#the list might change but for now that's about it

[secondbeatsongs]

Food Crime: Frosty the Slawman

so a while ago, I saw this photo going around on tumblr:

at first, I thought this was photoshopped. I mean, "welcome new man in your life"? that feels like a translation error, or someone being silly on purpose.

but guess what! turns out, Frosty Slaw Man is real!

and soon...he will be mine. let's get cooking

(full disclosure: I crafted this snowman and took notes about it over a year ago. and then, like with many things in my life, I forgot about him, and let him drift into the ADHD void of Things I'm Not Currently Staring At, where object permanence is tentative and largely unrealized.

but here we are! and here he is: the slaw man. it's time to share him with you, so that you can suffer as I have suffered, and/or rejoice in my gelatin creation!)

so this recipe photo originally came from Mid-Century Menu (archive link), a blog that seems like one after my own heart, and which once tried to make the Slaw Man (with not much success; but we'll get back to that)! but it's not just that blog that has copies of this ad. I also found it on reddit, and in a few different places on ebay!

lookit that guy! he's a real guy!

both the reddit post and some of the ebay listings say that this is from 1963 (though I haven't been able to figure out which magazines it was printed in, to confirm this for myself). but in looking this up, I discovered something else fun! there's another version of this ad!

Best Foods is what Hellmann's stuff is called on the west coast, and the "this is no place for second best" thing makes a lot more sense when you consider that the ad was probably made for Best Foods first, and then just reused and rebranded for the east coast

the more you know!

anyway the benefit of finding this alternate ad is that the scan on this image is a lot clearer, and so the recipe is more readable! and in looking at it, I've realized something important:

when Mid-Century Menu tried this recipe, they got an ingredient amount wrong.

when they made their beloved Slaw Man, they had the water amount written down as 1/4 cup, but looking at this scan up close, it is actually 3/4 cup of water! something that might make a significant difference, considering we're working with gelatin!

(there's also another change I want to make compared to what they did, when I do this recipe. but we'll get into that in a sec.)

for now: we begin

so. there's no way I'm making a Slaw Man this large. I am just one person, and considering the ingredients of this, I don't think I'm going to be able to consume that much Slaw.

two entire heads of cabbage? three pounds of cottage cheese, a thing that I don't even like to eat? no. that's a bad idea.

so I'm starting small here and making this 1/3 the size of the original:

2 packets of unflavored gelatin 1/4 cup cold water 1 cup mayo 1 tsp salt 1lb cottage cheese 4 cups shredded cabbage

surely this will result in a reasonable amount of Man

...okay, I started chopping the cabbage thinking it would be easier, but I've given up and pulled out a grater. this is much better! and somehow more violent (affectionate)

the recipe says to soften the gelatin in cold water, and then stir over hot water until it's dissolved. I'm going to assume "stir over hot water" means a double boiler, so let's do that

hmmm, the gelatin is very foamy? it’s melted, but the bottom of the pot feels really....sticky

okay. after a couple minutes more and no change, I’m calling this good enough.

so one thing that others who have attempted this recipe have not taken into consideration is the cottage cheese. you see, the others used normal cottage cheese, but the recipe says to use "cottage cheese, cream style"

I’ll be real, I’m not 100% what that means, since we don’t have that here. but I can take an educated guess! so let’s blend the cottage cheese!

(with an immersion blender. I am not willing to wash an actual blender because of this)

mmm, yes. very smooth

...actually. why isn't all cottage cheese like this? the thing I hate about cottage cheese is the texture, so why isn't it all smooth and creamy like this?? I could eat this!!

a new discovery is made every day in this house.

okay, time to start mixing things together.

ah, frosty. I opened a whole new thing of mayo for you! do you feel special?

(I'd make a "pre-dinner snack?" joke, but sometimes I think I'm the only one that remembers Regular Ordinary Swedish Meal Time)

okay, the mayo, cottage cheese, and salt have been added to the gelatin. but as this cools, the texture is getting...hmm. less than appealing.

lastly: the cabbage

oh. oh this is not very nice

next it says to pack the "salad" into a one pound container, and two six-cup bowls, but since I made this recipe so much smaller, I'm going to uhhhh. uh. find some bowls that seem like they'd be correct...snowman? proportions?

ah. this bowl is too big.

hey, these'll work!

now I just have to let them chill for a while, and continue another day.

(edit from current!me: ahhh oh my god I forgot this was pretty soon after we adopted Jackie! look at these cat pics that I took while I was food crime-ing!

look at them having their little interactions! Knuckles was trying so hard to be friends with her! I love them)

hello! two days later and we are ready to assemble the slawman. and my sibling has started referring to him as "frosty: attorney at slaw", so that's fun.

I've done a thing where, as these set, I flipped them around in the bowl so that hopefully they'd be more round. we'll see if they actually stay like this.

I have also made some decorations for him out of peppers, olives, and carrots!

let's build our boy

oh he's so heavy. and wobbly

no no no he almost fell over!!

okay. he's fine. but more skewers were needed.

and...okay. he is complete.

behold!

gaze upon my beautiful man!

(he is not structurally sound! he wobbles unsteadily as I rotate him! there are already cracks forming in the gelatin around where his arms are! don't worry about it!)

 now it's time to stab him

and...to devour him

this tastes like...a bland coleslaw? and not even that. it's just sort of a salty, cottage cheese-y cabbage. the ingredients don't combine to become something greater, they simply...sit there. like this.

and the texture is...mmm. it's not a jello kind of texture, but it is a bit squashy in a way that's mildly strange.

it's very creamy once it softens in your mouth.

...I don't like this!

and look! taking just that one chunk from him was enough to destabilize him entirely :(

RIP frosty. now I just have to see if I can eat all of you before you go bad.

(note from current!me: I could not.

 I ate maybe half of him over the course of many days, often adding other stuff to him to try to add some flavor: bacon, frozen peas, cheese, etc. but even with that, I just couldn't stomach him.

after a while I stuck what was left of him in the freezer, hoping that maybe I'd find the will to consume the rest of him some other day.

do you know what a frozen-and-then-thawed mixture of cabbage, cottage cheese, mayo, and gelatin looks and tastes like?

bad. the answer is: bad.

I threw him out pretty quickly after thawing him.

do not try this recipe at home)

[traineecryptid]

okay so, i hope this isnt a bother but i wanted to get to the root of this so: I contacted Haihe's customer support.

first image: the wechat contacts of said customer support which i got by scanning the company's website so it's not like i got some third hand information off a shady website.

second image: my chat with the customer support, which might i note is so patient with such a non-purchase, non-product issue question?

customer support: hi, how can i help you?

me: im looking for the packaging designs that Haihe had used from past till present. specifically ones used in the 90s and shaped like a pyramid.

customer support: im sorry. i don't have [the information.] we're unable to provide it to you.

me: alright, thank you. sorry for the trouble.

customer support: you're welcome.

me (couldn't bear just giving up and going home): then, may i know when your company had changed their packaging?

customer support: I'm not sure about that.

me: can i at least confirm that there was a past design shaped like a triangle? like the photos attached below?

customer support: [i] have never seen triangle [packaging].

customer support: it's bull horn packaging.

me: could you show me a picture of that so i can be sure how it looks like?

customer support: you can look it up online

me (ive lost braincells and wasnt thinking at the time just googled it and...): the search results are all croissants...

customer support: the official website.

(it took me Too Many minutes to figure out that they meant their company's official website and not like Baidu or sth and lo and behold theres image 3 right on their front page... half blocked by the fact that im on my phone and it loaded weird. so i used a picture i downloaded earlier)

me: is this the bull horn packaging?

customer support: mhm mhm

me: alright, thank you so so much! else i wouldn't be able to sleep with this on my mind.

THUS, here this sidequest ends for me. Of course, there's still the possibility that the customer support has no idea what they're talking about or that the pyramid packaging was a limited run in a specific area and that specific timeframe is niche lore even for employees etc etc. So... perhaps unless someone from Tianjin had childhood photoes of them drinking from a pyramid Haihe milk packet, the case shall remain... unsolved?

(also, i just wanted to say that when i first saw the taobao listing, i immediately thought "oh yeah, thats a triangle for sure, it's wide on the bottom and narrow on top." despite having already seen the korean milk photo, which in hindsight, what *was* my brain on...)

but anyways, thank you for the fun sidequest! now i know what ill be doing if i ever hang by Tianjin: try all 9 flavours of those milk + whatever other crazy new flavours they came up with.

okay google images is giving me nothing but cartons and novelty products,

chinese tumblr

pls tell me i haven't made up this memory

do you remember getting milk in like, these triangular bags? they were shaped kinda like pyramids, you could put straws in em?????

[mythalism]

i feel like all of my pondering and analyzing and criticizing veilguard over the past few months has actually truly given me a better understanding of what dragon age meant to me, what about it specifically was so meaningful, and why, as a result, veilguard felt so wrong. it took a while for me to figure it out. about three full months of relentless essay writing, actually. but i think if you had asked me a few years ago what the core of my love for dragon age was, whatever answer i gave would not have truly gotten to the root of it, because i think i had to experience the disappointment of veilguard to fully understand why i love dragon age. and ive realized that core is that i loved how the previous dragon age entries demand so much of the player, and deliberately prompt introspection and critical, often political, thought.

dragon age games have historically forced the player to be self-reflective and introspective about their worldview and beliefs. solas is obviously a fantastic example, as he was deliberately written to be a reflection of the player in order to prompt them to reflect on how they treat people, how our expectations of people influence their behavior, and how people are pushed to extremes and turned into monsters or saved by love and kindness. how do people become monsters? what drives them to blow up buildings or start rebellions or destroy the world as you know it? are they right or wrong? does it even matter? how did you contribute to this? are you innocent? it puts these insane, politically and morally charged situations in your face and forces you to confront them. slavery, a refugee crisis, poverty, class disparities, racism, foreign occupation, the list goes on, and you are not given the option to look away or be a bystander. you have to ACT. you have to choose, you have to make judgements, you have to take responsibility and explore your role in this world as someone with the capacity to act upon it, to make your will a reality, to fail, to make mistakes. i honestly can't think of any other video game that does this to the same extent? nor any media at all because the act of being IN the world as one of it's people through the act of role-playing is essential to how it provokes this experience in the player. its ballsy. they deliberately try to make you uncomfortable. these games are full of liars, deceivers, betrayers. the games themselves lie to you. its character try to deceive you. did you catch it? or were you fooled? what else might you be fooled by? who else might be lying to you? in the game? in real life? and then you get to play it again knowing the end, and what the game prompts changes with your new knowledge. now it asks, do you forgive them? what makes someone worthy of forgiveness? where do you draw the line? what do you think?

