#this ain't gonna be like that don't worry

[broareweabouttoviberightnow]

PLEASE WRITE THAT ONE SHOT FULL PERMISSION GRANTED

— @girlishwhimsies

TYSM @girlishwhimsies for the prompt this was SO fun to write!! fic under the cut!!!

Ponyboy has no idea how long he's been sittin' in front of the TV. Too long, Pony's sure Darry would think. But it doesn't matter because Darry's workin' a late shift and it's just Two-Bit who's watchin' the box with the same intent, vacant look. Hell, even Soda's curled up in a blanket creamin' Dallas in a game of poker 'n absently watchin' when Dallas spends too long scowlin' at his hand.

(Pony can see clearly he hasn't got shit and he only tears his eyes away every few minutes to shake his head at Soda that Dally is bluffin' harder then Pony claimin' he ain't got homework. Dallas hasn't noticed yet.)

When Pony hears Darry's truck pull up in the driveway he gets the sudden, violent feelin' that he's forgotten somethin'. Somethin' important. He furrows his eyebrows, looks over into the kitchen. Oh shit.

His heart climbs right up into his throat, does a flip, and dives all the way down to his toes. Oh shit, oh shit. Pony is on his feet in a millisecond, jarrin' Dallas as he confidently bets on a hand of shit.

"Look out, Pony's off to the races!" Two howls but pulls his feet up as Pony jumps straight over them. He's not payin' attention to anythin' but gettin' into that kitchen before Darry does. As he passes the door he flips the lock, wrestin' with it when it doesn't go smoothly. Damn Darry 'n his insistence on never lockin' the thing.

"Pony?" Soda half rises, startin' after Pony as he ducks his entire head 'n shoulders into the icebox. "Everythin'-" He cuts himself off when Pony reemerges with the frozen solid chicken they were meant to be eatin' for dinner in forty-five minutes. For a moment, they both just stare at each other, Pony in horror, Soda in amusement.

Then Dallas lets out a long, low whistle as the truck door slams and grins that smile that shows off his silver fang. "Oh, you're capital F fucked." Then Soda cackles so hard he plops back onto the floor.

"Don't laugh." And Pony would normally kick his ass for that but right now he's too worried about the imminent threat of bein' hung up by his thumbs or locked in the shed until he's thirty. "Soda get over here. How do I thaw it out?" And he's got that whine crawlin' into his voice he hates but there are simply bigger fish to fry. Or birds to thaw.

Soda slides across the floor in his socks, ditchin' the blanket 'n throwin' it over Dallas. He rips it off 'n tries to whap Soda with it as he goes by, missin' to Two's great delight.

"I dunno, Ponykid, blow on it?" Soda leans down 'n huffs hot air onto it. Pony throws his head back 'n doesn't even care about the whine that peels out of his throat. He's dead. Darry was gonna kill him.

"Blow on it? Soda that ain't gonna work!" Pony rips the chicken away from where Soda is still puffin' at it. The door knob rattles 'n they can all distinctively hear the aggravated sigh from Darry even through the wall. Bad sign.

"Wait, I have an idea!" Soda snatches the bird back, slips 'n slides his way back into the living room with Pony hustlin' behind him. "Two, get up." Two-Bit takes in Soda holdin' the raw meat by the plastic-wrapped leg like a fish and Pony's face like a man at the gallows.

"Boys, unlock this damn door!" Darry already sounds irate.

"Yeah, Dallas go let Darry in." Soda pipes and Pony whips around wavin' a hand at his throat and frantically shakin' his head. Dallas shoots him a shit-eatin' grin again and gets to his feet, pointing towards the door.

Pony does the only thing he can think of 'n jumps on him.

"Wait, is that-" Two leans away from Soda, who waves the chicken around again 'n makes a face.

"No, it's Darry's million-dollar check yes it's dinner. Now get your ass up!" Pony abandons Dallas, grabs Two by the wrist, desperately tryin' to haul him up. Dallas instantly gets back on his feet and goes for the door again. Pony chooses between the imminent of two threats and goes for Dally again.

"What the hell do you want me to do about it?" Soda takes up Pony's spot wrestlin' Two-Bit up. Soda is far more successful.

"Sit on it!" Soda drags Two up, throwin' the bird down 'n then pressin' on his shoulders to try to get him back into the couch on top of it.

"Oh, I see. You only want me for my hot ass, you dog!" Two arches up so his back is against the sofa but his backside is nowhere near. "I'm not lettin' you throw me under the bus for this!"

"We're not throwin' you under the bus- we're throwin' you onto the bird!" And Two snickers, thrown off his task of keepin' his ass off the couch. Soda tosses himself full force onto Two's lap, bucklin' him back down.

Dallas wrangles Pony off, finally, and throws the lock on the door. Darry scowls, knocks Dallas' gently up the head since he has the misfortune of bein' the one closest to him. Dallas opens his mouth to bitch but Darry shoots him a look and he settles for mutterin' under his breath.

"Now, what the hell is goin' on here?" He drops his keys on the table 'n takes in Pony sprawled on the floor, Soda across Two and Two still wrigglin' for all he's worth against the cold.

