#that is not something I have ever feared happening when encountering a bear

[chaos-in-one]

Watching the whole "would you rather be in the woods with a bear or a strange man" debate go down is so funny to me as someone who has gone camping up in the mountains a good portion of my life and actually seen bears because like

They are NOT nearly as dangerous as some of the people mad about people choosing the bear are making them out to be. Even grizzlies. Generally, unless you are near their babies or they are literally starving, they'll leave you alone as long as you leave them alone. I actually did not feel that unsafe the handful of times I saw a bear in the woods because I understood that as long as I wasn't a complete fucking idiot about it, the bear wasn't going to do shit to me. Bears generally do not want to attack humans. About the only one that has been known to actually try to hunt humans is a polar bear, and you're not going to find a polar bear in a fucking forest.

[misswynters]

Stormbound

Jacaerys Velaryon x pregnant!reader

[WARNING: pregnancy, mentions of difficult pregnancy terms, fluff

[SYNOPSIS: You were heavily pregnant as you and jace encounter a wild dragon while a storm raged on.

[NOTE: you had poor jace stressed out, we love jace being protective over the reader: also if you would like something specific, send an ask!

"Where are they?" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his dark curls. The maesters had assured him that everything was fine, but he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in his chest.

Your pregnancy had been difficult, and the tension had taken its toll on Jacaerys. He had tried to be strong for you, but the fear of losing you, or the child, was ever-present. He couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to you both.

Just as he was about to go in search of you again, the doors to the hall creaked open, and you stepped inside. Despite the strain of pregnancy, you carried yourself with the grace and strength he had always admired. Your hand rested protectively on your swollen belly, and your face lit up with a tired but genuine smile when you saw him.

"Jace," you said softly, your voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves.

He rushed to your side, his hands immediately going to your belly. "Where have you been? I was worried sick."

You laughed lightly, the sound easing some of his tension. "I just needed some fresh air. The castle can feel so confining sometimes."

He sighed, pulling you into a gentle embrace. "You should have told me. I would have gone with you."

"I know, but you worry too much," you replied, leaning into him. "I wanted a moment to myself. Besides, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Jacaerys pressed a kiss to your forehead, his heart swelling with love and protectiveness. "I know you are. But I can't help it. I love you too much to let anything happen to you."

You smiled up at him, your eyes filled with warmth. "And I love you, Jace. But you need to relax. Stress isn't good for either of us."

He nodded, though the worry didn't entirely leave his eyes. "Alright. Let's find somewhere quiet. I need to feel you and the baby close."

Hand in hand, you led him out of the grand hall and towards the more secluded parts of Dragonstone. The storm outside raged on, but within the castle, it felt as if the two of you were in your own world. The soft glow of torches lit your way, casting flickering shadows on the ancient stone walls.

You reached a small alcove near the courtyard, a place where you had spent many quiet moments together. Jacaerys helped you settle onto a bench, his hand never leaving yours.

"You know," you began, your voice soft and contemplative, "I sometimes wonder what it would be like to just... leave all of this behind. To take our child and live a simple life, away from the responsibilities and the danger."

Jacaerys looked at you, surprise flickering across his face. "You've never mentioned that before."

You shrugged, a wistful smile on your lips. "It's just a thought. I know we have our duties, and I wouldn't trade our life here for anything. But sometimes, it's nice to imagine a different path."

He squeezed your hand, his gaze intense and loving. "If that's what you want, we'll find a way. Your happiness means everything to me."

You shook your head, a gentle laugh escaping your lips. "No, Jace. This is our home, and we belong here. But it doesn't hurt to dream, does it?"

"No, it doesn't," he agreed, pulling you closer. "As long as we have each other, we can face anything."

For a while, you sat together in comfortable silence, listening to the distant roar of the storm and the crackle of the torches. The tension that had gripped Jacaerys slowly began to fade, replaced by a sense of peace.

But peace was a fleeting thing in times of war and unrest. As the storm continued to rage outside, a distant, echoing roar pierced the night. Jacaerys tensed, his protective instincts flaring to life. "Did you hear that?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

You nodded, your own heart racing. "What was it?"

"Stay here," he commanded, rising to his feet. "I'll go check."

"No," you protested, grabbing his arm. "I'm coming with you."

"___, you're pregnant," he began, but the look in your eyes silenced him. "Alright. But stay close to me."

Together, you made your way through the castle, following the eerie sound. The further you went, the louder the roar became, until you found yourselves standing at the entrance to the courtyard.

And there, in the middle of the storm, was a dragon unlike any you had ever seen. It was massive, nearly as large as Vhagar but with a wild, untamed look in its eyes. Its scales were a deep, iridescent purple, shimmering in the lightning flashes.

"Aero," Jacaerys whispered, awe and fear in his voice. "The Catastrophe."

You had heard of Aero, the wild dragon that roamed the skies near Dragonstone, but seeing it in person was an entirely different experience. The dragon's presence was overwhelming, and for a moment, you were frozen in place.

But Jacaerys didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, his voice steady and calm despite the fear in his eyes. "Aero," he called out, "we mean you no harm."

The dragon turned its gaze towards you both, its eyes glowing with an almost intelligent curiosity. It took a step forward, and Jacaerys instinctively moved in front of you, shielding you with his body.

"Jace," you whispered, fear gripping your heart.

"It's alright," he said, his voice firm. "Just stay behind me."

Aero lowered its massive head, sniffing the air around you. For a moment, it seemed as if the dragon was considering whether to attack or not. But then, with a huff that sent a gust of hot air over you both, Aero turned and took to the skies, disappearing into the storm.

Jacaerys let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, turning to pull you into his arms. "Are you alright?"

You nodded, clinging to him. "Yes. That was... incredible. And terrifying."

He chuckled, though the tension hadn't entirely left his body. "That's one way to put it. I can't believe we just saw Aero up close."

You leaned into him, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. "We should get back inside. The maesters will have our heads if they find out we were out here."

He nodded, but didn't move to leave. Instead, he held you close, his hand resting on your belly. "I'm so glad you're safe," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.

You kissed him gently, your heart full of love for this brave, protective man. "I am. Thanks to you."

As you made your way back inside, the storm began to die down, leaving a sense of calm in its wake. Jacaerys was still tense, but the fear had been replaced by a fierce determination to protect you and your unborn child. Later that night, as you lay in bed, Jacaerys held you close, his hand never leaving your belly. The events of the evening had only strengthened his resolve to keep you safe, no matter what.

"___," he murmured, his voice soft in the darkness. "I promise you, I will always protect you and our babe. No matter what it takes."

You smiled, feeling a sense of peace settle over you. "I know you will, Jace. You will be a fine father."

In the quiet of the night, with the storm finally gone, you both drifted off to sleep, your hearts full of love and hope for the future.

taglist: @benjicotblckwood

banner by: @cafekitsune

[flowersforchoso]

—Bi-han courting you ᥫ᭡

it's hard to imagine this blizzard of a man ever falling for someone, but he does, and he falls pretty hard when it happens although it's like, an extremely rare occurrence.

it's the classic love-at-first-sight scenario. you're at the restaurant, conversing with madame bo from a distance, when you catch his attention. he likes what he sees, and like the typical man, he discreetly stares until you're out of sight

he doesn't think much about you afterwards, but the seed of attraction has already been planted and soon grows.

somehow, coincidentally, he meets you again at the same place (fate perhaps?) but this time, it's different—you're both face-to-face and introductions ensue.

since the lin kuei trio occasionally unwind at the establishment after a mission, and you're a healer who madame bo often consults, it's no surprise your paths cross

bi-han is laser focused on you as the said woman introduces you to the group, observing you like a specimen: your physicality, mannerisms, demeanour, and finds himself magnetized by your graceful aura

but he doesn't speak to you at all while pleasantries are exchanged, making him the odd one out. however, his assessment of you is positive indicating a romantic interest.

despite the brief interaction, you leave a lasting impression on him and have begun to take up permanent residence in his mind.

but it doesn't end there; he sees you quite often due to your affiliation with the old woman, and each time he does, his heart skips a beat; he's emotionally incapacitated, rendered powerless (proximity to him is the only way anything can happen tbh)

he represses this newfound emotion until he's unable to resist, ultimately surrendering to it. and believe it or not, he makes the first move. surprisingly

i know the consensus is that he's pretty much inexperienced in romantic relationships and hence wouldn't approach, but for a man of his calibre, there's no way he hasn't been in a committed relationship, even if short-lived. moreover, he goes after what he wants, romantic matters are no different; the only issue is it'll take him forever to get to it.

