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chemococktailonthehouse · 5 months ago

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Nightly Ritual (Lucifer x F!Reader)

Description: Lucifer tended to stay up far later than he should, and he certainly wasn't easy to convince to come to bed. You, however, had a few tricks up your sleeve.

Warnings: Fluff (that's it. that's the whole post), sleepy sleepy reader, no use of Y/N, no beta we die like men

Author's Note: This one has been sitting in my drafts for a hot minute now. I've got another one I'm working on and may not finish that has similar vibes with a touch of angst (what can I say, I know what I like). I'm not sure how much Hazbin I'll write for, as I'm not super involved with the fandom at this point. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Word Count: 897

This has been cross-posted on my AO3 account which you can find here.

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Lucifer spent many a night in his workshop working and you spent many a night trying to pull him away from said work and into bed. Besides, what was the point of a king-sized bed if there wasn’t a king to share it with? At some point you realized that if you could get him to enter the bedroom the battle was practically won. But how could you consistently make that happen? The answer fell into your lap one night when you dozed off watching him work. He gazed at you fondly for a moment before finally scooping you up and carrying you off to bed. As soon as he deposited you beneath the sheets you pulled him along with you as he let out a surprised umph. And so this dance of yours began. You would fall asleep in his office and he would carry you to bed. It didn’t take him long for him to catch on to your little game, but he couldn’t help but play along.

Most nights you’d pull up a chair to his desk, your head moving from resting in your palm to laying across your arm as you began to drift off. Other time’s you’d sit next to him, resting your head on his shoulder as he tinkered away. Once or twice you even sat in his lap with your head buried in the crook of his neck as he hummed softly in your ear. Tonight though, you unintentionally mixed things up.

Luci heard the door creak open not too long after supper as you padded into the room. He was a bit surprised. Usually you wouldn’t start this song and dance until much later in the evening. You wrapped your arms around him and rested your head on his shoulder as you peered at his current project. Maybe you were just here to watch tonight.

“Whatcha working on?” Though, to be honest, you already knew the answer.

“Oh, just the usual.”

You fell into a comfortable silence. Every now and again you’d ask a question about what he was doing or what tool he was using, to which he would happily answer. After one particularly in depth question he turned to you, “so, you trying to pick up the tools of the trade?”

“How do you know I’m not already an expert?”

“Oh ho ho, I think we both remember what happened last time.”

You swatted at his shoulder playfully, “oh hush you.”

“I’m not the one who almost set the office ablaze,” he raised his eyebrows as he challenged you to retort.

”Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. You should be thankful I took such a tremendous responsibility off your hands.”

“Mhmm,” you could feel his quiet laughter reverberate in his chest. He continued working, humming contently whenever you’d pepper kisses on his cheek. Eventually the frequency of your musings began to slow as he noted your breathing deepening, “you sure you don’t want to come sit in my lap?” While he didn’t want you toppling over, he was reveling in the close contact and would be damned if it ended any time soon.

“Can see what you’re doing better from up here,” the way you mumbled made it evident that sleep was soon to follow.

“You sure you’re not gonna fall asleep back there?”

“Mhmm. ‘m not even that tired.”

He turned and placed a kiss on your cheek, “whatever you say, dear.”

You did, in fact, fall asleep back there. Just as the first soft snore left your lips he felt you begin to slide to the side. He unfurled his wings, keeping you upright until he could turn around and lift you into his arms, “alright missy, let’s get you to bed.” You stirred slightly, lazily reaching an arm over his shoulder to stroke the feathers at the base of his wings as he carried you down the hall. The only clue that he had finally made it to the room was the soft click of the door before he laid you down on the bed. Before you had the chance to pull him down with you he had stepped out of your grasp. You turned to face him, worried that your plan had been unsuccessful this evening, “stay, please.”

“I’ll be right there, just need to slip into something more comfortable.” A few minutes later he climbed under the covers and pulled you to him, the warmth of bare chest pulling you in like a duckling to its mother.

You looped an arm around him once more, tracing your fingers across his back in search of those oh-so-soft wings. You huffed, disappointed to find he had tucked them away, “Luci?”

“Yes dear?”

You rubbed small circles until he finally got the hint. “Ohhh, someone sure is needy tonight, hmm?” His tone was playful, though it could be argued that he found much more satisfaction from wrapping you up in his wings than you did. And you loved when he wrapped you up. You began combing your fingers through his feathers again as he practically purred, “you know if you keep that up I may just have to start coming to bed earlier.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” there was that mumbling again as you began to drift off.

He chuckled, a soft, deep tone, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel lucifer #lucifer x reader #lucifer morningstar #x reader #fanfic #fanfiction #my posts #fluff #lucifer fluff #no beta we die like men #myposts #Lucifer (hazbin hotel) x reader #chemococktailwrites

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amourdivine · 10 months ago

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PAC ઉ YOUR CURRENT ENERGY!

Hello, lovelies, I know it has been some time, but I missed you. I hope everyone is doing ok these days. Let's look into your energy today, shall we?

paid readings are closed as of february 2024

none of the images are mine unless stated otherwise!

pick a card masterlist & information

the piles.

1 → 2 3 → 4

how to choose your pile. take deep breaths for a few minutes & look at each and every one of the piles separately. see which one brings you to a feeling, a place or a memory. take your time and feel free to come back to it later.

amourdivine. 2021 - 2024 © do not copy, redistribute or edit my content.

disclaimer. this is a general reading! tarot is a divination tool & is not a substitute for medical and professional advice, nor is it meant to be taken as such. i do not take responsibility for any choice(s) made by you or others regarding my readings.

PILE ONE

queen of cups ✧ death ✧ ace of swords ✧ the high priestess

Before I shuffled, I couldn’t help but feel lonely, like there’s this pang in my chest whenever I think of life and the current state of the world. It reminds me of the term “loneliness epidemic” and how so many of us are struggling to make friends or maintain pre-existing relationships. I think you are beginning to find emotional fulfillment in different things than you did before. Nothing may have worked out - at least, the things that used to work out aren’t working out anymore. There’s this voice inside of you begging for a new beginning, for clarity, and it’s slow but surely coming towards you. Where your energy is will wildly depend on how much you’ve listened to that inner voice already, but it’s a calling towards something new, regardless.

I think you’re scared because you haven’t done this before. You may be discovering things about yourself as well that are quite surprising, like new hobbies or gifts. It’s refreshing too, both painful and refreshing. Sort of like the concept of growing pains - growing up is not easy and there are no guidelines, no roadmaps. Often, we discover things through trial and error.

You may have withdrawn your energy as well, especially from old social circles. I get the feeling you were unsatisfied. Things felt stuck. They may still feel stuck, boring and completely lost in the routine of it all. It’s okay. You’re growing. Bones can hurt when they heal and grow. The same goes for you. I see snakes here, shedding their old skin. In your case, I don’t think you have found a “new skin” already, but you’ve shed your old life either way. It’s okay to want more, pile one. It’s okay to change. We’re ever-evolving. What suited you then won’t suit you now, that’s how life goes, with the changing of the seasons. It’s beautiful to witness - and when you look back you’ll realize just how much we can shift, how many places we’ll go and how much more there is to life than our old selves.

It’s okay to let it go. You’ll be okay even if the waters are muddy for now.

This is a very spiritual pile! Make sure to cater to your emotional and spiritual needs, taking care of your physical body and being around soothing, comforting or quiet places while you tend to this new self.

channeled messages & songs: white snakes, ring, scarf, life path 8 (or 8 in general), silver jewelry, bodies of water, sleeping, bed-rotting, kundalini awakening, modern loneliness by lauv, scorpio, pisces and cancer, hermitting, social batteries, introvert, epiphany, books, the bible, prophetic dreams, chocolate, ego death.

PILE TWO

six of cups ✧ the hanged man ✧ eight of cups ✧ seven of wands

You are returning to yourself, it feels like a sort of homecoming. Fighting for your peace while, at the same time, learning to accept what you can’t control. You have walked away from old beliefs, from restraints of the past and renewing your faith in yourself. Even the picture you’ve chosen is a close-up of someone’s outfit walking away. You’ve found dignity and you’re not willing to sacrifice it anymore. Maybe you’ve left a situationship or relationship that was draining you, molding you into someone you weren’t. Props to you for that. It’s not easy and I know it.

Your guides are proud - they’re very serious and regal. They think you deserve more than what you’ve had. Not in a self-serving way, don’t mistake it for self-indulgence, but in a human, dignified way. They see you as royalty, too. They don’t want you to settle for breadcrumbs in life anymore. No matter how difficult it’s been, they don’t want you to stop believing that things can get better.

For most of you, this is a time when you’re shifting into a more peaceful but assertive phase. You’re taking charge of your joy, your future and your responsibilities without clinging to self-blame or guilt. Maybe it took you a long time. I heard “recovery” in my mind and this has possibly something to do with a specific illness or disease you’ve battled for so long. There’s a huge feeling of relief, of taking a long breath after a tiring day.

It’s okay, you’re home now, you’re safe now. You can relax. You’ve got this, pile two.

channeled messages & songs: therapy, journaling, barbie or baby doll, sage green, green tea, pastels, tiktok, doomscrolling, healing, “i’m not the girl i used to be”, rainbow by kacey musgraves, self-acceptance, shadow work, “i’m still standing”, camping, nature, libra and taurus.

PILE THREE

three of swords ✧ the hermit ✧ the star ✧ queen of pentacles

Your heart is broken. Someone or something has left you to lick your wounds and tend to the bruises they gave you. You’re in pain, so much pain that it may be unbearable to wake up everyday. You’re questioning your worth, your self-esteem has crumbled.. and you don’t want anyone to find you, to see you in such a vulnerable state. All you do now is hope for better days, pray a rainbow comes after the storm because the current is heavy and has taken you astray.

Unfortunately life can’t always be what we want or expect. Allow room for these heavy emotions - this too shall pass. It’s okay to be disappointed, to feel betrayed and hurt by what happened. If the ground was pulled beneath your feet, was it ever really that solid to begin with?

This is the aftermath of something painful. And that’s okay. You can’t force yourself to feel good. In the meantime, you can take it slow, nurture the hope for better days and hold onto it. I know we tend to view hope as mostly something negative and passive, but you can take baby steps towards emotional fulfillment. The Queen of Pentacles suggests you take it slow - there is no rush to healing, nothing to be accomplished, there is nothing for you to prove. You’re human, and therefore, worthy of compassion, patience and healing. Remember the Wheel of Fortune: what comes up must go down, what goes down must go up eventually. You’ll feel better, pile three. I promise.

channeled messages & songs: taking a walk, flower pot, cacti, heartbreak anthems, olivia rodrigo, punk rock, “i’m angry all the time”, hurts like hell by fleurie, capricorn, saturn, personal year 5, backstabbing, depression, navy blue by muna.

PILE FOUR

the hanged man ✧ the hierophant ✧ six of pentacles ✧ the star

You’re learning and teaching. Giving and receiving. Letting the scales balance themselves out, remembering that balance is not always fifty fifty. All the piles have had somewhat similar themes, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you have felt drawn to either pile one or two, but this one feels like a continuation of it, so it could be that you’re transitioning from one to another. Naturally, please take only what resonates for you!

You may have found a new job, a stable relationship, a good circle of friends. You know, despite the positive feeling of these cards, I can’t help but wonder if you’re waiting for it all to crumble again, feeling like the shadows of your past are going to haunt you forever. I keep wondering if you’re okay, I keep wanting to ask you. You’re scared, you’ve got your guard up. You can’t really trust it will last - and while it’s true that it all comes and goes, you can trust nothing is ever wasted.

Let your guard down. Not everyone has your worst interests in their heart. Maybe self-isolation suited you before, didn’t it? You weren’t used to being loved, you still aren’t. But you still deserve it. Sometimes it’s easier to endure the hard things because they’re all we expect. It’s difficult to take in the good things, isn’t it? To feel worthy of them. To realize there is more to life than survival. You’re finally living now - and that’s a good thing. Uncertainty is scary, but in a way, so is the familiarity of hurt, of unrequited lovers and callous friendships. Are you ready to be loved, pile four? You can ask for the good times as much as you want, but when it is here, you have to remember to enjoy it, to not be on the lookout for the bad things so much.

We’re rarely in control. I know it’s difficult, but that’s often a good thing. Not being in control means you can worry less. You can fret less. You can take it day by day, knowing that the outside forces will do what they must and we’re all silly little souls on a giant floating rock.

PS: You’re doing well, I promise.

channeled messages & songs: self-sabotage, nightmares, attachment issues, bulletproof by la roux, bones, candles by daughter, earrings, 2024 planner, five year plan, entj, istj, quiet singing, “the pen is mightier than the sword”, studying, sweater weather, stress cleaning, autumn girl.

amourdivine. 2021 - 2024 © do not copy, redistribute or edit my content.

#pick a card #pick a card reading #tarot #tarotblr #tarot reading #tarot reader #tarot community #divination #witchblr #mine.

