#this isn't very well done hmmm i just wanted to get my thoughts out

[dufferpuffer]

No but Okay Yes so Uh - scattered thoughts... throwing at the wall, seeing what sticks:

+ Mass Murderer Cousin. Violent Death Eater Aunt. Black family name is in ruins. She isn't a 'Black' - but she's the next best thing fresh out of the war.

+ FRESH out the war - basically her entire life has been spent with news of the Dark Mark appearing over houses where Death Eaters had murdered whole families, where Blood Traitors like them had to hide, where her own family was being sent to Azkaban...

+ Wizarding Society is FUCKED about being different. It doesn't take much to be regarded as 'half-breed' or 'dangerous' when you're not.

+ Metamorphmagi seem reasonably respected - then again, we mainly see Tonks around the Order, who are extremely welcoming - but I doubt that matters much when your family is full of murderers.

+ We know how kids act - they act on their siblings/parents' worries without much awareness. Did the war end with Voldemort's fall? Not to the kids - anyone they don't like will be 'A Death Eater'.

+ Harry was bullied for losing house points and talking to snakes, Albus was bullied for his father 'getting revenge' on Muggle kids...

+ But I can't see her being low on the social ladder for long. She's too fucking cool and likeable. But at first? All it takes is an older kid pointing her out as 'basically a Black' in a negative light.

+ Tonks chuckled. 'Bet you wouldn't mind hiding that scar sometimes, eh?' Her eyes found the lightning-shaped scar on Harrys forehead. (OotP ch3) - oh, she gets it. Assumptions following you.

+ She got along well with Moody, whom people are typically scared of, don't understand and think is a freak - based on scars. AND Remus, based on Lycanthropy. Being different.

So she is at school. She has all this family baggage - and she is physically/magically different from everyone else. We know how people standing out at Hogwarts can be treated. How does she deal with it...?

+ Her parents were already rebels. They grew up being potential targets for Death Eaters. She is used to being unfairly targeted, but sticking to what you believe in anyway. Not giving in to bullies.

+ Tonks as an adult is clumsy and likes to make people laugh, likes to make people feel included, finds understanding people easy...

+ ...but she is also capable and serious enough to please Moody.

+ To me that screams 'bully buster'. Like of course she became an Auror - she was sorta already one at school. James/Sirius without being a bully herself. She cheered people up, supported the weak, confronted assholes to demand fairness... typical Hufflepuff shit

+ But did anyone support her? Did anyone really understand her? Or was 'giving' her form of self-protection? I'm thinking this because she REALLY connected with Remus, even though she has to fight for him, who is specifically good at comforting and supporting...

thinking about how awful Tonks’ first year at school must’ve been. she started in 1984, only a few years after her cousin was sentenced to life in Azkaban for allegedly murdering 13 people and being a DE, and her Aunt famously tortured two people into insanity & was a DE. i can’t imagine people were too kind to her

[sincerely-sofie]

Chapter 2 of Sofie Plays "Slay the Princess": The Beast (Part 1)

*banging fists on table* TIME LOOP TIME LOOP TIME LOOP T---

[ Beginning ] - [ Previous Part ] - [ Next Part ]

Here we go.

... The Narrator has to be aware of the time loop. Right? Is he playing dumb? I have questions.

"VOICE OF THE HUNTED" HELLO???? EXCUSE ME?????????

The narrator definitely isn't aware of the time loop. And I am pouting because he is correct about why I died.

Okay. Theory time. For every loop we go through, the Hero of that loop goes on to become a new "Voice of the _____" that hangs out in our head in subsequent loops. Very interesting if true! Now please be quiet, the Hero is thinking about what on earth to do with the knowledge that he's in a time loop that may or may not have only looped over once, and he could die for realsies at any moment.

Asked the narrator how someone who's supposedly just a princess could tear me apart with only one hand to spare and while bleeding heavily from an impromptu amputation. He definitely doesn't know as much as he implies. Which begs the question: If he doesn't know the extent of how dangerous the Princess is, why does he want her dead? I suppose that her ending the world somehow is reason enough to want the Princess six feet under, but this is concerning. I'm in over my head.

