#that's the most of it! i might forget things though

[gorgeys]

foragers ★ jackie taylor x fem!reader

you force jackie to go foraging with you and she decides to make the most out of your alone time

warnings: SMUT - dry humping, knee thing, biting, making out word count: 1400

"so...what are we doing out here again?" jackie groans from behind you, mindlessly following you deeper into the woods.

you sigh out of frustration, your eyes still fixed to the ground, looking for plants that might be edible.  you had explained this to her about a hundred times already.

"we're foraging," you say pointedly, crouching down to take a closer look at a random plant.

"oh, we're foraging," jackie mocks, raising her hands in faux surrender though your attention isn't anywhere near her.  "my bad," she says with a teasing laugh.

"can you be serious, for like, two seconds, jackie?" you ask, peeking over your shoulder at her. your face is the picture of irritation.

"um, no," she says, reaching down and tucking your hair behind your ear.  her hand affectionately holds the back of your neck.  "what's the point of this anyway?  we've been out here for hours and barely found anything."

her thumb soothingly strokes your skin, and you can't deny that it makes you feel a little more at ease.

"it doesn't matter.  we just need to put in the effort and show that we're contributing in some way," you say.

to jackie, sounds are coming out of your mouth, but she's more focused on the way your lips seem to move in slow-motion and the precious way you look up at her through fluttering eyelashes.

"the longer we're stuck here, the crazier everyone's gonna get.  we need to make sure we have some sort of role to play so no one has a reason to..."

"to what?  get rid of us?  kill us?  i think you're starting to go a little crazy," jackie says with that carefree smile of hers.

"yeah, maybe," you say, standing up to meet jackie face-to-face.  her hand still lingers on the back of your neck.  "but foraging is easy enough."

you weakly smile at her, but she can see the stress written between your brows.  you've been on edge since the plane crash, always worrying about something.  even though you tried your best to hide it, jackie could tell.

"why don't you just relax a little, huh?" she says, both her hands now finding your neck.  they trail downward, softly tracing over your collarbone, then your shoulders, then your sides.  there's an unmistakable excitement in her eyes.

"jackie," you warn, just before she grabs your hips and pulls you into her, eliciting a soft grunt from the back of your throat.  it only motivates her more.

"lemme help you relax," she says with a lopsided grin.

her hips push into yours as she turns you slightly and guides you backwards.  after nearly stumbling over a fallen branch, your back hits a tree trunk with a thump.

without another thought, jackie's lips attack your neck.  her lips eagerly kiss and suck on your fragile skin, leaving trails of saliva in their wake.  she felt you like this in weeks, so she's more desperate and sloppy than usual.  she wants to consume as much of you as she can, as quickly as you'll let her.

"jackie, someone could see," you say, sounding whinier than you intended, your hands tangling in her bouncy hair like second nature.

"we've been walking for hours, no one's out here," she reassures you, her rapsy voice barely above a whisper.  her fingers start to creep under your shirt, a cool contrast to your warm skin.   "besides, i haven't had you like this in forever," she groans.

she suddenly bites down on the column of your throat, causing you to hiss in response.

"jackie!"  her name leaves your lips, something between a reprimand and a moan, as you throw your head back against the tree.  "marks?"  it had always been something you guys were careful of back home.

"you're so whiny," she mumbles, and you can feel her smiling into your neck.  she loves it.  "forget about everyone else.  you can tell 'em we got attacked by a deer or something."

she bites down in a different spot, and you're about to protest, but her knee finds its way in between your legs and the words die in your throat.  jackie notices and looks up from your neck.  she can see the worries starting to fall from your face, replaced by pleasure.

jackie's hands find your bare back just above your waist.  she pulls you into her while slowly grinding her knee against the crotch of your jeans.  pride immediately washes over her as your mouth falls open and each breath becomes heavier than the last.

"that feels good, doesn't it?" she says, lips ghosting over yours.  she doesn't give you time to respond before she's repeating the same motion.

"mhm, feels good," you say, voice slightly higher pitch.  usually it would take a little more friction and a lot less layers to get you panting like this, but you've been so touch-starved since the crash that you're practically moaning every time jackie even grazes you.

your hands leave jackie's hair and grab her by the jacket to pull her into a needy kiss, tugging her so hard that one of her hands leaves your back to brace herself against the tree.  seeing you with a fistful of her varsity jacket drives her absolutely insane and you know it.  she sucks on your bottom lip hard enough to bruise and pushes her tongue into your mouth.

"jackie," you moan against her lips.  your hips are now working with her knee, trying to produce as much friction as possible.  "you're doing so good," you say, knowing she's a sucker for praise.

she feels herself throb in her cargo shorts, so hard that a quiet moan sneaks past her lips.

"fuck, i missed you," she curses, hand moving up your back under your shirt.  "wanna make you cum so bad."

you whimper at her words, starting to rut yourself against her leg even faster than before.  jackie helps you by pressing her knee even harder into your clothed cunt.  she feels like she's on fire watching how desperate you are to reach your release.  how desperate you are for her to help you get there.

"shit, m'gonna," you warn her after an embarrassingly short amount of time.  your grip tightens on her jacket.

"let go for me," she says, holding your face in her hand so that you can't run from her eye contact.  "please," she begs.  "i need it."  that does it.

"oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, don't stop," you moan, hips bucking into her knee one last time before you're arching and cumming in your panties.

she keeps grinding her knee into you, face beaming with satisfaction as she watches that familiar expression find your face.  she couldn't get enough of it, no matter how many times the two of you had done this.  her ego would be unbearable for the rest of the day knowing she was the one who made you feel like this.

only when you came down from your high did jackie stop.  before she could say anything, you found her lips in a long, gentler kiss.  when you pulled away, her eyes were still squeezed shut and her lips were attempting to follow yours.  you couldn't help but smile: she was just too cute.

once her eyes opened, she looked back at you with so much adoration.

"how was that?" she asked, slightly out of breath, though she already knew the answer.

"i needed that," you say, hand coming up to cradle her face.  she leaned into your touch.  "i missed you too."

she looks absolutely giddy to hear you say that, so much so that she leans in and gives your lips a quick peck.

"wasn't that so much better than looking for berries or whatever?" she asks, hands holding your waist.

"yeah, but we need to find something before we go back so we can at least pretend that we were productive," you say, thumb caressing her cheek.

"hey!  i considered that very productive, actually," she says with that smug, suggestive smirk of hers.

"i don't know if they will, though.  especially when they see these," you say, gesturing to your neck where a few bruises are beginning to form.

"sorry, i got excited," she shrugs, though she doesn't look very sorry.  nevertheless, she leans down and places a kiss on each bruise.  "you're too cute not to eat."

"yeah, yeah," you smile, playfully pushing her off of you.  "you can apologize by finding us some berries before sundown.  preferably ones that won't kill us."

[morgannalefey]

I'm going to try one more time because I'm I dunno a glutton for punishment or something. I don't have a lot of hope, though. My impression is that most folks aren't actually reading everything I have to say and are, at best, skimming. Which, to be fair, is par for the course on this site. For this reason there's a tl;dr at the end you can jump to if you're so inclined. The rest of this post is pretty long in order to explain, but if you don't really care about the explanation and just want to be horrified, go for it.

I'm fifty nine years old. I have been married for thirty six years. Prior to that marriage, I had been with a lot of different people in the 8 years between when I became sexually active and I got my spouse. So I am not inexperienced in either sexual encounters, problems relating to sexual relations, relationships (both long and short term), nor differences in hygiene habits.

