#some of the transference ones are so funny

[inthekitschen]

What they're attracted to

Some of the qualities the ghouls are attracted to in a partner

Frostheim

The King | Jin Kamurai

Jin likes someone who can stand their ground

He knows he's an asshole, so when someone gives it back, he can't help but respect it.

I also think he would like someone who is passionate. After the clash, he lost his own drive, so he likes seeing his partner care about something

The Advisor | Tohma Ishibashi

Tohma likes someone who's good with people. I think he had to learn how to navigate politically when he transferred to Frostheim, so someone who is able to do it naturally would intrigue him

Along with that, he likes someone who can surprise him/challenge his worldview.

He's good at predicting people, so when you do something outside of his expectations, he can't help but be fascinated.

The Archer | Kaito Fuji

Kaito likes someone who's nice

It sounds simple, but truly, he's around rich assholes all day. All you have to do is be kind and he'll fall in love.

He's also really insecure, so he admires someone who is confident in themselves. It would honestly help his own self esteem.

The Knight | Lucas Errant

Lucas likes someone who's steadfast in their beliefs.

It doesn't have to be the same beliefs as his; if you're able to defend your position and stay true to yourself, he respects you

That being said, he also wants a partner who can admit when they're wrong. There's a difference between being steadfast and stubborn.

Vagastrom

The Ex-Con | Alan Mido

Alan likes a partner who can defend themselves, whether it be physically or verbally

He's very protective, so it would give him ease of mind

Alan would be drawn to someone who is smart and/or artistic. He's attracted to dedication and skill, it’s a show of hard work

The Influencer | Leo Kurosagi

It's less about what Leo wants and more about what he needs in a partner

You really have to be thick-skinned. If you're someone who's on the more sensitive side, I don't foresee a relationship lasting long

He needs someone who will call him on his shit. When he's in a place to receive it, he actually responds pretty okay.

The Rider | Sho Haizono

Sho likes someone who can chill.

He's pretty social and active, so I think he would appreciate someone with similar interests, but I can also see him going for a total nerd

I think he likes someone who is passionate about their interests/hobbies, no matter what those hobbies are.

Jabberwock

The Ranger | Haru Sagara

Haru loves someone who is a hard worker! No matter what it is that you do, if you're dedicated, he's in love.

But I think he also loves someone who is able to slow down and relax. He needs help in that department lol

I think he's drawn to someone who is a bit more quiet. It's a nice balance of energy for him.

The Free Spirit | Towa Otonashi

Towa loves someone who loves life!

He also wants someone who is a free spirit, similar to him. He doesn't want a partner who drags him down.

Overall, he wants his soulmate to be on the more optimistic side.

The Slacker | Ren Shiranami

Ren wants someone who can relax

But he secretly admires someone with a good work ethic. He would never admit it though

He also likes someone that’s funny. He'll roll his eyes at your jokes or comments, but he likes how quickly you're able to come up with them

Sinostra

The Gambler | Taiga Hoshibami

You need to be a freak (at least a little bit)

If you can't look down the barrel of a gun without blinking, he's not remembering you

I also think Taiga would like someone with a more calm disposition. It would soothe him.

The Sniper | Romeo Lucci

Romeo wants someone smart. He has to deal with idiots all day, if you're not able to keep up with his demands and acronyms, GTFO.

Someone who's calmer would also complement him well. He might (heavy on the might) be more willing to relax.

I think he would also be attracted to a natural leader. Seeing you take charge and stand on business would be one of his favorite sights.

The Paralegal | Ritsu Shinjo

Ritsu loves a hard worker. Someone who is as dedicated to their chosen field as he is would be his top quality he looks for in a partner.

He also wants someone who is smart. He's a little pretentious (which I think he would get over in time) so he wants a partner who understands his references to literature or is willing to expand their knowledge

He likes someone who encourages him to expand his horizons. The implication that he needs to might offend him, but once he gets over that, he's excited to learn new things

Hotarubi

The Actor | Subaru Kagami

Subaru really admires someone who is self-assured.

It's a quality he lacks in himself, to be so unapologetic about who you are, that he can't help but be fascinated by it.

He's also attracted to kindness. He just appreciates someone who is nice to others.

The Flutist | Haku Kusanagi

Haku isn't picky when it comes to a partner, but I think similar to Towa, Haku wants someone who has a love for life

He's attracted to passion. If you have something you're really passionate about, he likes seeing you in action.

He would like to have a partner who is more open than he is

The Poet | Zenji Kotadama

Zenji would appreciate a partner who is an artist

It doesn't have to be a certain type of art; I think any medium of finding beauty in the world draws him to you.

I can also see him with a partner who is more introspective. He would like the balance to his energy

Obscuary

The Vampire | Edward Hart

Ed truly has no preference. He's been alive for 400 years, I doubt he has much of a 'type' anymore

If he did, I imagine it would be someone who is a homebody so he can spend time with you

I could also see him seeking out a partner who is more proactive about doing chores lol

The Reaper | Rui Mizuki

Rui is also not picky

I think he would admire someone who is studious. Idk why, I can just see him complimenting you for being smart (even though he compliments you for everything lol)

He would also appreciate someone who is quiet/introspective. He just likes the calm energy.

The Werewolf | Lyca Colt

Lyca wants someone who is upfront about their feelings.

He knows he isn't the best at interacting with people yet. He wants to be better. He wants you to tell him what he does wrong so he can be better.

He would also like someone easygoing. He gets riled up quickly, so having a calmer partner would balance him out.

Mortkranken

The Doctor | Yuri Isami

Yuri wants a partner who is smart enough to keep up with him. He gets irritated having to explain himself multiple times.

He would also like someone who is confrontational/argumentative. He says a lot of out of pocket shit, I think he would surprisingly like it if someone called him out on it

He likes a challenge. Sure, he acts like he wants someone who fawns over him and listens to everything he says, but I feel like he would get bored of that quickly.

The Monster | Jiro Kirisaki

I can see Jiro being attracted to someone who is more emotional. He likes seeing your reactions to things and picking your brain for why you have those reactions.

He would probably look for more practical qualities in a partner. Someone who can defend themselves against anomalies, and has at least basic medical knowledge.

For him, it’s less about attraction and more about being a good fit for each other.

[microwavesaferat]

I've seen multiple hcs of English Teacher Jason Todd, I've also seen multiple teacher aus in general. I would like to propose a 3rd Option:

Secret Day Jobs

All the Robins and Batfam extended universe (aka, until I get bored) have started doing day jobs as they get older, but they are all worried Bruce will bench them if they find out they're burning the candle at both ends, so they keep it secret.