i dont think i realized until recently how impactful this was for me considering how i first got into dragon age at 16 years old. i dont think i had experienced anything up to that point that would put a situation like judging a war criminal who ordered the deaths of children or another war criminal who just left me to die and orchestrated a near-coup or a traumatized terrorist who just blew up a church right in my face, and said MAKE A DECISION. and i didnt know it at the time, but looking back i can see how valuable it was for me at that age to have what was effectively an avenue of exploration and self-expression of all of these moral and political issues that i was grappling with as a young adult. i played inquisition for the first time just months before i voted in my first presidential primary. i already had a political consciousness at this point, but it was nonetheless new and vulnerable and still blossoming into something more concrete. inquisition, then, almost provided a sort of political, moral and personal sandbox for me from ages 16-20 to better help me understand myself in relation to the world. the RPG-ness allowed me to put myself into these situations - like the mage-templar war and its metaphor for mass incarceration and police brutality - while i was also simultaneously grappling with and trying to understand these issues in real life. having dragon age to help me further unpack my own beliefs and conception of these issues was undeniably impactful. it provided a space, through a narrative i enjoyed and cared about, to make choices and judgement calls and better understand who i was, and what felt right to me. it asked, "what do you think?"

veilguard lacks this. completely. and lets be clear that the previous games did not always do a perfect job. many of these depictions are messy and harmful and problematic, but they at least, by extension of their own existence in a narrative that forces you to THINK and JUDGE and DECIDE, give me the space and opportunity to judge them as messy, as problematic, as harmful. i can confidently say that i think da2 is too sympathetic to the templars as an organization because the fact that da2 presents me with so many narrative conflicts regarding the templar organization allows me to not just make in-game decisions and play as a staunch advocate for mage freedom and circle abolition, but to form opinions on the game itself by extension. i can confidently say that i believe the qunari's portrayal is islamophobic because the game has prompted me so many times; what do i think about the qunari? what do i think about the oppression of the elves? what do i think about dorian being a seemingly good person but defending the practice of slavery? who should rule orzammar; the progressive asshole or the conservative traditionalist? do i forgive loghain? do i forgive anders? do i forgive solas? this in-world critical thinking about issues in thedas leads to meta critical thinking. further questions naturally follow -> what message did the writers intend to send through anders? how can i notice the echoes of how this story came into fruition in the shadow of 9/11? what do solas's endings tell me about the writers view of retributive punishment? how is bioware's portrayal of the dalish, as inspired by indigenous north americans, reflective of deep-seated anti-indigenous canadian sentiment? why did the writers stop prompting these hard questions at all in veilguard? did they only like it when it was about characters, not when it led to critical thinking about them and the company as a whole? through these processes of in-world interrogation, i am inevitably invited to analyze the effectiveness of their narrative portrayals and the writing itself. perhaps this is why dragon age is so famous for its discourse lol.

ive said before that im not sure that veilguard could ever have been as impactful for me as the previous games, partly because when you are 16 everything is more impactful because your brain is an eager sponge, unless it did something that really resonated with me as an adult. but what it should have been, at the very least, is something that could have been as impactful and formative on a current 16 year old that sees a gif on tumblr and decides to check out the game, as inquisition was to me 10 years ago. and im sure there are teenagers and younger adults out there playing this game and loving it and loving the characters and the world and thinking its great, good fun. thats great. however it fundamentally cannot have the same profound, developmentally catalytic experience it had on me because it simply does not challenge the player. it does not prompt them to question their own beliefs and the power structures within their lives. it does not prompt them to reflect on the political narratives they may have been fed all their lives. it does not confront them with the sorts of topics that get books on banned lists in florida and force them to bear witness, to think deeper, to feel guilt or horror at the outcome of your own poorly-made decision, to make moral judgements, to make mistakes, and to live with the consequences.

i think i now understand why veilguard was so disappointing to me and ultimately would be a failure in my eyes no matter if i enjoyed the combat or the exploration or whatever other shiny coat of paint sits atop it. veilguard does not ask much of you. it does not prompt any sort of introspection or interrogation of your presently held beliefs. it does not demand anything from the player except to dodge at the right moment. this is a fundamental, core departure from what made me fall in love with dragon age in the first place. if you love dragon age because you want "fantasy escapism" and fun characters to smooch, then i am happy for you. but i would remind you that can find fantasy escapism all over the steam library - farming sims, cozy games, a witch looking for her cat in the alps, etc. what you cannot find are games that are willing and brave enough to challenge and provoke the player into a better, more thorough understanding of themselves in relation to our world and it's many, complex and daunting political and moral issues. to have lost such a thing, when media like this has become so few and far between, and during a time when we need it more than ever, is a devastating loss.

[danikamariewrites]

In Enemy Hands

Mob!Azriel x reader

Warnings: kidnapping, guns, violence, a lil murder but nothing graphic, not proof read

Azriel knew. The heavy feeling in his gut twisting and turning as he paced the driveway.

The mini convoy pulling up had him stopping, his eyes widening at the sight of the damaged Range Rover Cassian was driving. His heart clenched at the destruction.

It was rare Azriel let his men see him in this worried state. He was doing a good job of keeping his mask in place, but Azriel felt like he needed to scream. Like he was going to drop to his knees and let this feral thing inside him out.

Rhys silently stepped up next to his brother, clasping his hand on Azriel’s shoulder. As soon as the cars stopped Azriel pulled away from Rhys to inspect your car. Cassian had already given Az a full report of the damage and how you were taken. He just needed to see it with his own eyes.

Azriel frantically searched the car for any clue that you could’ve left. “Az there’s nothing in here,” Cassian says gently.

“No,” Azriel roars, whipping around to give Cassian a deadly glare. “There — she has to,” Az fumbles over his words.

For the first time since he was a child a tear slid down his cheek. For the first time since he was a child Azriel felt fear.

Anger quickly mixed itself in. Azriel quickly sees red. His breaths were bordering on pants as he cast a pained look at your car.

“I am going to kill every single one of them.”

You push your chest against the ropes keeping you to the rolling chair. All that does is slowly spin you in a circle. You pull at the duct tape binding your wrists to the arms of the chair.

Even though your whole body ached from the collision you fought. And you’d keep fighting.

The door squeaks open as Beron stands over you. He's supposed to be a myth these days. Living out his exile in a quiet town, cut off from his family.

When Eris overthrew his father to become head of the family he showed Beron mercy. Something he never showed any of his sons. The fact that Beron was in the city, and with a small army backing him, meant trouble.

“Eris might actually kill you this time,” I break his brooding silence. “Do you not want to live, or are you just itching for round two with the head of the Vanserra fam—” your words melted into a piercing scream as Beron gave your knee a hard kick.

Pain blinds you. Thanks to the crash you’re pretty sure your knee is somewhere between dislocated and broken. Focusing on breathing through it you regain your composure.

“The bastard that took my spot is weak. Your boyfriend even weaker. I know they owe each other. And the pretender has no one, you were next on the list.”

You groan, absorbing the information. Nesta was good at laying low then. And you’re not a rat.

“Finacé.”

Beron gives me a disgusted scowl. “Fiancé now. Do you not get the newsletter out in the suburbs?” You shoot him a shit eating grin. Beron’s growing rage tells you to quit it with the quips.

“The title doesn’t change anything. My plan is already in motion.” Your heart skipped a beat.

“Aahh the facade does crack.” He grins. Your glare turns murderous. “If you hurt Azriel you won’t have to be afraid of the family’s. Just me.” Beron lets out a cackle as he leaves you to your pain.

It’s already been a full 24 hours and Azriel hasn’t slept. He angrily paced the house as Eris ran point, commanding men to watch Beron’s old hideouts. To comb the city and leave no stone unturned.

Rhys and Cassian have been taking turns to try and ease their brother’s anxiety. Mostly it was to make sure Azriel didn’t run off to take Beron on alone.

Right when Azriel was about to implode Eris ran into the office to report that you’ve been found.

“I have a man on the inside with Beron. We need to move now to catch them off guard, I’ll explain on the way.” Azriel didn’t wait for Eris to finish before he was out the front door.

When the warehouse comes into sight Azriel has to restrain himself from jumping out of the car. “Remember,” Eris’s stern voice sounds down the comms. “Wait for the signal.” Azriel rolls his eyes, knowing that command was targeted at him.

They stay out for almost an hour before Eris’s informant gives the signal.

Entering the building Azriel almost threw up his heart at the sight.

Once Atlas finally gained your trust you let him cut you loose and help stabilize your knee. Thanks to the pain you had to put your weight on him.

Shuffling out of the room you were hidden away in being out in the open made your heart race. Some guards patrolled the upstairs, a few weaved between the stacked pallets.

Atlas dragged you behind a stack of boxes to send a text to Eris. “Stay here.” Atlas whispers. You make yourself as small as possible. Pressing you back against the boxes as you watch Atlas cut through the room to silently cut down those foolish enough to side with Beron.

A second person took down the men upstairs. Silently laying them down as their bodies went limp in his arms.

When Atlas returns you immediately push yourself up, leaning your weight on him again.

Halfway through the warehouse angry footsteps sound from behind. Followed by the click of a gun. Atlas whipped around, shoving you behind him.

“Beron, you don’t want to do this.” He said, raising his gun. The laugh that escaped Beron sent painful chills through your body.

“Enough games. Where’s the boy? Or is he not brave enough to face me?”

“Eris will be here soon enough.”

The two stare each other down. Neither wanted to shoot first. Atlas pushes you, silently asking you to hide and leave him.

Turning as quickly as your knee would let you hobble down the center of the room, aiming to dive behind another stack of boxes.