In response to your incredulity over people's learned behaviors fading over time:

Habits of childhood can be difficult to unlearn. It's possible to make an effort to change a habit, but then for other things to come up that distract and the change gets forgotten in favor of the muscle memory from childhood. There are many things that I've learned over time that are better ways to do a thing, but sometimes still forget that I've learned a better way and resort to how I originally did the thing. There are many reasons why this might happen such as distractions or having too many things to think about so my body operates on autopilot for some things. If this continues for a while, one typically loses the new habit and has to relearn the new way of doing things. Though it does tend to come back faster than the initial attempt did, it's still a conscious effort that has to be made.

Back to the main point. The assumption I'm attempting to address here is the one where everyone learns all the same basic hygiene lessons and that no one could ever have any reason for not having learned to make sure to wash their privates all the way down to and including the perineum and anal area. This assumption carries a whole lot weight. Here's a partial list of things being assumed:

That they have a parent or family member who has taught them how to clean themselves well.

That the family had water that was safe to wash thoroughly in most of the time.

That the family had the money to pay for the water bills and didn't deliberately avoid certain washing rituals because of the cost of water.

That they had present family members at all.

That they weren't living unhoused for part or most of their childhood, making washing (and especially washing the private parts) less common or safe to do because showers and such weren't always available and washing on the street could get one arrested.

This is a list of situations I can think of off the top of my head that might mean a person wasn't really taught how to clean themselves properly or that might have prevented them developing the habit. It is hardly exhaustive.

Because I recognize that people have very different lived experiences than I have had, when I'm faced with a situation like has been mentioned in this thread, I'd be more likely to just ask some questions or try to have a conversation about it. As I said before, assuming that the relationship was otherwise a good one. No one is perfect and if I threw out an entire, very good, loving, and supportive relationship because of discovering a situation in my spouse's upbringing that was weird and a little gross to me, I wouldn't still be with my spouse. If, after talking with them, it turns out that they're just a lazy, dirty person who won't even try learning a new way to exist in order to not make their partner sick, that's a completely different situation.

Now that being said, I've broken up with a guy because of how he chewed (I could not stand it, his whole family chewed like that. Even the slightest possibility of having to spend my life around those people gave me the screaming willies. Still, I did mention it to him and he was unwilling to adjust how he chewed for me. So that was it). I've broken up with guys because I couldn't stand how they smelled even after showering.

I'm not saying it's not a break up worthy offense to not keep one's privates clean for one's partner. I'd probably be far less inclined to talk to him if he were an occasional partner, not a "boyfriend" but "boyfriend" suggests a certain degree of emotional entanglement that usually means one has put some effort into the relationship. It just seems extreme to not even talk to the boyfriend about the issue to see how they respond and instead to just dump them, but maybe that can be chalked it up to my extreme old age.

tl;dr Not everyone learns exactly the same lessons about washing their privates. Basic hygiene is a skill that has to be taught, it is not instinctive. Not everyone grew up with the same resources, family, water, time, as everyone else. The term "boyfriend" seems more involved than "fuck buddy" and so taking the time to talk to the boyfriend about something that's bothersome doesn't seem like an unreasonable course of action.

[pan-kojiwa]

𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠?

𝐑𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 -> 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲. 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.

CW: Sfw. (A little bit of tension)

WC: 2k

Waffle’s Note: Rin is aged up here, even this it’s not mentioned. It’s my first time ever writing for Rin so he might be a little ooc. A bit of self insert. Also you have a pet owl? Kinda proofread. (I literally had to stop cuz I kept changing/adding things)

You sigh, lost in your thoughts.

You and Itoshi Rin have been acquaintance for two years now. Yes acquaintances. It’s ridiculous right? You’ve been trying to convince him ever since but he just ignore you every time.

You two are friends— if not even best friends because clearly, if it wasn’t the case, how could he explain why ‘acquaintance’ are constantly glued together like you two? How could he explain how well you two know each others so well, to the point where he could see when you were faking a good mood? And come on now— what sensible person would crash at their acquaintance’s apartment out of the blue just to see their pet owl? 

Still, no matter what proof you could possible give him, he simply refused to acknowledge the truth. Yep. Even after two years of friendship—or should you say “acquaintanceship”, you still are a lukewarm nuisance.

Actually, he said pest at first… But you like to think of it as an auditory hallucination on your part. You know— for the sake of your ego.

To be fair, you do annoy him on a daily basis anyway, so you kinda see where he’s coming from. But whatever, he likes to yap about how much you annoy him but never takes action. That man loves your company.

You giggle, your eyes drifting to the ceiling, while your fingers idly tap one of your thigh. Lazily slumped on the couch you sink even deeper into it, your head resting against the armrest as you yawn. Yep, you’re bored.

Last week you needed cleaning supplies for your apartment. So you decided to go to the mall. But you don’t have a car. And you hate the lack of space and the pace of public transportation. So you asked you so generous and awesome friend that happens to have a car to drive you there. But of course he said no. You weren’t surprised though. That’s why you innocently mentioned needing to buy bedding and food for Hoo’ster your pet owl. And of course, as soon as you mentioned your pet, he changed his mind— begrudgingly but you didn’t care about that! 

Terrible mistake. Like people say karma’s a bitch, because you got yourself a ticket to a Friday movie night. Again. ‘Yaaay…’ You keep forgetting about the local video store on the way to mall, that for some reason, always have a display of their most recent arrival of horror movies. Seriously, how it’s only the horror section that gets displayed??

Oh, of course Rin immediately went to buy a copy. 

‘We’re watching in next Friday. You better show up.’ He said. You facepalmed.

A movement to your right jolted you out of your thoughts, making you turn your head. Rin, sitting beside you slightly shifted in his seat, slowly leaning forward. Eyes a little bit widened and the tip of his tongue sticking out. His head is even moving along with the scenes shown on the TV screen. 

You blink. ‘Wow…’ you were definitely used to this sight by now— yet you still look at him with the same fascination you’ve had over the year, dripping in your eyes.

The first time Rin invited you to watch a movie with him, you were ecstatic— well at least until you realised it was a horror movie. But anyway, at first you thought that he was finally warming up to you! You thought that you could ask him a bit more about himself and his hobbies! That you two could chat while watching the movie, even! Oh boy, how wrong were you. It’s also when.. you discover this— quirk, of his? You remember being a bit weirded out back then. You even tried to punch him. You know… to bring him back to reality.

Yet now…

Now, seeing him so fully immersed in the movie this way is… quite endearing.

“ - Rin?” You called out to him.

He doesn’t answer. 

… And that’s all you’ve been waiting for. The game begins.

In this game, you just need to shift Rin’s attention on you. Even if it’s for one second. The moment his eyes leave the screen, you win.

A cunning smile creeps up your face as you gently bite your index finger while trying to contain your excitement. When Rin is in this state, you can do pretty much anything you want to him and he won’t mind. Well not that he won’t mind— he’s just so focused on the movie that he’d basically ignore or let most of your shenanigans slide. 

It’s only fair anyway. Since Rin seems to have a passion in forcing you to watch movies that bore you to death, you’ll certainly enjoy your new passion: annoying the hell out of him when he’s hyper focused.

Of course at times it was pretty challenging, because the movies he chooses are generally pretty good, so nothing you did could really break his focus. But right now you’re confident. A gut feeling tells you that you can do it. 

