#they treat me so differently than my friends..

[lyricwritesprose]

So I've known Winter since she was a weird little goth egg who borrowed my jewelry, but she's never asked for my expertise as a large animal veterinarian before. Winter doesn't have large animals. Winter has three cats, brothers, named Sauce, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and Bobby. (Bobby is the ginger one.)

So I wasn't sure what was up when she told me to bring my "hoof stuff" and not to tell anyone, but you know, she's my friend. An hour's drive and a little secrecy is nothing.

She met me at the door and escorted me upstairs and into her bedroom, and there was a demon lying on the bed. Red. Horns. Tail. Winter's grandma's quilt over him. Very confused expression.

"He says he hasn't had hoof care for a long time," Winter explained. "Apparently conditions in Pandemonium kind of suck."

Well, that, at least, was straightforward. "Yeah, I'll take a look at them. You owe me an explanation or five."

"Not really much to explain," Winter said apologetically. "I needed help with biochem."

"There are about ten thousand ways that statement does not lead to this situation."

"Oh, come on, like you've never tried to summon a demon to do your homework."

"No, as a matter of fact, I haven't, because that's academic cheating and as a vet, it could be a life or death matter for me to actually know stuff. Also demons aren't—" You can't exactly say demons aren't real with one watching you. "Necessarily any better at biochem than I am. So you tried some spell and—oh. Ouch. Yeah, that's a gnarly looking hoof, you're going to need some treatment on that. Looks like maybe you haven't been walking around much?" That was to the demon. "Because the edges should wear down if you have proper room to move."

"I don't." His voice was softer than I expected. "What are you going to do to me?"

"Hoof trim," I said, "first of all. Have you had anything to eat? Do you need anything to eat?"

"I ordered door dash from the Indian place half an hour ago," Winter said. "Should be any minute. It's the only decent vegetarian place around here and I really don't want to deal with the whole question of which critters are acceptable to eat across cultural differences, so—yeah. See, the problem is, Asgrvanisaghl has been through a lot since some asshole 'higher demon' put his name in a grimoire, which means that we've got to find a way to block summonings as necessary or at least keep him from getting controlled when they happen."

"I don't do magic," I said, laying out my bag of tools, "I do comfortable hooves. Although, you know, you could call in Shawn. He's got that mythology special interest going on."

"I texted him. He can come by tomorrow but he's doing a thing."

I nodded. "You are probably," I told the demon, "going to have to repeat the name you want me to use for you several times before I get it. I'm not great with pronunciation. Right, so hoof trimming tools probably look different where you're from, but the principles should be the same. This is—"

"Why are you doing this?"

I shrugged. "I mean. We're humans."

"But—no. Humans want great wealth, or they want their rivals removed, or they want the love of the most beautiful woman in the land, or they want—other things—"

"Humans are bastards sometimes and they should not have treated you like that."

He didn't seem to know what to do with that statement.

"But the main thing about humans is that we clump up in groups. You wanna guess what group me and Winter were in, in high school?"

He shook his head wordlessly.

"The group of kids that didn't fit in. Queer, autistic, whatever. And believe me I'm going to call in all of us until we can make sure you're safe."

"But. I'm not one of you."

I shrugged again. "You are now."

The demon collapsed onto your bed. A vacant stare in his eye as he uttered “this is the 10,000th time I’ve been summoned. can we make it easy? Please?”

[viperify]

Smutmas 2024 | ᴛᴏᴍ ʀɪᴅᴅʟᴇ x ʀᴏꜱɪᴇʀ ꜰ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

I Appreciate You.

Short summary: After some persuasion, Tom joins you for Christmas dinner. Only then he finds out your parents haven��t exactly treated you well and seizes the opportunity to show you what it means to be truly appreciated.

Warnings: nothing, just fluff (for now…)

A/N: I have entered a bad case of writing block halfway through this, so I cut it short. I AM SORRY. I’ll take a day or two off and write a pt 2☹️

wordcount: 1,6k

Tom and you have been friends for a while – or rather study accomplices, as he would call it. Though lately, you have grown closer. Oddly close, at least if you knew Riddle, who wasn’t one to interact with others unless it served a purpose. You have known that from the beginning, so it never really appeared to you why he would be different towards you exactly – but you weren’t going to complain about someone tutoring you after all – someone who was equally as smart as pretty.

“You forgot pearl dust.” he sighs in disappointment, not looking up as he fidgets with his quill. “Tom it’s been two hours, my head is a mess. Let’s take a break?”

His gaze flicks from his quill to your eyes and stares at you briefly before speaking up. “I don’t take breaks. If you want me to keep being generous enough to help you, you do it my way.”

That’s how it goes every single time. You don’t argue against it – you just do what he says. The desperation to become better at Potions is greater than your ego after all and you have also come to notice it is better not to talk back to him. The last time you did, he wouldn’t even speak to you for two weeks after.

Tom clears his throat and you return your focus to the present. “It’s been an unnecessarily long time since you have started staring at me. Focus on your textbook.”

“Right, right! Sorry.” Your cheeks heat up and you repeat the brewing process from the beginning.

After what feels like an eternity, he is satisfied – as much as he could be. Tom obviously is never fully satisfied, always has something to criticize that you didn’t do right, something he says you would need to work on the next time you two meet to study.

There was always going to be a next time.

As you two pack up, you see house elves working on the Christmas decorations just outside the library, putting up a pine tree and some red and golden ornaments. It’s the Thursday before winter break, and you would soon go home to spend the time with your family. They have told you to bring a friend, though all of them have declined so far. You would just go alone. Until – well, you think about Tom.

“Uh, I actually have one more question.” You start, turning to face him. He raises his eyebrows expectantly signalling you to continue. “Soooo, I have been wanting to ask you whether you wanted to join me for Christmas dinner at home. My parents have asked me to bring someone along.”

“We aren’t friends. Besides that, I don’t celebrate Christmas.”

That’s exactly the answer you assumed he’d give, but you weren’t going to give up that easily. Your family has been talking about him often lately, about the Gaunt family, purebloods just like you. All the things they say you don’t understand anyway. It’s been like that since you were born, they always favoured your older brother over you. You have stopped arguing against it.

“Come on, Tom! It’s just a dinner, one evening. I know you don’t usually leave Hogwarts for Christmas break, I just wanted to give you the opportunity to meet my parents. They have been talking about you.”

He contemplates for a moment then. He is aware that his family, at least his mother’s side, has caught people’s attention. Apparently also the Rosiers’. Rosier family, part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. It would only be to his benefit to get to know them personally. And he hated admitting it, but lately - he has found himself strangely intrigued by you. A smart girl, who wouldn’t normally need his tutoring, not if he didn’t tell you to come back every week for another lesson.

“I suppose I will think about it. If I decide for it, I will join you at the train station.”

Your lips curl into a bright smile. “Thank you, Tommy! You are the best.”

He sighs. “How often have I told you to stop calling me that?”

“Sorry, sorry! I am just super excited to introduce you. They have been pestering me with questions about your mother’s family.”

You swear you see a slight spark in his eyes at the mention of his mother, though his usual stern expression returns just a second later. “Have a good evening.” he replies and leaves you behind at the library without saying another word.

-

There has not been a single sign of Tom when you board the train. Secretly you have hoped he would come and join you, though as soon as you leave the station you find yourself at peace with the fact you’d be going home alone for the break. The scenery shifts as you look out of the window, a thick layer of snow covering the otherwise green Scottish Highlands. You see deer scavenging for any grass they can find, scraping at the frozen ground with their hooves, the nearby hares’ white winter fur blending in perfectly with the scenery.

There aren’t too many students in your wagon, meaning you get to have a compartment all for yourself. Just like normally, your eyes grow tired, voices around you turning into a blur, and you fall asleep.

It wasn’t long until someone clearing their throat, taking a seat next to you woke you again. “So, what’s for dinner?” he asks, and you turn to face him.

Your face lights up at the sight of the person in front of you. “Tom! I am so happy you decided to come along!”

“I suppose it’s a welcome opportunity to connect with another renowned family.” he replies, and you nod, though slightly disappointed. “Of course.”

The rest of the journey, both of you don’t speak much. It’s a weird energy between you, something you don’t quite recognize. You are glad – as glad as you could be, knowing your family awaits you just outside – when the train arrives at your station. Both of you get off, and your mother’s and father’s faces light up at the sight of, not you, but Tom. They greet him first, ask him how the journey has been.