I demanded information about who locked the Princess in the basement and where on earth am I, and the Narrator is helpful as ever.

I then asked him why the people who imprisoned her couldn't have done the deed themselves, and I can't tell if this is an attempt to flatter me into doing what he wants or if he's being genuine:

Hero, honey, you're an idiot. Hunted worries after this exchange that special can mean a lot of things and we need to be careful, and he's right. Special can mean anything from a chosen hero to a secret menu item.

I asked for more info and now I'm starting to suspect that the Princess is an infohazard SCP kinda deal.

YEAHHHHH YOU GET HIS CRYPTIC NONSENSICAL REAR, HUNTED!!!

Turned around and left instead of returning to the cabin to kill the Princess (or is she a Beast by now?) and all of these dialogue options responding to the Narrator are GOLD. How can I pick just one???

I'm having second thoughts about leaving. I'm in a forest. I have a feeling I'll be confronting an especially beastly Princess whether I like it or not. Judging by the Princess I encountered before, she's not as restricted to the basement as one may like to think. Heck, she could be out there stalking me through the undergrowth as I speak. I'd probably be safer in a manmade cottage than out in the woods. I decided to go to the cabin.

What do you mean "a warning", Narrator? HMMM?

Oh. He's just repeating his advice from last time. I was (extra) scared for nothing.

Hunted. I hate to break it to you. But I don't know if we can trust even that.

THIS IS NOT THE CABIN I ENTERED BEFORE AND I DO NOT LIKE HOW DUTCH ANGLED EVERYTHING IS. THAT MIRROR IS NOT SHAPED LIKE A FRIEND. I AM SCARED

I asked the Narrator about the mirror not being there before. Hunted, I would like to ask you about the status of us being able to trust our eyes. Got anything you'd like to weigh in with? Please?

Thx Hunted sweetie ilu and i hope you're not too terrified of the fate we will inevitably meet in the basement <3

Took the option to wipe the mirror clean and there are so many questions to ask right now. First: Why has the mirror vanished upon my attempt to interact with it? Second: Why can't the Narrator see it? Third: Am I tripping? Am I on drugs? Am I the Beast this chapter is titled after? Did the time loop change my appearance as well?

Okay no. The Hero and Hunted both are entirely unbothered by our arm looking like that, so either they can't see the difference and only the player is aware of it, or the birdman allegations I've seen in scattered pieces of fanart are true.

... why is it an option to enter the basement without the blade. WHY IS IT AN OPTION TO ENTER THE BASEMENT WITHOUT THE BLADE. What sort of impact would that have on the narrative???? Do I just insta-die????

Nope! Don't like the fact that I can hear her creeping through the undergrowth while typing out this note! That isn't cool and groovy and I would like to go home now!

EASY FOR YOU TO SAY, MR. DISEMBODIED VOICE IN MY HEAD

... pspspspspspspsps?

(Continuing this in the next installment--- I ran out of images that I can use in this post!)

[ayanominitrash]

ᴵ'ˡˡ ᴸᵉᵗ ʸᵒᵘ (ˢʰᵒᵏᵒ ᴵᵉⁱʳⁱ ˣ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ)

a.k.a The Satoru To My Suguru I first posted this on Ao3 here.

"What are we going to tell the boys?" "We don't have to tell those idiots. I think they'll pick it up somehow." "Do they even know that girls can like girls?" "We'll find out." Where the reader is a manager, Shoko is Shoko. And they were together. Until the reader decides to be something else.

₊˚ ♡

When y/n first entered Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College, she was set to be an auxiliary manager instead of a sorcerer. She hadn't expected to be anything else but that, and she also didn't expect to be the girlfriend of the one and only brunette beauty - Shoko Ieiri.