We all know Dick is a cop in some comics, but I would like to propose they all go into teaching in some way. They don't tell the others, and gradually all end up transferring to the same school. We're also assuming they are all adults here.

We have:

Jason Todd - English Lit Professor. Doesn't like dealing with college kids, so moves to high school literature. Sometimes covers drama lessons if it's Shakespeare plays.

Dick Grayson - Health and Wellbeing (don't know if this is just a UK thing, sometimes called PSE). Basically teaches kids the dangers of smoking and how to stay healthy mentally and physically. He also runs the schools gymnastics club and helps at some other sports clubs.

Tim Drake - Computing. One of those teachers that doesn't care if you swear or call him the proper title. Does not care if you are misusing the school computers. He figured out the others are all teachers and hacked himself onto the payroll cause he thought it would be funny. Hacking emails to change names to see how long he can keep the others from figuring out they all work in the same place.

Damian Wayne - Biology. He kind of wishes he went into chemistry, because he despises the giggles and childish behaviour whenever something mentioned in the course is even mildly sexual. Refuses to do the frog dissection and nearly gets into a physical fight with the head of department. This event is what clues Dick into his presence, "Did you hear the new biology teacher threatened to kill Mr Smith over something? Apparently had a Katana or something in his desk".

Cassandra Cain - Guidance Councilor. Very good at interpreting the body language of the kids. Also does some work with ASL interpretation when needed. Thought everyone was aware of each other and isn't really trying to hide. Tim still has no idea she's here. Dick gets jumpscared when Cass shows up to one of the after school clubs he helps at.

Stephanie Brown - Somehow in a different position everyday. She appears as a janitor one day, then she's doing the school bus run the next. On Fridays she works in the Canteen cause the food is good on Fridays. There explicitly to annoy Tim who knows she's there, but can't find her in the payroll.

Duke Thomas - Politics/Modern Studies. The sort of teacher to say he's putting on a documentary, then pauses every 30 secs to go on a tangent about something. Disagrees with half the shit in the curriculum, so does his own thing. The projector in his classroom hasn't worked for months, but no one needs to know that.

Also, the moment they all figured out they are all there.

Dick hears about the frog incident and very quickly catches on.

Duke goes to the office to pick up jotters and Stephanie is working there.

Jason used the guidance councilor's room to take a minute and chill. Cass was on top of a cupboard for 10 mins before revealing herself.

Dick goes to grab the first aid kit after a kid falls at gymnastics and Stephanie is the Custodian in today.

Damian needs some supplies and the lab tech is Stephanie.

An Arkham breakout happens during a parents night and all of them run to change into costume. Issue is they all hid their costumes in the janitors closet.

WE runs a scholarship fund for students and Bruce has to show up to the awards ceremony for successful students. He gets a tour of the school only to slowly run into all of his kids. To start with, the tour is run by Stephanie who is refusing to break character.

Stephanie: Thank you for coming Mr Wayne

Bruce: Stephanie wha-

Stephanie: Please, Miss Brown, Stephanie was my father.

Steph: Anyway, here is our lovely new labs that WE do graciously funded.

Damian: *Yelling at a child to follow safety procedures*

Bruce: What? Dames?

Stephanie: and down to the left is our English department.

Jason Todd: *Animatedly discussing the influences of Romeo and Juliet in modern culture*

Steph: This is our lit teacher Mr Todd Peters

Bruce: *makes a note to remind his kids on good undercover names*

Well I'm tired but will probably add to this at some point.

[hamtigers]

Most of mine ARE the AUs

As in... Most of them are based on pre-existing OCs refitted to fit XIV

And even then, almost all my FFXIV chars have both an RP version and a WoL AU version

And on top of THAT some of them have further AUs

Oh and I have a general "everyone is here" AU I play with where they all are there as scions at once, so they're basically sharing the WoL spotlight but only one is allowed to actually be Azem there and I haven't decided who yet.

Tl;DR if you don't wanna click the read more:

Most of any of these exist primarily in my head tho.

Kalith has the most! Or at least the most based on her XIV-self. Cause that's my gurl and I love playing with her concept lots

She's originally a FFIV after years fanchar

I am contemplating an AU of that version of her where her father never fucked off

She has the XIV version built for RP

Her WoL AU

"everyone is here"

A WoL AU where Ysayle lives solely so that I can make a polycule at the expense of Estinien's sanity.

An AU where her mom gets hired by Godbert to work at the gold saucer so she becomes a chocobo jockey instead and also her parents get back together sooner bc Uldah is actually where her father fled to after being branded a heretic.

A secret extra AU for a tabletop campaign where I played with the idea where her parents were never separated to begin with(spoilers she's not an only child anymore) and also I made her full elezen bc I thought it'd be funny to have the original human, hyurezen, and elezen versions.

A uhhh modern mashup AU that blends the cast of IV and XIV together. Bc it's just fun lol.

To go down the rest of the List:

Izumi: one of the few that isn't based on another OC! Outside of "everyone is here" Izumi just has her RP version and her shared WoL AU with her husband (I don't have it in me to give her a solo AU)

Draelkiith:

Original OC version

He has a Steven universe version(loosely based on the original)

XIV RP version

WoL AU

"everyone is here"

I know I made a tabletop version of him at one point but it's also based on the original, not XIV

Iekka:

Also a rare one not based on a previous OC! Her name comes from my personal avatar but isn't based on her, Izumi is the one physically based on the original Iekka bc of a silly chain of events. But Iekka fits the vibe of a Viera name better than Au Ra anyway so it all worked out.

(Basically, Iekka was originally physically what Izumi is, but I transferred her to a different server. When I replaced her bc I couldn't transfer her back in I renamed and fantasia'd an alt and I decided to make her lore-ready since I was starting to take an interest in RP so that's how Izumi was born. Then Viera came out and I decided to pop a fantasia on Iekka to differentiate the two and when the data center split happened I got to move her back to my main server for free)

She has her RP-ready version

Her WoL AU

"everyone is here"

And a WoL AU where Haurchefant lives so that she gets to have three whole boyfriends bc we love polyamory in this house

Samir:

Original OC Version

RP-ready version is almost done being reworked, I'm mostly waiting on the Arcadion arc to finish out so I can resolve the fact that there is no way he doesn't have !¡!¡!¡!¡!SPOILERS FOR ARCADION RAIDS psychonekrosis SPOILERS!¡!¡!¡!¡!