It’s only when you arrive at home that they ask you to help prepare dinner while Tom’s being shown around the manor. Even at dinner they won’t let him be and you wonder whether it was a good decision to bring him home with you.

In a moment of silence, your mother first looks at you, then at him. A smile forms on her face, something you only rarely get to see and you wonder what may be behind it.

“We are so glad you have decided to join us. Our daughter really couldn’t have chosen a better boyfriend.”

Oh.

You feel your heart drop in your chest at her words. They must have misunderstood the situation. Your cheeks heat up and you see Tom’s face changing into one of confusion.

Trying to save the evening, you quickly try to explain. “No it’s- we are not-“

“I am pleased to hear I am meeting your expectations.”

Tom’s words cut you off, and for a moment you aren’t sure whether you have heard him correctly. You blink a few times and shoot him a confused look, and he smiles at you.

Smiles.

You nod quickly, lowering your gaze onto the plate in front of you as you feel your cheeks heat up. For the rest of the evening, you don’t say much, even when you all gather around the Christmas tree. They ask questions about your relationship, which only Tom answers. He sits next to you and as the night progresses, his hand wanders up your lower back, snaking around your waist. You visibly shiver at his touch but decide to play along.

As soon as everyone has excused themselves to bed, you move away a little, escaping his grip. “Tom, I am sorry, they must have completely misunderstood.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t apologize.”

“No really I-“

“Sshhh.” he whispers, his face inching closer to yours then, capturing you in a tender kiss. His hand rests on the back of your head, softly pressing you against him. You inhale deeply as you break apart, your eyes trailing up from his lips to his eyes. It’s only the candles on the Christmas tree that shine a dim light on both of your forms, yet you are able to make out the changed look on his face.

“We shouldn’t.” you murmur, shaking your head.

“I see the way you look at me in the library. And you perfectly know why I want to keep meeting you. Yet both of us are too stubborn to admit it.”

Though you hate to admit it, he’s right.

“I just didn’t think you would like someone like me.”

Tom huffs. “You never acknowledge your worth, and I suspect that is what your parents have taught you. They don’t see your potential. They diminish your achievements. Why do you let them?” he asks, and you rest your head on his shoulder.

“I have stopped caring a long while ago. You know how it is.”

Tom doesn’t reply after that, though his hand continues running up and down your back soothingly. You stay like this for a while, until he slowly turns his head, facing you.

“I will show them what it means to appreciate you.”

His voice is low and controlled as his face is a mere inch away from yours, his breath warm on your skin.

“I will show you what it means to be appreciated.”

[perotovar]

my favorite things i've made 2024

tagged by @jolapeno @almostfoxglove @morallyinept @schnarfer @iamasaddie

@kedsandtubesocks @chronically-ghosted @moonlitbirdie and @arcanefox207 ♥

alright, y'all, i can't believe this year is ending soon 🥹 as we all know, this year has had a lot of ups and downs, but i can't help but feel like pedro did when he got his sag award, y'know??

i'm so grateful for all of you, and i can't wait to see what the new year brings. new p boys, new premieres/press tours?? sounds like heaven to me ♥

now, i've been tagged to toot my own horn a little bit and i guess i can, fine :P i don't normally like to, but i've been tagged by some wonderful, lovely friends to do so

below, will be both fics and gifs i've made this year that i'm pretty proud of!

before anything, i just wanna say, i'm super fucking proud of my Offering of Frith writing challenge. y'all did such an amazing job on every single one of the fics. i worked super hard on that and it was SO fun. i'd love to do another challenge in 2025, so i may do some brainstorming ✏️👀

fics:

bloody kisses -> alright, i'm gonna be real with y'all. this is my favorite thing i've ever written. okay, maybe not ever, but it's definitely tied with itbotn. i really love how quickly and easily this universe came together for me, and the little cult following that it has makes me so happy. they've almost got a little life of their own. i really, really wanna get back to them. i've got an idea that i'd love to get down, and now that a lot of the pressures of school are a little lessened, i might make it happen soon!

into the beat of the night ch 7 - "in my side" -> this chapter didn't get as much attention as the rest of the series, and that's okay, but i'm still proud of it for stepping out of my comfort zone. it was an area i was afraid would be a little taboo (since it covers deadnaming, misgendering, and past abusive relationships) so it's a little more serious than the series tends to be. i like what it means for river and frankie's relationship and it cements how they feel about each other, y'know?

into the beat of the night ch 8 - "deeper and deeper" -> and now for something completely different lol i like this chapter because it could've only happened after the experience with river's ex. they're completely comfortable with each other now and this was the last of frankie's walls coming down. i love them ♥

gifs:

the pedro pascal fandom moodboard that i made for the friendship exchange cat and han hosted ♥ i love how that turned out because it's the exact experience i have in this fandom lol

gideon @sp00kymulderr 's birthday present ♥ i adore our little disaster bi raccoon man and i love making these silly sets like this. i also love gideon so i'm glad they were the recipient for this!

silly pedro during the gladiator 2 press ♥ again, i love making these goofier sets. they're super fun to make and the end result is always really rewarding. and maybe i just like making myself laugh LMAO

i love you guys and i hope the new year treats you all well ♥

np tags: @for-a-longlongtime @schnarfer @iero @userparamore @djo

@miwtual @tomshiddles @gasolinerainbowpuddles @mrsmando @ghostofaboy

@missredherring @cavillscurls @beardedjoel @beefrobeefcal @quinnnfabrgay

@hellishjoel @max--phillips @oonajaeadira @wethairjoel @pedgito and literally anyone that wants to/sees this! i'm sorry if you already have done this or i missed you, it wasn't on purpose 🥲

[newkatzkafe2023]

Hi- may I request a single father Male Y/N- you can choose it's a daughter or is the son or both at the same time.

(He's a Top in relationship.)

With The monkey king reaction.

(By the way I hope you have a nice day or night don't forget to drink water too!!)

You have twins, a boy named Jun De & a girl named Mei Lian👦👧

(Lmk Wukong) You lost your mate many years ago. She died giving birth to your beautiful twins, but no, you can never blame them for what happened. Years later, your cubs accidentally met him when they found his shame temple. Your adorable twin cubs become clingy as they both would have endless energy and affection for Wukong. In the end, Wukong found these cute little fire crackers belonging to the whole Chinese New Year, that is you, you were so sexy that Wukong brain froze from your godly presence. You thank Wukong for taking care of your cubs and left him your phone number as you left, Wukong never felt the same after seeing you🥵.

(HIB Wukong) Single dad meets another single dad. It's quite an interesting setup. It all started when Luier and Silly Girl became very fast friends with Jun de and Mei Lian because the children had a lot in common. Wukong and genuinely on the other head, you have different mature views on each other, Wukong would occasionally blush as you compliment him on his face. You then asked him out as you were now truly interested in him, making Wukong purr and say yes with a deep blush😳.

(MKR Wukong) You both met when Wukong was freaking out about his missing son fruity, and you're trying to fine your own twin cubs as well. You both would have arguments here and there, but it's mostly fuel by worry you both love your children and would do anything to find them. Then, a few hours later, you both found your children by a toy stall. As you scolded the twins, Wukong had looked you over one more time. He then purred into your pecs, asking for a hot date with you and who were you to tell this cute little monkey no😏

(NR Wukong) He's biting his lips so hard upon seeing you at a motorcycle race one night, wasted no time, cat-calling you the whole night. You are so stern and firm with him to like oh yes daddy, scold me so good you should probably spank my bare ass infront of everyone 🤤 Wukong had almost blew an Gasket man he saw those back muscles of you wanting nothing more then to run his claws down your back. The final straw was learning you were a daddy of too, and what's hotter the a daddy of two, a single daddy of two. Wukong's boxers had totally disappeared at this point🫦

(Netflix Wukong) He tends to have big brother energy more than a dad enough, at least how your twins feel. Though you felt like a daddy to him as well, blushing as he would sit obediently as you brush and groom his fur. You would also come to cook 🍽 Making sure he gets his nutrients for the day, especially his protein. Finally, Wukong would play with the twins as you get into chaos and mischief while being home and cuddling you. Overall, you might have accidents turned Wukong into a little, so don't be all that surprise when the little monkey king addresses you as daddy😚☺️🤭.