"Nothin'." Both Soda 'n Pony say in unison. Darry looks between the two of them once, twice.

"I don't think I have the energy for whatever the hell you four have goin' on so I'm gonna go fix dinner 'n y'all better be back to sorts by the time I'm done." Darry kicks off his boots 'n places them neatly at the door, disappearin' into the kitchen.

"Uh, Darry? About that-"

"Ye- ouch!" Two manages to roll Soda straight onto the floor, shootin' to his feet. When he turns around, his lower back is pink from bein' in contact with the freezin' chicken. "That shit is cold!"

Darry stops, turns back around, blinks once, twice, opens his mouth, shuts it, tries again. "Pony, is that the chicken I told you to thaw when you got back from school?"

"Uh, would you believe me if I said no?" Darry rubs a hand across his temple, looks at the chicken on the couch with bewilderment. For a moment Pony swears they're all holdin' their breath. Then he laughs. Head back, hand grippin' the doorway laughs.

"Goddamn, Pony, what am I gonna do with you?" He grabs Pony by the front of the shirt, ruffles his hair, drops a kiss to a temple. "Kid, did you try to thaw that shit out by puttin' it under your brother?" Pony pouts a little and shakes his head like he can't believe Darry would have thought somethin' like that of him.

"No, Soda tried to thaw it out by puttin' it under him." Darry howls again, grabs his side and then Soda, pullin' him in 'n givin' him the same kiss.

"You boys are gonna be the death of me." He shoots Dallas a grin 'n Two tries to look put out, rubbin' the cold spot on his back still, but he can't make it stick and he ends up smilin' too.

"C'mon Darry, you know you love us." Two sidles up beside Soda, tryin' to nudge him out of Darry's arms. Darry releases Pony solely to cuff Two up the side of his head but pulls him in, too. He squeezes Dallas' shoulder and he stops scowlin' 'n grins.

"Well, I don't think anyone's eatin' chicken tonight." Darry laughs and returns to the door, snappin' his keys off the table. "Who wants to go out for Dairy Queen, instead?" They all hoot 'n holler, even Dallas. Soda even turns a cartwheel right there in the middle of the living room and Darrys in such a good mood he doesn't even tell him off for it.

"And I'll tell you what, y'all can even get milkshakes. Dinner's on Pony!" Pony's jaw drops open 'n Two grabs Soda 'n they both make a break for the truck. Gleefully yippin' about orderin' half the menu. Dallas howls 'n follows them out, pullin' Soda straight out of the air when he goes for shotgun.

"Aw, c'mon Darry-" Darry ruffles his hair and chuckles.

"I'm kiddin', kiddo." Pony will swear he never feels relief like he does in that moment ever again. "Just promise me next time, remember to take the chicken out of the fridge, yeah?"

[inez-winchester-cameron]

his (dark!rafe x fem!reader)

cw: murder, probably some psychological things, reader is scared of rafe, dark!rafe, technically imprisonment, manipulation

notes: i have a second idea/concept that follows this so if anyone would like more feel free to let me know!

rafe has always been a little off in the head, you knew, his friends knew it, his family knew it, hell he knew it. but you never anticipated he would take it this far.

you had a horrible day. you hadn't slept well, you received a horrible grade on a test, had a ton of homework and on top of that your dad screamed at you over leaving your laundry in the dryer a little too long. you were sobbing and in need of comfort and just like always — rafe was there. it was one of the reasons you were able to put up with the horrible way he treats others.

you sit wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, your favorite show playing on the tv. rafe got you all cozied up in his shirt and one of his gigantic fuzzy blankets before leaving and promising to bring back your favorite meal.

he returns home an hour and a half after he originally left, happy to see you're focused on the show. the sound of his boots hitting the tile is enough for you to turn and your face immediately falls, horrified.

standing near the door, wiping his boots off, is rafe. his soft brown hair is soaked, you weren't sure if it was with sweat or rain. his jacket is opened, revealing a shirt covered in blood stains and blood is splattered all over his face and neck.

"hey dolly," he greets you casually, slipping his boots off and coming in. he leans over the back of the couch and gently kisses your forehead, a stark contrast to his appearance, "how's my girl? i brought your food and i got myself something too so you wouldn't feel out of place or anything." he sets the food on the table and then moves away to slip his jacket off, "you okay? you're quiet."

"what the— rafe, what the hell. you're covered in blood."

"right. sorry." he chuckles casually, "i'll go get cleaned up and join you in fifteen, alright?"

"no," you blurt out, not entirely finishing your thought and not entirely sure what you're going to say, "can you-" you pause and take a deep breath, "can you please explain to me why you are covered in blood?"

it's not as if similar situations haven't happened before. rafe was always spontaneous and getting into trouble but it was so odd for him to come home this late at night, covered in blood. additionally, he was completely nonchalant about it.

he pauses and thinks for a moment, trying to contain his anger, "i just took care of some business tonight."

"what business?"

"nothing you should concern yourself with, doll. i'll go clean up and join you in a bit and-"

"rafe!" you raise your voice, and he turns to you pissed and exasperated.

"what?"

