#the nerd has captivated me with his charms

[ionomycin]

My Baldur's Gate 3 tieflings, transmutation wizard Lumi and life cleric Primrose. I have been entirely obsessed with the game...

[aurynsia]

Unrequited, Terrifying Chapter 3

James Potter x Reader

Summary: A boy in your class haunts your search for your secret admirer, uncovering some feelings you thought you lost years before…

Warnings: Some very subtle sexual implications, secret admirer trope, extremely fluffy, nervous!james x shy!reader, some subtle wolfstar action in the background, idiots in love, oc!friends, lovesick!james, no use of Y/N, James is a virgin, reader is referred to with she/her pronouns, oblivious!reader, Remus being the most supportive and helpful friend James has ever had, reader is a bit of a nerd, NOT EDITED!

Word count: 1.5K

Series Masterlist

Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

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Potions concluded with the setting sun. You adjusted in your seat to reach your bag, dropping supplies into its dark void. You had managed to phase the unusual situation you were in to the back of your mind, forgetting your secret admirer as you completed the class work. This was, however, short lived.

You turned back to your desk and spotted a folded note on its surface, the paper identical to the one you received the night before. You attempted to conceal your growing curiosity and excitement as you swiftly snatched it and launched yourself out of your chair, bag in hand.

Turning to leave the room, you thought of your friends’ ecstatic faces at the discovery of a new note, before-

Bump.

“Oh Merlin, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…” You turned your frame to face the source of disruption, air pushed from your lungs for just a second. There stood a tentative James Potter, a splattering of rose appearing on his cheeks at your eye contact. “Um, I- I’m sorry!” He rambled, rushing away before you could even consider the interaction.

Your stomach quietly dipped and flipped at the contact, creating an unfamiliar warmth which you quickly forced down as you shook your head with a small smile. James Potter, ladies man, smooth talker and prank puller couldn’t even form a coherent sentence around you. Strange. Though, at least he apologised this time.

You exited the classroom, remembering the note you held in your hand, and practically skipped towards the Gryffindor common room with bubbling enthusiasm.

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“And then I just froze! I can’t help it, her eyes are so captivating and she smells really good and the way she clutched the note so protectively made my heart flutter!” James finished his rambling, looking around his dorm in disbelief as his friends snickered affectionately.

“Good Merlin, Prongs! Every attractive bird you bump into like that at post-match parties would be subject to a dousing of charm, flirtations, and charisma by now…” Sirius quipped with a smirk, amused by the boy’s rare, flustered look hiding behind his hands.

“I mean, of course she’s a pretty one, Prongs, but what’s stopping you from wooing her like all the rest?” Silence fell on the group as James considered Sirius’ words. “Well, I don’t know, Prongs, maybe it’s because- well, you know, you’ve been…saving yourself…for h-“ Peter attempted, choosing not to finish his sentence after the entourage of warning glares met his eyes.

“James, Peter might have a point…for once…” Remus spoke after some consideration. “You obviously view her differently to all the other girls you’ve spoken to, and I know the reason you hesitate with all the rest is because you wish they were her…” Remus glanced at the raven-haired boy sitting on his bed as he said those last words, who was unaware as he moved to console James.

The young Potter was arched over, with his elbows on his knees and his face in the palms of his hands. His bed dipped under the weight of Sirius taking a seat beside him.

“Prongs, let me put it bluntly,” Sirius began, “you’ll have to either man up, chat her up and finally get the girl you deserve, or move on and bloody kiss someone else already. It’s no use pining over her if she doesn’t even know you’re pining! Now what did that second note say?”

——————— ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ ———————

“‘You look so pretty today, I really like how you did your hair! And thank you for all your explanations in the class discussion, it really helped me stay on top of my grades with a beautiful thing like you sitting near me.’ He drew a little winking face next to that, ‘Forever yours.” Charlie and Hope burst into a fit of giggles after you recited the most recent note.

“He’s obsessed with you! This is so cute!” Charlie squealed, holding your shoulders and shaking you slightly for emphasis. “You know what this means, right? He must be in your potions class!” Hope stated with a smirk, leaning across from her seat on the floor to pick up your list of potential suitors.

“Let’s see, that leaves us with about…five options!” She exclaimed. Your bewildered expression contrasted her excitement, crawling over to her position on the dorm room floor. One, two, three, four…five. You counted the Gryffindor boys in your potions class as your eyes widened.

One name stuck out to you in particular: James Potter. As if sharing the same thought, Charlie brightened as she spotted the same name on the paper. “Potter is in that class! Oh my, my…you are quite the catch aren’t you, love?” She teased, inching closer to your warming face. “Ooh! You’re blushing! Are you sure you really got over him all those years ago, hmm?” Hope joined Charlie in closing the distance between all three of you as your cheeks gave you away.

“Of course I’m over him! That was in fourth year…well, maybe…ugh, it doesn’t matter! It’s probably not him anyway, I mean, I can’t imagine him finding the time to do any of this with his adoring fan club constantly surrounding him…” you muttered.

“But it could really be him! I mean, you were saying he gets all nervous and awkward around you, there’s a chance that could mean-“ You stopped Charlie’s rabbit hole of conspiracy, choosing not to dwell on the matter longer.

“There are four others on this list, it’s best if we cover all our bases.” Hope reasoned, joining you in rationality and convincing Charlie to do the same. “Let’s keep an eye out for any of these distinguished gentlemen paying extra attention to our darling friend.”

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The quiet night caused the atmosphere of the Gryffindor house to soften under the soft glow of the crescent moon. Remus couldn’t sleep. It was almost too peaceful, and he didn’t like it.

Sitting up in his bed, he glanced over the figures of his friends, their chests softly rising with each breath they took. Slinking into the cloak of darkness by the door, he slowly opened the door and forged a path to the common room.

There, sat under the light of a lamp, was a flowing cascade of your hair over the back of the couch. You were hunched over paper, concentrating on your History of Magic homework.

“Hey, can I join you?” Remus attempted not to startle you as he rounded the corner, joining you on the coach after you noticed his presence and nodded in confirmation.

Remus was always the more mature member of the Marauders, more focused on his studies than pranking innocent students.

“So, listen,” He began after a beat, “You’re working on History of Magic, right? I’ve noticed you’re really excelling in that class and, not to brag, but I’m quite good at it too.” You met his gaze. “I know, I’ve seen your writing. You clearly work hard.” You replied, instilling that Gryffindor courage in every word that would have normally been absent during interactions such as this, often causing you to dismiss the compliment with a shy smile.

Remus allowed himself a small grin at your unfamiliar nonchalance, continuing his proposition. “Oh, thank you! Well, I was wondering if you wanted to team up. I could be your study partner, and we could top the class together! I’ll teach you anything you’re not sure about, and I’d ask for the same in return.” You turned his proposal over in your mind, causing a small moment of silence between you two.

“There are some years I’m not so familiar with, and I certainly could do with the clarification. So sure, Remus, I’ll be your study partner!” You smiled warmly, comfortable in the newfound knowledge that the boy wasn’t a possible face behind your recently received love confessions. You found his proposition to be a friendly gesture, and far more genuine than any action you’d expect from a Marauder.

“Great!” He cheered, “We can start tomorrow. I often sit with my friends in the library, if you’re willing to join…” Remus trailed off, hoping you’d sit with his lovestruck friend for a few hours in the name of good grades.

“I’ll be there, Remus, thank you for the offer.” The words escaped your mouth before you had a chance to consider them, but Remus was already delighted by your acceptance. “I’ll see you tomorrow then, love, goodnight.”

He flashed a soft smile your way as he stood to return to his bed, leaving you bathing in the light of the lamp with an optimistic fluttering in your stomach.

You decided to leave it be, along with the hope that the boy with the rounded glasses would be there to get all flustered over you again, nagging that sweet, romantic side of your brain.