WoL Au(under heavy rework while I decide how far I want his WoL self to deviate from his new RP self)

"everyone is here"

And technically, we can count the scrapped RP and WoL versions from before I reworked him thanks to dawntrail if we want

Kohaku:

Originally made for a tabletop thing

Became a full-fledged OC

RP version

WoL AU

"everyone is here"

Seral:

Is one of my oldest still active OCs, so he has a LOT of variants

He was originally a Sonic OC but in no particular order, from what I can REMEMBER, he has gotten:

A Human AU when I added him to the roster of "human OCs to slot into whatever setting I want"

A TWEWY AU

A Lunar Knights AU

I think I used him in a OHSHC RP on Gaia once

A Naruto AU

Two different OC-centric RP world vsrsions

XIV RP-ready version

WoL AU

"everyone is here"

Legit I probably missed some. This man has been dragged through so many fandoms kicking and screaming. I mostly stopped bc I stopped getting so... Obsessive about every piece of media I consume. I'm sure if I rly wanted and dredged thru the depths of my old DA I'd find more variants. But I'm not doing that.

Ryota:

He is loosely based on an OC but does not actually share his name with said OC.

That OC has gotten a tabletop version

That OC has a Monster hunter AU!

He is used in XIV RP (Izumi's father)

And he does not have a WoL AU but is like, a supporting NPC in any AU Izumi is in!

My other alts I don't actively use and aren't rly fleshed out into fully fledged chars in XIV so I'm not gonna bother listing them.

4/15/15

do you have an AUs for your wol(oc)?

[enflixx]

halfway there - jake sim

summary: After 4 semesters of immersing yourself into Stanford, you start dating Ni-Ki, to briefly distract you from the ache of losing Jake. But as your relationship with Ni-Ki fades and you transfer to CSU Long Beach for nursing, Jake quietly watches your life from afar while chasing his basketball dreams in Melbourne. When he’s drafted as the number one NBA pick and you reconnect on social media, you realize that some dreams were never meant to be pursued alone.

note: this is a part 3 to letters from stanford, but could be read alone!

genre: angst

warning(s): none!

word count: 4547

You were lonelier than you expected. Even surrounded by the hum of Stanford life, the laughter at the dining hall, the countless weekend beach trips, and the late-night study sessions in the library, you still felt it. That emptiness in your chest that used to be filled by Jake’s quiet gestures: the way he’d wait to FaceTime you during your walks across campus, how he’d always remember to keep up with your favorite shows without asking, the way he listened. Really listened.

You already knew Ni-Ki. He was someone who floated easily through campus social circles, bright, spontaneous, magnetic. And funny. Always joking, always turning everything into a laugh. He made you forget the ache for a moment.

You weren’t sure when it happened, but you started dating. Maybe it was the way he texted you silly memes at 2 a.m., or how he just tied himself into your daily life so seamlessly. He’d wait outside your lecture hall, not because he had class nearby, but just because. He brought you matcha during midterms, let you wear his oversized denim jacket, called you “my nurse-in-training.” It was sweet, for a while.

One night, you sat in his dorm room, your head on his shoulder as he scrolled endlessly through TikTok. You were exhausted, emotionally and physically, and you whispered, “I really miss home today.”

He laughed, nudging you. “You’re just being dramatic, babe. We’ve got matcha, memes, and me. What else do you need?”

You smiled, because you didn’t know what else to do.

There were good moments. Like the time he dragged you out of bed for an impromptu midnight picnic by the lake, complete with leftover dining hall cookies and his portable speaker. Or the way he made everyone at the table laugh during brunch, always the center of attention, always full of energy. It felt easy. Effortless.

But something was missing.

He didn’t ask about your day with the same care Jake did. He didn’t notice when you were quiet. He brushed off your anxieties with a joke, deflecting emotion like it was too heavy to carry. When you mentioned feeling behind in your classes, he chuckled, “That’s just your nursing brain stressing again. Just skip a lecture or two, it’s not that deep.”

You tried to explain the pressure, the clinical hours, exams, and the looming transfer, but he would roll his eyes and say, “You always stress about the future. Live in the now, babe.”

Once, during a particularly bad week, you texted him that you felt overwhelmed and could really use someone to talk to. His reply was, “Damn, same. I got a D on my fashion theory quiz. Want to come over and just vibe?”

You went. But you left feeling lonelier than before.

One night, you curled up next to him, scrolling through Pinterest boards for future apartments.

"I want to study abroad in Tokyo," he said, grinning. "Work with a fashion label or launch my own fashion brand. Something sick."

You smiled, trying to match his energy. "That sounds amazing. I think I’ll be transferring to CSU Long Beach. Their nursing program is really solid. I want to work in pediatrics eventually."

He blinked. "Damn. That’s... pretty intense. Don’t you get, like, no sleep doing that?"

You laughed quietly, but it didn’t reach your eyes.

You started noticing more. The way he was only present when it was convenient. How he could spend hours planning his brand’s future aesthetic but never ask about your upcoming pathophysiology quiz. How he’d tell his friends about your nursing plans like it was a quirky trait, not a dream you were working tirelessly to build.

By spring, the relationship lost its shine. Ni-Ki still made you laugh, but the connection felt shallow, like a song stuck on replay. You missed feeling understood. You missed Jake.

The end came on a quiet evening, when you both sat on the floor of his dorm room, the flickering light from the TV casting shadows on the walls. It was one of those nights where nothing felt right, and everything seemed too loud, too empty.

"I’ve been thinking," you said, breaking the silence. "About us."

He looked up from his phone, his usual smirk gone. "What about us?"

"I don’t think we’re a good fit anymore," you said, the words tasting strange on your tongue. "You’re always joking around, and I just… I need more than that. I need someone who understands me, who’s there when I’m stressed or overwhelmed, not just someone who makes everything a joke."

He scoffed, sitting up straight. "What? So, I’m not enough now?"

"It’s not that," you tried to explain, your voice softening. "I just feel like we’re not on the same page anymore. We want different things."

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply. "So, that’s it? You’re just gonna walk away from us because of a few differences?"

You felt the sting of regret, but you knew it was the right decision. "I think we’ve been growing apart for a while now. You’re looking at the future like it’s all one big joke, but I’m working hard for something serious. I’m transferring to CSU Long Beach for nursing school, Ni-Ki. That’s not a small thing for me."

He stood up abruptly, pacing across the room. "Yeah, well, I’m trying to build something too. But you just can’t see it, can you? You can’t see past your damn textbooks and clinical hours."

You stood up, too, trying to hold your ground. "I’m sorry, but I don’t think this is going to work. I need someone who gets me. Who sees me for more than just someone who’s always working toward the next thing."

He didn’t say anything for a long moment. Finally, he sighed, muttering under his breath, "Fine. Whatever. If that’s how you feel, then I guess we’re done."

You didn’t look back as you left his room that night, a hollow feeling in your chest, but a quiet relief, too. You didn’t know if you were making the right choice, but you knew you couldn’t keep pretending.

