#the other the rely on it to make any sense

[planetsnakes]

Sup! As I said in my other reblog it's more about who you attack.

Uhm the tl;dr of this is:

If genAI has no haters I'm dead but attacking people who are relying on AI isn't helpful. they're victims of a system that couldn't teach them skills so after being undermined they're developing a dependency on genAI which is dangerous bc it's a product that corporations will eventually start charging actual money to sell.

Instead of attacking people who use genAI attacking the system that curated this problem in the first place and provided a space where genAI could take over the human process and genAI itself for trying to force a dependency on it would work better to convincing people genAI sucks ass and will make you stupid.

Attacking students who don't have the skills because they don't want to develop the skills to not make it through a flawed system is kinda shit. There are children who are being told that their worth is based on a grade. The end result is all that matters the pressures put on them are unreal and they're going to use whatever tools are available to them to get by because they're kids it's the system failing them that's why they're turning to AI.

I am still a student. In fact I'm at university. In the past year I have been in crisis as my health has faded so fast it's scary. The system did nothing for me and it's only the fact that I know no matter what I can get this degree because of the endless amount of effort I put in to get this position that means I can do this.

But really? People in my shoes are ones who are set at a disadvantage, left to the mercy of a system that doesn't give a shit about them and if they dont get that big grade there are repercussions. Whether that's just socially (in the US they hold you back a grade I imagine that can fuck up your social life) or economically (you cant get a good job, or in my case you're in debt with nothing to show for it) it's a position no one should be in.

Why attack students when we could be attacking the system that puts people in desperate situations? I so genuinely cant blame anyone in my shoes for giving up because sometimes just the trip downstairs to get water brings me to tears and what? I have to care about some essay? What about actual children in my shoes who are in abusive households where parents threaten them? Do they care about these skills?

They should. Yeah they should. I care. My ability to write an essay is letting me communicate with you now, explore my gripes with AI and not some regurgitated bullshit. It's allowed me to, when I saw algorithms and the internet were taking over my life and destroying my mental health, to take a step back. If as a kid i hadn't been taught embroidery I'd be so fucked. As I mentioned I'm having mobility issues and having the ability to do something while sitting down that doesn't involve a screeen is amazing. I have the ability to just create because of these skills I was taught I will never be fully dependant on tech to entertain me and I will always have an outlet for my creativity, my emotions and sense of self through skills I learnt.

The education system didn't actually give me any of these skills tho. I hate it so much if it has no haters I'm dead. I don't hate it more than I hate genAI I just think genAI highlights the problems in the system and people go oh boo ho the system is being undermined by tech as if it isn't centuries outdated and needed a revamp.

AI is so NOT THE ANSWER tho. It takes the power (of having cool skills) out the people's hands and turns it into a product to sell back to us. A product that right now doesn't work (yes chatgpt is free, it also steals every single piece of information about you it can that's more robbery tbh).

So basically I hate genAI it's fucking up the planet. I'm a creative writing student and it's fucked up the job industry I want to go into. There's this one guy at this club i go to who doesn't READ THE FUCKING RULES to the games we play but asks fucking chatgpt who GETS IT WRONG and keeps ruining our sessions. I'm going to duel this idiot. It places more value on the end result than the process completely undermining actual progress (like human progress we cant progress with regurgitate garbage). Just arguing that Uhm Actually 🤓 👆 I did school without genAI. Is unhelpful.

Why bother attacking students and not how predatory AI is? It's trying to place itself between people and their skills, trying to curate a dependency on it. Toddlers are being taught to turn to the algorithm for entertainment that everything happens at the click of a button why think when you can scroll? How on earth is it these people's fault that the system designed to trap them, praying off the flawed education system, managed to trap them?

Why don't we take this opportunity to challenge the system that set up an environment where creativity, something we considered uniquely human, is the tool of machines? Why don't we ask how we got to a place where they can sell us our skills and people buy them?

It's not idiots and lazy people will buy anything so we're better than them for not using genAI. It's a complex issue.

"what did students do before chatgpt?" well one time i forgot i had a history essay due at my 10am class the morning of so over the course of my 30 minute bus ride to school i awkwardly used by backpack as a desk, sped wrote the essay, and got an A on it.

six months later i re-read the essay prior to the final exam, went 'ohhhh yeah i remember this', got a question on that topic, and aced it.

point being that actually doing the work is how you learn the material and internalize it. ChatGPT can give you a short cut but it won't build you the the muscles.

[wileycap]

Two Siblings In A Room Talking About How Much Their Dad Sucks

a.k.a a non-comics compliant ficlet about Zuko and an in-therapy Azula talking about their dad. This ended up being weird angsty sibling fluff instead of a crackfic about how stupid Ozai is. G. ~1000 words.

“Did you know that Father could have won the war?”

Azula cracked an eye open, lazily. Sunlight streamed in through the narrow windows. It had caught Zuko’s good eye – Zuko was turned so that she couldn’t see his scar and he looked…

“Oh, Zuko, it’s so strange how your mind works,” she said, cutting off her own train of thought. “What prompted this?”

“I was reorganizing the Navy, and I had to read up on our old battle plans,” Zuko replied, turning to face her. “Did you know that we had a plan to invade Ba Sing Se?”

“I did,” Azula said, inspecting her nails. "More than one, in fact."

“A good plan? A plan that would have worked? A plan that wasn't a giant drill?”

Azula mm-hm’ed, trying to speed Zuko along.

“As soon as Omashu fell, we had our supply lines. Farms, water, land, even quarries. Uncle Iroh would have taken Ba Sing Se if cousin Lu Ten hadn’t died, you know that. And if he could have done it with just what we had at the time, Father could have done it any time he wanted.”

Zuko was picking up steam. Azula was mildly entertained.

“I never even thought about how stupid the drill was. A huge offensive… relying on an untested piece of technology that cost more than half our fleet. If I did that, my advisors would skin me alive!”

“If that happens, can I book tickets in advance?” Azula asked, smirking in the face of Zuko’s fuming.

“It’s not a joke!” Zuko snapped, getting up in one violent motion. He paced around the small sitting area. “I spent sixteen years terrified of him, hating him, wanting him to love and accept me, and…”

Zuko let himself drop down on the rug, burying his face in his hands.

Azula observed, uncaring.

They sat in silence for a while.

“It was better when he was this… invincible monster,” Zuko finally said, gesturing vaguely with his arms.

“Yes, I imagine it was. Better than getting half your face burned off by an idiot who doesn’t even know how to read,” Azula shrugged.

Zuko’s incredulous look was an entirely predictable reaction. “I’m pretty sure he knows how to read.”

“I’m not.”

“Azula, come on. Father reads.”

“Are you sure? Can you remember one time he read something, or wrote something, instead of having it read to him or dictating?” Azula paused to let Zuko think. By the blank look on her brother’s face, Azula decided that no answer was forthcoming. “See? Father doesn’t know how to read.”

Zuko gaped. Azula raised an eyebrow, radiating smug superiority.

“Wait,” Zuko said, pointing a finger. “At his coronation, he read the Greeting to Agni!”

“Memorized it,” Azula waved it off. “And he made a mistake. He said Agni’s radiance instead of Agni’s light.”

“Why would he replace an easier word with a harder one?” Zuko asked. There was just the slightest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Wouldn’t it make more sense the other way around?”

“Easy. Bigger words are better, if you’re an idiot who can’t read and doesn’t want all the nobles and the ministers and the sages to know about it.”

Zuko snorted, toppling over to lay on his back. “I thought he didn’t read my letters because I was a failure, but now it turns out he just couldn’t.”

“No, he had those read out for the court to laugh at,” Azula said, her face serious. “’I remain your dutiful son’ always got big laugh.”

“I bet it did.”

They sat in silence for a while. The beam of sunlight dragged across the floor.

“Do you ever think about him?” Zuko said, staring at the ceiling.

“No,” Azula said, staring at Zuko because she wasn’t a coward.

“Never?”

