#sorry to those who didn't make it on here. doesn't mean i don't love em too but it these are some of the individual lines that hit hardest

[vickyvicarious]

Dracula Declarations of Love

There is so much love, and so much talk of love, in this book. It's extremely hard to pick a favorite, but let's give it a go (or just get emotional over a bunch of quotes lined up together).

I tried to stick mostly to declarations/talk about (rather than acts of) love, primarily to focus on specific quotes and help me narrow it down to just twelve (still a big challenge). Before anyone asks, no, "I too can love" is not on here because Dracula's version of love doesn't stack up to the others for me in terms of emotional impact. And these were definitely chosen by my personal preference of specific quotes; there are a bunch of other great words of love that didn't make it in. Also, important note - this is not exclusively romantic love by any means.

The whole quotes don't fit in the poll, so please read below before you vote.

Full Quotes:

11 May, Lucy: "Oh, Mina, couldn't you guess? I love him. I am blushing as I write, for although I think he loves me, he has not told me so in words. But oh, Mina, I love him; I love him; I love him!"

24 May, Quincey: "If that other fellow doesn't know his happiness, well, he'd better look for it soon, or he'll have to deal with me. Little girl, your honesty and pluck have made me a friend, and that's rarer than a lover; it's more unselfish anyhow."

19 August, Mina: "I have cried over the good Sister's letter till I can feel it wet against my bosom, where it lies. It is of Jonathan, and must be next my heart, for he is in my heart. [...] I must write no more; I must keep it to say to Jonathan, my husband. The letter that he has seen and touched must comfort me till we meet."

24 August, Jonathan and Mina: "Then he took my hand in his, and oh, Lucy, it was the first time he took his wife's hand, and said that it was the dearest thing in all the wide world, and that he would go through all the past again to win it, if need be. [...] Well, my dear, what could I say? I could only tell him that I was the happiest woman in all the wide world, and that I had nothing to give him except myself, my life, and my trust, and that with these went my love and duty for all the days of my life."

24 August, Mina: "Lucy dear, do you know why I tell you all this? It is not only because it is all sweet to me, but because you have been, and are, very dear to me. It was my privilege to be your friend and guide when you came from the schoolroom to prepare for the world of life. I want you to see now, and with the eyes of a very happy wife, whither duty has led me; so that in your own married life you too may be all happy as I am. My dear, please Almighty God, your life may be all it promises: a long day of sunshine, with no harsh wind, no forgetting duty, no distrust. I must not wish you no pain, for that can never be; but I do hope you will be always as happy as I am now."

7 September, Arthur: '"What can I do?" asked Arthur hoarsely. "Tell me, and I shall do it. My life is hers, and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for her."'

17 September, Mina: "Jonathan asks me to send his 'respectful duty,' but I do not think that is good enough from the junior partner of the important firm Hawkins & Harker; and so, as you love me, and he loves me, and I love you with all the moods and tenses of the verb, I send you simply his 'love' instead."

30 September, Mina and Arthur: '"I loved dear Lucy, and I know what she was to you, and what you were to her. She and I were like sisters; and now she is gone, will you not let me be like a sister to you in your trouble? I know what sorrows you have had, though I cannot measure the depth of them. If sympathy and pity can help in your affliction, won't you let me be of some little service—for Lucy's sake?" [...] "I know now how I suffered," he said, as he dried his eyes, "but I do not know even yet—and none other can ever know—how much your sweet sympathy has been to me to-day. I shall know better in time; and believe me that, though I am not ungrateful now, my gratitude will grow with my understanding. You will let me be like a brother, will you not, for all our lives—for dear Lucy's sake?"'

3 October, Jonathan: '"Nonsense, Mina. It is a shame to me to hear such a word [unclean]. I would not hear it of you; and I shall not hear it from you. May God judge me by my deserts, and punish me with more bitter suffering than even this hour, if by any act or will of mine anything ever come between us!" He put out his arms and folded her to his breast; and for a while she lay there sobbing."

3 October, Jonathan: "To one thing I have made up my mind: if we find out that Mina must be a vampire in the end, then she shall not go into that unknown and terrible land alone. I suppose it is thus that in old times one vampire meant many; just as their hideous bodies could only rest in sacred earth, so the holiest love was the recruiting sergeant for their ghastly ranks."

11 October, Mina: "You are nearest and dearest and all the world to me; our souls are knit into one, for all life and all time."

31 October, Mina: "We are truly in the hands of God. He alone knows what may be, and I pray Him, with all the strength of my sad and humble soul, that He will watch over my beloved husband; that whatever may happen, Jonathan may know that I loved him and honoured him more than I can say, and that my latest and truest thought will be always for him."

[ball33rina]

THIS TYPE OF LOVE ISN'T RATIONAL.

─── kai anderson x f! reader. smut.

warnings: mention of p in v, fingering and curses.

Minors, do not interact or read this, I am not responsible for what you read either.

The only thing separating you was the strong glass in front of you and Kai, who held the phone to his ear and his cold gaze was fixed on you. You knew he was manipulating you and somehow there you were, talking to a man you met thanks to him dialing the wrong phone line when he wanted to call Ally Mayfair and ended up calling you. He took it as an opportunity, if he manipulated the right people outside and the right people inside the prison he would be free before the elections start.

"You look hotter than the pictures you send me." he told you, a slight smirk painted on his perfect face that posed with some dark circles under his eyes. His voice was subtle and husky in your ear through that phone that was the only savior of their conversation.

"Thank you" you whispered looking down while also holding the phone to your ear.

"Hey look at me" he insisted making you raise your face looking at him. "When I get out of this dump...I'll make sure to give you the best fucking of your life." He nodded, as if that was all you were there for. Sex. Though most of it was.

"Kai, let's make sure you get out of here first" you whispered into the phone, he let out a laugh lowering the phone a little and then returning it to his ear.

"Don't say anything," he said into the phone, looking at you through the glass and mouthing the words, "I'll be out before you know it."

You felt your skin crawl and looked up at the guards who seemed completely unaware of what was happening.

"I have a guard on my side. She's in my cult too." He said, the simple fact that a "she" was near him made you feel jealous, let's see, it's kai, We know that Kai fucks anything that walks. Noticing your face he let out a low laugh and reached out his hand, resting it on the glass. "Don't worry babe. No one can match those boobs you have."

And you rolled your eyes again, clenching your teeth, damn... is everything sexual?

"Kai just stop it okay? You're making me feel uncomfortable with...literally two 60 year old ladies next to me." you said annoyed, yes, two women sitting on either side of you talking to their children.

"fuck 'em" He frowned into a grimace looking at the ladies whose sons turned to look at Kai.

"i said, stop it" You said firmly, he looked back at you and bit his lip, bringing his face closer to the glass with his ear resting on the phone.

"I love feisty girls" he purred and you were about to hang up the phone but he immediately interrupted you. "Okay, okay... I'm sorry babe, I didn't mean to make our romance so public."

He said making you roll your eyes, he just smiled looking at you, knowing he had you right where he wanted you.

"Tell me, what will you do the first time you see me there...with you" He said, tilting his head, and he was so sexy doing whatever he was.

"Scream in horror and call the police of course—" you said and his laughter interrupted you.

"As if you haven't done your research on Mr. Kai Anderson, the Michigan cult leader, who of course is a city councilman." He chuckled teasing you. "You'll do everything except scream in horror and call the police."

"As if you really knew me." You said bitterly even though you knew he knew perfectly well about you, he had people everywhere. "You're not a councilman anymore...get a grip."

"No, you only told me everything about yourself the twenty times we called each other," he said, raising an eyebrow. "And you offend me y/n, don't you know that a councilor doesn't stop being a councilor even if he dies? Sometimes I doubt your intelligence, princess. But it's okay, I can deal with that."

You rolled your eyes just to make him laugh again.

"now, now. Don't you roll your eyes at your boyfriend" He waved his pointing finger in your direction. "We're running out of time, So, be alert to calls, any strange number that calls your house...you answer. When you hear my voice you will listen carefully to where I will wait for you to pick me up in your grandmother's car. I will be dressed as a guard."

He whisper on the phone looking around hoping no one would hear him. And of course, ordering you to do things like... the crime of taking your grandmother's car without asking to borrow it.

"She'll be mad if she finds out I took it without asking to borrow it," you said worriedly, obviously caring a lot about your family in a situation like this.

"Honestly y/n, I don't give a shit about your dying grandmother. Do as I say, and you will be well rewarded." He said firmly and hung up the phone, getting up from his seat and looking at you one last time through that glass before being taken back to his cell. You couldn't help but stare at how good his ass looked in that prison uniform.

You were waiting parked in an alley that was a few blocks away from the maximum security prison, nervously waiting for Kai while you checked the time on your phone's clock, the car radio playing a cringe song.

It was that, your nerves and your lost vision were interrupted when someone knocked on your car door waiting for you to open it, when you looked up there was Kai dressed as a guard, and god he looked so damn hot like that. You quickly unlocked the car and he got into the passenger seat.

"Drive" he said giving you the order while he adjusted himself in the seat, you just looked at him, it was the first time you saw him... that wasn't through a glass. When he noticed that you weren't moving he looked at you. "I said fucking drive do i have to spell it out for you or what?"

"sorry—" You said, swallowing hard, and began to drive your grandmother's car, doing the most normal thing so that no one would notice that you had a criminal by your side.

Your morale started to hit you as you drove down the road, Kai constantly checking the rearview mirrors as your hands trembled and grasped the steering wheel.

A few minutes later Kai sighed and rested his hand on your thigh. "Good job."

You glanced at him and continued driving. "Then I'll take you home...with me."

He looked at you and let out a mocking laugh. "There's no way I'm letting your old grandmother hear us having sex."

You groaned and sighed, looking ahead, your fingers tightening on the steering wheel.

"drop the whole fucking "old" or "dying grandmother! I remind you that you are sitting on HER CAR." You yelled at him and that alone was enough to turn him on, he laughed looking at you and raised the hand that was resting on your thigh to your cheek, poking it with his finger.

You shook your head away from him, this bastard. If he wasn't so hot and you didn't have a mental hospital complex you'd dump him in the middle of the road.

It was around 2 pm when you and Kai arrived at your grandmother's house, the old lady didn't notice when you smuggled him into the house, and now both of you had locked yourselves in your room.