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A/N: Woohoo, here we go! I hope you’re all excited for some tooth aching fluff in the next chapter because it looks like reader is warming up to the Marauders >.< Thank you so much for reading this series, and be sure to like and reblog! Comment to be added to the tag list so you don’t miss chapter 4!

[avelera]

Your take on Fem!Jayce was inspiring and so carefully thought out - it was very nice to read with so much of the fandom calling him h(b)imbo, I swear, people can be frustrating.

I've always found him fascinating exactly because he exhibits what (at least to me) would be considered feminine qualities - he wants to be agreeable, make his parental figures proud, he's absolutely the preppiest of girls even when he's Masc!Jayce, and he just wants to be a caregiver. None of these are per-se purely feminine, of course, but we can consider them as traditionally expected of women rather than men (it was baffling to me to see how many people headcanon him as butch femme), That's what captivates me in him, plus the fact that I rarely see it mentioned, but usually "infuriatingly beautifull" women (in academia, STEM, and frankly, in general) do suffer from prejudice based on their appearance, and it's funny (in a non-fun way) that he will surely be struggling with something similar because of his physicality (as fem or masc) and so few people talk about it (other than the people who effectively judge him in exactly that way).

That said, I'd be super interested to hear your thoughts on Fem!Viktor - as I see him as the one in the duo with more "traditionally" masculine qualities, or at least - if not traditional - then at least more well received in male characters than female - melancholic, almost byronic type, snarky, stubborn, sometimes arrogant, and socially inadept - or plain uninterested (I'm listing all these with absolute adoration).

Obviously ignore the Fem!Viktor question if you're not interested in that type of headcanon :)

Oh man, I’m so glad you liked my take on Fem Jayce! I was kind of worried posting it because people can be touchy about that stuff but yeah, Jayce to me always sat at the prep table when he’d rather be at the nerd table. Or like… got dragged to the prep table so to speak when he’d rather be playing D&D. And the idea of the fem version of that experience for the upsettingly hot girl in STEM who everyone projects onto as being a bitch when she’s really just a nerd is just… very charming and apropos to Jayce for me.

As for Viktor, I think the joke is that fem and masc Viktor are literally the same person and I sort of agree with that.

Consider we mostly see women in dresses and skirts in Piltover but not in Zaun. Zaun in general seems more gender egalitarian in the way people dress and it would be cool to see fem Viktor reflect that in a way that sort of sticks out in preppy Piltover.

That said, if we only see Jayce dressed as an academic or as a scion of House Talis, we REALLY only ever see Viktor as an academic. His one outfit ever is his uniform (or that blanket lol). And I think there’s an element of armor to it. He might be from the Undercity but he’s a Piltover Academy academic first and foremost. It’s camouflage and protection.

So I see fem Viktor as maybe always wearing the school uniform too but the trousers version for comfort and because of being a Zaunite. Perhaps also because of poverty, as the nicest outfit she has (sort of canon to him being snuck in by his parents buying him a uniform and sneaking him in). (Whereas Fem Jayce wears the skirt version because she’s trying to project socially acceptable femininity for Piltover.)

I don’t see fem Viktor as bothering with makeup or long hair, especially when she gets increasingly sick. So again, almost exactly the same appearance.

But I do love to picture fem Viktor and fem Jayce geeking out together. The image of the hyper beautiful preppy girl with her proper but formal Zaunite friend who is nowhere near as put together but still has a dignity to her just charms me to the core. Especially if it’s fem Jayce who no one has ever asked out before because she’s so hot just who in turn is pining after fem Viktor, thinking she doesn’t have a chance because no one has ever asked her out before for some reason. Like jsut the visual incongruity of it is so appealing. The fact that everyone thinks fem Jayce is a mean girl until they see her best friend that she’d literally die for is that Viktor girl who is sick all the time and scarily brilliant and those two just stay up at all hours talking science like… that gender swap with preppy fem perfect Jayce is much more interesting to me than just making fem Jayce masculine because he’s incidentally masculine, especially since as you noted he doesn’t actually project many butch or masculine qualities except incidentally.

[the-banana-0verlord]

Hi, I just wanted to drop by and say that I really like your "The yanderes of Nevermore" story. There's not enough self insert content for Nevermore, which is a shame since it's such a good webtoon. I wanted to ask you, based on the given backgrounds for the darling in Nevermore, have you envisioned specific spectres for them? Ex: Lenore's darling was kidnapped by her before their death, so maybe the darling's spectre is related to being a captive?

it's shame there isn't much nevermore content to begin with, tbh, so i wouldn't be surprised if i was the first to do self insert of it(tell me if you find more tho, the craving for new content is constant)

In the beginning I hadn't been as far as to give a spectre for the reader, but your ask got me thinking so I brang out the fantasy nerd I am and searched for potential spectres. Also, since i haven't figured out their deaths, I gave most of them a spectre that matched tehir yandere's.

So Lenore's darling was killed by lightning, so their spectre would be lightning related. They would have the form of a chinese dragon, often associated with weather. It's type would be Benevolent.

Annabel's darling would be a puppet, as they are always under her manipulation and gaslighting. It's type would be Malevolent.

Duke's Darling would be a poltergeist, which is at it's core a troublemaker, very befitting for the darling's personnality. It's type would be Neutral.

Pluto's darling is a mouse. It's kinda obvious with the cat/mouse relationship, but I think it fits the darling, as they are sweet and kind, who are mouse attributes. It's type would be Benevolent.

Eulalie's darling is a creature that ressembles Frankenstein's monster. It's a very peculiar monster who would certainly peek her interest. It's type would be Neutral.

Berenice's darling would be a moth person (mothman but gender neutral), as some kinds of bats feed off moths. It's type would be Neutral.

Morella's darling is a saint martyr. I'm not very well versed with christian mythology, but a guardian angel must be used to protect them. It's type would be Benevolent.

Ada's darling is a siren, who is known to lure people by singing about their deepest desires. Knowing Ada, she wouldn't last long before falling into her darling's charms. It's type would be Malevolent.

Prospero's darling would be a dove harpy, to accentuate the symbolism of death in his spectre and of life in the darling's. It's type would be Benevolent.

Montresor's darling would be a nymph. In greek mythology, satyrs often chase nymphs, and satyrs have goat legs, like Montresor. It's type would be Benevolent.

Will's darling is Medusa. Will is already devoted to Montresor, who has a snake's tongue, so it would only make sense for him to fall for a literal snake. It's type would be Malevolent.

Merry and Mourn's darling doesn't have a spectre. The deans use their position of power to subdue their darling, so they wouldn't like for them to gain some weapon that could help in their escape.

So yeah, these were my thoughts. It was fun to get into my old mythology books and to search for potential spectres, thank you for the ask!

[lucky-clover-gazette]

prince's gambit highlights & annotations

chapter 15

indented text is from the book. some quotes have commentary, some do not. some comments are serious, and some are definitely not. most of them will only make sense to people who have read the series. and, like, there are spoilers. so please read the books first if you're interested!

also: part of the reason i'm doing such a close reading is to study cs pacat's style, especially in terms of how she does romance and erotica. there are "craft notes" that might seem weird, like i'm being redundant or restating something rather than analyzing, but those are more things that i want to remember/take away from the writing!

i'm going to tag these longer posts with "sam reads capri" in case anyone wants to read them all at once.

this is a google doc i wrote with overall content warnings for the captive prince series. it's not perfect, but i do think it's important to include.