You shifted on the couch straitening up yourself back into a sitting position. Your lips pressed together in a suppressed smile while your right hand discreetly makes its way to Rin's head, poking it.

“- Rinrin?” 

Of course he shows no reaction. You knew he wouldn’t. It takes more than that.

“- Rinrin~ I’m bored…” You say poking at his left cheek again and again.

“- Rin?” Poke. “- Riiin!” Poke. “- Rinrin.” Poke, poke.

Nothing.

Rin’s eyes are still glued to the screen. It’s as if nothing happened, like you’re not even here. Normally he’d have already smacked your hand away, scowling at you to stop that. But you refuse to let his lack of reaction stop you.

You raise your hand again, about to poke at his side, but he stops you before you can do it, simply grabbing your hand before placing it back on your lap.

‘Hehehe… it’s working’

You start to poke his side again, changing location often to avoid hurting him. And you even shamelessly move closer to him, little by little as you poke him. Until there’s no space left between you two. Then, you place your right hand on the back of his neck.

His head twitches slightly at the touch of your cold hand.

Now, now you just got a big reaction. A sly smile tugged at your lips.

Okay. So now you have to be careful, because breaking someone’s concentration could get them mad somtimes— like really mad. And in Rin’s case, it always result in a fight— not a physical on though. He would just spend days ignoring you, and you didn’t want that.

So to make sure that scenario doesn’t happen, you try to ease him a bit by gently rubbing his back. Your hand slipping further down tracing a line along his spine until you reach the small of his back, making him shiver.

You tilt your head a bit. It’s the first time he’s reacted like this— then again, it’s the first time you touch him like this… ‘Did that tickled?’ you ask yourself. 

Without pulling your hand off his back, you use your left hand to poke his shoulder repeatedly, letting it slide down to poke at his side again.

With a low rumble, Rin slaps your hand away. ‘Oh! There you go!’

You stare at him, trying to meet his eyes, but they’re still glued on the TV. It’s usually at times like this that he gets mad at you and demand you to stop. But right now he just slapped your hand away! You totally have a chance in winning! You almost want to get up and bounce around the room.

When you glance back at him, you immediately notice something. Something important. His tongue. He tucked it back into his mouth! Oh~ You are so winning this little game of yours! And for the first time ever!

Now, you just have to deliver the final strike.

 ‘A kiss on the cheek.’ You thought, internally cheering your victory already. 

You never kissed him on the cheek before— for obvious reasons, it’s Rin duh he won’t let you— so you’re hoping that this bold action would be enough to break the remaining bits of his already thinned concentration. So you went for it, placing just a little peck on his cheek.

But, the second your lips brushes his skin, he spins around, grabbing your arm with his left hand while shoving you a little bit roughly on the couch. You closed your eyes due to the impact.

When you open your eyes again, the first thing you see is Rin on top of you, pinning both of your hands above your head with his left hand, while supporting his weight with his other hand, placed right next to your shoulder. Suddenly, time freeze as you lay there, completely stunned. How are you supposed to react to what is just happening now?

‘What the hell is he doing??’

And what the hell is this situation? Rin Itoshi currently has you pinned down on the couch? This is completely new to you. Rin has never been like this— like grabbing you and shoving you against a wall to cage you between his arms? Never. Why would he even do that? Rin never really touch you. And if he does, it’s to push you away. So yeah, never. You almost thought he was playing a prank on you, for some reason. That is at least, until you meet his eyes.

His gaze on you is cold. Chilling you to the bone. Yet, you can feel the intensity of his stare burning a hole your face.

‘What—’ From then, you desperately try to look for a hint that he’s messing with you. You search desperately in his eyes some form of anger caused by your little game. In vain. There’s not a single drop of hostility or even his usual annoyance in his eyes. Just an intense and fiery gaze piercing through your defence, leaving you speechless.

You try to steady your breath as your eyes start to water from being open without blinking for too long. Your senses went numb yet at same time, you can still feel his hand slightly brushing against your shoulder, his knee pressed on your hip, and every single pore on your face, trying to regulate the rising temperature of your cheeks.

You can feel Rin’s shallow breath matching the rise and fall of your chest.

All the noise in the room disappear, filtered by the intensity of the moment. Your heartbeat is going crazy as he lets go of your hands, still staring you down. His, now, free hand makes its way to your cheek, gently brushing his thumb on your jawline.

He’s still looking at you, with the same burning intensity, which is now way too intense for you as time passes— intense to the point where you’re no longer able to withstand his gaze.

You avert your gaze, turning your head away from him. You feel dizzy, as if the room is spinning. Seeing your reaction, Rin’s hand slowly stoking your cheek, leaves abruptly, making your breath hitch. You got used to its warmth and now the cold sensation of its absence bites your cheek painfully.

You desperately want to say something. You want to ask Rin what has gotten into him, however the lump in your throat is forcing you into silence. It’s the first time that you’ve ever been this shy in front of him. But it’s also the first time that you can’t figure out what he’s thinking at all.

You just know that him pinning you under him this way, makes you feel so tiny— like a little mouse trapped in the paws of a cat. All you can do is to pray that he doesn’t eat you whole.

You finally muster up the courage to face him, turning back your head to face him. And right at that moment, you catch him staring at your lips. Your eyes widen instantly and your breath hitches. You try to say something. Anything. Yet nothing but a quiet squeak comes out, which makes him look back into your eyes.

Though, it’s too late. Your brain has already crashed.

You’re no longer present, well yes, you are because your body is here, but your mind? Long gone—literally evaporated.

Rin just looked at your lips…

You’ve never imagined yourself with him before. It never even crossed your mind once. He’s just a friend, that’s all he’s ever been to you. A friend— well okay a fucking good looking one. You can’t lie about that. And even if his personality can be quite the challenge, once you get to know him he’s not that hard to deal with. So… why does the idea of being in a romantic relationship with him doesn’t bother you at all? Like at all. If he asks you to go out on a date with him, like right now, you’d definitely accept right away.

Now that you think about it… since when did you even started to feel this way about him? Since when do you want to him to hug you and kiss you so badly?

And Rin? Does he feel the same way as you do? Does he feel something more than friendship for you. Is it for this very reason that constantly refuses your hugs and your affection? Was it why he looked at your lips?

As those questions swirl in your head, Rin gets up and turns off the TV, making is way to the kitchen. You bite the inside of your cheek, hearing him sigh softly while one of his hand runs through his hair.

“- Let’s get something to eat. I’m hungry.” He says.

You only nod, still a bit shaken up by what just happened.

In every movie nights, you’re in charge of the food. Rin tells you what he wants to eat and you either make it—when you feel like it, or you order it. But this time you didn’t even ask him what he wanted to eat. You can’t verbally face him yet, a ton of question still spinning in your head making it impossible to focus. Well, to be completely honest, you’re also being too shy to voice any of your questions. Which is really not like you.

Rin sits down on the dining table and looks at you briefly. It’s quiet. You’re quiet. Too quiet. You’ve never been this quiet ever with him, and that seems to bother him deeply. He tsk in annoyance, a frown tugging at his brows as he seats down at the dining table.

“- For someone who’s always pestering me, trying to get a reaction out of me, now that you’ve got it, you’re this quiet? How tepid.”

Your heart begins to race again as he brings up what has just happened. You never expected him to be the one to mention it first.