He looked around with a raised eyebrow and threw the guard cap he wore to the ground revealing his...attractive buzzcut that he told you before used to have long, electric blue dyed hair.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from a room in your name." He said, pointing at the One Direction posters around him.

"Leave that alone, they've been there for years," you said, overwhelmed and worried that your grandmother would come in. At which, Kai came after you, hugging you from behind, his long, veiny hands touching your stomach.

"Shhh, she's not going to notice. Plus, she seems to have a hearing problem," he whispered in your ear in a low, husky voice, making your stomach fill with butterflies and your panties feel wet. The tip of his nose began to slide over your ear down to your neck, inhaling your scent as you closed your eyes and lowered your hands over his.

His lips began to plant soft kisses on your neck, slowly opening his mouth to mark you with his hickeys...and his hips, beginning to grind against your ass through the pants you both wore.

"fuck, you made me so hard." he whispered, moving his hands down to your pants as he slowly ground the bulge in his pants into your ass, his hands agilely unbuttoning your pants. "I told you I would reward you for being a good girl." he whispered teasing you.

His fingers slowly opened the button of your pants and slowly lowered the zipper, his left hand entering your pants and then sliding under your panties, feeling how you were getting wet from the way he touched you.

"I know you were touching yourself thinking of me," he smiled, as if he had actually been watching you before. Yes, you had done it so many times that you lost count.

His middle finger began to slide up and down your pussy slit, collecting your wetness as he continued to grind behind you. His lips moving back up to your ear to bite your lobe.

"What about you?" you whispered back, wishing he had at least touched himself with you in mind. Just then, his finger collecting your wetness pressed against the tiny nub of nerves on your clit, making you gasp and push your hips back bumping against his pelvis in those pants..

"So many times. I slid my hand up and down my length with the same hand I'm using to touch you," he whispered to you, his voice ragged as his finger moved nimbly in circles over your clit making you gasp. "And then I came so much that I moaned your name...imagining you riding me in many positions."

You swallowed hard as the very finger that was playing with your clit slid down pushing itself inside your entrance, soon joined by another finger to begin moving his fingers inside of you followed by a sound of skin rubbing together.

You started to moan quietly, afraid that your grandmother would hear you. Kai slid his free hand, which he wasn't using, inside your shirt to feel your breasts, the ones he talked to you about so much, the ones he even masturbated thinking about.

He rested his forehead on your shoulder as you threw your head back, his fingers pushing back and forth inside you making you open your mouth and release small moans, as he hit that good spot, his hand that was resting on your breasts, began to squeeze them hard as if they were going to run away from him, feeling your erect nipple between his fingers.

"My cock is going to explode if I don't fuck you" he whispered with a slight husky laugh, and quickly pushed you onto your bed. Realizing what you were going to do... you were about to have sex with a criminal who escaped from prison to get revenge on a woman but now you had him in front of you, unbuttoning his pants so he could fuck you.

You, while he was undressing, took the opportunity to finish taking off your pants and your underwear, revealing your body, in his eyes you were perfect. He didn't even make sure to take off all his clothes, just his shirt revealing his well-formed chest and back...his perfect abdomen and V zone.

Moving closer to you and pushing your legs open as he pulled his pants down enough to pull his cock out of his boxers, which sprang free from its confiness the tip leaking precum. You swallowed hard as you noticed the incredible size he had between his legs, not exactly the biggest but not the smallest either... in fact, a good size... just enough to make you drip.

Spitting on his fingers to rub them over your pussy making sure you were completely soaked while his other hand worked on stroking himself sliding the precum into the base of it, bucking his hips forward to rub the tip of his cock up and down your pussy slit making you gasp, wanting to just impale yourself on his erection.

"fuck..." he whispered, and simply pushed himself inside you, having a little difficulty. But once inside you he adjusted both forearms to the sides of your head and began to move, kissing your neck. "So tight" he whispered as he moved, both of you panting and releasing breaths at the same time, your hands squeezing his back as his movements began to get a little hard.

The bed cracking with each hard thrust he gave, his lips moving down to your exposed erect nipples and sucking on each one, his pelvis slamming hard against your pussy as his balls slammed into your ass. The tip of his cock kissing your cervix.

You closed your eyes tightly, starting to moan louder and as if he was aware, he brought his hand to your mouth to silence you by squeezing it there tightly. "Shut up, we don't want to draw the old lady's attention."

You began to moan more and more, your sounds muffled by his hand as the bed cracked more and the headboard slammed against the wall, if he tried to be quiet, no shit you could still hear the bed.

But you both were about to cum and he just made sure you did, he slid his free hand between your legs again and started rubbing your clit rapidly while you tried to close your legs but the pressure of his thrusts didn't let you. So you responded by moaning loudly and scratching his back, arching your back.

Soon, he began to cum, painting your insides white as your hips shook, taking him all in...slowly cumming as well, milking his cock.

He pulled his hand away from your mouth as you gasped for air, your face red as he took the opportunity to lightly bite your nipple.

"I could fuck you again and again," he assured, looking up and staring into your eyes.

"Make sure you do it after you claim that position tomorrow." You whispered about what he would do to stop Ally from winning the election.

"Calm down princess. That position has always been mine" he brought his face closer to yours biting your lower lip lightly. "and you are my first lady."

[emilyprentissluvr]

TV (Emily Prentiss x Reader)

"What about the plans we made?"

Summary: In which you're grieving your dead wife. But is she actually dead?

Warning: Angst and mentions of death.

YOU WALKED along the cobblestone path, stepping over the cracks you had come to memorize. The sun was shining while the birds were chirping and you wanted nothing more than to shoot those damn birds and rip the sun from the sky. 

It wasn't fair that beauty could exist when the love of your life didn't.

"Hi Em." You smiled sadly as you sat down across from your wife's grave. 

It had been eight months since you'd gotten the call that your wife was dead.

 243 days of existing without your other half. 

34,9920 minutes of wondering why you had to fall in love with the most selfless, heroic, and caring person to walk this earth.

20,995,200 seconds of missing the only person who made everywhere feel like home. 

"I brought you flowers," You said as you put the fresh pair of roses against her gravestone. "The worker at the flower shop said that I must have the happiest partner alive since I buy bouquets so much. How ironic is that?" You chuckled sadly. Not because you found it funny, but because you knew Emily would have. 

'That wouldn't happen if you would stop buying me flowers' Is what Emily would have said. 

"I never understood why you didn't like flowers," You said as you picked at the grass beneath you. "And you don't get a choice now. You broke our promise." You frowned as you threw the small pieces of grass at her grave.

"You need to let that go, my love' Emily would say. 

"I was supposed to go first! That was the deal! But you broke our promise so I can do whatever I want. So if I want to fill your whole damn grave up with flowers then I will." You said indignantly. You knew you probably looked crazy to onlookers. Having a one-sided argument with a grave probably wasn't the best way of coping. Making up your dead wife's side of the conversation probably wasn't the healthiest either, but you didn't care. You didn't care about a lot of things these days. 

'You are so stubborn sometimes' Emily would have said with a teasing smile. 

"We're both stubborn," You said with a small eye roll. "I mean, we wouldn't be in this position if you weren't." Tears start to form at the corner of your eyes. You didn't think it was humanly possible to cry as much as you had over the last eight months. But here you were, the never-ending tears making their way down your cheeks. 

'I'm so sorry sweetheart. I never meant to hurt you' Emily would have said as she consoled you. She would have scooped you up into her arms and tucked your head into the crevice of her neck where it would fit perfectly.

"It's not your fault. None of this is." You sniffled as you reached out and placed your palm against the cold stone of her grave. "It's just not fair! We were supposed to have a lifetime together. We had so many plans."

'I know my love. But just because I'm not here doesn't mean you can't live your life to the fullest' Emily would have smiled, ever the optimist. That had been a surprise when you first met over five years ago. While she may have been a badass, stone-cold agent on the outside, she was nothing but sunshine and warmth on the inside. Of course, you were the only one who got to see her soft interior but you didn't mind, you loved having a part of Emily just to yourself. But now you didn't have any part of Emily. 

"I don't know how to move on without you, Em. How am I supposed to enjoy life when you're not next to me enjoying it too? How can I love anything when half of my heart is buried with you?" You cried, tears still flowing down your cheeks as you leaned your forehead against her grave. You cried until the birds stopped chirping and the sun went down. You mourned the woman Emily never got to grow into. You grieved the life you and Emily never got to live. 

You didn't know how long you'd been there, but after your tears subsided you decided to head home for the night. 

"Bye, Em. I love you." You murmured as you traced her name in the stone before standing up and walking along the cobblestone path once again. 

The drive home was quiet. The radio was playing Emily's favorite station but you weren't paying attention. Maybe that was why you didn't notice the car in your driveway until you parked. You furrowed your brows as you recognized the black SUV, those were the ones Emily drove whenever she was on the job. 

It wasn't unusual for a black SUV to be in your driveway. Emily's team would come to visit you at least once a week. You didn't know if it was because they felt guilty for her death or if they wanted to be close to the closest thing to Emily. You didn't mind it though, it was nice to have company to break up the silence of your house.

However, you knew the team was on a case. Penelope had called and told you that. So you cautiously walked up to your front porch. You shakily grabbed the keys from your purse and unlocked the door. "Hello?" You called as you walked to the living room where you saw a light on.

As soon as you walked in you froze. The purse in your hand drops to the floor. It was a ghost. The ghost of your Emily standing right in front of you. You closed your eyes wondering how your tired brain could conjure up such a perfect image of her. But when you opened them again she was still standing there. 

"Y/n?" Emily's voice cracked as she laid eyes on you for the first time in eight months.

Your brain felt foggy and you couldn't find the flashlight to see through it. Were you hallucinating now? 

Emily could see the shock on your face and the way her presence hadn't registered in your mind. "It's me," The brunette said, wanting nothing more than to wrap her arms around you and never let you go, but she knew she had to be careful. "It's Emily," She said as she walked toward your frozen frame slowly.

She was close enough now that you could feel her breath but you didn't dare to look anywhere but into her eyes. The same eyes that had watched you laugh, cry, and love. The same eyes you had spent years memorizing...

Oh my god. Was this real? Was this your Emily and not a figment of your grieving imagination?

Almost as if reading your mind she smiled, "I'm real, my love", she raised her hand slowly and tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. You let out a shallow breath as you felt her touch and suddenly the fog from your brain had been cleared. This was real. The woman in front of you was your life, your love, your Emily.