A month ago, he would have expected, much like the men, that the prisoners would be dragged before Touars, the truth loudly proclaimed, the Regent’s dealings exposed before all. Now . . . Damen could just as easily envisage Laurent denying any knowledge of the culprit, letting Touars find his own way to the Regent—could practically see Laurent’s blue-eyed feigned concern for the truth, followed by his blue-eyed feigned surprise when it was revealed. The search itself would work as a delaying tactic, would draw things out, would take its own time. Deception and double dealing; it seemed sufficiently Veretian. He even thought, if Laurent held to his purpose, it could be done.

damen’s approach to the nice vs. good theme is slowly changing, at least in war strategy…

Because it was impossible, he allowed himself to imagine, just once, what it would be like to face Laurent as a man . . . if there had been no animosity between their countries, Laurent journeying to Akielos as part of an embassy, Damen’s attention superficially caught by the blond hair. They’d attend banquets and sports together, and Laurent . . . he had seen Laurent with those he cultivated, charming and edged without being lethal; and he was honest enough with himself to admit that if he had encountered Laurent in that mode, all golden lashes and needling remarks, he might well have found himself in some danger.

this paragraph makes me crazy!!! they could have it so much easier!!!!! also, damen likes blondes mention… have we gotten any mentions in book 2?? i think this might be #7

Laurent said, ‘I’m afraid you don’t have time.’ The tone was limpid. Damen said, ‘Thank you, but I came because I heard the horses.’

laurent is such a bitch. damen is not trying to have sex with women right now, and he knows it, but he still teases him about it. just because

‘I couldn’t if I wanted to. A batch of blond Vaskians really would get me disinherited. I’ve never,’ said Laurent, ‘with a woman.’ ‘It’s very pleasurable.’ ‘You prefer it.’ ‘For the most part.’

he has an exception though. hypothetically. in case laurent was wondering.

also, i like how laurent can actively plot to overthrow his uncle but heterosexuality is where his culture draws the disowning line. i know it’s a joke but it’s still just a very funny way to understand vere’s culture

‘Auguste preferred women. He told me I would grow into it. I told him that he could get heirs and I would read books. I was . . . nine? Ten? I thought I was already grown up. The hazards of overconfidence.’

not auguste being the straight cousin at thanksgiving… also i love the little hints to who laurent was before all the trauma. sassy little nerd child

On the verge of a reply, Damen stopped. That Laurent could talk, endlessly, like this, he knew. It wasn’t always apparent what was behind the talking, but sometimes it was. Damen said, ‘You can rest easy. You are ready to face Lord Touars.’

“you talk more when you’re nervous”

He tried to picture Laurent at thirteen, and experienced a total failure of imagination. It was just as impossible to imagine him fighting in battle at that age as it was to imagine him trailing around after an older brother he adored. It was impossible to imagine him adoring anyone.

gut punch of a last line there

‘Can you deny that you have under your protection the men responsible for the attacks, and that you have coached them in an attempt to throw blame onto your uncle?’ The words fell like the blow from an axe. You can outplay him, Damen had said, but it had been long weeks since he had faced the power of the Regent. It occurred to him, chillingly, that the captured men could indeed have been coached for this moment, just not by Laurent. Laurent, who had therefore brought Touars the very rope that would hang him.

context: shit, but also, it's fine. was patras's aid always the intention, or more of a contingency plan in case something like this happened? or did laurent predict this exactly?

Laurent said, ‘You have me as an enemy for that. You are not going to enjoy the experience.’

‘If I submit to your soldiers, and give myself up to my uncle’s justice,’ said Laurent, ‘what happens to my men?’

book 3 foreshadowing

‘So I will. Out of loyalty to your father and your brother, your uncle has treated you with leniency you never deserved. You have repaid him with scorn and contempt, with negligence in your duties, and with wanton disregard for the shame you bring to your family. That your selfish nature has led you to treason does not surprise me, but how could you betray your uncle’s trust, after the kindness that he has lavished on you?’ ‘Uncle’s immoderate kindness,’ said Laurent. ‘I promise you, it was easy.’ Guion said, ‘You show no remorse at all.’ ‘Speaking of negligence,’ said Laurent.

“speaking of negligence” YES

He lifted his hand. A long way behind him, two Vaskian women detached themselves from his troop and began to ride forward. Enguerran made a movement of concern, but Touars motioned him back—two women would hardly make a difference here one way or the other.

laurent calls for the help of women and the women are promptly underestimated. i continue to be fascinated by laurent and women, in general, throughout this series. also this is foreshadowing for book 3

It was a man, brown-haired and lashed at the wrists and ankles like a boar to a pole after a hunt. His face was caked in dirt, except near the temple, where his hair was clumped with dried blood. He wasn’t a clansman. Damen remembered the Vaskian camp. There were fourteen prisoners today, when yesterday there had been ten. He looked sharply at Laurent.

uhhhh i don’t remember what’s happening here

‘It’s four of your scouts,’ said Laurent.

sooo laurent stopped the flow of information to touars and the fort? to blindside him?

And Damen remembered a chase across a rooftop, dropping laundry on the men below while the sky above wheeled with stars— ‘Your rabble of clan alliances, or Akielon mercenaries, no doubt.’ —remembered a bearded messenger falling to his knees in an inn room— ‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’ said Laurent. —remembered Laurent murmuring intimately to Torveld on a perfumed balcony, gifting him with a king’s ransom in slaves. The scout was saying, ‘—carrying the Prince’s banners alongside the yellow of Patras—’

NICE (minus the slaves part but we’ll unpack it later)

Alone of all the men Laurent did not lift his eyes to the hilltop, but kept them trained on Lord Touars. ‘I have a choice?’ said Laurent. You planned this! Nicaise had flung the words at Laurent. You wanted him to see! ‘Did you think,’ said Laurent, ‘if you threw down a challenge to fight, I would not accept it?’ The Patran troops filled the eastern horizon, bright under the noonday sun. ‘My scorn and contempt,’ said Laurent, ‘are not in need of your leniency. Lord Touars, you face me in my own kingdom, you inhabit my lands, and you breathe at my pleasure. Make your own choice.’

LET’S FUCKING GOOOOO

‘This would have been easier,’ said Damen, ‘if you had told me earlier what to expect. In the mountains. At the Vaskian camp.’ ‘I didn’t know who it was,’ said Laurent.

yeah, rare “laurent is surprised by a plot twist” moment with aimeric

‘What was it, do you think, that Orlant found out, that got him skewered on Aimeric’s sword?’ Orlant, thought Damen, and suddenly felt sick.

:(

[ravenkween]

it’s so cool that you played horatio!!! if you haven’t already can you pretty please talk about how you were directed or how you played him?? ( ◠‿◠ ) it’s easy to brush him off as just being hamlets companion from university but I think there are a lot of fun and interesting aspects of his character that deserve to be showed off in a performance

Hi Anon! Thank you so much for asking, this ask made me cry a little in a good way (I miss acting and Shakespeare and talking about Shakespeare SO MUCH)

I got to play Horatio in an UNCUT summer stock performance of Hamlet, in rep with Twelfth Night and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. The company I worked with was very much based on

1) digging into the text (UNCUT HAMLET!!!)

2) the actors and their collaborative performance.

We had a director, but he was also playing Hamlet (he was also AD of the theater company - a lot of hats!), so he was acting in almost every scene he was directing. There was no overlying Concept or Aesthetic layered on top of the text, no Reimagining things to fit the director’s Vision. So it was a wonderful opportunity to dig into the story and characters. 

So I got to bring my ideas and feelings about Horatio to the table. I was working off two major character traits 1) Horatio is a NERD and loves to TALK ABOUT NERD STUFF and 2) His deep, deep love for his best friend Hamlet. 

I had so much fun with the opening scene on the battlements. Horatio has a huge monologue to the Guards in this scene which I was really intimidated by at first. I cracked it by telling it like a ghost story around the campfire. I also decided Horatio was really excited to infodump his knowledge about Danish folklore and the supernatural on his captive audience. 

“Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes

Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,

This bird of dawning singeth all night long;

And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,

The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,

No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,

So hallow'd and so gracious is the time.”

NERD. 

Another really cool aspect of this production was that the casting was gender-nuetral, in that the director did not cast male-identifying actors with traditionally male characters, and vice-versa. He didn’t change the characters’ genders in the script to reflect the gender of the actors, we just played the characters…as the characters, if that makes sense? I’m a woman but I didn’t play Horatio as a woman, or even really as a man, I tried to embody Horatio (whose gender is NERD). I did end up wearing pants and suspenders and boots, and spoke in the deeper part of my voice register, so I got to do some gender-play without worrying about convincing the audience I was playing a man, if that makes sense? It was really freeing. 