“No,” Azula said, rolling her eyes. “I already had one mental breakdown. I’m not going to have another one just so you can have company on your little pity-me-my-dad’s-terrible trip.”

Zuko didn’t say anything. He just turned his head so that his scarred eye was looking at Azula.

Azula sighed.

“Look, do you want to know what’s going on in dear old Daddy’s head right now?” At Zuko’s nod-shrug, she continued. “He’s written the both of us off as losses. Oh, if I break out of here and go release him, he’ll take me back – just like he took you back after Ba Sing Se – but until then, I’m crazy and you’re a traitor.

“That leaves him in his cell, and without his bending. By now, he’s probably convinced himself that either his bending will return on its own and he’ll conquer the world again, or his loyalists, his good friends from court, will depose you and probably capture the Avatar to boot. Then they’ll force the Avatar to give him back his Firebending, and Father will reign supreme forever.

“Neither of the two options is going to happen. Even if his Firebending comes back naturally, the Avatar will just defeat him again – hopefully before he makes your eyes match. And his loyalists? He probably doesn’t have any. And if he does, they’re as incompetent as he is. You’re right, Father’s an idiot. He alienated half his court with his insane schemes and promoting crackpots like Qin. The other half he terrified or bribed into submission. I wouldn’t be surprised if even his actual supporters, the few that there are, are happier with you in power.”

Zuko was looking at her with undisguised interest. “So, what’s your point?”

“My point, little Zuzu, is that there’s no need to worry about him anymore,” Azula said, laying down on her bed. “It’s over. He’s not coming back, idiot or not.”

“Huh,” Zuko said. “That’s like a proverb, except it makes sense.”

Azula huffed, caught by surprise. “Dum-dum.”

“… what if I captured Aang and took him to Father? Do you think he’d let me be the prince again?”

“Try it,” Azula shrugged. “But I definitely want tickets.”

[rillils]

You know, for so long I tried to pinpoint what exactly about the bank vault scene from CATWS was so exquisitely painful to me (aside from, well, the obvious bits), and I think maybe I finally got it.

This is immediately after the causeway fight and Bucky's interaction with Steve - a brief exchange where, I think, he got to hear Steve's voice for the first time since '45; hell, where somebody called Bucky's real name for the first time since '45, and where Bucky was just forced to really look at Steve, as something other than a target or an obstacle to his mission.

And Bucky hasn't been the same since. Imagine him turning those precious few seconds over and over in his mind on his way back to the bank, trying to make sense of the feelings stirring in his gut.

He can't stop thinking about it. Steve's face is familiar (and when has Bucky been able to associate the word familiar with anything else in the last seventy years?). It brings flashes of long-buried memories back to the surface - perhaps not enough to put the whole story together, but that's not the point here.

The point is, Bucky's gone back to his handler - Pierce. This is the man Bucky defers to, the man he depends on; the man Bucky trusts to tell him who he is, and what his purpose is, and what his life amounts to; the man whose orders Bucky obeys blindly, wordlessly, because Pierce knows best.

Pierce is the brain here; he is authority, he is power, he is cunning: his word is law. He commands Bucky, even guides him in a sense - in a horrible, twisted kind of irony - like a father does his child. He provides a secure fixture in Bucky's existence, a pillar of trust and truth.

Bucky, on the other hand, is only the tool here - the fist of hydra. He doesn't make the big decisions, he doesn't know what's happening in the world out there beyond what Pierce tells him, he doesn't understand the artfulness, the finesse behind these games of power Pierce seems born to play. And how would he, with his scattered brain?

He simply has to trust Pierce's word. Whatever Pierce tells him, that will be the unquestionable truth to him. The Soldier may doubt himself, but never his handler.

AND YET.

And yet right here, right now, Bucky dares to defy this once unbreakable rule.

Bucky brings to Pierce this question that's been churning inside him, that just won't leave him alone. He doesn't really know what it means; all he knows is that it's important, so important that he's willing to risk being sent on a jolly ride on the electroshock chair, just in the attempt to bring this to the light.

And the darndest thing happens, because even when Pierce tries to distract him with his whole "a gift to mankind" spiel, even when he tries to dismiss Bucky's question as to who Steve is, denying any deeper tie to him than "you saw him earlier this week on another assignment", Bucky doesn't believe him.

This poor boy, he's got every reason to doubt himself, every reason to rely on Pierce and take his word at face value (Pierce's word is law, remember?), and yet.

For the first time, Bucky's doubting this man's word, and trusting his own broken mind instead.

Those few seconds where Steve looked at him, gave him a name, saw him in a way nobody has seen him since before he can remember, have sparked something dangerously, unexpectedly powerful within Bucky. Something that runs much, much deeper than any brainwashing; something that gives him the strength and stubborness to question his handler's word, to go so far as to insist (!) that he knew the man he saw on the bridge, to refuse to let this be dismissed, because. Because Bucky knew him. He doesn't know how or why, but he knows this, and he knows that it's important, so important that he needs to hold onto it for as long as he can. This feels personal, intimate - this thing, this truth belongs to him, and he's trying to defend it, even as completely vulnerable and defenseless as he is.

I think that's why it gets to me, because, fuck - even as confused and scared and miserable as he is, even when being compliant and letting this drop would spare him a world of excruciating pain, even when he's been conditioned to think of himself as only a machine and of his handler as his only god, omniscient and omnipotent and infallible, Steve - all of Steve, Steve's place in Bucky's memory, in his heart, in his life - is the only truth Bucky never doubts, and he refuses to deny it. He knows what's coming - Pierce's command to "wipe him" doesn't seem to surprise him at all - but still he refuses to let this go.

Like!!! Fuck!!!!!!!! That's how deeply rooted his love for Steve is!! That's the kind of hold it's got on him!!! That's how much he'd risk for the chance to hold onto the faintest memory of him! Five seconds spent looking in Steve’s eyes and he's ready to overturn and upend and second-guess the very basis of his existence as he knows it. How fucking powerful is that?

I just, I just can't deal with this wtf 😭😭

[self-loving-vampire]

Your problem is that you just keep asserting stuff that makes no sense and then don't actually prove it, then project that onto me.

That's not an argument or a rebuttal, that's just a rhetorical dodge. I haven't made the claim you're responding to. Also, this doesn't get you out of the point. When someone is harmed by collateral damage, they are not the target of bigotry. People who are transmisogyny exempt are not the targets of transmisogyny.

This is exactly what a motte & bailey argument is? You're using the word "transmisogyny exempt" (as in, free from transmisogyny) but when this is challenged you retreat to a secondary definition of "transmisogyny collateral damage", which you continue to treat as synonymous with "exempt" when convenient and you go out of your way to argue that suffering transmisogyny collateral damage doesn't count at all.

If a cishet man puts on a dress and people call him a trans woman to attack him, that's not him being targeted by transmisogyny. A trans woman cannot take off her identity and cannot rely on people to protect her by saying she's not a trans woman.

How do you expect this would go in real life? Be serious. Do you think someone being assaulted by a transmisogynist over a dress is going to just be left alone as long as he identifies the right way? If a transmisogynist attacked me do you think I could get out of it by lying and telling them that I'm actually a trans man or something?

You're not living in reality if you think your thoughts hold such magical power over what other people do to you.

As a counter-example, transvestigators have long claimed that Elon Musk is secretly a trans man. That's a bigot attacking Elon Musk because they think he's a trans man.

It's very simple: Practically no one actually believes Elon Musk is a trans man. Transvestigators are just irrelevant even when you're actually trans. Their opinions have practically no consequence among people who touch grass.

By basing your entire position on the idea of appearance, you're basically saying that it all comes down to how you're perceived.

How you are categorized socially matters more than how you identify in your own head, yes. How is that even controversial to you?

The one single reason I didn't get killed or kicked out of the house was that I concealed my thoughts and intentions so that people were just not aware I was trans at all. Most people just default to assuming everyone is cis.

If that logic is true, then the following must also be true: Any stealth trans person does not experience transphobia. Any trans woman who is seen as a man has male privilege. Any white person who is mistaken for being black is the victim of racism.