“ - I was just… It’s weird! You’ve never done that before, that’s why!” You blurt out defensively.

“ - Keep messing with me like that, and I’ll do it again.”

There’s a brief silence and you blink, processing what he’s just said. Did he just...? You tilt your head and raise an eyebrow, well you were used to Rin being bossy— but not like this? Feeling more confident thanks to him, you smirk, your true self slowly coming back out.

“ - I’ll just have to get used to it.” You retort with a challenging tone.

Rin locks eyes with you, and for a brief moment, you spot that same intense look he had earlier when he pinned you down on the couch. And, just as quickly, his gaze shifts to your lips, then back to your eyes.

“ - I’ll just have to shut you up.”

Rin’s phone suddenly rings, cutting through the silent stare down, the building tension between you two had created. And not without glancing at you one last time, he gets up, heading out of the kitchen to answer the call.

You’re left sitting here, heart racing like a wild horse in your chest. A big but dumb grin plastered on your face, your cheeks and ears burning hot, as you couldn’t help but think out loud.

“ - Guess we’re still not friends then.”

GOD… this took longer than expected. I KEPT ADDING STUFF THATS WHY 😭 I yap a lot when i write. I swear it was supposed to be a 700/1K drabble . But anyways I really had fun writing this!! I Got inspired by my interaction with the Rins RP blog! (I love them so much! Shout out to the mods!) I might do one for Sae but Idk yet.

Well thank you if you read till here!

[gliphyartfan]

helllo! I haven’t really seen rules for request and I’m not sure if your open butt I have a request that i got inspired by seeing another asker on Yandere Linked Universe. Ahem Platonic Yandere Chain x Fi Reader!

How would that go for headcanons? I know it be complicated because chosen hero and basically saving the world but let’s also say that Fi Reader was the only consistent thing that help Link through battles and advice (only hearing her chimes and voice, they don’t what she looks like expect for Sky)

lol I’ve never been good with these types of ask but uhh gotta try sometimes! Also can i be the 💫 anon lol?? Sry i get nervous when asking these things

Of course, 💫 Anon! Welcome to the blog, and thank you for this lovely ask!

Alright, let’s eat into this!

🌟 Sky 🌟

Sky’s bond with Fi Reader would be the deepest and most personal. He’s the only one who truly knew her, who spent his entire journey in her presence and grew to rely on her not just for guidance but also as a companion.

Sky would feel incredibly possessive of Fi Reader. To him, she’s not just a guide but his guide, his oldest and most trusted friend. He sees her as a part of his soul.

He wouldn’t take kindly to the rest of the Chain trying to develop their own bonds with her. He’d likely become passiveaggressive, dropping comments like, “She doesn’t work for you, you know.”

Sky would be quietly heartbroken if Fi Reader started forming attachments with the others. He’s not selfish enough to stop it, but the thought of her giving them the same affection and attention she gave him stings.

He treasures every word she says to him, constantly seeking her reassurance. If she even hints at preferring his company, his mood would skyrocket.

All in all, he’s a clingy one to her. And definitely feels a hint smug at first that HE’S the closest to her compared to everyone else. (Tho he is kinda jealous that Wild got to have her by his side from a very young age, even if he doesn’t remember it anymore.)

🌟 Warriors 🌟

Warriors’ relationship with Fi Reader is complicated. He interacted with her during the War of Eras but didn’t get to form similar personal bonds like Sky did due to the chaos of the war.

He respects her immensely, but there’s an underlying bitterness. He’s seen glimpses of her connection with Sky, and it eventually frustrates him that he didn’t get the same. Though he DOES have a closer relationship with her compared to the others so in a way, he’d be the second closest to her??

Warriors would be (surprisingly) one of the most competitive when it comes to gaining Fi Reader’s approval. He’d show off his battlefield prowess and leadership skills, hoping she’d acknowledge him. ( rivalry between the knights!)

He’s also protective, seeing her as a key ally in the Chain’s success. However, his protectiveness has a possessive edge, especially if he feels like she’s prioritizing others over him.

He often reminisces about the war and wonders if things could’ve been different if he’d gotten to know her better back then.

🌟 Time 🌟

Time’s relationship with the Master Sword is uh…kinda filled with bitterness and some baggage, which sadly also kinda extends to Fi Reader. He deeply respects her, but her presence stirs complicated feelings.

Time would carry guilt and frustration, wondering if he was ever worthy of wielding the sword and, by extension, worthy of her guidance.

He’d never show it, but he longs for her approval. If she ever acknowledged his wisdom or leadership, it would mean the world to him.

At the same time, Time might avoid her when his emotions run too high. Since seeing could dredge up memories he’d rather forget.

His protectiveness of Fi Reader is quiet. He wouldn’t let anyone speak ill of her or disrespect her, even in jest. If Fi Ready did explain why she made him jump through time the way she did, maybe he’d be able to let go of that bitterness, but I dunno.

Also Time probably harbors some irrational guilt for the destruction he caused during the War of Eras using the Fierce Deity mask, even if it was for the greater good. He fears that Fi Reader may see him as a monster, especially if she witnessed him wielding the mask’s power. Her reassurance is a balm to his soul, but he’s never fully convinced he deserves it.

(Honestly I doubt Reader even cared. She no doubt had sense the deity and probably didn’t even think to see Time as a monster. Maybe the deity even sensed her and they had a small moment to acknowledge each other before the battles kept them busy. Ya know?)

🌟 Twilight 🌟

Twilight’s bond with Fi Reader would be one of quiet reverence. He respects her deeply, but his connection to the Master Sword is more practical than emotional.

Twilight would see her as a guidin star, someone to lean on when he feels lost. He’d likely look to her for advice when dealing with the darker aspects of his journey.

He’d feel a subtle jealousy toward Sky for having such a close bond with her but wouldn let it show. Instead, he’d try to prove himself through his actions.

Twilight would value her approval immensely tho. If she ever praised him, even for something small, it would stay with him for days.

His protectiveness would manifest in quiet, steady ways. He’d always keep an eye on her, ensuring she’s safe and comfortable, even if she doesn’t need it.

🌟 Wild 🌟

Wild’s connection to Fi Reader is bittersweet. He wielded the Master Sword but doesn’t remember most of his time with it before the Calamity. Which is a true shame cause maybe he and her had a decent relationship before everything.

Wild would be fascinated by her, desperate to piece together the memories he’s lost. Maybe she had spoken to him in the past. Maybe Her voice would feel familiar and comforting, even if he can’t place why.

He’d be one of the most eager to interact with her, asking questions and trying to draw her out of her shell. He want to know her, to understand her, in a way that feels deeply personal.

Wild would be protective, but his protectiveness would be tinged with guilt. He feels like he’s let her down by losing so much of himself.

If she ever helped him recover a memory, even accidentally, he’d be overwhelmed with gratitude and devotion. Maybe cause she had been with him for so many years before the calamity, she recalls a lot from his past, so once he gets a chance, he could ask her and learn more of who he once was.

🌟 Legend 🌟

Legend’s relationship with the Master Sword is complicated. He’s wielded it, reforged it, and understands its power, but he’s never had the same bond with it as Sky.

Legend would be wary of Fi Reader at first, unsure if she’d see him as worthy. Especially since I have no doubt he’d be grumpy at times and cursed her out. He’s used to being doubted and would expect the same from her.

Over time, though, he’d come to rely on her guidance and cherish her presence. If she ever expressed faith in him, he’d be deeply moved.