he has to first wrestle with himself over his feelings towards you. and once he overcomes this internal struggle, it'll take your sustained absence to propel him to finally pursue you out of fear that you might slip away from his grasp.

while he won't directly approach you, he communicates his interest via subordinates, which leads to unexpected appearances—a blue-clad ninja at your doorstep bearing gifts

you're very confused, but they explain they've been sent by their grandmaster. it is then you come to the realization that the standoffish, intimidating man you encountered at the restaurant has taken a liking to you! but wait- how does he know where you live? (he's gathered bits of information about you)

in his quest to conquer your heart and claim it as his, he first aims to impress. expect to be bombarded by gifts or flowers every fortnight. he also does this for ego reasons, to flaunt his status before eventually requesting a date—through a mouthpiece, of course.

the occasion is quite awkward, overly formal, with you doing most of the talking because he wants to know all about you like the back of his hand

if you attempt to redirect focus on him to satisfy any curiosity you may have, he basically shuts it down by saying something along the lines of, "i lead a formidable warrior clan, that is sufficient enough." you can't tell if he's just reserved or severely lacking in social skills, but if you peer hard enough, the lines are blurred.

he is actually very mindful of his words and respectful towards you. he is aware of how blunt and abrasive he can come across and doesn't want to scare you away; that would undo all his efforts and bring them to naught, and he isn't going to self-sabotage, not after coming this far

he's gentlemanly, and its obvious from his body language and actions he's infatuated with you. but being a conversationalist and showing affection aren't his strong suits, so this is where you come in. the ball is in your court to steer the budding relationship forward otherwise it'll stagnate

[idkfitememate]

Hello!! I've been here since your first creation, Boar! Creator. And I'm thinking about something.

What about Squirrel! Creator 🐿️

Like, squirrels in Genshin really have no fear, all they think about are pinecones. Many times I approached them, but they didn't run away like other animals, they just stood there, near their pinecones.

So I imagine a character who has a hat, like Mona or Venti walking in the forest and a pinecone gets stuck in their hat. Then a squirrel followed them all day, leaving them confused, not knowing why the squirrel was following them. And what the worse was that the squirrel had no fear, they even followed them into the city!

Mona Encounter

૮꒰˶ᵔ ᗜ ᵔ˶꒱ა Pairings : Gn! Squirrel Reader x Mona

૮꒰ྀི∩´ ᵕ `∩꒱ྀིა W.K. : 649

໒꒰ྀིᵔ ᵕ ᵔ ꒱ྀི১ Tags/CW&TW : fluff & crack

໒꒰ྀི˶˙Ⱉ˙˶꒱ྀིა Author’s note : Mmmmm big bushy tails the floofa :3

Future note: Mona has a house… not right now she don’t-

Mona was a woman of business.

Booming business?.. Admittedly no, but business nonetheless.

Spending her nights charting the stars and giving out fortunes to those brave enough to handle her sharp tongue, she was more than busy in her life, even if she was just barely getting by.

… Where does she keep all her astrology books, tools and otherwise when she has nowhere to stay? Up your ass that’s where.

One busy night of watching the stars in a forest had worn the poor girl down, and the grass was so soft, and the gently breeze that rustled the leaves was so nice and oh… she’s asleep.

So deep in sleep, she didn’t notice the pinecone that fell into her hat.

Nor did she notice the you who was perched on a branch above, salivating at the mere thought of that now slightly forbidden cone because it fell on a human, and you told yourself not to go near them, if not for self preservation than just to not interact with them.

It wasn’t as if you didn’t ever want to interact with them, it was an inane fear that something might happen so on so forth, especially since you found out that you were in SAGAU. Fuck that chance. Trees, apples and pinecones is enough for you.

But this… this chance… fuck it it was to much to bear. You jumped right on into the hat, curling around the beloved pinecone. Nothing else mattered now except the piney scent and the cold comforting darkness of this idiot’s hat.

Fuck yeah.

૮꒰づ˶• ༝ •˶꒱づ ˚ʚ ꒰⁐⁐⁐⁐୨🎂🍩🍰୧⁐⁐⁐⁐꒱ ɞ˚

When morning came, Mona opened her eyes with a groan and popped her back considering the awful position she slept in. She blinked blearily as she took in the morning air. Feeling around, she grabbed her hat that had fallen off her head, not even noticing the extra weight, and plopped that sucker right on her head, somehow not even feeling your tiny little shivering feet.

Oh shit you fell asleep in her hat and now she was standing up. You sat as physically still as you could as you felt the somehow oblivious woman rose and begin walking.

The swaying motions wasn’t very nice on your stomach, ears twitching and eyes constantly moving around the space to try and find any kind of exit.

For a moment everything stopped, and your tail hitched and breath stilled. Suddenly, a hand reached up into the hat and in a panic you lightly jumped onto the fabric of the back of the hat, staring as the hand scratched the spot you once were and reach around a bit, finding the pinecone you once held and threw it out the hat, muttering some random stuff that was muffled to your ears.

After a few moments of stillness the astronomer was on the move again. And you were in her hat. Trapped. Alone.

૮꒰づ˶• ༝ •˶꒱づ ˚ʚ ꒰⁐⁐⁐⁐୨🍡🍮🍪୧⁐⁐⁐⁐꒱ ɞ˚

City noises were weird when you’re hearing them from inside a hat.

That was your deduction as Mona walked through what you could only assume to be Mondstadt. The hustle and bustle and overall joyfulness permeated even the fabric of the hat you were currently trapped in and made life just the slightest bit brighter, shocker.

Mona was just walking around as far as you could tell, no real destination in mind. But, you were hoping for her to stop soon, your paws hurt a little bit from their harsh grip on her hat and wanted a rest. Issue being, of course, you couldn’t rest on her because then she’d find out you were on her head for Archons knows how long.

The space you inhabited was just barely lit from the sun. The back of the hat behind you moving around due to a slight wind.

As the woman you were riding on continued further into the city, the only thing you could think was:

“Oh Fuck.”

໒꒰ྀི˶˙Ⱉ˙˶꒱ྀིა Author’s note : I was writing this years old when I found out Genshin has squirrels-

Also yes I purposely left off like that for requests/future stuff to pick up on lmao I’m sorry-

[akutasoda]

Oh? Well in that case, might as well get in line. Ahem Requesting Cyno x Reader(Originally I would go for F!Rrader, but u can do gn if u want) reader doesn't fear Cyno for some reason despite hearing what he's capable of, The Scary General Mahamatra being ruthless and stuff. As people would usually avoid his gaze but to Reader. Reader finds his Stern gaze attractive, his scary appearance, his voice... she admires. Let's just say his dangerous aura gives her the thrill, and Reader would try to romance him, wanting to go out with him. Like giving flowers and wanting to get closer to him. Reader's eyes was pure of nothing but adoration. You can write this in Headcanons if u want. I just wanna see what Cyno would do when he have someone who actually had a crush on him >:}

you don't know what a crush is?

synopsis - he was always used to people avoiding and fearing him, so he never could recognise the signs

includes - cyno

warnings - gn!reader, oblivious cyno, fluff, slight crack(?), wc - 635

the general mahamatra.

someone the everyday akademiya goer often never saw only ever hearing about him through stories. most people only ever encountered him if he was fulfilling his duties, those that were honest and followed the rules rarely ever saw him. even if they did happen to come across cyno they would slink away silently and avoid him.

and cyno didn't mind. the average person in the akademiya's opinion doesn't matter to him, they're behavior isn't of his concern - well that was until they did something that required cyno to do his job.

his position didn't exactly make him popular, but he never cared. cyno didn't do it for popularity. he had those who he cared about and the rest were just people in his eyes. so that's why he never really recognised you at first.

you who had seen cyno in passing glances across the akademiya and immediately become entranced. from his appearance to the way he presented himself made something inside you stir, your heart racing and your mind blocking out everyone around you. of course you recognised him, you had heard the hushed rumors and complaints of the man.

but how could they accuse that stunning man of anything?

cyno was completely oblivious of how you looked at him. he was so used to people avoiding his gaze entirely that when you two locked eyes accidentally, he passed it off as you zoning out or a complete accident - but if so, why did you never immediately look away like everyone else?