Jake never stopped checking your stories. Each post of you with Ni-Ki made his chest tighten. He would scroll through your pictures and videos, his finger hovering over the screen as a dull ache gnawed at him. He didn’t want to feel this way, but he couldn’t stop. He knew he should be happy for you, but seeing you with someone else, especially someone like Ni-Ki, stung more than he expected.

He mentally noted how he would’ve seen it coming. Ni-Ki was always there laughing with you, always easy to be around, always offering something light when things got heavy. The kind of guy who could distract, make you forget the weight of the world, just like he had done to him before. But now, looking at you with him, he realized Ni-Ki was a type of temporary relief. He wasn’t what you needed long-term.

What hurt even more was how he never could’ve been the one to fill that void. He wished he had been more present. Wished he hadn’t let distance pull them apart. But the truth was, he was still wrestling with his own demons, his own dreams, and that didn’t leave much room for anyone else.

He threw himself into basketball like never before. Early morning practices, weight training, extra drills. He focused on the game, on pushing through the exhaustion. But each time he pushed harder, he found his mind wandering to you, to how things ended between you, to how he hadn’t been enough for you when you needed him most.

He stopped at the court late one night, when the city was still and the echo of basketballs bouncing off the pavement seemed like the only sound in the world. He lined up shots, one after the other. Swish. Swish. Swish. His mind drifted back to high school, when he would stand on the court, his eyes fixed on the basket, and whisper to himself, “This is for you.” He would always imagine you there, sitting in the bleachers, cheering him on, proud of him. Back then, he didn’t need much more than that. The way you would be there for him, no matter what. It was simple, effortless.

He missed that. Missed having someone who believed in him unconditionally. Missed being the one to offer you that same unwavering support. In high school, he was always the one pushing you to follow your dreams, telling you that you could do anything. He remembered how you’d smile at him, how you’d talk about your future with such excitement, and how he’d promise to be by your side every step of the way.

Now, he was the one alone, pushing himself toward a future that felt empty without you.

Swish. Another shot. His chest tightened as the ball hit the rim and bounced back. It wasn’t perfect. But nothing ever felt perfect without you by his side.

His coach noticed. So did the scouts.

Jake’s growth both mentally and physically was undeniable. He wasn’t just playing for the NBA anymore; he was playing to forget. Forget the mistakes. Forget the regret. Forget how he still loved you. He told himself he was moving on, that basketball was his only focus now. But whenever he watched you post about your clinicals, your late-night study sessions, your dedication to becoming a nurse, he felt a sharp pang in his chest.

He hadn’t realized how much he missed seeing your determination, how much he admired the quiet strength you carried. You were so damn capable, pushing through, doing something that mattered. You had found your path, and he couldn’t help but feel like he had failed at his own.

Seeing you work so hard, even from a distance, made him feel like he was wasting time. Like he wasn’t doing enough. Like he wasn’t growing in the way he wanted to. The truth was, he hadn’t allowed himself to fully chase his dreams when it mattered. He had always been afraid of failing, of not being enough. Now that fear had shifted into something else like an overwhelming drive to prove himself, to become the man he had always wanted to be.

For the first time in months, Jake allowed himself to feel the fire of motivation. You had pushed him, even if you didn’t know it. You had always been the kind of person who went after what you wanted, and even though he couldn’t be there with you, he was finally going to live up to the promise he had made, to make something of himself.

By the time the NBA draft rolled around, Jake was ready. He had worked tirelessly, pushing through pain and exhaustion, sacrificing everything for this moment. When his name was called, it wasn’t just a win for him, it was a moment of reckoning. Melbourne to the NBA. He had done it. And maybe, just maybe, he could finally show you that he had become the man you had always believed he could be.

But still, there was this ache. He had made it without you. And he couldn’t shake the thought of how everything might’ve been different if he had been braver. If he had stayed.

He didn’t want to just succeed for himself anymore. He wanted to succeed for you too. He wanted to show you that he could be what you needed, what you deserved, even if it was too late. The thought of meeting you in the States one day, maybe after a game, maybe just to catch up over coffee or a quiet conversation, pushed him forward. He wasn’t sure if that moment would ever come, but it didn’t matter. The idea of it kept him grounded.

In the quiet moments after the draft, he let himself feel it. The sadness. The loss. He missed you more than he thought was possible. And maybe more than he ever would admit. But as he packed his things, ready to head to the US and begin his journey, a part of him believed that one day, his path would cross with yours again.

You were in your room, papers scattered around you, a textbook open as you calculated pediatric dosages. It was late, and your mind was focused on memorizing every equation and formula for your next exam. The quiet hum of the night seemed to match your concentration until your phone buzzed on the desk. You glanced at the screen to see your brother’s name lighting up.

You picked up the call, raising an eyebrow. "what’s up?" you asked, half expecting a random question about the latest meme or an update to send you.

But when his face appeared on the screen, his expression was different. It was excited, almost breathless. "You need to see this," he said, barely able to contain himself. He was holding up his laptop, but instead of speaking, he quickly swiped the screen and held it up to the camera.

"Look at this," he said again, pointing at the screen. "It’s Jake. They just called his name."

Your heart skipped. "What do you mean?"

He turned the laptop to face you properly, revealing the ESPN broadcast of the NBA Draft. There, in the list of top picks, was Jake’s name. Your pulse quickened as you adjusted your position on the bed to get a better view.

"With the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Lakers select Jake Sim, guard, from the University of Melbourne."

The words hung in the air as you stared at the screen, disbelief making your chest tighten. There he was, your eyes fixated on his name. Taller, confident, and just as you imagined, still the same Jake, but in a new light. He was on stage, surrounded by his family, his smile wide and proud as they shared in the moment. You could almost feel his excitement through the screen.

You blinked, not sure whether the tears welling up were from joy or the bittersweet feeling that came with it. This was what he had worked for, what he had dreamed of, and here it was finally happening. Just without you there.

You leaned back, your breath shaky as you smiled at your brother, still holding the laptop. "Wow," you whispered, your voice soft and filled with awe. "He really made it."

Your brother grinned. "I knew he would. He’s always had it in him."

"Yeah," you said quietly, a lump in your throat. "I always knew he would too."

You swallowed hard, your gaze fixed on the screen, unable to look away. You missed him. You missed all those quiet moments, the way he’d talk to you about his goals, the way you’d always be there to support him. Now, it was happening. He was living his dream, and though you weren’t there with him, part of you felt like you were. He had made it.

Your brother smiled. "I’ll let you have your moment. You should watch it." He pulled back from the screen and gave you some space.

