have loved to talk about appropriation of working-class clothing.

Like, on the one hand, a not-insignificant amount of trades now make decent money, to the point where they are no longer technically working class (even if that is still part of their identity). It may also worth talking about the people who are in that income bracket, and what jobs they are doing.

Arguably, there are totally valid reasons for getting yourself that aesthetic too, I feel. Sticking it to your (shit) father often among them.

On the other hand, I cannot put into words the discomfort I feel watching a tech-job hipster living in the city wearing Carhartt pants (double-layer knee, with the hammer loop), which my own (shit) father would have taken an extra job to pay for.

It feels just a little weird, you have to admit.

[overtheriver-throughthewoods]

breakneck pace happening on my new island this has me in a chokehold

[the-moogle-of-your-nightmares]

tbh will never forgive radfems for appropriating 'why don't you think about why you feel that way :)' as 'do it until you're Fixed and don't feel that way anymore'--especially when often they use it for conversion therapy in particular 🙃--because as a genuine, good faith, open-ended question to guide a toolset of other questions, it has brought me not only a lot of insight but SO much peace in processing things my brain would eat itself over otherwise

[trickster-shi]

Hi! When you get this, list 5 songs you like to listen to, publish them, and send this ask to the last people in your notifications (but only if you want to!). 😊

My songs of the moment depend on what story I'm currently wrapped up in. Right now, I'm working on a western story with time traveling lesbians and dragons, and I'm listening to these five songs most out of their growing playlist:

Cowboy Killer by Ian Munsick, Ryan Charles

Years by Sierra Ferrell

A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozy

Between the Country by Ian Noe

I Tried by Matt Heckler

Honorable mention goes to Blue Eyes Dancing by Matt Heckler because that one ends up on multiple playlists of mine.

[villagewarlock]

just had the most insane idea for my graduate collection......