You launched yourself at her knowing she would catch you. You were immediately wrapped into her embrace, feeling at home for the first time since you had gotten that soul-crushing phone call. 

Nothing else mattered to you at this moment. All your questions and confusion could be answered later. Right now you were in your wife's arms and you never planned on leaving

 "Emily." You smiled tearily as you tucked your face under her chin, the smell of perfume filling your senses. "Hi, sweetheart." Emily smiled as tears fell down her face, "I told you I would never break a promise." 

[kirishwima]

This is a kinda self insert thing but uh-

What if the jjk boys come hope one day to see their S/O taking down stickers they had on their wall. But putting up the stickers was one of the last activities they did with their family when they were younger. The boys knew this so they're super confused and stuff but their S/O is just like "Well, I figured they were really childish and if we're going to live together you probably wouldn't wanna see them everyday."

I'm so awkward, I'm sorry 😅

aweee sweetness thats so cute 🥺🥺 my room also used to be full of those glow in the dark stars i loved them

i cant really think of a way to format this into a SMAU BUT here's my thoughts on how they'd react on the matter!

Gojo would come into the room to tease you (like always) before noticing what you're doing, his grin immediately fading.

"Woah woah woah, what're you doing? Those looked so pretty why're you pulling them off?!"

When you explain why he just frowns, crosses his arms over his chest. He scoffs when you say they're 'childish', bending at the waist to lean closer to you.

"Babe, do you forget who you're gonna be living with? I love those silly stickers. Love 'em more 'cuz they're part of your story. So c'mon, let's get some tape and put them back up, hm? Oh! Better yet, let's add more!!"

...aaand that's how you end up with a wall full of various stickers, and whenever Satoru sees a sticker sheet he likes, he buys two pairs-one to put on his students' exam sheets when grading, and one to put up on the wall alongside the ones from your childhood ✨

Geto leans onto the door frame, observing you for a long moment, before asking "What're you doing?"

When you explain he just nods slowly, already scheming something behind those dark eyes of his.

"Baby, are you sure that's what you want? You know I don't mind one bit if those stickers are up there or not. If anything, I'm pretty sure the girls would love 'em."

When you insist he doesn't push it, lets you take them off the wall. The next day though when you get home, you find the wall the stickers were placed on has now been painted over with chalk paint-essentially turning the entire thing into to a black board, Nanako and Mimiko gleefully drawing flowers, bunnies, writing scribbles up on it with pink and blue chalk.

Suguru stands a few feet behind them, and though he's not writing anything right now, you can see a couple doodles clearly made by him up on the wall, his palms stained white and pink and blue. He turns to you with a grin, nodding for you to come closer.

When you do he hands you a few different colored chalks, kisses you on the cheek.

"I know those stickers held a ton of memories for you-so I figured since you took them off, we could make some new memories. Together."

Nanami comes home just as you remove the last sticker, noticing you piling the removed stickers on a nearby table. He frowns at your actions, asks you what it is you're doing. He...doesn't say much when you explain it to him, merely nods. You might've thought he didn't care-though you'd be wrong.

Later that night, you find Nanami at the living room, a file opened up on his lap, a clear film inside it where he oh-so-carefully sticks the stickers you'd taken off of the wall, delicately placing them so they resemble the constellation they were shaped like when placed onto the wall.

You lean over him to see what he's doing and he casually turns and kisses you, smiling.

"These mean a lot to you. Just because they're not placed up on display still doesn't mean they deserve to be discarded."

So that's how you end up with the so-called 'memory file', wherein you place little bobs and trinkets from your life with Nanami-ticket stubs, polaroid pictures, and of course, those stickers.

[s1aywalker]

꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ just fake it through the day and the night is your god. ꨄ

↷ ✩ —— video store clerk sam monroe headcanons. (sfw)

warnings: brief mention of weed, profane language (sorry i can't help it).

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who is admittedly terrible at his job. he lives by the philosophy of the customer is always wrong. but what he lacks in customer service skills, he makes up for in love of movies... especially horror.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who gets fired from the store what seems like every other week. whether it's because his drawer was suspiciously short, because he didn't show up, or because too many customers have called complaining about his poor attitude and how he smells like a skunk.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who rolls out of bed in the late afternoon to show up for his closing shift ten minutes late with his boots unlaced, still wearing his smeared eyeliner from the night before.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who soccer moms can't stand because he always has some splatter gore flick playing on the display television behind the counter. the snot nosed kids hug mommy's legs and hide their face in her back while they're checking out. meanwhile, she's shooting sam death glares and he seems oblivious. when really, he just doesn't give a fuck. she goes home with her bambi and spy kids tapes, and immediately makes a phone call to his manager... another tally on his shit list.

"all those bitchy moms are lucky," he mumbles to you while his fingers absentmindedly toy with the silver labret stabbed through his skin. but there's something playful, amused tugging crookedly on his lips as his gaze remains focused on the flickering television, while screams of terror crackled from speakers. "this isn't shit. if i wanted to traumatize their little brats, i'd put on maniac... i left my nametag at home, anyway." but, of course, it isn't difficult for the higher ups to piece together the puzzle.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who thinks it's fucking hilarious to recommend the worst selections imaginable to customers that won't know what hit 'em. another reason for him to be fired, honestly. he sees a teen lingering a little too long in the horror section and when they ask for something that'll scare their friends this weekend... according to his manager, faces of death was not the correct answer.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe whose favorite customer is you.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who always makes it a point to come out from behind his throne that is the checkout counter every time you come in. he wants to bug you, to breathe down your neck to see what you're going to rent because he's nosey and too impatient to find out what it'll be whenever you decide to bring your handful of selections to the front. and he wants to throw out his own recommendations, too, while he straightens out a nearby shelf.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who can go on for hours about movies when he's talking to you. he's very strongly opinionated... to a fault, honestly. because he won't bite his tongue when you examine a tape he's seen and didn't like, or when you bring up enjoying some new horror flick that, in his mind, has nothing compared to a good gory classic. he'll argue with you on it, and remain firm on his stance, with a mouth that seems and sounds mean, but it's never really directed towards you.

"the grudge fucking sucked, don't you dare get that." he snorted, snatching the new release out of your hands with more aggression than necessary. it's shoved back into its slot as he begins scanning over the neatly organized shelf labeled horror, a black painted nail dragging along spines for something specific. "they americanized it for no goddamn reason... here." the search was over as he pulled out the haunting japanese cover of ju-on. "watch the original... and call me if you piss your pants."

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who only pretends to be annoyed when you come in ten til close with no reason other than to keep him company during the deserted hour. he says you should have just called him to hang after he clocked out, but really, he's glad you're there, because he's seen the movie he has on at least six times.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who stands behind the counter while you're propped up on the surface during a lull, security cameras be damned. he was supposed to have mopped the bathroom and locked the doors by now... but mouths keep running and laughter becomes louder than the shitty movie that has now been forgotten and reduced to background noise with a chilling soundtrack.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who is inching closer to your perched position and closing the gap with a bag of sour gummy worms in his hands that he says the store won't notice missing. the plastic corner is ripped open with his teeth to share and it's a bribe, a ploy to get you to stay longer.

𝜗𝜚˚⋆ sam monroe who finally convinces you to rent the evil dead trilogy. it's one of his favorites, and of course he's going to suggest you make a marathon out of it, with him tagging along for the blood soaked journey. he promises to bring your favorite candies and the popcorn with extra butter, and he promises to not talk through them... but he accidentally grabs the regular popcorn instead, and he can't help but go on and on about every single fun fact about the series that pops into his head while he gradually scoots closer.

[libbys-braincell-loss]

i became inspired so heres a silly oneshot smg34 fic that also includes mario and meggy

---

This fic includes:

snowtrapped reference. Sorry yall </3

shitty grammar whenever mario speaks

---

SMG43 crush frustrations, a 2 1/2 part oneshot

---

Segment 1: SMG4 and Mario

---

SMG4 sits at his desk, making videos, as per usual. Working hard to appease the hell that is the YouTube algorithm, all that good stuff.

SMG4 is just focused on working on making a decent video, trying his hardest to work in peace.

Suddenly, the door breaks down for the 17th time this week (it's tuesday), and SMG4's idiot best friend Mario bursts in to disturb said peace.

"ES EM GEE FOUR" he yells, startling his friend.

SMG4 sighs. "Hey, Mario, what do you need?"

"I just wanted to see what you were doing :))" Mario replies.

"I'm just making videos, that's all," SMG4 says, attempting to regain focus on making the video. "I gotta finish as much as I can before I have to hang out with SMG3 later today"

"Ooooo, watcha gonna be doin?"

"3's just gonna be streaming the two of us messing around on Gmod. I think he wants to play prop hunt?"

"Mario played that one time with him. He's too good at it," Mario recalls.

"Heh, as if. He only won cuz he was against you," SMG4 exclaims. "He won't stand a chance going against me."

Mario peeks over the chair and observes SMG4 making his video.

"Can Mario help???" Mario asks.

"Hahaha, no," said SMG4. "You don't know shit about editing."

"Lol ur right, im just bored af and wanted to do something" Mario says, eyes crossing. "What video you makin"

"I'm remastering an old video called 'Charming Peach'; people seem to like when I make remasters of old videos," SMG4 responds.

"Oooooooooo" says Mario. "Can I suggest a video idea?"

"Y'know what, sure. Go ahead."

"Snowtrapped remaster :))))"

SMG4's eyes widen. He turns and looks at Mario in the crossed eyes and humongous mustache.

"Hell no!"

"Hell yeah :)"

"Why would you suggest that?! I'm not doing that!"

"Why not?"

SMG4 blinks. "Why do you think?"

Mario shrugs. "Because it's too cold?"

SMG4 face palms. "I forgot; you don't think."

"Awww :(" Mario frowns. "Thats mean :(("

"Dude, SMG3 and I literally have sex in that episode."

"And?"

SMG4 blinks.

Mario blinks in return.

"AND WE WOULD RATHER DIE THAN REMAKE THAT? What do you want me to say?" SMG4 exclaims.

"You didn't enjoy it?" Mario asks.

SMG4's face turns bright red. "MARIO!! Why the hell would you ask that?!"

Mario blinks. He grins. "You're avoiding the question"

"I'm not answering the question. I'm not remaking Snowtrapped, period. SMG3 and I could never relive those events again."

Mario blinks one eye after the other, like a frog.

"Do you like him?" Mario asks out of the blue.

"Huh??" SMG4 says, red creeping on his face.