You nodded, though your heart ached a little more than you expected. Watching him now, seeing everything unfold, you realized how much you still admired Jake. He had done it all on his own, made his dreams come true. And somehow, even if you weren’t physically there to share this with him, you knew deep down you always would be.

You stayed on the call with your brother for a while longer, watching Jake’s moment of triumph unfold. It was bittersweet, but it also felt right as Jake had always been destined for this, and no matter how far apart you were, his success still meant everything to you.

Jake stood backstage, his hands sweating and his heart racing. The noise from the crowd outside was a distant hum, muffled by the thick curtains and walls that separated him from the main stage. He shifted from one foot to the other, adjusting the suit he had spent hours picking out, but nothing felt real in this moment. His name hadn’t been called yet, but he could feel the tension, electric and thick, surrounding him.

He glanced at his family beside him, all of them wearing wide grins and their eyes shining with pride. His mom gave him a gentle nod of reassurance, and his dad’s hand rested firmly on his shoulder. They had all been with him since the beginning. Since that first awkward basketball practice, the countless late-night phone calls when he doubted himself, the days when he felt like he could never get to this point. They had all believed in him when he was too scared to believe in himself. And now, this moment, the moment that defined everything he had worked for was finally here.

The announcer’s voice echoed through the arena, and everything seemed to slow down. “With the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Lakers select Jake Sim a guard, University of Melbourne.”

A wave of disbelief hit him, but it was quickly replaced by the rush of excitement and pride. The crowd erupted in cheers, a roar so loud he could feel it vibrating in his bones. Jake couldn’t help but grin as he walked toward the stage, shaking hands with the commissioner, his family following close behind. As the cameras flashed, he adjusted his cap, standing taller than he’d ever felt. He could hear the cheers, the sound of his name being chanted, and in that moment, he felt like everything he had worked for, every drop of sweat and every lonely night on the court, had led him here.

When he reached the microphone, the world felt still. He glanced over at his family, and his gaze lingered for a moment on his mom, who had tears in her eyes. This was it. This was everything.

But as he turned to smile for the cameras, a thought pierced through the noise. The one person who should have been here, who should have been cheering him on, wasn’t.

It hit him harder than he expected. He had been so focused on the moment, on the excitement, and on the people who had supported him through every step of his journey, that he hadn’t allowed himself to think about how different things were. You had always been the one who had understood his dreams the most, the one who had been by his side through it all. You were the one who had cheered for him even when he was just a kid with a ball, dreaming of this very moment.

But now, you were gone.

Jake’s smile faltered for a split second as he looked out at the crowd, the weight of the realization settling heavily in his chest. He had made it. He had done it, and he was proud of himself there was no doubt about that. But in this sea of people, of flashing lights and loud cheers, a part of him couldn’t help but long for your presence. He missed hearing your voice saying you were proud of him too.

When the cameras shifted, he glanced down at his phone, almost instinctively. His thumb hovered over your contact, the last message you had sent him still sitting there. He hadn’t heard from you in months not since everything had changed. And as he stood there, his heart aching with the bittersweetness of it all, he realized something he had been avoiding. He had no idea how he was going to share this with you now.

The thought of you being so far away, of your lives moving on without each other, hit him with an overwhelming finality. You were part of his story, a constant in the chapters that had gotten him to this point. But now, it felt like the book had closed, and he wasn’t sure how to open it again.

“Jake,” someone called his name, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He straightened up, pulling himself together. The cameras were on him again, and his family was there, cheering louder than ever. The moment had come, and he couldn’t afford to get lost in the past. He had done it. He was going to the NBA, and no matter how bittersweet it felt, this was his dream come true.

He looked at his family once more, feeling a swell of gratitude for them, grateful for everything they had done for him. He promised himself that he would work even harder now, that he would keep pushing forward, not just for him, but for everyone who had ever believed in him.

But as the applause echoed around him, Jake couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Something that he couldn’t quite get back. Something that had once meant everything.

You.

CSU Long Beach was quieter than Stanford, but you liked it. Your classes were tough but fulfilling. You found peace in your routines such as studying at your favorite café, walking along the beach after lab sessions, and calling Olivia whenever you missed home. It was different, and it felt like a necessary step forward, but something was always missing. Something that used to be a part of you, a part of your life, but was now just an empty space you couldn’t fill.

One afternoon, between shifts at the hospital and a pathophysiology quiz you were trying to cram for, you felt your phone buzz in your bag. You pulled it out absentmindedly, the screen lighting up with a notification.

Jake followed you.

Your breath hitched in your chest, and for a moment, you froze. The world around you seemed to blur. He was still out there. Still somewhere, doing the thing he’d always dreamed about. Your thumb hovered over his name, and you clicked on his profile before you even had time to process your emotions.

His profile picture was him in his tight fit uniform, the purple and yellow logo of the team clear on his chest. His jawline was sharper, more mature, and his smile seemed more polished than the one you used to know. But his eyes were still the same. So familiar and so real.

You stared at it, feeling something shift in your chest. He was living his dream. You’d always known he would, and now he was there. He had made it. But still… why now?

You didn’t know how long you stared at the screen, just trying to process it. Everything had changed. The spaces between you both had only grown wider with time, but in that moment, there was that familiar, unspoken feeling that made you wonder if some things could never truly end.

You followed him back without thinking. There was no hesitation, no second guess. It just felt… right.

As soon as you did, his story popped up. A video of him at the gym, lifting weights, his focus so intense that the only sound was the clink of metal against metal. Sweat beaded along his temple, and his muscles flexed with every rep. It was him, in his element, in his glory. The words "Early Morning Grind" flashed across the screen in bold letters.

You watched it once, then again, and then a third time, your heart beating faster with each replay. Your fingers itched to message him, to say something anything, but you didn’t. Instead, you found yourself scrolling back through his feed, through months of posts. The new photos, the stories, all of it. Every little moment of his success, his journey that had continued while yours had shifted. The new teammates, the smiling selfies with fans, the late-night practices that left him drenched in sweat, and his teammates' congratulatory posts after big wins.

But as you scrolled, you felt that same aching longing gnaw at you. You couldn’t help but feel like an outsider. A spectator to a life that was once so intertwined with your own. You tried to convince yourself it wasn’t healthy to be so absorbed in it, but every new post was like a thread pulling you back to the past. Every time he posted, you felt like you were witnessing a side of him you couldn’t touch anymore.

You couldn’t stop. Each story, each update, felt like an invitation, even if it wasn’t meant to be one.

Jake watched your stories too. The little red ring that appeared around his name whenever he clicked on one of your updates sent a rush of warmth through your veins. It didn’t make sense. He had so many followers. He was busy living his life, but somehow, there he was, watching. And that... small acknowledgment... was all it took to keep you holding on.