"you need to explain and talk to me. you're worrying me and-"

he cuts you off, "i had a talk with your father, okay? nothing you should concern your pretty little head with."

"rafe what are you talking about..?" you ask, rather quietly, "where did the blood come from?"

a short chuckle leaves his lips and he looks at you in slight disbelief, "come on, doll. you're a smart girl. what do you think happened?"

you freeze and simply stare at him, "rafe..no.." fear fills your face and you slowly stand, making your way to the exit, "i think i need to go...i need to go uh check on my dad."

"doll, what are you doing? come back, don't overreact."

"no i think i really need to go i'll just, uh, i'll go." you say, turning to exit. rafe makes a few quick strides and grabs your wrist before you can open the door. a small gasp leaves your lips.

"don't be dramatic, sweetheart. come sit down, we'll talk this out." he mutters, reaching up to tuck a hair behind your ear. you flinch, and anger filled his face, "don't flinch from me. you know i ain't gonna hurt you. come on, let's go sit." he moves back and gently tugs on your wrist, trying to get you to the couch.

tears fill your eyes, filled with fear, "no i should go. i don't wanna be here, rafe. i wanna go home." you don't budge as he attempts to tug you towards the couch.

"sweetheart, you're starting to piss me off. go sit. now."

"no-" you start but rafe interrupts you by harshly grabbing your upper arms, staring down at you.

"go. sit. now."

tears start to fall down your face and you shake a bit as you sit down on the couch. rafe sits beside you and wraps an arm around your waist, resting that hand on your upper thigh. he places a gentle kiss beside your ear and mutters, "just relax, doll. i'd never hurt you, y'know that right?"

all you could focus on was the hand resting on your thigh. the hands that you used to adore and love to be touched by were covered in blood. blood that you speculated belonged to your own father.

the hand on your thigh gives a tight squeeze and he speaks again, "asked you a question, doll."

"yes sir." your small voice comes out.

"good, because you belong to me whether you like it or not. you're mine, always." he responds, a small smirk on his lips.

that's when it hit you. you could try to run and leave, you could try to get the law involved, you could beg rafe to let you go but it was all no use. he had claimed you as his and no matter what, he was keeping you. whether you were willing or not.

[tribalauthor]

THE WISEWOMAN (roman reigns ff) <chapter 3>

word count: 2k

Nervous is an understatement for my state of feeling right now.

Today is my first segment and in this segment I have to announce that I am the temporary wise woman for Roman Reigns.

Also I have a task from uncle. I have to persuade Nick Aldis - the general manager of Smackdown to cancel the fatal 4-way match since it's just unfair.

These past few days I met Jimmy, Jey and Solo. Very respectful men by the way. Uncle wasn't lying.

I have also been making friends with the women roster cause I do need female friends here. I can't only hang out with the Bloodline, right?

"Don't worry, girl. You got this!" Samantha tried to hype me up. She is the ring announcer and honestly we became close really fastly. In a few days, we know all about the life stories of one another. "I can't even wait to announce you. Ladies and gentlemen, accompanied to the ring by his special council, the wise woman - Sophia Heyman...oh my god" she started clapping excitingly and this made me grin from ear to ear.

"It sounds so good. You are so talented" I exclaimed. She is really, really good.

"Good luck to your fiancée, by the way" I wished her.

"Thank you so much" she smiled nervously.

"It must be nerve-wracking to have a partner wrestler, right?" I asked out of nowhere.

"Indeed. You are always worried about their health cause anything can happen in that ring and yeah..." she explained. "I just pray every day for him and for my colleagues, of course"

"Understandable" I nodded my head.

"Speaking of..." she looked around us and got closer to me. "What do you think about him?" I got puzzled for a moment.

"Ricochet? Well, I haven't really spoken to him but he seems like a nice guy" I replied.

"Not my fiancée...about Roman" she looked around again and whispered his name.

"Is he like Voldemort, why you so scared of saying his name? Well, he seems okay for now. Honestly, better than I expected but I had no expectations so." I shrugged.

"I think he likes you." she just spat out but this time she wasn't very quiet.

"What? Samantha...are you in your delulu moment?" I furrowed my eyebrows because she just said that so out of nowhere.

"Girl, literally look at you. That's what I'm gonna say. You are the woman that haunts men's dreams, no matter if they are single or taken." Samantha clarified.

"Come on." I rolled my eyes. Would lie if I said I didn't get this before.

"He is divorced by the way but you haven't heard this from me" Samantha switched to whispering again.

"What? I mean...how do you know? I mean, yeah whatever, I guess. Uncle is divorced as well." I shrugged. What did I just do? Now it will seem like I'm happy because of that fact.

"You don't get my point. What I'm trying to tell you is that you should be careful if you don't wanna end up being caught in his vice grip" Sam giggled cause she knows I got the reference very well. However, I was totally unfazed because I don't see myself with a man like him.

"Ha-ha, so funny, Samantha, ha-ha. Don't you worry about me. I have learned my lesson with you know who, so if somebody wants to impress me now, it's gonna be very, very hard." I solidified my intentions. Robert really gave me close to nothing and I was blinded just because he was cute.