(BMW Wukong) Ohhhhhhhhhh, hot single dad yes please🤤😏 Wukong immediately became quite infatuated with you. Your powerful ridiculously hot and Hunky and your good with kids, checking all the boxes, and he immediately wants you. If he wants your clothes on his bedroom floor, then he's gonna get it, especially when he can tease you about how domestic you both are together. With you both taking care of the twins, he's on his knees at this point.

(Destined one) He couldn't make eye contact with you at first, because if he dared too, he was going to need new pants. You're so firm, and loving, and sooooo hot the destined one wouldn't know what to do. You treated him so gently and kindly, but you both would get dangerously close, with your hands under his shirt and his hands down your pants. He also loves and cares for the twins very much and would cater to and spend time with them, while you would go out and work to get some food thanks to your support. The Destined one loved nothing more than to have you wreck him in bed, as a reward for being such a good daddy😘

FEEL FREE TO REBLOG

[dontcallpanic]

I love these points SO, So much! I was sat here going yes, yes, exactly! Yes!

Poor Derek not knowing how to get a house or a safe space - that really got me actually and I was wondering if it was also linked to not wanting to have too many good things. So if he has a house or a space he likes, when he inevitably looses it (in his mind) that feels so much worse than somewhere he doesn't care about so much being destroyed. Imagine getting to the point where he restored the Hale House and then it got torn down again... Ffffddd

Also Fuji your point about him having to take out Peter to protect Scott makes so much sense! But also oh god imagine having to be in that position where you have to kill your last remaining family member (from his perspective) to protect this guy that keeps getting you arrested and blaming you for literally everything! I was also wondering about it becoming one of those goals you get fixated on. Like yeah if I can only just get through X or if I can just get more powerful, if I can get stronger, if I can get better, then I can fix it all, then the problem will go away, then I can protect everyone.

Oh also - did you know there are more F's to the trauma response list - some of which I think also fit Derek. They're Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fuck, Friend and Flop. It's to take into account how we often have to play nice, or fuck or play along with perpetrators just to survive. To account for the fact that behaviour can externally look like one thing but internally the motivations are /extremely/ different. And again we don't get a choice in what our brain will select. It's just whatever it decides is our best chance of survival. And again it's definitely not going to look well adjusted, because it's not exactly a well adjusted situation. It's already deeply fucked up.

Oh and Derek having to show that he's useful just to be allowed to exist always breaks my heart. You put this SO Well. Being useful I would guess feels safe to him. You can also see him doing the needing people/pack but being so terrified of loosing them or hurting them that he pushes them away first pattern that you would totally do if you had been through all that. And then throws his own body and life around like some kind of wrecking ball because neither things are of high value in his mind.

Also your line about pleading with Stiles and Scott to stay alive by saying how useful he is totally broke me. You're spot on with that and it's just tragic.

I'm genuinely staggered by the lack of empathy and understanding but I was also thinking about what Pdxtrent said about him being one of the best representations of trauma in media (and I totally agree) and in a really awful way it kind of makes sense that he wouldn't get a lot of empathy or sympathy because real life survivors get treated this way all the time too. His response feels so True to life, it garners a true to life response from many people. Especially because he doesn't play the victim (and I love that for him) most people/survivors dont - actually! Again, you can't always tell motivations just by watching someone's outward behaviour - although you can obviously get a good idea, but there's also a whole internal world driving that behaviour that you can't see. I feel that this is where Derek is at - and at least past of the reason why he's deeply misunderstood.

There's also something there about the extreme expectations placed on young adults but that might be for another time!

Derek Hale has PTSD. I think people tend to forget that he wasn't an ass for the hell of it. He put up a rough asshole front to protect himself. He has the ugly symptoms of PTSD. Does it excuse some of his actions? No. But he does deserve some understanding and empathy.

No matter what age you see him as, he just isn't a 'grown ass man'. He had no idea how to take care of himself. He was still mentally that 15 year old who lost everything and was traumatized beyond reason.

Derek continuously kept being kicked while he was down. The poor guy couldn't catch a break. Like have a heart y'all. He was never a villain. An antagonist at one point, yes. Villain, no.

Trauma literally rewires your brain, and that poor kid got enough trauma before the first episode. Derek needed lots of therapy, he needed friends, and he needed a pack.

Derek could literally trust no one. Not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't. He tried his best with what he had, which wasn't much, and he fucked up at times. But he kept trying to do and be better.

[mantequillamcwhoremick]

I always believed that the reason why Kenny never tried to tell butters at all about his “curse” was never that he wouldn’t believe it in fact I think he would whole heartedly believe but because Butters would get like VERY paranoid & stressed about it and that Kenny doesn’t want to put any more baggage on him than butters is already dealing with

Well, the reason Kenny never tried to tell Butters about his curse first and foremost is because Matt and Trey haven't figured they should make this into a canon interaction yet, but when we talk about hypotheticals I think there's a lot to unpack.

Kenny and Butters aren't significantly close in their current canon age, so the reason Kenny might not have told him is because he just doesn't see the point, plus he doesn't really care about Butters and his opinion. Post COVID and "Going Native" have proven there's very much an insanely big potential for their dynamic, so it might be an interaction that could happen in the future sparked by a number of things in different ways.

Mostly, I think Kenny would tell Butters in a moment of weakness. This was the case in my fic Chaos Plan (sorry to bring Chaos Plan into this lmao but my writing is how I explore certain headcanons/interpretations of characters so bear with me), because I doubt that Kenny would usually try to convince anyone again, so as to not be disappointed when they don't believe him. The line "I knew there'd be no point in telling you guys" (s14's "Coon vs. Coon & Friends") is pretty much proof to me for this, as is Kenny's apathy towards his curse by the end of the trilogy. But I think it's necessary that Kenny and Butters are close friends for this to happen, because Kenny should want to confide in Butters in the first place.

The point you make about Butters being paranoid & anxious is a pretty interesting one, but I doubt this would be a reason Kenny wouldn't tell him. Butters may have a lot of baggage, but at the end of the day I think Kenny wouldn't see why BUTTERS would be anxious about KENNY'S curse.

Butters mirrors other people's emotions a lot when it comes to getting hyped or scared about something, (like how in "Poor and Stupid" he gets very "psyched" because Cartman is lmao), and Kenny isn't in any danger for Butters to be worried about him. He just has a pretty shitty situation going on that won't go away, and Kenny would treat it as such. All that Kenny needs here would be emotional support & someone who listens to & believes him, and I think Butters would recognize that.

Think of how Butters comforted him in "Major Boobage" when Kenny was addicted to cheesing. Butters definitely has the stuff to be an emotional crutch when he sees someone in distress, like in "A Boy and a Priest" or "Worldwide Privacy Tour" when he reaches out to Kyle after he sees him upset.

He's much less anxious and paranoid than people give him credit for, because most of his panicky moments are usually sparked deliberately by Cartman or his parents with unnecessarily scary threats of consequences that he's sadly learned to believe to be true. But Butters is actually awesome at emotional support, without letting the other person's problems get to him. He's more so than a rational problem-solver, which is where Kyle's strength lies, and is the reason Kyle isn't the person Kenny can confide in for this particular problem.

Butters, however, would be perfect. Kenny's problem doesn't need solutions, he needs someone to listen to him, believe him and maybe give him a hug so he can cry a little (a lot). And we've seen Butters is an incredibly emotionally intelligent guy, especially in the episodes "Raisins" and "Butterballs".

For all these reasons, I highly doubt Butters would get paranoid and stressed over Kenny's curse. Especially because he'd recognize there's no use in stressing about it, and I think he'd know right off the bat what Kenny actually needs.

Now, allow me to introduce a different hypothetical where your theory could definitely hold truth; another fic wip I have (sorry) where Kenny loses his immortality and develops a panic disorder. The premise is that Kenny can't stop seeing possible death causes anywhere he goes, and with his immortality gone, he's in constant fear that he's always on the verge of death.

(screenshot from season 3's "Tweek vs. Craig")

In this particular fic, Kenny and Butters are already together, but Kenny's never told him about his curse, or that he's lost his immortality. So when Kenny starts panicking about all the ways he thinks he could die, Butters mirrors this fear and unknowingly makes everything worse for Kenny, because he's accidentally reinforcing Kenny's irrational fears.

What I'm saying is; Kenny could very well THINK Butters would be stressed and paranoid if he knew about Kenny's curse, based on reactions Kenny's seen Butters have whenever Kenny is scared about a possible death cause. He could accidentally give Butters fears that Butters didn't have before because, again, Butters MIRRORS these kinds of emotions when someone convinces him it's rational/threatens a consequence that is supposed to inspire fear.