Legend’s protectiveness would be sharp and biting. He’d defend her fiercely, especially if anyone tried to undermine her.

He’d secretly treasure any interaction with her, even if he acted nonchalant about it.

🌟 Hyrule 🌟

Hyrule’s bond with the Master Sword is simple a kind protector of Hyrule who’s been tempered by a harsh and dangerous life.

Hyrule wants to trust Fi Reader, but his hard earned survival instincts make him wary at first.

While Hyrule has a healthy dose of paranoia about others’ intentions, once he decides someone is worth protecting, he goes all in.

He feels a quiet kinship with her because they’ve both endured in their own ways, though hers is quieter and more refined. (She’s designed to rest between her duties, and in his eyes Heroes only get to truly rest when they are dead.)

He’d (once he gets to know her when she appears around the chain) would see her as a wise and benevolent figure, almost goddess-like in her presence. Her words would carry immense weight for him.

If she ever gave him personal advice or guidance, he’d take it to heart and follow it without question.

🌟 Wind 🌟

Wind’s relationship with Fi Reader would be rather enthusiastic. He sees her as a cool, mysterious figure and is eager to earn her favor.

Wind would constantly try to impress her, doing daring stunts and cracking jokes to make her laugh.

He’d be curious about her relationship with the Master Sword and would likely pester Sky with endless questions about her.

Wind’s protectiveness would be impulsive and bold. He’d jump into danger without hesitation if he thought she needed help.

He’d be one of the most open about his feelings toward her, wearing his admiration on his sleeve.

Though maybe he’d also be a bit insecure cause he had to earn his place as a Hero. But I have no doubt Reader would assure him that he had simple needed to have gained the Gods favor, because he had long since earned hers from the moment he held her blade in his hand.

(Cause like, I feel like even if she was depowered, she would have still had some lingering energy to have determined his worthiness even a little. If he hadn’t been worthy, she would have at least zapped him. But she didn’t so I’m gonna assume she found him worthy from the get go!)

The War of Eras kinda forced Wind to grow up a bit quickly, but his natural optimism and adaptability helped him keep cheerful and bright. He views Fi Reader as a presence who helped him change from a carefree islander to a hero(pirate) with a purpose.

Wind feels an almost childlike joy in Fi Reader’s company, often comparing her to the wind itself, gentle yet guiding. He treasures their bond and often jokes that she’s the ‘real captain’ of the Chain.

🌟 Four 🌟

Four never wielded the Master Sword, he’s heard of it but really…¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . He sees her as someone tied to a power he’s never fully understood. (He’s learned his lesson about magic swords after all.)

Four would be deeply curious about her, asking thoughtful questions and trying to piece together her nature.

He’d feel a small sense of inadequacy, wondering if his lack of connection to the Master Sword makes him less worthy of her attention. (He and every other hero with a slightly bad experience with her.)

Four’s protectiveness would be quiet but intense. He’d always be there when she needed him, even if he never said a word about it.

He’d be fascinated by her ability to guide and inspire, often marveling at how much she’s helped the group.

Over time, i suppose the Chain’s collective reverence for Fi Reader would grow into an almost obsessive need to keep her close. They’d compete for her attention, subtly (or not-so-subtly) trying to outdo each other.

Sky’s possessiveness would clash with the others’ growing attachment, leading to tensions within the group.

Fi Reader would become the emotional anchor for the Chain, her presence soothing their fears and doubts. Especially when she states without hesitation that even though the goddess gave her a command serve, Reader’s CHOSEN duty is to be there for her masters in more than just a single way.

Their protectiveness WOULD border on suffocating at times, each hero determined to ensure her safety at all costs even though she is MORE than capable of defending herself.

The thought of losing her would eventually be unthinkable (it’s definitely unthinkable for Sky. Terrified him really).

Honestly, Fi Reader would be both a guiding light and an unintentional source of tension for the Chain.

The rivalries would be fierce…

Thanks for the ask, 💫 Anon! This was such a fun thought process!

[merrycrisis-if]

I didn't realize up until 3 days ago that you had updated Merry Crisis. I played the demo very late at night and I felt such a strong feeling of melancholy and longing when reading the scenes between MC and their family members. The messy drama with the aunts and the uncles... The endless boredom shared between all older cousins... The bittersweet memories when remembering departed grandparents... The sibling rivalry when playing any type of games... "Don't forget the taste of your mother's soup". God. I might have shed a tear or two. More than the romances (who are actually great, don't get me wrong), I fell in love with the way you write about the MC's family and culture. There are many things about them I could never truly understand ; I'm not Singaporean, nor Chinese, or even American, and I never lived in either of the places the MC spent most of their life. Culturally speaking, we have nothing in common. But there were so many moments where I saw parts of myself reflected in that young adult struggling with conflicting aspects of their identity, especially when it comes to feeling torn between different places, feeling like a stranger no matter where you are, and being queer while fearing coming out to your parents. What struck me the hardest was when the MC thought their grandmother would have gotten along with Nat, even though they don't know how she would have reacted to their partner being the same gender as them... So, thank you for that. Anyways, this isn't really why I'm sending you this ask. There were heavy rain falls where I live yesterday night, and a part of my basement got flooded. I had to throw a lot of things away, including many childhood drawings and family pictures. Some of my dad's old stuff got pretty soaked as well, but his vintage ViewMaster 3D collection miraculously didn't suffer too much damage. I was drying them up as best as I could, before coming to a stop. There were a few slides of Singapore lost among the countless others of European and American cities, dating back from 1957. It reminded me of you, probably because your story was still so fresh on my mind, and I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you. I'm sorry for the horrible quality, though. They are pretty old and my phone doesn't take very good pictures.

Thank you for your stories. Happy holidays to you and your loved ones, I wish you all the best.

This message struck me really deeply, so thank you so much for sharing this with me. It makes me so incredibly moved when merry crisis reaches across time and space and ends up resonating with someone from a completely different culture/place -- makes me think about just how many experiences are shared in the most unlikely ways.

I'm sorry to hear the flooding but wow it sounds like you uncovered a lot of real gems. Thank you so much for sharing them with me! The one in the top left made me think about my grandma who says back in the day, my old house used to overlook the sea (kinda like those shophouses in the picture) -- until Singapore reclaimed land and pushed the coast much further south. And the other one, in the bottom left of Haw Par Villa reminds me of the time I went to there with my family (this is a little creepy Chinese place with scary statues and an awesome exhibit of the "ten courts of hell") and there was one statue of what happens when you talk back to your older siblings and my younger brother and I had a good laugh over that (you get boiled alive in lava or something equally horrifying).

Anyway, your message was so special to me. Receiving things like this make me so motivated to write!!

Happy holidays to you too!! <3

[auguryofjellyfish]

A lot of Tetro fans are focused on how angry Hasegawa will be in the trial but they're forgetting that Wada will also be extremely pissed too, especially since this is how his 2nd friend who has been killed.