Her short girlfriend who was always kind and laid back, was a bit of a stuttering mess when she uttered her short confession filled with cigarette smoke. They were seated side by side on a stone bench behind the open track field. It was at sunset and they were sharing a cancer stick with a slight chill in the air. 

"I -I like you."

"Hmmm?!" Y/n abruptly whips her head to stare at her best friend wide-eyed. "W-well, of course, you do. You wouldn't spend all this time with me after all if you didn't."

"I don't mean it t-that way." She looks away, the red in her cheeks is evident.

"Then. . .what do you mean?"

"Are you going to make me say it?"

The other girl nervously chuckles while tugging at the collar of her managerial suit. "Ah, this seems a bit sudden."

"It isn't." Shoko looks at her with a serious face. " I was pretty sure I left signs... .L-like, when I open the door for you when you and I enter rooms together."

Another chuckle, "B-but, anyone could do that without meaning anything, so I wouldn't have a clue."

"It doesn't matter. Do you want to be my girlfriend or not?" There was a feigned irritation in her voice but her companion can tell that it wasn't genuine and she was just nervous by the way her fingers trembled while she put out the cigar against their slabbed seat.

Shoko knows that she was putting a big risk in their friendship by confessing, but she was done playing cat and mouse. She was done trying to guess if there were some hidden meanings behind the actions of the intelligent, and cute girl beside her. If her heart beats faster like hers every time their fingers brush against each other. Or when they share an indirect kiss every time they share a cigarette stick or a blunt. Shoko was getting scared of how attached she's been getting to Y/n because they were always together, since their other classmates, Satoru and Suguru were always the ones out on missions, always leaving Shoko behind. But ever since Y/came along, she hasn't. It was like she found her own Satoru to her Suguru, as cheesy as that sounds. She tried to fight that naturally, but she's done doing that too. She'd rather claim her as her own before anyone can even have the chance. So she can't be alone anymore.

"You know, ever since I laid my eyes on you, I've always thought you were really pretty."

The brunette flinches at her words and gave her a surprised look. Y/n gingerly took Shoko's hand in hers, locking their fingers together.

"I always thought you were cool, witty, and strong."

"I don't even fight though." She finds herself blushing at her words and at the fact that they were holding hands, a thing she never thought they'd do after confession.

"Everyone knows being able to heal someone else is a rare and a very strong ability." Y/n places her other hand on top of Shoko's. "I'd be honored to be your girlfriend."

They stare at each other with small smiles and red faces, before Shoko quickly pulls her hand away from her. "Isn't it a little taboo for two girls to like each other?"

"You're just now thinking that after we've just confessed and become official?"

" Who said we're official? I didn't even get any flowers."

Her companion scoffs, completely baffled. "I'm not the one who confessed first!"

"So annoying." Shoko playfully covers her ears with her hands, maintaining a poker face.

"Hey! You're so out of your element - come here."

Y/n tackles the brunette, wrapping her arms around her now lover, and putting all of her weight until they eventually fall from their seat to the soft trimmed grass.

They both lay there and giggle for a moment and admire the orange hues the sunset was providing in the sky when suddenly y/n bumps Shoko on the shoulder with her elbow.

"What are we going to tell the boys?"

"We don't have to tell those idiots. I think they'll pick it up somehow."

"Do they even know that girls can like girls?"

"We'll find out."

₊˚ ♡

Y/n and Shoko were inseparable. During their homeroom class with Sensei Yaga, they'd purposely show up earlier than the rest so they can save their seat next to each other because their taller classmates love to steal their seats just for shits and giggles. They would walk the hallway holding hands, they would feed each other during lunch, and they'd cheer for each other during General P.E. The others don't seem to bother it, probably because they thought it was a normal friendship between the two since they choose not to kiss in public. But behind closed doors, that's another steamy story.

As an auxiliary manager, today was one of the many days where y/n has to accompany Sorcerers that need to travel by group to faraway areas. Shoko was excited to hear that she was assigned to accompany them for today's mission. She just has to join this one.

"This mission is pretty light that we have the green light to bring Shoko." Y/n starts, staring into the ledger she was holding.