In these kinds of scenarios, your theory could very well hold truth. I think it's an interesting darker side to Kenny and Butters' possible dynamic, and I'm happy you pointed it out. I'm also excited to get that fic I mentioned out someday and hopefully spark more conversation about Kenny's possible anxiety issues originating from his curse >:)

[compassionatereminders]

mostly the thing that made me fall out with the system of psychiatry is just. how rigid it is and how unwilling to bend to the patient's individual needs, that if a treatment doesnt work its implied the patient didnt try hard enough to engage as opposed to....every single person is different and just because one treatment works for the majority of patients with that illness, the illness does not make all those people the same.

as well as that i also have issues with how people in the psych system trust their colleagues. i was psychologically abused by my psychiatrist for two years which consisted of him removing any medications, lying to me and discharging me for punishments. i tried to kill myself twice under him and his treatment of me caused that. he still works at the outpatients i attend bc who is going to believe a psychotic patient over a psychiatrist (which is another thing about the system that psychotic patients raising any concern is seen as delusion). and not only that but all his coworkers think hes a great guy. so how am i meant to get treatment for the damage he did to me when all of his colleagues are more inclined to try to protect their coworker than face the fact he is Abusive and Negligent to patients with personality disorders. How am I meant to get treatment for that trauma when all the system wants to do is protect itself first?

And that's not even bringing up how hard it is to be any kind of minority in psychiatric care. I've known Deaf people left on units without access to interpreters, essentially themselves from family, friends and anyone who speaks their fucking language, unable to defend themselves or even understand what doctors are telling them. As a trans person I have to go through my transition history every appointment. For what? and when transphobic legislation gets passed and I start thinking abt how i dont want to live in this world it is exhausting to phone a hotline knowing i will have to explain this whole thing to someone who doesnt know/care. and that black people are restrained, sectioned, diagnosed with schizophrenia and labelled aggressive at exceedingly high rates compared to white people. AND THEN the fact that Being a minority at all has negative effects on your mental health but psychiatry often seems to fucking treat mental illness like its exactly the same in everyone and will not sit down with minorities and hear them out on their struggles.

my like tldr is psychiatry is a system now and it refuses to engage with patients on an individual level it doesnt ask patients what they want and instead bases things off "reccommended treatments" which involve invasive interventions for certain diagnoses that patients dont get a choice in. and people are content to just have psych patients sectioned and isolated and they dont wanna think about the fact their human rights get taken away for indefinite amounts of time for WHAT?

it frustrates me endlessly. i dont want to be this ill but the system wont help.

Well said. I really hate how psych professionals will so often see a recommended treatment not working or making things worse and treat this as proof that the patient isn't trying hard enough instead of going "hey maybe this approach just isn't right for this person"

[cakepoppresent]

Shareholders are Worse When Idle

Vaghun just wants the best for his Little Lady~

Transcript under the cut~

[Vaghun]: Its nice running into you here Princess.

[Veronica]: You stalking me now Leary?

[Vaghun]: Not at all. Just a coincidence.

[Veronica]: No such thing as coincidences when it comes to you. You just happened to be at Xavier's school? For what?

[Vaghun]: The Leary's are alumni of the school, I’m here on behalf of my father for a meeting. Seeing you is just a nice treat

[Veronica]: Whatever.

[Veronica]: Is that right? Thats weird since I don’t actually want to speak with you. You can leave~

[Vaghun]: It’s good that I caught you here. I’ve been meaning to speak to you

[Vaghun]: It’s important Princess. Has to do with you working with your father

[Veronica]: Excuse me?

[Vaghun]: I’ve been hearing rumours you’re having issues gaining the trust of the shareholders

[Veronica]: It’s just rumors. I’m doing just fine, nothing to worry about

[Vaghun]: Of course not Princess but shareholders can be vicious and I’m worried for you.

[Veronica]: “Worried for me?” Get over yourself. My work ethic and results speak for itself. The shareholders are just old losers with nothing to do

[Veronica]: Wait...What the hell are you saying?

[Vaghun]: Its not just about work ethic. They wanna know if you have any pull with other influential families in San My. And I’ve heard that’s not the case and that’s why they’re worried. Nothing good comes from worried shareholders

[Vaghun]: I’m saying you have no backing and they think you’re weak. Your father owning the company isn’t enough, especially if you're being groomed to take over

[Veronica]: Just stop talking for a second. Just shut up. Where are you hearing all of this? You know more about my company than I do? How?

[Vaghun]: The perks of being a Leary. We have eyes everywhere

[Veronica]: Don’t piss me off right now. You sound like a fucking creep

[Vaghun]: I’m just worried for you Princess. Its better that you know and be prepared

[Vaghun]: I don’t want to scare you Princess but I don’t want you to be blindsided if they try to pull the rough from underneath your feet

[Veronica]: Why hasn’t my dad said anything to me. I’m just supposed to take your word for it?

[Vaghun]: My sources are a bit different than your fathers but I'm sure he’s already aware

[Veronica]: I need to talk to my Dad about this

[Vaghun]: Let me help you Princess. This is something I specialize in

[Veronica]: God...This is the worst. Let me thi-

[Xavier]: Vaghun!!! I missed you so much!!

[Vaghun]: Little Dude! You’re looking much bigger now. What are they feeding you?

[Xavier]: Vaghun!!! I missed you so much!!

[Vaghun]: Little Dude! You’re looking much bigger now. What are they feeding you?

[Xavier]: Steak! Are you here with Veronica!? Can we all go out and eat?!

[Vaghun]: Unfortunately not Little Dude. I have a meeting with the school

[Xavier]: Awh...That’s so boring

[Xavier]: How long is your meeting? We can wait! Right V?! We’re just going home! Lets go eat!! Then to the aracade!!

[Veronica]: Absolutely not. You’re forgetting you’re grounded, I’m taking your ass right back home!

[Vaghun]: Grounded? You rob a bank or something?

[Xavier]: Nothing! I took my friends to have fun! There’s no crime in that

[Veronica]: Incorrect. Skipping your tutor lessons and spending over $500 at an arcade isn’t “nothing”

[Vaghun]: Can’t get you outta this one but once you're free I can take you out. With your sister's permission of course

[Veronica]: Hmm...I’ll think about it

[Xavier]: Ughhhh We don’t even have to tell Mom or Dad! Lets just go out and eat!

[Veronica]: No. Accept your punishment's and get over it

[Vaghun]: Don’t worry Little Dude. I’ll see you soon

[Veronica]: You can book an appointment with my secretory if you wanna speak with me Leary

[Vaghun]: We have more to talk about Princess. I just want to help

[Vaghun]: I can do that. See you soon Gorgeous

[Veronica]: Whatever

[subwhizz]

Can you write a short story featuring the ship Lou x Ox please? Maybe a Christmas special?

𝔸ℕ 𝕆𝔽𝔽𝕀ℂ𝔼 ℂℍℝ𝕀𝕊𝕋𝕄𝔸𝕊 𝔼𝕊ℙ𝔼ℂ𝕀𝔸𝕃 𝔸𝕌🎅🎁

So a year ago (same time you ask me this-damn), I WAS developing a Christmas story based on Secret santa game, but between studies and burnouts, I never completed it until now that I´ve revived!!

So very happy to finally show you this silly little AU!! that resulted from my coping mechanism while working in a company underpaid, overwork and under very questionable labor practices!!

—¡INSPIRATION WORKINGS ITS WAY FROM TRAUMA AGAIN YEIH! :D 

STORY IN: Wattpad (for ESP readers) and AO3 (for ENG READERS)

In the rush, i forgot the spy girls' designs but they´re also here-working as secretaries for different departments and executives.

(Also Huge thing: Michael is into bitcoins and always trying to get people into pyramids schemes. Just to give him personality here-)

(Also Mandy being Lou´s boss is something I love and I try to put that whenever I can-)

—Now with the plotline:

CONTEXT: A silly game at the office puts Lou in a tense situation, as his work priorities clash with the mystery surrounding his secret Santa, who seems to know more about him than they should....

Or When Ox reunites with his childhood friend at his new job, he finds out how hostile he's grown, and his efforts to get closer worsen when he learns that the other doesn't even recognize him. To finally reunite with him, he will surprise him by playing the Secret Santa game!! Unaware of the mayhem his gifts would bring to a company that's hungry for drama, gossip, and especially money

This was the last AU idea i have from this fandom, after this one my soul is finally free🕊️🕊️🕊️ From the short stories XD Still missing the long-ever lasting LEP fic- bUT ANYWAY-

Enjoy your holidays and hope life is treating you well!!

