#the masses likes to live blindly

[allofuswantgwinam]

idk how we’ll ever have peace in this world when everyone just wants to retaliate with violence for everything. ‘It happened to me so I want revenge and idc if any innocent people get hurt/murdered in the process” I want fucking out lol of this world I am so serious

[phlyaros]

the amount of work transmeds n sysmeds n terfs will put in to ensure theyre miserable and alone forever is crazy. i guess when the agony is optional perhaps it has more appeal i've definitely contemplated breaking bones just so the pain was different like I understand misery incredibly well just like. man. you could like change and you would probably feel a whole lot better and have more friends and feel more stable????

[esyra]

Killing 1300+ Jews in barbaric ways does not make you the good guys. Israel retaliating is Hamas’ fault. Hamas surrendering would mean peace. Israel surrendering would have more dead Jews. But i guess that’s the end goal.

No, we're always the barbaric terrorists. Israel is the good guy for killing 9,000+ Gazans the past 25 days, and trapping 1,000+ under the rubble which will definitely turn out dead if they ever get the proper equipment to lift it off them. Israel is the good guy for killing Shireen Abu Akleh. Israel is the good guy for killing Ahmed Erekat. Israel is the good guy for killing Nadim Nuwarah and Mohammed Salameh. Israel is the good guy for opening fire on 2,400 protesters and killing 52. Israel is the good guy for holding over 1,000 Palestinians as "administrative detainees," meaning they are held indefinitely without charges.

In fact, Israel has been the good guy ever since they got the British to help them colonize Palestine and get rid of the Arabs, as they admitted to wanting it themselves. After all, as Winston Churchill said himself, the colonization of Palestine was righteous because as the Red Indians of America, and the black people of Australia, "a stronger race, a higher grade race, or, at any rate, a more worldly-wise race, to put it that way, has come in and taken their place."

Palestinians, be it on Gaza or the West Bank, can never retaliate or defend themselves. We're to either die and be violated quietly or we are terrorists which will be gleefully eradicated with the help of every colony-based State in the world. Otherwise, we'll disturb the comfortable privilege your racism and religious intolerance ensures.

When Hamas didn't existed the occupation began and the British violently suppressed anyone who opposed. When Hamas didn't exist the Nakba happened. When Hamas didn't exist the Deir Yassin massacre happened. But, you know, that one's fine because it happened after Israel had made Palestine agree to a peace pact, and they would never act unfairly so the brutal murder of over 100 Palestinians is obviously being misunderstood. Hamas doesn't operate in the West Bank, but they're still expelled from their homes, brutalized and murdered. Since October 7, West Bank had 115 killed, more than 2,000 injured and nearly 1,000 others forcibly displaced from their homes because of violence and intimidation by Israeli forces and settlers. They'll bomb mosques with exit points created to save people from settlers' violence, then claim they were used for terrorism. Proof? They don't need it. They'll bomb first then ask questions later.

Do people who blindly defend Israel do anything other than victimize yourselves? Do you even read any actual Israeli news that said the IDF "shell[ed] houses on their occupants," because they're too incompetent to do anything other than bombing everything? Do you ever wonder why the people Israel swears were burned and beheaded always came from reports from houses absolutely destroyed by what could only be shelling? Do you ever hear testimonies from survivors of the massacre saying IDF shoot at their own civilians? Do you ever read about past al-Qassam attacks and noticed they've never had mass casualties because IDF never responded like this? Do you even know what al-Qassam is or do you live to regurgitate whatever you're fed and being spoon-fed your information?

If Hamas' militia surrenders, Gaza will be wiped out and Gazans — those who are not murdered — will be exiled into Egypt's Sinai. That's the end goal since 1948, and that's what you're defending. But who cares? Arab blood is cheaper and racism is always fashionable.

[mead-iocre]

Furnace Girlfriend | Leah Williamson x Reader

synopsis: it's too bloody hot for a cuddle

warnings: slightly suggestive at the end

wc: 1.2 k words

You wake up– again. 

Clammy and far from pleased, you shuffle so you are laying somewhat on your back. Heat and perspiration pollute the air making it almost hard to breath comfortably. Despite being dressed in a thin tank top and shorts, your skin still prickled with sweat. You feel an uncomfortable dampness beneath your knees, probably a result of your body sweating through the night and seeping into the cotton that now clings to your skin. You’ve been slipping in and out of sleep, unable to fall into slumber, and it doesn’t help that your girlfriend loves to cuddle. Leah is pressed against your back, every inch of exposed skin sticky against yours. At first you thought buying a king sized bed would be enough to give you both ample space, especially in sweltering summer nights like this, but you should have known better than to underestimate your Leah. 

You love her but when the temperature is at boiling point, and her generous body heat was making things worst, you are left to suffer on your own at– a quick peek at your phone screen that nearly blinds you– 2 am in the morning. Your hair is tacky against the back of your neck, only adding to your growing fickle mood. You could try to wiggle away, to create some room between the two of you, but you were on the edge of the bed and the next wiggle will send you face-first on the hard wooden floors. 

Craning your head slightly, you try to make out your girlfriend’s form in the dark and sure enough she was fast asleep, uncaring for the heat wave emitting from within these four walls. When you squint even harder, you see that not only was she perfectly content to slumber in her own sweat, her lower half was covered under the 100% solid Egyptian cotton blanket that was sourced from Italy. You were sure you had kicked the blanket off of the bed before you both went to bed— so what it was doing back on the bed, blanketing your girlfriend in this heat, is a question you did not care to find an answer to right now.

You had had enough. 

Swinging your legs off to the side, wincing at the stickiness of your skin as it leaves the cotton, you grab a pillow and slip on your shearling slippers. You blindly make your way around the room, careful not to bump into anything that might wake your girlfriend from her cosy sleep, the lucky fucker. If you were in a better mood you might’ve left your girlfriend with a peck or two, but you were hot and irritated right now, so no kisses for her. When you feel for the doorknob, you twist it open, making sure to shut it gently behind you. You make the journey downstairs to the living room, still groggy and still annoyed. Turning on the lamp by the side table, you start to arrange your bed for the rest of the night. 

You practically collapse onto the sofa, audibly sighing at the coolness in the living room compared to the sweltering heat in the bedroom. The air is slightly cooler here, a faint breeze from a slightly open window. You sprawl out as much as you can, welcoming the space and lack of a furnace in the form of your girlfriend. Though still warm, the cooler air and the softness of the sofa are enough to lull you into falling back asleep. Your body finally begins to cool down as you drift off, hoping for an undisturbed sleep and a more bearable morning. 

But all good things do come to an end at some point. 

You shift, adjusting uncomfortably at the weight on your front.

Why did it feel like you were being weighed down by something?

Opening your eyes, you blink away the sleep and look around. Streams of light peeked through the sliver of space in between the curtains. The air feels fresh, and there's a gentle quietness that hints at the world just waking up. When you look down, all you see is a mass of blonde hair. 

Leah. 

Your girlfriend, that you had left sleeping in bed upstairs, is now sprawled on top of you on the living room sofa. Her head was tucked into the crook of your neck, and you could feel warm puffs of breath against your skin. It was hard to tell if she was sleeping, or how long she had been laying on top of you like this. You reach up, sneaking a hand under her tank top and run it across the small of her back. Tidy nails lightly scratching her bare skin, you nudge her awake. “Lee…”

“You lef’me in bed” 

So she is awake.

“Leah” You grumble louder, the heat once again creeping up to you again now that you’ve got your personal furnace back on top of you. “Love, it was boiling up there–”

“Don’t give a fuck. You don’t leave me alone in bed” 

You sigh, squeezing your eyes shut again. There was absolutely no way you were going to sleep alone, especially now that Leah knew where you were sneaking off to cool off without her. Her iron grip around your waist and her legs tangled around yours was proof of that. 

“But it’s so hot, and you’re a human furnace”

“yeah well I ain’t having it when its cold and you need this human furnace to warm you up”

Suddenly, the blonde sits up so she was straddling your waist. Your eyes open, and you squint up at her, confused as to what she was up to.