1- Being forced to be in the closet is itself a form of transphobia, so no. We're not saying that at all. It's miserable to be surrounded by violent people who would kill you if they truly knew you. Serano also points this out, and also talks why the "trans women have male privilege" argument is nonsense.

2- However, notice that it is still true that how people treat you is dramatically different depending on whether you're closeted or not. A lot of other people in the same situation I was in simply died, and the more visibly trans they are the more danger they are in. The most prominent trans rights activist in my country was assassinated the very same week I had my asylum hearing.

A closeted or stealth trans person clearly experiences transphobia, but I don't think you can argue that it is the same as being known to be trans. Understanding this truth is why I'm still alive, and why my parents know less about me than randos on the internet.

This is also why outing people is considered so dangerous and why those laws where schools must inform parents if their child is trans are a huge deal. If identity was all that mattered then it would not make a difference if the parents were aware or not.

3- If we're bringing up race then I should point out that I have undoubtedly benefited from the fact that despite being from Latin America my skin is white as bond paper because people treat you differently based on your appearance.

This is literally why anonymizing job applications is used as a tool to prevent employment discrimination. Even having an "ethnic" or "feminine" name on a paper can affect how it is perceived.

I think that's also why your entire argument is basically just you reiterating your unproven assertions while making an appeal to authority. ... You need to go back to the basics and learn more about this topic if you want to make a meaningful contribution to this discussion.

This is a whole lot of highly ironic unearned confidence from someone who hasn't read the core books on the subject and who thinks referencing academics is just an "appeal to authority", as opposed to just referencing nothing at all and making stuff up.

How exactly did you prove your assertions? What evidence have you put forward for anything? What sources have you cited?

Because from my point of view you just sound like you think the true way to learn about transmisogyny is not books, studies, or articles but your friends' tumblr posts. It's not a serious position.

are you tme or tma

"i know you're nonbinary but which of these two arbitrarily constructed gender categories do you fit into" genuinely are you having a laugh

[grimysash]

one of my favourite things to contemplate about the sashanne dynamic development/change is the fact that their roles are flipped upside down pre-amphibia to wartwood resistance arc.

pre-amphibia and s1 anne is such a fucking loser. she is literally so insecure and just takes whatever she gets, never hoping for more, she allows sasha to walk over her, humiliate her and boss her around. she is lowkey floating thru life and hoping it will all work out in the end eventually without putting in any effort for it ever to do so. she relies on sasha to protect her and stand up for herself. she's a ball of nerves and can never say no to something she doesnt feel comfortable doing and buries everything into the back of her subconscious because she doesnt want to provoke any unnecessary fights

pre-amphibia, s1-s2 sasha, on the other hand, is opinionated and cocky. shes the "idgaf" typa girl who gets what she wants even if she has to cut her own arm off to prove a point. she's bold and smug and always crosses other people's boundaries because she just automatically assumes they'll be okay with it and suck it up for her sake. she's controlling and if something doesnt go her way for just a few hours, she'll throw a hissy fit until the other party gives in and cracks under the pressure of her manipulations. she knows she's better than you and she won't be afraid to show it. yeah maybe she's overcompensating for something, maybe she's just trying to conceal her fears but when it really comes down to it? externally, she's a fucking wild force to be dealing with and rest assured, if you cross her you are dead. she has anger issues so severe its a wonder how she hasnt set herself on fire at some point

and then, suddenly, it's the other way around. s3b sasha is awkward, fidgety, fussy, she's afraid of her own shadow in the sense that she feels immense amount of guilt and doesnt want to fall back into her old habits again. shes trying her best to please anne as much as she can and she tiptoes around everything so hard you can't help but feel bad for her.

sure, she still has a mild form of anger issues, and to be fair, she was sorta pushy in commander anne trying to do "damage control" if you look at it from a different perspective, but. she's kinda a mess. especially in turning point. she literally ugly sobs reading anne's journal and realizing just how much her past actions have hurt her. she goes to sleep in the barn on bare chunks of hay because she just feels so horrible about herself.

anne is the opposite. she feels more comfortable about herself, she has goals, she knows that her families (both adoptive and biological) got her back and she finally learns to own up to her mistakes and accept responsibility. she's scared, she doesnt know what's going to happen tomorrow or even today, but most importantly is that she likes who she sees in the mirror now. she can always fall back on herself because she feels confident enough to do so and she wont take no shit.

so its a veeeery hilarious dichotomy to see them interact during the resistance era. now anne is the one who has to give a little nudge to sasha to move them forward together. she's the one who has to convince sash to take the helm once again and she isnt afraid to speak up her mind if she doesnt agree with her at the moment.

sasha's lenient, tries to hide how she feels all in favour of making anne more "comfortable" and hangs onto her every word. she's unsure and she so desperately wants to show that she's changed, she ends up tripping on her own feet.

i wonder how anne felt about this new side of sasha. her friend was kinda her idol, the cool strong one her whole life, the kid that protected her & marcy at the swings quite literally first time they met and she was her "follower", slinking in her shadows and quietly supporting whatever sasha wants to do next even at her own expense. and then anne has to be the one to take the reins because clearly sasha isn't in the right headspace now to do so.

same with sasha. she was used to the fact that anne agreed with whatever she said, but you see that anne is ready to take her down a peg if she ever deems it necessary to do so. she's generally just outspoken and expressive. she has sudden anger outbursts because she just feels so worried for others. maybe anne doesnt need her anymore like she used to, maybe she can protect herself now, including but not limited to from sasha herself

idk guys. its neat. it really is. and i wish there was more sashanne introspective resistance arc fanfic expanding on that idea cuz when they finally reunite both of them are completely different people, so even though they may have used to be friends in the past and shared history and know all the deets about the other, they dont know this new person. at all. not in the slightest. having to settle in with this vastly dissimilar relationship they got going on in comparison to the previous, all in the middle of a fucking war. it's like stopping talking to one of your childhood best friends in elementary and randomly renewing your friendship in college. you two have grown and evolved so much that really, all you know is their name.

it's both an exhilirating and a melancholic experience at once.

damn. i love the gays sooo bad i love my blorbos guys

[hufflepuffsandghosts]

To Be known. To Be Needed

Summary:

Y/N was supposed to be the best. Sharp, deadly, unstoppable — until a mission went wrong, a serum changed everything, and her body became her greatest betrayal.

Bucky Barnes wasn’t supposed to care. He didn’t trust easily — especially not someone he once called an enemy. But something about Y/N, wounded and furious and so damn stubborn, won’t let him walk away.

Forced into hiding together after the mission falls apart, what begins as tense silence slowly shifts into something neither of them expected: trust. Comfort. Maybe even peace.

But healing comes at a price, and when the past comes clawing back with blood and fire, they’ll have to fight for more than survival — they’ll have to fight for each other.

Tags/TW: 

Enemies to Lovers, Graphic Violence, Medical Trauma, Chronic Illness / Chronic Pain, Serum Experimentation, Temporary Blindness, Mental Health Themes, Panic Attack / Anxiety Attack, Discussion of Identity Loss, Discussion of Self-Worth / Depressive Thoughts, Mild Language / Swearing, Canon-Typical Violence 

Authors Note:

Hello everyone!

This is my FIRST multi chapter fanfic! I'm so excited and I hope you all like it. (AKA: My chronic pain was being SO bad to the point I needed to make myself happy)

A huge thank you to my best friend @zero00kiryu00 for supporting me throughout my writing journey. Without you I wouldn't be as brave to write. (Please go check our their work! <3)

Playlist for this work can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/148LgibEoFUeT6Hvs1JjUp?si=ad7abf4c31b045bb

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/65739508/chapters/169297000

As always; If I miss any tags or if there's any errors please let me know! (I'm truly just a little guy)

Chapter One: War

The night hung heavy with tension as explosions punctuated the air, a somber symphony of war echoing through the battlefield. Bucky Barnes, the elusive Winter Soldier, moved with ghostly grace through the shadows, his eyes sharp and senses heightened. His steps were silent, each movement calculated as he navigated the chaos with an eerie calm.