Merry Christmas❤️❤️❤️

[liaspenandpaper]

The Dame for the Gentlemen in Distress 

Your life begins to spiral down when you decided to accept the hands of your childhood friend-turned pirate who invited you to be part of his crew while the said crew set the town in fire.

You haven't seen Seonghwa in years after him leaving their village with the hope of being a marine. Even if you were opposed to it, you thought that you have no rights to stop your friend from achieving his dream.

TW: This story contains themes of abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual), graphic violence, threats of harm, trauma, exploitation, and bullying. Reader discretion is advised.

This is purely fiction and no means represents Ateez’s members in real life.

Lia's Note: English is not my first language, so this might contain grammatical errors. Please bare with me. Love lots.

In front of you is the biggest ship you had ever laced your eyes upon. The ship has this ominous presence that makes a normal person like you, uneasy.

ATEEZ

Your eyes widened from the recognition of the name. Ateez is the new yet most fearful pirate crew that sails in the vast ocean. You couldn't believe that Seonghwa would become part of this deadly crew and just forget his dreams of being a general.

As you stepped your foot on the deck, you contemplate if you would just jump off from the ship, the moment you saw the rest of the crew members. They were all bloody, you’re not sure if those bloods were theirs or not (you’re pretty sure it's not).

"Now, what do we have here? I guess you've picked some stray, my dear," a short man whose hair was split into two shades, the other part black and the other white said with scrutinizing eyes in your direction. You found the nickname a bit amusing, but shrugged your curiosity away, since it not your place to pry.

"She's the one I've been telling you about, Joong. She's Y/N, my friend," you looked at Seonghwa as he introduced you with so much excitement to his crew hoping they would greet you warmly, but as you looked backed at them, they only stared at you with contempt, which is unfortunately haven't noticed by Seonghwa. You immediately knew that your presence is not welcome.

"Joong, I asked of you. She has nowhere to go. I just can't leave her alone. I beg you to let her come with us," Seonghwa held the man whom he called "Joong". You can see the shift of his expression as he is now looking at Seonghwa. Joong's expression now held some fondness to it, so different from the way he looked at you.

"Of course, my dear. Your little friend can stay, but I expect her to not just become a mouth to be fed," he answered and emphasized the last part of his words.

"She can stay as long as she's not useless or I'll kill her and feed her to the sharks."

You gulped as you interpret his words. He must be the captain, you concluded, because as all of them are scary and intimidating, this little guy exceeds a more authoritative vibes than the others.

"Thank you, Captain!" Seonghwa looked at your direction with so much joy, you reluctantly offered a smile as you saw the other's sour mood.

Damn this will be difficult. You thought.

🥀

"Hey, you clean the dishes,"

You sighed. It's been a week since you boarded Twilight, Ateez's ship, and you never stop regretting coming along with Seonghwa.

It's been a week and the rest of the crew never treated you like a human being, rather a monkey whom they can just order around. You don’t have any complaints on helping around the ship, instead you like it. You don’t want to become a burden to the crew, but them treating you like equal would be very much appreciated.

"Are you even listening to me?" Wooyoung snapped his fingers at your face and it seemed to do the job as you muttered an apology and started to clean the hell of a mess in the kitchen.

"Tsk. Can't even do her job right," you heard Wooyoung said, and it made your heart sank a little bit.

You believed that you haven’t been a freeloader in the ship, you followed every task they've assigned to you. You wiped every grime on the areas of the ship that has accumulated for years that Seonghwa could not clean because of the hectic schedule he has. You cooked them meals and put all your knowledge when you were working as a cook to a pub since you were twelve. However, those weren't appreciated by the crew except Seonghwa of course. They always have a say, they didn't do it or say anything in front of Seonghwa, but they do it behind his back. You’re just glad you have the patience and mindset of your father, because your nature to say anything without thinking placed you to difficult situations before and you don’t want that to happen right now, so you try your best to shut your mouth.

As you were now washing the dirty dishes someone entered the kitchen. You checked who it was and it was Hongjoong.

"Making yourself quite useful, huh?" Hongjoong gave you a smirk, a smirk so belittling it triggers the sleeping irritation inside you. Among the crew members, you find Hongjoong the most insufferable. As you learned all of their names, associate them by their hair colors, you also learn that Hongjoong loves Seonghwa, not just a friend but more beyond that and is not shy of displaying his jealousy after you and Seonghwa interacted. Not just Hongjoong actually, but the entire crew is jealous every time Seonghwa talks to you.

It's not that uncommon to have multiple partners, but it shocked you a little that Seonghwa has seven lovers. All of them so possessive they could bite your head off of if they want.

You didn't reply to Hongjoong, since you don’t know what to say. He approached you in the sink and leaned on the counter, staring at you menacingly.

"I swear if you’re doing this or anything to seduce, my Seonghwa, I will not hesitate to throw you off from this ship," His voice quiet but it didn't fail to make you shiver. What he said is absurd and nonsense, but you were afraid that if he became blinded by jealousy, he will really do it with no hesitation.

"I am not interested in Seonghwa, Captain. He is my friend whom helped me find a place to belong to. I owe him my life, so I am doing my best to not be a burden to his crew and it didn’t even graze my mind to seduce him, that would be weird," you calmly said, proud of yourself of not sounding too scared of him.

"Besides, Seonghwa is too in love to all of you to bat eye to another person. He already has 7 lovers that he could pin on, so why get jealous?" as much as you don’t want to ran your mouth carelessly, unfortunately your mouth was faster than your brain this time.

Hongjoong’s expression grimaced and you knew you’re screwed. Hongjoong stepped closer to you, so dangerously close and grabbed your arm tightly. You’re pretty sure it will leave an awful bruise later.

"You're a clueless little mouse, aren't you? Don't speak to me like you are a part of the crew, and remember your place. Better keep your distance to Seonghwa or I'll kill you," he lets go of you and left the kitchen, banging the door behind him.

"Possessive freaks," You muttered under her breath as she continued her task.

🥀

You heeded Hongjoong's warning-slash-threat. You kept your distance to Seonghwa, muttering an excuse every time he speaks to you. Of course, your friend wasn't an idiot. Seonghwa is not oblivious to his crewmate’s behavior towards his friend. He often scolds them every time they treated you badly, but one thing Seonghwa doesn't know, is that the more he scolded them, the brewing hatred towards her keeps boiling near its highest point.

It was a month later when they finally can't handle their jealousy anymore. They collectively didn't know why they just can't ignore you. It's not like you were seducing Seonghwa as what they have been saying, it just that your presence was an abnormality, now they don't know how to act normally.

They're not sure if it was amusement that they've been feeling from the start, masking it with jealousy to hide the fascination to finally meet their lover's friend that he told them about. They knew you are important to Seonghwa, that even after all these years he held you dear in his heart. But they can't help to act harshly towards you, seeing Seonghwa's eyes lit every time you’re around and they were threatened of you.

Questions that they can't answer starts to float around their head and it hunts them, the uncertainty of what the future holds hunts them. However, their not-so-ill feelings towards you might compromise your safety.

“Hongjoong, it’s dangerous to let her come with us! She doesn’t even know how t—” Seonghwa couldn’t finish his words as he was anxiously pacing around Hongjoong’s quarter.

“Then she should start to learn how to, right? It’s not that some of us trained to fight either, we learned as we fight,” it was Yunho.

“You don’t understand, I’m not saying she couldn’t f——” Seonghwa was cut off again when Wooyoung interrupted.

“What do we don’t understand, hyung? If you want her to stay with us then she should also fight right? We only have each other, she can at least learn how to defend herself, since I won’t,” Wooyoung bitterly said.

You are just listening from the corner of the room, and you can’t help yourself, but to say something, “I can go,” you interrupted, you can’t let the crew fight over trivial things, so you decided to intervene a little.

“I can fight. I can defend myself. Let me go with you,” you firmly said to them, with your resolve and determination not once wavered. Seonghwa sighed in defeat, thinking his crewmates will regret letting you go with them.

“That’s the spirit! Who knows if you proved yourself enough, I could consider you as a crew of Ateez?” you knew Hongjoong isn’t being sincere, but you can’t just pass this opportunity to prove yourself more. That you deserve to be a part of Ateez.

🥀

Jongho handed you a sword, and you gladly received it.