or he was, until you become more direct and confident with your approaches. waving or smiling at him or the rare occasions you saw him around sumeru, approaching him for conversation, or even inviting him to hang out.

cyno didn't quite understand your sudden interest in him and he did find it rather confusing but he wasn't exactly denying your request to spend time with him. everyone that knew cyno well enough could see the signs and would gawk at how oblivious cyno was.

even when you started giving him gifts, he passed it as a token of wanting a closer friendship. cyno wasn't far off with that assumption but it wasn't just a close friendship you were hoping for.

all the longing stares and undivided attention toward cyno went completely misinterpreted by him. he couldn't wrap his head around the idea and so he didn't acknowledge that possibility. you never minded that he missed the admiration in your eyes - you knew why he let those things go unnoticed.

his friends couldn't bear the sight of cyno being completely oblivious to your intentions per se. they, mainly kaveh, tried expressing the idea to him hoping that he got his head round it and confronted you about it.

but cyno didn't see it that way. there was no way you had a crush on him. he had been completely and utterly desensitized to the idea of love. surely this was just a joke? at his expense no doubt but he could forgive them for it.

it wouldn't take you long to realize that an extremely direct approach was needed - asking him out directly.

but even then you realized he took it platonically. you had a lot of work to do..

taglist - @little-miss-chaoss, @frankiesteinn

[str8rat]

WHAT IF THERE WERE 'LOST SOUL' ( AKA UNDERTALE STYLE ) ENCOUNTERS IN THE ISAT/FUNGER AU?????

-> REMIND

( You ask the Lost Soul to remind you of a word you've been searching for, trying to pretend being annoyed with your memory issues. She's not sure why, but she feels urged to jog your memory.. )

-> TIME CRAFT

( You remind the Lost Soul of when she used Time Craft to stop you from looping back. Her fist seems to clench on her side. )

-> MEMORY OF SECRET QUEST

( You remind the Lost Soul of the time you've spent searching for a Familytale. You remind her of the conversation you've had, about searching for a home, about feeling "other". Suddenly, the memories are flooding back..! )

-> PUN

( You say a really terrible pun. The Lost Soul seems to love it, quickly bursting with a loud, infectious laughter. Something about this seems so very familiar to him.. )

-> TOUCH

( Hesitantly, you reach out towards the Lost Soul, trying to take his hand. He seems to become nervous, his hand becoming clammy in your own. His fingers twitch. He seems to be remembering something.. )

-> MEMORY OF STARGAZING

( You remind the Lost Soul of the time you've spent Stargazing. You remind him that you have never, ever been ashamed of him. Not even a little bit. Suddenly, the memories are flooding back..! )

-> POINT

( You point to the Lost Soul's nails, trying to mimic the same motion you always do when she's anxiously biting them. Somehow, this seems familiar to her.. )

-> CHANGE

( You remind the Lost Soul of the time you've met the God of Change. She doesn't know why, but she feels an odd, bitter feeling in her chest at the mere mention of the God. )

-> MEMORY OF FAITH

( You remind the Lost Soul of the time you've spent together on that bench in Dormont. You remind her that she doesn't need to change for the sake of her fate, if she doesn't want to. Suddenly, the memories are flooding back..!)

-> RECIPE

( You ask the Lost Soul if they'd like to make malanga fritters together. For some reason, they feel giddy at the thought. )

-> HUG

( You hug the Lost Soul carefully. They seem to stiffen in your hold. They're not sure why, but they really want to hug back.. )

-> MEMORY OF TRAINING

( You remind the Lost Soul of the time you've spent together, training in the outskirts of Dormont. You remind the Lost Soul, that they don't need to feel guilty for things that are out of their control. They are loved, and they're doing enough as it is. Suddenly, the memories are flooding back..! )

- - -

DID ANYONE THINK OF THAT??? I couldn't stop thinking about this. I'm not re-entering my undertale phase again please not again

Ok so this is still in relation to my Fear and hunger / Isat AU, so bear with me here. What if Loop's battle didn't only consist of fighting them? Maybe they've come to know some sort of forbidden craft, which stole the party's memories? Kind of trying to erase their memories of "Siffrin", and instead enter "Loop" in it's place. Since Loop doesn't want to, nor can, be Siffrin anymore- if they actually manage to kill Siffrin and insert themself instead of him into the timeline, they can live with their identity as Loop, with the party already loving them, having no memory of Siffrin. There would only be Loop. And then Loop could finally be happy, and have their family back.

And well everyone knows how it goes, Siffrin enters a battle with each of the party members, which is interesting i think, since we've only ever fought Sadnesses in canon Isat (not counting the king) Picturing the party attacking Siffrin would be awesome lmao. I also really like the idea of the memories we gain from each party member's hangout actually having more of a role rather than just being buffs or skills to learn.

here the memories of their hangouts are essential to jog their memory, and also i feel like it would be kind of cool if it granted them like the ability to remember those occurnaces, even though they know now that it didn't actually happen. not in this loop anyway. With them being aware of the loops by that point in the story, and aware of the hangouts happening countless times before in other loops, they would realize just how hard Siffrin tried to grow closer to them. I feel like that would tighten the party's ties together. so yeah, cool.

Siffrin jogs all of their memories, which causes them to either pass out or fight alongside them. i think the latter would be worse for loop though, having those people fighting them. It would hurt them a lot.

well, I still think Siffrin would fight Loop alone and everyone else would be passed out. I like to keep the 'Loop wins the fight' as the canon outcome here, with Loop not being able to bring himself to kill Siffrin after everythin that happened. Siffrrin comforts them, Loop cries, Siffrin cries, Loop fades away, the party soon wakes up and confronts Siffrin on what had happened, he passes the fuck out from craft exhaustion before he can explain anything. WOO

hope this made sense cuz it's like 2 am and my brain is NOT working rn

[joannechocolat]

On Turning 60

When I was a child, someone told me: “Every life is a story.” I used to wonder what mine would be like; what adventures I would have. My favourite stories were from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, which my grandfather used to read to me:  thus I imagined my own story as a forest adventure in which I would run wild with my friends, and pick fruit by the wayside. I never imagined growing old, just as I never imagined the adults around me ever being young. And death, if I thought of it at all, was a monster that kept to the shadows, and never dared to show its face outside of the scariest stories.

I was four years old when I first encountered the monster. It was in France, when my great-grandmother died, having been taken suddenly ill as she and I were playing a game. I still remember that suddenness, and my mother’s tears, and the whispers of “not in front of the children”, and the various well-meaning relatives trying in their different ways, to explain to me why I shouldn’t be sad, how at sixty-five, Mémée was old, how death was completely natural, and that she was watching us from above. These stories varied considerably, from the fanciful to the macabre. Even at four, it didn’t take long for me to understand that the grown-ups were as much in the dark as I was about the whole affair. Children are analytical. They process information according to what they have been told. And at four, I concluded, both with certainty and a singular horror, that Mémée’s story was over, that death happened to everyone, and that I had more or less sixty years of life before it happened to me. For years after that, I would lie awake at night and think of the monster waiting for me in the dark, and tell myself that sixty years was a very, very long time, and that this suffocating fear would pass with age and experience.

Now I’m approaching sixty. At sixty, we’re meant to examine our lives, and think about mortality. And yes, it seems like a very long time. It also feels as if no time at all has passed since the night my great-grandmother died, and I first encountered the truth that lives at the heart of all fairytales. That was when I decided, with relentless, childish logic, that if death was the ultimate monster, then perhaps I could only hope to keep them at bay with stories.

And so I began to tell stories, first to myself, in secret, and then to anyone who would listen. Of course it took me a long, long time to understand that what I was really doing was trying to make sense of the world. In a universe of chaos, stories give a shape to our lives. They teach us to believe in love; to mistrust what is too easily won; to know that every stranger could be a deity in disguise. They teach us that happy endings exist; that kindness can sometimes bring reward; that life, like so many of the stories we read as children, is a journey through the woods, where anything can happen.

This is the advice I’d give my younger self, if I could. Life is like a story with a beginning, a middle, an end. It is not always as structured or as ordered as a story might be, and some are longer than others, but the journey is ours in part to direct. We can choose the paths we take, the places in which to linger. We can choose the people we travel with, the ones we make a part of our lives. Choose wisely, I would tell my younger self at the start of my journey; not everyone who seems friendly is a friend. True friends are not easy to come by; always cherish the ones you find. And bear in mind that the journey matters more than the destination. We live in a world where everything seems focussed on the future; events to plan; deadlines to meet; months and seasons flashing by. Time seems to accelerate as we get older; and yet there are ways to slow it down. We don’t have to rush through everything in order to rush through something else. We can exist in the moment. Stop. Pick the flowers. Feel the sun. Remember we only pass this way once, and that every step is a privilege.