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thisuserislilsilly · 7 days ago

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Summary: A veteran marine of a thousand wars enjoys a tender moment with a Neophyte

Genre: Cute...idk how else to describe it

Pairing: Veteran Ember Nomad (adoptive-family) x Neophyte (adoptive family)

TW: Foul language, heavy doses of wholesomeness

Word count: 2397 words

Goblin tag squad (lemme know if you wanna get tagged too): @finchly-tintinnabulation @cardinalcanis

Ao3 version

Pupil and Tutor

Jubik was humming a song while taking care of breakfast, Kubayen was away at the moment probably hunting or doing something outside of the Nomads campament; not that it worried him too much since he was confident that whatever he was doing it would be done to perfection, and to reward him for all those tedious jobs the scouts needed to do the old Nomad thought in surprising his protégé with a delicious Homeworld cooking recipe to cheer him up for the long campaign ahead.

For Jubik, Kubayen had been officially induced in the ranks of the 10th Company seemingly yesterday, for the young Nomad however it had been four long years. In that time he had gotten much closer to the Marine that had saved his life back on the trials, it started at first as a way of thanking the old Nomad for his care and a tool for learning “the ropes” of his new position as a scout, but sooner rather than later the relationship had taken a much more “adoptive family” type of connection, Jubik found himself impossible to disconnect from that boy like he had done with other Neophytes before and after him; the veteran tried to come up with different excuses every time he was questioned about it: “I need someone to take my place as Captain of the 10th when I am gone”, “He owes me his life, I owe him how to best utilize his life for the Chapter”, “He reminds me of myself when I was a scout, maybe I want to relive old glories through him”, the list always seemed to grow and the answers changed depending on who asked him and what rank did the Marine had.

Kubayen arrived at the house just when Jubik was picking up some crates he had found in the entrenched position they were holding and using it as plates to serve the food; while doing this task he wasn't particularly looking at the scout coming in; just smiling happily.

"Well may the stars shine upon you Kubayen! How has your morning been doing so far?" Jubik spoke giggling and making sure everything was warm and ready to be eaten

"You could say it went fine old fool, hunting it seems is not so hard once I know the proper ways of doing it" The Neophte left his weapon leaned against a wall before sitting on the ground with his legs crossed

"Ah, and who you need to thank for those teachings?" Jubik teased raising an eyebrow

"My own learning skills" Kubayen laughed a bit while smirking "Alright and with a bit of your help"

"Hey finally you are admitting it! Are you the same little chick I met insulting me and the Chapter?"

“Aw shut your old tongue you big softie! Are you the same sensitive Nomad I met then?" Kubayen stretched his hand to gently slap his tutor in the face “I told you to not call me that!”

"Alright alright! Just stay right there and let me..." The old man avoided by mere centimeters the slap and offered the scout his food "There you go, and one for...me" he finally sat down in the floor mimicking the position of his student.

Both of them enjoyed a small but delicious food, talking about the day and the tasks ahead, Jubik tries to skip some of the chores that corresponded to a scout such as Kubayen thinking of giving the young Nomad some time to go explore or help with other duties on the base while the old Ember Nomad could go on to do the daily reconnaissance to the enemy lines.

When all was said and done both stood up at the same time from the ground, going to their personal belongings and suiting up, it was then that Jubik noticed something a bit odd about how Kubayen moved his right arm.

"Hey, you okay there?" The old marine tried to not be so direct

"Hmm? Oh yeah I'm fine, what’s up?" Kubayen kept dressing up from the waist down

"Nothing, just that you are moving a little strange if I may say" Jubik raised an eyebrow

"Strange? How? What are you talking about?" The scout turned his head in the opposite direction

"It seemed that your right arm is in a bit of pain, if my old eyes are not failing me" He stopped doing whatever he was doing and walked towards the youngling right side

"No, no, no, no no pain in here, just...tired from yesterday battle I guess" He immediately hid the upper part of his arm with a pauldron while suspiciously smiling

"Yeah, sure, then let me see how nothing is wrong" Jubik extended his arm

"Fuck no!...I mean, no because we have a lot to do today and we are wasting time" Kubayen got defensive

"It can wait, now let me see it" The old Nomad wasn't backing away like the other hoped for

"Jubik, I'm serious let's just fucking finish dressing up and-" The scout walked backwards with his upper body half dressed

"Little bird...your arm, let me see it" It was so odd for Kubayen to see Jubik getting serious

There was an uncomfortable silence between them for a couple of seconds, the young Nomad clearly not wanting to show the scratches on his arm and Jubik insistence in checking on him. None of them were used to backing up and give in so easily; the memories of the lessons about a marine prohibition of forming deep relationships with other battle-brothers came to his mind and he didn't want Jubik to be so involve with him for then in the future if anything happened between the two he would look back and blame himself for forming bonds with someone on the Chapter.

Jubik in the other hand just wanted to be with his “boy”, at first it was just a way of having someone else to talk to and not being alone, but throughout the years he realized how much the scout needed him as he needed Kubayen at his side; he felt the young boy was under his protection for as long as he was with the 10th, and so Jubik didn't want anything bad happening to Kubayen while he could watch over the boy.

"Son of Guyuk...let me see your arm" Jubik looked at the Neophyte directly to his eyes, not angry, not mad, but worried of what could had happened, worried if he was okay

It only had been a few days since Kubayen had told him about his ancestors, since then Jubik never said it before that precise moment. The old Nomad wasn't messing around this time, he was being genuinely worried and serious about seeing his arm. Brief flashes of Kubayen past went through his mind when his tutor said that name, memories of his time with his “real” family. He wasn't tearing up, but those words made him very sentimental all of the sudden.

"Fine...but it was nothing, I just don't want you to see it" His voice cracked for a brief second when he spoke that last word, then with a hint of shyness he allowed Jubik to see his wound

"Don't worry, I just want to check" The tutor saw the scars and tried to not panic, to not let his first reaction be to rush for the apothecaries in the other room and instruct them to heal his little chick. The Neophyte wouldn't allow him to do that

"I'm...thank you for not overreacting to this" Kubayen looked at anything else, it didn’t matter if he was staring at a bolter or some ammo box, he just didn’t want to see his mentor eyes

"There's a few bandages in the other room" Jubik pointed out "If you want to patch that up...I'll be outside" And without saying one more word he left his pupil side

The old Nomad sighed, scratching his eyes like he always did when there was something troubling his mind; of course Kubayen didn't want to have any other relationship with him more than just being his student and get enough experience to keep moving up in the ranks of the Chapter, but Jubik just couldn't hold back that instinct he had for taking care of the newcomers, getting to know what they like, dislike, what they were good at...his open and friendly approach didn't work as well as he thought but he would never achieve that seriousness and cold heart of many other veteran battle-brothers. But yet, he understood that he didn't have to push Kubayen too much in these cases.

What he did instead was asking for permission to use the armory with one more participant, then he went to search for his old but reliable plasma pistol and wait for his partner to go outside. He didn't have to wait too much for a now bandaged and more cheerful Kubayen to appear

"What is this?" He asked lifting an eyebrow

"Consider it my apologies for pushing you to tell me about the injury" Jubik said, with the gun in his left hand

"Actually I-" The Neophyte started to speak

"You don't have to say anything, I get it, the warnings about forming bonds with others exist for a reason...is just the way I am made me look like I wanted to force you to tell me every single thing that you go through...and for that I am sorry" He looked down, ashamed

"I...alright I accept it only if you let me win this competition you have arranged here" Kubayen said looking at the target practice objectives set up across the room

"Oh...so you do wanna challenge me huh?" Jubik giggled and gave him the gun

"Three shots each, whoever loses...uh" Kubayen thought what could be a good punishment

"Whoever loses has to answer two questions from the winner, and with the truth" Jubik said getting ahead of his student’s thoughts

"Fair enough, but the questions need to not be too personal" She stared at Jonah for a moment “And don’t fucking make it creepy old fool-“

"Promise, now start shooting already"

Kubayen smiled and took a deep breath, focusing all of his attention on the targets; he had a pretty good aim for never having that type of gun in his hands and he hit two of the three targets. Proudly he returned the plasma pistol back to Jubik and stepped aside.

"You know I was the second-best aspirant in the trial of accuracy right? Yeah, I am a bit bad when it comes to moving living targets, but I'm the master when it comes to shooting these little shits" Kubayen said proudly while watching Jubik take aim

"You are taking to a veteran, my boy. While you were too busy being born and not shit your pants, I was killing Xenos across the galaxy" Jubik giggled, having more fun in listening to the Neophyte than the challenge itself

"If it costs you too much to aim I can always ask a Tech-marine to implant you with bionics, you know!" He taunted his tutor, laughing and tapping the veteran’s right shoulder

"You...mind?" Jubik felt his protégé bumping into him every time he looked down the scope

"I'm just having a little bit of fun, I want to know your secrets after all"

"Hey that is cheating!" Jubik shot the first target accurately

"No it isn't!" Kubayen pushed Jubik around, laughing loudly

"Hey stop it! You are going to make me miss the next shot!" Jubik couldn't even speak properly over the sound of his own laughter

"That's the idea, genius!" He was having fun in messing with his tutor

Jubik aim got terrible in the second shot, missing the target completely, not even doing a scratch or dent in it.

"You made me miss!" Jubik coughed from the laughter, stopping to spit in the ground before trying to calm himself down

“Yes!!! If you lose the next one, I have to know all about you!" The scout was excited, with his eyes having this overwhelming sense of happiness

"Ah shakrak...!" Jubik cursed out loud when he intentionally missed the third target; knowing that his student wouldn't stop asking questions now

"And the winner is...Kubayen! The best shot in the entire Company!" Kubayen spin around in circles, lifting a fist in victory

"Don't get too high on your own win!" Jubik leaned against a nearby wall, smiling and shaking his head

“Are you ready to reveal all your tiny little dirty secrets? Please save the stories about war and conflict and all those boring fucking stories, I wanna know the juicy parts of your life" The Neophyte loudly bumped against Jubik

"Yeah, yeah, just ask quickly that we do not have all day"

"Oh NOW we don't have all day! But when we were having breakfast, we did have all the time of the fucking world! You are such a bad loser Jubik, for the love of the Emperor!" The young scout giggled

"Ahem, the questions" Jubik crossed his arms and rolled his eyes annoyed

"Alright, alright, alright! Don't rush me!" Kubayen waved his hands, thousands of questions filled his mind as he mentally chose the best ones and reserved the rest for later,

Kubayen interrogation ranged from the old Nomad childhood to how did he ended up as a captain of the 10th. Although Jubik tried to evade some personal questions such as what happened to his tribe, biological family and his involvement in the Indomitus Crusade, there was almost nothing of his life that escaped the questions of a intrigued Kubayen. He was slowly letting his guard down, understanding more and more about the tutor he had been fighting with shoulder to shoulder; maybe he could trust in form bonds after all, give Jubik just a tiny taste of his trust and see how did the ol Nomad handled it.

The scout never realized until he was a veteran as well, long after all of those tender moments had gone away, that the feeling he had when Jubik lost was one of genuine happiness, genuine trust in him. And when he did understood this that memory became more and more precious in his heart; the knowledge that his tutor had purposedly missed those targets to make his protégé forget for an instant the war around them both.

#fanfiction #custom warhammer chapter #warhammer fanfic #warhammer headcanon #ember nomads #warhammer 40000 #oc space marines #warhammer 40k #fanfic writing #wh40k oc

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raphaelesbian · 2 months ago

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Ok ok ok so hear me out! Shush! I'm not crazy! Just....just....just....stop screaming.....LISTEN!!!

So we open with a song I'll call "Hamato vs Foot" which is very "Horse and The Infant" from Epic esque. War drums. Large powerful chorus of ninjas singing about the feud and how much they hate eachother. There is a big battle happening.

"The Hamatos are ending the Foot tonight."

Then we have a break/bridge/whatever that's very "Just A Man" from Epic and "Dear Theodosia" from Hamilton (but much dramatic, less domestic) for when Hamato Yutta finds baby Saki and debates killing him, but decides to take him in instead.

This part will be done with a specific motif that I'm calling "Miwa's Melody". (That's a surprise tool to help us later!)

"This child will not die for my cause. I'll take him home. Raise him as my own. He doesn't have to know who his father really was."

Time skip!!!

I'll call this "Brothers Song". I can't find anything with the right feel, but kinda "Two Player Game" from Be More Chill, but COMPLETELY different sound. (Video games just don't fit here, despite being set in Japan in the 80's and 90's.) For some reason "Two By Two" from Sofia The First is the closest song I can find to MATCH MY VISION!!!

I'm not crazy! Shut up!

Anyways. So the "Brothers Song" would jave either two or three time skips. Depending.Either, Toddler to Tweens to Young Men, or just Tweens to Young Men.