Two shots sound behind you. One followed by the thud of Atlas’s body. The other right next to your foot. You let yourself fall, putting your weight on your uninjured side.

Beron grabbed you by the back of your neck, hauling you to your feet.

“Any second.” He panted into your ear. Beron’s arm wrapped around your neck, his gun pressing into your temple.

The door slammed open to reveal Azriel, Eris, and the rest of their men. You let out a small sigh of relief at all the familiar faces.

Your eyes meet Azriel’s rage filled ones. “Beron,” he roars. “Let her go!”

“When I have you both where I want you?” You claw at Beron’s arm attempting to loosen his grip.

Azriel was struggling with what to do. He wants to shoot Beron but he was petrified of hitting you by accident. If he moved, Beron would likely kill you.

Eris opens his mouth to threaten his father when a gun goes off. Beron howls and Eris rushes forward to pin him. Everything plays out in slow motion for Azriel. Once he realizes you fall he runs to you.

Azriel scoops you to his chest, rocking you and running his fingers through your tangled hair. “Y/n, oh my sweet y/n. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” Azriel keeps repeating the apology. You cling to him, breathing in his comforting scent.

He pulls away from you to look you over. Tears prick at Azriel’s eyes when he sees the small gash on your forehead and hurt knee. “Oh my angel.”

“I’m ok, Az.” He shakes his head pulling you back to his chest. Picking you up bridal style Azriel briefly talks to Eris. The next time you look up Azriel is buckling you in the car, never taking his arm from around you.

Az doesn’t let you walk in the house, carrying you tight to his chest again. Bringing you to the spare room you see the family doctor is already set up. An hour later she determines your knee has a bone bruise and the cut on your forehead just requires neosporin and a bandaid.

Before the doc leaves Azriel brings you to the bedroom, helping you change and tucking you in with a heating pad.

You stare at him holding his hand. “Sit, love.” He does as you say, the tears he’s been holding back finally falling from eyes. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers again. “I’m so sorry I failed to keep you safe.” You shake your head at him.

“You brought me home. I’m with you.” Az nods. “I brought you home.” He says more to himself than you.

He stays by your side for days. You can’t even get out of bed without Azriel supporting you or carrying you where you want to go. You let him for his sanity.

Weeks later, you get up without Azriel beside you for the first time. Your knee still hurts a little but you keep moving through the pain.

As if he could sense what you’re doing, Azriel pokes his head in. You smirk at him. “Hi Azzy.” He blushes slightly at the nickname.

“What are you doing up so early?” You roll your eyes playfully. “Can’t I get up and have breakfast with my fiancé?”

“Of course,” he whispers, cupping your cheek. Azriel has been trying not to hover since you’ve fully healed. You can see the hesitation in his eyes as his other hand twitches to wrap around you.

Wrapping your arms around his shoulders you lean into Az. “Will you carry me downstairs?” You press soft kisses to his soft skin to butter him up. Azriel relaxes, scooping you to his chest.

Maybe letting Azriel hover for a little while longer won’t be such a bad thing.

[fantastic-nonsense]

An Explanation of DC's Multiple Universal Reboots and How to Navigate DCU Canon

This is an expansion of a shorter explanation I gave on my Batfam Starter Recs reading list. I figured it might be helpful to have it as a standalone explanation for new comic readers learning how to navigate DC's various attempts to deal with the concept of canon.

The Multiverse is a storytelling device within DC Comics that explains how most of the comics DC has published are tied together or are separate from each other. There exists a "main" universe, where most of DC's published comics collectively take place, and then several alternate universes where things happened differently than they did in the main universe. The multiverse allows writers to explore various concepts like "what if the Jack the Ripper murders happened in Victorian-era Gotham?" and "what if DC's women were the primary heroes of their universe and fought in World War II?" without affecting anything going on in the main universe.

DC Comics canon works in three "mainline" universes:

the pre-Crisis universe (everything published from the beginning of DC Comics until the Crisis on Infinite Earths event in 1986)

the post-Crisis universe (everything published between 1986 and 2011)

the post-Flashpoint universe (everything published from 2011-now)

In the 1980s, management at DC decided that continuity had become too outdated, convoluted, and contradictory to tell coherent stories within a shared universe as more stories were told, new characters were introduced, and new context to prior stories was added. The company had previously attempted to solve this problem in the 1960s by publishing "Flash of Two Worlds," assigning existing stories to two different universes (Earth-One and Earth-Two), and creating a smattering of other alternate universes (Earth-Three was the home of the Crime Syndicate, evil AU versions of the Justice League, for example), but found that this did not actually solve the issue.

So. They decided to do a total universal reboot. That reboot was initiated by the company-wide crossover event known as Crisis on Infinite Earths, published from 1985 to 1986.

COIE effectively rebooted the entire internal DC Universe from the dawn of time onward. A new universal history now existed: the vast majority of characters/character history, history, and events from the varying alternate timelines that existed in the previous universe were retold, retooled, condensed, and/or thrown out in favor of a new, theoretically streamlined single reality. From 1986-2011, DC Comics mainline continuity was published in this shared universe, which industry professionals and fans alike called the 'post-Crisis' universe; in-universe, we refer to this primary version of DC's continuity "New Earth" (or occasionally, Earth-0).

For a wide variety of reasons that I won't get into here, DC completely rebooted their universe again in 2011 following the Flashpoint event comic. This new primary universe—interchangeably called the New 52 universe, post-Flashpoint universe, or Prime Earth, depending on the conversation—once again drastically changed many characters’ histories, personalities, and relationships with each other (sometimes for the better, most of the time for the worse). This is the current universe for DC's main comic line.

Within these three overarching iterations of the DCU, there were several events aimed to clean up, refresh, or reorganize various continuity problems. You may hear people refer to "post-Zero Hour" continuity, for example, to describe post-Crisis events/character histories that were revamped after Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! was published in 1994. "post-Rebirth" continuity, another common descriptor, refers to the reorganization of the post-Flashpoint/Prime Earth universe that happened after the Rebirth event in 2016.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, these are the most common ones you'll hear about:

Pre-Crisis Universe (1937-1986): "Flash of Two Worlds" (1961)

Post-Crisis Universe (1986-2011): pre/post-Zero Hour (1994-2005), post-Infinite Crisis and One Year Later (2005-2008), & post-Final Crisis (2008-2011)

Post-Flashpoint Universe (2011-present): The New 52 (comics written from 2011-2015), Convergence/DCYou (the first attempt to fix New 52 continuity, lasted from 2014-2016), pre/post-Rebirth (2016-2021)—and within Rebirth continuity there were two events, Dark Knights: Metal and its sequel, Death Metal, that did some minor universal revamps (2018-2021)—and post-Death Metal continuity, also known as Infinite Frontier (2021-present). Dark Crisis (2022) also exists but didn't really change the multiversal lore status quo, just simplified the explanation.

Other important universal lore-related things to note about these events:

Prior to Crisis on Infinite Earths, the DCU was an "infinite multiverse." There were no limits on the number of alternate universes that existed and no in-depth explanation for how they were connected or unconnected to the DCU's main timeline.

COIE destroyed the infinite multiverse and condensed everything into one, single universe. Between 1986 and 2005, there were technically no acknowledged alternate universes beyond the "antimatter universe."

"Hypertime" was created by Mark Waid and Alex Ross in 1999 as a way to get around this rule and eventually became the "go-to" way of explaining and fixing various continuity errors. Hypertime is a network of alternate timeline "echoes" that branch off from the main DCU timeline and occasionally overlap with each other, causing alterations in reality.

Since there could only be one timeline, continuity discrepencies were often "fixed" by explaining that one version of events happened in a previous, now destroyed timeline (that characters may or may not remember). Characters could cross from one timeline to another if needed, but any changes resulting from time travelers messing with events caused the destruction of their orginal timeline.

The "Elseworlds" imprint was another method of writing alternate universe stories without explicitly acknowledging the multiverse existed. DC officially just called these books "non-canon" stories without trying to explain how they existed in relation to the main universe. Most if not all of these stories are now considered part of the multiverse.

The infinite multiverse was briefly restored after Infinite Crisis in 2005 and then merged into a single 52-universe multiverse the year afterwards in 52. This new, limited multiverse was explained as there being an "original" Earth (Earth-0) with each successive universe being further and further removed from that one.

The initial post-Flashpoint/New 52 explanation of the multiverse was that there was a limited 52-universe multiverse. That explanation was somewhat overwritten after Rebirth and fully retconned after Death Metal.

Death Metal introduced the concept of the "omniverse," a multiverse of infinite multiverses. Yes, this is dumb. Yes, we generally ignore it and it has now been fully retconned.

The "Dark Multiverse" (a temporary "dark negative counterpart" of each Multiverse reality created by the fears of a universe's people) is theoretically a thing that exists. No, no one else really understands it either and the concept is generally restricted to the two Metal events.

Since Dark Crisis, the DCU is once again a single infinite multiverse in the vein of late pre-Crisis continuity. Every universe and continuity exists, and some are closer to the mainline reality than others.

Right now, the main DCU is once again a singular multiverse with an infinite number of universes. Technically, every version of "mainline universe" history throughout the existence of the multiverse is now considered to have occurred and is remembered by the inhabitants of Prime Earth. In practice, this means that "everything is nebulously canon or non-canon until explicitly acknowledged by a writer to have definitively happened and/or be something that a character remembers happening to them."

Unfortunately, not a lot of writers are doing much with that concept right now outside of picking and choosing their favorite parts of mainline canon to focus on and/or re-canonize, but it at least presents a path forward where a lot of the continuity and characterization issues created by the New 52 reboot are able to be properly addressed.

I hope this explanation was helpful for people, and I'm happy to try and field any further questions as well!