These woods are filled with obstacles, and challenges, and wonder. Not all paths through it are easy. Stay curious, I would tell myself. Never stop asking questions. Wear your achievements lightly, and don’t be afraid of failure. Failures are a sign you tried; markers on the road to success. And as a teacher of 15 years, one thing I have learnt is this: There are no teachers, just pupils. We are able to learn from every angle, every stage of our lives. Elders may speak from experience, but some of the most important things I have learnt have been from younger people. Bringing up my son has been the lesson of a lifetime; I learn new things from him every day. So take your lessons where you can, and pay them back to others in kind. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes: mistakes are part of your story too, every one a lesson learnt, every one a challenge.

Nor should you fear the changes that time imposes on us. Change is what drives your story. Sometimes it brings grief and loss; sometimes, unexpected joy. And don’t be ashamed of the signs of age: in a world in which youth is prized far above experience, it’s all too easy to feel diminished by wrinkles and imperfections. But your body is a living map of everything you have experienced. Everything leaves marks on you. Childbirth; laughter; damage; grief. Be proud of those marks. They are proof that you have lived. When I look at my face now I see the faces of my family. I see my mother, my grandmother. I carry their stories inside me, coiled as tight as DNA. And I have told them again and again, just as they were told to me. We process the world through stories. We learn to live through stories. Through stories we connect with the past and understand where we came from. I mostly know my great-grandmother from stories my mother told me. The story of the day she died; her life in rural, wartime France; her recipes; her sayings; her jokes. Through stories, my son can know her, even though they never met. And of course, you know her too: she was the prototype for Armande, the fierce old woman in Chocolat. Through stories, people can live on, and be loved and understood. This is one of the things I have learnt on my journey through the woods; perhaps the most important thing: Remember to tell your stories.

Now, after many stories, I’m reaching that part of the forest where monsters lurk in the darkness. Three years ago, I had a brush with a monster I called Mr C - an aggressive kind of cancer, which luckily was found early. I survived that encounter, thanks to the care and vigilance of the NHS, but one of the lessons it taught me is that life is fragile, and precious, and short - much shorter than we imagine. Over the past few years I have lost too many loved ones to Mr C. One of them was my grandfather. Another was my oldest friend. Some were writers: Iain Banks, Jenny Diski, Graham Joyce. I have carried their stories with me, just as I carry the stories of my parents and grandparents. I hope my son will do the same. We stay alive through stories.

But right now, at sixty, I don’t feel old. I doubt anyone who loves stories really ever does. I remember Ray Bradbury telling me, at 81, that when he looked in the mirror, he saw a ten-year old boy with inexplicably white hair. And he was still writing–furiously, sublimely - till the day he died. I can relate: time is speeding up, and there are stories left to tell. I sometimes find myself trying to calculate how many I’ll have time to get down, especially as they’re still popping up like mushrooms all around me. I am more conscious of time passing by. I feel the change of the seasons in a way I didn’t before. But my walk in the woods has been beautiful. I have fulfilled my greatest dreams. I do what I love for a living. I’ve travelled the world, and had many adventures, and met many interesting people. I’m married to someone I love, who loves me. I have a son who makes me proud, and who I love more than words can say. I’ve faced down monsters, and survived. I’ve learnt a lot, sometimes the hard way. But as the French author Jules Renard (a favourite of my grandfather’s) once said: “Aim to die with regrets, not remorse.” I think I’m on the right side of that. And in spite of what I thought at four, approaching sixty is nothing to fear. There are still unwritten chapters to my story to be lived; places to discover, new things to learn. I mean to explore all those things, and more. I want to climb mountains. To travel through space. To see the depths of the ocean. Some of those things I may never know except in stories, but books are the way in which we live our many alternative, possible lives. I feel I’m just beginning to understand what matters to me; to find my equilibrium in this vast, bewildering world. For so many years, being sixty felt like the end of a journey. Now I see that it’s only another clearing in the woods. Maybe I’ll sit here awhile. Enjoy the sunshine. Pick the fruit. But soon I’ll be on my way again, picking up stories wherever I go. Because no story ever ends, not really. It just travels somewhere else, picked up by another storyteller. So, to whoever picks up my story, good luck with it. Maybe give me a wave. But for now, I think I’ve seen a path at the end of the clearing. It’s new, and therefore exciting, and promises adventure. I think I’ll follow it awhile; see what fruits are growing there. Stories flourish along these paths. Let’s see which ones I can find. After all, that’s what I do. And those monsters won’t defeat themselves.

[thewisecheerio]

Subversive Design in Soulsborne Games

There are a lot of mechanisms to induce fear in horror games. Lighting (or lack thereof), soundtrack, jump scares, and a myriad of other things all work well to make you feel unsettled.

But my favorite strategy is to establish a pattern for the player and then break it.

Soulsborne games are infamous for this subversive game design, which is part of why they have a reputation for being "unfair". But it's important to remember that the pattern was formed from your assumptions about what the rules of the world are; no accord was ever actually made nor broken. The devs are simply anticipating the pattern you are likely to pick up on, and then breaking it to induce fear. These are horror games, after all.

I tend to find this subversiveness hilarious, so here are some of my favorites:

Boss Phases

Soulsborne games use 2-phase bosses so often that you begin to expect that the most phases a boss will ever have is 2. Thus, the second that you vanquish a foe's second phase, you breathe a sigh of relief. However, there are at least two times that Soulsborne games have broken this promise: Sister Friede of DS3 and the Scadutree Avatar of Elden Ring.

Both came equipped with 3 phases, which catches people out the first time that they encounter it. You may have exhausted resources during Phase 2, not realizing you had miles more to go. As such, it's great at inducing an immediate sense of panic due to feeling underprepared.

Guiding with Diegetic Lighting

Soulsborne games love to use diegetic lighting to guide players where to go next or what to notice. This often takes the form of a carefully placed item that glows to draw your eyes, forcing you to notice something you might have otherwise overlooked. Below is Auriza Hero's Grave with an item-bearing body (already looted in this screenshot, but circled in red) hinting at a drop off point to a floor below:

However, sometimes the game abuses your trust in the diegetic lighting. As you walk toward it to investigate and see what it might be signaling (if anything), an enemy might pop out and attack, or throw a molotov cocktail at your head. It's a trap!

Possibly the funniest incarnation of this is Patches. Patches will leave glowing markers to draw you toward an edge. There might even be devnotes suggesting "Something amazing this way!" to tempt you even more. But the second you get close, off the cliff you go!

Pincer Attacks

Another way Fromsoftware abuses diegetic lighting and your own paranoia is pincer attacks. Because so many enemies like to hide behind corners and jump scare you, players get used to checking corners before entering a new room to grab a clearly visible item. However, sometimes you check those corners dutifully, think you're in the clear after having vanquished the corner foes, and still get attacked on your way to the item.

This is because the trap was never about the enemies hiding behind the corners. They are a distraction, there to make you feel that you have been sufficiently paranoid when you have not actually been paranoid enough.

Rather the problem was never the corner enemies, but the two new enemies that drop off walls in front of you (before you get to them) and behind you (only once you've passed them), forming a pincer that is much harder to escape. Elden Ring's Fanged Imps often do this in catacombs, and the Giant Ants sometimes pull this off in Ainsel and Siofra.

Boss Doors

Sometimes a "rule" Soulsborne games break actually has nothing to do with in-game rules, but rather expectations devs know you have from other games. For example, boss arenas are often very well-signaled so that you can prepare. Either there is Grand ArchitectureTM to tell you something big is about to happen, or you have to explicitly interact with an item to enter the boss arena.

And then there is Bloodborne, who will happily let you get frightfully lost in the Forbidden Woods only to stumble into the boss arena by accident:

(It's me, I stumbled in.)

Sure, there are some big stones there. But by nature of being a multi-tiered level, the Forbidden Woods is FULL of underpasses that go below broken logs or fallen graves. This one doesn't look much different at a glance. You have little reason to believe that this underpass is different from the one you saw earlier that goes underneath a gigantic fallen tree. Consequently, you might walk right in only to be surprised with a boss bar popping up on your screen.