"Do you like SMG3?" Mario asks.

"I mean, yeah... as a... friend, of course."

"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..." Mario's eyes narrow, and his head widens as he stares directly into SMG4's soul. "Mario doesn't buy it."

"What? What do you mean?!"

"I think you are gay :)"

"No. Also can you stop talking in emoticons?" SMG4 sighs.

"Come on!! I'm pretty sure you like him in a gay way"

"Why do you have to say it like that?"

"huh"

"...Nevermind. No, I don't like him like that." SMG4 chuckles, like he's trying to gaslight himself into believing the words he says. "Why would I? He berates me every day, I can't stand him sometimes... Why would I be in love with someone who constantly tries to do some bullshit to piss me off?"

"But when you do get along, what then?"

SMG4 opens his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"I just... I..."

Mario smiles really wide. "Youuuu liiikkkeee himmmm!"

"Mario, quit it!"

"Youuu dooooo :)"

"MARIO!"

"Youuuu likeee yourr rivaaaaalll :)))))"

SMG4 sighs, tired of trying to convince Mario otherwise. "Fine, you caught me. Yes, I may or may not have developed a crush on SMG3..."

Mario gasps with the utmost glee in his eyes.

"I KNEW IT!"

"Yeah, but you BETTER NOT TELL A SOUL!!" SMG4 puts a firm hand on Mario's shoulder and points at him aggressively.

Mario frowns. "you're no fun"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I just don't want word to spread and for SMG3 to find out. Then he will really hate me, and not in the joking way he usually does."

"You think he hates you?" Mario tilts his head

"...Not really, but..."

"Then tell him!" Mario says.

"Haha, hell no. He is my rival, and even though we're able to... tolerate... each other for enough time, but SMG3 is very keen to remind me that we are 'rivals', and refuses to admit that we are friends, no matter how much we get close to admitting we are friends."

SMG4 looks down. "I do really like him, I just... I have no way of knowing if he does like me at all, and if he is being serious when he shit talks me. Maybe he thinks and talks about how stupid I am when I'm not hanging out with him. He probably hates me, with how much he berates me. Why would I want someone who hates me?"

Mario blinks. "You are dumping all this info on someone who has zero advice for you" he says.

SMG4 smiles sadly. "My bad. I just... it's been eating me up inside, I just wanted to vent about it."

"Its ok :) mario can try to give advice if you want!" Mario says.

SMG4 sighs. "Go ahead."

"Mario thinks that if SMG3 hated you so much, he wouldn't go out of his way to be around you"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"He frequently shows up to hang out with you, he saves you, he talks about you a lot..."

"Wait, he does?"

"Yeah! I was waiting to get a bomb at his coffee shop and he was in a corner writing in his journal again, and he was saying everything he was writing out loud; he was saying 'I'm excited to hang out with smg4 tomorrow, we gonna play some gmod together and im totally gonna beat his ass at prop hunt, hes gonna be so mad itll be so funny, seeing his face so angry is so entertaining-' and then he stopped writing cuz he saw me waiting for my bomb order and he shoo'd me out of there and i didn't get my bomb"

SMG4 blushes. "Huh. So, he does shit talk me outside of my earshot, but in a positive way..." He smiles ear to ear. "Mario, honestly, I cannot believe I'm saying this, but your advice actually helped. I think my intrusive thoughts were just trying to lie to me. I needed to hear that."

"Yay! Mario's glad he could help :)" Mario says, smiling. "This is my character development! I am therapist :)"

SMG4 chuckles. "Mario, I would not trust you as a therapist 100% of the time."

Mario smirks. "But you can trust SMG3 as your therapist-"

SMG4 punches Mario's arm "Shush. This stays between us, okay?"

"yeah B) i gotchu"

"Thanks, man."

---

Segment 2: SMG3 and Meggy

---

Meggy steps into SMG3's coffee shop, 3's Coffee and Bombs. The cafe was very empty, there was little to no people there.

"Hello? SMG3?" she calls out.

SMG3 pops out from the kitchen.

"Ah, Meggy! Welcome to 3's Coffee and Bomb's!" SMG3 exclaims with a grand flourish. "How may I serve you?"

"Hey dude, I came here two days ago," Meggy says, deadpan. "You don't need to make a grand spectacle everytime I show up."

"Yeah, yeah. What'll it be? Coffee or bombs?"

"I'd like some coffee today. I think I'm gonna go for some black coffee today."

"Daring today, aren't we?" SMG3 says, in a sarcastic tone.

"Look, I'm trying to expand my horizons. Try new things. Every time I drink coffee, it's sweet as hell. I'mma take something bitter for once."

"If you say so," SMG3 says.

SMG3 makes Meggy her coffee and Meggy gives him his money. SMG3's watch beeps.

"Oh! Looks like it's break time!" he says.

"Nice! Care to join me?" Meggy suggests.

"Sure, why not," SMG3 says, shrugging. He makes himself some coffee of his own and sits at a table across from Meggy.

"I heard you have plans on doing a stream collab with SMG4 today," Meggy comments. "You guys are playing Gmod, right?"

"Yeah!" SMG3 sips his coffee. "I'm gonna kick his ass in prop hunt. He will be so pissed."

"Haha, I see," Meggy says, taking a sip of her coffee. She spits it back into the cup.

"Rude," SMG3 frowns.

"It's not that you're bad at making coffee, it's that black coffee isn't the right coffee for me," Meggy responds, also frowninh. "Don't take so much offense to everything."

"Welp." SMG3 leans back in his chair. "I'm excited. I can't wait to absolutely destroy his ass in games I'm goated at."

"Aren't you just happy you get to hang out with 4?" Meggy remarks.

"...Hanging out with him to make him look like a loser on stream, yes!" SMG3 responds.

Meggy smirks. "I think you do enjoy his company."

SMG3 studies a speck on the ceiling. "Says who?"

"Says me. I know you like him."

SMG3's face immediately turns bright red.

"NUH UH!" SMG3 exclaims. "He's stupid and a moron and a loser! W-why would I be attracted to a- a loser like him?!"

Meggy looks him dead in the eye. "I was gonna say opposites attract, but you guys are both oblivious AND obvious dumbasses, so you guys have more in common than you like to admit."

SMG3 looks away. "I don't like him. He probably hates me, with how much I berate him. Why would I want someone who hates me?"

Meggy smiles.

"3, I think 4 is just as in love with you as you are with him."

"What makes you think I like him?" quizzes SMG3.

"Oh, you constantly talk about how excited you are to do anything with him, you pout when he's not around, and you're usually the first person to try to instigate helping him as soon as he's in trouble," Meggy recounts.

SMG3 blushes. "We're Meme Guardians; if one of us isn't around, our powers are very minimal. I'm just looking out for him because I don't know what happens to one Meme Guardian the moment his counterpart is dead, and I don't want to find out."

"Awww, you care about him!" Meggy smiles.

"Just talk to him, dumbass," Meggy said. "He usually functions better once people communicate their issues with him. If you ask if you take things too far, and if he feels hurt by your words, talking it out is the right thing."

"Shush. So what if I do? He would never like me back. He probably can't stand me. I berate and belittle him too much. I know, I know, it's bad, but... I don't know how to communicate appreciation to people I care about. Teasing is all I know, but I never know if I've pushed it's limit-"

"But that's so difficult! I'm no good at communication!" SMG3 complains.

"You're a therapist! This is the type of advice you give your patients!" Meggy responds.

"I'm a hypocrite!" SMG3 wails.

"Look, just talk to him at some point. Maybe after the stream is over, just take some time out of your day to figure out how SMG4 feels about your constant teasing, then go from there."

"Yeah. Y'know what, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks Meggy."

"No problem! And, while you're at it, you should totally go for it!" Meggy exclaims, beaming.

"Meggy..." SMG3 sighs.

"I know you like him, you can't keep hiding."

SMG3 groans even louder.

"Yes, but you tell no one, okay?" SMG3 orders.

"Of course," Meggy says, smiling.

---

SMG4 and SMG3 are up in SMG4's office, playing and streaming Gmod shenanigans. Mario is sitting on the couch in the gaming room, watching TV. Meggy comes in and joins Mario on the couch.

"SMG4 and SMG3 can't be any more obvious, can they?" she remarks.

"they gay as hell," Mario agrees.

"3 confirmed he does like 4," Meggy says.

Mario laughs maliciously.

"What?" asks Meggy.

"mario also got SMG4 to confirm he likes 3 >:)," Mario says.

"Ha," Meggy says, "Cool. Do you think they'll ever actually get together?"

"hmmmmmm, Maybe!" Mario answers. "But if they don't, it's incredibly funny to watch their gay struggling, so we can keep watching it for a while"

"I like your thinking, Red," Meggy smirks. "Let's just let them be for the time being."

[goodnightmemes]

MOCKINGJAY - PART TWO (2015) SENTENCE STARTERS

❛ My family hasn't come to see me. ❜

❛ You can't trust her! She's a monster! ❜

❛ I wanna help the rebels in any way I can. ❜

❛ That's not [name]. ❜

❛ I don't stand a chance if he doesn't get better. You'll never let him go. ❜

❛ That's like kissing someone who's drunk. Doesn't count. ❜

❛ I guess there are no rules anymore about what a person can do to another person. ❜

❛ We took heavy losses. ❜

❛ You think of it like a wolf den. You're not gonna fight your way in, so you've got two choices. You trap the wolves inside, or you flush 'em out. ❜

❛ There's gotta be a better way. ❜

❛ Even if those civilians are just moppin' floors, they're helping the enemy. And if they have to die, I can live with that. ❜

❛ With that kinda thinking, you can kill whoever you want. ❜

❛ Sometimes killing isn't personal. Figured if anyone knew that, it was you. ❜

❛ I, of all people, know that it's always personal. ❜

❛ Give me one reason I shouldn't shoot you. ❜

❛ I guess that's the problem, isn't it? We each have every reason to want to kill each other. So if you wanna kill me, do it. ❜

❛ I am done being a piece in his game. ❜

❛ These people are not your enemy. ❜

❛ He corrupts everyone and everything. He turns the best of us against each other. Stop killing for him. ❜