[becausebuckley]

michelle's buddie fic recs: week 6!

and what a week it's been... idk about you all, but i'm very much looking forward to all the 8b spec fic after seeing That One Leak...

this is a mix of fics with all ratings, so some include NSFW content. please take a look at both the ratings and the fic tags before reading! some might also contain spoilers for season 8.

if you come across something you like in this list, remember to show some love to the author by leaving kudos and a comment!

a graveyard in blue | moonlightmornings/@moonlight-mornings | 12.9k | GA

After a call goes south because of limited resources and an equipment malfunction, Eddie's brave move to rescue a young girl takes a nasty turn. i love how this captures the energy and vibe of a rescue!! genuinely feels straight out of an episode <3

and i'd do it over and over again | playinginthunderstorms/@playinginthunderstorms | 4.4k | E

Buck and Eddie hook up at the end of "Confessions". oh when i tell you i savoured this one... such a wonderful fic that captures buddie's first time so so perfectly!! i love how their dynamic is written here <3

everything in between | simplyylupin | 2.1k | T

They’re quiet for a moment, mulling over the unsaid, and then Buck’s bringing his phone closer to his face, eyes squinting. “Are you naked?” the absolute codependency of these two <3 so good!!

hot ghost problems | ebjameston/@ebjameston | 40.9k | T

The ghost would prefer to go by Buck, if Eddie wouldn’t mind. this was a reread! i was reminded of the magic system here and revisited it - can confirm that magic and ghosts and all that are so very good here, and i love the diaz siblings!!

i'll tell them put me back in it (and i would do it again) | paleredheadinascifi | 4.8k| T

Eddie doesn't know how to make his listening history private. Buck doesn't know what to do with the words in front of his eyes. Chris cannot believe he has to deal with either of them. the sheer brilliance of this concept... such a lovely look at the buckley-diaz dynamics! i was smiling the whole way through <3

it's golden, like daylight | rarakiplin/@hoediaz | 8.7k | T

“Shut up,” fingers dig into his ribs, “I mean, would you want to? Be married again?” such wonderful firefam dynamics!! i read this last week, i think, and already reread it this past week as well. a new favourite for sure <3

lonely little love dog | littleghost/@ghostlandtoo | 24k | M

When the 118 is closed for reconstruction after an earthquake, Buck is a floater for different stations around the city. He tries not to let it get to him. Much. this is such a fascinating look at buck's character!! and i LOVED the mara scene <3

parabola | semperama/@semperama | 4.6k | T

“Hey, uh. By the way.” Buck’s been thinking about this, and he has to say it now, or it’ll explode out of him at a much worse time, in a much worse way. “Make sure you don’t forget to change your will again.” truly no fic captures the angst with a happy ending tag like this. also this fic is how i learned that there's a special ao3 tag for eddie's will, which sounds about right. anyway, point is, this is wonderful!!

the last shred of truth in the lost myth of true love | lemonzestywrites/@lemonzestywrites | 25.7k | E

After the events of 6x13, Buck is worried he's lost his charm in bed. Eddie eagerly offers his services to prove otherwise. a reread of one of my favourite fics <3 there's something about the intersection of smut and feelings realisation and introspection in this fic that just hits so very hard, it's lovely <3

the whale fall principle | fastcardotmp3/@fastcardotmp3 | 95.5k | M

Daniel Buckley lives, but he’s still deciding what that means. Maddie is having a baby, but it isn’t her husband’s. And Evan knows his purpose. Until he doesn’t anymore. okay so definitely heed the creator chose not to use archive warnings tag here (there are specific warnings in the chapter notes) but holy shit, this fic. genuinely the best buckley sibling dynamics i have read, like, maybe ever. such a wonderful eddie and chimney and everyone, and such gorgeous writing!! if this one sounds up your alley, you're in for a treat <3

to ebb and flow | akapeterman/@akapeterman | 5.1k | GA

buck is sick, eddie is worried, and christopher is an angel. they'll be okay. i've really been vibing with sickfics lately, can you tell? this is another lovely lovely fic, such great hurt/comfort/domestic fluff!!

wait for me to come home | written_promises | 1.9k | GA

Eddie comes back home to LA from Texas to find Buck waiting for him… in his bed. Because he’s been living in Eddie’s home. and eddie's bed is exactly where buck should be<3 so soft and sweet and beautiful!!

we return to each other in waves | cozycatwriter/@leon-trans-kennedy | 3.1k | GA

“Yes I do. Of course I do. You saved Chris and looked after him the best you could during a tsunami-and you’re still recovering from an embolism from having your leg crushed on the job. The least I could do is look after you and let you stay the night. Besides, Chris would want you to stay.” post-tsunami fics my beloveds <3 it genuinely makes me so happy to see new ones pop up, and this is truly an excellent one!! i love the bed-sharing especially!

you need a friendly hand (and i need action) | AmZamReads | 13.1k | E

Eddie picks up pottery as a hobby and accidentally blows up on Instagram for "accidentally" posting thirst traps of him throwing on the wheel. Buck stumbles across the account and immediately becomes obsessed with Eddie's hands, and horny shenanigans ensues. this fic makes me wish i could make pottery. i love eddie's pottery friends!! and a lovely buddie dynamic too <3

[fandomtrumpshate]

Wanting to tweak your auction listing? Sit tight!

We know that our creators (all 1200+ of you!) are eagerly awaiting the email that will announce the arrival of their auction post and provide a link to the editing form. We should have that for you in just a few more days!

In the meantime, please do not email your edits to us. We hate to say it, but emailing us your edits will not get them done any faster.

Why do we do it this way now? Why not let you use the edit link Google Forms can provide?

Basically: We want/need the spreadsheet with the signup info to be as stable as possible, both while we're getting our scripts set up as signups are coming in, and especially after signups close as we start to process them and create posts. If we use the Google Forms edit link, it doesn't notify us when information has changed, which can jam things up if a cell said one thing the first time our script saw it and says something else now. We also can't turn off editing for individual signups, so if you went to edit it after we generated your post, that edit would not make it into your post.

Which leaves us with changing things manually. While there were limited cases during the signup process where we went in to edit people's signups in the spreadsheet (for example, people with typos in their email addresses), in general it is just much, much safer for us to go in after the fact and edit an individual Dreamwidth post than for us to be mucking about in the spreadsheet with all 1500+ auctions, where one wrong move might delete someone else's information.

So please sit tight and wait for that link! Thanks for your patience in the meantime - and if you're bored waiting, don't forget to check out our reading resources over at @fthaction and this Tuesday's upcoming AMA with Kat Calvin from Spread the Vote and Project ID!

[metanarrates]

Do you have any thoughts about Mark's brother's "shitty book" being a bit of a catalyst for the changing behavior in the MDR team?

Is it a common experience for people in Mormonism/cults to find some kind of "outside 'shitty' media" that they enjoy and leads them to start questioning more of the "programming"?

i do have thoughts! unsure if they're unique or revolutionary insights, given that this is stuff that anyone might be able to infer from watching the show, but I can ramble about it a bit

so it is a really, really common cult tactic to disallow, or in lower-control cults, just heavily disapprove of certain types of unapproved material. this is a tactic of thought control - if you only consume things that don't contradict the cult's mindset, you are much less likely to be influenced by something that could lead to you questioning or acting out. (i'll note that mormonism is typically lower control in that regard - you're heavily discouraged and shamed out of consuming things that are impure, but there's no actual banned books list or anything.) cult members often end up with pretty limited worldviews and understanding of the broader world because of this.

because the pool of approved ideas in a cult like this is so very limited, it's not uncommon to have a lifeline out be something that seems very small and mundane to ordinary people. something like a group of non-cult friends, or a weekly class, or even a shitty book might give the cult member the much-needed experiences and insight that they need to realize that something isn't right. sure, ricken's book in severance is objectively full of shitty, self-centered platitudes, and is quite shallow, but to someone like mark s., who has never once heard that his interior experiences matter and that he shouldn't be controlled by his work, it is revolutionary. he needs a little self-centeredness to be able to escape the trap that lumon has put him into, frankly!

i'll also point out that limiting materials/approved experiences isn't just relegated to physically limiting what members can do. there is a heavy propaganda in almost all these cases against unapproved material and unapproved actions, saying that they will make the people who engage in them miserable, unfulfilled, impure, etc. etc. etc. while this particular tactic doesn't seem to work much on mark s., we do have an example of that kind of propaganda working on a severance character, which is of course irving.

irving in many ways is a perfect cult member. throughout much of season 1, he is deeply ideologically committed to lumon. he quotes the handbook like a bible, finds all his meaning and beauty in life through lumon teachings, and strives to be the best worker he can be for the sake of kier's vision. and like any good cult member, he fears what might happen if he contradicts what he's been taught to be. he might become tainted or imperfect if he does things that are banned or has thoughts or behaviors that aren't in line with what lumon approves of.

what he finds to free him of that is not reading material, but a relationship with burt. and though this is a little bit different than the original question, i do find it to be very emotionally similar to what I myself have experienced. if you're told all your life that doing something Wrong will make you miserable, but you discover that it makes you happy or gives you new insight into the world, it's a powerful catalyst to break free! you realize how much has been kept from you by a prison of fear, and you realize how much you've been taught was a lie.

irving has this experience with burt, realizes that what he has been taught makes him miserable, and it sets his attempts for freedom into motion. and this is a full aside now, but as a gay ex-cult member who used to be deeply committed to the cult, it's why i find myself Really resonating with his character. me too guy!!! a powerful experience of love outside of what you've been shown is Right can really do a number on your head for real.

but to answer your question finally - yes, it's common enough. a lot of cult members don't always break free because they have experiences with something Profound. it's often quite mundane but that mundanity shows them that there's more to life than what they know!

[lillaydee]

The Unlucky One Part 6

Joel Miller (No Outbreak AU) / F Reader

When it comes to love, Lady Luck seems to have lost your address. After being left at the altar without so much of an explanation, you decided love is no longer something you are interested in. Not even meeting an unlucky-in-love-himself Mr. Grump could change your mind.

Right?

Let me know if you want to be tagged, or if you want to be removed from the tag list.

WARNINGS: Protective Joel (The Last of Us), Good Parent Joel (The Last of Us), Soft Joel (The Last of Us), Joel is Bad at Feelings (The Last of Us), Joel Needs a Hug (The Last of Us), Hurt Joel (The Last of Us), Grumpy Joel (The Last of Us), Jealousy, Fluff and Angst, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Idiots in Love, unlucky in love, Child Abandonment, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Alternate Universe - No Cordyceps Outbreak (The Last of Us)

@peelieblue, @vickie5446, @harriedandharassed, @lovefreylove @martuxduckling @kikookii @liciafonseca

SERIES MASTER LIST

Part 5

---

Fuck.