Closing Comments

What every single one of these tactics has in common is that it's playing on your expectations of how the game universe should work, and then subverting it. And when you fall for their antics, it can be hilarious.

It's a very clever design strategy to keep players constantly on their toes. It can get you to learn a new skill or break out of a routine. Overall, it's there to maintain player interest in the game and keep things from feeling stale. And I'd say the Soulsborne games are exceptional at using it to keep you interested.

[ghcstao3]

what about werewolf!ghost x vampire!soap 👀

hope you don’t mind me using the occasion to revive the rileys for an awkward family dinner

-

Being brought home to meet Ghost’s family is probably one of the more interesting moments of Soap’s (unbearably long) life.

And not only because he’s never properly dated someone as long as he has Ghost before—it’s also because said family isn’t human, and is more than aware of the fact that he drinks blood to keep himself alive.

So. Interesting is where he stands.

Soap is lured in with a false sense of security from two things—the first being Ghost’s insistence that his mother, brother, and sister-in-law are all nicer than him. The second being the warm smile Mrs. Riley offers him at the front door, entirely friendly and sincere, not like the brandishing of sharp canines that Ghost has flashed Soap with once or twice.

She’s pleasant to talk with, already siding with him when it comes to her son’s tendencies, and she even goes so far as to pour him a glass of pig’s blood she’d purchased just for the occasion. And being that it’s so nice, Soap doesn’t have the heart to tell her that he can only tolerate the stuff at best, especially now that he only ever takes from a specific source these days.

It’s through this lovely conversation with Ghost’s mum and the general sense of domesticity that has Soap believing that he shouldn’t encounter any problems when Beth and Tommy arrive.

But how wrong he was.

Beth at least tries to be polite, though Soap doesn’t miss the distasteful scrunch of her nose once she obviously catches scent of what Ghost so lovingly calls the wrongness of vampirism. Tommy, on the other hand, doesn’t so much as bother trying to hide his disdain.

(Thank God Soap finds out later that it’s mostly just the whole protective older brother act, but still. It hurts Soap’s feelings, just a bit.)

Dinner is absolutely stifling when all but Soap are eating what Ghost’s mum has made, all chatter dying off much too quickly in what little bouts Ghost, of all people, tries to initiate. Soap traces his finger around the rim of his barely-touched glass all while he tries to ignore Tommy’s pointed looks like Soap had done something to personally offend him.

Maybe he had.

“You’re sure about this, Simon?” Tommy eventually, finally asks after nothing but pressing silence. Though the question is asked to Soap’s left, he still feels golden eyes near identical to Ghost’s bearing down on him.

Ghost drops his fork onto his plate, his frustration palpable, emanating in waves. “Do you have to be such a prick, Tom?”

“Boys,” Mrs. Riley scolds from her end of the table. “We have a guest.”

“Yeah, and that guest’s a vampire, Mum,” Tommy spits, throwing out his hand in gesture to Soap. “He eats people.”

“Tom,” Beth hisses.

“Common misconception,” Soap mumbles. He feels all attention shift to him, as if they all remembered he was present—right, super-hearing. He clears his throat, raising his voice, “Only the… bad ones do that.”

“Besides,” Ghost is adding, and Soap is a little fearful of where he plans to take this, “he only feeds off me.”

A tense silence blankets the table. Soap wants to sink into the floor.

“…What?”

“It was my idea,” Ghost attempts to amend, but it’s already much too late. This is already a disaster, beyond disaster, and maybe Soap should’ve stuck to his guns about not meeting a family of werewolves as a vampire.

“Doesn’t matter, Simon!” Tommy exclaims his disbelief.

Ghost rolls his eyes. Soap had not at all imagined this to be where the night would lead. It’s what he desperately wished wouldn’t happen. Because he loves Ghost, and Ghost loves his family—so Soap had felt he needed to be in their good graces.

There goes that idea.

“I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t trust him, Tommy,” Ghost says slowly, challenging. “Is how I feel about him not good enough?”

This finally seems to stun Tommy into some form of submission. Soap doesn't miss Beth reaching out to flick Tommy's ear.

"S'pose it is," Tommy grumbles.

"Good." Ghost sits back in his chair, and resumes eating with a smug self-satisfaction poised in his broad shoulders.

There's a kick under the table delivered to Tommy, though Soap can't tell by who. He only knows its recipient by the muttered sorry, John, that follows.

Soap supposes he can be content with that for now. He gives Tommy a close-lipped smile, fearing that any show of fangs might provoke him.

All things considered, things could be worse. Even his military training wouldn't give him a considerable upper-hand against a natural-born werewolf.

He'll have to talk to Ghost about it later. Maybe when the werewolf is shifted, and Soap can dig cold fingers through thick fur. Then again another time, when Ghost can respond with more than huffs and whines and low growls.

They'll figure it out—they've already done it once before with just each other.

But they definitely have to smooth things over sooner rather than later, or else it's going to be real awkward when Soap finally gets the courage to pull out the ring that's been weighing his pocket down for little over a month, now.

It's fine. Everything will be fine. Soap can manage interesting.

[rdng1230]

Your post has me desperately needing a bucktommy/saltommy edit to mitski’s washing machine heart but continuing on because ✨pain✨

Anyways because i need more angst do you think sal ever thinks about that night and wishes he had stayed. Had had the courage to whisper words in the daylight instead of moon light. Do you think he’s happy for Tommy when he sees him with Buck but goes home and brings out the old whiskey bottle because he cant stand to look in the mirror because he’s scared what might stare back at him, scared to accept both of them moved on but a part of them both will always be tangled under those sheets under a night sky and lost promises.

(Honestly i gotta quit getting drunk and writing shit at 1:30 in the morning ignore this if ya want to)

ya know I wish I had the patience to become a good video editor, but I honestly fear the monster I would become. I am also chronically bad at remembering song names so I had to Spotify that one real quick and as soon as that little electronic beat came on I was like “oh fuck it’s THAT ONE” I see you anon, I see your vision.

on to the actual answer. There’s two nights you could be talking about so I guess we’re doing double trouble angst on this fine evenin’

Toxic Sal Tommy version with the bad call and the bottoming and the being a fucker afterwards? I think that version of Sal is a lot more terrified of the idea of wanting to be taken care of rather than letting tommy love him specifically. And also just the fear of being truly known, no cocky arrogant mask, no hierarchy, just a guy who is *deeply* affected by the horrors of his job and for one night let’s those wounds be seen. I don’t think this version of Sal truly loved Tommy, I think he profoundly trusted tommy, and that scared the shit out of him which is why he lashed out and ended it. I don’t think seeing Buck and Tommy together specifically would affect him. I think just seeing Tommy as he is now, such an open person who’s honest and doesn’t hide, I think that’s what would haunt Sal the most. I also think his behavior is a repetitive pattern. It’s a matter of 2 steps forward 3 steps back. He finds someone he can bond with, eventually builds a trust, let’s them in for the briefest of encounters, and blows it up again. Rinse lather repeat.

ok doomed lovers Saltommy? Dear god. I think so much of his decision to go into Tommy’s room that night is wrapped up in about 10 layers of guilt at probie’s death, shame at wanting comfort for something he thinks he caused, desire because that pounding in his chest that happens only around Tommy has become undeniable, and just wanting someone there to share the grief with. And even with the crushing tide of all those negative emotions, being in Tommy’s arms for the first time is still one of the best nights of his life.

But the rest of their relationship? That’s the part he truly aches over. He knows the way things ended hurt Tommy deeply, and all the hurt was avoidable if Sal had just admitted his own cowardice, that he knew he was going to hold Tommy back and that it was for the best he leave Sal behind. But instead he let that resentment of Tommy’s bravery build up inside him and made Tommy feel like he was doing something wrong or that Sal just didn’t love him. He used Bobby, a man he knew deep down was right to call him out, to place himself in exile, finally giving Tommy the freedom Sal couldn’t bear to give him himself.

when he sees the picture in the paper he spends the day letting himself cry in a way he never has before. He cries for the dead probie, he cries for all the people he hurt because he couldn’t stand their vulnerabilities, he cries because he knows the man he loves is truly lost to him. He genuinely does feel better after letting it all out and he ends up resolving himself that even though they’d never be together, he should have the decency to tell Tommy it was never his fault, and that all those things he’d said when their romantic relationship ended were completely untrue. so he writes that down in a letter. Tommy’s moved since they cut contact, so he decides to deliver the letter to harbor station in person.

when he gets there he’s surprised to see the 118 kid clearly bringing Tommy lunch. Sal stands just out of sight but he catches their conversation. He realizes Evan Buckley is already fixing all the pieces of Tommy’s heart that Sal broke. And that knowledge makes Sal happier and sadder than anything else ever has.