“Sit up” 

“What? Lee, I’m tired and barely got any sleep–“ 

“Come on. Up you get” She tugs at the material of your tank top. “It’ll be quick and it’ll help with your overheating problem”

You sit up abruptly, gasping exaggeratedly at her teasing. “I do NOT have an overheating problem– you're the human heating system”

“C'mon. Arms up” Leah grabs the bottom of your tank top in her hands. You could already guess what she was planning to do, and made no move to stop her. 

She pulls your tank top over your head, leaving you in your black cotton bra. “Cheeky. You just want a look at my tits”

“I’m doing this to help, baby” She laughs, but doesn’t deny your accusations. 

“Shorts too?” She cares to ask but in fact she’s already shuffling off and standing to the side so she can shimmy your shorts down your legs for you. Once you are left in only your bra and panties, Leah grins at you— and there too goes her own t-shirt. 

Now left only in her plaid boxers and sports bra, your girlfriend gestures for you to shuffle over across the sofa. You raise an eyebrow at her, but do as she says. “Why do I have to move? I was here first”

“Because…” Leah starts, producing her own pillow seemingly out of thin air. She must’ve brought one down from the bedroom and you only just noticed now. She throws her pillow down beside yours, fluffs it up, and then settles beside you. “I don’t want you falling off the sofa, baby”

She snakes an arm around your waist, pulling you to her as close as possible. You lay on your sides, face to face, and this time you gladly welcome her touch. Her hand stroked up and down your back, lightly massaging away the tension in your muscles from the hours you were deprived of Egyptian cotton sheets. Her touch far too intimate, too suggestive, for early morning shenanigans. You giggle when her massaging seizes, her hand stopping just above your panties, and her pinky finger slips just underneath the lace. “Cheeky” You whisper, all conspiringly.

“shhh” She hushes you, pecking your nose, but makes no move to remove her hand. In fact, her entire hand has now slipped under the lace, greedy and groping for skin.

It’s not as hot anymore thanks to the lack of layers, and you wouldn’t admit it out loud, but you were having trouble sleeping without your girlfriend beside you. If she had waited another hour in bed, you probably would’ve slipped back into bed with her. 

“gimme a kiss” Is said with a pat to your ass. You chuckle breathily when you can just about make out her lips pursed into a pout, the dim lights catching the wetness of her bottom lip. You do as she says and kiss her, savouring the feel of her soft lips against yours. Placing a few more sweet pecks against her pouty lips when she chases yours for more, you will yourself to end the kiss before you both end up losing more sleep doing other things.

“now sleep, love”

Inspired by the heatwave around the UK lately.

it's so bloody hot I've been living off of cornetto ice cream, an electric fan, and lemonades all week.

-- kisses, butter

*This work is my original creation. Please don’t copy, share, or translate it without asking for my permission first. Thanks for respecting that!

[feministfang]

All the women spamming Blake Lively's comments with "Amber Heard 2" just proves how horrendous, horribly and disgustingly misogynistic these pick me white liberal leftists are like idek the complete story behind what happened between Justin and Blake but ain’t no way i will ever support a man over a woman. This ugly man literally hired a whole PR team and engineered the mass cancellation of Blake Lively (this is exactly what Johnny Depp did with Amber Heard too) and women with zero braincells and zero success in life are ready to blindly believe in stupid rumours to bring down another woman thinking they look so cool and all. No honey, you deserve a slap on your face! Female solidarity is in a nutshell because idiots like you can’t put a stop to worshipping males.

Sending my curses to Justin and everyone who supports him to live a life full of misery and i hope this bastard jumps off a third floor balcony as well!

[jaydude1992]

Some recent thoughts I had regarding the argument that the Jedi chose to lead a slave army

To me, the aforementioned argument reads like "The Jedi shouldn't have helped the clones specifically because the latter was a slave army". Which is arguably a way of saying "Slaves don't deserve help". Or alternatively, "One's principles are more important than the lives of slaves".

Obviously, the idea that sentient beings can be bred en masse for the sole purpose of fighting wars - to the point their independence is leashed and they're deliberately conditioned to obey orders without question while being grown - is morally questionable at best. But by the time the Jedi Order as a whole found out about the clone army project, there wasn't exactly much they could do about it. Even if we assume Sifo-Dyas being the one who originally commissioned the clones meant the Jedi Council had the authority to cancel the "order", at that late stage, it would likely result in the clones either being euthanized - through no fault of their own - or just turned over to Palpatine anyway.

And the clones were going to be used in the Clone Wars regardless of what the Jedi did. The Jedi didn't have any power or influence within the Senate they could've used to prevent the Republic from going to war, and the clones were specifically bred to possess limited independence and be blindly obedient to the Republic, so even if the Jedi helped and encouraged them to do otherwise, it's unlikely they'd choose not to fight. Plus, y'know, Palpatine wanted a brutal, galaxy-spanning war that would make his fascist dominion more appealing to the Senate, to the point he gave the Separatists - droids and leaders - free reign to commit atrocities against Republic civilians.

[eyelambspider]

𝟎𝟏. 𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧 & 𝐀𝐩𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐜 || 𝐊𝐲𝐥𝐞 "𝐆𝐚𝐳" 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤

Day One of Kink/Creeptober! Here are the prompts & my event terms!

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 : tigershark!mer!Gaz x gn!reader 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 : ♪ The sailor tumbles into the icy depths, not to be heard again, not by the gods or the father Posiden and his trident, but a saved by the son of the sea. ♪ 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 : 1.8 k 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 : mentions of drowning/freezing/near death, kissing, saliva as aphrodisiac, gaz 'accidentally' uses it

𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐄𝐑����𝐘, 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐖𝐄𝐏𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐒. The night was black as ink, screams and orders dying under the roar of the waves and wind. The ocean spitting in the faces of men as they hoisted the ropes and tried to tie down the main sail.

The storm had descended from nowhere, leaving the crew in a blind panic to rip the canvas from its mast in a matter of minutes.

The wind howled with a force that carried the rain sideways. It didn't matter that the icy hands of the waves licked at your back or clawed down your tear ducts. All that mattered, was trying to tie down the unruly sail.

The stormy night had snuffed out all the lights on deck, the only source of comfort had come from the white lightning that crashed like cymbals in the churning sky. The following darkness creating a fleeting moment of hysteria for everyone on board that valued their lives.

"GRAB THE HALYARD!!!"

Men swarmed by the dozens to grab the drenched rope, each grabbing on, grappling out into the darkness until they had it in their collective grasps and pulled. The ship rocked like an iceberg about to tip. No guide or god to lead it through the storm. The bow moaning with every crashing wave and spluttering punch the Atlantic had to give.

Once ordered to, you rushed to help the men grab the rope, the thick cord snapping around your wrist like a writhing serpent. Pulling taught as the sail struggled to close, too full of wind and rain to give way to the men that pleaded for it to shut.

"PULL!!!"

At once, the mass of men heaved, leaning back with a ton of weight, playing tug of war against the sea herself.

But she would not yield to the likes of men.

Another bolt of lightning vaulted across the dark clouds, lighting up the ocean in a searing flash of white.

A wave, at least ten men tall, stood up and jumped overboard in a rush of salt and bubbles.

In an instant, it swallowed you whole. The current slamming you from one side of the ship to the other. The rope, now your lifeline, uncoiled cruelly from your wrist. Simply letting go and tossing you headfirst into the depths.

Time slowed, and with the next crash and boom of lightning... all you could see were the churning clouds. No mast or other bodies. No orders or distant screams. Not even your own as you tumbled headfirst into the Atlantic soundlessly. Your flesh embraced with the icy bite of the sea in a loud splash of water.

You swallowed bits of the sea, lips finally moving all too late, opening and closing like a fish out of water. The surface of the ocean slipped from your grasp faster and faster. The waves pummeling you under the current, punching all the fight from your lungs in one fell crash.

The convulsions started quickly, muscles contracting painfully without any air. Breathing in only salt water. It was all too late that you remembered to swim through the shock. Body moving on its own accord in a fight for the surface. A fight for your life.

You broke the surface with a violent splutter, salt water vomited from your lungs, choking for air that was in your grasp. Just as cold and violent as the sea was.