On the other end of the spectrum was Y/N, a skilled agent with a fire that clashed with Bucky's stoic demeanor. Their interactions were a constant clash of wills, the animosity between them palpable in the charged atmosphere. As Bucky silently moved through the chaos, Y/N, determined to prove themselves, followed closely behind, their steps more erratic, filled with a raw determination that bordered on recklessness.

The mission was a high-stakes extraction in a war-torn city, a hotbed of conflict between rival factions. A high-profile target, a political figure with valuable intel, was trapped in the heart of the chaos. The team, consisting of Bucky, Y/N, and other skilled operatives, was tasked with infiltrating the heavily guarded compound, extracting the target, and making a swift exit.

The plan was intricate, relying on each member's unique skills. Bucky, with his enhanced strength and stealth, was designated for covert recon and eliminating potential threats. Y/N, known for their agility and sharpshooting, was tasked with providing cover and securing a safe escape route. The tension among the team was palpable as they moved through the war-torn streets, each step a potential trigger for violence.  Bucky's voice cut through the tense air, sharp and authoritative. "Stay close, Y/N. We need to adapt to the situation."

Y/N gritted their teeth, pain evident in their strained voice. "I'm not slowing down, Barnes. I can still handle myself."

Bucky's metal arm shot out, blocking Y/N's path. "Handle yourself? You can barely walk through the woods without stepping on a branch. You'll get us killed.``

A bitter laugh escaped Y/N's lips. "Coming from the guy with a metal arm and a penchant for playing lone wolf. I'm not backing down now."

The team's leader, a grizzled veteran named Rodriguez, intervened. "Enough. We've got a job to do, and bickering won't get us out of here. Barnes, cover Y/N. Y/N, trust Barnes's lead."

Bucky's gaze lingered on Y/N for a moment, a flicker of concern beneath his stoic exterior. "Stay close, and follow my lead."

Y/N clenched their jaw but nodded, acknowledging the unspoken agreement. As they moved through the war-torn streets, the chaos intensified. Bucky scanned the area, his heightened senses on high alert.

A distant explosion echoed, and Y/N stumbled, disoriented. Bucky's firm grip steadied them. "Keep it together, Y/N. We're almost there."

Y/N's frustration boiled over. "I don't need your help, Barnes. I can—"

Bucky cut them off with a sharp whisper. "Save it. We're not alone."

A group of armed mercenaries emerged from the shadows, weapons trained on the team. Bucky's hand instinctively reached for his sidearm, and Y/N fumbled for their own, hands shaking.

Rodriguez's voice echoed through the chaos. "Hold your fire! We're here for the extraction. We can negotiate."

The tension hung thick as the two groups faced off. Bucky exchanged a glance with Y/N, a silent understanding passing between them. The dynamic had shifted – it was no longer just about the mission; it was about survival in a city consumed by conflict.

The skirmish erupted with gunfire and chaos as the opposing forces clashed in the dimly lit streets. Bucky's metal arm swung with lethal precision, dispatching enemies with calculated brutality. Y/N, fought with a tenacity that could only be proven by years of service. Bullets whizzed past, and explosions reverberated through the air.

Y/N fired their gun, dodging bullets at will. A sudden impact slammed into their side, and a searing pain radiated through their abdomen. They stumbled, disoriented, as they looked at their abdomen, a small syringe logged inside, Y/N swiftly took it out before the enemy closed in. Bucky, sensing the danger, swiftly dispatched the immediate threats.

"Y/N!" he called out, but his voice was drowned out by the chaos.

Desperation fueled Y/N's movements. They fought on, gritting their teeth against the pain. The world around them blurred, shadows dancing in an ominous ballet. Another explosion rocked the area, disorienting Y/N even further. Panic set in as darkness enveloped Y/N's vision. They staggered, hands reaching out blindly to find something, anything, for support. Bucky, sensing the shift, abandoned his relentless assault on the enemy and swiftly made his way to Y/N's side.

"Y/N, can you hear me?" Bucky's voice was urgent, a rare note of concern cutting through his usual stoicism.

"I can't see, Barnes," Y/N admitted, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.

Bucky's gaze tightened, his expression hidden beneath the shadows of his hair. "We need to get out of here. Can you walk?"

Y/N nodded, though uncertainty clouded their features. Bucky guided them through the chaotic battleground, his metal arm offering a steady anchor for Y/N to lean on. The sounds of gunfire and explosions echoed around them, a grim symphony of war.

As they navigated the war-torn streets, Y/N's other senses heightened, compensating for the loss of vision. The team's leader, Rodriguez, radioed in, "Extraction point is compromised. Head for the secondary rendezvous."

Bucky adjusted his grip on Y/N. "We're changing the plan. Stick close, and trust me."

Y/N swore under their breath, vulnerable and blinded, she had no choice but to rely on Bucky's guidance. In the shadows of the conflict, the Winter Soldier and the wounded agent moved as one, a testament to the unspoken trust forged in the crucible of battle.

As the dust settled and the team regrouped, the realization struck - their mission had just become exponentially more challenging, and the once turbulent dynamic between Bucky and Y/N took an unexpected turn into uncharted territory. Now, in the shadows of a city torn apart by conflict, the Winter Soldier and the blinded agent faced a mission that would not only test their abilities but also force them to confront the vulnerabilities that lingered beneath the surface.

Next Chapter: Coming soon

All content © hufflepuffsandghosts 2025. Do not repost, modify, or claim my work as your own.

[transmasc-positivity]

I know things have been quite slow on this blog, so apologies for that! I mainly rely on asks and submissions but haven't been getting any as of late.

I understand the climate at the moment as trans people (and especially transmasculine people with the recent uptick of vitriol against us) is not that great, so I think we more want to vent about things rather than be cheery and joyful. It makes sense.

However! That is why in times like these we need some positivity! When I started this blog I gained so many followers in such a short amount of time, and despite my lack of activity, am still gaining more. This just goes to show we really do want some positivity in our community.

So, even if things seem dire, I encourage you all to search your souls for even the slightest bit of positivity, even if it's just something for yourself alone.

You are loved, and welcomed here, and there will always be members of your community who also cherish you just as much. We will get through this together ❤️ You are important and you matter and the world would not be the same without you in it. To all my transmascs, trans men, and other queer mascs: We got this.

[radioiaci]

"Hah! Which of us seems to rely on witty remarks? That one fit the bill better than anything I have said today." Even if it is a bit of a dig at himself, he can find the humor in it, shaking his head as he tails the other with only some marginal consideration for who may be watching. The radio demon, thankfully, still harbors the benefit of giving anyone in his way a bit of a fright - and that keeps their path relatively clear, even if there are observers in the alleys and across the street who might hover and stop and stare, trying to determine exactly what horrors he may be up to on this particular day.

The store they arrive at garners a bit of curiosity, observing the exterior for any indications as to whether or not it harbors items of taste within or if it is all as tacky as the outfits Lucifer deigns to wear on the daily. He abandons hope, however, as he does not think he will be given a choice to veto the store as a whole even if the interior is offensive.

"I did not ask you to explain, but I do appreciate that you took it upon yourself to give me a play-by-play," Alastor says with some snark and a wide grin. He will take the compliments for what they are worth, even if he was not explicitly searching for them - simply baffled by the fact that Lucifer believes it at all. Satisfied, however, by what he has been given on that vein.

Their banter is enough of a distraction for Alastor to not notice the lingering eyes that monitor their whereabouts.

Once inside, Alastor finds his own gaze wandering, taking him not very far from where Lucifer is, but not altogether leaving the other to completely dominate the trip. He sifts through a few things on his own, though nothing quite appeals - all of the colors are muddled and strange and yellow -

Eugh.

"Hm. Shorts are not my favorite. The sandals, perhaps, I can tolerate..." If they make sense for his hooves. Which might be more difficult than one would assumes.

But with a pause, Alastor raises an eyebrow at the imp.