And Hamlet was my Best Friend. He was in so much pain, and suffering so much, and causing so much chaos, and it was so hard to try to help him go through everything. I came at the relationship from a place of unconditional love. Horatio does judge Hamlet in some scenes (especially the graveyard scene). He is so disappointed and afraid when he realizes Hamlet has sent Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to their deaths. 

HORATIO 

So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to ’t.

HAMLET 

Why, man, they did make love to this employment.

They are not near my conscience. Their defeat

Does by their own insinuation grow.

’Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes

Between the pass and fell incensèd points

Of mighty opposites.

HORATIO  Why, what a king is this!

Who is his friend becoming? And how has Horatio enabled this? But the love is always there, and the hope is there, to the last, that he will help Hamlet find peace and closure. The love is there, but sometimes it isn’t enough. Or maybe it is - Hamlet does find peace at the end of the play. After all his words, words, words, the chaos and turmoil raging inside of him for three hours, the rest is silence.

[goldenworldsabound]

GOLDIE HI how about string of fate and double lifting for shiroe and voice + cherished memories ainosuke? :3c

HIIII THANK YOU NICK!!!

string of fate ୧ ‧₊˚ what’s ur current relationship status with ur fﾉo ? does the love in ur relationship run deeper than the marianas trench or is it just surface level attraction ? are u perhaps friends with benefits ? married ? tell me ! ! 

HHHHHHH I DID REALLY WANT THIS ONE FOR HIM TBH LIKE. I'm currently obsessed with him the amount of fic yet to post is quite frankly insane. I really...really want him to be a main fave...like...I just...want that...I do not control the hyperfixation though dsakjfhdjsak but I want to be obsessed with him forever 🥺idk if it fits in our canon yet but I am married to him in my heart which is. Something. FKEJWHFJKE like. Fast- but- he's a special boy he's THE SPECIALEST BOY AUGH HOWLING WITH LOVE

double ୧ ‧₊˚ do u and ur fﾉo have matching tattoos ? if not, would u consider getting one or two in the future ?

Hehe he's such a nerd (<- said like I'm not also a nerd) I doubt he has any tattoos. Shut in videogame playing ass- fkdsjahfaskj and then well. Videogame character body he got shoved into also does not have any tattoos so yeah I guess not? I also don't have any tattoos! They are not my thing but it's cute to imagine! I am just AAAH TOO MUCH COMMITMENT and he just doesn't strike me as coming up with the idea on his own

lilting voice ୧ ‧₊˚ how does their voice sound to u ? what does their laughter sound like to ur ears ? do their whispers sound like the most saccharine song of the nightingales ? is their tone as smooth and rich as velvet or is it scratchy, a little grating, but nonetheless charming in its own way ? is it possibly that they don’t have a voice at all ? if not, do their other ways of communication still captivate you ?

hahaha yeah part of why I fell for him was because I immediately realized his JP VA was the same as Clayman and. Well. Yep. FKEWJHFJKEW that guy voices a lot of the same types of characters I would say. His EN VA is also amazing though. Both of them have very handsome voices and they make Ainosuke sound delightfully queer, but also very very dangerous, which is very hot. His laugh is. Wow. Sends shivers down Aura's spine (definitely not my spine shhhhhh suddenly switches to SI instead of I because embarrass-)

cherished memories ୧ ‧₊˚ moments have the tendency to sear themselves into one's mind. are there any particularly fond memories u share with ur fﾉo that stand out among the rest ?

I think waking up together in bed the morning after the wedding. They've spent like. I forget my own timeline but a significant number of months having to appear perfect and chaste in front of Ainosuke's aunts while truly fucking around behind the scenes but like...unable to indulge in simple things like cuddles because they don't really get to be alone alone. After the wedding and they finally get to share a bed...and be alone and themselves...it's just really good.

[igotsnothing]

when you get this, list 3 facts about your favorite sim and send it to the last 3 people in your notifications! let's get to know each other's sims! 💛

When I did this last, I mentioned that I usually don't really have a favorite sim. There may be a sim that I'm more in the mood to play with on a given day...And today that mood is...

Simeon Silversweater, Sage of Practical Magic

Simeon is the oldest and most experienced sage of the three. As such, he mentors both Morgyn and L. regarding their roles as sages. I've expanded on their dynamics more here. There is a lot of affectionate playfulness among them.

Simeon is very powerful. Unassumingly so. He is usually overlooked by folks outside the magic realm because Morgyn is so dazzling and intriguing and L. is so charming and mysterious...People tend to underestimate Simeon, but he's amazing. He explains a little about what he does here.

He lives in a cottage with a big garden. He loves to garden and is such a homebody. Plants thrive under his care and he has a soft spot for animals. Mr. Hopkins is a rescue bunny: he had been living in captivity, forced to perform in a magic show (the old rabbit-out-of-the-hat trick...). Too tame to rehab and return to the wild, Mr. Hopkins lives with Simeon and "assists" him with his gardening chores (mostly eating tender plant shoots-- but Simeon expects nothing less from his fuzzy friend).

Thank you for sending me this ask! As you can tell, I am a big nerd...❤️

[wonboos]

hiiiii v!! I'm ur carat secret santa 🤗💗 I hope ur doing well and I'm very excited to make u something ^^ first things first, I would love to hear about something (or a few somethings) that u love about ur biases!! I hope ur doing well and i will talk to u later hehe 💕

hi dear! i'm waiting for it to start snowing but it's still pretty warm where i live, so even if it does, it's probably only going to last a couple hours. hope you're doing well yourself!

putting my ramblings under the cut because it's a little long.

oof, this one's tough. at first, i guess, you could say i fell victim to the idol image but in a way that makes idols in general appeal to different types of people by creating different types of personalities. of course, i'm not saying nothing they do is ever genuine but they definitely all have separate ways they present themselves to the public.

seungkwan is the sunshiny outgoing type (something that i could only wish i could be 🥹), you just can't help but feel charmed by him. really, i can't look at him without smiling (which is. hm. that's an adult man you don't know, wake up grandpa). he's also an incredibly skilled singer but everyone knows that hehe

jun is just three cats in a trench coat. genuinely, i've never seen a person be more cat than man than him, and as a cat guy that feels like targeted content. obviously, that's not the only notable thing about him - he's such an amazing dancer with such a presence on stage - but again, very charming. personally, i also think he's underrated as a performer but that's on plybe.

in wonwoo's case, i'm gonna be so honest with you, i never even stood a chance. for as long as i can remember i've been stupidly susceptible to the stern-looking introverted glasses guy archetype, so it was only a matter of watching maybe one (1) episode of gose until my fate was decided 🫡 (and as a person who's been wearing glasses for years i really really don't understand how and why that works on other people) his loser nerd boy personality has captivated me utterly and completely.

so yeah, i hope this was even just a little bit helpful 😭

[le-velo-pour-dru]

Yes!!!!! Exactly!!!!! Couldn't be me 😌 He's so funny, and sweet, and he's crazy talented at writing music, his voice is beautiful, his bass playing skills are UNREAL, he has an absolutely captivating stage presence, and at the end of the day he's a huge frickin' nerd (which I am too, so I love that about him X3) (not to mention that he's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous- ) I can't imagine not being at least a little charmed by him, he's amazing :)

skfkdkkfkdkd I was really lost in the Dallon sauce last night

AND I AM LOST IN IT THIS AFTERNOON 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶 I feel bad for my followers who like- don't care about him at all, but I am Feeling Things about him rn and this is how I want to let out all those feelings <3333 He's just so- aaaaaaaaaaa 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[heliotism]

ECLAIR COOKIE GENERAL YANDERE HEADCANNONS.

requested by: @average-unpaid-therapist ! thank you for requesting ^^

warning! possible ooc bc well, he's very new!

my man right here

he's hot. he's smart. basically, he's got the looks and the brains, which is very attractive in itself!

so, overtime, he gets used to the fact that most of the museum visitors are really just here to admire him, rather than the ancient relics he collected.