[yanderes-galore]

Can be Platonic/Romantic Yandere Golden Freddy

Sure! Sorry if the formatting is weird, I am writing this on PC and that changed how the fic looks on mobile at times. Also the plot I came up with ended up becoming purely platonic so my bad so I hope that's okay!

Yandere! Platonic! Golden Freddy Concept

Pairing: Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Stalking, Forced friendship, Supernatural occurrences/ghosts, Hauntings, Manipulation, Possible implied murder.

Golden Freddy is an interesting case.

Unlike the other bots you encounter in the pizzeria, this version of Golden Freddy may not even exist.

In this concept I ended up thinking of Golden Freddy as a spirit.

Just a strange golden suit lurking about while you do your job.

Then disappearing out of your sight.

Honestly in regular FNAF, no AUs, I can only ever see Golden Freddy as a ghost.

A simple ghost stuck in a bad situation... that happens to see the new Night Guard as a new friend.

Unfortunately, being this ghost's friend has consequences as you soon find out.

For the most part, Golden Freddy isn't much of a problem compared to everything else you're most likely going through.

You already have a lot going on, you have bills to pay and are struggling to stay awake.

Meanwhile Golden Freddy patiently watches you from the darkness.

Honestly Golden Freddy is quite shy to show himself fully to you.

As said before, you'll see him from the corner of your eye but he quickly disappears afterwards.

Golden Freddy seems like he'd be the silent stalker type.

He isn't entirely hostile and prefers to just lurk.

At times you think you only see him in the Pizzeria, only to learn later you swear you see him in your house.

But... it's all just a trick of your mind, right?

There's no way there's an actual ghost after you... right?

Golden Freddy attaches himself to you for company.

You'll be doing your work, only to feel a presence around you.

His obsession is all very subtle.

You'll swear you're going crazy before you manage to grasp what's going on.

You second guess yourself, always going back to that yellow bear that keeps appearing.

Golden Freddy may even see your reactions as part of some sort of game.

He likes to appear around you just to see you freak out.

Yet soon he'll reveal himself to soothe you.

Golden Freddy doesn't want to drive his new friend off after all....

You'll always feel his presence but rarely actually shows himself.

When you finally see him he just looks like a recolored version of a Freddy suit.

Yet you can tell by all the floating and the translucence that he's something else entirely.

I'd imagine Golden Freddy doesn't say much, either.

He mostly stays quiet and watches you.

There's times he'll stay visible and watch you look at cameras.

Honestly showing him the tablet makes him curious.

Almost like a child... which disturbs you greatly.

You may even find yourself idly talking to the ghost, another fact that confuses you.

How are you accepting this all so quickly?

Is it due to the ghost's influence?

You hate that he follows you home, yet find yourself accepting it.

It's almost like Golden Freddy is making you accept his presence.

You fear there's nothing you can do about it.

While Golden Freddy appears rather docile and friendly, that most likely changes when they realize you could leave him.

Maybe he fear you'll forget him.

Maybe he just doesn't want you to leave the Pizzeria.

It could be just as simple as Golden Freddy wanting you to be more like him.

By the time you're used to the ghost and his attachment... it's already too late.

The next step is to make sure you never leave him as you're his best friend...

Which may sadly include your inevitable demise.

[havenesc]

kicking my feet over that jason au

i will 10/10 willingly give up any information anybody ever wants over rancher jason. like now!

i think he should wear carhartts and wranglers and get bullied for being the city boy even though a couple of months working with him makes everyone realize that -- yeah, he may be city, but he can learn ranching fast. i think kacey should gift him a hat and then on their next trip to town, have it properly shaped for him. when a protective cow runs jason into a fence over a calf, mclaren gives him his first real set of chaps to protect him. it's not the body armor of the red hood but it feels just as strong.

i think jason should encounter wildlife who are unnerved by him -- wovles who stop in their elusive, loping tracks to eye him from a distance, deer that scatter even if he embodies silence. bears stand on their hind feet to get a better look at him, and it's 50/50 on if he's going to have to haul ass on blue from a charging bear or if he's a scarier threat by Existing than a grizzly wants to chance.

(jason stops being invited on hunting trips, and that's fine by him, because he realizes very quickly he can't stomach the killing. ironic.)

jason who is wary and a little prickly at first, muted by the need to blend in but barbed by the fear of being found out, but he settles in eventually. goose, laura, and kacey adopt him into the fold. they stay up talking about their hometowns, also none of them native to the area. they play grab-ass and pull pranks on each other like unbuckling rear cinches or playing cowboy chicken or daring one another to climb on the old bucking bull, c'mon, he's a sweetheart, and that's why jason limps for three days after getting tossed but laughs harder than he has in a long time.

i want bruce tearing his hair out trying to pick up the traces of his boy, terrified that his last words to his son were something bitter. dick and tim who are spending long hours pouring over ends that aren't loose, they just aren't there, wondering why it's been four months and jason hasn't slunk back into the underbelly of gotham. they're worried sick for him and bruce won't say what happened. the mother city is lost without one of her children, and the patrols are fucking miserable -- more with the ache of knowing jason isn't there than the mess it's left behind.

jason is never sure he wants to come back home but he's also not sure he can stay. the batfamily wants him back so badly they'll do whatever it takes to bring him home. they just have to find him first.

[jacobsbigmelons]

after waking up from my nap, i am now only thinking of Jacob (edit. and pain. did i mention pain? yeah pain)

i’m so very sorry but after having one angsty thought now I need to make it happen (reqs i see you fear not!)

A shot not worth shooting

Jacob Custos x Male reader(?)(idk if this necessarily counts but let’s roll with it)

angst, reader character death, slight gore descriptions, reader turned werewolf, arguing, maybe ooc jacob? i legit have 0 clue how he’d act

The tourniquet Abi applied to your thigh a little while ago helped stop the profuse bleeding from your thigh, your wound, slightly exposed to everyone since your pant leg was ripped from the top definitely wasn’t the best sight to see.

“How do you feel?” Kaitlyn said as she stood in front of you, your arms wrapped around your one healthy leg as your wounded one laid to the side. “I don’t know…I feel like my senses are overloaded or something.” You slowly laid your head on your knee as to try and ignore the very apparent headache that’s made it’s way ever since your encounter with…whatever that thing was.

“Do you remember what it looked like? We couldn’t really decipher a lot from how panicked you were a bit ago…” Dylan said, tilting his head in slight curiosity incase you’re able to give any information. “God like…a human but a dog? it moves like a dog but looks like a human? I don’t know, I really don’t.” It became clear with your hands now beginning to run through your hair as a means of trying to sooth yourself that something was wrong and it wasn’t because of blood loss or anything.

An hour maybe two went by, you were able to muster the willpower to find yourself with Jacob close to the dock, the quiet lake was peaceful despite the crickets and their chirping. Your leg was surprisingly not too painful when you walked, could be that the tourniquet is numbing it or maybe your mind is at way too many places to focus on the pain. You two sat on the dock as Jacob held you his arms as a way to sooth the fear from earlier.

Your forehead laid upon Jacobs forearm as his pulse from his wrist was distinctly becoming more and more apparent to your ears, a slight ringing accompanying the random fixation. Your heart rate picked up, your fingertips became numb, your saliva glands kicked into overdrive but not before Jacobs voice brought you back to your bearings. “You okay?” He said slightly concerned while his thumb rubbed against the back of your hand.

“Sorry I…I think my adrenaline from earlier is barely fading away or something, so i’m feeling pretty tired.” You gave him a small toothless smile before resting back onto his forearm. A half hour went by before Emma, Kaitlyn and Dylan were in the building behind you two. Their voices slightly heard made you in a way feel more safe knowing your friends are with you. You should feel more comfort, even secure knowing they’re there right…? Those thought peered into your mind, you only felt safer for just a few seconds when you realized they were there so why is your heart racing so much? Why is your breathing beginning to get a lot more heavy?