"Skimpy? What, do you intend to dress me in some sort of bikini? Hell forbid." An eyeroll. But he would not put it past Lucifer to joke about such a thing.

Alastor always needed to have the final word, it appeared, and bully for him that he was unfortunately getting his way this time too.

Clicking his tongue, dissatisfied, Lucifer tosses a hand carelessly over his shoulder, as if waving away the words themselves would be enough. “Oh, to have only such simple joys to contend with. Are you a stag or a scab? It’s almost as if you want me to pick on you.” It certainly felt like it, in any case. Always, constantly needling and aggravating until Lucifer just about wanted to rip his own hair out or claw his face. Extreme reactions, to be sure, but ones built up to near intolerable levels. Such cursed talent to go with said wit. A pity.

Lucifer is suspicious about the deferment, but he cannot decide on any other reason other than a free pass to complain about such choices being tacky and busy later. Probably not all that inaccurately either, considering at least one of the tops was likely a tourist-y hawaiian-y shirt. If only for the thrill of seeing the taller man’s face about it. Too bad for him that everything else would be perfect fashionable and timeless, nothing to get in a snit over, other than it being too plain…

Privately, Lucifer promised himself that each time Alastor bitched about clothing choices, what the demon would end up wearing for LuLu World only be more garish.

Searching for the storefront of the first place they were stepping into, patting down his sides and pants for the Morningstar emblem to present for their entry, the imp only spares Alastor a brief nonplussed glance over the shoulder for the question, responding dryly, “Fishing for compliments, are you? I did, because you are. Strong features, a noble stance to your bearing, decent upkeep to your appearance: thus, a handsome figure. Anyone with eyes can see it, regardless about how they feel about such things. Like pure unbridled loathing.”

It is not only the image they make together, but of the strangeness that Alastor was humoring being mouthed off to like that by said imp. It takes about the time that the pair cut down a side alley, that a camera on a corner from one of the buildings in question twitches. The lens shudders, unfocusing and refocusing as it turns to now give a clear view of the unlikely duo being greeted at the employee entrance and discreetly ushered inside.

The VoxTech security cameras inside the Hellish Apperal blink, stalling for a split second, before they, too, being to shift and move to a new direction, following the instructions of someone unseen…

“Most people when going to a theme park wear shorts and a short-sleeves shirt of some kind, and sandals. More exposed than I’ve ever seen you wear, but the point is something not only casual, but easy to move in and no great loss if it gets messy or torn in someway. I would rather you feel comfortable, so a compromise between the two would be best. We can browse and I’ll hold some outfits up for you, if it’s too skimpy for your lanky ass, say so now or hold your ire where I don’t have to hear it.”

Already, he’s picking through loose slacks and button up tees — as if he already had an inkling what Alastor might prefer, strangely enough. Could totally be a coincidence. Totally.

[cloudcountry]

SUMMARY: what the tokyo debunker boys left you with after the two of you break up (alternatively, how they make you better.)

COMMENTS: its bittersweet. you guys broke up on good terms. might get back together idk i kept it vague (✿◡‿◡)

TAGLIST: @as1iiiwhaa @astralsocfactory

Jin leaves you with a sense of security. While you two were together, he armed you against any insults or rumors that people could throw your way, and you’re better off for it. It no longer feels like you’re a baby deer stumbling around Darkwick—you’ve really come into your own.

Tohma leaves you with a sense of perception. You can read people’s micro-expressions much easier now, even without Tohma’s guiding gaze. You used to look to him for help, but you don’t need it anymore. He cared for you well.

Luca leaves you with a soft heart and a strong will. Even when you were scared, you could find the strength to protect others just by seeing his courage. It was easier to rely on him when you needed a crutch, but you have since vowed to become that crutch for others.

Kaito leaves you with a love for the life you live. Even if it didn’t work out with him, you feel as though he still hangs around your mind, directing you to the ramen shop that you had your first date on and the park that he stargazed with you at. Your heart doesn’t ache from going to these places—you feel content.

Alan leaves you with a new perspective. The two of you had a lot of talks about him, his past, and how he felt about it. Your open mindedness while being with him not only changed him for the better, but allowed you to understand where he was coming from when he said he should not be forgiven. You hope he can find it someday, even without you.

Sho leaves you with a new appreciation for food. Even if you were a well versed cook before, he leaves you with tips and tricks to make even the simplest dish a lot more tasty. You find yourself eating better, even on days where you feel like you can’t make anything at all.

Leo leaves you with a sharper tongue. You’re far more likely to stand up for yourself now, after years and years of his jabs and teasing. There is a part of you that misses it, even though you knew it was for the better. Leo would be proud of you—of that, you are certain.

Haru leaves you with a love of early mornings. You wake up a little earlier than you used to, and open your curtains to let the sun in. Haru always used to insist that getting some natural sunlight was the best part of the day, and you still very much believe him.

Towa leaves you with a deeper connection to nature. Even though you aren’t with him anymore, you still find yourself taking walks and going on hikes whenever you get too stressed, inspired by what he used to do with you. 

Ren leaves you with a plethora of interests. Before meeting him, you had a few interests that you held close to your chest, but since knowing him, you’ve gained many more. It’s sweet to see all the merch he got you, and all the matching pieces that you still have, knowing that the days of enjoying those pieces of media are far from over.

Taiga leaves you with his self defense lessons. Darkwick is a dangerous place, and so is the real world. He felt better knowing you could handle yourself adequately even when he isn’t around. In a way, it’s as though Taiga is still protecting you, even from far away.

Romeo leaves you with a sense of luxury. You take better care of yourself once being with him, and since you’ve had someone by your side who regularly reminded you that you deserve good things, you retained it. It was hard when you first started dating him—but Romeo would never let your insecurities stand.

Ritsu leaves you with a better sense of academics. You find yourself organizing your notes in the way he’d taught you, color coded and chronological. It’s like instinct now, and whenever you find yourself doing it you laugh. He may no longer be with you, but his little quirks and habits still stayed.

Subaru leaves you with a sense of serenity within your very soul. You’re not sure if it's the tea or his soft voice, but something about Subaru having been in your life soothes you. When stress tries to take hold on you, you sit down with a cup of tea and breathe.

Haku leaves you with a boosted self confidence. You can look at yourself in the mirror while wearing an outfit that would make you cringe a couple years ago and see yourself as beautiful. It’s easier to step outside the house after trying something new with your style, because you’ve become better aware of how lovely you truly are.

Zenji leaves you with an eye for beauty in the simplest of things. Before, your life was a whirlwind of danger, but after him you find yourself stopping to listen to the birds. They sound so beautiful—and the sunset looks stunning—and those two people are smiling, happy together—and if you would only stop to look, there is happiness and beauty everywhere you go.

Edward leaves you with a sense of empowerment. He was always one to lift you up, to encourage you to seek the answers out on your own, even if he made it a pain. Knowing he had your back (and still does, even if things aren’t the same anymore) made it easier to be strong when you felt like the world was going to tear you down.

Rui leaves you with a love for chores and the mundane. Especially after Darkwick, it can be difficult to find the time to settle down and monitor yourself. Rui always encouraged you to rest, to make sure you didn’t work too hard—and even now, when he isn’t with you anymore, you still find yourself doing the same thing.

Lyca leaves you with an appreciation for your own effort. You are much kinder to yourself when you fail, or when you don’t accomplish everything you meant to. It’s as though you hear his voice, saying “just do it tomorrow, what’s the big deal? You’ll get it done at some point since you’re working so hard.” He’s comforting even from your past.

Yuri leaves you with a myriad of knowledge about your body and health. It’s a lot easier to track any issues you may have, and determine whether or not you should go to the doctor for them. Sometimes you swear you can still hear him gently scolding you for working too hard when you eat your dinner, curled up under your favorite blanket on the couch.

Jiro leaves you with all of his tea brewing knowledge. It’s seeped so far into the cracks of your life that you doubt you could do away with it now—not that you want to. You drink his tea blends almost every day, and even if you forget who brought them into your life sometimes, you will always feel a bittersweet happiness when you drink them.