I'm so worried about what they'll do during the trial.

honestly, yeah...you raise a good point.

wada. he's been kinda all over the place after tsuno's death. first breaking down, then getting pissed at hiroaki, then going off to frantically investigate on his own, then stabbing okazaki and freaking out about that....jumping through quite a lot of different emotions there. it's frankly difficult to predict what wada might do during the trial because of that.

if okazaki's the culprit for both murders, and i think she is, in the most extreme case he might just try to stab her again LMAO. he already stabbed her for his own sake, but when it's about his friend? someone he loved? i could see him zooming out of his stand, knife in hand, the second monomoko says the 'co' from "that answer was correct". though it would be kind of "over the top" so i doubt that would happen.

overall, he will undoubtedly be pissed, he will undoubtedly be breaking down- it's just hard to tell which emotion will be more influencial over his actions.

and hasegawa....man. it's kind of similar as with wada, i can see him just alternating between despair and anger. his emotions quieted down during the investigation but once they actually get to discussing things during the trial? i could see him exploding with fury after hearing something particularly bad. like screaming-and-banging-your-fists-on-the-stand-so-hard-you-fracture-the-bone kinda fury.

buuuuut i'm probably just making them out to be wayyy more emotionally volatile than they realistically are (thank god von is the writer and not me), and nothing really drastic will happen besides the expected crashouts.

[feralgodmothers]

I want to make a post focusing on my man Thomas Hutter, because even as someone who enjoys Ellen and Orlok’s dynamic (and I do, I REALLY do. Give me that pervy-girl gothic romantic deliciousness)

I feel like a lot of the takeaway I’ve seen from people on Thomas’ character doesn’t quite do him justice, and I wanted to share my views and try to rectify that a little bit.

The main criticism I’ve seen against him was when Thomas told Ellen “Don’t speak of this”, after she revealed her concerns and troubling nightmares to him. People try to say that he didn’t want to listen to her, and that he was shutting her down. A key nuance here though, is that Thomas didn’t just say “Don’t speak of this”, he said “Don’t speak of this in public”, i.e. - ‘Speak of this only in private’, i.e.- ‘Speak of this only to me, because I will try to understand you, even if no one else will’.

Because back in those days, no one else would. If Ellen spoke of her true feelings and of the experiences she was going through, people in society would want to have her committed. They might even insist quite strongly (i.e. - forcibly have her checked into a madhouse), because they would have shouted to the rooftops that she was a danger to herself and to everyone else. For Thomas to say “Don’t speak of this in public”, that was actually a protection for her. Because the less-than-stellar “medical” treatment she was receiving in Friedrich’s home? That was NOTHING compared to the treatment she would have gotten in a mental institution back then. You have to understand that with as much criticism as Friedrich gets (as is fitting), it can’t be underestimated just how much he was the NORM of that time period. In fact - your average Victorian person might have viewed him as “too generous” in his “tolerance” of Ellen, because they probably would have thrown her out sooner if they had been in his shoes.

The Victorians may not have been good at quarantining themselves when it came to physical diseases, but boy oh boy - were they good at it when it came to what they considered social diseases.

I think a lot of people either forget, or are just simply unaware of how much the landscape surrounding mental health has changed in recent history. Even within my own lifetime, things have taken a major shift in that area. So for me, to see Thomas get snubbed by a certain cluster of the audience just because he doesn’t react exactly the same way we would today, I think is a bit unfair. Because to be perfectly honest - I think he was ahead of his time when it comes to his compassion for Ellen. I think most men in his position back then actually would have shut her down if she tried to speak about the things she did, not even allowing her to finish expressing herself. And I think that most men, even after enduring the same horrors she did - would still view her with a critical eye, similar to the way of her father. Expectations for women were extremely narrow, uptight, and rigid - with little to no pause for understanding anything even remotely out of the ordinary. So for Thomas to be willing to hear Ellen out (in private), not turn her away in disgust and fear when he finds out what she’s been entangled with, the fact that he can still look her in the eye and stand his ground, determined with his whole body and soul to love and support her even as he’s faced with the shocking provocations she spits at him while under demon influence? I think he’s nothing short of amazing.

But anyway, going back to the beginning of the film - another criticism that Thomas gets is usually just part two of the criticism of him ‘shutting Ellen down’, namely - going off to do business against her wishes. But here’s the thing about the Victorian period: Wealth, status, and reputation were EVERYTHING. And that may sound extremely shallow to us now, but the consequences of not seeking and trying to hold onto these things during that time period were anything but. Thomas, by trying to protect Ellen’s image regarding her mental state, was protecting her reputation. Because just like in any time period, community was very important, but in that time - it was also crucial to your survival. If people got the faintest whiff of a bad reputation, you could potentially become outcast and completely ruined in the blink of an eye. If you were seen as crazy, or were simply married to someone who was seen as crazy - people would turn their back on you, no one would want to do business with you, and it wouldn’t be long before you end up scraping for your basic needs like a rat in a sewer. Which, of course, is why Thomas was so keen on having a good job that paid well. Trying to escape and/or avoid poverty back then really meant something. It wasn’t as simple as ‘Oh, being poor sucks’ - but the living conditions for those in poverty during this time were truly bleak, and it formed its own circle of hell. So personally, I feel that the twofold criticism Thomas has been getting from the audience are actually both things he was doing because of his genuine desire to look after Ellen.

Nowadays, wanting a good job that pays really well and buys you ‘the finer things’ is seen as something superficial, but in the Victorian era - it went so much deeper than that. The lines between social ranks were very distinct and harsh. If you failed to achieve a certain amount of wealth and hold on to your reputation, it was all too easy to lose your status and fall straight to the bottom of the totem pole, where your options for work and “livelihood” were very limited and dangerous. Because just as mental health awareness wasn’t really a thing back then, neither were proper safety standards for the lower working class. Thomas’ drive to make money for himself and for his family had nothing to do with his ego - it had everything to do with just providing Ellen a decent life. And when I say “decent”, I don’t mean “cushy” - I mean simply “tolerable and pleasant”. It was difficult to climb up the social ladder, but just one wrong move and it was very easy to find yourself plummeting to the bottom.

In conclusion, I think Thomas was an excellent husband, and I think he deserves a lot more credit.

[destinyc1020]

I was at a party recently and we were all discussing pop culture. One person tried to say Tom was a flop. Literally everyone in the group said they were delusional (I didn’t say anything and was really just observing), but the way everyone ran to Tom’s defense (mind you this is a group that I would not be expecting to defend a white man like this), it was actually very shocking and the person had back down and was like they were just joking. It was pretty obvious though, that person was repeating stuff from twitter or something cause they had other opinions that everyone was kinda like babe this makes no sense.

Hahaha!! They tried it!! 😂😂🤣

I'm glad that people rushed to Tom's defense at that party. I think some people really forget that what people say on TWITTER does NOT reflect how most people feel about a celebrity in real LIFE.

You can always tell the ones who are just getting their info and feelings about a person from Twitter and TikTok too, because they'll say all of these crazy, outlandish things about the celebrity and then you'll look at their career, or will watch an interview of the person, and you'll be scratching your head thinking, "Umm...are we talking about the SAME person??" 🥴

So yea girl, that person learned that day! 😂 Twitter doesn't equal real life!

Also, people need to realize that an actor taking a break in his/her career does NOT make them a flop! 😤 Actors take breaks in their careers all the time! Maybe they want to pivot and do different types of roles, or they're not doing the types of roles they want to be doing. Maybe they're just plain burnt out! (Which I think was Tom's case) Maybe they want to start a family! Maybe they're just not feeling acting right now and need to re-group. Maybe the fame and invasion of privacy is getting too out of control for them and they need a break from all of that.

There are literally hundreds of reasons why an actor might take a bit of a break from their career. Neither of which means that they are a "flop". 😒

[privateolives]

Pokedex George here, I do remind everyone that most of my research was conducted as an extension of my good friend and colleague professor Laventon, to whom most of the discoveries should be credited.