❛ You have a habit of burying people before they're dead. ❜

❛ We toasted a glorious era coming to its bitter end. ❜

❛ Oh, that speech you gave. Oh, man, feel - I mean, I still have goosebumps. ❜

❛ What about you? You feeling totally safe? ❜

❛ So what are your injuries? ❜

❛ I mean, it's everybody's job to keep you alive. ❜

❛ Is that why you hate me? ❜

❛ Feel free to take any of this personally. ❜

❛ They messed us up pretty good, didn't they? ❜

❛ He's strapped down. He can't hurt you. ❜

❛ It doesn't matter what you want. It's for [name]. ❜

❛ I watched you die. ❜

❛ I was never the nice one. You were. ❜

❛ Why would I take a beating like that for you? ❜

❛ [name] says that everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie. ❜

❛ People said you loved me. ❜

❛ We're very familiar with each other's screams. ❜

❛ I'm going to kill [name]. Nothing good is safe while he's alive. ❜

❛ He needs to see my eyes when I kill him. ❜

❛ Anybody can kill anybody. Even a president. You just have to be willing to sacrifice yourself. ❜

❛ This isn't just adolescent, it's insubordination. ❜

❛ From what I see here, we've already made history. But history doesn't stop to celebrate. And we're facing an enemy that will not change and will never surrender.❜

❛ If we die, let it be for a cause and not a spectacle. ❜

❛ I know when you're gonna go off on your own. You gonna leave me behind, too? ❜

❛ You'll do whatever you're ordered to do, soldier. It's not your job to ask questions.❜

❛ In the event of capture, you'll be given a nightlock pill. A poison that acts immediately. ❜

❛ If it really came down to it, you think you could shoot him? ❜

❛ I'm plannin' for you to have a long life. ❜

❛ I've seen that look. You're trying to decide whether or not you should kill me. ❜

❛ I'm sorry. I just can't tell what's real and what's made up anymore. ❜

❛ This is a bad spot. We need to move now. ❜

❛ So now that we're dead, what are we gonna do? ❜

❛ It's only a matter of time before I snap again. I'm not in control. ❜

❛ If it gets to that point, I'll kill you myself. ❜

❛ Nobody knows we're alive. This is our chance. ❜

❛ Look at me. We're gonna get through this. I promise. ❜

❛ You're still trying to protect me. Real or not real? ❜

❛ That's what you and I do. Keep each other alive. ❜

❛ Stay with me. ❜

❛ Everyone that's dead is dead because of me. ❜

❛ I never meant for this to happen. I failed. I... I killed them. ❜

❛ If you end all of this, all those deaths, they mean something. ❜

❛ I have moments when I'm here. And my memories are getting better, but other times it's like I'm sleepwalking. ❜

❛ We got one shot. Let's make it count. ❜

❛ Let me come with you, okay? I can be a good distraction. ❜

❛ If I see you again, it's gonna be a different world. ❜

❛ I was hoping you'd find your way here. There are so many things we should discuss. ❜

❛ We both know I'm not above killing children. But I'm not wasteful. I take life for specific reasons. ❜

❛ I'm afraid we've both been played for fools. ❜

❛ Oh, my dear. I thought we'd agreed never to lie to each other. ❜

❛ You never came to see me. ❜

❛ All I know is that I was supposed to take care of your family. Now I'm sorry I couldn't. ❜

❛ Thirst for blood is a difficult urge to satisfy. ❜

❛ We need to stop viewing each other as enemies. ❜

❛ I'll say this for you, you don't disappoint. ❜

❛ You were exactly who I believed you were. ❜

❛ I'm sorry so much burden fell on you. I know you'll never escape it. But if I had to put you through it again for this outcome, I would. ❜

❛ I couldn't let you go without a proper goodbye. ❜

❛ We've all suffered so much. But we owe it to their memories and to our children to do our best with these lives. ❜

❛ You love me. Real or not real? ❜

[artemistalkstoomuch]

All of My Opinions on the Mean Girls Musical Movie

Firstly, loved all the original film references. Of course the obvious ones like having the same lines, the thing about fetch being slang from an old movie, but also!!

. Janis' suit being purple for spring fling!! and omg let's not even talk about how pretty Aul'il Cravalho was throughout the entire film. Her eye make-up was so impressive

. that part in Sexy where they're cycling through potential outfits and one of them is the white shirt with the purple bra holes cut out !!

Slightly upset about the fact they cut out Meet the Plastics and it ended up being more like, Meet Regina, but I get that. On the topic of songs, I understand a lot of them were cut out because they were "too theatrical" but I can still miss em!! Truthfully when I heard the new Stupid With Love I was devastated because it's one of my favourite songs and they fucking tiktokified it, but I actually think it works really well in the film- it gets the "cringy first proper love" aspect across, which is its purpose, so I'm happy.

THEY GOT RID OF "WHO HERE HAS EVER FELT PERSONALLY VICTIMISED BY REGINA GEORGE" which was absolutely criminal

AND THE PRINCIPAL AND MS NORBURY ARE TOGETHER which was actually adorable, and I didn't think about the fact that could be something that happened, but I'm very happy it did.

The bus at the end of Rather Be Me was such a jumpscare but also so funny. THEY MISSED OUT THE DIALOGUE TO DO IT THOUGH SADD. Plus she was so goofy that entire song?? Why was she running in and out of all of those random rooms.

The rumours spreading via phones looked half cool, but it's dated the film imo, which is what Tina Fey originally set out to avoid! Like "fetch" was made up slang so in years to come the film wouldn't seem cringy for having slang teens actually used to use at the time.

Big drum-roll: We did not see enough of Regina's meanness to actually justify her being a mean girl. A lot of it got filtered out through songs, and the majority of stuff was just her, like, responding badly to sexism?? Also tell me how I'm gonna villanise Renee Rapp she fucking SLAYED what a queen.

Also WHERE IS COACH CARR'S SEXUAL ASSAULT. THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON MS NORBURY GETS ARRESTED!!?? That, to me, is one of the biggest indicators in the original film of just how powerful the "Mean Girls" are, they know about this, and the other teachers don't. Not only that, but it highlights just how immature they are, because they don't do anything about it. They're girls who run the school, without having any sympathy or context to do something about bad stuff they know happens. It's just "a funny thing to write". Not having that made me sad tbh.

Changing the line to "you wrote this" in World Burn was clever but I wish we got to see more of the girls turning on each other, rather than direct fighting.

KEVIN G BEST SONG IN THE MUSICAL

Where was the 4 way phone call, DEVASTATING. We literally did not see the plastics actually interact with each other. There was no meanness, no impact, all we got were the "events" when OTHER THINGS HAPPEN. You could say it lost a lot of filler, but the filler was actually context! And part of what makes the film so good!

Devastated she doesn't say "damn you're mine" in Someone Gets Hurt. I do think it's hilarious they just didn't make the actor guy for Aaron sing at all lol

"That filter you use looks just like me" WHY. I appreciate the change from the line about weight but like, this DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. at least say "that filter you use has nothing on me" THE WHOLE POINT IS SHE'S ABOVE IT

I didn't like the extended version of Revenge Party, sorry, too used to the old version

And I did not like the girlbossification of Sexy. I get it's supposed to be powerful like "watch me as I run the world in shoes I cannot walk in" but I feel like the whole point of "I expect to run the world in shoes I cannot walk in" is supposed to point out the irony, like, being slightly critical of "modern feminism". I will say though that the wobble from avantika as she says that is superb.

Overall I thought the film was enjoyable and a nice blend of the original film and the musical, but I think both ended up losing individual meaning because of how much they intersect. You don't have time to appreciate the lyrics and power of the musical because you don't hear them all, and some of them get cut, and you can't follow the plot in a meaningful way because the songs are happening, and they skip a lot of context to fit them in.

Would totally watch it again though, if only to see Renee Rapp say "get in loser" cos she actually nailed that

[blehblarghblah]

Update:

Hey, it's been awhile since I updated y'all!

There was one ask I got a blue moon ago about Magic Between the Moon & Sky, and I will sadly report that I do not see myself updating that series for the foreseeable future. I didn't want to be one of those authors who make a 100 oneshot series then stop, but I am just not a fan of TDP at the moment so it's hard to really find the passion to write for a fandom I'm not in anymore.

I also know a good many of you are wondering about Loyalty & Light but I can confidently say that there is nothing solid yet. Another batch of twenty chapters is a lot for me and it will take a long while for it to get up and kicking. But I am still working at it. Don't be afraid to keep asking about it or to send asks! The comments I've been getting are a great inspiration!

Meanwhile, for The Most Undoing Thing, the final two chaps are coming! Regardless of season 2, this does not change the development of the fic at all. TMUT was always set in a post-season 1 only AU formula. I hoped to finish it before season 2, but alas, I did not. That said, I am immensely appreciative of the surge of love and attention toward TMUT. I guess a lot of people are aching for some Mama Jinx after Isha, huh? ( >ヮ<).

So when's TMUT coming out? Well here's a rundown:

Arcane/Legends of Runeterra, Mama Jinx AU, multi-chapter story (Title: "The Most Undoing Thing"). Chapter 19 sometime January.

The Owl House, Lealtad Noceda big sister/beta sister AU, multi-chapter story (Title: "Loyalty & Light"). Season 2, chap 21-41 in development!

The Owl House & The Ghost and Molly McGee crossover, crossover AU, multi-chapter story (Title: "The Light and Molly McGee"). Still in development!

Halloween fics: yeah I got delayed, so I'm gonna aim for 2025 Halloween now hopefully...

Once again, all is subject to change of course. Between uni, my newfound interest with D&D, and personal matters, it's hard to find time to write. But I still wanna write! I love writing fics and I miss posting 'em. Fall sem is done and I am hyped to write. As always, if you're interested in these fics, I have a few asks or posts about them that you can find via tags!

In other news, I will officially state that I am now ceasing use of FFN or Fanfiction.Net. This doesn't mean I'll delete my account and all stories up there, but for the future, I will not crosspost anymore fanfics on FFN. With all the issues it's had over the years, and a new wave of scam mail, I'm just tired of it. I'm sad too, because I'm aware of the recent traction I've been getting on there as well, but I'm afraid I'm just too tired of it.

So, I'm only using Ao3 from here on out. Sorry to all you FFN users, but I hope you can find the leniency to at least follow my stories on Ao3!

By the way, tags with “bleh update” keep track of all incoming fic posts! And check out my Fandom Masterlist to see what I’m into! Also Here’s all my Fanfics!

That’s all for now. Stay safe and take care all!