[mqyra]

WHEN OUR EYES MET ACT I, SCENE III

SUMMARY: It has been five months since JJ Maybank had zapped out of the modern world. JJ Maybank, now a missing person, finds his way around the Mughal Empire he has found himself in. In the streets of Agrabah, his eyes meet with another.

Five months. JJ─ or as he was known as around the market streets of Agrabah, Street Thief Jacks. But he didn't exactly have any other choice. The ladies had a thing for Jacks, knowing they've never seen a white boy stealing from the rich of Agrabah. Whilst the old timers, the ones with the small shops hurdled together, despised him with all their heart. Along the way, he found a friend. Not exactly human, but he made do with it. A monkey, actually. Jacks wasn't used to monkeys, never actually seen one, especially in the Cut.

What he also found was that monkeys made useful thieves. Being small helped too, and sneaky. Jacks bought him a small little hat the size of a thumb, and the little monkey, Abu as he was called, jumped the streets of Agrabah with it. Today, it was as cramped as any other day. It was surprising it still had sparks of life, especially with the amount of people relied on those streets to give them a home. Pulsing with energy, Jacks was out of his torn makeshift home. Ready to bring something back home for him and Abu. With Abu on his shoulder, making little monkey sounds and playing around with his little piece of gold he stole from some rich Sultan crossing the streets, Jacks' eyes narrowed at Abu. "Where'd you get that from, Abu?" He glares, like he wanted it first. But he recognised it as something of his own stolen collection. Little thief, he thought. Snatching it back from Abu, who had a wide grin on his face, like he had just won the lottery, even if it was just one piece of gold. "Let me guess." He grins. "The Sultan?" Abu's grin widens. "Thief." Jacks scoffs, no matter how much of a hypocrite he sounded like. Jacks hated to admit it but he was beginning to enjoy the monkey’s company. No matter how many times the animal brought trouble to his doorstep. It had only been five months, but Abu grew on him, with all the late nights of stealing, or annoying the merchants. He wasn’t as bad as he expected. The scent of spices Jacks would’ve never been able to recognise in Kildare loomed in the air, as he inhaled the scents. Sand seeping in between his feet from when him and Abu went looking for food. He could already feel the eyes of many aggravated merchants on him. It made his charming smirk spread across his face like a plague. He couldn’t help it. He was more fond of these streets than he could admit. It wasn’t home. But it was slowly feeling like so. Jacks shook his head, his gaze hardening. He couldn’t get attached. He had to go home. No matter what. And he wouldn’t let anything. Or anyone. Get in the way. The sun blankets Agrabah like a warm welcome. Casting a golden hue across the market. Merchants with their loud voices, women laughing and whispering at him in small flocks. Sounds of metal scraping, and it slightly irritated Jacks, grating at his senses. His eyes glaze over the streets, and those blue waters in his pupils catch a scene he never saw before. A woman, a veil over her head, half covering, with hair poking out from it, who in fact definitely looked like she had something to hide. Intrigued, his eyes stop there from scanning. Taking all of her in with a few glances, a wide smirk follows through when she glances at him. Goosebumps was his first reaction. Those eyes surprised him. He didn’t need to see her entire face to know what those eyes did to him. A whole shock wave. Wide, doe eyes gawked back at him, hints of what looked like, black kohl circling her eyes, making it look more sharp, like she was looking into his soul. And she was unlike any other woman he met around these streets. It was like that veil that covered most of her face had highlighted everything enchanting about her eyes. He couldn’t stop staring, even when she looked away. “Who was that?” He murmurs to himself, and he was actually blushing. And he didn’t even know her. But he wanted to. He wanted another chance to stare at her. He wanted to stare at her. Not in a creepy way, or to scare her. But Jacks was fascinated. Maybe it was because he was so used to seeing a sea of blue eyes from where he was from, he never expected dark hazel swirls to put him in a trance. He wanted to see most of him. He observes her even more, forgetting Abu for a moment. Abu’s shriek jolts him out from his fascination. Jacks groans, like Abu was disrupting him, glaring at the small monkey. “What?” He snaps. Abu points at the woman’s wrist happily. A golden bracelet, with small details of sapphire glistening in her eyes from it, the specks of green complimenting it.

It was pure gold too. No one could ever really find pure gold like that, not in Agrabah.

She had to be something regal. Her eyes made enough of a statement for that.

Like a sultan’s daughter. Or a princess.

Jacks’ eyes light up with panic in them when he sees Abu crossing the narrow alleyways, shrieking happily to get to the lady’s gold. No, no, no, no, he thought.

“Abu- wait, let’s talk about this.” No, no, he was already gone.

Jacks quickly follows with, stopping Abu, but his eyes catch hers again. No, he couldn’t do that. He cannot swoon over a pair of eyes. It’s stupid.

Then his eyes follow her movements. As she notices a child, with tears in his eyes, staring at an apple with hunger in the little boy’s eyes. He can’t see her facial expression, but she crosses towards the child, kneeling down to his level.

He sees her eyebrows furrow from where he can see her eyes. So she cares too. Extra bonus, a voice in his head says. But he shakes his head. No. He wasn’t considering it.

Taking the apple from the display, she hands it to the child. And he knew it was going to come with consequences. “I hope you’re going to pay for that.” The man says in Persian.

Jacks had actually come to understand it very quickly. Even though his Persian was broken.

He glares, seeing the merchant’s rough grip on her wrist, when she tries to leave. And he refuses to let go. Now he definitely had to go to her.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have any money.” The lady says, shaking her head, trying to release herself from his grip, but he wouldn’t budge. “I could go back to the palace and─” “Do you know what the penalty is for stealing?” His free hand reaches for the sword, but Jacks stops him, with a grin. “Thank you, kind sir, I’m so glad you found the madwoman.” He grins, shaking the man’s hand. Her eyes narrow. “Madwoman?” Soraya’s arms cross over her chest. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” He points at her, in a mocking glare, wagging his finger. The audacity, she thought. “I am not mad.” She huffs. “Just play along.” He whispers. “You know the girl?” The merchant raises his eyebrows, skeptical of Jacks. “Sadly, yes.” He sighs dramatically. “She’s a little…” He whistles, doing that little signal to show she’s crazy in the head. Soraya scoffs, rolling her eyes. “She says she’s from the palace.” The merchant grabs at Jacks’ collar. “Only when she’s dreaming.” Jacks says. “It’s a problem of hers. Hallucinations… is what you call it. Tragic, isn't it?” The blonde boy exhales. “If only her dreams could come true.” “But no harm done, eh?” Jacks pats his back, grabbing Soraya by the waist, and she gasps. “Time to go see the fortune teller, huh?” Jacks’ looks down, but he had an apologetic look in his eyes.  “The Sultan?” She asks, playing along. Her eyebrows raised in silent communication. Jacks’ laughs. “No, darlin’, the fortune teller.” He mutters, leading her away. Abu, who held all the gold he stole in a flimsy old bag, torn in pieces from the weight, and the merchant glares at Jacks and Soraya. “Thieves!” He yells, watching Jacks run off with Soraya, Abu on his shoulder. “Catch those street rats!” He roars. And they were both sprinting. “What do we do now?” Soraya whispers, as he holds her hand, cramped up in an alleyway they hid in. “Do you trust me?” He mutters, as he watches her veil fall. “No.” Soraya meets his eyes. And he laughs at her bluntness. “You’re going to have to go up there.” He says, waiting for her to take his hand. As she takes his hand, he lifts her up so she could go up on the roof. But then, he doesn’t move. Alarm flashes in her pupils. “What are you doing?” She hisses. “Get up!” “Wait.” He pauses, looking up at him. “What’s your name?” Was she talking to an idiot, she thought. “We are going to get caught if you don’t get up.” She pauses, noticing he wasn’t going to move an inch till she said her name. “Soraya.” His smile beams. Eyes lighting up. “Soraya.” He whispers like a prayer. Forgetting to even take her hand, forgetting about how there were guards chasing them. "Take my hand!" She shouts, snapping him out of his thoughts, and he grabs her hand, getting up with her, dashing to jump to the other building, and he actually made it. But she hesitates, fear rushing to her face, looking down at the streets as she looks back at the men reaching to go up on the rooftop she was on. "Do you trust me now?" He calls out from the other building. "Yes!" She calls back, taking a deep breath, as she jumps, landing on top of him. He grins. "You know, this isn't such a bad view either." He mutters, reaching his hand up to tuck her hair behind her ear, but Soraya slaps his hand away and his lips break out in a pout. "Don't be stupid." She glares at him, from above him. Sitting up on him, like she wasn't planning on moving from her seat. After a few moments, he speaks. "So you going to get off of me, Princess, or do you need help with that too? Because, this is a very compromising position to be in with a thief." Soraya's eyebrows goes up, her breath stopping. "How....how do you know─?" Soraya wasn't able to finish her sentence when she hears the guards reaching closer.