As most of said discoveries should be summarized in his published research, I will focus on some field observations:

Certain evolved forms are almost always encountered as alphas. Whether it is that those adept enough at survival are likely alpha material, or if having an alpha disposition helps survival to the point of evolution is currently unknown, but the phenomena is like to cause certain species to be seen as more aggressive than others. In order to get a full picture of a fully evolved form's size, appearance and behavioral range, take advantage of outbreaks, as they tend to drive out more elusive specimen. The elusive ninetails is a great example.

On that note, outbreaks are great for size sampling and observing rare behavioral patterns. It may be harder to catch a snorlax sleeping in the wild than you may assume, but outbreaks (where much activity will be happening) and hot springs in cold regions (relaxing? temperature adjustments?) are more likely sights to observe these behaviors.

Stunning a pokemon will take more items than you think. This is fine. Learn to aim while in a panic. Stunning a pokemon provides openings to run or advantages for your own pokemon to exploit and lower risk of injuries for your companions. I believbe it took about 15 spoiled apricorn to get the last alpha lucario off of me - I usually only need about 4 sticky webs.

Catch and release are almost always a morally defend-able choice. Both pokemon suffer less damage than in an encounter if you can catch the pokemon up front, and so long as you note where you caught the pokemon, it is easily returned to it's environment after measuring. Remember that releasing does not mean abandonment, much as it hurts our hearts to do it sometimes. You might find that a gut instinct catch has unusual size or coloration you could not determine at a distance.

Always ask the locals about their co-existing strategies. You may be surprised what pokemon are willing to help you on an expedition. Or what data you can find on indulging a few side missions.

If you see a big black dome in the wilds, inform the galaxy team immediately and do not approach. Only experts capable of handling full teams of expert trained pokemon are like to make it out of there. It is not the place to challenge your new talents. It IS a place to recover that research funding though. Strange things laying about in those death orbs.

Remember that not all typed pokemon are as tied to their types in skillsets as others. It is worth taking your team to the galaxy team dojo to expand their move capabilities for your protection. My beloved partner Ursaluna proved surprisingly versatile with a bit of training! Keep your eyes on the sky and don't forget your peat for that evolution! But don't write off common pokemon either, you'd be surprised at how much a Bibarel's bite or Magnezone's Tri Attack can hurt.

You may have heard pokemon mostly grouped into aggressive and timid types, that will always attack or flee. Be warned that there may be a few surprises in the wild. Even skittish Hippopotas might ambush you from behind if you fail to pay attention for long enough. Shellos can also be deceptive.

Under no circumstances assume the temperament of a pokemon by their appearance. You will be mauled by buizel.

And lastly, remember that "aggressive" pokemon are not evil monsters. They are most likely scared, hungry, or curious. Sadly, many curious pokemon like to investigate with their painful parts. Like Gibbles. Or Psyduck, for some reason. (Migraine giving them a temper perhaps?) Throwing food from cover can help getting closer to troublesome species. Especially useful for quick runners like Basculin or Eevee. You can always approach AFTER distracting your target.

Items can be recovered. You cannot. Use items if you're unsure of an encounters. Pokemon are easily distracted by food, and you can use fodder for the same purpose. Just make sure to check your field notes for a pokemon's preferred food preferences and that they actually started eating before throwing pokeballs or making your escape. Don't be afraid to drop your pack to distract a pokemon if you think you won't make it, someone else can always get it back later.

If you ever manage to get yourself a partner that can fly, I heartily encourage visiting the small isle east of islegrass shore in the evening. The sight of luminion at night is quite beautiful. Mountain views are breathtaking as well, but be careful that many pokemon to not struggle to move around up there as you do, and many are territorial. Use the grass patches to check for things like roaming growlithe.

Taking a bit of time to just sit in a grass patch and observe can be worth it. Lots of surprising behaviors to discover! Who knew Tangrowth or Onix could be so cute?

Locating pokemon who live in trees can be a challenge. You can't force an encounter with the right species, but certain locations are like to hold more specific pokemon. There was this one tree on the coast that aipom loved as I recall... Oh, and don't forget the time of day for certain form changes!

The path of field research is very rewarding, but not for everyone. It's a pity that many of my brilliant colleagues struggle to get a foothold in the field, and there's still very few of us capable of doing long expeditions for their research. Research from captured pokemon in the pens have proven useful though, so maybe some day we can streamline the process to make anyone with pokeballs able to send specimens directly to the scientists? But that's about as likely to happen as my field notes writing themselves on capture Oh well, old George can dream.

Me about to Pokedex George the gen 8 poll after becoming obsessed with filling out every pokedex entry and using every single pokemon in that game for several days: Woe, statistical outliers be upon ye.

But Professor Georg! Your field work is vital for our data, and showing how any pokemon can/has been used! This falls fully within the expected dataset range and we couldn't function without you!

Please, Professor, if you could share your results with the people. Were there any Pokemon who fell within the expected outcome, or any that surprised you?

[kacievvbbbb]

The Seraphim & The Concept of Self

I wonder who picked the Seraphim's outfits cause at first glance when you only look at S-Hawk and S-Snake it feels like there's a standard uniform. then you see the whole group and there's definitely some individuality going on; like S-Bear just wearing a mini kuma outfit, S-Shark with the gi, my man Moria got a little suspender situation going on over there. S-mingo wearing a whole ass hawain shirt. So there's definitely some variety though they all incorporate white in some way. And I wonder if maybe they got some input into what they wore one of the only acts of "free will" they were allowed was choosing whether they wore shorts or long pants which is as adorable as it is sad.

Because think about the implications that they are dressed to the taste of their adult counterparts, right down to how doffy and mihawk like to open their shirts (except for S-Snake which thank god) but yeah what if it wasn't an allowance of free will but a test to see just how deep DNA ran. If it could influence something as simple as choice of clothing, just another fact for Vega punk to marvel at.

Or maybe the clothes were chosen by one of the Vega punks (I can imagine Shaka doing it) or one of the other various lab assistants. And it's just another way to get them to embody the warlords, to reinforce who they were cloned to be, impressing on them that they are not their own people, their lives are not their own. They are already predetermined; from what powers they get, to what weapons they use, even down to what clothes they wear. Everything reinforces that they are not people, just "better" "stronger" versions of someone else.

Either way, and It might have not have been purposely meant that way because I'm pretty sure Vega punk doesn't really register them as human (which is weird cause he treats stussy very humanly and a whole other can of worms seeing as they seem to be aware and possess a personality to some capacity) it's another way of dehumanizing them, reducing them to the people they are meant to become. They have no "free will" no illusion of choice; they have a predetermined destiny, a pre-determined order, there was never any room for choice even down to the shirts on their back.

[liquidstar]

honestly does anyone else think that the what:if routes are perhaps telling us that some sort of collision between subaru and reinhard is just inevitable in nearly every route

[canisalbus]

just a quick ask to tell u it makes me super happy seeing the detail u go into when pointing out stuff u like about other people's art of ur ocs :3 it's so rare to see but it's so so motivating!! <3

Thank you! I don't take any interest for my art for granted, and if someone goes through the trouble of drawing my characters for me, I feel like trying to write a proper response is the least I can do. For a visually oriented person, receiving gift/fan art is a huge deal, it means someone considered my goobers worth their time and effort, they've probably been thinking about them more than a little and found them inspiring in a way or another, and I find that terribly flattering. It's extremely fun and interesting to see other people's takes on them. And I've drawn stuff for people as well, I know how nice and rewarding it feels to receive a response that is longer than a word or two. Positive comments like that can linger in people's minds for a long time, at least for me they do.