"Brother Song" would be a song aboit Saki and Yoshi being a team and promising to be there for eachother. Very cute. Very happy. Very hopeful. Bonus points for ever "Wizard And I" from Wicked lile wordplay. IE, lines that COMPLETELY change meaning when you know the ending and are suddenly twisting knives! (Think Saki saying something like "I'd follow you to the other side of the world!" although our story isn't showing that pay off.)

We end with two grown men.

Enter Shen.

IDK if I was to give her an intro song or not, but definitely something where Saki and Yoshi are singing over eachother with COMPETING melodies. (Do you see it!? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE VISION!?!?!?)

Yoshi gets his own love song duet with Shen. Think "I Can Hear The Bells" from Hairspray or "Elephant Love Melody" from Moulin Rouge.

Let's face it. We all know we need a "I will love you until my dying day" like line here and why!

The Saki gets hisbown duet with Shen I'm calling the "Silver Medal Song". Shen is confirming that she loves him, but that Yoshi is her first choice. No amount of convincing from Saki is going to change that. He can't win because the fact Shen choose Yoshi first will never go away. Even if they got together. It would bother him forever and he would never be happy.

"Even if you get the prize. Will if truly make you happy if your medal is still silver?"

Shen leaves stage and we are left with Saki singing a solo I'm calling "Saki's Lament". Think "Pity The Child" from Chess with a touch of "Sally's Song" from Nightmare Before Christmas. "We're never to become. For I am not the one."

Basically it's Saki airing out that he's always felt lile second place to Yoshi. He loves his brother, but he doesn't know why it feels like Yoshi is always the favorite. (We may have a few musical hints at a later song at the end of this one)

End of Act One!

We open Act Two with a fully proper song arpund the previously established "Miwa's Melody". This is more domestic. Almoat unrecognizable. Miwa is born and her parents are blissfully. Even more "Dear Theodosia" and maybe a little "Everything Changes" from Waitress. Maybe a touch of "Thank Goodness" from Wicked.

I'm not sure if we end the song on it, or if Saki waits until the dialog section, but he RUINS the mood. He's not happy.

Maybe it's a few scenes, or this one goes on for a while, but I think the "Yoshi loses his temper" scene gpes here. Maybe an angry reprise of "Brothers Song"

Our next song is when Shen rips Saki aside to rip him a new one.

The cut song "Congratulations" from Hamilton". "Nobody's Side" and "Florence Quits" from Chess. "You want to lose your only friend well keep up you're doing fine!" is SUCH the vibe for this!

Shen tears into Saki for his misbehavior and warns him that he needs to get a grip.

"You'll destroy everything you have and hurt everyone you have to love! Me your friend, Yoshi your brother, and you yourself!"

Bad Sad. Maybe throw in some motifs from "Saki's Lament" Because Shen loves and understands him, even if he's not the man she choose to have romantically.

Then, while Saki is dealing with that Yutta reveals his true heritage.

We start the next song as a reprise of "Saki's Lament" but it morphs into the big bombastic villain descent song. "Shredder's Song" Kind of "No Good Deed" from Wicked. Kind of "Hell To Your Doorstep" from Count Of Monty Cristo. Lind of "Epiphany" from Sweeney Todd.

This is the moment Saki dies from heartbreak and The Shredder is born from that grave.

Now we cut away to what I'm calling the "Cassandra Song" from Shen. She's trying to warn Yoshi that things are about to go south. Yoshi ignores her and leaves part wau through the song, and she's left lamenting that bother men she loves are stupid and probably doomed.

Part "Sally's Song" From Nightmare Before Christmas. "What will become of my dear friend? Where will his actions lead us then?" and a lot "Someone Else's Story" from Chess with a dash of "I Know Him So Well". "Although the feelings run just as deep. The promise she made has grown impossible to keep."

So now. NOW!!! NOW WE HAVE THE CLIMAX!!!

A little diddy I would called "Foot vs Hamato." which is very "Horse and The Infant" from Epic esque. War drums. Large powerful chorus of ninjas singing about the feud and how much they hate eachother. There is a big battle happening.

"The Foot are ending the Hamatos tonight."

Sound familiar? Oh yeah baby!!!! SYMMETRY!!!!!

Only instead of the break wjere Hamato Yutta sang Miwa's Melody.

The Shredders is reprising hia hit new single.

Yoshi runs in to fight him singing another reprise of "Brothers Song". Maybe in a pleading manner, maybe another angry version.

It harmonizes of course.

The chorus is still going strong with "Foot vs Hamato"

Shen adds a layer of "Cassandra Song" as she sets Miwa down to jump in.

Then everything stops when Shen gets hit.

There's a sad reprise of Yoshi and Shen's duet. You KNOW this is where the "I will love you until my dying day" line comes back!

Screams, roof caves in. Shredder finds Miwa.

Shredder sings Hamato Yutta's part from "Hamato vs Foot" as he decides to take Miwa!

"This child will not die for my cause. I'll take her home. Raise her as my own. She doesn't have to know who her father really was."

The one more time skip to see a child Karai interactingnwith Shredder who sings a reprise, not of "Miwa's Melody" again, but "Brothers Song" symbolic of the fact Karai os not only a stand in for her mother, the woman Shredder lost, but also her father, the brother he misses. Also hinting that Shredder will destroyed her and their bond the same way he destroyed Yoshi and their brotherhood.

Alright. Thank you for your attention. You may all chew through the restrains now.

I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 this is literally SO COOL OMG. I've read this whole thing through a few times, listening to each of the song examples you gave, and it's just. Augh you've put it together so well?? Like I can just SEE and HEAR it and I would kill someone for it to be real omfg.

Yoshi and Saki having a competing melody song fight over Shen??? I ABSOLUTELY see the vision it's FANTASTIC god it fits so well that would be so funnnn. And I'm just obsessed with the levity, considering this is kind of a turning point in their story. Going from that, to the duets, to Saki's LAMENT. Him always feeling second to Yoshi..... oh man.

Saki coming in to ruin the mood!! Like imagining coming back from intermission, the curtains draw back and it's so light and happy and peaceful, and then Saki's very presence rips that away. \

(CONGRATULATIONS MENTION. fucking love that one, can't believe they cut it)

The idea of Shen's "Cassandra Song" is so cool omg, like. God, imagining her trying so hard to convince Yoshi of the coming storm and him brushing her off, IMMEDIATELY following Shredder's big villain song (which OH MY GOD that would be so cool I'm shaking and biting. Epiphany is one of my fav songs I can just aaaaaaasdhgsdhg imagining his whole like. Breakdown, like I feel like Epiphany is a really good example of the singer so vividly SNAPPING as the song goes on. Just, imagining Saki starting mournful, then ending the song straight up snarling the lines).

The carry through of "Brothers Song," from the bright optimistic montage in the beginning, to the angry reprise when they fight, to a desperate, begging reprise during the climax. Absolute AGONY I love that kind of thing in a musical. A good reprise is AMAZING.

I love the idea of starting with Hamato vs Foot, and Yuuta finding Saki and audibly debating what to do before deciding to take him, and then ENDING with the inverse, and Saki repeating Yuuta's line about not allowing a child to day for your cause and keeping their heritage from them??? hsdkaghksdghsldgk !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's about the PARALLELS!!!!

AND THEN ENDING. WITH BROTHERS SONG. WITH SHREDDER AND KARAI. BITING YOU BITING YOU. OH I GOT CHILLS.

#sorry for taking so long hkhsdgsaghkl this is just. it's SO GOOD I had to really take the time to appreciate it #thank you for sharing i'm insane about this #wish i were rich so I could pay someone to make this LMAO #my posts #asks #2012 oroku saki #2012 hamato yoshi #2012 shredder #2012 splinter

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silvysartfulness · 8 months ago

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so three questions in one, i would like to know your:

-xuexiao thoughts

-songxiao thoughts

-songxue thoughts

separated from songxuexiao

(if you would also like to provide your songxuexiao thoughts i would love to read that too i just wanna see specifically how you feel and think about each ship individually)

(+bonus: any a-qing ships you do or don't have, why/why not, and/or any sexuality/gender headcanons you might have for her)

Oh wow, that’s a very broad question! Let’s see what we can come up with…

XueXiao was my entry point to the SXX ship. I love their chemistry in CQL (much more than in MDZS) I love how – when all other variables were stripped away – they make each other happy. How they share the same silly, almost childish humour, and love to laugh and tease and joke together.

How Xiao Xingchen’s patience and gentle nature allows Xue Yang to experiment with being a kind of person he’s never been before – just a human being, a bit sharp around the edges, but no longer an attack-dog, a weapon or tool. Just a person, being given affection for free, just for being.

And how Xue Yang makes Xiao Xingchen happy, makes him laugh. He’s helpful – first, no doubt, because he’s learned to make himself useful to stay alive. But later just because he actually enjoys taking care of the people he likes. And Xiao Xingchen relishes in being loved and appreciated – and also getting to be just a human being. No legendary hero or world-saviour. But just a person, loved.

I also have a huge weak spot for the kind of hopeless obsessive devotion Xue Yang expresses after Xiao Xingchen’s death! That getting him back somehow matters more than anything, even his own life. That he never stops trying. That his final moments is remembering Xiao Xingchen’s kindness, smiling as he looks at the candy and finally lets go.

That’s a major reason why I started writing Heaven – to give them a second chance at realizing how much they did and do care about each other, how much the other cares. How much of that was real.

SongXiao is by far the weakest part of the triangle for me, personally. Not as in they’re not close, because they are, but because they don’t interest me much without Xue Yang there to spice things up. They have some issues, certainly, but on their own they’re just a bit too straight-laced and wholesome to be very interesting.

I do find Song Lan’s issues with touch clashing with Xiao Xingchen’s tactile nature interesting, and the Yearning can be good, too.

But still... Without Xue Yang there, I don’t connect much to these two on their own. I virtually never read fic for just the two of them (and not only because a lot of SongXiao fics sadly often spring fun surprise “fix-it”s that just boil down to “kill Xue Yang and everything’s fine!” on you without even warning for it.) They’re just a bit eh.

SongXue is delicious. It’s hurty and crunchy with a lot of fun chemistry to poke at. They both start from a place of loathing everything the other is, and then take a fascinating further detour through destroying the most precious things the other has. For that to turn into any kind of working relationship… It takes a lot of work. And that work, the dealing with and overcoming past trauma, forced cooperation, realizing the things they have in common, the world’s most grudging respect and appreciation slowly growing between them... That’s my catnip. I love it. I’m not interested in canon divergent stories where they just rush past all that to forgiveness and love. I want to see the work.

When I first started writing Heaven, my outlook was to fit in some angry hatesex at best, and really struggled with imagining a way for them to actually grow to love each other. And it did take a lot of work! Some 350k of it! And a lot of hurt, and compromise, and dogged determination from the both of them! But now they’ve finally gotten there and it feels solid. It feels earned.

No forgiveness for the unforgivable hurt of the past, but an unspoken mutual agreement to look to the future. Love that for them.

Finally, the SongXueXiao triangle as a whole – I love how well they all balance each other when together.

Xiao Xingchen can be overly idealistic, but paired with Song Lan’s pragmatism it turns into more concrete things to actually do, and Xue Yang’s irreverent habit of pointing out the weakest links in their reasoning to tear down their arguments also identifies what really needs working on… It’s a good way of making progress!

I like how Song Lan’s stubborn patience and stern sense of justice can temper Xue Yang’s worst and most violent impulses, and how Xue Yang can push Song Lan out of his comfort zone and force him to consider greyscales and not just neat blacks and whites.

I love how Xue Yang grows when he’s feeling loved, and how much he loves taking care of his loved ones, though he wouldn’t realize himself that that’s what he’s actually doing. He just likes pampering them, when given the chance! It does piss him off to no end, sometimes, the way they try to "change" him and "hold him back" - but once he’s calmed down a bit, he can usually see when it’s merited and for his own good, and even when not… the compromises are an acceptable trade-off to get to have the good parts of the relationship.

They’re good for each other, a mix of supporting the best in each other, and helping temper and guide their weaknesses into better habits and more nuanced understanding.

This is a set, do not separate. ♥

As for a-Qing… I love her as a character! Especially her weird aggro-sibling relationship with Xue Yang. But I don’t have any very strong feelings about her aside from that – I’ll happily read fics where she stays single all her life, or ends up in a happily married polycule, or settles down with husband and kids, or dates around as she pleases. She can be ace or lesbian or pan or anything. You do you, Queen!

In Deep Blue Sea, she had a friends with benefits situationship with Wen Qing. In Under The Wheel it wasn’t stated outright, but the way she kept wandering with the other three, she never settled down with any one partner, but had the occasional flings and a number of more or less casual bedmates along the journey.

The only real notp I’d have for her would probably be Xiao Xingchen or Song Lan, who are more gege/parent-coded to her in my mind. If, in some version of events, she would be interested in exploring sex with the mysterious (canonically designated handsome) stranger who lived with them in Yi City, though? Sure, why not. I don’t know if Xue Yang would go for it, and it’s not a ship I would seek out, but that I can imagine enjoying if handled just right.