Fuck, fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck!

It’s him. Mr Grump. Joel. The man you had an extremely memorable night with. The man who gave you the best sex of your life. The man you cried so much about after he left, even more so than you did with Andrew ditching you at the altar.

The man you couldn’t stop thinking about, whose kisses, touches and caresses you still feel when you sleep at night.

And this nice woman, the woman who was so sweet and thoughtful she ran over when she heard a crash that she banged on your door to make sure you, a stranger she had never met was alright. The woman so lovely she offered her men’s services (she had more than one man?) to help you out with assembling your mountain of Ikea furniture so you could save some money.

The woman who Mr Grump cheated on. With you.

Oh… you were going to hell. You had bought a house next door to the man you had a fling with. The one he shared with his ‘baby’, Tess.

Joel took out a backpack from the passenger seat before turning around to close the door. He saw Tess and smiled at her.

“Come here, I want you to meet our new neighbour!” she waved him over.

Joel saw you and froze.

Oh shit, it’s her, he thought. It’s you. The woman he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about. You’re here. You’re his neighbour. He swore his heart was about to leap out of his mouth and skip over to you out of happiness.

But then… that look on your face.

You didn’t seem too happy to see him.

In fact, you seemed to be panicking.

Why weren’t you happy to see him?

Why would you be panicking?

For the first time since he last saw you, after weeks of pining and reminiscing about you, going through one restless night after another wondering what he did wrong, if he was so bad in bed you had decided to ghost him, falling asleep only to dream of your naked body in his arms, a horrific thought came to his head.

He remembered seeing a man come by a few times these past few weeks. He thought the guy was the one buying the house, making a mental note to go over and say hi once he’s all moved in.

Fuck. Tess said you were the new neighbour. You were with him. You were married, weren’t you? But you were not wearing a ring. You had a boyfriend, then? At that moment he wanted to kick himself for not seeing it. Of course you were taken. Someone as great, as beautiful as you? What stupid man wouldn’t snatch you up?

And he slept with you.

And now you’d moved in next door. With your man. And he had to keep his mouth shut about that wonderful night, the one where he had the best sex of his life - fuck he could still feel your touches on his body, could still hear your moans - and just watch as you live your life with your man.

“Joel?” Tess’s wave got more aggressive.

He could see you fidget, as if trying to get away. But Tess kept waving, and try as he might to resist, his feet just moved on their own volition, his body drawn to you like metal to a magnet. But his face… his face just felt frozen. He couldn’t even smile. He wanted to, so badly. Wanted to show you how happy he was to see you again. But the thought that had just invaded his mind wouldn’t go away, and all he could think of was that you had cheated on this man, this very good looking man he saw going in and out of the house these past weeks, with him.

You cheated on your man. With him. He helped a cheater cheat.  

Fuck.

He finally got to your doorstep, and Tess gave him the usual hug and peck on the cheek, his body stiff. He could see your face turn hard, eyes boring into his, as if you were trying to kill him by staring into his soul.

Little did he know, he was doing the same to you.

What the fuck was his problem, you thought. Why was he looking at you as if you did something wrong? Shouldn’t he be panicking at this point? You just moved in next door, and you had just met his Tess. He should be kissing your feet and begging you not to say anything to her right about now. And all you got was a death stare? Fuck you, Joel Grump.

“Joel, this is our new neighbour… I’m sorry, I’ve just realized that I didn’t catch your name,” Tess turned to you, a friendly smile on your face.

“Aria,” you said through gritted teeth.

Her expression quickly morphed into one of excitement. “Aria? Aria Grump?” she turned to Joel so fast her neck creaked. “Is this her?”

What in the world was she so fucking excited about?

Oh, God, he told her? Were they in some sort of a twisted relationship and you’d just been recruited in as some sort of a third-wheel or something? Was she expecting you to be in a throuple with them? Uhm… no thank you!

Joel didn’t react, but Tess turned back to you and asked, almost squealing, “It is you, isn’t it? From Bali? Oh my God, it’s so good to finally meet you!” she practically tackled you into a hug.

Okay, this was just weird now. Whatever their deal was, you didn’t want any part of it, you’d quickly decided. But Tess was so over the moon that you couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

“Oh my God, we’ve been looking for you! You have no idea! Joel here hadn’t been able to stop…”

A quick jab from Joel stopped her. She looked at him, confusion on her face, about to retaliate, but seeing the expression on his face stopped her.

That, and the sound and sight of the truck pulling up your driveway.

Kyle jumped out, looking dashing in his suit, carrying what looked like a brand new battery operated screwdriver kit in his hand. He walked up to the house, gave you the usual ‘hi babe’ accompanied by a quick smooch on your lips and extended his hand to Joel.

“You must be the new neighbours, hi, I’m Kyle,” he said, a very cheery, real estate agent smile on his face.

Joel was taken aback, but quickly snapped out of it, taking Kyle’s hand, “Joel,” he said. “This is my… Tess,” he added, placing his hand on Tess’s waist. Tess shook Kyle’s hand, her face now less cheery than it was before.

There were a few awkward seconds of absolute silence before you told Kyle that Joel was one of the contractors that revamped the house.

“Really? Mac raved about you. Your work is excellent, sir,” Kyle said, “She was thinking of doing a bit of work on the house once the move is finished, maybe we could talk to you about that?” he asked Joel, honestly impressed with his work.

“Sure, just knock on our door and we’ll talk,” Joel said through gritted teeth.

The silence came back. Kyle placed his arm around you, uncomfortable with the sudden tension, not really understanding why. A car stopping in front of his driveway distracted all four of you, an older lady coming out and opening the passenger door. Tess muttered something about seeing you around, running over to collect the little girl who had just emerged from the passenger seat. Joel nodded awkwardly to you and Kyle and followed her, the little girl yelling at him telling ‘Daddy’ she got an A for her drawing.

You watched as he lifted the little girl in his arms and giving her so many smooches she squealed, telling him it tickles Daddy!

Daddy? Daddy?

Fuck. They have a child. You slept with a man in a relationship with a Tess, and they had a child together. You were officially a homewrecker.

You couldn’t watch this.

You pulled a still smiling Kyle into the house, slamming your door behind him.

**********

Kyle was sitting on the legless couch, watching as you paced your cluttered living room.

“Babe, what’s going on? What am I missing?”

“How soon can we resell?”

“What?”

“I can’t live here. I need to resell the house.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? I thought you love the house!”

“Tell me, how soon can I resell? Fuck it. I’ll rent it out. I need you to find me another house. Like, yesterday.”

“Babe, you’re not making sense. What is going on?” he had you by the shoulders now, shaking you a little, worry and confusion etched all over his face.

You were hyperventilating. He quickly sat you down, going to the kitchen to get you a bottle of water. “Babe, breathe, head between your knees. Aria, you’re scaring me. What is going on?”

“That’s Joel.”

“The hot contractor neighbour? Yeah, that’s Joel. He told me his name.”

“No, that’s Joel. That’s Joel!”

“Am I supposed to understand what that means? Babe, are you feeling okay? Do you smell toast?”

“That’s Joel. That’s Joel!”

His face was still scrunched up, utterly confused.

A knock on the door startled you – you were prepared to just run upstairs and never come down, but Maria’s voice gave you a bit of an ease. You ran to open the door, pulling her in so quickly she almost fell headlong into Kyle. You quickly shut the door, blocking it with your body, that panicked look still evident.

“What’s going on?” Maria placed the newly bought screwdriver set she brought on the floor.

“She kept saying ‘that’s Joel’,” Kyle told her.

Her eyes widened – “Joel? Like, Joel, Joel? Bali Joel?”

You nodded frantically.

“Okay, what about him?”

“He lives next door,” Kyle told her.

Maria gasped, suddenly body-blocking the door alongside you, confusing Kyle further.

“I saw her. She came over. She’s so pretty. And so nice. They have a child,” you whispered, tears suddenly filling your eyes.

“Oh, babes, I’m so sorry!” she hugged you, and you sobbed into her shoulder. She held you long and tight, and once you let go, she turned to Kyle and asked, “How soon can she sell the house?”

“What the fuck is going on?” he asked, completely befuddled.

“That’s Joel,” Maria hissed at him.

“So I’ve been told. Why is that important?”

“I slept with him in Bali, okay?” you shout-whispered at him.

He let out an enormous gasp, excitement clearly written all over his face, “You had a one night stand? Finally! Ooh… he’s very good looking, was he good? He looks like he might be very good, oh, we should celebrate. Would it be cruel to ask a man with only one good leg to grab champagne on his way over?” he took his phone out and began checking for possible deliveries for champagne and glasses.

You and Maria stared at him as if he’d gone crazy.

“Were you dropped on your head or something? You just met his girlfriend, and daughter!”

Kyle’s excitement morphed into one of horror. Oh fuck!

“You didn’t know he had someone?”

“Sure I do! And I chose to fuck him still, cause I make it a point to only fuck men in relationships all the time!”

Silence. You buried you face in your hands, sliding down to the floor, sobbing. “What am I gonna do? I really liked him, Kyle, how am I supposed to live here and watch them live their happy lives?”

He kneeled in front of you, rubbing your arm. He was clearly lost for words. Maria was sitting next to you now, your head on her shoulder, rubbing your knee.

“And her, his ‘baby’, or whoever she was to him, she was so nice, she came here because she heard a crash, all ready to help. I liked her immediately. She knew about me. I don’t know what he told her, but I struggle to think he told her everything. If so, what do I do? Do I tell her? They have a child together!”

There was a few minutes of silence as they silently supported you as your sobs began to cease.

“Oh, shit,” Maria suddenly said.

“What?” you and Kyle both asked.

“Does this mean Tommy is here, too?”

Your eyes widened, and in spite of yourself, you wanted to tease her. But the clear panic in her eyes made you stop. Instead, you shrugged. “I don’t know, I didn’t ask. It wasn’t exactly that kind of a reunion,” you said.

“Uhm, and who is this Tommy?” Kyle asked, a sly smile returning to his face.  