"What are you two girls talking about so passionately?" I suddenly heard Roman's deep voice behind me and it startled me so much that I jumped a little. "Woah, calm down, wise woman. Am I a ghost?" he was exactly behind me and I looked up to him since he is like more than 7 inches taller than me. Roman had his eyes down my direction and a big grin on his face. "Tell me what are you two gossiping about. Tell me the drama."

"The discussions me and Samantha were having, Mr. Reigns, are strictly confidential, so I am not telling you. You ain't one of the girls." I sassed him out and he let out a deep chuckle.

"But you are my wise woman. You should tell me everything. No secrets between us." he suddenly tried to act offended.

"This statement, Mr. Reigns, is disputed. There is nowhere in the contract that signifies I should tell you everything about my life and vice versa." I immediately opposed to him.

"Always disagreeing with me" he looked at Samantha with the look of complaint. "Have you ever seen the Wise Man disagreeing with me, Samantha?"

"No, at least not here." she replied.

"Okay but I'm not uncle. Also the agreements are only for the camera. Behind camera, I'm not obligated to." I turned to him and shrugged.

Roman chuckled once again.

"Miss Heyman, I honestly find your attitude so cute. You think you are 'biting' like a snake but honestly, I'm having fun."

"Oh, you think that this is my bad side, Mr. Reigns? I have to apologize then. You are mistaken" I fought back.

"No, I didn't say that this is your bad side. Anyway, we have to start preparing for later, so the gossip session has to end soon, okay?" he suddenly turned all serious. This man's duality is insane. He can throw some random jokes one second and the other second, he turns into a serious man. Is he a Gemini or something?

"Coming after a while" I said and turned around to Samantha.

"I bet you will" I heard him saying under his nose and I turned to him again. When he saw that I heard him, he made that funny "oops" expression.

Until the very moment he got away, Samantha had a look of disbelief in her face.

"See what I'm talking about? Now I'm 100% sure. Soph, I have never...ever in my career seen Roman like this. He is so obvious, oh my god." she put her hand on her mouth.

"Is he a Gemini?" I asked out of nowhere. It's a tendency of mine since I remember myself.

"Uuh, I think so, yes."

"That explains a lot. And then people tell me astrology ain't real" I shook my head. "And how old is he?" I asked quietly.

"Let me think...uh, he is a bit older than Trevor. Two or three years something like this. In his late thirties for sure - 38, I believe." my friend suddenly started calculating. "This year he will be 39."

"What?" my jaw was on the floor. "Yeah, no chance. That's a...12 year difference, nuh-uh." I shook my head.

"But you thought about it" she started laughing and poked me.

"About what?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Anyway I have to go"

"Coming for him" Sam couldn't help but snore.

"Ha-ha so funny" I rolled my eyes.

...

"I'm here" I shouted after I got in the locker room. The whole Bloodline is there.

"Lil' OG." Jimmy came to greet me with a high-five.

"Lil' OG"? Solo seemed weirded out by the way Jimmy called me.

"Paul is OG. Sophia is his blood, therefore she is lil' OG." Jimmy explained himself and his brother just seemed done.

"She looks nothing like Paul."

"Nah, she has his eyes" Jimmy disagreed with him.

"Ah yes. The saphire blue eyes that I inherited from my late great-grandmother Patricia." I stated.

"You may not look like Paul but for sure sound like him" Jimmy concluded. "So are you ready for later?"

"Mentally kinda, physically absolutely not. I have to start dressing up and everything because after 10 minutes the makeup artist and the hairdresser will be waiting for me." I looked at my watch.

Then reached to the wardrobe to grab the outfit I planned for tonight. It is a two piece costume consisting a blouse like blazer with a deep cleavage but it also has a scarf that is going to wrap around my throat and also a long skirt with a long slit. The color is dark blue with thin light stripes exactly like my uncle's costumes. For shoes I chose beige lacquered high heels.

Where is Roman? He was so insisting for me to come here and now he is nowhere to be found.

"Paul Heyman : female version" Jimmy said in a narrative tone which made me chuckle.

"I don't think the crowd is going to notice the difference" I shrugged.

"Oh, they definitely will, trust me" Solo said seriously.

I suddenly heard steps. I turned on my right and oh my God, I shouldn't have.

The view before me is just...wow.

Roman fresh out of the shower with his wet, long hair, his big ass tribal tattoo and a white towel wrapped around his torso. Water drips falling onto his body like tears.

"Ah, you're here, Sophia." he said that as if he totally expected me and as if everything is on purpose.

"Yeah." I turned around and faced his cousins because if I stare for longer, I will boost up his ego. Damn, that man is jacked.

"So is the bathroom free? I have to dress quickly." I asked a rhetorical question but I tried to go as quickly as possible, so I don't look at him in any way. I went through like a flash honestly.

"Do you need help?" I heard him yelling at me.

"No?" that was so random of him.

"You said you have to dress up quick and you know two works better than one" he replied and that response caused me to open the bathroom door and he was still sitting there.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Reigns but I have to decline this offer." after I finished, I slammed the door.

Is he out of his mind? Asking me this right in front of his cousins? Unbelievable.