You never messaged him, though. The silence between you was heavy and deafening. It said everything that words couldn’t.

Every crowded street, every love song on the radio, every text you never sent it all brought him back. You caught yourself staring out the window sometimes, thinking about him, about everything you used to share, about how he used to be your first thought in the morning and your last one at night. You still caught glimpses of him in your life such as his favorite songs popping up on your playlists, his old Instagram posts flooding your memories.

One day, while you were sifting through papers on your desk, you saw a letter poking out from between a stack of textbooks. Curiosity piqued, you pulled it out. It was an envelope with your name written on it in bold, elegant script. It seemed out of place, but you opened it, and what you found inside made your heart stop.

Two tickets.

Courtside.

Jake’s upcoming game in LA.

Your hands shook as you stared at the tickets, your mind racing. You hadn’t expected this, didn’t know it was even a possibility. But there it was, an invitation of sorts from the very team that had drafted him, giving you the chance to witness the success he had worked so hard for. You didn’t even remember how you had gotten the tickets at first until the memory came rushing back.

Your mom had been the one to reach out through her friend, someone who had connections with Jake’s team. It wasn’t anything you had planned for. She’d mentioned how proud she was of Jake, and you’d shared stories of his journey with her so often that she had kept an eye on him from afar. The tickets, she explained, had been offered to you through those connections, a gesture of respect for everything Jake had overcome and for the relationship you once shared. You hadn’t even known she had gone ahead and gotten them for you.

But here they were.

You folded them carefully, slipping them back into the envelope. It was overwhelming, this wave of nostalgia mixed with sadness. The excitement that you could be there, in person, cheering him on, but also the realization of how much time had passed since you’d been a part of his world.

You set the envelope on your desk, the weight of it heavy in your chest. Maybe some things aren’t over. Not yet.

[alextydaisuda123]

{Universal message/question, so it is in English and Russian at the same time for convenience | Универсальное сообщение/вопрос, поэтому оно на английском и русском одновременно для удобства}

More like not a question, but something like that. Tell a funny/strange/creepy fact about you/oc/character/AU. You can choose several or just one 🙌 | Скорее не вопрос, а что-то подобное. Расскажите забавный/странный/жуткий факт о вас/ос/персонаже/АУ. Можно несколько или что-то одно на выбор 🙌

It will be difficult to choose just one thing, so I will try to tell a little bit of everything. There will be a lot of text, I warned you :].

Fun facts:

1. Initially, I use Soul not only as my sona, but also as a separate character, whose backstory was created for fun and which should not be taken seriously. Soul has a mother Ghoulia from Monster High (so you can consider that Soul is a living dead) and a dad Discord (from MLP), who revived him in some of the world (but for some reason he got the ability to change his body and be any creature, and he himself is a little chaotic) and transferred him to some fucking universe/fandom. On my own behalf, I gave Soul a connection with the otherworldly and creepy. Why are parents like that? Well, I judged by the similarity of appearance :>👍

(Maybe I should draw them, what do you think?🤔)

2. The least creepy Pizzahead of all my Pizzaheads is the Pizzahead from Dance Tower. And this is funny, because if you put them all in one company, he will be uncomfortable with them, since he will not be interested in plans to capture the tower and torture "friends" for fun.

3. Initially, in Steampunk Tower, I did not plan to make Doise the second antagonist, but I wanted to give a reason for the injuries of PM, Vigi and Noise, which is why I had to give him the role of a bad guy. But unlike PH, he had motivation and a reason. The rest of the Doise I made either annoying or simple fools.

4. Peppergenie was originally created for fun, because he is a fusion of Genie from Aladdin and Pepperman. But I liked him so much that he is already a separate character for me, so maybe I will give facts about him and he will appear more.

Strange facts:

1. Originally, Soul was supposed to have a child-friend character, and Soul was supposed to be a kind of protector for him. But I abandoned this idea, stupidly because I changed my mind about making him in favor of the fact that I wanted to make Soul a single character. And I'm too lazy to come up with where the child could come from.

2. Echo's movements in different AUs are now canon. There is a reason for this, but it's a huge spoiler, so I will not say anything about it for now.

3. Cloud Tower has a rather strange explanation for the weather conditions and magic in their world. They have some kind of Heavenly Eye, thanks to which the world still exists, and it is invisible to everyone.

4. Initially, PH in Dance Tower was also supposed to be a psycho, but since I created this AU simple and without seriousness, I made him simple and really a clown.

Creepy facts:

1. I didn’t just give Soul black bandages on his body. Let’s say he has black blood, which gives him these creepy features of metamorphosis (he is able to control them). But if you unwind these bandages completely, then his blood will become “his second skin”, not only will he not be able to turn back into himself, having turned into a creepy thing, he will lose control over everything, from which everyone will only need to save themselves. For others, his blood is not contagious, it is dangerous only for Soul.

2. Pizzaslice in Pizza Fortress is so tired of his job that he has thoughts of committing suicide, but PH doesn't let him do it (not because he's worried about him, but because he doesn't want to lose his puppet ahead of time).

3. I like to make PH creepy not only because he's a psycho and lacks any signs of mercy for others, but also because of his appearances and abilities. So maybe in the future, PH will be creepier and creepier.

[arsuf]

[alicelillianshaw]

Jack shakes his head, gives her palm another squeeze before releasing it, assuring Alice that he wouldn't do that— wouldn't call her a bad name in French.

And he was earnest about it, Alice was sure.

But so was she— Jack could say whatever he wanted to in French, and no doubt Alice would want to swoon, would want to grasp his legs and beg to hear it again.

Except she can't really admit that. Not now. Not over dinner.

Not when Jack is asking for more information.

'Alice fact, Alice lore, Alice pet peeve. But. Well. I want to know something.'

And not just any something.

Something with substance.

Something special.

Alice should be thinking of all the ways to fulfill his request, curate something he might like, but in truth—

In truth, Alice is watching Jack lounge in his chair, rub at his stomach like a cat observing something of interest outside.

Intent and focused. Fuck, she wants to grab his hand again watching him like this.

What was with that? All these Jack gestures. Slow ones, quick ones, lazy and intent and purposeful and idle ones. Kinetic, just like she'd thought earlier.

But there was something about the very languid form of his body that made her face heat in a funny way.

Made her want to clasp his face and lean down and somehow transfer everything he ever wanted to know, her lips to his. She wants to breathe into him, for some reason.

'I don't know. I want to know you..'.

'Tell me everything. Anything.'

She sucks in a breath. What comes out of her is not something she would typically pick; it's certainly not what she would tell someone she only met the other day.

But that isn't Jack. Jack doesn't count.