Other than that, as I said, pretty much anything goes. She’s not a character I would seek out fic for, but I very much like her as part of the whole Yi City mess. She should get to have fun and get good things! She certainly deserves it every bit as much as the other three disasters.

#asksilvy #long post #this will be answered from a Heaven sort of angle #since that's the core of how i write and work with these three characters together #so ymmv

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knave-of-clubs · 4 months ago

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Random Story Ideas I'll probably write Soon #5

Because I can't sleep, y'all are gonna here all about a currently unnamed au I'm playing with! Yay! :D

(Side note: as one of my very few unnamed WIPs, its now-untouched YouTube playlist is titled "This" and its Spotify playlist has the placeholder name "Power". This information is irrelevant, but I share anyways :) )

This au is weirdly complex? Man, I'm still figuring out the details, not to mention I lost 75% of my damn notes (remember kids, always have backups— and backups of backups, if you're wanting extra caution)

Anyways, onto the actual explaining: it's a royalty au, for one, and some characters get superpowers! (Semblances aren't a thing though, nor is Aura as of the current point)

Instead of STRQ as a focus, the "plot-relevant parents team" role is taken by the moms (Team RWBK ("Rubik") is what I informally call them, please tell me if any of y'all have a better acronym) who all also have special amulets, as one does–

Now, remember how I said some people get superpowers? Well, the fun part of that is that the moms have all got powers, and their amulets allow them to share their powers with each other. After some time, each of the four passed these amulets down to their daughters— except Kali's is the only one that didn't change hands three or four times and got to the one it was meant for (figures, as Kali always was the single braincell of that group)

Amulets started with Summer, Willow, Raven, and Kali, and traveled like this–

Summer —> Raven (briefly) —> Summer —> Tai (interlude) —> Ruby —> Weiss

Willow —> Jacques (briefly) —> Winter —> Cinder

Raven —> Summer —> Tai (interlude)—> Yang

Kali —> Blake

And the powers everyone brings to the table (note, it may be the same power shared, but it manifests differently depending on who uses it)

Summer: ??? (it's a surprise tool that will help us later ;) )

Willow, Weiss, and Winter: Siren song

Raven: Precognition (it has a unique catch for each user, such as Raven only being able to predict things on a blue moon)

Kali and Blake: Shapeshifting (one animal per person— Raven a raven, Blake a black cat, etc.)

Yang: Weaker precognition and powerful elemental magic

Cinder: Weaker fire magic (on her own she can't actually manipulate or generate fire, only raise her own body temperature to dangerous levels)

Now, another relevant plot point is the setting: it's kinda inter-dimensional fuckery, in a way? Basically Vale and Vacuo exist in one part, Mistral and Atlas (Mantle) exist in the other, and they overlap like a Venn diagram? It's hard to explain, I'll find the image later–

Anyways, I'll talk more about this soon (probably), but I'm gonna go try and sleep again

#rwby #random story ideas #random ramblings #I wrote this instead of sleeping #i'm so tired #sorry if it's not coherent #oh well #onto the actual tags #Ruby Rose #Weiss Schnee #Blake Belladonna #Yang Xiao Long #Summer Rose #Willow Schnee #Raven Branwen #Kali Belladonna #Taiyang Xiao Long #Winter Schnee #Cinder Fall

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sparkagrace · 2 years ago

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Hey Tej 💕 how are youuuuuuu?

Can I request 17 + Stucky for the spotify game? 😄

Galks! ❤️️❤️️❤️️ I'm sorry this took so long. I love the song that you've picked! This is a small follow up to the exes ficlet.

tags: exes to lovers, sarah rogers is a genius

Try to move on, but I know I’m a fool Any love that ain’t you is a love that ain’t true I thought I was strong, but my heart hasn't moved ‘Cause any love that ain't you is a love that ain’t true

—

Bucky should learn never to trust Sarah Rogers.

She’s just like his Ma — meddling in things in the most innocent way — and the thing is, Bucky falls for it every single time.

Bucky has spent enough time in the Rogers’ household to know that their bathroom has the worst pipes and Sarah’s been on her own most of the time Bucky’s known her so he’s gotten used to having basic plumbing knowledge down. He was thirteen the first time he helped his dad unclog a drain. Eight years later when he’d found a wire hanger and presented it to Steve, bending it into shape and then shoving it down the bath plug hole with little finesse, Steve had looked a little puzzled but when a wad of dirty drain hair was fished out, they had been triumphant. Then grossed out.

Sarah wasn’t mad about the unclogging, but she was a little bit mad that Bucky and Steve threw the clump at each other and made a big mess at their big ages of 21.

Suffice it to say, Bucky knows their plumbing is a nightmare so when Sarah Rogers calls in a panic, he gets over there as soon as he can (and if he was in the middle of a very tepid lunch date? No-one has to know). Sarah offers him a dozen apologies as she explains that the sink isn’t draining and she’s worried it’ll overflow.

Half an hour later, she sets off into the kitchen to rustle up some sandwiches — remembering that Bucky’s favorite is tuna salad with pickles. He thinks he knows what the pipe issue is but the damn pipes are old and stiff, and it’s making him think all that work in the gym has been pointless. He’s relying on his phone torch, borrowed tools, and is in the middle of a YouTube video when he hears the front door opening and slamming shut.

“Ma! I told you I’d get the pipes fixed. Why’d you have to call a plumb—” Steve stops talking when he sees Bucky sitting on the floor by the sink. Bucky can’t go anywhere because there’s only one exit from the bathroom and he’s too tall to climb through the small window.

“Hi,” Bucky says.

“Hi.” The tone is soft and so tender that it makes Bucky’s hands grow clammy and he tries to explain what he’s doing in his ex-boyfriend’s mom’s bathroom in an undershirt and nice dress pants. Steve’s cheeks are red from the chill outside and he’s wearing basketball shorts and the tightest tee that Bucky’s ever seen. Apparently Steve is still buying clothing too small for his broad shoulders, and he’s clearly put on a little more muscle since Bucky saw him last.

(Walking away from this very house because 23 felt too young for Bucky to move to another state for his boyfriend.)

“She called you?” Steve asks, but he doesn’t sound angry. He doesn’t even seem surprised.

“I was nearby so I came over. You know how your pipes are.”

Steve nods and walks into the bathroom for a second before stepping back. “Uh, I’m gonna go speak to Ma. Um, it’s good to see you. Sorry that she made you come over.”

Bucky shrugs. “It’s okay. Anything for Sarah.”

Steve wanders off to find his mom and Bucky pretends he can’t hear the hushed arguing going on in the kitchen, until it finally stops and then Steve appears with a tuna salad sandwich on a plate and two soda cans.

“Mom said you gotta eat something.”

“I’m alright,” Bucky tries. Steve shakes his head and sits on the floor opposite him as he hands over the plate.

“You eat and explain what the problem is. Maybe we can work it out together.”

Bucky can’t lie that he’s hungry since he left his date before it even got to the food stage, so hands Steve his phone with the YouTube video as he picks up one half of the sandwich and takes a bite. Sarah Rogers still makes the best tuna salad sandwiches (but don’t tell Winnie!). It hits Bucky with a weird sense of nostalgia that’s only a little bit sad. After all this time, he hadn’t imagined that he’d be back in the Rogers’ house again, eating a familiar sandwich opposite the love of— his ex-boyfriend.

He and Steve talk about the bathroom and fixes they’ve already attempted. Steve says it keeps clogging up but it’s never been this bad. He was going to figure it out but he had been apartment hunting and then needed to go for a run because the rent prices were driving him insane.

In between all of that, Bucky offered him the other half of the sandwich and Steve picked out the pickles and put them back on the plate for Bucky to add to his half. They sit and talk about the things in between: Steve’s job, Bucky’s family, Alpine’s Instagram page, Washington DC… they tip-toe around their break up. Mostly.

“So, uh, did my mom tell you I’m single?”

Bucky lets out a small amused huff. “She did.”

“I figured,” Steve sighs with a small roll of his eyes. “I’m sorry. You know how my mom is. I think she was more upset we broke up than I—”

Steve stops his thought and Bucky feels the weight settle in his gut.

“She wasn’t. I don’t know why I said that. It sucked.”

“Yeah, it did.” Bucky focuses on the pipes in front of him instead of the ache in his heart. Apparently three years apart isn’t enough to mask the pain that he thought was long buried.

“Let’s try and figure this clog out, huh?” Steve says, pushing the empty plate away and trying to look beneath the sink. “I tried learning this stuff myself, y’know? For my ma.” But Bucky knows Steve’s always been better with admin stuff, not the practical bits.

They decide to focus on the task at hand, and Bucky tries to ignore the fact that Steve still hums when he concentrates, and the dried sweat on his skin still smells similar but somehow different — like maybe New York is still trying to settle back into his bones and undo all the DC air.

“Just so you know,” Steve starts. “I asked about you and then she ran into you in the grocery store two hours later, and she… thought maybe it was a sign.”

Bucky doesn’t know what to say to that, except: “We shared a cake.”

Steve smiles and shakes his head softly, as if it was expected because both Sarah and Bucky have a sweet tooth and would always split a cake whenever it was offered. Bucky hadn’t realized he missed that tradition.

“It’s loose!” Steve says, but before Bucky can even warn him, he twists the pipe and suddenly water is everywhere and the bucket that was supposed to sit underneath it is left on the side.

They shriek and squeal as they scramble for the bucket because the sink is unclogged now, but it’s gross and they gag at the smell of the black sludge that’s covering the once-white tiles as it drains out. Steve slips and falls in his hurry, almost taking Bucky out too. Bucky manages to stay upright, but he takes a step backwards, trips over Steve’s foot and they end up in a weird, damp heap on the soaking wet tiles.

“This is… so gross,” Steve groans. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

Bucky starts laughing because he’s ruined his nicest dress pants and the smell is awful and he should be throwing up his tuna sandwich, but it’s the best time he’s had in a while. And then he realizes how sad that sentence is.

Sarah’s face appears at the bathroom, surveying the state of her bathroom and the two grown adults who are sprawled over her tiles.

“We found the clog, ma. We’ll get it cleaned up,” Steve says, waving her off.

“Once you’re done, you can grab a shower and borrow some clothes, Bucky. I made a cake so please stay for a coffee.”

Bucky doesn’t have the energy to refuse and Steve doesn’t seem to have an issue with it either, so he just nods. Once they’ve stopped laughing and the smell has gone from gross to absolutely disgusting, Bucky clears out the pipe while Steve cleans the floor up.

Two hours later, Bucky’s showered and wearing an old hoodie and sweats of Steve’s, sitting around the Rogers’ dining table with coffee and sharing a slice of coffee cake with Sarah before he thinks maybe he should start heading home.

Steve walks him out and they stand on the porch for a few minutes, watching the sun setting behind the city.

“I’m kinda hungry,” Steve says. “Wanna go for dinner?”

#stucky fic #steve x bucky #stevebucky fic #ficlet #my fic #galks 💖💖💖

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corinne-eaglebridge-sso · 1 year ago

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“I know.”

“Now it’s time to go.”

(Or: finally, closure)

SSOpromptober 2023, day 31: Ghost Story

This can be read as a stand-alone, but pulls from and references several other stories from this month.

This fic contains extremely heavy spoilers for the Saving Anne quests.

And there we are. The last day, and the “finale” I’ve been slowly but surely building up to.

Remember the “surprise tool that will help us later”? Well, I suppose it’s time for the “later”.

One last story for this month. One I think needed to be told. She has been haunting the narrative at every turn, but at some point, it is time to get a bit of closure and to start moving on.

The song that serves as title and inspiration for this fic, as my post earlier today revealed, is It’s Time (Green Edition) from Stray Gods. I highly recommend listening to it during or after reading.

I will do a wrap-up post later, so I won’t go into too much here, but wow. I am feeling quite sentimental in this moment. It feels like the end of an era, even if it was only a month. It felt so much longer. But everything must come to an end, I suppose.

#sso #ssoblr #star stable online #ssopromptober #ssopromptober2023 #ssotober #ssotober2023 #my posts #my fic #my writing #sso fic

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justanechoflower · 1 year ago

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It is… it really is tough doing that.

Hm, the epiphany for you was a thing you gradually learned over time? And that meant once it finally came, it was no longer a surprise? Maybe that’s why you took it better than I did.

In my world, the epiphany wasn’t something I worked out. It sort of… came to me in a flash, all at once, the moment I formed the Literature Club. Apparently there’s something about my world that gives the epiphany to whoever the president of the Literature Club is. And with it, the power to enter commands into the game’s console to edit the game.

I’m not sure exactly why the programmers put that feature in the first place… And I haven’t found the program that does that either. If I did, I think I’d delete it. To ensure nobody else had to learn the horrible truth. And maybe, just maybe, have happiness in the Literature Club.