Roman's POV:

I chuckled at Sophia once again. Damn, I know this woman for a few days yet she got under my skin. The way she looks, the way she talks, the way she walks. I feel betrayed by Paul, to be completely honest. How could he never tell me he has such a pretty niece?

"Uce...what the fuck?" Solo whisper yelled.

"What?" the grin on my face still stayed.

"Bro...you are hitting on Paul's niece" Jimmy called me out.

"Nah, I'm not. We are just joking" I immediately debunked Jimmy's statement and went to the wardrobe to search for my stuff.

"You don't joke like this...ever. Come to your senses, uce. She is way younger than you. How old is she?" Jon asked with a concern.

"I don't know. Probably 25-26." the looks the siblings exchanged between each other were full of shock as if I said she is a minor...come on.

"She is younger than me?" Solo seemed caught off guard.

"That divorce is blinding you." Jimmy started lecturing me. "You see a pretty woman and suddenly you want to sleep with her".

"I don't wanna sleep with her, you perverts. I just like her company, okay? Stop lecturing me." I tried not to yell at them because I don't want Sophia to hear me.

"Uce, you can't fool us. Look at her. A living Barbie doll. Get yourself together immediately." Solo whisper yelled but we all shut up immediately when we heard the door open.

"So how do I look?" Sophia asked, standing in front of me with that business ass little outfit and heels and so much unholy thoughts going in my head of how I bend her over and pull that skirt up and then...

Joseph, you should stop before somebody rises underneath and completely embarass yourself.

That woman is my dream personified and I don't care what my cousins think. I'm going to have her one way or another.

"Amazing" I cleared my throat. "Spectacular" I cleared my throat again, trying not to stare too much at her.

"Great" Jimmy and Solo threw her big grins and thumbs up.

"Thank you so much, now I'm leaving you guys. Bye. See ya later." she ran to the door and left the room.

"Holy shit" I sat on the couch. "I may be in trouble" I finally confessed.

"Took you long enough." Solo said sarcastically.

[ase-trollplays]

>> You watch him shakily pick himself back up, and as he talks you get a better picture of why he's so resistant. Apparently he can't always control when he goes wolf mode. You suppose you would be reluctant to stay anywhere if that was the case for you.

>> But you're still taking him, dammit.

Then don't fuckin' stay that long. Let 'em get all the guck outta yer eye socket an' clean it up, then fuck off inta the night. I ain't gonna stop ya from leavin' once yer patched up, an' y'ain't gonna have a bill ta worry about.

Ya got nothin' ta lose but maybe a hour or two. I'll even treat ya ta somethin' ta eat after.

>> Head in your ass or not (You're choosing to believe not) you really do feel like you're looking into a mirror as you feel the weight of his furious gaze on you. Sure, you don't know the full story about his circumstances and what he's dealing with, but the way he acts and talks feels familiar.

>> You cross your arms and look down at him. Another good punch or two might put him out so you can transport him peacefully, but he's barely on his feet as it is. Plus, you don't want to break something that'll make him be there even longer. You suppose you could always taze him...

I ain't leavin' ya, so are ya gonna come along, or do I have ta keep gettin' physical?

>> You narrow your eyes, half expecting her to try to grab you and sling you over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. You're about to open your mouth to respond when she punches you instead.

>> Stars scatter across your vision again and the blow damn near knocks you off your feet. The strike on your jaw definitely does, and you land hard on your back, knocking the air out of you for a third time tonight on top of the hits to your face stunning you.

>> You're not out. But god fucking damnit.

>> The voice in the back of your head says she's just trying to help. You don't want to shift again- Shifting twice in such a short span of time, when you're already exhausted and hurting, will probably leave you all but unable to move after all's said and done.

>> So either you relent, let her carry you off to the clinic and then slink off with your tail between your legs when you're able to escape, or you tear her apart now- Maintaining your word and what scrap of pride you have left, but living with the regret of mauling someone who was trying to help.

"gxd damnit. yxu dxn't knxw what the fuck yxu're xn abxut..."

>> You rasp, slowly pushing yourself up right and shakily starting to get to your feet. You expect she's just going to knock you down again. Blood gushes from your nose and down your chin, bubbling at your lips as you speak.

"they can't fucking magically fix this shit. if i stay at a clinic, i'll kill everyxne there whether i want tx xr nxt. yxu tryin' tx fucking help me, xr yxu?"

>> You fix your one good eye on her, fury blazing through all your exhaustion.

"yxu think yxu're lxxking in a fucking mirrxr? get yxur head xut xf yxur ass. all yxu're dxing is putting mxre fucking blxxd xn my hands, and patting yxurself xn the fucking back fxr it."

[akuma-tenshi]

so the new hullabaloo lore teaser, huh??