“Thank you, Jongho.”

He didn’t reply, as you expected, but the lack of words from the guy didn’t affect your mood at all. Jongho wasn’t a talker, as you’ve observed. He prefers to listen and only engage to more important discussion, never much on casual banters.

You continued to stare at the weapon on your hand. The sword was well kept, and you’re thankful that it is a sword that fits you like a glove. Just the right size and weight for you.

Their mission was to infiltrate a banquet held by a corrupt lord of an island, who’s abusing his power and authority to rule over the indigenous and original settlers of the island. And you learned again that Ateez’s nature is to steal from those who steal.

For the government and for the normal folks, Ateez’s means of doing things are considered immoral, illegal, and wrong at every angle, but to those people whom they’ve helped, they are seen as heroes, a light who brings hope.

“Y/N you don’t have to do this,” Seonghwa hasn’t stopped pleading you to change your mind, but his pleading only went to deaf ears.

“I’m not the same fifteen-year-old girl you knew, Seonghwa. I too have shared fair number of moments where I have to defend myself, if I couldn’t, I would never be here in front of you,” you said firmly. It is indeed true, from the years when Seonghwa was absent from your life, things went haywire, and it forced you to do things in order to survive. There were no gray areas, it’s either kill or to be killed, what you mean is that you could either be sold off to men and be their sex slaves or kill those men.

“I don’t mean that, you know? I know you can fight, Y/N. I would even bet my life you can take me on a fight and win fairly. It is not you I’m worried at, you know what I mean right?”

The both of you shared a knowing look. Shaking your head, you told him, “Don’t worry, Hwa. I won’t let loose,” you promised.

Oh, boy you speak too soon.

🥀

“SOMEBODY STOP HER!” Mingi shouted as he fights someone. His pleas fell into deaf ears as you continued to bash the head of the guy who’s groping a young girl earlier. He is the last guy you’ve beaten up, so you make sure you did a number on him.

When the nine of you arrived in the banquet, it was full of old men and young children. The scene that you’ve arrived with was so disgusting it almost made you throw up all of the food you ate earlier.

These men were feasting to these children, making them sit in their laps, touching their bodies, kissing them in areas that old men shouldn’t lay their hands on. Pictures flashed in your minds, the scenes where you rescued young children from the hands of those rich filthy bastards whose past time are getting off watching children get mauled by other men. It made you sick to the stomach, seeing the traumatized faces of those children that mirrors the looks on the children here on the island.

The disgust suddenly turns into anger and the moment your hand touches your sword, you let your instinct took over your body until you were snapped from your trance when you hear voices calling out your name.

“FUCK! SHE’S FUCKING INSANE! Y/N! DON’T CRUSH HIS HEAD!” Hongjoong yelled in a distance, then you see yourself straddling a bloody man with a bloodied wine bottle in your hand. You weren’t satisfied enough since the man is still conscious, you’ve done this a lot to know when he’s dying, but he’s far from it, so you continued pounding the bottle to his head.

“JONGHO, RESTRAIN HER!” Jongho kicked the man he was fighting and ran towards you. You felt him pry you away from the poor guy you’ve fixated on.

“Y/N that’s enough, you’ll end up killing him.”

You straightened yourself and glanced around. Everything’s a mess, but the man’s face below you is messier. “Crap, are we not supposed to kill any?” you asked Jongho with genuine concern, “I didn’t kill any, right?” you added. Of course, you knew you didn’t, you just asked for courtesy.

Jongho sighed before answering, “Yes, we’re not supposed to kill anyone, Y/N, and fortunately you didn’t kill anyone from your savagery earlier,” he handed you a cloth that seemed to be a handkerchief.

You hesitantly accepted it, but nevertheless you used it to wiped your face as per Jongho pointed out, “You look like you’ve been in a blood rain, wipe your face, can you?” he said. You smiled from the gesture and realized that this has been the longest he’s spoken to you.

“You’re crazy, I like it,” he said to you before walking towards the others. You feel the pride swelling in your heart. Hearing Jongho somewhat acknowledging you was very rewarding, so you ran and catch up to him as you two reached where the rest of the crew was.

“Y/N! What did I say about losing control? I knew bringing you here was a terrible idea,” The joy you felt earlier suddenly switched. Seonghwa’s look of disappointment to you reminded you of the past where he is always scolding you from being too much.

“Yeah, and thanks to her we almost compromised our mission,” San said in a huff, and you see him rolling his eyes to you. Guilt starts to eat you as you see their annoyed and disappointed faces, except Jongho who said, “Guys, she didn’t compromise the mission, if not for her we wouldn’t subjugated Lord Kwon,” he pointed out the man whom you left just earlier.

“She single-handedly fought with Kwon’s guard, she deserved to be praised, is she not?” Jongho added.

Ateez’s dynamic never seems to amaze you, as you see how Jongho’s words affect the others. He may be the youngest in Ateez, but his words still held authority. All of them values each other’s opinion and that is one of their traits that you admire and one of the reasons you learned to respect them. Yes, Hongjoong is their captain, but the rest have their rights to voice their suggestions and concern.

“Seonghwa, I think you might have forgotten to mention that our little mouse here is a trained fighter, and not just your damsel in distress,”

“She wasn’t trained, Joong, she has to, or she would have ended up like the children we’re rescuing from, years ago.”

[mosneakers]

My 𝐓𝐨𝐩 24 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬 from 2024🎉

Thank you to the absolute legend @kari-sims for tagging me, your whole post was a magical treat ♥

-> tagging @ravingsockmonkey @lilamausmaus @beebeesiims @bananzerssims @echoweaver @simgnomeful @cinamun @salemssimblr @nova-kim @myopiccc @surely-sims @pixelsinmyveins @pixelshary and anyone else seeing this, don't let the the confines of tags stop you from joining in on the fun ^.^

obvs no pressure to participate, just for fun <33

January

From this chapter from Many Moons Ago- Erik and Agnes Darling 🥺

February

Oh god, it has to be this one. You know the one. My heart sinks seeing it. 😭

March

I really love all the shots from this post— Erwin's close call. I'm very proud of how they turned out, despite how his fate turned out 😥

April

This is when we were introduced to Mackenzie and his very short and very... brutal arc, but it was fun while it lasted. I also loved building a vampiric office lol

May-July

VOID August

Ahhh, the Salient Recollection documentary. By this point I had finally gotten access to a working computer and my creative juices could no longer be contained. It was time for the season 10 finale, and we were going out with a baaaang 😫 This post introduces two new characters interviewing Tycho as he reveals his alien identity in the documentary. September

Hopefully this isn't too much of a spoiler right? Lol hoping everyone is all caught up at this point 😄 But seriously this entire scene was so much work. Working with Coraleye's dress and hair alone, plus trying to capture movement during action shots like this? took hours to edit— plus multiple different versions of the same shot all merged together to get what we see here. It was really important that I captured the fear and desperation and also drama! of the moment though

Also another favorite of mine personally, is this one from this post! By this point I had made probably a million individual glove/suit wrinkles, tears, and hair strands in these edits alone and I think this edit reflects that lol— I also love the lighting and the eeriness of the glow from the TV static behind them, and the desperation and frustration they're both feeling, definitely one of my favorites probably of the year.

October

Oh geez lol October is always a big year for me creatively, so expect a bit more than just one :p

This whole post was so hearbreaking to make for me. Coraleye and Tycho (while incredibly toxic and problematic at times) were my favorite couple I've ever written, and breaking them up was so incredibly painful 😢 I loved how all these shots came out and I'm super proud of them. Take note of how Tatiana's winning the election was foreshadowed in that last shot 👀

Somewhat separately (although stay tuned for season 11, js 👀) from the main story, there's no denying this gifset was undoubtedly my most popular post. I've been in a liminal spaces kick for months now and needed to bring that to my safe space, and let's be honest, the most liminal space of all- the sims!

November

In the finale of season 10, the very last post- Coraleye recounts her mental breakdown. The flashback of cutting her hair at her bathroom sink, tear stained cheeks, bloodshot eyes, and then lying on the ground mourning her friend in front of the house the whole group used to room together at in Britechester—I felt—was pretty powerful. Then the juxtaposition of her months later, seemingly bounced back to her regular flirtatious self while interacting this filmmaker, clearly having him wrapped around her finger, I found quite eerie but also just compelling. Another very proud moment for me. I genuinely just love writing and exploring this character.

December

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ A render I made to show off some cc- but for those who get it, get it.