Another flash of lightning cracked the sky in half, the waves forcing your head back under the water. Blindly drowning you and sucking the life out of your lungs.

Nothing made sense.

The dark void around you, the distant rumble of thunder, and a sky that mocked you with one last flash of lightning to show you just how far you had slipped under the sea.

The body that once fought for you, went lax and still.

Nothing made sense.

Until you felt a weight brush against your calf as it swam by. Then, something coiled around your waist, squeezing with a sickening softness. The body around this creature was warm and blubbery, even against your icy skin.

You blearily wondered if it was a school of fish trying to eat you. Already feasting on a sailor thrown overboard.

The world went dark once more, nothing to be felt or seen.

Until the sounds of choking filled your ears.

For a few minutes, that's all that existed. Breathless wheezing and gagging. The sounds of water sloshing onto a hard surface.

Then your eyesight returned, the dark world coming back onto focus as you rolled onto your side. A rush of sea water expelling itself from your lips with a violent heave.

A hand brushed against your back, patting firmly to help your struggle. The thick rains from just a moment ago had turned into a fine mist... still falling from the sky.

The hands, not your own, rolled you onto your back again. A shadowy face appearing before a pair of warm lips met yours. Flooding your lungs with a rush of sweet air.

Through the shock, your eyes widened, finally giving you the full picture.

Your savior pulled away, still cradling your head so that it didn't smash against the black rocks you now laid on.

Sweet honeyed eyes melted against yours, searching for a sure sign that you were okay. Alive. Dark, rich skin and tousled hair that reached just above his shoulders in thick waves. Droplets of clear rain dripping tantalizingly from his brows and lashes in a way that made him look like a god.

His lips crashed into yours again and your body shook from the pain that wracked your body. The near death experience leaving a tremor in your skin and a sickening rawness in your lungs. As if pebbled coral had scrubbed against the sensitive tissues around your heart.

You tried to cry from the pain, unable to feel the tips of your fingers from the frozen Atlantic you had just been pulled from, but the strangers lips persisted. Moving against yours, pulling you into him. His warm chest pressed against yours, igniting every sensitive nerve beneath him. So close you could feel his heartbeat like your own as he shared his breath with yours.

Steady and warm... and irresistibly sweet on your tongue, like the man had just drank the sweetest cherry wine. His exhale was soft like cotton candy, and twice as addictive. A sudden buzz flowing through your icy blood, granting it a pulsing warmth you had only felt under the morning sun.

The stranger finally pulled away and inspected your face. A concern scrawled all over his features. "Are you alright?" he asked over the roar of the tide, the water still crawling over the rocks to lick at your fingertips.

His voice. It was as rich as gold, and suddenly fiery tears stung the edge of your vision. It was the most beautiful sound you'd ever heard. As if an angel was speaking directly to you.

He was beautiful, you realized.

He wore no shirt, no jacket, no sigil... he was a face you didn't recognize. That was for sure. If he was on your ship, you'd have remembered it. And the thought sent a cold jolt through your rapidly warming body.

You sat up too quickly, gasping for air with a hoarse wheeze.

The stranger let you, his hand staying on your back in a soothing manner. "It's alright, get all the water out," he assured you.

Your head dipped down, on the verge of coughing up salt until...

You saw it.

"Wha-?" The words couldn't come out of your mouth. The scream you had intended had only come out as a sharp inhale.

Right at his hips, it was like he had been eaten by a shark- No. He- he was one.

The blubbery body below his waist, the sharp fin and tail, was unmistakable. Akin to the creatures you had watched swarm around the ship, waiting for fallen food or eating the schools of fish that flocked beneath the boat.

That familiar grey-brown striped pattern on his-god!- on his tail-

A shark.

He even had gills below his ribcage, the creature not even wearing a shred of clothing that hinted at a humanity you knew.

"Yuh-You're-You're a-a" You huffed breathlessly, as if your body was trying to warn you. Trying to crawl back, away from the half-man in a frenzy of fear, but the pain ebbing in your bones was too much. The fright and fear to paralyzing. And the man held you close.

The same concern on his face still lingering for you.

"Don't move too fast!" He scolded with round eyes, holding you firmly next to him.

The struggle was feeble. Your body had given out before the struggle could even begin. Going limp in his hands as he supported you, the man suddenly jumping in worry that you had died.

"Hey! Hey! Wake up!" He patted your cheek anxiously before he leaned in and kissed you again. His breath mingling with yours, trying to force you to stay awake with a rush of air.

It was then, that the cold fear suddenly flushed out of your body. Replaced by a searing heat that shot straight into your blood. Fingertips tingling, feeling his arms and the intense heat of his skin despite the lingering rain. The acute way his body pressed against yours. The sweetness of his mouth.

It made your pulse flutter. Goosebumps crawling up your neck as he molded his body to yours. Pulling away to check again if you were okay.

The moment he did, your arm shot up and stopped him just centimeters from your face. Lips brushing his. You couldn't explain it, the need for this man ebbing below your skin like a sweet flame. You wanted him more than the last breath you had prayed for. Needed his lips, his skin, those warm eyes.

You pulled him back into your lips fiercely, tongue delving into his mouth to taste him again. Everything else forgotten and thrown to the winds. You only wanted his kiss. Again and again. Over and over until he drank the rest of the air from your lungs.

A soft groan slipped from your lips as he kissed you back. His body pressing insistently against yours, laying you beneath him on the rocks, his fin curled around your boots. Gasping for air against your lips just to crash into them all over again. With every kiss the heat intensified in your body, humming against his as his lips traced your jaw and neck.

[aventurineswife]

greetings, scar, jiyan, aalto and calcharo saving a teen!reader from a TD attack/outburst?

“Let the grown ups do the work”

Tags: Aalto x Reader, Jiyan x Reader, Calcharo x Reader, Scar x Reader, Teen!Reader, Platonic, Found Family(?), Protective.

Warnings: Mild violence, Brief moments of peril and fear, Mentions of violence and threats, Inaccurate fighting scene (totally not because I can't describe the original).

The air around you grew heavy as the Tacet Discord slithered closer, its amorphous form pulsating with chaotic energy. Your legs trembled, rooted in place by fear. The discord emitted a guttural screech, extending a tendril toward you.

“Careful now, don’t breathe too deeply.” a soft, amused voice interrupted the chaos.

A faint mist began to rise, shrouding the area in a ghostly fog. From within, a figure stepped forward, his sunglasses glinting in the dim light. Aalto's carefree smile belied the precision in his movements as he raised his hand, the mist around him coiling like a living entity.

“Now, now, let's not be rude to the kid.” Aalto quipped. The mist solidified into jagged spikes, striking the discord's tendrils mid-air. Each movement was fluid, like a performance.

The Tacet Discord roared, lashing out blindly, but the fog thickened, obscuring its vision entirely. Aalto approached you, crouching down with a reassuring smile. "Stay still. The mist doesn’t harm those who don't resist. Trust me, I’ve done this a hundred times.”

With a flick of his wrist, the fog surged forward, enveloping the Tacet Discord. Its screeches softened into silence, and the chaotic form dissolved into nothingness.

Aalto offered his hand, his sunglasses slipping slightly down his nose to reveal his calculating eyes. “You okay, kid? Free of charge this time.”

The Tacet Discord loomed over you, its amorphous shape crackling with unstable energy. You tried to run, but a tendril of chaotic matter wrapped around your ankle, dragging you closer.

A sudden gust of wind whipped through the battlefield, and a commanding voice cut through the roar of the discord. “Hold on.”

Jiyan descended like a whirlwind, hair flowing as his Resonance Mark glowed fiercely. With a sweeping motion of his arm, the air around him condensed, forming the ethereal shape of a teal dragon. The Qingloong roared, its presence pushing the discord back momentarily.

The discord shifted its form, attempting to retaliate, but Jiyan was faster. He struck with precision, wind blades slicing through its chaotic mass. Each movement was calculated, his stance steady and unyielding.

The dragon coiled protectively around you as Jiyan extended a hand, his piercing yellow eyes meeting yours. “Stay close to the Qingloong. I’ll handle the rest.”