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

thinking about whether or not FL sheds his fluff

imagine its summer and after a long day of dealing with whatever crap goes down in their workplace while having to deal with the ridiculously high temperatures, reader just wants to cuddle with their beastly lover (who just so happens to be covered in 90% metal and would definitely feel cool to the touch) but as soon as they step into their house, they realise something. There is purple fluff on almost every surface of the house and not a few seconds later did the culprit come sprinting towards the reader, bringing them into a hug, delighted to see them after a long day. Reader reaches to pet FL’s fluff only to watch it fall out with the single light touch. At first they immediately retract their hand afraid that FL has contracted some sort of illness that causes hair (fluff?) loss. FL looks at reader questioningly, wondering why they aren’t giving him his usual pets. Reader tells FL to put them down and as soon as their feet touch the ground, they are booking it out of the house and back into the city to look for Zhongli. After finding the man, they explain the situation and Zhongli laughs, telling them that FL is simply shedding his fur to cope with the hotter weather recently. With this the reader lets out as sigh of relief and heads back hime just to find FL pouting, thinking that reader had abandoned him. Reader then apologises to him and exxplains what happened and the situation is then cleared up.

(Imagine reader collecting the fur and using it for some art project)

-Sleepy anon

sleepy anon, i LOVE the way your mind works

Foul Legacy immediately starts purring and nudging himself against you, getting soft purple fuzz all over your clothes- can you scritch him, please? it's scratchy! he shakes his head slightly and even more tufts of it fall out and drift onto the floor, and you just let out a single long sigh, opening the closet to fetch your broom. the next one to two hours are spent gathering every single bit of fluff that you can find, sweeping it off the floor and tables and random corners of your house- how it got on top of the bookcase of all things, you'll never know- and finally sitting Legacy down and giving his fur and hair a thorough brushing for good measure, clouds of lilac fur clinging to the comb and a very happy purring Abyss creature tilting his head this way and that so you get all the right areas. it takes until nightfall, and you're exhausted afterwards, but finally your house is clean and Legacy has shed all that excess fur, the ruff around his shoulders looking smaller but more manageable and Legacy looking very comfy and pleased with himself

so now you're left with a large bag of shed Abyss monster fur- what do you do with it?

well, the obvious answer is to make it into yarn and knit. not that you really need anything knitted right now, given the temperature and all, but it'll be nice once winter comes around again. you have enough Foul Legacy fluff to knit a few scarves, so the first one you make goes to none other than Legacy himself, who quickly wraps it around his neck with a delighted trill, cooing at the familiar texture and scent. he insists that you make a matching one for yourself- that way everyone knows that you're his and he's yours! the last one goes to Zhongli, who smiles warmly as he picks it up and asks what the material is. without missing a beat you just point at Legacy's fur, and have to bite your tongue to keep from wheezing when Zhongli snorts a laugh into his teacup

[ace-malarky]

Hello here is a lot of words and also some pictures by the delightful @tracle0 and a tiefling character creator and also a song that is very important to this story

and because I can't help myself, a further story about its creation lmao

So, picture this; a year ago, a young(er) Ace at their second social engagement of the day, not including work. BG3 has just been released on the xbox so they have (understandably) been abandoned by their flatmate, who fully forgot that there was a party she'd been invited to. It might actually have been after midnight but they hadn't slept yet so like. Definitely still the 9th They have decided that it is Late and they must leave this party bc there are no buses left and it's like a half hour walk back to their flat (no, the thought of a taxi didn't cross their mind. the thought of a taxi never crosses their mind) Enter @kat-writes-things, whose house party it is. She doesn't want Ace to leave but accepts (eventually) that they ought to. Laments that they no longer work together because of Circumstances. Suggests a Bit about them being high fantasy protags torn apart by the cruel world. Star Crossed Lovers are mentioned. So are swords and wings. For the bit, you understand, Ace says their goodbyes and kisses Kat's hand because it is, they announced earlier, the beginning of their slut era (it was like stupid hot in Kat's flat and I was down to my vest mkays). Kat, not to be outdone, does the same and makes Ace promise to get home safely and they'll try and see each other again soon. Ace, as is the way their brain works, starts to write a scene on the way home. Super safe <3 Unable to let the bit go, it uh. It Expands somewhat and here we are!!

I know a little bit more and have written barely any consecutive (or even finished tbh) scenes

transcript of the slides under the cut!

Everything is in comic sans, black text against white

Slide 1; Shapeshifter WIP by Aces Malarky. That story I've been inconsistently yelling about for a year. Happy one year anniversary babe!! You only got sadder in the interim. But also please I beg you get a name it's been a year. I'm taking suggestions /jk (... maybe). *Almost everything in here is subject to change I'm still working it out lmao there have been. Distractions. (it's me I'm Distractions)

Slide 2; World?

Please. Please we're making this up as we go along

Furry-lite bc sometimes. Having wings 'n' antlers 'n' shit is just. rad af you know?

Kinda-sorta-mybe high fantasy but like. There's technology also.

If it pleases me to have, it's there essentially! And what pleases me right now is handwavy fantasy nonsense bc actually we're about characters in this household and I have never thought a day in my life <3

Slide 3; Plot?

Star crossed friends-to-lovers!

Close friends that jokingly flirt on the whole "babe/oh best beloved" kinda thing. Everyone assumes/is taking bets on their relationship status

No one gets to collect tho ahahaha

There is a war looming! They're spies! They're torn apart by their own decisions!