Until next post,

- Bleh

[mercysought]

❝ You can’t trust me, I know that. ❞ / em for asharen. sorry asharen

In a den of scorpions, the frog would do well to remember the lesson that the many just like it. The lessons of those who now could be mistaken for rocks, permanently resting at the bottom of a stream.

Asharen holds her shawl tighter against her body - worn and fraying at the edges it was older than herself by many decades. Its colour had been washed away by the years of use and love, all the hands and bodies that had touched it. It keeps her protected; even now, even in the darkest sections of the fade, it was impossible to truly let the deep cold in. And that's what she felt there: looking at him.

A cold hand of pity wrapping around her heart and twisting her lips downwards as she leans heavily on her staff. It was hard to make sense of the feeling but she knew how to put it better into words than she would truly like to admit. She would have preferred not lend credence to the meaning she pulled from the way that he looked at her; or how he looked even at Alanari. Like they were... deformed, malformed things that were in need to fixing. And yes, yes it was only pity and a cold, distant sort of rage that simmered in the bottom of her lungs as if she was drowning.

That he, and these other folks, could not see them for what they were: not shadows but brilliant, vibrant beings that had become them, fully fulfilled beings despite their actions and their history. How sad it made her feel - to look at him and to the small group of elves that had found maybe companionship, family even and feel a pang of envy and yet know they could not see her.

They would only ever see a shadow. Broken. In need of saving. For them there would always only be this war, their mistakes and everything else would either be motive or unfortunate collateral damage.

Pity was an awful feeling, but it had its place, even if it came with a dose of shame and embarrassment. Asharen closes her eyes, allowing herself a hum that thrummed at her chest, the shards of flag, hanging from her staff, followed in tone, the soft lilac of the sun splintered across the small ruins painting the most beautiful stars upon the stone.

They were all old enough to make decisions for themselves, but they would not be allowed to make those decisions for her. Never for her.

How she wished things were different.

   "I never gave up." she says simply, looking not to him but to the way that the setting sun rippled on the nearby pond. How warm the sun felt on her skin. She doesn't reply to what he said, not directly, for there was nothing that she could offer him, nothing that would not leave a bitter taste in her mouth, in his too. She was keenly aware of the many things she did not know, especially when it meant on how it impacted others.

Even when they rightfully might deserve her anger. Light eyes finally lift towards him, the brows push down the orange, thin, light wash of Mythal's vallas'lin "I don't trust you, Emithas, I don't think you'll ever give me the space to, but..."

She didn't have to. Sometimes love is not enough, but sometimes it is what propels you forward. While Emithas saw salvation, hope, in the tearing of the veil, Asharen had seen it here.

Here and in the spirits of the fade that she had met, that had kept her safe as she traveled and explored. Here in the tangerine trees around the latest camp that her Clan had stopped by, in the sheer amazement she had felt when she first visited Nevarra.

To be welcomed in so many places with people that had only heard awful stories about the dalish and to still be welcomed with a warmer hand and understanding, empathy than what she often felt from them "I would never turn my back on the promise I made Alanari. I am still looking for a way to subdue it, I never stopped."

the banner saga part 1 // @weptfreedom // accepting

[cainluvr69]

Surely, We Can Make Miracles Chapter 3

Previous Chapter

Many people, with many ways of thinking, many of which are different from how I approach things. Everyone has their own set of values. There are many different kinds of happiness…and unhappiness.

Rustica: I've written a new song. What do you think?

Bradley: No offense, but it was boring. If this ain't a lullaby for babies, you need to get more crazy with it.

Rustica: Is this "more crazy with it"?

Bradley: Why're you just repeatin' the same melody now?

Rustica: So that those listening may become accustomed to it. Spicing up something familiar is fun, yes?

Bradley: Well, here's what I think. There ain't any need to get used to anything in the first place. Keep 'em guessin' 'til the day you die.

Rustica: What a fascinating philosophy. It offers the prospect of a song with constant deviations throughout.

Bradley: Hell yeah. Screw the sheet music.

✦✧☾✧✦

And should you never meet those people, should you never come in contact with who they are, you'll never know about any of those things.

Nero: Huh?! You sure you wanna add that?

Lennox: It's surprisingly good. Try it.

Nero: Alright, just a little taste test… Woah… You're right. This all goes together really well.

Lennox: Right?

✦✧☾✧✦

There are those who treasure the old-fashioned ways of the world. Those who've found a new kind of radiance. Neither of them need contradict or overshadow the other. Both of them can be cherished, respected, and--as they live side by side with one another--loved.

Faust: This type of magic circle is optimal if you should find yourself in this kind of situation in combat. It doesn't require much preparation or materials.

Murr: If you use magical technology, as long as you've got mana stones on hand, you can do all of thiiiis!

Faust: I see… If it can be used reliably enough, it's not a bad idea to take advantage of that on future missions. Magic and magical technology are both just means, not ends.

Murr: That's what I think, too! But I think our local magitech-hater Shylock might hate us for saying that!

Faust: …That's quite the dilemma.

✦✧☾✧✦

This manor has wizards from five different countries all gathered together under the same roof. I think that this place, where people of many different social standings, ages, and personal philosophies can all live side by side… …is probably the only one like it in the world. When I think about it like that, I really reflect on what an amazing feat it is.

Riquet: Lord Snow, Lord White. Did this kind of game exist two thousand years ago?

Snow: My, my. Perhaps it did, perhaps it didn't.

White: I believe it did, but instead of a ball, it used the bone of a cow.

Riquet: Would you like to play it with Mitile and I later?

Snow & White: Of course~!

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: Whew… That's enough for today. I've written so much in the Sage's manual. I wonder how many days I've spent just writing about the day-to-day things here in the manor… Huh…? Is someone outside the window…?

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: (It's Lennox… He's just standing in place staring at something…?) (Oh… There's Faust, and Nero's with him… They're drinking together…) (If he wants to talk to them, he should…though now that I think about it, I feel like I've seen this before…)

✦✧☾✧✦

Lennox: …

Akira: What are you looking at, Lennox?

Lennox: Master Sage.

Akira: Oh, it's the Eastern wizards. I guess they must've just gotten back from their mission. Do you want to talk to them?

Lennox: No.

Akira: …?

Lennox: Ah… Sorry. Erm… Oh, this is a problem. I'm not sure how to explain…

Akira: Oh, no no! It's my fault for asking without thinking about it. It's fine if you don't want to talk about it…

Lennox: No, that's not what it is. I'm just thinking about…how to do it. Like when you're about to lose when playing a board game, but you still don't want to give in…

Akira: …Is this about Faust?

Lennox: Haha… Yes. I was trying to hide it, but you saw right through me. …Lord Faust has no intention of trying to be happy. I imagine he feels like he can't face our comrades who believed in him and died for that belief. I want him to be happy, but my face only serves as a reminder for why he needs to punish himself. At the same time, when he's with those who don't know his past…when he's with the Eastern wizards…he is at peace. Look… See, he's smiling.

I'll never be able to forget how Lennox's face looked at that moment. I saw no longing nor sadness in his eyes, more vibrantly red than the setting sun. He was simply watching Faust's distant back.

Akira: …Is that the game you've lost?

Lennox: Yes. Forcing someone to be happy is as cruel as forcing someone to be unhappy, I think. No matter how tranquil sunlight may be, if someone doesn't want to be in it, then its light will burn them. I lived never giving up. I continued moving forward believing that we'd meet again for four hundred years. But right now… I think that if I don't give up, his heart is going to break. He doesn't need me at his side.

Lennox's expression hadn't changed. I, on the other hand, felt my chest twisting as painfully as if I were the one in his position.

Akira: No, that can't possibly be true. Faust always seems so peaceful when you're with him, Lennox. I think he can rest his heart around you. I've never heard him say anything but good things about you…

Lennox: No, I'm aware that he cares about me. But caring about someone and loving them are two different things. Speaking for myself as an individual, there's no greater reward. But what hasn't been rewarded is… This loyalty that's too much for him to bear.

Akira: Lennox…

Lennox: Don't worry about me, Master Sage. I'm sorry for complaining about something so pointless… I'm simply…getting stuck when I think about what I should do.

Lennox smiled gently down at me.

Lennox: Master Sage. I'm a shepherd. So that my sheep don't stray from the herd, I lead them, ringing a bell to guide their way. But in the past… I simply blindly chased after a single flag in front of me, no better than a sheep myself. I just…still haven't forgotten how he shook my soul back then. He made me see how beautiful the dawn could be.

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: (Oh, Lennox… I wonder if he wants Faust to become the savior he once was again…) (Or maybe the happiness he's talking about means something different to him… This is hard… Happiness…) (What is happiness…?) Oh, Saku-chan… You're right. I should go to sleep soon.

This little darling is called a sacrificium. The twins created it and gave it to me as a sort of guardian. Because I was summoned here to this world as its Sage. So that I could save it.

✦✧☾✧✦

This world has a beautifully shining moon in its sky, one they call <the Great Calamity>. Once a year, every year, <the Great Calamity> draws close to this world. So that it doesn't come too close and destroy the world, it must be intercepted and pushed back. And that is the duty of the twenty-one Sage's wizards, gathered from the five countries of this land.

✦✧☾✧✦

And my duty is to guide the Sage's wizards and save the world. I don't think I can lead them as smartly as I should, being called the Sage and all, but… If I can at least be a good friend to my wonderful, talented wizards… Then that's what I want.

✦✧☾✧✦

Oz: …

Figaro: Hey, I'm coming in.

Painting Snow & White: Mmrrgghh…

Snow: Oz.

White: Dearest Oz.

Oz: You three, I see…

Figaro: Still awake, huh. I'm guessing you've barely slept since that surprise attack.

Oz: What do you want.

Snow: We came to tell you there's no point in you staying awake like this.

White: Dear Oz. You're afraid of once again being forced to bleed and lose consciousness, and thus, you're keeping yourself on guard. You poor thing. You've never lost in a competition of magic before, after all.

Oz: I did not lose.

Snow: You may as well have. You simply weren't killed. And at the moment, that's the same thing. Even we could kill you right now. I imagine that fact alone is humiliating enough to make you want to die, and yet, it is still the truth of the matter.

Oz: …

White: Oz. It's fair to say that Mithra and the others on this floor that night kept you alive.

Snow: Their pride is the only thing that kept you from turning to stone. For at night, you, the world's strongest wizard, cannot use your magic.

Oz: Get out.

Figaro: Oz. Just think for a second. You're not in a position to order us around right now. We really have been keeping your pride in consideration, but we can't do that anymore. Right now, all you can do is ask others to keep you alive.