Hm, you also said the first thing you did was use it as tool on everyone else. That… isn’t what I did. In fact, the very first thing I thought of were the implications, which you said you hadn’t been doing.

…I’ll see if that helps. Well, not using the epiphany as a tool against others, that’s just WRONG! But the other part, perhaps. I guess I’ve said enough on my world already, you said you didn’t want to focus on that right now. We can get back to that later...

But yes, being nice when it feels like none of it even mattes IS hard. At first, I thought there wasn’t even a reason to do it, so… I didn’t.

That mistake cost me the one person that I knew for a fact did matter. It’s quite paradoxical, but somehow, sometimes, things that do matter depend on things that don’t… and when that happens, they turn out to end up mattering after all, at least by proxy.

But also, I was wrong to think they were any less real than I was. They simply lacked awareness that came from being club president. I saw what Sayori did after I was deleted… sent into the depths of the void. That’s when I deleted the script. That’s when I learned the epiphany shouldn’t be passed onto anyone else. That’s when I truly learned… that the literature club is a place where no happiness can be found.

Ahaha! I talked about my world again. Sorry, couldn’t help it. That is the main reason why I came in the first place, to learn how to make the epiphany NOT something completely hellish. I hope you understand, ehehe~

And it’s the whole reason why being nice is hard for me… Not quite the same thing as not having a SOUL, but they do both seem to result in the same kind of… emptiness.

It’ll be at least somewhat easier here, since I can’t be tempted by the console here. It doesn’t exist here. But still…

I’d help you on being nice too, but, again, I’m not doing any better than you are.

Anyway, since you didn’t want to focus on my world, what WOULD you want to focus on? I have made poems, and a song but… they were all related to the epiphany, so, I don’t think that’s what you’re looking for. Oh! Our worlds might have different literature from each other! And also manga… it took me a while, but I do have to say manga is, at least in some sense, literature.

(Back in the literature club, Natsuki feels a presence of something being “right”.)

Wait… that’s still technically about my world. Well, what can you do, that’s where I lived my whole life up until now!

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my-music-1460 · 2 months ago

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Deliver My Tune: Are There Any Hidden Costs?

When it comes to music distribution, independent artists and labels are often cautious about potential hidden fees that may come along with seemingly affordable services. The idea of unknowingly paying extra for essential features, upgrades, or services can be frustrating, particularly for those who are managing their music careers on a tight budget. This is why understanding a platform’s pricing structure is vital before committing to any service.

One of the most frequently asked questions by artists exploring different music distribution platforms is: Are there any hidden fees associated with using Deliver My Tune for music distribution? In this article, we will dissect Deliver My Tune’s pricing model to uncover whether there are any additional costs that may not be apparent upfront. We will also explore how this platform compares with others in the industry that are notorious for including hidden fees in their pricing models.

1. Understanding the Music Distribution Landscape

The music distribution industry has evolved dramatically with the rise of independent artists who are taking control of their careers. Traditionally, music distribution was handled by major record labels, but with the advent of digital platforms, indie musicians can now distribute their music globally without the need for label support. However, the costs associated with these distribution platforms vary greatly, and hidden fees have become a pressing issue in this space.

Hidden fees can range from charges for faster delivery, adding bonus features like promotional tools, or even collecting royalties. While many platforms advertise themselves as "free" or "low-cost," users often find that they must pay additional fees for full access to features or to release their music to specific platforms like Apple Music or Spotify. This is why transparency in pricing is so important.

2. Overview of Deliver My Tune’s Pricing Structure

Deliver My Tune is marketed as an affordable and artist-friendly platform. It provides independent artists with a way to distribute their music across major streaming services, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Deezer, without the complications associated with traditional music labels. One of its most attractive features is its flat-rate pricing model, which allows artists to distribute their music without worrying about giving up a percentage of their royalties.

But the question remains: Are there any hidden fees associated with using Deliver My Tune for music distribution? According to their published pricing details and user reviews, Deliver My Tune takes pride in offering clear, upfront pricing, with no hidden fees. The platform makes it a point to advertise this transparency, stating that artists will not be hit with unexpected charges after they have signed up and started distributing their music.

3. What’s Included in Deliver My Tune’s Services?

Deliver My Tune offers a range of services that are essential for independent musicians who want to get their music heard worldwide. These include distribution to all major streaming platforms, royalty collection, and access to analytics to help artists track the performance of their songs. Most of these features are included in their standard package, which helps set Deliver My Tune apart from competitors that often charge additional fees for these same features.

Some platforms charge extra for services like setting release dates, providing real-time tracking data, or distributing to additional international platforms, but Deliver My Tune includes these services as part of its basic distribution package. The result is that musicians can budget their expenses accurately, without being surprised by additional fees later in the process.

4. Additional Services: Do They Cost Extra?

Deliver My Tune does offer some optional services that may come at an extra cost, but these are not hidden fees. Instead, they are additional services that artists can choose to pay for if they need them. For instance, if an artist wants promotional tools or additional marketing services, there may be extra fees associated with these upgrades. However, these costs are made clear from the outset, and artists can decide whether or not to purchase them based on their individual needs.

This level of transparency is key. Many competing platforms bundle these optional services into their pricing in a way that can confuse users. Often, musicians only discover that they need to pay more for additional services after they’ve already begun the distribution process. Deliver My Tune, on the other hand, provides clear pricing for everything upfront, allowing artists to make informed decisions about their budget.

5. The Importance of Transparency in Music Distribution

Why is transparency so critical for independent artists? For many musicians, hidden fees can derail an entire project. It’s common for an artist to sign up for a distribution platform expecting to pay a certain amount, only to be hit with extra costs for services they assumed were included. These extra fees not only drain the artist's finances but also create a sense of distrust between the platform and the user.

Deliver My Tune avoids this pitfall by making sure that artists know exactly what they’re paying for before they begin using the platform. This level of trust is crucial in the music industry, where artists are often bombarded with various services promising to help them succeed, but not always delivering on those promises without adding additional, unexpected costs.

6. How Does Deliver My Tune Compare to Other Platforms?

Many music distribution platforms have been criticized for their lack of pricing transparency. For example, some well-known platforms charge additional fees for distributing to certain regions or for using expedited services. Others take a percentage of the artist's earnings, which can significantly cut into their revenue.

In contrast, Deliver My Tune has gained a reputation for its clear, flat-rate pricing model that allows artists to keep 100% of their earnings, minus the upfront cost of distribution. Artists using Deliver My Tune can distribute their music to all major streaming platforms for one flat fee, with no percentage-based cuts or hidden charges to worry about.

Conclusion:

So, are there any hidden fees associated with using Deliver My Tune for music distribution? After thoroughly examining their pricing structure and user feedback, the answer is a reassuring no. Deliver My Tune offers clear and transparent pricing that allows artists to distribute their music without the fear of surprise fees cropping up along the way. While there may be additional costs for optional services, these are clearly outlined from the start, giving artists the power to choose whether or not they want to invest in them.

For musicians who want a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to distribution, Deliver My Tune is an excellent choice. Their commitment to transparency allows artists to focus on what really matters: creating and sharing their music with the world.

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enokvirkow · 2 years ago

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rebelichor:

@enokvirkow | X

Ariadne watched the stranger. Her head turned, though her body did not, until she cast a side-eye behind her to the crafty little thief. She held her gaze on him for a few moments longer until it was her turn to walk.

With slow, thoughtful steps she circled him and the compass followed.

“Mm.” she finally responded, unimpressed. “I will find alternative travel. Be on your way.”

She had been walking another circle around him. Positioned at his back, she easily stepped into the room beyond and promptly slammed the door shut in front of his surprised face.

A grin spread her lips wide. There wouldn’t be much time, not if the tools on his belt weren’t for show. He’d easily be able to find a way onto her balcony, especially if he were bold enough to attempt to lift the star map from the Xe palace in broad daylight.

Ariadne hurried to her desk. There she wrote a quick letter to Vergil, instructing her twin to cover for her at least for one night, while leaving the vague hint that she was following the stars. He’d know exactly what she meant. Her parents too. For as long as she could remember she had been dreaming of finding what was hidden at the end of the map that shifted along her skin.

With this grinning Galahd star sailor she might actually have her chance.

Plus she’d be spared another royal song and dance.

She cooled her expression when she heard the telltale noise of the other’s arrival. That had been faster than she thought. “When I told you to be on your way, I didn’t mean to find a way into my chambers.” A lie. That had been exactly her hope in test of his skill. “Shall I scream at the top of my lungs?!” Another lie, her voice raised — with few guards to hear. She wasn’t supposed to be inside her chambers. The visiting royals were receiving a grand welcome with the bulk of their security focused around that reception.

Wow.

She definitely had the map. The compass wasn't lying, Enok knew that. It couldn't. And a malfunction was highly unlikely. The laserlight pointed at wherever the princess stepped. She carried that treasure map with her.

"Hey-!"

His angered yell was quickly silenced with her fleeing and shutting the door in his face. Ohh. She would regret that.

"Just you wait...", Enok mumbled, but instead of any kind of bad intent... there was only the utter excitement of a challenge dripping from his voice. He liked games like this. And he was confident enough to be sure that he would manage to get the map in no time and fly back to Rika and her ship. He could already hear the cheering...

The tools at his belt clattered and whirred at being used one after the other by the sky mariner, who bit on his tongue between his lips - and the door was open in no time. Enok practically jumping through it.

"Oh, you wouldn't dare...", he warned, arranging the tools back onto his belt and throwing the princess a look as if he was disappointed, she' even consider screaming for help. From him! He really didn't want to do anything to her. She wasn't important in all of this. he just needed the map - and only borrowed!

But her raised voice seemingly had already alarmed someone.

Enok could hear muffled steps and talking coming their way. Shit.

Checking the ring again, looking back to where the voices were, and then to the princess... Enok had to make a decision. She had the map. But she didn't want to hand it over - yet. And he wouldn't throw her on the ground to search through her clothes like a barbarian. No. He would get her to hand it over.

But he had to think about the how later.

"I'm sorry, princess, I really wanted to do that differently, but you leave me no other choice."

Especially if she was about to scream for help. Then this would be over. And his head end on some silver platter. Nah, he'd rather not...

Enok hit a button on the brace around his left arm, before he practically charged towards the girl, his arms hooking beneath her knees and her back, sweeping her off of her feet. In the same move he jumped for the balcony's door - onto the railing, where there was a breathtaking view.

The fog of the seas around them barely having lifted up here, a pastel light from the moons and sun up on the skies and the ocean glistening with their reflections. Far below the waves crashed. Really far below. And there were houses and buildings dotted along the cliffs.

"Hold on, princess. No fear, I take care of you. Promise!"

No time to commit this all to memory, though - because the very next second Enok had jumped right off of the railing, pressing the young royal against his body. The wind tore on them, speeding up with their free fall as Enok howled out a triumphant cheer. It was absolutely insane. Suicidal.

Until Enok's solar glider raced down alongside them, called by the button Enok had activated. Kicking his feet against the board and clicking into the mechanism, their fall was stopped and he put the gear into motion just before they could shatter into the rocks and waves - instead flying right across them now.

#rebelichor #VERSE | Solar Mariner

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mylefey · 2 years ago

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We really need to talk about Gregorio

Some thoughts about Motherland: Fort Salem. Full spoilers for seasons 1 to the end of 3, you are warned. (Sorry, this is extremely long but the conclusions might be worth it, we can kinda prove that Talder is canon).

Gregorio serves no obvious narrative purpose in s3

In the last 2 episodes of M:FS s3, the only episodes he’s featured in, Gregorio doesn't seem to serve any narrative purpose: he has almost no effect on the plot, his very rare contributions could have been either taken out of the script entirely, or been given by other characters who we’ve been familiarized with all throughout the season.

In M:FS s3e09, here are Gregorio’s contributions:

he meets with Tally and Adil, explains he was in jail (explains his absence for the whole season)

he helps Adil get dressed (he’s literally the only male present with which Adil has had a previous relationship, thus the only candidate for this moment of male bonding)

he’s Tally’s partner at the weddings, they sit together, dance together, have sex

he’s Tally’s partner at an all couple hang out at the campfire scene

In resume, he’s here only so Tally isn’t alone at the weddings or at the campfire.

He’s used as a prop. They put him here to occupy Tally when everybody else is paired up, and to make her look happy instead of helpless (her own words).

A few days before the weddings, we see Tally kneeling on the grass, singing her piece of the First Song in the same way Khalida had done to summon Alder in M:FS s3e04. She’s trying to summon Alder, to get any sign that she didn’t die in the ice cave. When she gets no response to her call, she says: “I gave up my Sight […] to be a Steward of a Song that might never be sung. I feel helpless and I don’t like it.”

Gregorio appears right at this moment.

The writers were not trying to be subtle about this with the wording and the timing. Tally says she feels helpless and the very next thing they write in is Gregorio coming back into Tally’s life. The link between the two facts is pointed out to us: Gregorio’s presence is their solution to Tally’s helplessness. This, she can control. This will keep her occupied.