Of course Syn volunteers for going undercover. Ain't no spy like a spy that can't be identified for shit

Halliel is Less than Impressed but my god is she going to throw herself into it just as much

So starts a fraught game of "in over our heads", "who are we without each other", "surrounded by people but so alone", and the real kicker "what (who) am I willing to sacrifice"

Side of Betrayal that perhaps could have been seen coming! They attempt to save each other!

Slide 4; Characters? Those I can do you!

[img one; a person in waistcoat and trousers with purple hair and antlers. They have their hands clasped in front of them and are smiling slightly]

This is Syn

- they/them

- Gender; mischief

- In it for the bit

- Early mornings, late nights, no coffee

- Has a cat named Trixie

[img two; a person in black trousers and shirt with suspenders. They have their hands on their hips and are scowling. They have scales across their face, red horns and a tail]

This is also Syn

- AKA Lance

- Gender; bodyguard

- Less bark, trying not to bite

- Serious business sucks

- Friends? Never heard of 'em

[img three; a person in a white tunic and trousers, a black embroidered scarf around their neck. They have yellow glasses covering their eyes, dog-like ears and a tail]

This? Yeah, that's Syn

- AKA Vale

- Gender; touch starved

- What's another fake identity on top of everything

- It's about the longing

- A Soft and Mournful Reprieve

Slide 5; Also, Halliel is here!

We love Halliel, she has a sword

And wings

And manages to put up with Syn, somehow

Coping by throwing herself into work and taking on more responsibility

Trying to keep a semblance of normalcy

Doesn't want to admit she's struggling just yet

[img; a picrew of a lady with peach coloured wings wearing a green shirt. She has auburn hair to her shoulders and glasses]

Slide 6; Other Characters; Verial Edition

Not-Work Friends!!

Conly - She/her - maned-wolf, leggy, Halliel's greatest enabler

Kit - he/him - fox-formed, owner of the betting pool

Peri - he/him - bear formed, needs them all to be a little less energetic, please

Hail - she/her - hyena, always up for the bit

Gil - she/her - monkey, most likely to believe whatever the fuck Syn is saying now

Work Friends!

Caria - she/her - cat formed, Syn's greatest enabler

Ketch - ze/zir - lizard form, makes like all the plans

Gry - he/him - sika deer, trans lad!! For some reason looks up to Syn

Maj - she/her - angelic, most likely to keep them all on task

Bora - he/him - cat formed, #1 cause of drama

Darraeth - they/them - dog formed, voice of reason but also a slight pushover

Most of them knew Halliel first! Maj & Caria are in both groups. One of them is a surprise bastard for later :3

No of course I don't have pictures, what do you take me for? None of them have names until two months ago

Slide 7; Other Characters; Sallen Edition

Don't - don't ask why they have pictures when the others don't

Bryn!

[img; an older lady with yellow curved horns and a yellow tail, with yellow scales across her forehead and cheekbones. She has white hair and is wearing a white blouse under a brown cardigan and has thin glasses]

- Dragontouched grandmother to the masses

- Communiy lynchpin

- Plays the piano

- Here to help, but your business is your own

Jaiel

[img; a man with short blonde hair, wearing a green shirt and a gold necklace. He has dark brown wings and looks unimpressed]

- Crown prince

- Bit of a dick, really

- Just like casually moneyed and careless

- Picks Lance for his bodyguard bc dragontouched are rare

Neryd

[img; a lady with a tight blonde bun and antlers. She's wearing green and gold armour and is glaring]

- Jaiel's other bodyguard

Kinda Intense

Like, really loyal to the crown

Pissy about Lance being hired, sees it as a comment on her ability

Probably there will be others but idk yet

Slide 8; Further Vibes

Featuring such hits as;

The inability to ask for help! Maybe don't spill all the beans but my god are you allowed to make friends while on the job

- Maybe not all the friends. Pls be wary of some of the new friends. Consider that other people might have the same job as you

Sexual awakening at sword point

Requited love but my god you could have chosen a better time to realise you are both fools <3

Sometimes, choices suck

- And that time is always

Identity Crisis! Is it an Ace Malarky WIP if there isn't at least one? We may never know

Slide 9; Wait when you say Star Crossed-

Yeah about that it uh. It does not end well for our leads lmao my bad

Choices have to be made and, well:

Syn has a self-sacrifice streak a mile wide

Halliel has a burn-the-world-down-for-my-people streak also a mile wide

Do you see the problem here

Aw gee I wonder which one will win out!!

Sldie 10; In Conclusion;

Fucking wild that I have a plot at all, actually

This is a story of two friends, everything else is incidental

I just really wanted shapeshifter shenanigans I did not intend for it to get sad but alas

The Suckages struck

Also I found this song about two months before this wip started and oh it is the whole thing actually

[img; the album cover for Cast the Bronze by Raynes, which features an insect with wings made out of shapes in various browns]

(Syn's edition. I should find a Halliel song also tbh)

[hunsa-jars]

Howdy peepers, I've been feeling pretty down lately but I think I'm on the right path to snap out of it!