Yes, they'd met the other day, but Alice thinks timing doesn't really apply to them— time was slippery, and after all, they'd held hands three times today. "Mmm. For a while I ... really wished I wasn't a writer."

Sort of.

"This was right after college. I liked writing, but for some reason I was almost ... sad, that I couldn't make things, that I wasn't another kind of artist. Like I remember trying to teach myself how to paint, and I took a sculpting class, and it wasn't like it clicked with me, or I made significant process or anything— and. I don't know. Writing alone felt inadequate? For a while it just didn't feel tangible to me like a canvas would."

A beat, and Alice raises and drops her shoulders.

"It felt like I wasn't actually creating something, I guess. I wish I was a visual artist. My grandmother was— she did watercolor artist, she used rock salt to make patterns in her painting."

Alice runs her ring finger along the rim of her glass, pops a chip into her mouth.

"Swear I'm trying not to bum you out. I'm actually very fulfilled with writing, and it's kind of like breathing for me— like at this point I really do think I would die without it. It just took me a while to like stuff that I made again."

A beat. Not for the first time, Alice wonders if it was from all the changes she'd made, getting her drinking under control— if maybe her mood and creativity had plummeted while her body was still returning back to baseline.

She wonders if that sort of thing would ever make Jack uncomfortable. Talking about stuff like that, when everything in the news was so ... raw. Or would he somehow find it reassuring?

"Though— you should know I did a glass-blowing class once, and the pumpkin I made was actually really fucking good."

A grin overtakes her, and Alice takes a deep gulp from her wine, growing lax and loose in the chair as Jack had once done.

She eyes him. Smiles privately to herself. It's too bad she couldn't cast a spell, and freeze this hour— freeze it so Jack sat in this chair always, and sat here just to answer Alice's questions so it felt like she knew each inch of him.

"This means you have to tell me something now. Preferably ...." A beat, as she recalls Jack's earlier words. "Everything."

Alice had leaned forward, too. If only there wasn’t so much space between them. The space was technically only a few feet. Nothing, really, but Jack was dramatic and it felt like such a large gap.

At least they were holding hands still.

She hadn’t understood what he said, but she thought it was really lovely. If she liked that, Jack thought about the other things he could whisper into her ear, in the middle of the night, when it was just the two of them.

Like now, but under the cover of his bedsheets instead. Skin to skin.

Jack couldn’t entertain those thoughts for very long. They felt wrong when she was sitting across from him, smiling at him like that.

"You could call me every terrible name in the book, in French, and I wouldn't care."

Jack shook his head. He squeezed her hand one more time, before letting go first. His hand felt like it was on fire, and he couldn’t help the way it twitched as he tried to subtly swat the burning sensation away.

But it was bone deep.

Jack reached for his wine, took another sip.

“I would never do that,” he replied, and he hoped it came across as sincerely as it felt to him in that moment.

Jack stacked a few more chips onto his lobster roll, took another bite. He'd been neglecting the asparagus, so he took a bite of that, too. Once he'd finished chewing, Jack tilted his head to one side.

"Your turn," he said. "Alice fact, Alice lore, Alice pet peeve. But. Well. I want to know something."

Well, duh. He'd have to elaborate. He wasn't the writer.

"Like, something substantial. Something special. Not that what you told me about camp wasn't. It was really fuckin' cute, if I'm being honest, but."

Jack sighed, tilting his head back in obvious defeat. His body went limp in the chair, out of sheer frustration. He probably looked ridiculous. He rubbed at his abdomen, staring at the ceiling fan overhead. He stayed like that for a few moments of silent reflection.

Finally, he sat upright again.

"I don't know. I want to know you."

Jack wouldn't bother snapping his fingers. It would've probably been a little condescending, coming from him, rather than charming.

"Tell me everything. Anything."

So instead, he added a very gentle: "please."

[aurore-parle-de-ses-idees]

oh most of those guys made the jump to peregrin really fast huh. guess i need to figure out who's still in a kin now lmao

[sysig]

Hazing (Patreon)

[floorpancakes]

douwata playlist is up!!! ive re ordered the songs so there's a sense of linearity and it isnt super jarring, and added some extra songs, altho ill probably add more later and some NECESSARY songs (like booo! by tokotokop and gin no ai kin no ai by ske48 are sadly absent, pls look them up tho i promise theyll hit different)

hope yall enjoy!

[bmpmp3]

My sudden onset and inexplicable obsession with genbu in the past year is really fun because I'm developing a lot of tuning skills that apply to literally no other voicebank and will never apply to any others again

[opens-up-4-nobody]

...

[unorcadox]

made a 7 part edit series tonight that'll probs just trickle out over the next few weeks, won't be labelled as a series, but consider this proof if you notice the pattern

edit: omgg for the first time in several months, i actually have a slight surplus in total edits. i've been scraping by for literally all of the summer, but maybe i can finally get a decent backlog again :D

[technicolorxsn]

tried sony music's "aqcuire unknown properties" thing hoping it would give me track numbers so I didn't have to keep doing it manually (it doesnt) but I found out it has no idea what genres these songs are

[mattybsgroupie]

— #bringbackdryhumping

★ i should be studying for my exam but i miss sub!matt and now i gotta take my law exam while being horny asf ★

“what was that?” you ask, showing matt your phone. the screen displays a reel he liked — written ‘i love dry humping #bringbackdryhumping’. matt stirs on his seat, scratching his beard “i just thought it was funny” he simply says, looking away from you.

you chuckle, resting your hand on his thigh. matt’s jaw immediately locks, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. “just funny, right?” you say, tracing your fingers across his sweatpants. “no one would even know you’re the one dry humping mama hm?” you tease, and matt throws his head back. he can feel the blood rushing through his veins, heading directly to his cock. cumming in his pants was embarrassing and made matt feel like a virgin — and yet, he loved every second of it.

your grip on his flesh grows tighter, and matt chews on his lower lip. he tries his best to ignore you and his growing erection, mindlessly scrolling through his phone. a grin appears across your face before you click your tongue, shaking your head in disapproval and turning to side. matt whines at the lack of contact, his hand reaching for his own crotch and gently palming himself. matt doesn’t want to give in just yet, but he knows he’s gonna fail.

matt locks his phone and tosses it across the bed, closing his eyes. he’s barely touching himself — his large palm rests over his cock and he slowly moves his hips against it. it doesn’t take long until he’s fully hard, a choked moan escaping the back of his throat once he increases the pressure against himself.