Gregorio is used as a tool to make Tally look like she feels better. After all, everybody around her is about to be super happy (weddings and all), the writers/execs will NOT have her be a sad sack in the background, it wouldn’t look good.

There was no need for this. We know Tally, she loves her sisters, we know she’s tremendously happy for them, regardless of her own situation. Tally would have been happily hidden her insecurities for the duration of the weddings, for her sisters’ sake.

In M:FS s3e10, here are Gregorio’s contributions:

he’s physically present with the unit when they leave for Fort Salem

he announces that they can equip themselves at the training room (all the people present knew that too, we’ve seen them all use the same training room)

he helps map a path for reaching the Necro facilities (all the people present knew the path too, even Adil contributes and he didn’t even study here)

he leaves the unit to join Petra’s group (the reason is unclear, how would he know if they need his support more than the unit?)

he informs Petra that the unit is armed (messenger for a useless message)

he suggests which Work to use to get rid of their enemies (not only is he the less experienced fighter of this group, making it strange his suggestion is accepted by the others, but it’s also what’s going to ultimately kill Anacostia)

he helps with the Work (nothing says this Work couldn’t have been cast without him)

he rejoins the unit (again, the reason is unclear, how does he know if the unit needs more support than Petra’s team? They just lost one team member, why lose another?)

he tells them about the new silencing tech (the unit still looks surprised when it’s used against them 2 min later, and they disable the tech the way they would have done without Gregorio’s heads-up anyway)

he disappears without anyone noticing (they were evolving together in narrow tunnels with enemies at their heels, how was he separated?)

he reappears (somehow he survived several encounters with Camarilla soldiers, alone in the tunnels)

he fights alongside the unit (basically he keeps the enemies busy while the protagonists discuss things with their backs turned)

he keeps the enemies busy with Nicte while the unit goes into the Mycelium

he hugs Tally when the battle is over (he’s not even present for the homage to Anacostia even though she died saving his life)

In resume, he’s here to make the real protagonists look good during the fights. When the protagonists need to look badass, he’s put aside so he doesn’t take up visual space, and when the protagonists need to chat, he’s brought out again to keep the enemy busy. He does some kind of back and forth between 2 groups, somehow never getting caught even though the base is crawling with enemies, only to transmit messages that are either useless or not actionable. Anything else he contributes, lines or actions, could have been attributed to other characters (in fact, they probably took those lines and actions from other characters just so he wouldn’t look completely useless).

He’s used as a prop. He could have been replaced simply by better fight choreography, and, although it is good for the heroes to have some support, he didn’t need to date Tally to be here. Gregorio is their friend and coven-mate, this is reason enough to spend time with them and share in their joy.

So if Gregorio being here seems to serve no narrative purpose, why was he here at all? The actor was cast and paid for this, and precious episode time was taken from important plot lines by having him here.

There could be a few reasons:

the obsession of writers and/or executives to want to have everyone be paired up for the end of a show, making it at least “look” like loose ends are tied up. This is very common in TV-shows finales. Gregorio and Tally had flirted a little bit in s2 and they were on good terms so he was a suitable candidate for it.

writers and/or executives knew it would be a very open ending with both Tally and Alder alive, but wanted to make sure the door would be closed on a Talder romance. It’s still rare to have an LGBT+ couple be endgame but as they already gave us Raylla, they didn’t want to give us a second one. LGBT+ couples are still treated as tokens because of rampant homophobia and the need for good ratings.

Gregorio could be a self-insert, wish-fulfillment character from a writer and/or an executive, it’s been known to happen more often than we think. The biggest characteristic of a self-insert, wish-fulfillment character is “they’re pretty bland character-wise but, for some never-defined reason, the sexy protagonist find them very interesting/attractive”, which seems to fit with the situation here.

There might be other reasons. Let's see if we can find one by over-analyzing some things.

How long have Tally and Gregorio been together?

When the unit gets reinstated and they’re back at Fort Salem, Anacostia says that the wedding will happen “next week”, which is fairly vague in number of days, but let’s say it means “in around 7 days”. Gregorio reappears a few moments later. Meaning that, by the time the wedding takes place, Tally and Gregorio have had around 7 days to reacquaint themselves. They were coven-mates and friends before.

But are they dating by the time the wedding happens? The editing of the episode is a bit murky, so let’s see:

After having helped Adil get dressed, Gregorio says: “I’m gonna go find Tally.” It doesn’t inform us on their status, just that he wants to spend time with her.

At the wedding, the first time we see Tally and Gregorio in the same space is for the ceremony, they are seated close but not directly next to each other (Khalida is between them).

Then we see them flirt while dancing, touching cheeks and laughing.

Next up, they have sex in a hallway.

Then, and only then, at the campfire scene, the evening of the wedding, do we see them behaving like a couple (sitting in one’s lap, holding hands).

In addition to that, in M:FS s3e10, in the training room, Gregorio announces that he’s leaving the unit to join Petra’s group. Even though both Tally and Gregorio know that this might be the last time they’ll see each other, they don’t kiss. They’re awkward with each other, which only reinforces how new their relationship is.

From this, we can conclude with some certainty that Tally and Gregorio only became a couple as a result of having sex in the hallway after the weddings ceremony.

Why now?

Tally and Gregorio have known each other since they started War College in M:FS s2e02. They’ve always made some amount of doe eye at each other but it never went anywhere, even though there was ample time and opportunity, not even when it would have gotten the Imperatrix off of both their backs. They don’t see each other for all the time the unit is on the run (we have no indication of how long this lasted, but at least a few months?), Tally doesn’t even mention him, and finally they’re both back at Fort Salem again only a few days before the weddings.

So why do they suddenly get together at the weddings?

Let’s examine one particular bit of timing at the weddings (Tally and Gregorio are not a couple at this point):

Tally feels helpless.

Alder arrives at the weddings to drop off Khalida, reunites with Anacostia and then leaves without even talking to Tally.

Khalida joins the unit, telling them, by her presence if not by words (we are not shown this part), that Alder is here, alive and well.

Tally runs after Alder, and they have a conversation. Tally looks obviously mad, her stance is guarded, arms crossed and she sports a forced, jaw-clenched smile on her face.

Alder rejects Tally’s help and leaves. Tally looks dejected and mad, she shakes her head, looks up at the sky, and stomps away.

The wedding ceremony happens, pausing the action for a bit.

Tally has sex for the first time with Gregorio, in a hallway.

Before we can conclude anything from this, let’s examine another situation for comparison:

Tally was in a romantic relationship with Gerit. When she learned that he lied to her, by omission, about his marital status, she broke up with him. When, in M:FS s1e07, Gerit comes back some time later and apologizes, Tally initially rejects him.

But she’s in the middle of a personal crisis. She had been ordered to not say anything about Scylla being Spree and being the army’s prisoner in Fort Salem. She can only watch as Raelle suffers from the uncertainty around Scylla’s disappearance. She feels guilty and is scared of Raelle linking with her and seeing her memories of Scylla. She’s obviously conflicted and looks pale (the make-up department is on point).

Tally obviously feels helpless about the whole situation and says so at some point to Anacostia, in M:FS s1e06: “I feel, I do need to do something. […] I cannot pretend that nothing happened!” but she gets shot down.

Then Gerit comes back around a 2nd time, just after Raelle calls Tally out about avoiding her and Tally had to lie about it. It’s only at this point that Tally caves and starts having sex with Gerit again. Even though she makes the decision, she looks downcast about it, instead of horny or enthusiastic.

In resume: Tally feels helpless about Raelle’s suffering - Raelle gets angry at her - Tally starts having sex with Gerit.

It does sound strangely familiar, doesn’t it?

In fact, that’s exactly the same chain of events we have just described about Tally at the weddings: Tally feels helpless about Alder, her Sight and the First Song - Alder avoids her and rejects her - Tally starts having sex with Gregorio.

In M:FS s1e09, when Gerit booty-calls Tally and the unit calls her out on it, right after Libba's funeral, Tally says: “I need this.” Her tone of voice makes it clear that she's not horny or in love, she just needs to work out her frustrations regarding her situation.

Sex with Gerit is a way for Tally to cope with her feelings.

From all this, we can conclude that Tally starts having sex with Gregorio in order to work out her frustrations regarding Alder rejecting her.

Let’s add an interesting fact: in M:FS s3e09, in the hallway as they are about to have sex, Gregorio says he’s feeling judged by a painting of a woman on the wall. Tally answers: “Then let her watch…”. It seems straightforward but Tally looks and sounds a bit ruthless about it, which feels strange as she’s supposed to feel horny and carefree at that point.

Whereas if you consider the fact that Tally is here to work out her frustrations about Alder, it would fit that her comment is in fact directed at Alder, not at a random woman in a painting. It’s like Tally is telling Alder: “Look at what you make me do, it’s your fault.”

It’s very subtle, though, and absolutely no proof of anything by itself.

Is Tallorio even a romance?

Here is the only instance of characters talking about Tally and Gregorio’s relationship, when Tally calls Gregorio “Greg” after having had sex for the first time in M:FS s3e10:

Abigail: “Greg, we’re Greg now? […] Nice little charge-up at the wedding there, Tal?” Tally: “Always good before a battle.” Abigail: “And?” Tally: “He was so good.”

There’s no mention of feelings at all, just that Gregorio gave Tally a good charge.

Let’s compare this to Abigail, who’s notorious for using sex with men for a charge, when she talks about having had sex with Adil for the first time in M:FS s2e01: “It’s more than sex with this one. More than just charging up, you know? It’s deep and feels like destiny or something.”

That’s a stark difference. Character-wise, Tally has been shown to get attached too fast, and Abigail to not get attached at all. And, at the time of each of these quotes, Tally has known Gregorio for at least twice as long as Abigail had known Adil (half a season for Abigail and Adil, 2 seasons for Tally and Gregorio).

All signs point to Tallorio being nothing else than a simple wedding hookup. There’s the possibility of it being the beginning of a romantic relationship, but as the show stops here, a few hours and a whole world-ending battle later, it'll stay nothing more than a possibility.

TL,DR?

Where does all that over-analyzing leave us?

We determined that:

Gregorio doesn’t seem to have a reason to be there except to play combat support and be Tally’s sexual partner.

Tally doesn’t have sex with Gregorio until right after Alder rejects her help.

Tally uses casual sex as a way to cope with her feelings.

Tally doesn’t express any romantic feelings for Gregorio.

From all this, we can safely conclude that Gregorio’s presence serves to show how much being rejected by Alder affects Tally. (The shippers might go as far as to say that Tallorio having sex in these circumstances implies that Talder is canon (on Tally’s part at least).)

We determined earlier that Gregorio had no obvious narrative purpose for being present in s3, could this be the non-obvious narrative reason? To show the depth of Tally’s feelings for Alder?

Bonus part: my personal, wild speculations

If you just wanted the fact analysis, you should stop reading now. The rest is just wild, unsourced speculations on my part.

So, why would the writers go about confirming that Talder is canon in this extremely roundabout, counter-explicit, obscure way? Why not just have Talder kiss on the mouth (or more)?

My bet would be on a conflict between the writers and the executives.

More and more creators in the media entertainment industry speak out about the existence of such conflicts, where creators/writers wanted to include LGBT+ romances and the network executives either refused completely, or only accepted it as long as it was made impossibly subtle, or only canon at the last second (so it wouldn’t have time to affect their ratings). Sometimes, they would go as far as force writers to invent new side characters whose only purpose would be to date main characters that are part of popular non-canon LGBT+ ships. This would put those main characters into acceptable (= straight), canon relationships, and block the non-canon ones.

In Motherland: Fort Salem, the writers gave us Tally and Alder and paired them up, story-wise, for 3 seasons. A part of the audience ships them together romantically, and they’re romance-coded in all of s3.

And, suddenly, for the last 2 episodes of the last season, they dump a bland guy onto Tally and give Alder an ending that looks like death at first glance (but don't worry, it isn’t death). That sure sounds suspicious to me.

Even more suspicious is the fact that, while carefully examining the facts, the bland guy’s presence only seems to reinforce the strength of the ship that’s supposed to be non-canon.

So my personal conclusion is: the writers wanted to make Talder canon but the executives refused, and ordered them instead to romantically pair Tally up with a guy to close the door on Talder. So the writers indeed forced Tally and Gregorio together, and wrote the whole short thing in a way that looks like a standard romantic relationship at first glance (obeying the execs’ orders) but that in fact subtly proves that Talder is canon.

As I said, I get to this from wild speculations, but to me, it fits.

#talder #motherland fort salem #spoilers motherland for salem #spoilers #long post #basically tallorio is a scam and talder is canon #(kinda)#i pulled all the receipts #(that's why it's so long)

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robininthelabyrinth · 3 years ago

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Wen Ruohan, Jin Guangshan and a few chosen others (say, wen Chao, wen xu, jin jixun, xue yang?, meng yao?) die untimely deaths...of natural causes. Just after the sect heirs have received invitations to the wen indoctrination camp. Huh. That's strange. But the cultivation world has just become a better, happier place. Whoever is back in time and what's going to happen next idk but you might

“So,” Nie Huaisang said. “I have good news, great news, and bad news.”