**********

Tess came downstairs after putting Sarah down for a nap. Joel was nowhere to be found in the house. She went back upstairs to check his room, nothing. She came back out to the corridor, a very faint smell of cigarettes in the air. She went into Tommy’s room across the corridor, on the side of the house that was facing away from your house, smiling when she saw his window open. She popped her head out onto the roof, seeing Joel sitting outside next to the window, a cigarette in his hand. She climbed out, Joel immediately steadying her with his hand. She lowered the window enough and took the cigarette from him, taking a puff.

“So, that was really her, huh? I can see why you couldn’t get her out of your head. She’s pretty.”

“And has a Kyle. Fuck, I feel so stupid!”

“Don’t, don’t do that to yourself. You didn’t know.”

“How can I live here now, seeing them live their lives right next door? She cheated on him with me!”

“Maybe they just met?”

“And moved in together? After a few weeks?”

Silence. Joel hung his head, stubbing the cigarette out. He genuinely looked as if he was about to cry.

“What was the deal with you placing your hand on my waist? You’d never done that before.”

“I panicked, okay? She was right there, with him, and I just panicked. I don’t know why I did that,” he said, hanging his head low between his knees as if he was about to vomit.

“You really like her, don’t you?”

Joel rubbed his face, “I know you think it’s stupid, I know you and Tommy think I fall too fast, too hard, yeah, that’s right, I heard you two talking about me. But Tess, this woman, she’s something else. I felt like myself again around her. She made me feel… I don’t know…” Joel searched for the words that seemed to escape him.

“Whole.”

He looked at his cousin, who was now looking at him with a sad happiness in her eyes.

“Yeah,” he nodded, rubbing his face, trying desperately not to cry in front of his cousin, who might as well be the sister he never had.

“What do I do, Tess? Kyle was already talking about renovations. Wanting to talk to me about it. Do I tell him?”

Tess got all quiet. She shrugged. “I don’t know, Joel.” She held out her hand to him, asking for a cigarette. He lit another, taking a deep drag before handing it to her. “Look, you know where I stand on cheating. I mean, look at me, look at how I ended up living here with you in the first place,” she said. “But let’s be honest. You don’t know her that well. Tommy said you don’t even know her last name, and she didn’t know yours. The way I see it, she was definitely hiding something from you, but you don’t know what it is. It could be something else. Maybe they were on a break. Maybe they broke up.”

Joel took the cigarette back from her, taking a drag. “What’s your point?”

“I’m just saying, if there was a possibility that she withheld the fact that she had someone from you, there was also a possibility that she withheld another fact that could innocently explain why she slept with you. Maybe talk to her about it before you judge her?”

“Even if there was an innocent explanation,” he said, “She’s with him now. And come on, Tess. Look at him. There is no way I could compete with that guy. You know Mac told me they bought the place cash? Did you forget why Jen left me in the first place?”

“Not all women are like Jen, Joel.”

He took a deep breath. “I know.”

**********

You, Maria, Kyle and Ethan worked together to put the most basic of the stuff you need together that day. Your bed, after much struggling to carry the damn thing and the mattress upstairs, your cupboard, which somehow took the three people with uninjured limbs four whole hours to assemble. Ethan stayed downstairs, and without moving from his spot in the middle of the living room, bad leg out straight, managed to put all the legs to both your couches on, assemble your coffee table, TV cabinet, night stands, side tables and all eight dining chairs with no problem at all. He was working on your bar stools when the three of you came back downstairs, far too sweaty for your liking.

“Feeling better babes?” he asked, cocking his head at you in sympathy, patting the couch for you to sit down. You shook your head, plopping yourself on the plush sofa defeatedly, a sourpuss still on your face.

He faced you, “Look, I know you didn’t ask, but I think you should talk to him. Hear him out.”

“Are you mental? Hear what out? I saw everything with my own eyes! Heard everything in the first place with my own ears! He has someone!”

He pulled a face at you, “I don’t know… I just feel like… you withheld stuff from him, he withheld stuff from you, maybe it’s not what you think. I mean, think about it. What were your evidence that he’s with her? That he called her ‘baby’? So do I and Kyle. So does Maria. That she kissed him on his cheek? Babes, me and Kyle kiss you on the lips. Sure, not like that, but I feel like the kisses we give each other are more intimate than what you said she gave him. I don’t know babes. I feel like you’re reading way into this and freaking out because you like him. He was your first one night stand, and you overthought it. Just, talk to the guy.”

“Okay, I wasn’t gonna tell you this cause you told me not to,” Maria said, sitting next to you, “But back in Bali, Tommy told me Joel was single. He just got divorced. He didn’t say anything about a kid, but he definitely said he was single.”

“Oh, come on Maria. He was a man who was not exactly forthcoming with you either, you didn’t even tell him your last name, and he didn’t tell you his. He could’ve lied, just wanting his brother to get laid. You don’t even know if anything he told you was true!”

Maria’s confident looks faltered. You shook your head, hugging her, apologizing for your words. She hugged you back, telling you it’s okay.

Someone knocked on your door again, and Tess stood in front of your house, a dish in her hands. She was dressed in what looked like a nurse uniform.

“Figured you wouldn’t have time to cook or plan a meal with everything you needed to do,” she said, smiling. “It’s not much, just some baked macaroni,” Kyle immediately rushed to get the dish from her. Maria came to the door, introducing herself. Tess’s face lit up. “Maria? The Maria Tommy was telling me about?” she asked, her smile getting bigger as she did. She waved a hello to Ethan when he introduced himself.

“You’re off to work?” you asked, wanting to make up for the awkwardness you left her with earlier in the evening. Okay, maybe you just wanted to ease the guilt you’re feeling for sleeping with her man, what with her being so nice to you and all.

“Yeah, I’m on nights this week. I work at the Children’s Hospital downtown. Well, I’ll see you around? Just return the dish when you’re done. No need to bother with filling it. Nice to meet you two!” she waved a friendly goodbye and went off.

“Great,” you said, as you closed the door. “She’s a fucking paediatric nurse. She heals children for a living. I slept with the man of a fucking saint to comes to check on me when I might be in danger, cooks for me because she’s worried I might not have anything to eat and heals sick children for a living. Wonderful! Just, excellent!” You sat back down on the couch and rubbed your face, guilt eating you alive. God, why couldn’t she be a bitch?

“She’s a great cook too, this macaroni is excellent!” Kyle said, mouth full, Ethan and Maria nodding, having taken the newly bought Ikea forks you had bought out of its packaging, eating the macaroni from the dish, not even bothering to wash them.

Wonderful. Just, wonderful.

As the two of you were lying in your brand new bed that night, Maria told you that Ethan had a point. Talk to him. Ask him to tell you the truth, tell him what you heard that morning. If your hunch was right, then he’s a jerk. If not, go from there.

“What are you gonna do if you see Tommy?”

She suddenly got quiet. She shrugged.

“You like him, huh?”

“And you like Joel.”

You shrugged.

**********

“Look, brother, I know you said she’s with this Kyle guy,” Tommy said to Joel over breakfast the next day, “But I’m gonna tell you something Maria told me when we were in Bali anyway. She told me that Aria was single. That she had just broken up with her fiancé. So, maybe you misunderstood?”

“They kissed on the lips, Tommy. If they were broken up, they’re clearly back together now. Nothing I can do about it now, okay?”

Tommy looked at his brother, studying his body language, reading him in ways not many could.

“You really like her, don’t you?” he said slowly, realizing Tess was right.

Joel didn’t answer.

“You really like this Maria, don’t you?”

Tommy blushed, making Joel smile, forgetting his own worries.

“You know, you could just ask Aria for her number,” he said.

Tommy couldn’t help himself from smiling, but he shook his head. “I don’t know if she wants that. I’m not gonna go around her like that. If she wanted to keep in touch, she would’ve given me her number in Bali. I’ll ask Aria about her, though, if I see her.”

As the two of them left that morning, Sarah strapped in the back seat, Joel couldn’t help but glance at your place. It was early. Maybe you were still asleep. The truck Kyle came home in wasn’t in your driveway. Huh, he thought. He must have left very, very early. Joel didn’t hear the truck at all and he woke up around six that day, unable to sleep much, thinking that you were right next door sleeping in this Kyle’s arms.

He had trouble sleeping after he got back. The last good night’s sleep he had was in Bali, with you. God, all he wanted was to sleep with you in his arms again. Wake up and have a cup of Kopi Luwak with you. Go soap shopping with you.

But… you were with Kyle now. As much as he wanted to take Tess and Tommy’s advice, to talk to you, ask you everything directly, confirm things with you, if only so that you could live next door to each other in harmony, he didn’t know if he had the balls to do it just yet.

He had seen Jen around town and on social media in the arms of men after men, all hunks, all GQ worthy, all the while still being married to him. And he did feel upset. Sad, mostly. Angry.

But seeing you with Kyle, even in those few minutes, he felt something he had never felt in his life. Something he didn’t think existed in his bones.

Jealousy. He was jealous of the man you had cheated on. Jealous that he got to use the soaps you bought with him in Bali. That he got to sleep with you in his arms. That he got to kiss you whenever he liked. That he got to drink the bags of coffee you bought with him with you. That he got to share a plate of food with you.

He was distracted all day, so much so he nearly pierced right through his hand with a nail gun. Tommy noticed, telling him to go paint something instead before he killed someone from his lovestruck stupor.

“Come for a drink before we go home, brother,” he had said to his brother. “We don’t have work tomorrow, Tess will be home ‘til eight, Sarah will be fine. Maybe a drink or two will calm you.”

So, Joel went. And Tommy was right. He did feel a bit better, the music from the bar and talking to his workers and old friends distracting him from thinking about how you might be having dinner with your fine man as he sipped his beer.

“Joel? Joel Miller?”

He turned, a sweet looking lady smiling at him. She looked familiar.

“Lucy, remember? Tommy’s girlfriend introduced us a while back? I’m Sarah’s teacher.”

Right. The lady he refused to go out with. He was still married at the time.

“I heard about you and your wife. I’m so sorry. Can I buy you a drink?” she asked, a sweet smile on her face.

“Hey, Lucy, right?” Tommy suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

“Hi Tommy,” she said, hugging him. “You look good! How are you guys doing?”

“We’re okay,” Tommy said, eyeing Joel.