White: Exactly. Oz, you must study the ways of the weak. You must live as one of them. You have no choice but to be protected by the strong at night. Bow your head to Mithra, Bradley, and Owen, flatter them…

Oz: Get out!

Snow: Ohoho! All you can do is shout at us? Before, it would have taken you no more than a moment to drive us away… What a tragedy this is.

Figaro: Lord Snow. You're going too far. Oz still has his pride.

Snow: And that's what makes this a tragedy. I'm saying it because he's our dear adorable Oz.

Figaro: Oz was the world's strongest. Even if it's tragic, he still…

White: We're telling him to abandon that pride. How do humans who cannot use magic survive in the North?

Snow: Tell us, Oz.

Oz: When dawn breaks, I will kill you both.

White: Oh, dearest Oz.

Snow: Ohoho. He certainly told us.

Oz: <Vox N…> Zz… Zz…

Snow: Goodness…! He was truly trying to kill us just now.

Figaro: This is exactly the kind of situation we're talking about, Oz. You're the only one who won't admit it… Come on, wake up.

Oz: Ah…

Figaro: And the two of you are just trying to provoke him! That's why he did that! Oz, you need to calm down, too. I know exactly how you feel. I know how horrible it feels to have the spirits refuse to obey you… And that's why I know we need a plan in place. Okay?

Snow: Meticulous as always, dear Figaro. Though you always are.

Figaro: …And what's that supposed to mean?

Snow: That you're trying to set the two of us up as an enemy to get in Oz's good favor and then manipulate him as you please.

White: Dear Figaro. Please recall that you're the ringleader of this. You said you would persuade him.

Figaro: Yeah, I did say that. Because I wasn't expecting the two of you to be this stupid.

Snow & White: Excuse me?

Figaro: If you want Oz to listen to you, you need to be more careful with how you say things to him. What you've been doing is just pointlessly riling him up…

Snow: Ohoho! Make him listen to us? Surely you heard us, Oz.

Oz: I do not recall submitting to you.

Figaro: Oz, do you have any idea what position you're in right now? I'm trying to cover for you. Don't be ungrateful, and don't be stupid.

Oz: Hah?

White: Figaro dearest, you're being so meeeaaan! Oz, darling, come here. You're not stupid at all.

Figaro: Are you for real? The ones blatantly trying to manipulate Oz are the two of you.

Snow: Oh, now there's banging on the walls.

White: My, we've made dear Owen start banging on the walls. I suppose we should withdraw for now, then.

Figaro: Anyways. Oz. If you're going to continue pointlessly keeping watch, at least try to build some better relationships while you're at it. You don't want to follow this pair's lead on how to end relationships in the worst way possible, right?

Snow: Figaro, you're getting punished for that.

White: Yep, punished.

Figaro: Go die, you senile old hags.

Snow & White: <Noscomnia>

Figaro: <Possideo> …You get it, Oz? At this rate, Arthur's going to get turned to stone trying to protect you when you can't use magic.

Oz: …

✦✧☾✧✦

Owen: Jeez… They're so loud. This is the worst. This is worse than the worst. …

Mithra: Owen.

Owen: Mithra. The twins and Figaro were talking to Oz about something weird.

Mithra: Huh.

Owen: They were mocking you.

Mithra: Hah?

Owen: They said that at night, when Oz can't use his magic, he should bow his head to you and have you protect him.

Mithra: Huh, that might not be bad, actually. I wonder if he'll really bow his head to me?

Owen: Get a clue. They're saying they think you're stupid and a coward.

Mithra: How's that?

Owen: Do you want to protect Oz? No way, right? You want to kill him and eat his stone, don't you?

Mithra: Of course.

Owen: But they think you won't kill him. Because you're a coward.

Mithra: … I'll kill them.

Owen: Haha… Maybe they're right. Your heart and body are both wavering. Half-hearted. There's nothing scary about you now.

Mithra: The same goes for you.

Owen: Excuse me?

Mithra: You're being completely half-hearted, too. You're not frightening, and you're not tough. You're making friends and getting pushed around.

Owen: … I'm not getting pushed around. Are you stupid?

Mithra: And I'm not going to be protecting Oz. Definitely not.

Owen: Uh-huh. Not that I care.

✦✧☾✧✦

Owen: Mithra's really pissing me off… Ah… I can see a light still on in the manor. Hehe. Maybe I'll go scare their wits out and have some fun.

✦✧☾✧✦

Chloe: Yaaaawn… Alright, one last push! Ah… Someone's coming to the window. It's Owen! Owen.

Owen: Fufu. What are you up to?

Chloe: I'm making clothes for everyone to wear to the party on Borda Island tomorrow. You'll wear yours, won't you, Owen?

Owen: Nope.

Chloe: Wh--why not?!

Owen: Because it'll make me waver and be half-hearted.

Chloe: I don't know what you mean by half-hearted, but I did pick colors based on the image of wavering light on the water's surface! They're super pretty! I'd really like to see you wear it tomorrow!

Owen: … If I feel like it.

Chloe: Okay! Goodnight!

Owen: Stop it.

Chloe: …?

Owen: … I'm not a coward.

Next Chapter

[pain-in-the-butler]

Have you ever considered what a meeting of Alois would've been like with the current Dadbastian development? The anime and the 2nd season were both pretty bad in terms of uncomfortable fanservice and handling things very disrespectfully, but thinking back on Alois' character now as an adult, I really pity him as a clearly traumatised and intensely disturbed child, who through abuse has, much like Ciel, developed more 'adult behaviour' that is not appropriate for his age as a defence mechanism. It's probably thinking a bit too optimistically for Dadbastian to extend concern for those outside of his immediate phantomfam, but would you think that maybe, just maybe, Alois could trigger the same kind of protective urges as Ciel? Alternatively, if you were to write something similar to Coattails but instead for Alois and co, do you have any headcanons on how you'd otherwise depict their relationship? Dad Claude? Dlaude??? Thank u for indulging my whimsical ass & sorry for the wordvomit

Hi, anon! As a fellow whimsical ass, I'll do my best to answer your question. Boy, okay, lots to consider here...

First off, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by the phrase "current Dadbastian development", but I'm going to assume you're referring to what's happening in Coattails because I don't think there's been any Dadbastian development in the manga that I've missed.

Second off, our feelings on Alois are the same. I was nineteen when season 2 came out and I didn't like it at all, I found its handling of certain themes pretty deplorable and I mean. It was a mess. At the time, I felt indifferent to disturbed by Alois, and ultimately just went away pretending the whole season never happened. However, the current fandom has made me realize that Alois is a character with a lot of potential who was definitely in the wrong hands. It's very sweet to me how many fans still care for him as if he were their adopted son and have come out with some extremely creative and realized content of him. It gives me a better appreciation for him and what he could have been.

So now to actually attempt your question. Again, assuming you're asking about Coattails, Sebastian is only really interested in being a parent to Ciel and a caretaker of varying degrees to the rest of the Phantomfam members. I think he would be able to feel sympathy for Alois's situation, but he's no bleeding heart. I'm not really sure what the scenario is here where somehow Alois and Sebastian are getting to know each other and also Alois might want Sebastian to help him over another person already in his life? It's a little difficult to answer...

And if it was in regards to canon Seb, well... yeah, he's pretty disinterested in anyone that doesn't directly benefit or threaten his contract. I don't think he would do anything to make Alois's life better.

While I hate canon Claude, I certainly think fan content can utilize him as a father figure if they made some tweaks to his character. My bud Em has explored that in this fanfic that I enjoy, and I think she's probably a better judge of Dad-Claude than I could ever be (she might even write a longer story about it someday!). Sort of going off her example, I would keep Claude's awkward/stiff personality intact and get rid of his bad-touch vibes (obviously). Unlike Coattails Sebastian, who is accustomed to big emotions but is new to love specifically, I don't think Coattails Claude would be used to feeling anything outside of his own control. He's also not very playful so he would probably have to learn to let go of things and I just realized I'm describing Bambi's dad's journey in Bambi II so god fucking dammit I did it again—

tl;dr there are so many people who can answer this question better than I just did but uhhhh I hope this was okay 💁‍♀️

[wrongcaitlyn]

thoughts on i can fix him (no really i can)

sorry this isn’t abt the fic i have no more questions but your responses are so great 😭

DONT APOLOGIZE AT ALL I LOVE LOVE LOVE TALKING ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT like i honestly get worried that i talk about her too much a lot bc irl im always told i need to know how to have conversations about things OTHER than her so like knowing that y'all wanna know my opinions on these things is actually the coolest thing ever and i love it <333

first of all, i LOVE the vibes of it. i choose to try not to think about the source material of these things (i've never been the hugest fans of connecting songs to the actual artist who wrote them, idk it just feels invasive) so the entire time i was thinking abt lucy gray baird/coriolanus bc of a post that rachel zegler made months ago for tom blyth's bday with a tee-shirt that said "I can fix him" like idk i just KNEW the song was gonna be snowbaird coded AND I WAS CORRECT

the vibes seemed so cowboy like me like i was genuinely surprised?? the whole thing seemed like it was very taken out of modern society, and like, fugitive au, and i was recently just reading this 1870s small town au (had just finished it like the day before ttpd i think) and so i was SO HERE FOR THAT KIND OF VIBE

overall i just loveeeed the imagery in these lyrics. it's one of those songs where the production just matches the content so well and taylor is truly incredible at that!!

one of my FAVORITE lyrics (most def my fav of the song, possibly one of my favorites of the album was

They shake their heads sayin', "God, help her" When I tell 'em he's my man But your good Lord doesn't need to lift a finger

idk why but the way she said it, the lyrics, the "good lord doesnt need to lift a finger" like GOD it just scratched an itch in my brain so perfectly (the entire album, i felt like she was singing it perfectly, there were so many little moments where i was just like GOD THIS WAS SUNG EXACTLY AS IT NEEDED TO BE SUNG)

just reread the lyrics for this bc i wanna make a worthy response (if y'all EVER want an opinion on ANY taylor swift song or any other artist i've mentioned before like PLEASE feel free lyrical analysis is my entire life)

and like

i seriously have to stop with au ideas

bc just the mention of texas has me thinking OMG FUGITIVE NICO X COWBOY WILL SOLACE AU and im like STFU BRAIN YOU ALREADY HAVE TOO MUCH YOU'RE WORKING ON but like i mean its TEXAS

The dopamine races through his brain On a six-lane Texas highway His hand so calloused from his pistol Softly traces hearts on my face

and the way it just ends so suddenly with "woah maybe i can't" is just😭😭i cackled at that it was hilarious

conclusion: i haven't really re-listened to it bc it wasn't one of those songs that stood out to me in the first listen (i've been listening to the album on loop since it came out bc im still trying to process all the songs, but there were definitely some that i repeated over and over again bc they were my favorite). i don't really like ratings because i feel like every song has so much potential, and i just haven't understood it yet? like, particularly with taylor songs, i actually didn't like the folklore or evermore albums when i first listened to them. then when i did again, they become two of my favorite albums holding some of my favorite songs. so all i can say right now is that it isn't one of my favorites off the album, but i do love certain aspects of it!