With a final strike, the discord disintegrated, leaving the area eerily calm. Jiyan turned to you, a hint of a smile softening his stern expression. “You’re safe now. Let’s get you home.”

You stumbled back, heart pounding as the Tacet Discord’s amorphous form surged toward you. Its chaotic energy radiated menace, and you felt the weight of despair crushing your chest.

“Interesting. So this is what frightens you?” a smooth, almost mocking voice echoed.

Scar emerged from the shadows, his mismatched eyes glinting with curiosity. He tilted his head, a dramatic smile spreading across his scarred face. “Don’t worry. The lamb’s shepherd is here.”

With a theatrical gesture, Scar summoned sharp, crimson energy spikes from the ground. They shot upward, piercing through the discord’s form. The creature howled, shifting its shape to evade the onslaught, but Scar only laughed.

“Ah, but you’re playing my game now.” he said, his voice low and menacing.

The discord lashed out, but Scar sidestepped effortlessly, his movements almost lazy. He raised a hand, and a burst of energy erupted, scattering the discord into fragments.

Kneeling beside you, Scar offered his hand, his smile softening slightly. “You have spirit, little lamb. Stay close to me. No discord will touch you again.”

The Tacet Discord closed in, its formless body pulsating with chaotic energy. You tried to scream, but the sound was swallowed by the creature’s oppressive aura.

A sharp crackle filled the air, and a shadowy figure landed between you and the discord. Calcharo’s gray eyes burned with focus as his Resonance Mark flared to life. “Stay down.” he commanded, his voice cold yet protective.

Electricity surged around him, arcs of bioelectric energy forming phantom-like shapes. With a sweep of his arm, shadowy thorns shot forward, pinning the discord in place. The phantoms howled, tearing into the creature with unrelenting force.

The discord retaliated, sending a chaotic wave toward Calcharo, but he stood firm, absorbing the energy with calculated precision. His coattails fluttered as he unleashed another wave of shadowy thorns, reducing the discord to a harmless mist.

Calcharo turned to you, his expression softening slightly. “You’re safe now,” he said, offering his hand. “Let’s get you out of here.”

[apas-95]

This might sound stupid, but how popular is communism in China ? I know the CCP is the dominant political faction there, but how much of the Chinese population ascribes to socialism out of personal belief and education rather than just going along with the government?

I ask this because, in my country, most people's allegiance to the dominant political ideology, liberalism, is mostly due to their blindly following the dominant class, rather than any true belief in its merit

There is a key difference between communism and liberalism, here - communism is an organic ideology of the working class, which represents the genuine wants and needs of the broad masses of society. Under socialism, the people are themselves the dominant class.

Perhaps a more appropriate comparison, to a capitalist country, would be the question of whether a given bourgeois ascribes to capitalism out of genuine belief and education? They are raised in a society structured around their interests and with an ideology that promotes their interests, to what degree are they simply 'going along with' their own interests? It's a nebulous question - self-derived belief in ones own interests is a lot easier to identify when it goes against society at large; trying to discern why members of the dominant class believe in their own interests is like trying to separate streams in a river.

The dominant ideas in society are always the ideas of the dominant class. Under socialism, the dominant class is the broad mass of society, and the proletariat 'blindly following' themselves and their own interests is something of an oxymoron.

Are the people in general politically educated? Yes, Marxist thought is taught as part of the standard curriculum. Are the people in general politically conscious? To varying degrees, and this is, of course, the purpose of the vanguard party - naturally, there are more advanced elements and more backwards elements in society.

It has always been the case that the broad masses of the population do not need to understand communism as deeply as their vanguard party does, because they are shown in practice that communism is what carries out their own interests and what achieves their own goals.

This are definitely similar discussion in China, but with different understanding. The question of whether the '00s generation, who hadn't lived through the hardships of earlier eras of building socialism, would respect the need for the socialist project, was resolved by their immense communal spirit and drive shown during the COVID pandemic.

In essence, the question is malformed, because it is precisely the government that is going along with the people.

[lancabbage]

Okay... I'm really beginning to suspect a hell of a lot of the fandom simply can't understand the novel and its messages.

I've just seen someone comment on how important it is to them that people understand LWJ would "forgive" WWX no matter how he acted, no matter his "wrong doings". Apparently they think WWX treated LWJ badly 🤔 Yes, there were misunderstandings, but he never treated him badly! I really got the impression they didn't understand WWX's actions and were insinuating he had done things he required forgiveness for in the first place! Which, he does not... So...

Also, they totally have the characterisation of LWJ completely wrong. LWJ loves WWX BECAUSE he's morally good! He does not love him blindly, nor would he love him if he had done such atrocious acts some in the fandom (and the cultivation world) believe he did, because they simply can't read properly.

The thing that made me most shocked was that some people actually believe that WWX doesn't deserve LWJ... Some even love fanfic where LWJ dies or is seriously injured and WWX has to suffer. Wow. Like seriously? Wtf 👀

Those people are projecting so bad, they need therapy! WWX deserves a happy ending and to be with the boy he (unconsciously) had a crush on his whole fn life! WWX was a good person, who did the right thing even if it wasn't the easiest option. That's the whole point of the story! WWX gets a second chance at the life he should have had BECAUSE he deserves it. WWX was always putting others first, whether out of obligation and debt or simply because he was kind and caring. No one deserves such a beautifully happy ending more than WWX. He's finally putting himself first, free of the shackles of his first life, and taking the only thing he's ever wanted for himself... LWJ ❤️

Anyone thinking WWX needs to suffer any further than the mass amount of unimaginable trauma he already lived through and did not deserve to experience in the first place, is an absolute moron.

[emeritus-fuckers]

Hi!! I love your blog so much 🖤🖤 if requests are open, can I request how the Papa's would react to a reader who's an incredibly devout theistic Satanist? Like they REALLY believe in everything the Ministry preaches, if that makes sense. Tysm 🖤

Papas with a devout theistic Satanist darling

Primo (he/him)

He does like your devotion, yes...

As long as you don't lose your ability to think on your own.

He doesn't want you or anyone to follow the Dark Lord's teachings blindly.

Above anything, be your own person. Religion comes second, never first.

Secondo (he/him)

Bold of you to assume Secondo gives a shit.

Yes, sure, his religion is nice, but he follows the true satanic philosophy of being his own god.

He tries to snap you out of being too devoted and actually live a little so you're not stuck in a habit all the time.

He takes you to parties and hopes you stop being all that obsessed with religion.

Sure, devotion is good, but don't go too deep.

Terzo (he/they)

They don't mind it too much, but still don't want you to be too devoted.

He makes you promise you use your head before you do anything.

They've always been the type to run away from masses unless they had to be there, so you can imagine that he tries to get you in on that little habit.

Life's too short to devout yourself to any religion so much! Live a little!

Remember, satanism is all about loving yourself and having fun. Do that instead of being one of those boring old nuns!

Copia (he/him)

It does spook him a little just how devoted you are.

Let's be real, he thought he was going to die just a bit ago because of some Ministry plotting 'all for the Dark Lord' and shit.

He tells you to chill out and be less 'religious freaky' and more 'you freaky'. Whatever that means.

Be more casual, don't freak the poor man out.

Old Papa Nihil (he/him)

Old Nihil is far more devoted than young Nihil.

It's been years, after all. He got... properly indoctrinated.

He praises you for your devotion to the religion, perhaps even too much.

His sight is shit these days so he asks you to read the Unholy Books for him.

You do so gladly, of course!"

Young Papa Nihil (he/him)

He spits out his drink.

Honestly, even he doesn't believe in it all that much.

Yes, he follows the religion, but he's nowhere near devoted.

He just warns you not to turn into some weird cult freak. Does not talk to you about religion. Not now, not ever.

~

Written by Nosferatu.

[morverenmaybewrites]

His Father's Son

Chapter 1: A Home Half in Ruins

Pairing: Jason Todd x Reader

CW: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions of Violence

Tags: Alternative Universe: Dark Fantasy Gotham City, Hanahaki Disease, Childhood Friends to Lovers

Synopsis:

Gotham City: the world’s last and greatest bastion of magic. A city made out of spells and twisting steel.