“So, how about that drink? You’re single now, you can’t use the ‘I’m married’ excuse anymore,” she said, looking at Joel, hope in her eyes.

She’s right. He’s single now. And she is pretty sweet. And you, the woman he had hoped to have a drink with was not available. Probably doing that cute couple thing where one of you were washing the dishes and the other drying, exchanging sweet kisses in between.

A drink wouldn’t hurt, right?  

---

Part 7

[andy-15-07]

I LOVE your fix! Would you write a Paul Mescalxactress at her new movie premiere or maybe a honeymoon/vacation fix?

A Honeymoon to Remember

PAIRING:Paul Mescal x reader

WORD COUNT: 2347 | requests are open (send requests, I will gladly answer them all)

Paul Mescal Masterlist

The sun was dipping low into the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant hues of pink and orange, when you and Paul stepped into your honeymoon suite. The space was airy and softly lit, with large windows offering a breathtaking view of the ocean beyond. A gentle sea breeze drifted in, carrying the scent of salt and tropical blooms—a welcome reminder that you had left the ordinary behind.

Paul took your hand, his fingers warm and reassuring against your skin. “I still can’t believe we’re here,” he said quietly, his eyes scanning the room with wonder. “It all feels so… surreal.”

You smiled, feeling your heart swell with happiness. “I know. Just yesterday, I was nervously walking down the aisle, and now we’re here—on our honeymoon, starting our life together.”

As you set your bags down, Paul’s eyes twinkled. “How about we freshen up and then step out on the balcony? I’d love to watch the sunset with you.”

Soon, dressed in soft, comfortable clothes, you both moved to the expansive balcony. The view was mesmerizing: the endless ocean, a scattering of palm trees, and the sky slowly shifting colors as the day turned to dusk. You clinked your champagne glasses together in a quiet toast.

“Here’s to us,” Paul murmured. “To love, adventure, and a future full of moments just like this.”

You took a sip of champagne and replied, “And here’s to all the memories we’re about to make.”

For a long while, the two of you sat in companionable silence, each lost in your thoughts, until Paul broke the stillness. “You know, I was thinking about the wedding… Remember how you laughed when I almost tripped on the steps of the altar?”

You giggled, your cheeks warming with the memory. “Oh, I remember! I was trying so hard not to laugh out loud in front of everyone, but I couldn’t help it. It was one of those moments that made the day even more unforgettable.”

Paul’s smile deepened. “That moment was perfectly imperfect—just like us. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Later that evening, you moved inside to the living area where soft instrumental music played in the background. The room was decorated with delicate touches: a vase of fresh flowers here, a stack of romantic books there, and the lingering aroma of sandalwood in the air. You both sank into the plush sofa, and before long, conversation flowed as naturally as the tide.

“Tell me something I might not know about you,” Paul said suddenly, his tone playful yet sincere. “Something that isn’t on the wedding guest list.”

You thought for a moment before replying with a gentle smile. “I’ve always dreamed of living in a little cottage by the sea—somewhere I could write in my journal, watch the sunrise every day, and find inspiration in every little moment. It’s like a dream of endless calm.”

Paul reached over and squeezed your hand. “I can see it now—the two of us, a cozy cottage, and endless walks along a quiet beach. I promise, one day, we’ll make that dream our reality.”

The conversation meandered effortlessly from dreams of future homes to silly childhood memories. You recounted the time you’d been so afraid of thunderstorms as a child, while Paul shared an embarrassing tale about his early acting days when he’d forgotten his lines on stage. Laughter mingled with affectionate teasing as you both uncovered little details that made your hearts beat a little faster.

At one point, you said, “Do you remember when I accidentally spilled water all over your shoes before the reception? I was mortified!”

Paul laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “How could I forget? I was more focused on your smile than my soggy shoes. Every little mishap just adds to our story.”

As the night deepened, the intimacy of the room seemed to grow with each exchanged word. Eventually, you both retired to the king-sized bed, where soft linens and the quiet hum of the air conditioner created the perfect cocoon. Lying side by side, you whispered your hopes and dreams, the dialogue between you as soothing as a lullaby.

“I feel so complete when I’m with you,” you admitted softly, resting your head on Paul’s shoulder.

He brushed a stray lock of hair from your face and whispered, “I feel it too, y/n. Every day, every conversation—no matter how small—builds this incredible life we’re starting together.”

In the hush of the room, you shared your ideas of traveling the world someday. “Imagine us wandering through the streets of Paris, holding hands as we watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night,” you said dreamily.

Paul’s eyes lit up. “And exploring ancient ruins in Greece, laughing at the little café on every corner! I want us to see every part of the world, as long as I’m with you.”

A few hours later, sleep finally overtook you both, the promises of the day mingling with the hope for tomorrow.

Morning arrived with a gentle radiance, and you awoke to find Paul already stirring. “Good morning, beautiful,” he said with a sleepy smile as he brushed your hair away from your face. “Are you ready to see the sunrise?”

You stretched and sat up, feeling the warmth of the early sun fill the room. “I was born ready,” you replied, your voice bright with anticipation.

Stepping out onto the balcony again, you were greeted by the serene sight of the sun peeking over the horizon, its rays turning the ocean into a shimmering expanse of gold and blue. You and Paul walked along the balcony edge, fingers entwined, sharing soft words of admiration for the beauty of the new day.

“Every morning with you feels like a fresh start,” Paul murmured as you both paused to watch the horizon. “Like every sunrise is a promise of something amazing.”

You nodded, your heart full. “I feel that too. It’s as if the whole world is whispering that today is ours.”

After a leisurely morning stroll along the beach—barefoot in the soft, cool sand—you both returned to the resort for breakfast at a quaint seaside café. The café was charming, with large windows that let in the warm morning light and the gentle sound of the ocean in the background. Over plates of fresh fruit, pastries, and steaming cups of coffee, the conversation continued.

“So, where to next?” Paul asked, stirring his coffee thoughtfully. “I heard there’s a fantastic local art market not far from here.”

Your eyes lit up. “Yes! I’ve been wanting to visit that market ever since I read about it. They say it’s full of vibrant colors and handmade treasures.”

“Then it’s settled,” Paul said, reaching across the table to take your hand. “Today, we’ll explore the market, find something special, and maybe even get a little lost in the process.”

After breakfast, you both strolled through the bustling streets toward the market. Vendors lined the narrow pathways, their stalls bursting with handmade crafts, intricate paintings, and vibrant textiles. The air was filled with lively chatter, the scent of exotic spices, and the rhythmic beats of local music.

Stopping at a stall displaying a series of serene seaside paintings, Paul leaned in close. “What do you think of this one?” he asked, pointing to a canvas that depicted a tranquil harbor under a pastel sky.

You studied the painting and smiled. “It captures exactly how I feel about this trip—peaceful, hopeful, and full of possibility. It’s like a glimpse into a perfect moment, much like the moments we share.”

Encouraged by your words, Paul purchased a small sketch of the scene, declaring it a memento of your first day on the market. As you continued to wander, your conversation was punctuated by excited discoveries and playful teasing.

At one particularly vibrant stall, you held up a piece of handmade jewelry for Paul to see. “What do you think—does this look good on me?” you asked with a mischievous grin.

Paul laughed, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “It would look perfect, because it’s yours. But I’m not sure I’d ever be able to top that look even if I tried.”

You nudged him gently with your elbow. “Oh, please. I think you’re absolutely perfect just the way you are.”

Between the colorful wares and the shared laughter, the market soon became a tapestry of unforgettable moments. Every corner you turned offered a new topic for conversation—from the history behind a centuries-old artifact to the modern art that challenged both your imaginations. The market wasn’t just a place to shop; it was a stage for you both to explore the art of conversation and connection.

As the day began to wane, you and Paul made your way back to the resort, hearts full of the day’s discoveries. Back in the quiet intimacy of your suite, the conversation shifted to reflections on what you’d experienced.

“Today was incredible,” you said softly, sinking onto the edge of the bed. “I feel like every conversation we had, every laugh we shared—it brought us closer together.”

Paul sat beside you, his hand gently holding yours. “That’s what I love about us, y/n. We never run out of things to say, and every word feels like a step forward in our journey together. I’m already looking forward to tomorrow.”

You leaned into him. “Do you ever think about how much every small moment adds up? Like how our shared talks, even about something as simple as the weather, become the foundation of our love?”

He nodded, his expression serious yet tender. “Absolutely. It’s in those quiet moments that I feel our bond grow stronger. Our conversations—whether filled with laughter or whispered secrets—are what make our love real.”

Later that evening, while enjoying a quiet dinner by the ocean at a local seaside restaurant, you and Paul continued your dialogue over soft candlelight and the gentle lull of the waves. The table was adorned with fresh seafood, crisp salads, and a bottle of wine that promised to add to the magic of the night.

“Let’s talk about the future,” Paul said between bites of his meal. “Where do you see us in five years?”

You paused, considering the question. “I see us in that little cottage by the sea I always dreamed of—a place filled with warmth, creativity, and endless love. I imagine lazy mornings with coffee on the porch, long walks along the beach, and evenings spent sharing stories and planning our next adventure.”

Paul reached across the table to cup your cheek. “That sounds perfect. I see a future where we continue to explore the world together, but always come home to each other. Every destination, every experience, is enriched by our shared conversations.”

You smiled, the flicker of the candlelight reflecting in your eyes. “It’s amazing how our words and dreams intertwine. Even when we’re apart, I carry every conversation we’ve had with me, like a cherished keepsake.”

As the night deepened, so did your dialogue. Back in your suite, you settled on a cozy rug by the window, the sound of the waves lulling you into a comfortable silence that was soon broken by thoughtful musings.

“Do you remember,” you said softly, “when we first met, how nervous I was to talk to you? I felt like every word I said was clumsy, like I was trying to capture lightning in a bottle.”

Paul chuckled, drawing you close. “I remember that vividly. But even then, every word you spoke was captivating. It was as if you were already writing our story, one imperfect but beautiful sentence at a time.”

You laughed gently. “And now, here we are, on our honeymoon, weaving our story with every word, every laugh, every quiet moment.”