[likeorpheus]

The prospect of Francis not being proactive was also difficult for them in a time like this. And so when Cee states the strange thing, the purposeful thing, about not "making something" right now strikes a chord with them. When things were horrible for them, they tried to be active even if it was privately. But things were horrible for everyone. And they had a prominent feeling that with Claire's grief right now (and her impulsive actions), that Cee not being a steady shoulder would make things collapse further. It made sense.

That's all they ever thought about with Abra. Could they really care about themselves right now? When she barely slept? When she got ill? When she was forced to contend with her outside forces?

Francis freezes momentarily, the joint halfway to their lips, at the mention of Gio. Their shoulders stiffen before they recover, drawing a slow drag as if the smoke could buy them time. It doesn’t. They peer at Alo who probably knew the gist already.

Setting the joint gently in the ashtray, they lean forward, forearms braced against the edge of the table. Their face betrays the stress of the situation, though their fingers tap a quiet rhythm on the woodgrain.

“Yeah,” they answer, voice low but steady. “I’ve been… checking in.” Their gaze flickers away, landing on the mismatched furniture around the room, before snapping back to Cee. “That place in the Garden District is quiet most of the time, but Simone mentioned that the old woman she’s been house-sitting for is due back from her pilgrimage soon.”

The words sit heavy between them. Francis shifts in their chair, their discomfort showing in the way their jaw tightens.

“That means she’ll have to find somewhere else.” Their voice dips, an edge of frustration bleeding through despite their best efforts to keep it neutral. “I’ve been keeping an eye on her, stopping by whenever I can. But…” They trail off, their lips pressing into a thin line.

The image of Gio alone in that creaking old house rises unbidden in their mind, her quiet despair etched into every corner. The nights she’d wake up drenched in sweat, breath hitching, haunted by whatever horrors played out behind her closed eyes—it wasn’t something Francis could forget. Not that they’d ever admit how much it gnawed at them.

“She’s not sleeping,” they say finally, their tone softening. “And when she does, it’s bad dreams. Every time.” They shake their head, looking down at their hands. “I don’t know what she’ll do when she has to leave. Hell, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

The admission hangs in the air, raw and unguarded in a way Francis rarely allowed themselves to be. They reach for the joint again, inhaling deeply before exhaling slowly, watching the smoke curl upward. Alo had coughed hysterically. They take that as a good sign but before passing the joint back to him, Francis offers it to Cee.

“Maybe…” They hesitate, the weight of their next words pressing down on them like a stone. “Maybe she doesn’t have to leave. I’ve been thinking about—about offering her a place. With me.” Their voice is quieter now, almost drowned out by the faint clatter of Cee’s movements at the stove. “She shouldn’t have to do all this alone. None of us should.”

They glance at Alo, who’s still rubbing at his face, and then back to Cee. “I don’t know if she’d go for it. But I think I have to ask.”

The sound of the shower shutting off punctuates the moment, and Francis’s head turns sharply toward the hallway, tension rippling through their posture. They force themselves to relax, taking another drag as if it might help before giving up the joint completely.

They had all come to grow used to living in a certain way.    Back  at  the  cabin  in  Northern  California,    it was Gio and Vicente who dominated the kitchen during daytime hours     —  they cooked the three essential meals and then some, always laughing over ground chile and doughy masa.    They cooked enough for a small army, Gio and Vicente.   Every morning, and every afternoon   —    and  Cee  seldom  ate  with  the  others,   but Vicente always saved her a plate. Even if it made Gio sigh or shake her head in dismissal. 

They were all getting used to living in vastly different ways. 

    So much change   —   it was enough to make your hands shake,   to set your back teeth on edge.   It wouldn't have been so unlike her to fumble the ball completely.     She kept wondering to herself:  Was Claire surprised when she saw that I actually found a place? Did she half-expect me to piss the money she gave me away? Did I expect me to do that?       So much change was alarming for a thing like her. Unreliable, unstable and constantly dropping the ball — but here she was, fixing French toast for unprompted guests.    Francis and her never got along well.   It was her own fault   —   standoffish as she was,   and she never did well playing nice with others.   She was a twat,  in the not-so-distant past.

And she doesn't expect them to like her.  But she won't turn them away for it.   What would the reason be behind that?   Vicente was dead.  And her thoughts are hinged on Claire — standing beneath the spray of shower water, or maybe sitting with her knees drawn to her chest at the foot of the tub. Her mind is crowded, anxious with thoughts of running water — long black hair, her lover's distant gaze. Preoccupied. That would have been an understatement. Maybe because she's thinking about Claire all the while. And her hands are still shaking. And her stomach is growing teeth. And she just keeps making French toast even though Vicente used to cook breakfast. 

Cee fishes a couple dishes from the drying rack for Francis,  and Alo.   It's a set  —  grey geese delicately drawn along the edges, thorny vine and iris.  She listens to Francis with those same vines knotted around her chest. 

     ❛   —  I normally wouldn't, either. But —... worries me, thinkin' about not making something right now...   ❛    Cee mumbles, melting stick of butter in hand   —   deft fingers working a butter knife, cutting a square. It sizzles on the pan. She wasn't entirely sure if her words would make sense to Francis. Broad hand grips at the pan's handle, shaking teflon-coated cookware until the melting butter spreads.   She works hastily.   Twin slices of bread are dipped in egg wash until dripping, splat — on the pan. 

Alo's haughty gaze is disturbed by the Highmore's inquisition.    He's as quiet as a goddamn pantomine, not looking anywhere but out the window.    His boyish face betrays some immediate confusion.    But he does take the joint, dumbly.     It's drawn to his lips and the short drag makes him cough hard in his chest. 

He shakily hands the joint back to Francis, ears burning. 

Cee cocks her head at the sound, looking over her shoulder to get a good look at something strange: Alo smoking weed. He doesn't seem the type.  What would Kerry say to that, she wonders. She squints, apprehensive for a moment    —    though she's quick to shrug it off.   He was evidently going through some kind of crisis.  Two plates are procured, set in front of Alo and Francis    — French toast glistening with syrup, melting whipped cream.

   ❛   A job, though? Maybe. I dunno. It's difficult when you don't feel drawn to any one thing, y'know?   ❛   She rubs her hands together anxiously, pale eyes darting toward the joint in Francis's possession. She thinks to ask. But then she thinks she hears the shower turn off and swivels her head at once, listening close. 

Alo's rubbing at his flushing face.    She hears the sound of the shower, and sighs. 

    ❛   ... Not to mention I haven't really been looking these past few days.   ❛  And she wasn't rightly sure when she would start up again. Her eyes flash toward Francis, anxious. 

    ❛ — Have you ... have you heard from Gio, by chance? ❛

[anistarrose]

desperately want to write an essay about aromantic themes in my own fic but. that would require finishing and posting the fic if I wanted to make an ounce of sense to anyone

[rin-hanarin]

Fine, I guess I'll eventually get over my annoyance with obvious shameless biases of people in charge of the Veilguard, and I'll do it for Renzo de Riva because he's cool 😮‍💨

[medicinemane]

Should make a pain killer that actually kills (or even touches) pain