They stand in front of the black vehicle that the auxiliary managers drive the Sorcerers in. Standing next to her girlfriend was her Sensei who was probably there to oversee the mission and how y/n executes this.

"The code word for 'boring'" Satoru says beside Shoko, using his fingers for the air quotes.

"Be nice, Satoru." Suguru lightly pats the back of his hand against the taller boy's chest. "I bought candies that you like that we can snack on during the ride." 

"Goodie!" With that, he immediately pipes up and enters the car. 

"W-wait, I didn't even explain the mission yet." 

Suguru only shrugs before sliding into the car. Shoko stays while she crosses her arms, an apologetic look on her face. Y/n can't help but tighten her grip on her wooden ledger while she seethes in anger. This was finally her time to impress Shoko with her being a manager. And that stupid tall stick tree was ruining it all for her. Suguru was no help either.

Her Sensei chimes "You can go ahead and discuss it on the way. Or at the site even. I doubt those two punks would listen."

"Yes, Sensei," Y/n says begrudgingly before walking over to the front of the vehicle to get into the driver's seat.

It was a quiet 1-hour drive, save for a bit of the boys' usual banter, Shoko occasionally chiming in with them. In the rearview mirror, y/n can see how her girlfriend is biting into her thumb, a habit she has when she's itching for a smoke. 

Once on the site, you discuss with much dexterity about the mission's details: a few low-grade curses on the loose in an abandoned apartment building. 1 or 2 trapped civilians, may be dead or alive. Exorcise the curses and bring back survivors if any. Shoko Ieiri is to attend to immediate medical aid if necessary.

With that, the young manager gets ready to cast the barrier while the trio trudges forward into the building. While the barrier forms, Satoru nods to himself as if in approval, while Suguru emits a low whistle at the sight. Shoko can only show a small smile and stare back at her girlfriend before the curtain can fully block the view.

It's been a few minutes since the trio entered and it has been relatively quiet. Y/n and her Sensei were sitting down at the curb where their car was parked when the older teacher gasped while he was reading the ledger.

"Y/n!" He growled, causing the young manager to abruptly stand up from her seat.

"Yes, Sensei?!" 

"What is the meaning of this?" His hands were shaking when he shoves the ledger to face her way so she can read it. "This is -"

"Special grade! They're going to die!"

"How could you let something like this happen?"

"I-I swear, Sensei! I wouldn't have let this pass me!"

"And yet here we are. This mission was only meant for the fourth year, now Ieiri is in there!"

"Sensei, I even read it out loud earlier -"

"Enough from you. I'll call for backup."

 What happened, y/n could not tell. She knew herself to be meticulous especially when it comes to the documentation part. She even recalls that she read the ledger out loud and it was indeed the correct one for the trio. Now her girlfriend was in there. The two boys were of course the strongest but even this mission was too risky for them.

"Sorry Sensei, I'm going in there."

"Stop spewing shit! Stay put here and - hey!"

While y/n removed her tie, she ran up to the barrier to break into the apartment building. 

"It's suicide! You're just a manager, idiot!"

"Sorry, sensei, my girlfriend's in there!"

"GIRLFRIEND?!!"

Shoko was smoking a cigarette on the third floor of the building. She sat on one of the tables in an apartment in silence, sometimes looking at her nails if she wasn't staring blankly at the wall. It was silent, save for a few ruckuses the boys were causing somewhere on the upper floors.

Suddenly, the door flies wide open and Shoko freezes.

What is y/n doing in here?

"What are you doing in here?!" She vocalized her thoughts.

The other panting and sweating, wastes no time to run up to her and grab her by the wrist, and whisks her away to run through the halls.

"What's going on? Where are you taking me and - you shouldn't be in here?!"

"Shoko, I don't know how, but the location got messed up."

"What do you mean? You're meticulous as ever!"

"I know! But - we have to get you out of here."