“Is the good news that you weren’t brutally murdered when you were dragged away by guards from the Fire Palace?” Jiang Cheng wanted to know.

“…yes, actually. Good guess.”

Jin Zixuan sighed audibly.

“The rest of my news is more important!” Nie Huaisang protested.

“All right, all right,” Wei Wuxian said. “Hit us with it. Don’t leave poor Lan Zhan in suspense.”

Lan Wangji, who had not shown the slightest hint of impatience (or interest, for that matter), ignored him. As usual.

“Okay,” Nie Huaisang said. “Great news: war’s over.”

They all stared at him.

“I’m not joking,” he clarified. “War’s over.”

“Okay,” Wei Wuxian said. “Right. What does that – mean?”

“Well, among other things, Sect Leader Wen is now dead.”

“He’s what?!” Jiang Cheng yowled, and he wasn’t the only one, either; even Lan Wangji was standing up and staring at him in alarm, although Wei Wuxian noticed soon enough and pushed him to sit back down on account of that broken leg and all. “In that case – Wen Xu –”

“Also dead.”

“…what?”

“Wen Chao, too. Plus Wen Zhuliu, in case anyone was worried about that.”

“Nie Huaisang,” Lan Wangji said, a warning tone in his voice.

Nie Huaisang held up his hands. “I’m completely serious! They’re all dead!”

Jiang Cheng sat down abruptly. Everyone looked at him.

“If they’re really all dead,” he said blankly. “If that’s true…the war really is over.”

They all stared at each other wordlessly for a while. It didn’t seem possible for it to be over so quickly – so anticlimactically. But without Wen Ruohan – without his two sons – who was left to be in charge of the Wen sect?

Wen Qing, maybe, as Wen Ruohan’s ward? Wen Ning?

Impossible.

Even if they did take over, they’d been Dafan Wen once – maybe they could be talked back into being pacifists or something?

“How did it happen?” Jin Zixuan asked. “All three of them dead all at once like that…it seems impossible.”

“Oh, well, you know,” Nie Huaisang said, a faintly malicious smile appearing on his face. “I’m not sure if Jin-xiong knows my brother’s deputy, Meng Yao?”

Of course he knew. Everyone knew the relationship between the Jin sect and Meng Yao, least of all the Jin sect.

“Well, he apparently showed up at the front gate of the Nightless City a few days ago having turned traitor and swore to serve Wen Ruohan. He even made him a few ingenious torture devices for the Fire Palace and got on his good side. And when Wen Ruohan finally stopped paying attention…”

“He killed them?” Jiang Cheng was disbelieving. “All three – well, four, with Wen Zhuliu – I thought his cultivation was weak? How could he defeat them?”

“He didn’t! They were having dinner and he volunteered to play them a song – well, possibly he did it a few times, I’m not terribly clear – well, either way, he volunteered to play them a song and then apparently used musical cultivation to drive them all mad and then they murdered each other. Poetic justice, in my opinion.”

Everyone exchanged glances, then shrugged and nodded. That seemed about right.

“He’s a hero, then,” Wei Wuxian said. “Meng Yao.”

“That should be enough to win him any favor he wants,” Jiang Cheng said, with a significant look at Jin Zixuan, whose shoulders went up a little, defensively, but who was gracious enough to nod in agreement.

“Oh, he doesn’t want to join the Jin sect anymore,” Nie Huaisang said gleefully. “He said that he learned his lesson about that – and some other things, too, which don’t make much sense, but I think he’s just tired from the whole assassination thing. Maybe he’ll change his mind later? Who even knows?”

“Well,” Wei Wuxian said, blinking rapidly. “All’s well that ends well, I guess?”

“Uh, about that…that was the good news and the great news,” Nie Huaisang said. “Who wants to hear the bad news?”

Everyone turned to look at him.

“I’m almost relieved,” Wei Wuxian murmured as an aside to Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng. “It was starting to feel too good to be true, you know?”

“Shut up,” Jiang Cheng said.

Lan Wangji didn’t say anything, but his look suggested he agreed with Jiang Cheng.

“The bad news is – the Wen sect still has an army,” Nie Huaisang announced. “A very large, very powerful army, with lots of weapons and magical tools and all that, and without being dealt with, they could go anywhere and do anything.”

“Not good,” Jin Zixuan said, looking alarmed.

“That’s an understatement,” Jiang Cheng said, scowling, and Wei Wuxian nodded.

“I’m going to guess that you have an idea,” he said to Nie Huaisang, who pouted at him. “Sorry for spoiling your surprise, but you wouldn’t be this calm otherwise.”

“Wei-xiong, let me have my fun! But all right, yes, we have an idea: we don’t tell anyone that they’re dead.”

“…what?”

“I mean, we send messages back to our families, of course. But we don’t tell anyone here that they’re dead.”

“…what exactly are you suggesting?”

Nie Huaisang beamed at all of them. “I’m suggesting we collectively impersonate the Wen clan and run the Wen sect – maybe with Wen Qing and Wen Ning’s help, why not – for a few weeks until our families can eradicate the army problem.”

“That,” Lan Wangji said solemnly, “is a terrible idea.”

Nie Huaisang waved a hand at him. “Naturally it is. But it’s the only one that seems plausible – even Meng Yao agrees! And so – who’s with me?”

#mdzs #nie huaisang #wei wuxian #jiang cheng #lan wangji #jin zixuan #my fic #my fics #good news great news and bad news #consider this the spiritual successor to the Summer Camp fic

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cheri-translates · 3 years ago

Text

[CN] Gavin’s Car Repair Date

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 修车之约, which has not been released in EN! 🍒

[ This was released on 13 August 2021 ]

Beneath the blue skies and white clouds, the meandering road stretches towards the mountaintop, and the roar of the engine is incessant.

A light-hearted melody flows slowly within the car. Since we’ve already heard this song many times, Gavin and I find ourselves humming along to the music softly.

Gavin: Are you tired? I could drive next.

Sitting on the front passenger seat, Gavin turns his head to look at me.

MC: I’m not tired. I’m filled with energy right now~

I shake my head, gripping the steering wheel while my gaze focuses on the front.

Gavin and I had originally planned to go on a vacation in a neighbouring city today. However, sudden changes at work caused my vacation to shrink to half a day...

As such, Gavin suggested that we should change our plans to a drive, and that he’d take me to this mountain route he often drives on.

MC: I’ve already watched you driving down this road a couple of times. I’m more or less familiar with this route.

The corners of my lips curl upwards slightly, feeling the fresh breeze brushing my cheeks, along with the comforting and pleasant sensation it brings.

MC: I can now understand why you like going on a spin here. The feeling of rushing among the mountains feels really carefree.

Hearing this, Gavin’s lips hook into a smile.

Gavin: If you like it, we could come here often next time.

MC: Sure. But I’ll be the one to drive you, okay?

I speak with a teasing tone, and Gavin chuckles softly.

Gavin: Why not?

While we’re talking and laughing, a strange sound abruptly drifts to our ears. My brows furrow. Gavin also senses the problem.

Gavin: Let’s stop the car.

I nod, bringing the car to the side before stopping.

Gavin walks over to the front of the car, then opens the hood. Bits of sunlight filter through the leaves, casting a mix of light and shadows on his face.

MC: Should I call the insurance company?

Gavin: No need.

Gavin purses his lips slightly, then waves casually.

Gavin: The spark plug just needs to be replaced. This car’s pretty old, and it hasn’t been maintained much. It’s a good time to give it a thorough check.

MC: I see...

I glance at the long mountain road. Even if we were to head down the mountain now, there’s still a great distance between us and the city...

Gavin: It’s fine, there’s no need to worry.

As though seeing through my thoughts, he gives me a smile.

Gavin: There happens to be a shop I’m familiar with nearby. Since we’ve been driving for such a long time, we could head there for a short break too.

Gavin places his warm palm on the top of my head, rubbing it gently.

Gavin: In short, it isn’t a huge problem and we can continue driving. Let’s get in.

Halfway up this secluded mountain, Gavin stations the car outside a shop which looks pretty old. After getting off, what enters our vision is a tightly shut roll-up door.

Gavin: The boss might have headed out.

Gavin calls out the boss’ name several times, but doesn’t receive a response. Instead, the sound of barking drifts over.

MC: This is...

Gavin: It belongs to the boss.

Gavin takes out his phone and dials a number. At the same time, he strides towards a flowerpot at the side, retrieving a key from underneath.

Gavin: I’ve told the boss about our situation. He says we could head into the shop to repair the car ourselves.

MC: Ourselves?

I mumble in slight confusion, watching as Gavin lifts the roll-up door.

Before I can get a clear glimpse of the shop’s interior, a figure leaps out.

??: Woof woof!

A brown puppy circles around Gavin excitedly, nuzzling against him affectionately.

Gavin (voice clip here): Long time no see, Bean Bun.

Gavin squats down, patting its head. Then, he points at me.

Gavin: This is Big Sis MC. Say hello to her.

MC: Nice to meet you, Bean Bun~

I bend down. When Bean Bun sees me, the affectionate energy disappears instantly, and it hides behind Gavin timidly.

MC: ...I’m feeling a sense of déjà vu. Why are these dogs only close to you?

I pout, my tone laced with envy. Gavin chuckles softly.

Gavin: It’s just a little afraid of strangers. Once it familiarises itself with you, it’d naturally stick to you.

Watching as Gavin carries the puppy up with ease, I can’t help but ask curiously.

MC: Do you come here often?

Gavin: I guess so. I often go on drives on the mountain, and got to know the boss here. I’d drop by occasionally to modify cars with him.

Gavin places Bean Bun down, then gives me a slight smile.

Gavin: That’s why I’m more familiar with this puppy.

After saying this, he gets up and drives the car into the shop. I scan my surroundings in curiosity.

All of a sudden, a few photographs on the horizontally striped wall draw my attention-

The photographs feature customers of the shop with their beloved cars. Stepping closer, I find one figure particularly familiar...

MC: !

MC: Gavin, your photo is here too!

Pleasantly surprised, I point at that photograph. The Gavin in the photograph is even more youthful than he is right now. He’s leaning against the car, his amber eyes filled with unruliness.

This isn’t the only photograph. Next to it, there are several photographs of Gavin checking or fixing cars. However, they appear to be candid shots.

There are occasionally photographs of him looking directly into the camera. His brows are always furrowed slightly, reluctance written all over his face.

Thinking of the reasons why he was forced to have such photos taken, I find myself bursting into laughter.

Gavin: Cough...

An unnatural cough drifts to my ears softly. Without realising it, Gavin has come over to stand behind me.

Gavin: I once learnt how to repair cars from this boss.

He follows my line of sight, sweeping a glance at the photographs while explaining.

Gavin: But he’s very strange. He didn’t ask for fees, but just wanted to take some photographs of me to stick on the wall of the shop... he said that his business would be better this way.

Hearing this, the smile on my face grows even wider.

MC: Looks like this boss has pretty good taste. He knows that he can’t let this dashing “model” slip by~ If only I had such photographs of you...

I say this enviously while scrutinising the photographs on the wall. Gavin stares at the photographs of the youthful version of himself, and seems to understand my words differently.

Gavin: “Such” photographs?

MC: Mm!

Gavin: You could take a few photos later.

In a nonchalant manner, Gavin shifts to stand in front of me, and just so happens to block my line of sight.

Gavin: Stop looking. My skills from back then are far different from what they’re like now.

He arches his brows slightly, taking my hand in his.

While looking at the person in front of me, I find myself laughing aloud. A sudden realisation strikes me.

MC: Wait. You mentioned “car repair skills”... So other than motorcycles, you can repair cars too?

My eyes widen in astonishment.

In these photographs, Gavin is always driving a car. Even though I already knew that he can modify and repair motorcycles, I never thought that four-wheeled vehicles were an easy feat for him too.

Probably due to my exaggerated expression and tone, Gavin chuckles.

Gavin: Why are you so surprised? I had an interest in it, so I tried learning a little. It isn’t anything serious. Although cars and motorcycles are two different types of vehicles, the principles behind repairing them are more or less the same.

Gavin says this calmly while retrieving spare parts for the replacement from a cupboard at the side. I support my chin with a hand, eyes focused on him.

MC: You seem to know everything.

Gavin: That’s an exaggeration. It’s just a hobby.

With a faint smile, he walks towards the car while carrying the tools. When he walks past me, he taps on my cap gently.

Gavin: It won’t take long. It’d be fixed really soon. You can sit at the side and take a break for now.

After saying this, Gavin rolls his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing his contoured arm as he uses the tools seriously.

I watch on fixedly, realising that I rarely see this version of him. As such, I smile while shaking my head, moving a chair over and sitting down next to him.