(this one was at all you fucking simps /lh)

it gets tiring, it's true.

worst thing is that whenever eclair tries to explain a thing or two about this very interesting artifact, those people will just

stare at him. in a very lovey-dovey, and quite creepy way.

not cool.

problem is, those cookies become so much more frequent, that he can't even properly run the museum, as they always chase him and stick to him—

and then he sees you.

your eyes shine bright with interest, as you read the cartel right next to an antique painting.

you don't necessarily look prettier than the average cookie— and yet, you still are captivating.

eclair can't help but go your way, eager to find out more about you.

note that at this point, it's not love or obsession or anything else— you just piqued his interest.

“are you interested by our collection, dear visitor?”

you jump because that bitch just scared the shit out of you lmfao

“ah, i apologize if i startled you. that was not my intention.”

“oh! no no— it's fine, don't worry! as for your question, then i must say— yes. absolutely!”

you then go on a five minute talk about how each part of the museum had you absolutely thrilled, and how you felt blessed because archeology and history were your two major interests, and now that this museum was here, you could find fellow nerds history fans!

“but i gotta say— my favorite part of the museum surely has to be the dragon fighter cookies exposition.”

interest 100. he's absolutely hooked now.

you?? a fellow dragon-fighter cookies enjoyer??

“yes! i agree, out of all the expositions here, the dragon-fighter one certainly is the richest one— perhaps because i spend a bit too much time on finding relics related to them.”

you laugh at his attempt at a joke, and then you keep the conversation going, which i will not retranscript as i have no idea what to write for it.

but let's just say that with each word you say, especially about his one biggest interest, eclair cookie is slowly being more and more charmed.

you seen the meme that goes "my way of flirting is stating scientific facts"? well, basically, this is you right now, and you don't even realize it.

good job [y/n] lol

speaking of your name— eclair needs to know it.

you know, because it's pretty rare to find other people who enjoy the dragon-fighter cookies' history as much as he does.

“pardon me for being so curious, but may i ask for your name?”

“only if you give me yours first~”

“of course— i am eclair cookie.”

“well, i'm [y/n]!”

he'll make sure to remember your name— and spoiler alert, he does.

after that day, eclair looks forward to seeing you as often as possible. he, unfortunately, can only rarely leave the museum, as he's clearly bound to this place— if he isn't here to keep it clean, then who will do it?

whenever you're not here, he'll either spend his time cleaning the museum or think about you while standing awkwardly in front of the painting where you two first met.

and it's kinda weird because imagine just visiting the museum and then you see the dude that's in charge of the place, just. standing.

and he'd do that for three hours each day.

but thinking isn't enough. thoughts are ephemeral, and even though he's smart, eclair, like any other cookie, forgets them by the end of the day.

so he starts to write them down as they come, in a notebook he hides somewhere inside his office.

eclair certainly wouldn't want you to learn about him writing pages and pages about his kind of obsessive thoughts about you, y'see

poor man doesn't realize it, but he's sinking into the abyss of obsession faster than the titanic 🗿

after roughly four notebooks filled to the brim with lovesick and obsessive notes about you only, eclair finally realizes that he may or may not be doing okay rn

naturally, he comes to the conclusion that he should seek help and find a healthy way to cope with his obsessive and intrusive thoughts

just kidding lmfao

“surely, i must be in love with them..” yeah sounds more like it

he's not nervous when it comes to love, so right when he sees you, he just—

“ever since i met you, my heart has done nothing but ache when you weren't in the same room a me. and when it ached a bit too much for the first time... i realized i loved you.”

you're surprised. very surprised.

“i know, this is quite surprising considering the short amount of time we'd spent together, but— i truly love you, and i mean it.”

eclair will be very, very insistent about it, and he simply won't take no as an answer— even if you don't like him back at all. so congrats, you got yourself a cute boyfriend!

he'll become twice as obsessive as before, paying more attention to everything you do, like at what exact time you get in the museum, what you prefer to wear on which day, how you eat your start jellies— how do you not notice the way he's constantly scribbling down things in this little notebook of his?

i mean, yeah huh you did actually notice— but hey, he's actually just.

writing down hum. work related stuff! no need to worry hahaha...

dating eclair will be nice and all, until at some point— you'll constantly feel smothered in his presence.

turn your head around and that dude will follow your stare. it's creepy.

he can sometimes make strange remarks, like “but you usually don't wear that on a monday...” “well, [y/n], you are three minutes and forty seconds late. do i need to come to your home and kidnap you so you'll always be early??... why the scared face? my sweetheart, you know i would never actually do that! i was just making a light-hearted joke!”

when he's not being creepy with simple words, he'll ask you very strange questions.

“my dearest, what were you doing before coming to the museum?” “opinion on [very specific art movement that happened decades ago and that you've never heard of before]?” “if i asked you who your favorite person was, you'd answer me, naturally..?”

note that if you actually answer with someone else on the last one, hum. bad things may happen to said someone.

eclair wants to know everything about you, just like he wants to know everything about each relic he has in his museum.

you're like a relic. precious, rare, and god, he wants to observe you and keep you forever and ever.

so hum, remember when i said that you'll have to say yes to his confession, whether you like him or not?

this. this right here has consequences. such as you wanting to break up with him after like two weeks or even less.

also the fact he barely trusts you with other cookies. eclair can't stand seeing you chat with someone that isn't him and will interrupt your convo asap.

anyways. you want to break up with him? oki doki.

you'll just possibly get kidnapped and trapped into his office. and no one is allowed in there, apart from him.

“please, don't be mad, darling. and understand that those are only the consequences of your actions. have you not decided to 'break up' with me, we certainly wouldn't be here today.”

might or might not trap you into a glass box like the other relics so he can look at you without you running away.

the reason why eclair advises the visitors not to come at night is because during that time, your screams are the loudest— and it might raise suspicions. that or rumors about the museum being haunted might pop up. and that last one isn't stonks.

if you're not breaking up with him at some point, you certainly aren't safe from kidnapping.

if eclair notices that you're being a bit too distant for his liking, you're getting kidnapped.

“i've noticed you've been avoiding me a lot... are you seeing someone else?”

“huh? what're you talking about?? i would never do that, eclair! you know very well i only love you!”

“... i see. well, i apologize for doubting you, my love. here, take my cup of coffee, as an apology— no, no. i insist, really.”

'ayo dude that shit tastes wei-' bam on the ground

it's simple and effective, try it on your own! (don't actually please)

so, yeah. eclair cookie is a very obsessive one, as well as kinda controlling on some extent? he doesn't want you to hang out with people he deems to be bad, which is basically almost everybody. lmfao

ah yes eclair cookie aka the man that wasn't even out and i already got a request for him. i actually love him sm weewee.

[mediawhorefics]

Book ask! 1, 10,19, 20! 💙

book answers <333

book you’ve reread the most times?

excluding the series that shall not be named... i have a few ~comfort reads that i've found myself revisting over the years. the watchmater of filigree street (natash pulley) is one of them. shocker i know, none of you expected this!! i've also read the captive prince series (c.s. pacat) a few times, esp. kings rising the last book. i really don't like diana gabaldon as a person (i think her stance on fanfiction is not only stupid as fuck but also hypocritical considering she stole her male lead from old doctor who episodes and didn't even change his name.) but the first outlander novel remains a favourite of mine in the historical romance department and i've read it many times. the series got lost along the way (at least i lost interest) but the first one is really entertaining! also time travel and scotland, you know i'm there for it. i've read red white & royal blue (casey mcquiston) a bunch. 3 or 4x ? it's got that classic romcom vibe and i deeply connected with the way it approaches grieving someone when you're young/for the first time. i've also read cyrano de bergerac (edmon rostand) a lot. both in the original french and different translations. it's excellent.