All the flirty banter is gone the moment the guards come up on the roof top, and all of a sudden, Jacks is grabbing her hand. Jumping from one hut to another, till they reached his torn up home. No bricks, just a small cave like home, with a view of the Mughal Palace, as he pushes the carpet back to enter the torn hovel. Her eyebrows furrow. "This is your home?" She whispers, raising her eyebrows. He nods mindlessly, resting back on his bed, looking at her from his place on the bed. Silence. Then she speaks again. "How'd you know I'm a Princess?" Soraya questions him, toying with the hem of her veil. He gets up from his space on the bed, walking closer to her. "Well, most Princesses tend to have these." He pulls her wrist forward towards him, and the gold bangles clinked together. "Don't tug." She mutters, looking up at him. But he didn't let go. "And most Princesses....." He pauses, glancing at her features, cupping her face with one hand. "Have pretty faces like this" He whispers, skimming over her face. "But you, you have a very different face. And it's far from pretty. Even more than that." "Were you going to steal the bangle?" She whispers lowly. He shook his head. "Well you have got a nice view, street boy." She smiles. "Thanks, I'm quiet the view, I know." He smirks. And she laughs. And his smirk turns to a smile.

"Your words are gonna get your tongue out one day." Soraya grins, poking his nose. "I'll die a happy man if you do it." And that earns him a swat on the chest. "Oh wow, would you look at that, you have no hair on your chest." Soraya teases him. He gasps dramatically, looking down at her chest. "Neither do you." Soraya snorts, laughing. As she put her veil back on her head, but a hand stops her from doing so. Jacks shakes his head. "Don't do that." He halts. "I like your hair down." And her cheeks flush actually flush for the first time that day. After a moment, she says in a hurry "I have to go." Before she leaves, she turns back. "You never told me your name either." Soraya's arms cross. "Jacks." He exhales, slouching back down on the bed. "Jacks." She nods in acknowledgement, after a moment or two of simply looking at him, she leaves.

TAGLIST: @bbyg4rl @abigailovesz @aliyahwritings @they-call-me-whiskey to find the series post, go to the hashtag for prince jacks.

[wafflexdguy]

I'm not sure if requests are open or not(as the ask thing says open and the fixed says closed lol), but could we have yandere twisted Vee?

Have a good day/night!

Authors note: Yeah, I forgot to edit the pinned post. Thats my fault. Anyways yes. Helpful reminder to read the tags once in a while :)

The NASA computer went crazy again.

She be looking for you lmao exdeee

================================================

Twisted Vee is already somewhat brutal by herself not being unhealthily obsessed with you. Mentioned previously she'll typically self-boast and unintentionally make you feel like -for lack of a better term- shit. This time is different. She'll intentionally make you feel like you're somewhat worth nothing, and the only value you have is to her.

This un-cunning and somewhat predictable tactic is typically played out via advertisements, TV commercials that are played throughout the various rooms in Gardenview. She isn't afraid to do this in front of other Toons as well, more often than not aware of the situation. She doesn't care; they can't do anything about it anyway- oh they're telling you to not go on runs with them anymore... hmmm.

As much as she hates to admit it, Vee knows she can't sneak into the lobby of the building. That'd be a death wish waiting to happen. Instead, she'll just make it inconvenient for you to be gone. If she kills them, then she runs the risk of you never coming back, that can't be allowed to happen! What ends up happening is that she'll intentionally lead Twisteds that only you can effectively deal with.

Toons with attentions span that of a gerbil? Looks like those distractors are useless now! Machine needs to be done faster? Yattta is conveniently preoccupied with a Twisted Pebble and Glisten is preoccupied with being too much of a pretentious douche to really do anything. Hmmmmmm the only Toon that somehow never gets all the Twisteds on them is you.... HMMMMMMM-

Oh hey, you're back! Time to shove manipulative ads down your throat!

Vee's first attempt at it failed because quite frankly, she wasn't accounting for the other Toons to actually do something about it. Miscalculation on her part, it won't happen again. And believe it, it won't happen again.

Vee's more calculative with it this time. Every time they realize what Vee is doing and tell you to sit one out, she does the same thing until they give in. The hope is that they'll eventually give up and see how useful you are, and that's where she goes in for the -figurative- kill.

She can't really kidnap you since... well, what's the point? She's not really all gung-ho about keeping you all to herself, she's more concerned about not letting anyone else have you. She wants you to be the one that ignores other Toons willingly, not force it. The running theory is that the other Toons eventually just stop having a relationship with you all together and that you'll rely more and more on her for emotional stability.

Is this plan really smart? Eh, depends on who you are. If you're able to see through this tactic, she'll just abandon any real sense since at that point her emotions would overcome her and she'll just outright threaten to kill the other Toons -particularly those you are close to- unless you stay. Preferably within her line of sight. Once every day.

"I miss you..."

"I'm right here."

"No, I miss you."

She knows what she's doing is wrong, and believe it or not, she's actually kind of conflicted about it. Her more logical side is telling her that you won't be happy like this. That keeping you like this is more likely to turn you into... turn you into... She doesn't like to think about that aspect.

On the other hand, her apathetic and standoffish side doesn't care and doesn't care if she gets you hurt in the process. Just as long as she gets to have you, who cares how you feel in the process. If it's any consolation, this side of her gets heavily muted in the final decision making of her plans with you.

Regardless of Vee questioning her own morals, one thing is clear: You're going to be hers, whether you like it or not. The best thing for you and others is to be cooperative. Since by that point, you likely have nobody to come to your aid.

[offtorivendell]

Spoilers: the entire Maasverse, reader beware.

I'm in full agreement about Vallahan, and I LOVE all of the evidence you've gathered here. It makes total sense for Mor to return to Velaris and train the Valkyries with Nesta, as Cassian can't keep ignoring the Illyrian legions and Azriel needs to concentrate on his agents. Obviously, none of us think that Elain and Az would stay in Vallahan long term, but as a brief stay to gather intel and attempt to build bridges? Absolutely yes.

@wingedblooms has posted about the following passage before, in response to @whysterian's amazing ask...

She had not mentioned it these past few days in Velaris. Had wanted to make this choice on her own, and had understood how the news might cast a shadow over the merriment. She knew Azriel would say no, would want her safe. As he had always done. Cassian would have said yes, Amren with him, and Feyre would have worried but agreed. Az would have been pissed, and withdrawn even further into himself. She hadn’t wanted to take his joy away from him. Any more than she already did. But she’d have to tell them, regardless of what she decided, at some point. - ACOFAS, chapter 24

... and though she is more conservative in thinking there's a chance it might not be referencing Elain than I am, we both think the possibility of Elain going to Vallahan has been in the cards for a while. It would progress both ACOTAR's and Elain's own story, expanding on the spy/intelligence arc that many of us think may go ahead. It may even possibly parallel Tower of Dawn, the penultimate book in SJM's Throne of Glass series, which also journeyed to a far off land where the main characters found love - all the while learning vital information to further their cause against the Valg back in Erilea.