[lewdcaxycatalogue]

I get that different sexualities mean you'll find some people and things attractive and some not.

But don't use your sexuality as an excuse to be an asshole.

I'm a trans woman. I attend a virtual reality club night in vrchat every other week.

This club night I attend is NSFW. Explicitly so. Nude avatars with various genitalia.

I use a female avatar, with all the bells and whistles that come with that.

Things I have seen at this club during these NSFW nights (ALL anthro btw, unless otherwise specified, it's a Furry club):

A 3ft tall lion with balls bigger than his head and a sheath the size of his pinky, that grows into a cock bigger than he is

A wolf standing at 9ft tall, with a dick half that length, and balls the size of beach balls, with muscles to make Broly jealous.

An anime e-boy in full latex except for his dick which is out and VERY proud

A dog giving head to a coyote in thigh highs on the dance floor

Two rexouiums talking about irl clubs they've gone to, while fucking both ends of a dragon in one of the dance cages above the DJ booth

A truth or dare game that devolved into a massive orgy between four rexouiums, two hobkins, a pair of twins in dog avatars, and a taidum

Do you know what else I've seen at these club nights?

A cishet female being told "No thanks, vag is gross" by a dragon, who then turned around and went to a private room to have sex with the DJ who just got done playing...who is openly afab (enby, no operation desired, according to the chats I've had with them)

A transfem in a group of six people being ignored during a big group cuddle session (nothing lewd, literally just honest cuddles). Watched them try to get in on it several times (after being INVITED to come chill with the group) and each time, the others would adjust so that they weren't touching them.

I myself, a transfem, rarely get attention from folks at these events (partly my fault, I don't reach out), but on the rare event that I did once, a male avatar walked up to me (I discovered later from the club owner, a friend of theirs, that he was transmasc) and asked me if I wanted to go to a private room. I said I would think about it, and as soon as he heard my voice he said "Oh, nevermind, I thought you were a girl."

And those are just the most egregious cases of it. The club is mostly attended by amabs, who treat afabs like they're gross, and back off as soon as they learn you're transfem, if you are amab.

And even the transmascs get hesitant or turn you down if you're not cisgender.

It's not a universal experience, if it was then I wouldn't go to the club anymore.

But it fucking HURTS to hit it off with someone, ask if they want to have a little fun, and then be rejected because "Oh, no thanks, you're trans, I don't fuck trans", or see someone else be turned down because "ew vagina gross"

I don't CARE what your sexuality is; be fucking respectful about it, and if someone isn't what you expected, but they made ZERO EFFORT to hide it from you, and in fact PUT IN EFFORT to make it known, and you got upset because you were too busy thinking "oh yeah gonna fuck my type" and they aren't?

And then you say something as rude as "Oh, I thought you were a girl" to someone in a female avatar, with a transgender pride pin on her shirt, and a literal badge that says "she/her" on it, just because she's amab and has a masculine voice? Or look an afab in the eyes and say "Oh I don't fuck vag, vag is gross" and then GO AND FUCK VAG IMMEDIATELY after saying that?

Burn. In. Hell.

You can turn someone down and adhere to your sexuality without being a piece of shit about it.

[ditzydarci]

BODYGUARD

warnings: use of y/n, alcohol use.

Rafe Cameron wasn’t the kind of man who settled down. Known for his wild streak, his devil-may-care grin, and a reputation that preceded him in Kildare County, he lived his life like a lone wolf—untamed and unbothered. But when his ranch work was done, and the sun dipped low behind the hills, you could always find him at the Last Call Saloon, a whiskey in hand and mischief in his eyes.

Tonight was no different.

Or so he thought.

Rafe had barely taken his usual spot at the bar when the buzz around the room reached him. Whispers of excitement floated through the air, and he noticed the way heads were turning toward the small stage in the corner. That’s when he saw her.

She wasn’t just another pretty face. No, she was the face.

The one that had been plastered on billboards, album covers, and gossip rags all over the South. Y/N, the Texas-born country singer who had taken Nashville by storm. What the hell was she doing in a placelike this?

His question was soon answered.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the bartender called, raising a beer to the room, “we’ve got a real treat for you tonight. Please welcome the one and only Y/N!”

The crowd erupted, and she stepped onto a table instead of the stage, her boots clunking against the wood as she strummed her guitar.

Rafe couldn’t take his eyes off her.

She was younger than him, too young, if you asked anyone with a lick of sense. But something about her captivated him. Her voice was a blend of honey and heartbreak, her lyrics raw and honest, carrying the weight of someone who had lived through more than she let on.

She locked eyes with him mid-song, and it was like the rest of the bar disappeared. For a split second, she faltered, her fingers slipping slightly on the strings, but she recovered quickly, her smile curving into something that could only be described as trouble.

When the set ended, Rafe thought about leaving. He didn’t need the temptation, and he sure as hell didn’t need to get involved with someone like her. But he stayed, and when she made her way to the bar, he was waiting.

“You always put on a show like that?” he asked, tipping his hat as she approached.

She smirked, resting her guitar against the bar. “Only when the mood strikes. You enjoy it?”

“Let’s just say you’ve got my attention,” he said, his tone laced with a playful edge.

“Is that so?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “And here I thought cowboys were supposed to be quiet types.”

“Depends on the cowboy,” he replied, his grin widening.

Their banter was easy, but as the minutes passed, Rafe noticed something. She kept glancing over her shoulder, her fingers drumming nervously against her glass. Finally, he leaned closer, lowering his voice.

“You looking for someone, or trying to avoid them?”

Her smile faltered, just for a second. “Little of both,” she admitted.

Before he could press further, the bar door swung open, and a man stepped inside. He was tall, broad, and carrying an air of authority that made the room quiet down. Rafe noticed the way her shoulders tensed immediately.

“Friend of yours?” he asked, his voice low.

“Not exactly,” she muttered.

The man’s eyes swept the room, landing on her, and a grin spread across his face—one that made Rafe’s blood run cold. He didn’t know what the story was, but he didn’t like the way the guy was looking at her.

Rafe straightened, stepping just slightly in front of her. “You want me to handle this?”

She looked at him, surprised, then smirked. “You offering to be my bodyguard, cowboy?”

He shrugged, his voice calm but firm. “If you need one.”

The man started toward them, and before Rafe could say another word, she grabbed his arm.

“Alright, bodyguard,” she said, her eyes sparkling with a mix of nerves and amusement, “let’s see what you’ve got.”

What Rafe didn’t know was that stepping in tonight would be the start of something he wasn’t prepared for. He’d protected her in that moment, but in the weeks to come, he’d find himself guarding more than just her safety, he’d be guarding his heart, too.

[astro-pioneer]

lucky slot bonus!

old memories are interesting. especially when they involve ipc members and their relationships with one another. how does it actually look? 『aventurine』

little note: this was written at two separate times!! i started it before the penacony ending came out and finished it now, so apologies if it's confusing!!

He's experienced emo dials before. This one, however, was different. The person who owned this emoscape was not here anymore yet there Caelus was, wandering a casino after picking up a worn bracelet. It was very different from the others - he should not be in Aventurine's memories. ("Who's he looking for?") He watched as the blond kept on glancing around while at the blackjack table, two drinks barely touched at the empty seat next to him.

The smell of lilies passed by Caelus's spectating form, a figure dressed equally as flamboyantly to his blond acquaintance (could he be labelled a friend?) calmly strolling past him and slotting themselves into the unoccupied seat. Getting a better look, he realized that they had something similar for everything they wore. The earring was the biggest giveaway, but there were also a few matching bracelets and rings. ("They even have matching shoe soles...") The newcomer didn't play and instead stirred the drink closer to them while admiring Aventurine.

"Are you joining, babe?" Aventurine's hand immediately found a place on their leg, thumb casually rubbing against the kneecap. However, neither of them motioned to the dealer for the newcomer to be included. ("This memory seems old. Did this person come with Aventurine to Penacony?")

They twirled a cigarette holder as the drinks were finally touched, the one on the right being slid closer to the blond while the other was picked up. "Not today, my darling. I'm content with just watching for now." Luckily, this memory faded out before Caelus could continue watching the same players rage at both Aventurine and the dealer.

The next memory was in an office. Caelus had to be careful to not somehow slip on the multiple sketches and schematics that seemed to have been pushed from the desk. The door was cracked in a way that seemed intentional. "How many times do I have to tell you!? All your designs are way out of the budget and skills of the current workers! Are you that dense to not understand that?" An older man with an unclear face was yelling at the person Aventurine was previously seen in the last memory. ("I don't see him anywhere. Is he a part of this?")