And the only place where the dead can be brought back to life.

After Jason Todd had been forcibly resurrected by his father, he left Gotham City in search of a new life. One where he did not have to be constantly reminded that he now sits on the border between the monstrous and the miraculous. One where he could forget that no longer quite belongs in the world of the living.

But when a strange new curse surfaces, one that causes plants to take root inside of living people and leaving flowering corpses in its wake, Jason finds that he must come back and help solve the case before it devours the city whole.

Read on AO3

Preview:

Jason Todd hated taking the bus. 

He hated the fact that there was only one exit–one escape route, and that he was almost always seated too far from it. He hated the constant contact with strangers, any one of whom could be carrying a gun or a bomb or a knife, never mind the fact that Jason himself had all three on his person at any given time. 

He hated where this particular bus had been taking him, right before it had come to a screeching halt in the middle of the road.

The thing that had somehow snuck aboard, ripped off the driver’s left arm, and curled up above the glass doors did not help improve this sentiment. 

It had a man’s head, its once-blue pupils now milky with death, sitting on top of a writhing mass of arms. Some of its hands scrabbled at the glass windows, fingernails tapping out a meaningless rhythm that made Jason’s s head ache. Others were grasping blindly at the steering wheel.

Its mouth opened, once, twice, as if trying to speak. But no sound came out. A quarter-sized hole, neatly slotted in the center of its forehead, sluggishly oozed out blood. 

Jason’s gun was still smoking. 

Someone behind him spoke in a shaking voice. Jason could smell the stink of urine. 

“Is it dead?”

The head twitched, when it heard the woman’s voice.  

Then it smiled, showing far too many teeth, yellowed and cracked like old tombstones. Its arms stilled their distracted movements, muscles cording underneath gray skin. 

Though its eyes didn’t move, Jason knew that the thing’s attention was focused solely on him. 

He reached for his other gun. 

“No.” 

[feraltvman]

Broken Star Puzzles

Powers and MORE explained

Prepare yo'selves for one long ass post, as I ramble off about my silly little AU Puzzles. The full course meal of how he works is now LIVE TEEHEE

⭐ Lets start off with this fun little detail I put in BS!Puzzles design!!!! If you take away his body, then put the pieces closer together you get a mangled broken star shape :D I didn't just pick a random amount of star pieces to be sticking out of his body, it was on purpose to really send home the message that he IS a Broken Star UvU

The rest of The Wishing Star is in his system, mangled and waiting to be used... Is it possible to bring the star together and mend it? Possibly but who knows what that would do to Puzzles? 🤭

👾Build a Minion-

Puzzles first power is to Create Minions that will blindly follow his every order without a second thought. The Wishing Star relies on his Thoughts and Emotions, while a star can read your mind... The deepest desires in your heart when you wish upon it... If you wish for something while your mind is tossed like a salad, unsure of the bigger picture then how is the star supposed to get the bigger picture?

If Puzzles isn't Focused on what he wants. Say hes robbing a bank for petty purposes and hes not totally in it bc in the long run this doesn't do much for his plans, or these guards are pathetic couldn't do shit to him.... He wants a Cool lizard thing to rip them apart and he could get what he imagines or....

A ball of scales with wings. Puzzles may be more edgy and brooding however he is still. Your honor. A silly little guy who cannot stay on task or will ruin his own plans- he could be doing something and suddenly think about how badly he wants Fish Crackers

Star doesn't care that this thought was for Later. He wanted them now and snapped his fingers, you get fish crackers my king.

🕷️Mind Control/⏯️Pause and Mute

The Wishing Star DOES NOT directly affect Puzzles NATURAL abilities in the slightest bit, they are his normal built in functions and the Star doesn't correlate, the only reason he has some of his natural powers is just the convenience that this is a Star in his body. Nothing else.

1 Extra Star he was never supposed to have so his natural abilities are weak and unreliable. Mind Control can only last for a minute if not less than that, he can give someone a simple command to do and use that time to make distance between himself and them in order to summon minions.

Pausing and Muting, can be resisted now. The more someone fights back against the Pause, their body will start to twitch until they can break free on their own accord before Puzzles ability runs out of time.

As for muting, the more insistent the target is to talk their voice will slowly become unmuted.

Puzzles has the tendency to forget that he has limited time so will go into an Evil Villain monologue just to get his ass kicked 2 seconds later- bc he is silly and autistic like that. I wouldnt dream of taking away his quirky behavior uwu

🤕Pain Resistance-

When Puzzles first got the star it was ungodly painful as the giant mass wormed its way into his body, which caused his first wish for Resistance To Pain.... He can still feel damage, and his quirky behavior causes him to flinch anyways even if it won't hurt as much anymore. But he can take a punch from Mario and barely feel a thing now, which isn't the best thing for him as he still wears down just the same as before but now that he can't feel himself wearing down as much, he'll push himself beyond his limits and it will take a lot longer to get him to run away in a fight which could also lead to his capture bc he figured out hes tired way too late and passes out while fleeing.

🎎No Bone Mode-

This ability is a combination of The Wishing Star and The Demonic Goop collaborating in order to keep Puzzles safe from harm since he can't do that himself yet-

The demonic eyes in his arm and in the Puppeteer hand ARE fully functional, seeing more than Puzzles sees but just not sharing that to him bc that would fuck him up even more and they don't need that. Instead it uses what knowledge it has to help Puzzles however it can. Nudging him with impulsive thoughts on top of the fact this man fully does not want to get hit- The Wishing Star fully understands the mission and helps him avoid contact by any means necessary.

Sense Puzzles is resistant to Pain he can't feel any of this as the Puppeteer hand flings him around like a rag doll. Its more or less a very powerful enhancement to his movement and flexibility

♻️Jealousy Meter- (AKA The power of Friendship)

Depending on Puzzles state of mind different emotions and desires have VASTLY different effects on his abilities- Right now he is currently ⭐Hoe Mad⭐

Violently Betrayed by his friend

Left behind by who was supposed to help him

Shown that his vulnerability was nothing but a weakness

Affection is just a TOOL people can use against him

All this goes into the factor of how STRONG his powers while using specifically the Wishing Star are, because his Desire is revenge and to break apart the friend group which ruined his own companionship

Jealousy and Hatred fuel him like a rechargeable battery that was left plugged in.

The more he feels, the stronger he gets. Summoning big creatures straight from hell with full magical capabilities of their own, his own physical strength being enhanced (without changing his appearance. Strong anime twink logic), up til the point he COULD get strong enough to mend the wishing star in his body

This is catastrophic behavior... The more fixed the star is, the stronger Dreams or Nightmares BS!Puzzles can make a reality. Warping the area around him to become different (grasslands to volcano type of shit), gaining better abilities if not negating his need for 5 stars to use his natural abilities.

He has the

potential

To become ungodly dangerous, but he doesn't really think about Mending the broken star in his own system, he rather fears that possibility... He doesn't want to lose it and thinks if he Fixes it, that it will fly out of his body then he will be powerless again. Thus he goes with the status quo. Good Enough 👍

The most he will do with the Star is summon more pieces of it in order to give himself a massive cleaver scythe hand for murdering

TLDR Power Of Friendship:

He could become REALLY fucking dangerous however just uses it to power up his ability to summon things and his own physical strength

[hamsterbellbelle]

Hello🐹Now that is near the end of the year, it’s time for the personal top-5 list of my builds and CCs that I’m most proud of😤also a little bit of self-promotion…_(:з」∠)_  

I've said I'd build the Mass Effect Normandy and hopefully finished the sim-shape hologram but it didn't happen _(:з」∠)_ (a new idea came up with the hologram thingy I will have to test it out before making anything...) hopefully a more productive year in 2025 (´･ω･`)

Anyway…to the list! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

5. Underground City - Kabuki (No CC)🎦|| Just realized although I've made only a few builds this year I actually like all of them...I really really really want to build an underground city, and honestly I'm quite surprised with what I could do with no CCs xD I really need to build one with CCs ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