“Babe you okay?” Why was your breathing becoming so much faster? your healthy leg more fidgety? The smell of iron in the air so much more apparent? Louder voices? when did they get here…why is everyone so loud…when did you get on your side? “Why the fuck are they making that sound?!” Kaitlyn said, her gun in her hand, trying to find every excuse she won’t have to use it.

The groaning- no growling coming from you was throwing everyone off track, Jacobs hand on your back wasn’t helping and everyone trying to make sense of it only added to your irritation. If they weren’t already freaked out, the sudden, very loud blood curdling scream you emitted definitely would. Your legs picked yourself up without you even trying to get up, you were practically clawing at your face while trying to figure out any way to stop this sudden overwhelming feeling.

Jacob took it as his sign to back up from you to the others, though everyone freaked when Kaitlyn backed up slightly as she aimed down sights directly at you. “Kaitlyn! what the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Jacob snapped “You can’t just shoot him!” Dylan chimes in “Shut up! both of you!” Emma also chimed in. You were merely making whimpers at this point before you finally looked behind you at Kaitlyn, directly in her eyes as a barrel of a shotgun was pointed right at you. “Kaitlyn please for the love of god put the fucking gun down please!” Jacob pleaded, clearly not understanding the situation at hand. Dylan’s quick back-stepping elicited Emma even Kaitlyn to do the same which eventually Jacob followed too.

Your heaving breaths had this disturbing addition to it, a noise almost like reverb which made everyone on edge. Until you quickly returned to loud whining as you fell back to your knees as the clawing at your face was happening again. “R-Run, fuck you guys need to get out!” Your voice now with a disturbing echoing reverb of your voice made way. “Guys let’s just fucking go” Emma demanded, Dylan nodded along with her “What?! We can’t just fucking leave him-“ Jacobs sentence interrupted by your now booming voice “FUCKING RUN, JUST GO AND LEAVE ME ALONE.” You screamed out as Emma practically had to yank Jacob before he even got the chance to think, the others running behind them. “Why the fuck are we leaving he needs fucking help!” Jacob yelled “Did you not see him?! He’s becoming one of those things, Nick did the same shit…kinda but still the same-“

The sudden howl made it all obvious what was happening, Jacobs denial not wanting to believe what you are now, though his thoughts don’t last long before a loud growl through the trees somehow caught up with the group. “Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck what the fuck is actually happening” Kaitlyn said to herself, Jacob had a cold sweat as his mind put everything in perspective unfortunately. What he didn’t know was the silver bullet cocked into the shotgun. Their run was cut short as you leaped out at them in hopes for your first kill, though you were just barely off Kaitlyn immediately aimed right back at you again.

“Dude it’s fucking y/n, you can’t shoot you just- you can’t.” Jacob begged as his hands were trembling “So what? let him kill us? I can’t just not do anything” Kaitlyn said, her gaze on you for as long as possible, thought her one mistake was staring at Jacob for just that split second. You took the opportunity and ran disturbingly quick at the group, Emma’s screams and Dylan’s panicked screaming for Kaitlyn to shoot brought her focus right back to you.

You…the councilor that everyone felt like they could befriend? the councilor that was that perfect mix of sweet yet sarcastic? The councilor now boyfriend of a pretty yet dumbfounded guy? Kaitlyn can’t shoot, she wouldn’t do that to Jacob. Or at least that’s what Jacob thought. The sound of a shotgun filled the air, Jacobs balled up fists hiding his gaze from you, the others quiet.

The writhing of your newly transformed body tried to fight its way back to life in any way it could, the bullet hole going right through the shoulder. “Fuckfuckfuckfuck this didn’t just happen” Jacob tried to reason with himself as he finally turned just a bit as your now limp body laid on the dirt road. Your limbs twitching as the abnormalities began to slowly revert back to much more of a human look.

Kaitlyn couldn’t help but drop her gun after coming to terms with what she had just done, both of her hands now covering her face out of guilt as she muffled apologies, unable to look anyone in the face. Jacob couldn’t bear what he was feeling as he once again looked away before staring Kaitlyn down, his eyebrows creased with anger. “YOU FUCKING SHOT HIM?!” Jacob screamed taking a step towards her “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU WANT ME TO DO?! LET HIM JUST KILL US? DID YOU?” Kaitlyn retaliated, moving her hands from her face.

Both had red puffy eyes, their voices cracking from fighting with one another. Emma’s lament pulled the two away from one another as she was now next to your body, now back to its human form. Blood pooling beneath your corpse as Emma couldn’t help but weep for what happened. Dylan merely sat, hands around his head trying to contemplate the last few minutes. “This night has to be some fucking nightmare” she cried as her accusation was proven false by just how real your body felt, the blood that covered her hands as she felt your lifeless body.

At this point the two were done fighting, now slowly making way to where you were. It didn’t take long before the four councilors sat next to you, as dangerous as it was with whatever these things roaming the forest were, they couldn’t leave. Let alone Jacob.

His hat somewhere along the dirt, his hand holding yours, begging to feel some kind of sign you’re still alive. Though your lifeless, bloodied eyes only stared at Jacob with lost hope as you breathed your last breath awhile ago.

[league-of-starlight]

Lux Voice Update concept:

First Move:

“The future can be bright, so long as we let hope live.”

“Come on, we’ve got a job to do.”

“In the name of magic, I shall punish the wicked!”

Long move:

“The people of Terbisia need me. Until I’m certain we can live without fear, I can’t return to Demacia with clear conscience.”

“The world might have darkness, but there’s still a lot of light if we go looking.”

First encounter:

“Have we met?”

“It’s not too late to leave.”

“I’d rather not blast you, so you can go.”

Joke response:

*Snort of laughter* “Okay, okay, that got me.”

Taunt response:

“I’ve been more afraid of my aunt than you.”

Killing:

(General):

“Go to the light. It can’t harm you…”

“I’m sorry, but it was the only way.”

“It had to be done…”

Recall:

“Be right back!”

“Starting to dim, got to brighten myself up!

Death:

“No…”

“Wait…”

“Sorry…”

Respawn:

(Stressed.) “If that happens to me one more time, I’m going to start blasting! Kidding, kidding…” *sigh*

“Woah! I’m… okay?”

“That was… dark.” *Nervous giggling.*

Character specific dialogue:

First encounter:

Annie: “A magic teddy bear? Now I’m getting jealous!”

Ezreal: *To herself* “Just ignore him, maybe he’ll leave.”

Fiora: *Imitating her accent* “En Guard, Miss Laurent!”

“Do you do anything besides fight?”

Galio: “Hey, sleepyhead! I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve grown up a lot since we last spoke. Three inches, to be precise.”

Garen: “…This is awkward.”

Jarvan: “You better keep an eye on those mageseekers.”

Jinx: “Have we met before? There’s something familiar.’

Katarina: “You might’ve helped me, but I’ve got my eye on you.”

Quinn: “Hi Quinn, hi Valor!”

Ryze: “If I win, could you teach me some rune spells? Please?”

Shyvana: “Has Jarvan ever ridden you into battle? What? I’m curious.”

Smoulder: “Aw, a little baby dragon!”

“I know someone who would love you!”

Sylas: “What do you want now?”

“Don’t you have enough magic?”

Mages:

“If you get tired of fighting, I know somewhere you can stay.”

Taunt:

Crystal Rose: “Oh, I remember going to royal balls. So many would-be suitors.” *shivering sound.*

Ezreal: “I’m flattered but you’re really, REALLY not my type.”

Garen: “I’m not just your kid sister anymore.”

Jinx: “I think I had a dream about you? Uh, that’s not weird to say, is it?”

Sentinel skins: “Sentinels of Light? Mind if I tryout?”

Katarina: “Have you and Garen made it past first base? Come oooon, tell me!”

Zoe: “You can have that Ezreal guy. Please, I’m begging you.”

Taunt Response:

Garen: (playfully) “Don’t be mean, Garen!”

Katarina: “Wait till I tell Garen about that!”

Nocturne: “Big talk for a shadow.”

Kill:

Ezreal: “Take a hint! Honestly…”

Garen: No, no, no, I’m sorry, I’m… *sigh*

Jinx: “…Why did you look so happy when I blasted you?”

Ryze: “Looks like I win.”

Sentinels: “Did I pass? …Oh. Hm. Too bright?”

Sylas: “The future will be bright. I just wish you could see it.”

——

Joke: “What’s a double rainbow? Ah, well… give me a minute, um…”

(Second time.)