The cigarette holder was discarded on the table, the cigarette still burning. The owner of it scoffed, crossing their arms over their chest. They looked a lot better - and healthier - in the previous memory. "This is the IPC, contractor. Are you telling me that throughout the cosmos there's not even one person skilled enough to do my designs? And, if you actually paid attention, you'll notice that none of them were actually above the budget that has been discussed previously. The higher ups also deemed it fitting to increase it if need be. But, since I haven't seen you at a single client meeting after the first one, you obviously wouldn't know that. And to think your department has the audacity to treat me as though I'm a lowly ant even though I'm in a higher position than their little department head."

They didn't even have a smug look on their face, expression cold as an ungloved finger pointed at a file cabinet. Noticing their outfit more, the only thing that was the same as the first memory was the accessories. Even if they were dressed down, they still kept the bracelets, earring, and ring. "Now, contractor, leave my office and workshop now. Your actions here will also be reported to the higher ups and they will take reasonable actions. Try to listen to them when they contact you." The man got roughly escorted out, the door leading to the office getting locked as Aventurine's... (Who was this person to Aventurine? He called them 'babe' but...") As the person in the memory sighed. "It's one thing after another with those damn idiots."

Caelus fully stepped into the room as the person lit up another cigarette, deeply inhaling while opening the window. ("At least they're decent enough to air out the room?") Their phone pinged with a notification from a contact named 'Vasha', decorated with hearts and a kiss. 'Babe, are you in your workshop?' Another one followed. 'Heard from one of your workers what happened. I'm heading there now.' Sadly, the memory ended before Caelus could see Aventurine.

An apartment this time. The unit was higher up, seeming as though the storm was roughly hitting the windows. The lights were dim but the illumination from the flat screen cancelled the darkness out in the living room. Looking into the connected kitchen, Caelus could see a few dirty dishes piled in the sink with the lingering scent of food. ("Never took Aventurine as the cooking type.") The onlooker stepped back to the living room, peering down from the back of the couch to watch.

Aventurine was still awake, multicoloured eyes halfheartedly watching the screen. His arm was wrapped around his babe, fingers gliding across their left hand soothingly. From the rings being so close together, Caelus could finally notice that both rings were matching. ("Wedding rings? Wow...") A cat was also laying with them, curled onto the ottoman next to their feet.

"Your movie choice sucks babe, but you were so excited to watch it with me." His hand moved up to their face, thumb rubbing their cheek and the bags under their eyes. "It'd be a shame if I turned it off. You took the remote and I'd have to wake you to change it." A soft chuckle came from the blond. "I'll endure it just for you, okay? Just get your rest. I love you." A kiss was placed on the side of their eye.

The familiar scenery of Penacony appeared in front of him. The smell of lilies returned, along with Aventurine's rich cologne. "It seems ridiculous that they chose you and Doctor Ratio over everyone else to do this. What do we- the IPC even gain from this? A small profit of whatever the planet makes?" Both were drinking coffee this time, a simple card game laid out on the table in the hotel rooms.

The game seemed a little too casual for the discussion that's currently happening. A conversation that Caelus should definitely not be involved in. "I already told you babe. We were their best choices. I thought you'd be excited to explore the Dreamscape while under working time? I did have to pull some strings to have you come." The conversation was getting tense. ("No way this was their last interaction. For their last conversation to be an argument after he... No, I can't think like that right now.")

"Oh, so now me coming is a burden?" A card was placed and some were flipped. Caelus still had no clue what they were playing.

"That's not what I said. All I'm saying is you're mostly here for luxury, not business. So you should keep your pretty little head out of whatever we do during this trip. Or, if you can't do that, you can always go home." Aventurine didn't look up, but Caelus could clearly see the look of hurt that formed after what he said.

Another card was picked up. "If that's what you want me to do, then why should we wait? You and the doctor can do whatever you need to do and I'll stay out of it and go home. Does that sound good to you?" A card was placed down. None were flipped. Caelus couldn't imagine what either of them were thinking, which was weird. All the other ones allowed him to hear what the memory owner was thinking. Seems like this one was just a special case.

The rest of the memory was quiet, just the sounds of cards moving from the inhabitants. Both players had grimaces on their faces. When it ended, Aventurine was left alone on the couch. His head was thrown back as he loudly groaned. "This isn't how I wanted it to go. Heh, this is gonna suck." The memory sequence ended but it left Caelus with more worries and questions than answers.

The day after, a scheduled text message was sent to Caelus's phone. It was from Aventurine and it basically stated that if whoever was the recipient received the text, he's gone. Getting the text was upsetting in of itself - he was shady, yes, but he was still a temporary comrade who had a life outside of what he was ordered.

Back home in their shared apartment, his spouse had their hands clutched around their phone. Their face was wet from the tears that continuously streamed down their face. One last text from their Kakavasha, and it was through a previously scheduled message after a fight. How insulting of him. 'Hi babe. I'm sorry you had to find out what happened on Penacony through this message. I'm gonna assume Ratio will text you later. I'm sorry that I ignored all your worries from a few weeks ago. You've always had that weird premonition, gut feeling thing. If you did receive this, it means that my luck finally ran out and I'm no longer here. You were right to fight with me about this mission. I'm sorry I never followed you out or stopped you. I'll see you on the other side one day, okay? I love you forever and always, everywhere and every time. Love, your Kakavasha.'

Caelus couldn't even begin to imagine how Aventurine's babe reacted to the messages. He couldn't even think of what the messages they got said. All he could assume was that it wasn't a positive reaction. Seeing as though in both the office and the workshop, multiple candid photos of Aventurine were framed around the walls, polaroids being tucked into the frame of the one on the desk he looked at, it was obvious that they loved him more than anything. Even their lock screen was them together, which Caelus could relate too, seeing as though his is all of the current members of the Nameless. Maybe if they come back he'll have the pleasure of officially meeting them.

[fossys]

wanting to draw art of me n my friends but its so funny bcs we are all fictives which makes it like, the funiest fucking crossover ever

[askanaroace]

Probably very few could say why they are loveless. We understand where, like...5% maybe of human identity and behavior comes from. When so much of it is learned and taught, there's just so many undefinable and unknowable variables. I don't know why I am the way I am any more than you probably do. I can pick apart bits and pieces, but I can't tell you what lead to most of me turning into me.

I can tell you why I chose to identify with loveless: because love has always been a foreign and uncomfortable concept to me. When I was younger, it was meaningless. It was a phrase my mother said to me because that's what moms are supposed to say, and my mother was great at playing this role society has assigned her. Learning to say 'I love you' to my mom was like learning to say my name. It's just something I needed to know, I guess.

Then I started getting a bit older and more people, like friends, started using it, and I never got that. What did they mean? How could they know they loved me? What even was love? Love was a word I was taught, but I had no idea what the actual concept was supposed to be. I guessed I loved my family because they were my family, and I lived with them, and that's what you were supposed to do. But taking such a heavy, serious word and applying it to friends? Seemed like too much responsibility. What if I was wrong and I didn't love them? What did being loved by them entail from me?

So I never really said "love" outside of a familial context, where I only really said it because that's what was expected of me. I never understood love or connected with it. The idea of people loving me didn't feel good. It felt scary and overwhelming and confusing. In media, love always seemed to be constrained to parents/children and people who loved each other romantically/sexually. I didn't experience sexual attraction, so I didn't think I could love anyone.

Then I discovered asexuality and the split attraction model, and romanticism opened up as a possibility for me, and I eventually got into a relationship.

I thought I loved him. I really did. I thought giving him all of myself, folding myself into these impossible knots and cutting away all the pieces of me he didn't like (which seemed to be all of them) was love. I thought completely changing myself to be smaller and submissive was love. But it turns out he was abusive and incapable of loving me. He manipulated my feelings. That wasn't love. It was a fucking trauma bond.

Then I found loveless. What a relief. Another discovery that I'm not broken: I'm just different. It doesn't make sense to me because I don't feel that way. I don't have to love to care about people or treat them with respect or work to make the world a nicer and safer place. I don't have to love to be the person I want to be.

Being loveless means respecting my own feelings and living authentically, not trying to fit a mold that was never made for me.

Can loveless aro/aces explain to me why/how they are loveless? Not that I don't think y'all are real, I just want to understand further.