10. do you have a guilty fav?

i don't know if i believe in guilty favs tbh! as long as it's not hurting anyone, why should i feel guilty about art that i enjoy? but for the sake of the game/for the sake of argument, i'll try to come up with a list. i guess i read a lot of star wars novels (big nerd over here) and they're very quick adventure-y types with a sprinkle of character study so it's hard to consider them as literature sometimes? so a few of those would be on the list. i really enjoyed the padme trilogy, padawan, master & apprentice, all of claudia gray's sw novels, the rots novelisation, brotherhood etc. there are a few het romances i also love a lot that i suppose i could include here? outlander is the first. but i adore emily henry's writing too which makes me feel pretty basic bitch, but she writes a lot of fun romances with bookish themes and that's like catnip to me. any of the darth vader comics ?? that counts, right? oh! i recently read an arthurian retelling that cast merlin as a queer teenager coming to camelot impersonating her brother and meeting young arthur and kind of falling in love with him. i suppose that had a cringe cover but i had so much fun with it. one of my fav ya i've read recently. it's the other merlin! idk that i'd describe it as a favourite book overall but....

19. most disliked popular books?

i loathe the all for the game series that was popular on tumblr a few years ago? there was nothing compelling about it to me. it wasn't that well written, the characters weren't that compelling, the sport was boring and the romance just didn't have the ooof i needed from it. i truly never understood the hype. i tried reading the kiss quotient (helen huang) which was huge in the romance circles a while back and never finished it. ok this one comes from the depth of my childhood and will not be relatable to many of you but les chevaliers d'emeraude (anne robillard) is SO awfully written it gives me hives. i don't know if it counts but i despise jules verne too. fuck that guy, i know he's ~classic but his writing is so fucking dull. and i haven't read albert camus since high school so my opinion might change if i revisit him, but i remember him making me soooooo angry. i think everything written by cassandra clare is pretty awful. i hate her style. sooooo many people were gushing over boyfriend material (alexis hall) and i hated that. the main character was annoying and immature and simply not charming at all to me. i don't think i laughed even once. i need to laugh in a romcom, come on!! it has a four stars rating on goodreads and i simply do not get it. it was boring and i hated the writing style. and apparently, there's a sequel too ??? talk about the most unnecessary book written ever. sorry to fans of it, it was just no my cup of tea.

20. what are things you look for in a book?

not necessarily all at once but:

a historical setting (i esp. love the first half of the 20th century)

some fantasy elements. it doesn't have to be high fantasy (though i like that too) but a little sprinkle is always fun.

romance !!!!! i love a good pinning, swooning, soft, tender romance!!! (duh) enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, strangers to friends to lovers. it HAS to be a slow burn because instalove turns me off.

i love a good found family/a good friend group!!

time travel is not a must but it's an easy way to seduce me

my main character type is heart of gold/noble intentions/heroic but struggling with anger issues... so a bit of that and i'm sorted.

snarky female characters. (actually just well-written female characters in general, which feels like a very basic ask but we allllll know it's not that easy)

i looooooove a good mystery. not a murder mystery, i'm not super into those. but i love a book that presents us with something to solve (like the shadow of the wind)

i'm not super into unhappy endings (tho. i don't mind them once in a while) but i love melancholic stories and Drama. just something that makes me FEEL.

it has to be atmospheric/it has to transport me.

i love poetic writing/beautiful prose.

also it (almost always) has to be gay. lbr.

book asks

[2n2n]

Top 5 / 10 favourite characters in JSHK and why.

I'll just do however many until it no longer feels like I can refer to a character as a "fav" in some manner. It's not going to be any surprises, though! My favs are the ones I talk about the most!

Amane!!! IN THE #1 SPOT!

Of course, he's the most fascinating, captivating, exciting, worrisome! Of course I can see why Tsukasa would want to die for him! To give Amane a chance at happiness-- wouldn't you give up everything, for that? I adore all of him…. including his possessiveness, his hypocrisy, how rude and egotistical he can be. When Amane shows you his vulnerability, it's all the sweeter, guarded behind all of his defensive behaviors and masks. His attention feels kind and generous…. like he's bequeathing it to you. I love that Amane's affection tends to be condescendingly delivered, to those he loves most… his nature to give a head pet and cheek squish…. he makes you feel small, but cared for.

I find it charming that Amane is a sort of poindexter nerd, yet also exceptionally crass in a downright fratboy-like manner. So unique, LOL, who ever sees a boy like this? He can ramble on about the stars, he can speak cryptically and poetically, and he can harass with sexually inappropriate comments. He keeps you on your damn toes. He's almost too complex. One second you're pitying him immensely, and the next, he's so unnecessarily shitty.

On top of it all, he endured miserable chronic illness as a toddler…. while also having a loving twin who would go with him anywhere, and do anything he wanted whenever he wanted. His backstory makes me go "ok…. so that's why Amane is 'like that', is it?" Suffering guy who was hand-fed fresh-picked berries at his bedside by his sibling. No wonder he's the tyrant boy-king.

Tsukasa

It feels odd but necessary to place Tsukasa here….. he is infinitely complicated, yet incredibly simple. A boy born with a divine purpose: to love Yugi Amane. It feels as if Tsukasa lives for nothing else. Amane had dreams, aspirations, careers in mind, and…. what did Tsukasa want? To make Amane happy. Why was he seemingly born with no sense of value for his own life? The concept of a dumb and loving child suchas Tsukasa becoming merged(?) with some sortof God(like?) entity, is incredibly captivating. All of this power and capability, in someone with such a playful and curious spirit, and such a profound love for one person. The way he is, combined with the divine and holy imagery and atmosphere, ahhh, it's just so, so unique and interesting.

Nene

Despite loving Amane & Tsukasa, I would never replace Nene as our protagonist… her perspective is so vital, and I love her taste. It's been so fun to watch a girl become more and more agreeable to maltreatment and poor behavior…. watching Amane's charm worm its way through her, all the way 'til she wants to die for him. Nene-chan has a duality-- a charming simplicity, a bit of a dumb and clumsy girl…. and a bizarre taste, a poetic and macabre angle. Nene-chan likes to write poems of her feelings, she loves Enka music about cursing your lover to death, she chooses to adorn herself in devil horns and skulls, even her child self is pictured with some scary ghoul plush…. but it isn't as if Nene-chan is as direct as "a goth girl", or like, a Wednesday Adams. She's not morose. Somehow she's still perky, bubbly, feminine…. like Amane, she's composed of disparate elements…. she likes horror stories a lot, but she also plays stupid little Otome games where a guy kabedon's her. In some ways, Nene-chan is "basic", but in others, she's always had a strange taste, which justifies her intrigue in Hanako-kun. Because she's a bit vapid, it's exciting to watch her gain more insight and wonder…. in her heart, she's very compassionate by nature, more than anyone else in this cast.

Hakubo

There couldn't be a better representative for the struggle of kaii throughout time and history. Hakubo is beyond incredible…. he feels well-honed to deconstruct to the reader what it can mean, to be a kaii. I love that Minamoto Yorimitsu points out that Hakubo isn't truly emotionless, he's just very dense…. so cute. A creature never taught to have his own will or desire, never encouraged to be a person or find meaning or purpose. Hakubo can't see into his own heart…. he doesn't know he has one. He thinks of himself as 'other' from humans, incapable of anything sublime or beautiful. So incredibly tragic. Beyond that he's also so funny, his playfulness with Sumire, is so cute, I can understand why she's beyond charmed. I adore his "nah, I was lyin. Ya told me to lie."…. I love the Hakubo gently offering flowers to Aoi on the boat, and apologizing for withering them clumsily…. he comes across as both naturally elegant, with his controlled expression and finery, and oafish/clueless. Poor thing…… I'm sure I'll always think of Hakubo.