See yall on monday hopefully

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

I feel like the post I just reblogged pointing out the all-or-nothing in how many people interact with their deconstruction of systems of oppression is resonating for me right now with so many different moments in my life where someone decides that because some part of myself has access to some of the levers of control/influence/etc that come with the relationship to power, and decides what that must mean about all the other parts of me that might be explicitly refused access to those same levers.

It has happened in so many spaces/aspects of my life, and it can be so hard to feel safe and seen and trusting of others when that's my chronic relationship to being perceived - half truths and obfuscation.

It doesn't really change regardless of who's doing the assuming either. Like, where they land in relation to systems of power may influence which direction they lean in their assumptions about me, but even that is often inconsistent. Both sides of the equation (those who share my marginalizations and those who exist in spaces of closer proximity to power) will still do it nonetheless.

When I was doing my liminal social identities work in undergrad, this was actually a big part of the conceptualization we explored of traumtic alienation of self as individual from self as collective, and what it can do to people to exist in this liminal relationship with your environment and the people in it. As I'm starting to gather my thoughts about my stress modeling, this conceptualization is bubbling back to the surface. I'm finding myself meandering through it on both a path specifically my own, and in an effort to better understand what other paths may be available to people during their version of the process/experience.

Selfhood is so fragile, and so in need of balance between self-construction and co-construction for us humans, and that gives us so many beautiful, even spiritual, experiences of meaning making and generativity of self. It also createa many pivot points where we may find room in our path for vulnerability or blurring of self. As much as these pivot points can be distressing, I think they also sometimes become our foundations of change/personal evolution, when we find that through the distress of existing in shift, something meaningful is occurring or observable in our experience of self-in-transition.

I think something I've valued especially about my own relationship with self is its transience. It doesn't always end up somewhere I would be happy to sustain, but it always allows me a degree of comfort in complexity that I think has made my body-mind a safer place for me overall.

[elfpylon]

somehow I forget I probably have severe PMDD every month.

[epickiya722]

After eight hours, I gave up...

[pinyatapix]

Felt an instant wave of dread hit me today when I discovered a Webtoon Canvas comic I randomly read a year or two ago had suddenly rebooted itself into a Webtoon Original

[theheadlessgroom]

https://www.tumblr.com/beatingheart-bride/708677790772461568/theheadlessgroom-beatingheart-bride

@beatingheart-bride

“I don’t think it’s silly at all.”

It was heartfelt to him, hearing this song, knowing it was something Emily used to sing with her father, something special that still lived on in her, even in his passing, something near and dear to her heart because of it. Was it some grand, sweeping song from some legendary opera? No. But did it need to be? Not at all. It was an honest answer, and it made Randall smile when he heard it, listening eagerly as she sang him this melody, him taking it to heart as he did.

“It’s...it’s lovely!” he replied brightly, as he turned back to his organ, so charmed by the song that he wanted to see if he could play it back, even if he’d only heard it once:

“Little Lotte let her mind wander... Little Lotte thought, ‘Am I fonder of dolls, Or of goblins or shoes, Or of riddles or frocks, Those picnics in the attic, Or of chocolates?

No, what I love best,’ Lotte said, ‘is when I'm asleep in my bed, And the Angel of Music sings songs in my head... The Angel of Music sings songs in my head...’”

He felt fairly confident that he’d been able to replicate the song fairly well when he played it (he might’ve been off by a key or two, but it sounded fairly close when he sang and played it), as he looked back and smiled still to Emily, saying, “It’s not silly at all, I...I think it’s very sweet. It’s...comforting, in a way, it sounds so...gentle.” He wished he had a lullaby like that, to think back on on dark, cold nights, when he felt alone...

[holyhappyhour]

@sophistprick

yeah, I get that. for more than one reason lol

[medicinemane]

God, dealing with the phone side of things with therapy today just wiped the life out of me. Just woke up maybe half an hour ago at most and... as is often the case, woke up with a lowgrade sinus headache

Don't know what causes it, I've been on antibiotics plenty of times since cleaning the trailer but... kinda think cleaning that did something to my sinuses... I don't know

Also it's a shame it's the end of the year cause my next appointment isn't till the 9th, but uh... no offense to Rob cause he was a good dude and just a bad fit for me at that time, but... kinda feel like this therapist will be a much better fit

(She raised an eyebrow when I told the whole "what if they push the cake into the trash and say 'I hate cake' " thing he said when trying to convince me to throw out some cake mixes my mom bought)

So I'm alright, but I'm tired and... I don't know...

[sadisticdemonbf]

Someone expressing their feelings doesn't invalidate yours. Sometimes people lose their cool when something has been bothering them for a long time and you turn it back to being about you. Always listening to your feelings and comforting you while always ignoring my own well being and keeping my mouth shut. Always talked over when we together and having to chase after you when I was so sick I could barely walk. You can let someone talk to you about their feelings without turning it back to yourself and making a big fuss and then completely ignoring them. I actually do care about your feelings always have!! I care about your feelings so much I avoided my own as to not upset you. I don't want to see the person I love harming themselves hitting themselves wanting to unalive themselves and I realized early on that expressing my own feelings triggered just that so I ignored my feelings for so long.