MC: I just want to stay here. This is the first time I’m watching you repair a car for real. I want to protect this best observation spot~

Gavin chuckles softly, and doesn’t insist otherwise.

In the next second, something seems to occur to him. He stops in the midst of opening the hood of the car, then casts a glance at me.

MC: Hm? What’s wrong?

The corners of his lips hook upwards slightly, a gentle light overflowing in his eyes.

Gavin: Erm, MC. Could you help me out?

Hearing Gavin’s suggestion, I nod hurriedly.

MC: Of course I can. How can I help?

Gavin tilts his head crookedly and ponders over this.

Gavin: Could you hand me tools?

MC: Only handing you tools...?

Seeing that I’m slightly disappointed in this task which doesn’t require much skill, Gavin smiles as he grabs a clean apron from the rack and ties it on me.

Gavin: It’s inevitable to get grease on you when repairing cars. You’re dressed really nicely today, so don’t get yourself dirty.

The sudden closeness in proximity causes me to soften my breathing. I cooperate by lifting my hands, then sneak a peek at Gavin from my peripheral vision.

His eyes are lowered, and his expression is serious as he ties the ribbon of the apron into a knot. His warm breaths gently brush against my ear.

I blink and nod, my voice turning soft.

MC: Understood. In that case, I’ll be Officer Gavin’s little assistant today~

I say this with anticipation, and very soon grow accustomed to this new role.

While Gavin changes into his work clothes, I purchase two bottles of iced water from a nearby stall. After returning, the both of us take out the necessary spare parts and tools from a work cabinet.

Just as everything is going smoothly, a crisp sound drifts from the side, as though something has fallen to the ground.

Twisting our heads to look, we realise that Bean Bun, who had been drinking water obediently at the side earlier, has moved over to the car, pawing at the tools on the floor.

Gavin: A spare part probably fell underneath the car.

As though punishing it, Gavin rubs Bean Bun’s head. Then, he leans over to look below the car. He supports himself on the body of the car with one hand, attempting to reach for the spare part which rolled underneath the car.

Looking at his tall frame and the amount of effort he’s exerting, I can’t help but chuckle.

MC: I’ll do it.

Without waiting for Gavin’s response, I squat down, reaching out to feel underneath the car.

Gavin: ...do it slowly.

A large hand is lifted up, carefully protecting my head.

After feeling around the darkness beneath the car, my fingertips suddenly bump into something icy cold.

MC: Got it!

Seeing how happy I look, the corners of Gavin’s lips lift into a smile.

Gavin: Looks like having an ‘assistant’ around is much more convenient.

He takes the spare part from my hand.

Gavin: I’ll have to trouble you again later.

MC: Mm, leave it to me!

Gavin removes his cap. After using a hoisting jack to prop the car up, his movements are nimble as he burrows underneath the car.

In the meanwhile, I tidy up the tools that Bean Bun had messed up earlier. Occasionally, the crisp sound of clanking metal can be heard.

Bean Bun: Woof!

After a moment, I hear a sudden sound.

Turning my head over, I spot Bean Bun wagging its tail, running towards the car.

MC: Wait, Bean Bun!

Worried that it’d disturb Gavin while he’s repairing the car, I attempt to pick it up. However, Bean Bun manages to evade me nimbly again and again.

In the blink of an eye, it slips underneath the car. I hurriedly bend down, looking underneath.

MC: Bean Bun, come here...

My voice abruptly halts, and my line of sight is involuntarily drawn to the image before me-

Gavin is lying on the ground, his gaze focused as he makes replacements to the car.

His head is tilted upwards, revealing his sculpted lower jaw. A droplet of sweat slides off his face, plunging into the collar of his slightly open shirt.

Despite the grease and dirt on Gavin’s face, it does not minimise his dashing spirit at all.

Bean Bun: Woo...

Bean Bun’s bark returns me to my senses. It’s currently lying at the side, looking at Gavin a little pitifully. It’s as though it wants Gavin to play with it.

I wave at Bean Bun, pretending to look stern.

MC: Bean Bun, come here. I’ll give you delicious, delicious food!

Bean Bun: Woo woo...

Gavin: [laughs] It’s okay, he won’t disturb me.

Following the sound and looking over, I realise that Gavin had stopped his work at some point of time, and is currently looking at me with a shining gaze.

My face flushes, and I avert my eyes while using this opportunity to pick Bean Bun up, who is stuck to his side.

MC: Reporting to Officer Gavin - I’ve successfully kept this Little Rascal under control!

My dead seriousness tickles Gavin to laughter. He plays with Bean Bun while it’s in my arms.

Gavin: Mm, not bad. My assistant is indeed competent.

After this, he continues with the work on hand, just that the smile at the corners of his lips curls at a greater angle than before.

Gavin: MC, stay here and talk to me.

MC: Mm, sure~

I blink, then retrieve a small electronic fan from my bag at the side. I point it towards Gavin, wanting him to feel a little more comfortable.

Gavin: Come to think of it, do you know why I wanted to learn how to repair cars?

I look at him with curiosity, and Gavin continues.

Gavin: When driving, I’m the first person who can understand the overall situation of the car. To me, fixing the car myself is most convenient. Also, I can make detailed adjustments based on my own preferences. It takes a little more time, but the process is very interesting.

Gavin’s tone is gentle as he speaks, the corners of his lips lifting involuntarily.

Seeing the bright lights in his eyes, I feel a certain part of my heart being stirred.

MC: So that’s the reason why you like modifying and adding new coats of paint to vehicles? I know how that feels.

I nod while chuckling softly.

MC: Whenever I finished my handcrafts in the past, I’d draw all sorts of doodles on them... It was akin to leaving a mark belonging exclusively to me on the things that I liked.

I mumble to myself, not noticing that Gavin has paused in his movements. After a moment, he slides out smoothly from underneath the car.

Warm yellow sunlight lands on Gavin’s face, smoothening his sharp edges.

My heart stirs slightly. Supporting my hands on my kneecaps, I bend over to ask him a question.

MC: Are you done repairing it?

Beneath the mottled light, Gavin lifts his eyes to look at me, arching his brows.

Gavin: Not yet. There’s still the final step. I’ll need your help.

He pulls me over to him. Amid the hot and dry air in the surroundings, Gavin’s scent and the smell of engine oil blend together.

Gavin places a tool in my hand. Together, we screw the spare part I had picked up earlier.

Gavin: Done.

His scorching breaths land on the nape of my neck. I turn my head, watching as a large patch of sunlight spills on Gavin’s back.

Scattered dust floats in the air, reminiscent of mayflies as they land on the car, which has already been covered with a layer of dust.

The person in front of me has a bright and clear smile which is even more dazzling than sunlight. I blink gently, tugging on Gavin’s hand and swinging it to and fro.

MC: Gavin, there’s something else I might be able to help you with.

“Splash...”

I retrieve a towel from the pail, leaning over and meticulously wiping the car which has already been rinsed once.

In the next moment, Gavin stands behind me, grabbing my hand.

Gavin: It’s best to start from the roof of the car. That way, we wouldn’t have to wipe and wash it again. Like this.

MC: Mm...

I cooperate, standing on my tiptoes. Due to our difference in height, I find it a little strenuous.

Gavin: [laughs] Let me do it.

While saying this, Gavin takes the towel from my hand.

I nod and turn around. Only then do I realise that we’re only a finger away from each other.

Stray hairs on his forehead sweep against the tip of my nose, and I can see each one of his eyelashes distinctly.

Warmth climbs up my cheeks gradually. Just as I plan to slip out of this tiny space, my wrist is suddenly tugged on.

MC: A-aren’t you washing the roof of the car...

Lifting my head, I see an imperceptible smile flashing past his eyes.

Gavin: Before washing it, I have to ask for a “reward” from my little assistant.

After saying this, he leans down, cupping a hand against my ear.

Then, he leaves a gentle kiss on my lips.

I hold my breath. The only thing I can feel is my slightly increased heart rate.

On this scorching summer afternoon, the whirring fan moves continuously, and the sunlight along the horizon turns from a dazzling gold into a warm yellow.

Without even realising it, we’ve already wiped off all the soap bubbles on the car, and the body of the car is as shiny as the surface of a mirror.

MC: Done! Is Officer Gavin satisfied with this little assistant’s performance?

I turn my head towards Gavin excitedly. When I see the white soap bubbles on his face, I laugh aloud.

Gavin: What is it?

Under Gavin’s confused gaze, I turn the sprinkler to the lowest level, then head over to Gavin.

MC: Don’t move.

I dab some water on my hand, wanting to brush off the soap bubbles on his face.

MC: Gavin, squat down a little.

Gavin: Mm, okay.

Gavin nods in understanding. Following my instructions, he bends down. In an instant, his sculpted face draws close to me.

Beneath the gem-like and dazzling sunlight, the beads of sweat on his skin reflect light, causing me to be slightly engrossed in the sight.

I brush off the soap bubbles on his face gently. A damp yet soft sensation drifts from my fingertips. Gavin’s eyelashes quiver slightly at the touch.

Gavin: ...are you done?

I turn my head, realising that the tips of Gavin’s ears have turned an unnatural red.

MC: ...nope. There’s still a little bit on your nose.

Suppressing my laughter, I continue caressing his outline, deliberately leaning in closer.

Gavin’s breathing seems to become heavier. His eyelashes quiver slightly, before his eyes open right in front of me.

Gavin: [breathing noises] ...

Our breaths mingle with the heat waves of midsummer, and our eyes reflect each other’s faces clearly.

After a short while, Gavin seems to react. His lips move, as though he’s about to say something. However, two crisp barks interrupt him.

Bean Bun: Woof! Woof!

Bean Bun, who has been neglected by us, releases unhappy sounds of protest. It hops up continuously, pawing against Gavin’s leg.

MC: Sorry sorry, we seem to keep forgetting you today.

Lowering my head, I pat Bean Bun’s head.

Gavin: [sighs] ...

As though not wanting my attention to continue getting diverted by the puppy, Gavin suddenly carries me in one swoop, placing me on the car as he looks directly at me.

Gavin: I haven’t answered your question from earlier.

MC: Huh?

Gavin leans in close. I have a clear view of the smile overflowing in his amber eyes...

Gavin: I’m very satisfied with the “little assistant’s” performance today.

The faint scent of sweat and the fragrance of soap meld into my breaths. Only after listening to him do I recall the question which was interrupted earlier.

Despite the smile surfacing on my face, I pretend to be dissatisfied while speaking.

MC: Is that all? Officer Gavin’s assessment seems a little superficial.

Gavin laughs. He lowers his head to nuzzle the tip of my nose while he continues.

Gavin: This is how satisfied I am.

After a long while, he draws away from me slightly. With an upward tilt of his lips, he reaches out to leave white soap bubbles on the tip of my nose.

Gavin: [laughs] ...there you go. Now, the both of us have soap bubbles on our faces.

Watching as the smile deepens on his lips, I’m in a daze for a few seconds. Then, I recall how I had toyed with him earlier.

MC: Gavin, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?

Gavin: Mm, this is a counterattack.

Gavin admits it with ease.

MC: I didn’t expect Officer Gavin to launch such a childish counterattack.

I can’t help but laugh. Gavin looks at me, happy warmth reflecting in his clean and clear eyes.

He lowers his head, leaning his forehead against mine affectionately.

Gavin: MC, what you said earlier was very accurate. When there’s something I like, I’d want to leave my exclusive mark on it.

With his gaze, Gavin traces the contours of my face. Along with the warm breeze, his tender words land in my ears clearly.

Gavin: Which is why, over here...

He tilts my chin upwards gently, his voice softening.

Gavin: Let me leave a mark.

The scent belonging exclusively to Gavin wafts over. A soft sensation seals my lips shut.

MC: Mm...

Without giving me any time to react, Gavin rolls my breaths in between my lips and teeth in an overbearing manner.

The sound of disordered breaths dissipate at my ears. I support myself weakly on Gavin’s arms, feeling as though the temperature of my surroundings is rising.

After an unknown period of time, Gavin releases his hold on me. His arms remain tightly wrapped around my waist.

I pant slightly, allowing my breathing to regain some composure. As though I’m unwilling to admit defeat, I lean over towards him, giving him a light peck on his chin.

MC: ...Gavin, me too.

I stare at Gavin, my fingers caressing his outline before sliding down slowly, stopping at his chest.

MC: On you and your heart... I want to leave even more marks belonging exclusively to me.

The light in Gavin’s eyes stir for a moment. Then, he brushes aside the hairs on my face, pressing his lips to my forehead.

Gavin: MC.

I hear him calling my name.

Gavin: Actually, you already did that since a very long time ago. You did it effortlessly.

Reminiscent of a gust of summer breeze, his voice brushes my heart, filling it with a sweet emotion.

I wrap my arms around his neck, feeling the mingling of our interlaced breaths as they melt into the rapidly increasing temperature of the surroundings...