Sumire

I feel like Sumire has taught me so much, about what a living human girl can think and feel, in this manga…. I love her duality, of being a wiley little sminch, but very self-pitying (rightfully so), odd and insincere, up to her current self after all these years, which is (mostly) placid and resigned. Sumire's response to her situation is so captivating… there are many ways one could choose to write a doomed girl, many ways which could make her feel more like a 'damsel', but Sumire's mindset feels so authentic to a girl who knew her fate from the very beginning. Capricious and fun-loving, indulgent, seeming blithe to her fate, while only daydreaming of the misery her death may inflict upon others…. to the core, I understand how a human like Sumire could truly fall in love with an Oni. I feel like Sumire's traits will echo forward and backward through this story always! She makes me think about Tsukasa…. and unusual responses to unfortunate circumstances. She keeps my mind open.

Aoi

While Aoi is very interesting, she winds up relatively low on the list, because she's sadly only become so captivating recently, and her story is less grandoise and long-spanning than Sumire/Hakubo (where I feel like I've watched an entire lifetime of Sumire/Hakubo)….. but, she really is incredible for understanding the breadth of the human psyche. A living human character that operates on a similar emotional wavelength to Hanako… that's so incredible. Aoi doesn't only have the emotional reservedness, the inclination to isolation and the refusal to be vulnerable, but even the snobbish 'looks down on others' aspect Hanako has, as well. I like that there is a demeaning part of her, seeing herself separate from humanity. It's not as simple as her being self-conscious because she's unkind…. but even finding herself annoyed by people's social efforts. Such a cool and rare trait for a girl, especially one that is in no way a villain. It's so lucky someone is determined to get to Aoi, and stay with her….

Akane

I think the most interesting thing about Akane for me is his taste in girls. Seeing the reality of Aoi's facade… and finding literally nobody, nobody at all, so interesting, for his entire life…. pretty crazy. As interesting as people like Amane and Aoi are, it's amazing this world also understands, there are people who adore individuals just like this. The mystique of their guarded behavior is alluring.

Akane ranks relatively low as a result though, I think his love's very interesting, but he is a normal boy in his daily life, just a contributor to society. I think Nene-chan being a social reject with only 1 friend is a more interesting angle. I enjoy that Hanako/Nene both feel like such underdogs. Akane is vice president of the student counsil, he's diligent and beloved… that's a little more 'boring' for me. But I'm grateful he loves Aoi.

Sakura

She would be higher, if only we knew more about her. As she is, she's very charming to me. Sakura's patience feels divine. She's placid, gentle, understanding…. she feels like she's experienced so many things. Her placidity reminds me of the long-suffering Sumire… so that makes me so curious about her. I trust Sakura's perspective on others…. I don't think she lets emotions cloud her judgement. I'd place her on the exact opposite end of the spectrum to the reactive Kou, who holds such a strict moral code that he's easily outraged, or sees behavior without caring about the cause or rationale (bad things are simply bad, to Kou). I feel as if Sakura could understand anything, or anyone. She doesn't like to cause suffering, but, I think she knows too well that the world is composed of suffering…. cycles and rules that repeat and repeat. Systems that have no pleasant solution. Sakura's defeatism reminds me of Hanako's, too, but she's even older than him, and we just don't know what a girl endured in the 1900s, to die so young, and be bound to the school. I'm curious, but it's hard to call her a favorite until we know more! I'm always excited when she's around. It's funny her one weakness makes her violent. Natsuhiko's incredibly kind and understanding, too…. beyond rationality, he's so. He's a good match for her. It's too cute we often pair a "difficult/strict/stubborn" person (Hanako, Aoi, Sakura) with a person utterly charmed by them, and maybe a bit oafish in a way (Nene/Tsukasa, Akane, Natsuhiko)….

[empodio]

♡♡♡ give us content for the boi || @stxrmapper​ ||  For every "♡" I get I'll give a tip on how to win my muse's heart.

[[ THE BOI... So while he seems like a hard wall to pierce through, he’s actually... Very simple to get past, it just takes time, especially since he always has in mind that he is undying, so will not die of age, but at the same time, is obligated to defend his land and that may involve attacks to him or his loved ones, so behold, three ways to win big boi over.

Be straightforward, direct, Masador himself expects people to tell him what issues they have with him just like he WILL tell them the issues he has with them, this ties closely with being honest, a rule he’s only broken once with a human he had a thing with long ago (Masador can keep an image all until things get intimate tbh), but being direct and honest really captivates him, he’s mature, and expects the other person to be as well (maturity does NOT mean being no fun allowed.).

Patience, one has to be very, very patient with him, he’s shy, he will avoid as many social situations as he can because he gets genuinely nervous! He will not say it, he will try not to show it, but if one learns how to read his body language it’s very evident. So one just has to know that it’ll take him quite some time for him to get used to certain places, situations or even people.  Alongside that, he IS busy, he essentially has two jobs, one of them requiring him to speak to people from multiple countries, constant meetings and all, and he only makes space without second thought for his family and loved ones, so essentially... To become a loved one, you must be able to wait. Coaching him out or suggesting things is fine, but remanding his attention will be a sure way for him to ignore you.

Despite him being more introverted than anything, he IS drawn a lot towards more extroverted personalities, or ambiverts, people that are outgoing and charismatic, he likes when people slowly coach him out of his comfort zone, gently of course, and when people have the charm to do that and allow him to be more of himself rather than just a working machine, he really, really likes that. Anybody able to see him past his work and duties and well, be accepting on the fact that he is, in fact, a huge nerd.  I guess the best way to explain this one point is, if you are like Sana, he will be more comfortable around you, not only due to the familiarity of situation, but also because he really appreciates how she behaves.

I guess also needless to say, despite me using a bunch of gender neutral terms, you gotta be a guy bc he’s only interested in guys ]]

[brooklynboysficrecs]

Ria’s Top 10 Canon-verse Fics

So, I’m a little surprised I’ve held off on doing this particular Top 10 as long as I have, if only because this does cover the majority of stucky fics that have been written. It also contains some of my all-time favorite fics, which I will be screaming about below. You’ve been warned. But anyway, this is getting down into the nitty-gritty of why I love stucky -- the original ‘verse, with the original storyline (although there are a fair few canon-divergent fics in here, I’m sure). Pure, unadulterated Steve Rogers loving Bucky Barnes. What more can you ask for, honestly? You could ask for it to be legit canon, but lmao, no, we don’t expect things like that, especially not from the MCU writers. Also, some of the fics I might’ve included in this list are recced in an ask I got a while ago, so go check that out for some mostly-canon angst. Regardless, here are my personal Top 10 canon-verse fic recs:

1. Ain’t No Grave (Can Keep My Body Down) by spitandvinegar. Alright, buckle up friends, because this is the end-all, be-all of my favorite stucky fics. I have reread it probably four or five times in the four years I’ve been in this fandom, and it hits me just as hard every single time. This is canon-divergent post-WS, where Bucky’s come-down from his Hydra conditioning is accompanied by a drug addiction and two smart-mouthed kids he rescued from the streets. Steve literally loves nothing more than he loves Bucky and he is determined to bring Bucky home, kids included. There is just -- so much I love about this story. I can’t possibly fit it all into a little blurb. But this is my favorite stucky fic, hands-down. It’s a must-read if you can handle the incredibly sensitive topics it covers, which means it’s not for everyone. But it has my highest seal of approval. 

2. Perilous Underside of the World by eyres. I reread this recently because I was in the mood for both angst and badass Bucky, and this delivered in spades. Steve’s been kidnapped and held captive by Ross for months, tortured and experimented on, and it as devastating as it sounds. Cue Bucky and the rest of Team Cap coming in for a rescue mission and an adrenaline-filled adventure through the Antarctic wasteland. The summary says it all, honestly: Steve throws a snow-mobile at a helicopter in this one.  