4. Post-Apocalyptic Bridge Town (No CC)🎦 || I don't usually build builds that doesn't match its surroundings, but I really love this bridge-town ( •̀ ω •́ )✧ My favorite part is the functional beach lounge in the concrete tunnel xD

3. The Columbarium🎦 || I play my sims in generations, so I've always wanted a nice cemetery for my save. And now my sims could finally have a place to visit their loved ones :)

2. Kowloon Tong Lau (No CC)🎦 || I love all the signs and neon lights I placed on the outside ( •̀ ω •́ )✧ I actually lived in a Tong Lau before with my grandmother. I miss her 🧡🐹

1. Shady Ripperdoc Center🎦 || I love the build, I love the CCs I made for this build. I am proud of myself for this build😤 xD

To the CC List! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

5. This is Still a Door || This may appears to be a simple door, but to me this is the toilet door in my grandparents house, and it means a lot to me (´･ω･`)🧡 xD It might be broken and it has stains, but it doesn't mean it isn't functional and dirty (well maybe a bit...) xD

4. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas || This is actually kind of a last minute set, and I'm actually meaning to make a nicer digital wall fireplace thiny (^^)"

3. Simple Columbarium Niche || I thought making this would be easy, turns out no it wasn't ._. It originally had a function to store the urn, but when I finally tested it out on a community lot turns out storage is not possible...

2. Ripperdoc Set || I'm surprised at myself for actually making a set xD it was a lot of work but also a lot of fun, therefore it's worth it ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

1. Cyberpunk 2077 Sliding Doors and Frames || This has the best cover photo ever...look at all the colors!! (≧∇≦)ﾉ p.s. just to be clear if I ever label any sim-thing as "cyberpunk 2077" that means those objects/build designs are originally from the game Cyberpunk 2077. any other thing else are "inspired by" ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

Summery of 2024:

I didn't make much builds and CCs this year since I got that 2-months only hiatus _(:з」∠)_ It was a hot season with my computer heating up due to JUST playing the Sims 4 only - which really frustrated me, along with the sudden increase of Sims 4 glitches and bugs😡 I remember browsing through the EA Sims 4 Bug Report Forum and seeing all those reports really made me felt disappointed in the game (I know I'm kinda in the creator network thingy but that does not mean I have to praise the game blindly...) but thankfully somehow the crashes stopped and the switching to DX11 seems to have solved a lot of lagging issues🤔

Oh and yea this year I got into the Sims 4 Creator Program (EA Creator Network) (≧∇≦)/ xD I actually applied for it a very long time ago when it was called something else...I applied it for Mass Effect xD then I think I saw someone talking about the program recently and I was like "hmm...I think I had submitted my name to a program like that..." but I never got a reply...so I renewed my application and added Sims 4 and Dragon Age to it...and then it happened ( •̀ ω •́ )✧ the thing I'm most happy about is my creator code is "hamster" xD just - 🐹🐹🐹 xD

anyway hoping for a better year for 2025. hope everyone stay safe, stay cozy, be happy :)

[mushgloomz]

Dead of Night

Joel Miller x F!Reader Series WIP

• an: as promised, a tidbit of smut for you - you can expect more in upcoming chapters, but for now i'm just testing the waters with my own style of writing it so pls be kind! i also don't proofread these particularly before posting, so please excuse any errors! the juicy plotline deffo starts in the next chapter, but i wanted this to be sort of a slowburn so you'll just have to implement some patience (something that i do not have at all xo) <3

• chapter warnings: smut - 18+, minors DNI!, alcohol consumption, cheeky handjob (reader x m!oc), use of nicknames ('doll', 'kid'), consensual tomfoolery etc, language.

• wc: approx. 3300

Chapter 3: Exposure

The door to the armory closed with a satisfying thud behind you, your rifle now safely stowed inside. Your agenda, clear as the sky above your head, entailed little more than changing out of the clothes you had worn on patrol and heading straight for the Tipsy Bison.

You were one of the few that changed after their shifts; it wasn't unusual to head into one of the communal areas of town and see lumber workers covered in a fine smattering of wood shavings tucking into their evening meals, or to find yourself nestled in a booth at the bar with as much hay on the upholstery as the barn it had been strung along from.

You would be amongst them, the smell of damp fur and churned earth soaked deep into the fibres of your denim - that is, if you had the guts to tell anyone that the boots you had been given were half a size too small. As if on cue, your toes pinched uncomfortably as your feet carried you toward the steps of your porch.

Crossing the threshold of your doorway, you cast off the boots as fast as your fingers could unweave the laces, an exhale of relief leaving your lungs as the confines of worn leather relinquished its grasp. You slung your denim jacket across the back of your sofa, and on freshly tender feet, padded your way upstairs to your bedroom.

The sun continued to stream through your window much like it had this morning; floorboards, once cool, now left warm in its path. As you stood at the end of your bed, your thumbs made their way to the brass buttons on your jeans, before fingertips grazed along your hips and down your outer thighs to remove the garment from your legs. Your t-shirt followed suit, and you sat perched on the edge of your unmade bed in little more than your underwear. The fabric beneath you, afforded the same treatment as the floorboards, was pleasantly warm. You made little effort to resist the call of your pillows, and as your head made contact with down-filled cotton, head swilling with the day's events, your eyes could do little but close.

///

Fuck. You may as well have kept your eyes closed; your room unexpectedly plunged into darkness following your unintentionally long 'nap'. You extend a tentative hand toward your bedside table, patting around blindly until you find the switch for your lamp. The lamp flickers on and you find yourself squeezing your eyelids tightly together as if you hadn't just pressed the switch with your own two fingers. The alarm clock sat atop your bedside unit, glass smashed and distorting the analog, reads 9pm. Rubbing sleep from your eyes and seething quietly, you toss the duvet from your body with a hmph.

Following a short-lived post-nap haze, you had managed to scramble yourself into a somewhat presentable state, chucking on a pair of well loved boot cut jeans and a lightweight sweater, and had left your door all but twenty minutes after waking. Irrespective of your unplanned interlude, the Tipsy Bison remained at the top of your to-do list.

Dimmed lighting ebbed from the windows of the bar, the murmur of townsfolk filtering through its doors. They creaked as you pulled at the handles, the volume of the masses inside suddenly much louder as you stepped through the entryway. You navigated your way to the bar, scanning the faces of those that had prioritised their Saturday evening ritual instead of oversleeping. It was heaving with people, far busier than you had seen it in recent weeks, and with considerably more women. Mumbles were shared over pints of beer; whispers and giggles flitting over glasses of wine and hooch. The newcomers, at least in the sense that they hadn't been there yesterday, were quite literally the talk of the town.

You reached the bar and hoisted yourself onto one of the stools along its front, your hands seeking purchase on the waxed oak counter. It wasn't long before your arrival caught the attention of Jack, working hurriedly behind the bar and yet still managing to flirt with anyone who batted their lashes at him. He shot a grin in your direction, followed by a single digit being held upright before he spun around to serve another person. You didn't mind waiting; Jack was who you had come to bother with your gossip, your friendship having blossomed shortly after your arrival in Jackson. Who better to share your woes with than someone who had exclusive access to the frontline of Jackson's gossip hotspot?

Jack poured drinks of all varieties for the swell of people waiting to be served before settling opposite you, an old fashioned having found it’s way to your hands in amidst the flurry.

“And to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here? Don’t tell me you missed me?”

The words fell from a familiar smirk as Jack leant on the counter of the bar on his elbows, ducking his head to place a quick kiss on the flat of your cheek after speaking. "Jack, you don't leave anyone alone long enough for them to start missing you-", you retaliated with a playful lilt to your voice, an overdramatic pout replacing the smirk on his face but removing not an ounce of smugness from his eyes, "-plus, I need you to fill me in on the new people; what's the lowdown you've gotten from the bar so far?".

People used to say that alcohol was the key to hard truths, or so you'd heard. The phrase took on a whole different meeting after you met Jack; the stories you'd heard would almost certainly turn the most lenient people a startling shade of red. Infidelity, stashed resources, you name it - if you wanted the dirt on someone in Jackson, Jack was the one to seek out.

"Well, you could get it straight from the horse's mouth; looks as though you'd be getting in line behind all the singletons in town though - he's been real popular tonight."