“Every conversation is a promise,” Paul replied, his voice tender as he held you close. “A promise that no matter what happens, we’ll always have our dialogue, our connection. And that is the most precious thing I can ever imagine.”

You rested your head against his shoulder, letting the quiet night and the sound of the ocean remind you both that love is not only in grand gestures but in every whispered word, every shared dream. In that moment, you knew that your honeymoon was not merely an escape from the world but the start of an endless, heartfelt conversation that would carry you both forward into the future.

Before sleep finally claimed you, you made one last promise in the soft glow of the moonlight. “No matter how hectic life gets, let’s never stop talking. Let’s always find time for these moments.”

Paul’s eyes shone with unwavering certainty as he whispered, “Always, y/n. Every day, every conversation, will be our love story.”

With those words echoing in your hearts, you drifted into a peaceful sleep—each dream a delicate continuation of the dialogue that had brought you together and would forever bind you in love.

In the days that followed, whether exploring hidden coves along the beach or savoring the simple pleasure of a shared meal, every moment was filled with dialogue that deepened your bond. Each conversation, from the playful teasing over silly jokes to the quiet, heartfelt confessions of your dreams, reaffirmed that this honeymoon was not just a getaway but the prologue to a lifetime of shared adventures.

And as the final day of your honeymoon arrived, you both sat on the balcony one last time, the sun setting in a blaze of color. Paul held your hand and said, “I’ll always cherish these moments—the laughs, the dreams, the endless dialogue that we’ve shared. It’s the beginning of a lifetime of love.”

You smiled, squeezing his hand in return. “Our honeymoon may be ending, but our story is only just beginning. Every conversation we have from now on will be a reminder of today—a reminder of how every word, every moment, is a promise of all that’s to come.”

With that, you embraced, the ocean’s gentle murmur underscoring the promise of a bright future together—a future built on endless dialogue, deep connection, and the unbreakable bond of love.

[adapertiones]

(Alt Text: Tragibox Lore Resource Masterpost. Archives, official links, fan docs, etc...) Guess who accidentally deleted it when they were going to edit something... yeah.

Thought this would be treasured by others as much as it is by me. Wherever my hyperfixation takes me to learn is for me to share!!!

If you have any additions, feel free to send them to me so I can add them! Also don't doubt about telling me if any of the links happen to be broken or if anything is incorrectly linked!

⚠️ Some things to keep in mind:

Tragibox Lore is currently being rewritten by the new owner of the project, Ruby Waters. Some things might get changed!

Breakthrough bonuses are fanmade.

Official Orin Ayo Lore Doc (Wayback Machine Link): Might be a bit laggy on phone. Try not to touch the text too much because it sends you to refresh the page (HAPPENED MANY TIMES...). There's a missing picture of Acheture Blunt's appearance before death but I managed to dig around a little and find it! It's currently on the lore archive below.

Tragibox Lore Archive Masterdoc: A document by me. Archives the official lore doc, in-game profiles (in progress), discord lore questions answered and some other things. My directory basically!!! Don't request editing access. Note: When opening in a mobile browser, check "desktop size/browser view" to be able to see the images better, otherwise they will look blurry.

Official Tragibox Discord Server: Activity varies a lot but very fun! There is interesting lore material around and you can ask lore questions. Might serve to track the progress of the project in the future! Also good to interact with other Tragibox fans. Special shout-out to whoever sent me the invite link through strawpage when I asked for it, you're a real one sob sob...

Tragibox Archive by Smugg/Pk Freeze: HTML version of Tragibox games saved plus a bit of lore information screenshoted~

Orin Ayo Wiki: Take some of the things here as a grain of salt, information tends to be changed by users and is usually not backed by sources. Lore related note; don't take the info in character profiles in Orin Ayo as the 100% truth, as most of that information can be manipulated by cultists~

Extra to Orin Ayo Wiki: Paige's Wiki Page

Breakthrough Wiki: Same thing as the Orin Ayo Wiki. This time, character info can be trusted a little more, most of it is written directly by Sol but there are some cases of unknown characters or Dave writting them (Dave's logs have his signature) Using this little space to add that I'm currently working on a document analysing some elements on Tragibox from a more scientific point of view~ For now it is just a very rough WIP bit will be added to this list once it is done.

[clotheshorsepodcast]

It's really hard to feel okay right now.

There is nothing worse than feeling powerless, feeling trapped in an unfair and unjust world and feeling as if there is nothing you can do.  In fact, that makes everything around you feel 1000X scarier and suddenly you’re rooting for societal collapse because then at least the worst thing will be here and you don’t have to worry about it any more.  But the thing is: you can either be a part of the solution or be a part of the problem. And if you’re doing nothing, well, you’re part of the problem unfortunately.

The good news is that there are many things you CAN do and they come in a variety of different forms and time commitments. You can do all of these or some of these or one of these.  And they all help and matter.

I BELIEVE IN US.

Yes, the world gets scarier every day. The list of things to scare and enrage us seems to be growing exponentially. Yet I still believe that we can and will get through this together. 

Every one of us has an important role to play here. Individual action DOES matter, despite what you might be told elsewhere. Can one person change the world on their own? Probably not. But when working alongside thousands and millions of other people, change is inevitable.

[mountainofhistory]

Seija doesn't like being kissed, or touched for that matter. So when Micuccia moves to do both at once, she tries to pull away, but there's no way she can move enough before Micuccia's hand, already pressed against her chest, starts pressing into it instead. She can't move, can't even breathe or cry out. All she can do is experience all Micuccia has to give her.

And oh gods, is that a lot to take in. Pain in every single nerve in her body at once. She's been tortured before, but never quite this thoroughly. Her lips locked into a deep kiss, though, she can't even scream or shut her eyes or do anything to try and mitigate it... Except sink into the kiss. The kiss, at least, feels good, bizarrely and profoundly so, and Seija, despite normally rejecting such things, finds herself seeking it.

And then, the explosion of knowledge. Everything she could need to know about this newfound power, which she quickly realized was far greater than she had given it credit for. More than just a regeneration ability, this almost felt like she could warp reality itself around her. At the very least, her own body would be hers to command, no longer held down by legend and myth as youkai normally were. That was well worth every bit of pain she was enduring...

Suddenly, it was over, Seija's mind coming back in time with the world in a screeching halt. At some point she'd fallen down, apparently, and she takes a deep breath as Micuccia lifts her up to a sitting position. It's a breath she never completes, her head removed from her body as easily as one might slice through a piece of cake. Yet somehow, she can still feel her body, hear Micuccia's voice, the threat far away but still clearly audible. Cruel, maybe, but Seija expects cruelty. And she can see the value in this.

"Is this what it's like to be immortal...?" Seija ponders, closing her eyes and sensing the location of her body and her head. The fact that they were several inches apart somehow didn't stop her from knowing, but like any new student, she had to remember how to reform the connections that had been severed, and then carefully make them, one by one at first, though each new connection was easier than the last. It took her perhaps a minute, but each second she drew another weave until finally, there were enough to pull her head off the ground and back to her neck. The movement itself was like a snap, and the momentum threw Seija forward a little, her hands moving to grasp the ground and keep her up.

"...That was awful." Her first words since changing so fundamentally, and she knew exactly what to focus on. "From start to finish... Worth it, though. So gods-damned worth it." If Micuccia was hoping for thanks, Seija wasn't the type to give them, though she did grin up at her new friend. "Kiss me again and I'll rip out your throat. But you've given me somethin' real nice, I'll give ya that. Now I'll ask ya one simple question: who do ya want me not ta fuck with? Cause trust me, everyone else is goin' on the list, from the Celestials to the Oni."

"That's about right. The slowest laid plans, the slowest working schemes for the greatest results...Sometimes you need some mad dogs to release as a distraction." Micuccia rubs her neck with a grin, it seems they're quite like minded. Someone who is happy to find themselves laying in the dirt at the end of the day, so long as the fun is had...

"It's quite simple you see, it can only be given upon acceptance." She throws her arms around Seija and drags her closer, a leg pushes up between the other's thighs. Joyfully done, there's no hint she's about to throw the other over or away.

"I don't control minds like that, so silly. The best beast, is one that knows what it does best." She drags her even closer, "My method is far more fun.."

"A kiss. Just for you."

To call it a kiss is unfair, but Micuccia doesn't elaborate. She drags Seija towards her, and in a single moment everything stands still. Micuccia's tongue is in her mouth, and one of Micuccia's hands are against her chest. What was a grope, turns into her hand entering Seija.

Sliding into her body without disturbing the flesh, in that moment time slows, and Seija cannot move.

As their lips share their kiss, the feeling of her entire body being strung apart then weaved back together can be felt. It's excruciating no doubt, but Micuccia's kiss feels good. It's numbs the pain, the hand changes what it needs to, and Seija's mind is flooded with thoughts on how the weave works.

To a limited degree, the ability to weave new limits on your own abilities or strengths, the ability to truly pull your body back together, even your head and brain.

A wealth of knowledge, coupled with body twisting pain, and heated pleasure and numbing sensations for a kiss.

It feels like it lasts hours the process, yet only seconds pass before the kiss is broken and Micuccia is a stop Seija, pulling her hand out of her body slowly. Returning control and senses, "Beautiful isn't it.."

She drags Seija up, just enough to sit.

But as her body rises, Seija's gaze turns upwards and falls backwards. "You know how to fix it, I installed it into you.."

Red rolls down her body, her head is severed. How cruel for a learning experience. "As motivation...weave your head slowly back to the body, or I'll have my.. fun."

What she means by that, who knows. But it's time for Seija to string her head back onto her neck.

[corcnaiism]

;-- i have officially made this blog into a multimuse. i have made a new carrd to list out all the muses im currently okay with rping, what verses im focusing on, and which muses i have high muse for. please look through them and feel free to reach out if you want to plot something out.

this, however, doesn't mean i'm back just yet. i still need some more time to recuperate, but im feeling better enough to talk and plan things out beforehand until i am ready to start writing on here again. thank you again for your patience.

[stellewriites]

have to keep repeating in my head; he’s leaving soon he’s moving out he’s got a job so he’s leaving in two months he’s moving out every time i see a mess my brother has made in the house

[maliro-t]

it just like. couldn't be bleaker could it huh.