3. Steve Rogers at 100: Celebrating Captain America on Film by eleveninches, febricant, hellotailor, M_Leigh, neenya, tigrrmilk. A lot of fics are enhanced by visual media, usually some type of fanart, but few are incomplete without it -- this fic is one of them. It’s a look through in-universe media depictions of Captain America over the years, with real-life casting and amazingly done posters for the movies. The various Avengers are there to react to it all and it’s nothing short of glorious. 

4. Came Back Haunted* by Brenda. You guys should know how much I love Brenda’s writing, since I waxed poetic about it when I was doing the rec for Prince Charming, but I’m going to say it again: I love her writing. And this is yet again another fic series that will tear at your heart and stitch you back together again. It features, among other things: Bucky and Thor friendship; a road-trip; dark Steve; and bearded Steve! All good things. It’s been a while since I’ve read this, but I’m pretty assured there is much angst to be found here as well, plus the requisite happy ending, because, as previously mentioned, I don’t do unhappy endings. 

5. Tender is the Ghost* by Hark_bananas. OH WOW. Okay. So. I started reading this series right before the second part had been published, and I just. Fell in love with it. The first part is set right after Bucky turned himself into SHIELD, and it features Steve and Bucky re-learning about each other (and themselves) through a closed door, considering Steve isn’t allowed to see Bucky face-to-face. And the second part picks up once Bucky is ready to go home with Steve, and it’s. So sweet. Bucky and Steve recovering, together, and finding love along the way. Bucky loves plants. What more could you ask for?

6. Infinite Coffee and Protection Detail* by owlet. I think this is probably one of the most popular series in this fandom, and for good reason. It’s Bucky setting himself a new goal after the fallout of Project Insight, and that goal is a protection detail for Steve Rogers, well before he has his memories to back up the need for such a thing. Bucky and Steve don’t get romantically involved until much later in the series, but their friendship is a thing of beauty in this, as is Bucky learning how to be human again, through coffee, grilled cheese, and The Olds, the elderly neighbors he comes to care for while he’s watching Steve’s back from across the street. I adore this series and I think most people would be hard pressed to find anything they don’t like about it. 

7. The Blood Will Dry by castiowl. There are clones in this one. It might be the sci-fi nerd in me, but honestly that’s enough information to hook me already. But this fic is a fantastic, gripping read from start to finish, and the clones are only a part of that. It’s another fic that written right after The Winter Soldier came out, and so it has a lot of the hallmarks of that era: Bucky dealing with his conditioning, coming back to himself and Steve, Hydra-hunting missions, some kidnapping, unfortunate throwbacks to torture, and Steve having to figure his own shit out right alongside Bucky. 

8. To Stop My Mind From Wandering by Lynchy8. This one is a little shorter than the other fics on this list, but it’s still one of my favorites, and for a much different reason than the others. This is Bucky and Steve separated for the majority of the fic, with Bucky taking up residence in Steve abandoned apartment while he’s off being Captain America and also looking for Bucky. Bucky does home repairs for Steve. Steve broods and worries. Bucky heals on his own terms and it’s lovely. And the ending is very sweet when Steve finally does come home.

9. despite the threatening sky and shuddering earth (they remained) by praximiter. AKA The Mask Fic. Which. Jesus Christ. This should’ve gone in with my angst fic recs, because this will hurt you, in the best possible way. Bucky’s mask doesn’t come off, and so there’s no pivotal moment of realization for Steve, no hellfire determination to ensure Bucky survives their fights against all odds. But he’s saved regardless, and the rest of the fic is the team trying to communicate with him, learn his story, all while Bucky can’t speak and the mask physically cannot come off. Like I said, it’s a recipe for Pain, but the pay-off is more than worth it, in my opinion. 

10. waiting for the winter by coldhope. Also just recently reread this one, and I loved the progression of Steve and Bucky’s relationship here as well. It also has Bucky befriending all of the Avengers, not just Natasha or Sam; getting to see from other characters’ POV how their perception of Bucky changes as the fic goes on was so interesting, since it’s not something I’ve seen done in many fics. Which also might be a personal thing on my part, who knows. Anyway. Good fic. Steve and Bucky don’t take forever to figure out their feelings, but they do take a while to get on the same page with each other, which should surprise absolutely no one who has ever read a stucky fic before.

*series, not individual story titles

[lillupon]

I wrote this a few chapters ago, back when Mingyu was a student and MinWon were still dating. I’d forgotten I’d written it, until it came up again in the last chapter, whether they’d have interacted had Wonwoo not been Mingyu’s teacher. This was written before their breakup and the time slip.

I’ve been thinking (that’s never a good thing), about MinWon having gone to school together. Wonwoo thinks Mingyu (my autocorrect changed his name to Minty) would not have given him a second glance had Wonwoo not been his teacher, but I think Mingus would have been quite captivated by the quiet, but well-spoken omega.

In this imagine, Wonwoo is a year older than Mingyu. Mingyu is outgoing and athletic, while Wonwoo is introverted and studious. That being said, they’re not just the stereotypical jock and nerd, respectively. Mingyu is also one of the top scoring students amongst his classmates, while Wonwoo spends a lot of time at the school gym. Wonwoo notices Mingyu once the younger presents, it’s hard not to notice the tall, beautiful Alpha. I’m not sure when teens start presenting in your A/B/O universe, but I assume it’s sometime during their high school years. Mingyu really finds his footing once he does, becoming self-assured and confident. Wonwoo, already having presented by then, can’t help but be attracted to these qualities. He hates that he feels this way, blaming his biology and hormones for his fascination.

However, he soon begins to realise that Mingyu is not the usual, cocky and arrogant most Alphas he hates are. He is boisterous and loud, but he’s also reflective and kind. Mingyu is smart enough to share some of Wonwoo’s AP classes, and Mingyu is attentive and always has something substantial and insightful to add to class discussions. Wonwoo starts to see why Mingyu is so well-liked, and while, unlike half of the school, he doesn’t really have a crush on Mingyu, he starts to genuinely like him.

Wonwoo never wants to stand out, so walks with his head bent and his shoulders hunched. He is surprised, when he begins to notice Mingyu staring at him sometimes. The younger immediately looks away, a blush colouring his cheeks. Wonwoo thinks he is seeing things, before other weird things start happening. Not only Mingyu, but Mingyu’s friends start to pay attention to him, too. He thinks he sees Mingyu’s friends tease the Alpha whenever Wonwoo enters the room. Sometimes, they push the Alpha towards him and run away, after which the younger blushes and scrambles away after his friends. Wonwoo scarcely lets himself read into things, choosing to believe that he’s losing his mind, until one day he is accosted at his locker by the Alpha.

Mingyu is blushing fiercely, and Wonwoo wonders if the younger is feeling well, the nurturing omega in him almost wanting to reach out and feel the other’s forehead.

“Um,” he mutters, intelligently.

“Wonwoo, I like you!” Mingyu blurts out and then looks shocked at his own words, his eyes widening.

“You know my name?” Wonwoo asks, incredulously.

Turns out, Mingyu has had a crush on the Omega for awhile. He likes that the Omega is smart and intelligent, and can lift twice his weight. Unlike most Alphas, Mingyu seems to be attracted to displays of strength in omegas. And then they start dating or going steady or whatever it is high school kids do, abs live happily ever after, lol.

I cannot write teenagers to save my life, because it’s been so long since I was one. I wanted to write that Mingyu was “one of the most popular kids at school”, but typing that phrase physically pained me.

Anyway, loved this week’s update. Can’t wait for the epilogue. As always, have a great week.

This is so cute! Thank you for sharing ( ´ ▽ ` ).｡ｏ♡ I wonder a lot about how differently things would be if Mingyu and Wonwoo were both high school students. It wouldn't be AEV anymore, but I'm still charmed by the idea. I will honestly never get tired of shy and introverted Wonwoo, and loud and popular Mingyu. tbh I still love high school AUs even though it's been a fairly long time since I've been in high school myself.