“Well, a "double rainbow" is a phenomenon of optics that displays a spectrum of light due to the sun shining on droplets of moisture in the atmosphere. Does that explain it?”

(Third time in quick succession.)

“I’m not saying it again. Sorry.”

[joy-haver]

Have y’all encountered this “would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear” thing that’s going around?

It’s pretty much all over my feed on social media

The gist is, women are pretty much all saying they’d rather be alone in the woods with a bear. Which, I think is largely a reasonable choice. People say things like “well the worst thing a bear will do is kill me, a man would probably rape and kill me”. Or “people would believe me if I was attacked by a bear”

And…I get where they are coming from. From the numbers people are posting, it seems like men are wayyy more likely to kill a woman than bears are. And I’m sure that’s still be true if we only compared examples of men in the woods and bears in the woods. And I think there is a genuine fear of men that a lot of women (and people perceived as women) have of men being violent.

But……at the same time….

I think there’s a lot of harmful things that are happening in this trend.

I think there is a misattribution of where that violence comes from, what the scale and frequency of that violence is, and, I think there’s an over emphasis on the danger of the woods as a place

The vast majority of gendered violent attacks don’t happen by strangers. And they don’t happen in strange places. Most gendered violence is interpersonal. Taking place between people who know each other. Its partners, parents, family, coworkers, community members. It arises from power dynamics, and communication issues, and domination.

And it just bothers me how much people seem to want to attribute that violence to random strangers. That they want to think it comes from some evil creep, who has some evil plot and plan, lying in wait for you. I think that misattribution gets in the way of us actually addressing these problems.

I also think it’s just a bad idea for us to frame woodlands and natural areas as these dangerous and evil and scary places. Even in the example where people are choosing the bear, the assumption is still that *things are in the woods to hurt you*. And, in reality….thats not very true.

I’ve spent my whole life in the woods. As a little kid (albeit, before transition) I would camp out in the woods all the time. It was a refuge for me. A way to escape a home life of abuse and hard labor. A place of safety. And I encountered a lot of men there. And they didn’t hurt me. They were some of the kindest, nicest, friendliest men i ever got to interact with as a kid.

And now as an adult, I see random men in the woods pretty much everyday. And I still have the same experience. Even when they are clearly bigoted, conservative, white men, sometimes with confederate flag tattoos or other symbols of bigotry. They are less cruel in the woods, not moreso. They are kinder. It’s an easier place to have a conversation. We talk and they see me as human in a way that in city streets and jobs and schools they just..wouldn’t.

But that isn’t most of the men I encounter either. Most of the men I see out in the woods are men who are trying their damndest to create a loving relationship with nature. They are kind, gentle listeners. They are often patient, and old. Or young, and recovering from something. Many are new parents, or retirees. Some are young boys wondering.

But the thing is. None of them scare me.

What does scare me, is that in all of these comment sections I see men saying “I won’t go to the woods anymore….i don’t want you to feel threatened.” And I see women saying “see, this is why I don’t go to the woods. That place is dangerous”

And I can’t help but think of how many parks have been closed down from non attendance. How many forests cleared because they had no defendants. I can’t help but think of the gay men arrested for cruising in the lovely natural locations.

And in the end, I guess I would just say this. I’d rather be alone in the woods with the bear. Not because I’m afraid of men. But because I love men in the woods, and I see them everyday. And if I saw a bear, I would have more to talk about with them

[kuroneko1815]

Storytime at the Palace Part 2

@eloise175 here’s part two of your bedtime stories.

Tonight the children had decided that they wanted a story before bed so he ushered their family into the private sitting room of his palace and had the servants light the fire and ordered some hot chocolate for them. The children lay on the soft carpet that’s been laid down, the skin of the fire bear from that first hunt was laid over top. Penelope had laughed when she saw it but he’d thought it was a good reminder of how far they’d come and of the days when they were little more than stupid children in comparison to the people they’ve grown into together, to the people that now ruled a vast Empire and raised five children with all the love they could ever muster. The people who had chosen one another over and over and stayed together against all odds.

As he watched Penelope fuss over the children, handing them a cup of the hot chocolate each and piling on some cushions and blankets to keep them warm and comfortable, he realized he knew what story he wanted to tell. So he left his seat and repositioned himself with his family, reaching out a hand to pull his wife to him, holding her close as they gazed upon their little miracles. For that was what they were, for Callisto whose hands were so bloodstained that he thought such things would never happen to him, that any child he may have would have been as a requirement through whatever political marriage suited him the most to win the throne (and wasn’t he ever thankful that he’d been wrong), and for Penelope who had suffered through a thousand years or more of bloodshed, dying repeatedly, agonizingly, until her soul had shattered, been reborn, and eventually pulled back here for one final time where she chose, against all odds and common logic, to stay by his side and live their lives together.

He pressed a quick kiss to Penelope’s forehead before he turned to the children. “There were many moments I could point to about when my feelings for your mother grew. But the one I can point as the definite shift from interest to something more was when we fled from assassins, your Mother asking me to trust her with my life as she shot assassin after assassin. I had no other choice, not when I had to focus on controlling the horse and keeping your Mother safe, so I did and was pleasantly surprised and incredibly impressed by the results.”

His mind returned to that day, it was fury he felt, the same fury that filled him whenever there was an attempt on his life or when he was in the heat of the battle. But Penelope was there, terrified but still determined to fight. “When we hit a dead end, we got off our horse and made what we thought was our final stand with nothing but a cliff at our backs. There was fear in me when I heard your mother scream and I threw myself in between her and the assassin.” The children gasped in horror. Eden clutched Judy’s hand tight, her precious little face hidden by her other hand. Dante clung to Kaden whose eyes were shut tight. Rigel crawled to Penelope and climbed on to her lap.

Callisto, who hadn’t felt fear in so long, who had never been nervous in battle, felt all those things whenever Penelope was concerned. Had been feeling those things since she had confessed her feelings for him in that maze. And even if he’d only meant to tease her about it, he remembered the feeling of anger and disappointment when she took back her words. He remembered some sort of anxiety going through him the night before that, when those monsters had surrounded Penelope and he’d been too far away, remembered how enticing she looked as she took them on single-handedly. It was the same feeling he felt that day, fighting assassins with her, and every day after that, every moment, every encounter where she bewildered and impressed him, setting her apart from the other women. “Your mother, the magnificent woman that she is was still able to shoot the last assassin even as we plummeted off the cliff and into a river. I managed to pull your mother’s unconscious form out of the water and brought her to the cave. And we held each other by the firelight to keep ourselves warm while our clothing dried.”

“She looked so beautiful and I remembered just thinking that this was peace.” He remembered that first night when he first held a woman, well, the only woman he’d ever held was Penelope, so it was better to rephrase it as, the first time he’d ever held her. The warmth that came with it, after living for years away from any comforting touch, where people were afraid to touch him, not just because of his reputation, but also because of his status as the Crown Prince. Where he, as a child in the battlefield, wished he could enjoy that camaraderie with his men where they’d pat each other’s back or throw their arms around one another as they got drunk over a mug. Instead, Callisto had spent much of his time in the tent, the men, despite the ease of their relationship, found it awkward to be too drunk around him.

But in that cave, in that moment. He wished they could stay there forever. That he could hold her in his arms forever and bask in that peace and contentment that washed over him. Years had passed but he still felt that way whenever he held her in his arms. Even their children gave him that feeling. Their precious little dragons who never knew the cold isolation of being touch starved because he and Penelope swore their children would never suffer as they had. That they’d have their golden flowery paths and a warm and happy youth filled with nothing but love and laughter.

He smiled mischievously as he decided to end his story there with his new piece of life advice. “In short… a great assassination attempt and a nice damp cave can do wonders for your romance.”

Penelope who had been listening beside him as she held their baby, was touched until he said the last part, hits her husband as he gives another one of those shitty pieces life and romance advice to their impressionable young children.

Over a decade later, Dante found his way into the very cave his parents spent the night in, his lady love who had confessed to him under duress from sword point was by his side after an afternoon spent hunting together and losing their way. He wasn’t that concerned. His parents would no doubt send every single one of the Imperial guards after them, had probably done so by now. Still, he kept his Father’s words of romance in mind and he, as well as his siblings, followed it all to a T. Two months later, he’d discover that he and his lady were expecting as a result of that night in the cave and their little one would be born nine months to the day.

That’s it for part 2 folks. I hope you enjoyed this.