You follow the direction of Jack's nod over your right shoulder toward the booths along the wall, and sure enough, in the far corner, was Joel. He was wearing a red and green plaid shirt as far as you could make out in the piss-poor lighting, his hair tidier than it had been at your encounter that morning. A comical number of rocks glasses sat on the table in front of him in varying degrees of fullness, another being swilled in his hand - you took a moment to check your own glass. "You serving drinks in miniature size now?", you ask Jack, puzzled but not turning your head away from Joel's booth.

"Same glass as yours, and he's not had to move his ass all evening thanks to his not-so-secret admirers. Everyone in this room either wants to banish him or fuck him - hell, I'm not even sure what side I'm on."

You were still stuck on the fact that his glass, despite being identical to the one clasped between your own hands, looked that much smaller. You couldn't recall much about his hands from earlier, barring them being held out toward you in a mock surrender. You'd been far too focused on watching his face, seeking out the slightest twitch of emotion beyond furrowed brows and...

"Don't wanna disrupt this staring match you've got going on, as entertaining as it is, but we've got business to settle doll - get yapping and I'll keep pouring, deal?"

You hadn't realised that you'd been staring whilst pondering the details of that morning. You certainly hadn't noticed that at some point, Joel had lifted his head and locked eyes with you across the hustle and bustle of the bar. Shit. You didn't pause to gauge his reaction, blinking hurriedly before snapping your neck back toward the counter. Jack chuckled as you wiped damp palms across your thighs. "How long was he staring for?", you coughed out, cheeks radiating warmth that spread to the tips of your ears; you knocked back the remainder of your drink in a bid to cool the flush before it could creep down your neck too.

"Couldn't have been more than a couple of seconds, I promise. Look, I finish in five - how about I grab a bottle of something and we can carry on chatting at yours instead? Not long cleaned those bar stools, and I don't fancy mopping up a mess if we linger."

Unsure of what Jack was trying to make a jab at with the mop comment, secretly hoping he didn't mean what you thought he meant, you nodded in agreeance. It was for the best, you thought, to scarper away from the brown eyes you could still feel boring into the back of your head.

///

As Jack passed on his keys to a coworker, you stood beside your barstool with a bottle of whiskey under-arm, feet planted firmly facing the bar.

"C'mon you, let's make a move back to yours."

You looked up at Jack, smile reaching his eyes as he slung an arm around your shoulders. He was a few years older than you, though you'd not asked for specifics, and he stood at a frankly ridiculous six feet and five inches. His height caught the attention of most people in town, not that he needed it - Jack was excessively suave in his demeanor, and charismatic to a fault. He was easy on the eyes, with well-kept auburn hair and stubble following the curve of his jaw; ritualistically wearing denim on his lower half and a shirt on his upper. Your first meeting had actually resulted in a similiar scenario to where you found yourself now, being chauffered through the Tipsy Bison and headed towards home.

As you approached the doors of the bar, you could see a woman coyly introducing herself to Joel, palms flat against his table whilst stood, pressing her chest together with her biceps and exaggerating her cleavage. You recognised her, but only visually, having seen her around town at some point. Joel remained stoic in expression, features null and void of any emotion, ducking his head in a curteous nod before reaching for his glass. You could have sworn you heard the woman tut as she removed herself from his table, clearly not receiving the desired response to her proposition, as she cut in front of you and Jack toward her own gaggle of friends a few tables across.

Jack outstretched a hand to press on the wood of the door, ever the gentleman, and held it open for you. Hazarding a last glance toward the booth before departing, you realised Joel was looking toward the pair of you over the brim of his glass, eyebrow cocked simultaneously with inquisition and judgement.

///

The short walk back to your house was mostly spent with you explaining the morning's events, Jack interjecting every once in a while with his own findings via the bar. Before long, you'd found yourself inside your home, both sat on your weathered sofa with a glass in hand, conversation flowing as generously as the alcohol being poured. Gossip reigned supreme between you, both of you chasing each other's words with anecdotes and tidbits of information you'd accrued since you'd seen each other last week.

At some point, you had laid your legs across Jack's lap, and he'd placed a hand comfortingly on your knee, brushing the pad of his thumb across the fabric every once in a while. The pair of you were comfortable in each other's presence; you'd found a mutual disdain for some of the 'old-school' values embedded in Jackson, instead practicing in what Jack fondly described as mutually beneficial hedonism.

A self-proclaimed slut, Jack had opted to never settle down; he favoured the spontaneous and fleeting encounters that a bachelors lifestyle offered. You'd fucked people before coming to Jackson, before Jack, but by comparison you felt almost prudish.

"Got the hots for the new guy then, huh?"

The conversation had shifted as Jack flashed his teeth at you, a shit-eating grin plastering his face. You couldn't tell if it was the third heavy pour of whiskey in your system making your face burn, or the fact that the man across from you could read you like a book. "Bet you'd enjoy watching that one unfold wouldn't you?", you teased.

"Oh, I most certainly would. Hot babe takes rugged older man? People would pay to see that, myself included."

You stifled a laugh as you playfully whacked his upper arm, his laughter harmonising with your own. The hand that was once on your knee was now higher up your leg, rhythmically kneading the flesh of your thigh. You finished the final dregs of your drink before resting the glass on the coffee table to the side, a mischevious glint in your eye as you spoke again - "You think I'm a 'hot babe'?".

"Damn straight I do; don't act like you don't agree."

The words hummed from Jack's mouth, his pupils dilating despite the already dim lighting in your lounge. He shifted in his seat and deftly moved his hand from your thigh to your hip, fingers tugging gently on one of the belt loops, coaxing you toward him. You took the bait, scooting yourself closer, now propped up on your elbows. Dipping his head down to your level, Jack placed a tender kiss just below the hinge of your jaw, your skin prickling in response. He raised his head once more to look you in the eyes, to which you responded with a firm nod and a smirk, before he lifted your legs and encouraged them to settle on either side of his lap.

As Jack spread his palms across your lower back, pressing your chest to his in a firm embrace, his own rising and falling steadily, you couldn't help but consider just how absurd this was. You'd never even kissed each other, making it a strict boundary to avoid complicating matters, and arguably the strangest point being that Jack had never made you cum before. It wasn't his fault; you'd chalked it up to being unable to relinquish control completely, or some sort of trauma response following years upon years of fighting to survive. As it stood, no one else had ever made you finish before - your climaxes only being reached with a hand between your legs and your lower lip wedged firmly between your teeth.

Sex was still very much enjoyable - as you rolled your hips against Jack's, rough denim creating a delicious sensation against your clit through your sodden panties, serving as a reminder of such a fact. The sound of a zipper being pulled down between your legs was electrifying every time, knowing that yourself alone had riled someone up to the point of action. The small murmurings of bliss escaping from slack-jawed mouths when you would work your hands around an aching cock; it was music to your ears. Ultimately, you enjoyed sex because it was the only time you felt entirely in control of another person - exchanging your own gratification for a temporary moment of authority.

Jack nipped at your clavicle as you wrung your hands around him, pausing only to moan or mumble an exasperated fuck against the crook of your neck. You pumped him with consistent pressure, just how you knew he liked it, your second hand breaching the waistband of your own jeans as you remained straddled across firm thighs - you did it entirely for Jack's own voyeurism. A husky groan reached your ears when you tilted your head back, neck exposed in mock submission, a breathy whimper leaving your parted lips as you drew tight circles around yourself. He was close. His breathing became shallow as he gently bucked his hips up into your hand, seeking purchase against the soft, slick flesh of your palm.

"I-I'm going to, oh fuck, I'm gonna cum.'

Jack's voice no less than a whimper, your name on his lips, strong hands splayed against the swell of your ass. He rocked his hips upward into your grip as you continued to work yourself before shuddering with his release, shirt dampened with cum as it leaked from him, running down his shaft. You slowly drew your hands away from their previous positions, holding onto his shoulders to steady yourself as you dismounted, settling on the sofa beside him and resting your head against his upper arm. Whilst he caught his breath, you wiped the residue from your fingers against his jeans, stifling a laugh.