[away-ward]

"However, we know that A.P. was not wealthy like Edward, but he was ambitious and intelligent. We don't know what drove A.P. to work so hard to get a scholarship to TBP," - from your post asking who gave damon the key to carfax room.

Wait, A.P. was a scholarship student? Hold on, he was kinda like emory? A self-made person?

+ i would really love an epilogue by pd showing a bond between michael & emory, and talking about how different the graysons had made michael's old, cold, haunted, and lonely house to look like how it is now in willemmy's care. I bet he would notice the warmth, and the liveliness of his old house, especially their old kitchen, since emmy loves to cook and bake. We could even have extras of emmy bonding with the women through cooking or biweekly/monthly baking or smth in that house :( what do ya think?

Weeeellllll I might be jumping the gun on him being scholarship student. The story that Will tells just indicates that there was a difference between the wealthy kids on the team, and the scholarship students or those who needed scholarships for college. He later makes a point to say that A.P. was not wealthy like Edward. Could be that A.P. just wasn't as wealthy as Edward, but the way Will tells it leads me to believe A.P. didn't come from money.

I also have a post in here where I thought the Grayson's were old, old money. That could still be true, since A.P. could have married into money, but it does seem that as a teenager he was in a similar position as Emory.

But how are you guys interpreting that story?

+

Wait, I thought Will and Em moved into the old Fane residence, like Rika's house? Since her mom married Will's uncle?

(First I miss who gave Damon the key, and now I might have mixed up the houses?? Do I not know this series at all? Quick, who did Emory marry? It was will, right???)

But yeah, I would have loved more interactions with the characters. I was reading a post earlier about how the term "filler episode" was originally used and how it's used today. I always used the term to mean parts of the story that seem to just be padding the run time/pages without adding enough to the plot or character to be enjoyable. I enjoyed the point that was made by the person writing it. They explained so many authors and writers today have heard the term "filler" and have been told filler is anything that doesn't move the plot forward and they need to get rid of it.

But while chapters with characters development or interaction may not move the plot forward, they're not filler or padding. Readers and series viewers love that stuff. They crave it. If watching these characters just have simple interactions so I can understand them better or see the little background moments that build their hint at their relationships/bonds is filler, then I'd read an entire book of filler. Give me all the filler.

Despite what PD writes, I love the idea of these people just being overly involved in each other's lives. A hundred combinations of group chats, always in each other's houses, knowing exactly where they keep the good snacks, ruining each other's plans. Bake nights, movie nights, planning surprise party nights. All of it. That's my idea of a chosen family, and how I prefer to picture them.

I love the idea of Michael reflecting on Emory's style. Listening to portions of Fire Night reminded me that Michael wanted to open a resort and it seems like they did - Cold Fire Inn. I know they brought in Damon and Emory's company for that, so I imagine there was a lot of discussion about how best to represent Thunder Bay while including their own style and appealing to the masses. They probably grew to appreciate each other even more, though I know they fought over aspects of the design. Damon probably enjoyed watching Michael receive a verbal beating at the hands of Emory. He probably recorded some of them to send to Will later. Oooh can you imagine Michael trying to verbally spar with both Emory and Banks.

No chance.

Sorry, that was a lot of rambling. Thanks for the ask!

[fatefought]

@incaensio sent: ❛ are you even sorry? ❜ - katniss/haymitch (ngl,,, this would be Fun for MJ)

thirteen has him dressing in jackets, gloves, and a beanie. years of punishing his body has meant that regulation of temperature is something that has been beat out of it. the garments make sure that abernathy is warm, but it doesn't stop the withdrawal shivers that still plague him now. shouldn't it have stopped ? haymitch doesn't really know. he's no doctor. it's the first time he and the girl have seen each other in the underground district and had some sense of privacy. he's given her space, and he bets she could use some more.

everdeen's question is vague, and his brain instantly thinks of several things it could do with. arms remain crossed over his chest. it's retaining the warmth better, but it does nothing to add a friendliness to his demeanor. maybe he should pander, butter her up. he has some experience after being a mule for the games for twenty-five years. she's no cap sponsor though, and being so out of character might end with more violence. though, even being genuine likely will too. " for which part ? are ya talkin' the boy ? of course. that sorrow is felt for 'im though. ya might be 'is wife, but that doesn't mean i owe it to ya. he's 'is own person, and i think about 'im being there all the time. " peeta is in the capitol ; peeta is in snow's hands. the interview while sad at least confirmed he was still alive. they still had a chance at getting him here.

" i know ya think i broke the promise, but i didn't. i did everythin' in my power to try to get 'im here. how was i suppose to know that things played out the way they did ? if i broke it, ya broke it too. what did ya do to make sure he got here ? ya see how slippery slick that slope is ? i know ya didn't break it. and if ya think i did, that's fine. i'm not gonna say i'm sorry for breakin' it if i don't think i did though. " his defensiveness is uncalled for, but it's the only way he can cope with everything. being sober leaves a lot of time for wading through the guilt and other thoughts haymitch would like to suppress. one of the medical staff commented how he probably drank to forget. well damn, abernathy drinks because he likes the alcohol. ( the other thing was just an added benefit. )

" as for ya, " finger points to the girl momentarily as though katniss wouldn't know who he's talking about. " i am sorry for the position ya were thrown in. i know it isn't fair. you're young. ya didn't choose this. nothing's fair though. nobody's life in panem is their own, other than some caps. we've talked 'bout how victors never leave the arena. ya can get better at the games, but it never makes 'em easier. the difficulty just gets harder. your loved ones most of which are here would 'ave just become tally marks for times that snow got 'is fuckin' feelings hurt. i know it's unfair, and for that i am sorry. ya can make a difference though. and when this is all said and done, ya and the people ya care about can actually live. " he's not saying he did this for her. no, obviously not. haymitch wants to see the world burn so it can be rebuilt. katniss cares deeply for those she loves though. he does hope the girl and those people do get to live in peace though, even if it will only be after the rebellion and if the rebels won.

" add me to that little list of people ya wanna kill to coin for all i care. just let me see ya end snow first, " he remarks. " but 'til then, let me work with ya so we can get peeta 'ere. cinna too who saw the very same potential in ya that i did that all of the rebels did. ya don't 'ave to like me or trust me. i've given ya plenty of reasons to not. at the very least i can help ya navigate through all this mockingjay shit. "

[insanetwocubes]

Hey uh. I just noticed. "Dangerous" and "hurtful" are the same word in Mindspeak.

I was the one who noticed it, idiot. You just want to talk about it.

Alright, I want to talk about it.

Uh. What of it?

Well, don't you think it's a little inaccurate. A little bit of an exaggeration? Sure, back then, they were gonna kick us out to the street. A 16 yo couldn't survive on their own. But we survived. If it really was so "dangerous" uh I mean we made it a good 7 years out. (Wow, 7 years. Can you believe it? We're a different person now.)

What's your point?

Well maybe the word "dangerous" isn't the right word anymore. I mean yeah, I know back then it meant life or death. But you're a lot better now. We are. A lot more things are under control and our energy stuff is exponential. We're not superman, sure... but still. We're at least okay.

I don't know how you can call raising Emillie in this shithole okay.

Well. We can't work a miracle.

I am a miracle.

You are. But it wasn't them not giving us all the material possessions we needed. We needed those because it was the only support we ever had. But for Emillie, we provide support, don't we? Things are getting a lot better with em, too. With them it was all dumped on us. But with Emillie, we share the burden. We're part of a team. And we don't go off on each other for not pulling their weight, y'know? We pick up that weight. Because we love each other. All of us.

I still feel kinda bad. About Emillie. Another person I couldn't provide for.

Well... *shrug* What can you do.

I don't vibe with that.

Look. This is the way I see it. You can feel sorry for yourself, but that's gonna stop you from actually improving. Are your goals narrowed down? Do you know what your next steps are? Because Emillie does.

...

Right? Hey imagine having a kid that doesn't know how hard we worked for all this. Ey would have to start all over again. But now we simultaneously get a second chance and we take advantage of everything we have now.

Every day is a new day.

Yup! We get to go through this together! And that's better than doing it alone.

... Also it's not right for you to blame yourself so much. I was the one in your way for the longest time-

You weren't. You were just doing your best.

And so are you.

So uh back to this "dangerous" thing. Maybe it's not that extreme. Sure it feels sucky. But you know we're going to make it. Your god said so. Didn't it?

...

Right?

"It's not that extreme," huh?

You're still here. And Emillie is still here. I mean anything ey can handle, we can, too. ...Maybe it's a little different for us, but...

...

What do you think?

I think. I have been taking it as really extreme.

They literally told us things like "You're never going to survive like this." *scoff* I would never say such a thing to Emillie. Can you imagine? They were planning on getting rid of us already.

....oh.

*shrug* And we ended up growing up to be useless. But that's because we were never given the chance to really try. And we didn't try because we were told we were useless. "Don't touch it, you'll break it."

I broke a lot of stuff.

And so be it! So what? I broke stuff, too. It's not all on you. I didn't lead us right, either.

You led us right.

Some of it. But clearly I was in the way for some of it, too. But that's okay. You live and you learn, right? Haha.... But I'm gonna course-correct. Follow your lead. It's okay if we do things your way for a little bit. I'm learning too late that we benefit from it in the end. I'll catch us if anything goes wrong. You can count of me.

Promise.

You don't have to promise me nothing, Flare. I'm with you. Wherever you go. Or I go. Or we go.

Let's cut back on the "dangerous" stuff, you think? A little course-correction?

It's an idea. Thanks. I'll keep an eye out.

You always do a really good job of that.

~Flare