“mama” matt calls, but you pretend not to hear. he decides to move closer to you, his boner poking your thigh. “i’m not doing anything matt” you say in a harsh tone. “if you wanna keep acting like you’re a big boy and can do everything by yourself, i’m sure you can handle this on your own” you spit out, purposefully pushing your ass against him.

matt whines once again, wrapping his hands around your waist, trying to bring you closer somehow. he breaths heavily against your skin before whispering “‘m sorry” he pouts, and you can’t help but roll your eyes at his neediness. “y’know why i liked it” he speaks as you turned to him, hiding his face on the crook of your neck. “i don’t think i do” you say, caressing his hair.

“are you gonna be a good boy and tell mommy?” you ask in a warm, gentle tone. matt’s hips start to move again, grinding in between your thighs. “‘m embarrassed” he complains. you tug at his hair, forcing matt to look at you. his cheeks are flushed and he’s starting to sweat, the heat of his body transferring to yours. “you’re not being a good boy, matt” you say, causing matt to whimper and squeeze his eyes shut — he knows he’s gonna have to use his words.

“b-because i like when we dry hump” he admits. a smile appears on your face, your hands moving from his hair to his cheek, caressing his skin. “there’s my good boy” you praise as matt holds back a smile. “you wanna dry hump mama and make a mess in your pants?” you ask and matt simply nods, crawling to your lap once you adjusted your back against the headboard.

matt sits in one of your thighs, his torso resting on your chest instead of sitting up and finding some balance — he’s too needy for that. you keep on playing with his wait and tracing patters on his white shirt as matt ruts himself against you, forcing his cock against his pants. “f-fuck” he moans, feeling the pre-cum oozing from his slit and staining his underwear. “‘s gonna be so messy” matt says, needing some reassurance from you.

“mhm” you nod, placing your hands on his hips, increasing the pressure and the matt humps you. “want you to make a big mess for me my good boy” you encourage him. his noises grow louder, his whimpers turning to small cries as he feels his high approaching.

“mama” matt moans, thrusting hard against you. “‘m gonna cum!” he warns, not waiting for any permission. his orgasm washes over him, his hips bucking forward as he releases thick ropes of cum in his own pants, making a mess of himself. matt’s panting heavily, feeling the warm, sticky liquid taking over his underwear, whining loudly.

“that’s a messy, good boy” you chuckle as matt leaves your lap, rolling over to the side before spooning you again. “let’s get you cleaned up?” you suggest, but matt denies, nuzzling his face against your neck. “nuh uh” he says, “gon’ sleep like this”.

[starcurtain]

Teyvat's "Most Down Bad" Award Goes to Alhaitham for a Second Year Running

Seeing everyone making fun of Alhaitham for his "stalkerish" tendencies in this event is funny, because I feel like a lot of people missed that "Be literally everywhere Kaveh is" has been Alhaitham's MO from the day Kaveh appeared in the game.

From only grabbing his house keys after Kaveh returned from the desert (he couldn't have had both sets of keys at the end of the Archon Quest unless he went home and got Kaveh's copy) to ditching conversations to get back to his house only after Kaveh came home, to showing up without any warning or explanation in Kaveh's hangout with some ridiculous excuse about hearing his voice through noise-cancelling headphones... Refusing to offer any help in the Temple of Silence story quest other than staying in the library with Kaveh...

Since when does Alhaitham willingly cover anyone else's duties?

But this trend of "Be everywhere Kaveh is" didn't start when they were adults. It was already in place when they were still Akademiya students--and it's a trend that didn't end even when they had their fight.

Even when they weren't speaking, Alhaitham dogged Kaveh's every step through published responses to Kaveh's research articles in academic journals. He insisted on keeping a line of communication between himself and Kaveh open, even if the only way to do that was through very public ideological clashes. Pulling Kaveh's pigtails to get his attention lolol. It's implied that, for at least the few years between their fight and Kaveh moving in, this was the only communication between them--Alhaitham's refusal to allow their connection to entirely fade away. (And the fact that this is revealed in Kaveh's character stories--through his precious journal that records the moments of his life that had the most impact on him--shows just how deeply he values the fact that Alhaitham didn't give up.)

Another relevant side note: Alhaitham never asked Kaveh to give up his half of their house. Knowing half of it belonged to Kaveh, knowing that Kaveh may one day want to reclaim his part of it, knowing that it was listed as theirs, Alhaitham moved into the house and made zero effort to change its ownership. He was completely fine with living in "his and Kaveh's house." The stories suggest it was only months later (or even longer) that Kaveh even noticed he had the house, and he transferred away ownership of his portion without Alhaitham ever asking him (or even seemingly wanting him) to do so.

Please, let that sink in. Alhaitham actively left his grandmother's (presumably comfortable) house to move into "his and Kaveh's house," with no apparent explanation for why, and after doing so, he made no attempt to change that "his and Kaveh's" label. He moved into the house with no promise that Kaveh wouldn't show up on the doorstep the very next day and move in too. It almost feels like another deliberate provocation--I've moved into our house, are you going to come stop me? LBR, if Alhaitham had had his way, Kaveh would have been living there with him from Day 1...

There's also the fact that Kaveh literally can't write on a single message board anywhere in the entire nation of Sumeru without Alhaitham hunting his messages down and responding to them (which absolutely no one else does, by the way).

"NUH-UH!" "UH-HUH." "NUH-UH!"

Alhaitham's own character stories tell us explicitly that one of Alhaitham's defining character traits is "He is never where you need him to be," yet somehow...

Shot, and chaser:

Any time Kaveh is in the slightest bit of need or danger or just wants Alhaitham near, Alhaitham is "coincidentally" exactly where Kaveh needs him to be, whenever Kaveh needs him to be there.

Alhaitham didn't just "happen" to run into Kaveh in Port Ormos, an entirely different city from where he was supposed to be working. He didn't just "happen" to read the same terrible book as Kaveh when we know he otherwise would not waste a moment of his time on poorly-written literature...

He didn't just "happen" to appear when Kaveh was upset and needed a distraction in the House of Daena during Kaveh's hangout. He didn't just "happen" to be sitting around waiting when Kaveh needed answers after the Archon Quest. He didn't just "happen" to find Kaveh's academic publications and every single message board posting and respond to them at length and in public.

Which is exactly what Kaveh's mother told Kaveh he needed.

What level of down bad is "Abusing your powers as an Akademiya employee to keep tabs on your crush's library loans"? Just asking for a friend.

The only person for whom Alhaitham just "happens" to be available is Kaveh, over and over and over again--because he is very deliberately making himself a constant presence in Kaveh's life.

(Like, out of all things, I think people really underestimate the devs deliberately paralleling the romantic relationship between Kaveh's mother and father with Kaveh and Alhaitham's relationship. If you want to point to one thing that says "These two characters are intentionally queer-coded," it doesn't get any more obvious than this.)

Alhaitham, are you not embarrassed to be this transparent??? 🫣