Come to think of it, it even parallels Bryce's brief sojourn in Prythian, gathering information and power to take back to Midgard and defeat the Asteri.

But let's have a look at these passages, which I discussed in my reblog of @wingedblooms' post.

Days passed. The shadow within me didn’t lighten, and even the thought of painting was abhorrent. Instead I spent most of my time with Elain in her little garden. I was content to listen to her talk about every bud and bloom, about her plans to start another garden by the greenhouse, perhaps a vegetable garden, if she could learn enough about it over the next few months. She had come alive here, and her joy was infectious. - ACOTAR, chapter 29

Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans she’d sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight. Whether he cared about such things, I had no idea, but I sent him a silent prayer of thanks for his kindness before Rhys and I slipped upstairs. - ACOFAS, chapter 22

I know I'm plagiarising myself here, but what if Mor had been considering taking Elain with her to Vallahan, but decided against it because she knew Azriel had found comfort in Elain and her "infectious" joy and warmth, much as Feyre did back in ACOTAR? That parallel has always intrigued me. Has the time finally come for Azriel to learn to deal with both of the women associated with warmth, to whom he's appeared to develop attachments at different stages, treading into enemy territory?

Rhys and Feyre sat on the sapphire couch before the window. Azriel leaned against the mantel. Amren had curled herself into an armchair, bundled in a gray fur coat, as if the nip in the air today were a blast of winter. No Elain, no Morrigan. - ACOSF, chapter 20

Will Elain be called over to Vallahan in ACOTAR 5, and spend time with Mor before she (hypothetically) heads back to the Night Court, and the Valkyries? This would very conveniently leave Elriel very alone - I'd forgotten that it was out of daemati range! LOL - in a charged environment, where they would need to rely heavily on each other.

Ugh, the potential for angst is there.

Elain, a Cauldron Made Seer who - as you said - can "convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles," and Azriel, the powerful shadowsinger with his "stone cold manners"? Working from different angles - diplomat and guard/the shadows to gather information, hopefully with Nuala and Cerridwen at their side? The dream team.

After @elainsvisions dropped her Snow Queen commission this morning, I’m even more desperate for an Elriel book in Vallahan.

Last year, Sarah said she was going up North to draft:

and Vallahan happens to be the most Northern location on the ACOTAR map:

Then we have this clue that was left at the end of April:

“And no, it’s not just another Starfall” makes me think the Night Court may not be the primary location of the next book. “Something is coming” is giving “winter is coming” and that’s not the first Game of Thrones reference Sandy has made:

I don’t think he knows what/who the next book is about, but he did say he was coached on what to say and not to say. Jon Snow is the King in the North and we know Vallahan also has a king (in the snowy, North) that the NC is desperate to ally with. This could be absolutely nothing, but I’m choosing to clown a little!

Mor spend the majority of ACOSF trying to get Vallahan to sign a peace treaty with no luck:

And just look at all of the Vallahan mentions? I think it’s a top contender for a location of the next book:

Mor is clearly struggling there and who better to help than a seer who can convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles and a spymaster who knows cold hard manners are just as necessary to gain information as stealth and shadows?

They would truly be the perfect duo for this mission 🥲

Vallahan is also out of Feysand’s daemati magic’s range so it would be the perfect location for a forbidden romance to blossom!

[charafansmile]

My controversial undertale opinion is that the player is only directly acknowledged in the story in the no mercy route itself by chara. Subsequently chara Is the ONLY character aware that we exist.

Every other instance of a character acknowledging 'us' In the game is them assuming we are the same person as chara. (See, floweys post pacifist speech)

Flowey acknowledging us at the end of the post pacifist is NOT him being aware that we exist, it's him talking to us through the assumption WE are chara, he just happens to be wrong about what charas like- but RIGHT about what WE are like

Flowey flirts with the fourth wall, but is functionally unaware he's in a video game, instead he describes his experiences using video game mechanics as a metaphor. Hes not actually aware he's in a video game.

Chara though? The entire no mercy route only functions if we the player are apart of it, and chara themselves is very aware of us-maybe not quite aware they are in a video game but WE are apart of their story and acknowledged as such in a way we aren't in any other route.

Tldr: the player is apart of undertales story, but only directly plays a role during the no mercy route, we do control frisk in every route, but for the most part our possession of them is minor and negligible to the stories of those routes.

[anghraine]

jenndoesnotcare replied to this post:

Every time LDS kids come to my neighborhood I am so so nice to them. I hope they remember the blue haired lady who was kind, when people try to convince them the outside world is bad and scary. (Also they are always so young! I want to feed them cookies and give them Diana Wynne Jones books or something)

Thank you! Honestly, this sort of kindness can go a really long way, even if it doesn't seem like it at the time.

LDS children and missionaries (and the majority of the latter are barely of age) are often the people who interact the most with non-Mormons on a daily basis, and thus are kind of the "face" of the Church to non-Mormons a lot of the time. As a result, they're frequently the ones who actually experience the brunt of antagonism towards the Church, which only reinforces the distrust they've already been taught to feel towards the rest of the world.

It's not that the Church doesn't deserve this antagonism, but a lot of people seem to take this enormous pride in showing up Mormon teenagers who have spent most of their lives under intense social pressure, instruction, expectation, and close observation from both their peers and from older authorities in the Church (it largely operates on seniority, so young unmarried people in particular tend to have very little power within its hierarchies). Being "owned" for clout by non-Mormons doesn't prove anything to most of them except that their leaders and parents are right and they can't trust people outside the Church.

The fact that the Church usually does provide a tightly-knit community, a distinct and familiar culture, and a well-developed infrastructure for supporting its members' needs as long as they do [xyz] means that there can be very concrete benefits to staying in the Church, staying closeted, whatever. So if, additionally, a Mormon kid has every reason to think that nobody outside the Church is going to extend compassion or kindness towards them, that the rest of the world really is as hostile and dangerous as they've been told, the stakes for leaving are all the higher, despite the costs of staying.

So people from "outside" who disrupt this narrative of a hostile, threatening world that cannot conceivably understand their experiences or perspectives can be really important. It's important for them to know that there are communities and reliable support systems outside the Church, that leaving the Church does not have to mean being a pariah in every context, that there are concrete resources outside the Church, that compassion and decency in ordinary day-to-day life is not the province of any particular religion or sect and can be found anywhere. This kind of information can be really important evidence for people to have when they are deciding how much they're willing to risk losing.

So yeah, all of this is to say that you're doing a good thing that may well provide a lifeline for very vulnerable people, even if you don't personally see results at the time.

[made-my-peace-with-all-the-bad]

Words can’t even explain how outsiders coded the lyric “people who need people are the luckiest people” is

[plagueislost]

So I saw the batfam wing au. And the post says you get the urge to draw wing aus Everytime you join a new fandom. Have you done wing aus for Other fandoms? (Like Danny Phantom,) or other fandoms? Also do you have a List of fandoms you are in? Because buddy I'm not leaving after seeing those Gorgeous wings. I wanna be friend shaped!

thank you so much, i’m glad you like it!

most of my aus i don’t post, because they tend not to get a ton of attention and i usually run out of steam before i flesh it out enough for a bunch of content (like i’ve been doing with the batfam). I made a wing au for the dsmp years ago, but that was back when my art sucked and i didn’t know how to compose an illustration to save my life. I think the most recent au i’ve actually posted was a knives out au for the dream smp, but don’t look at it cause it was also years ago and the artwork i made for it was NOT good.

i don’t think i’ve ever posted an actual list of all the fandoms i’m a part of, because that would be hella long, but here’s a quick list of all the ones i actually post about (and still am in the fandom for):

dream smp (and select creators associated)

hermitcraft (and select creators associated)

life series smp

batman (and extended universe, including the batfam)

doctor who

good omens

my hero academia

dungeon meshi

lord of the rings

avatar: the last airbender

haikyuu!!

danny phantom

(i feel like there’s more but i honestly can’t remember right now)

i would very much enjoy being friend shaped with you!!