"I'm sorry, didn't realise I was that pent up if I'm being honest."

"I had a great time, don't you worry - though if we're both being honest right now, I'm fucking exhausted", you reply, being entirely truthful. Your thighs burned from holding yourself up, and your knees ached far more than they should for a woman of your age. "You're more than welcome to crash in the spare bedroom if you fancy?", you offer as you go to stand. A hand squeezes your wrist in a comforting gesture, and Jack takes the opportunity to stand with you.

"Probably a half decent idea, I'm opening tomorrow morning so I best hit the hay whilst I still can. Thank you -" Jack paused, delivering a gentle kiss to the crown of your head "- I'll catch you in the morning doll."

You send him off with a smile before turning and heading towards your own bedroom, thighs continuing to burn as you worked your way up the stairs. You stripped yourself of your clothes once upstairs, leaving them in a deflated clump at the side of your bed, and crawled under the duvet. Your lamps remained on as heavy eyelids lowered, the lull of Jack's snoring from the room below yours drawing you into a state of well-deserved rest.

///

You rolled yourself over, bed squeaking as you peeked at your clock. Surely not. Fuck. The realisation that you had overslept by an hour for your last patrol shift of the week hit hard and fast. You whipped your head toward your window, glaring at the clouds that had covered the sun you had secretly begun to rely on to wake you in the mornings. As you slung your feet over the edge of your bed, you made the impromptu decision to chuck on the clothes laid creased beneath your soles. They smelt faintly of alcohol and musk as you shrugged the sweater over your head - you didn't have time to care. You skipped breakfast, opting to brush your hair out with your fingers instead, grabbing a slice of plain sourdough from your breadbin to eat as you half jogged toward the armory.

Code keyed in after two attempts, the door groaned open and the crackle of the strip bulbs filled the room. When you turned toward the right of the room, the usual rack that held your rifle was barren. You questioned the level of karmic retribution you were currently experiencing as you snagged a shotgun, spinning on your heels and racing toward the stables. Alex would be ecstatic at your show of tardiness; he'd gloat for the entire shift no doubt, and blame you for any of the inconveniences he had to face during morning preparations.

You collected yourself as best as you could, strands of hair clinging to your clammy forehead after your hustle, willing your breathing to steady at least somewhat before entering. Head barely breaching the entryway, you peered along empty stalls until your eyes landed on a familiar silhouette, paired with an entirely unfamiliar voice.

"Quit wasting my time and move it, kid. I'm leavin' in five."

[tokidokitokyo]

ことわざ 19/?

ことわざ are Japanese proverbs, and I have listed some basic proverbs, their equivalents in English, and a rough translation of the meanings of the Japanese phrase.

There is a test for ことわざ called the ことわざ能力検定 (ことわざのうりょくけんてい) and these are some of the phrases that appear in level 8 or 8級 (10 being the lowest level). For the time being, try one or two of these out the next time you speak with a native Japanese speaker!

More ことわざ (こと検9級): 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 Even More ことわざ (こと検10級): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

青い鳥

あおいとり

happiness taken for granted

from the play The Blue Bird, where two siblings search for the bluebird of happiness while the bluebird was actually in a cage in their home all along

足元から鳥が立つよう

あしもとからとりがたつ

① suddenly

② without warning; out of nowhere

the way birds take off from under foot as you approach

虻蜂取らず

あぶはちとらず

one who runs after two hares will catch neither

a spider trying to get both flies and bees catches neither

蟻の穴から堤も崩れる

ありのあなからつつみもくずれる

little strokes fell great oaks

a hole dug by an ant can collapse a dam

蟻の歩み

ありのあゆみ

a snail's pace

an ant's walking pace

蟻の這い出る隙もない

ありのはいでるすきもない

a tight perimeter

so tight there is no space for an ant to crawl out

生き馬の目を抜く

いきうまのめをぬく

sharp as a tack

rip out the eye from a living horse

鶍の嘴の食い違い

いすかのはしのくいちがい

a difference of opinion; a discrepancy

a difference of opinion that doesn't line up like the bill of a crossbeak (bird)

鼬ごっこ

いたちごっこ

a game of cat and mouse

playing weasel

鼬の最後っ屁

いたちのさいごっぺ

hitting the panic button

a weasel's last-ditch fart

犬に論語

いぬにろんご

like talking to a wall

teaching the Analects of Confucius to a dog

犬の尾を食うて回る

いぬのおをくうてまわる

chasing your tail

a dog running in circles trying to bite its tail

犬は人に付き猫は家に付く

いぬはひとにつきねこはいえにつく

a dog is loyal to its master, a cat, to its home

a dog sticks by a person and a cat sticks with its home

犬は三日飼えば三年恩を忘れぬ

いぬはみっかかえばさんねんおんをわすれぬ

dog is man's best friend

feed a dog for 3 days, it won't forget that kindness for 3 years

烏合之衆

うごうのしゅう

a disorganized mob

like a group of crows together (also 烏合の衆)

牛に引かれて善光寺参り

うしにひかれてぜんこうじまいり

serendipity

from a story where an old lady sees the neighbor's cow pull her garment off the clothesline, so she chases it and ends up visiting Zenkoji Temple, where she is enlightened

牛の歩み

うしのあゆみ

a snail's pace

a cow's walking pace

牛を馬に乗り換える

うしをうまにのりかえる

to trade a loser for a winner

switch from riding a cow (slow) to riding a horse (fast)

有象無象

うぞうむぞう

the unwashed masses

all manner of beings having form or lacking form

鰻の寝床

うなぎのねどこ

a long, narrow interior

an eel's bed

鰻登り

うなぎのぼり

① upward momentum

② skyrocketing; going through the roof

a rising line that looks like an eel

鵜の真似をする烏

うのまねをするからす

a poor man's …

a crow imitating a cormorant

鵜呑みにする

うのみにする

① to take at face value

② to swallow hook, line and sinker

to swallow something whole like how a cormorant eats

鵜の目鷹の目

うのめたかのめ

search like a hawk

cormorant eyes and hawk eyes (birds that search for prey from the sky and dive in for the kill)

馬が合う

うまがあう

to get along well; to have a lot in common

like a perfect match of rider and horse

馬には乗ってみよ人には添うてみよ

うまにはのってみよひとはそうてみよ

walk a mile in someone else's shoes

ride a horse or spend time beside a person before you judge them

馬の背を分ける

うまのせをわける

raining here but clear the next town over

like how rain will divide a horse's back, water runs down one side and the other stays dry

馬の耳に念仏

うまのみみにねんぶつ

like talking to a wall

speaking Buddhist prayers into the ear of a horse

梅に鶯

うめにうぐいす

goes together like spaghetti and meatballs; goes together like eggs and bacon

goes together like plums and nightingales

燕雀安んぞ鴻鵠の志を知らんや

えんじゃくいずくんぞこうこくのこころざしをしらんや

the small-minded cannot comprehend the ambitions of the great

how can small birds like swallows and sparrows understand the will of large birds like geese and swans

老いたる馬は道を忘れず

おいたるうまはみちをわすれず

an old horse never loses its way

an old horse never forgets the road home

鸚鵡返し

おうむがえし

parroting; blindly repeating

returning words like a parrot

陸に上がった河童

おかにあがったかっぱ

a fish out of water

a kappa up on land

同じ穴の狢

おなじあなのむじな

of the same stripe

badgers of the same hole

鬼が出るか蛇が出るか

おにがでるかじゃがでるか

what horrible fate awaits us…?

will a demon come out? or just a snake?

鬼の居ぬ間に洗濯

おにのいぬまにせんたく

while the cat's away the mice will play

laundry while the demon is not here (demon is a metaphor for the head of the household; 洗濯=命の洗濯 meaning to take a load off and relax)

鬼の首を取ったよう

おにのくびをとったよう

beaming with pride

like you took the head of the demon

鬼も十八、番茶も出花

おにもじゅうはち、ばんちゃもでばな

to everything there is a season

even demons are lovely at 18, a flower blooms even from Bancha (coarse tea)

尾鰭が付く

おひれがつく

embellished; a tall tale

a story with a tail fin stuck on