As they run down the stairs, Shoko sees that the past spirits they'd left on their way to the upper floor had been exorcised. There were middle-class spirits and Shoko notes that it was impressive that a manager such as y/n was even able to exorcise them. Her companion leading her abruptly halts once they reach the second floor, causing the shorter girl to bump against her back. 

Then, it happened.

The ceiling bursts open with the black blob of a special grade spirit, along with Satoru and Suguru falling with it. When they collide to the floor, it starts to give out and both girls yell, y/n wrapping her arms around Shoko to protect her, ready to cushion her fall. The floor finally gives, and all of them fall to the ground.

"What are you doing in here?!" Suguru yells at the two girls. "Hurry and leave!"

"Low-grade curses my ass, y/n!" Satoru yells, pointing a finger her way, his glasses long gone.

"I'll explain later. Right now, we have to exorcise the curse."

"We?!" Her classmates simultaneously yelled.

Y/n takes out what looks like a wooden straw and a few pellets from the inside of her suit. She takes one look back at Shoko with a look of determination, before darting up to the special grade spirit in a blink of an eye. She was as if almost as fast as Satoru.

Almost.

All of them were in shock by her movements, even the special grade curse itself was caught off guard when she landed against the side of the blob, only to jump back away and puff the sharp objects to its body.

The blob didn't flinch, but then.

Boom!

Explosions from where it was went off and Satoru and Suguru had to shield themselves from the debris. It was then they snapped out of their stupor and jumped into the battle.

Can you believe it? The strongest sorcerers and an auxiliary manager. . .exorcised a special grade demon?

Back at their high school, y/n approaches Shoko at one of the wooden benches in front of the main entrance, where a few cherry blossoms littered the yard.

"Hey. . ." The manager starts as she approaches Shoko.

"Hey, there. You feeling better?" 

"Yeah, thanks to you."

"Of course. It's my job."

"Speaking of," she pauses so she can sit down beside the shorter girl. "The locations of the mission got switched because there was a curse playing on the paper."

"What?"

"I know right?"

"Wouldn't have Satoru caught that?"

"We think it manifested itself as soon as you guys entered the building. If Satoru did catch it, he probably didn't think it was a big deal."

"Hmm."

They sit together in silence for a moment before Shoko speaks again 

"I take that doesn't mean you're expelled?"

"Ehr, no."

"That's a relief -"

"Quite the opposite."

"What do you mean?"

The young manager turns her body to face Shoko, giving her a serious look. She takes the brunette beauty's hands in hers before speaking.

"Shoko, you know I love you, right?"

"W-what?!" A bright red streak. "What are you going on about. . .of course I do, stupid." 

Shoko looks away before saying the next part. "I love you too." Y/n cups Shoko's cheek gently and urges her to look back at her eyes. "I want you to know that I'm here for you no matter what."

"Why are you saying this all of a sudden? You said it yourself that you're not expelled so - "

"Shoko, they want me to become a sorcerer."

It was like time stood still for the couple. They stare into each other's eyes in the quiet. Only the bellows of the wind and the rustle of the cherry blossoms could be heard.

"Oh" was all the brunette can say.

Meeting Y/n was like a dream to Shoko. She was no longer alone whenever the two boys were on missions. It used to be so boring with her and her own Sensei going over medical discussions on their own. But ever since then, y/n was always there waiting by the vending machines. And if she was going overtime with her managerial work, Shoko would wait for her to come home late into the night and they'd eat dinner together. At least then, they were only apart for a few hours. But, if y/n became a sorcerer. . .sometimes, there'd be missions that would take days, weeks, and even months to execute. 

Can Shoko handle that?

"Are you mad at that?" "Why on earth would I be mad?" Shoko says, carefully removing her hands from her partner's grip. "Are you going to take it? I mean, I thought you held some prejudice against being a sorcerer."

"I don't know." Y/n looks down at her hands. "I never wanted to be a sorcerer because that's how my parents left me. But, when I fought today and they even told me that I was strong... .it makes me want to see how far can I go."

Shoko casts her eyes down, but a small smile plays on her lips.

"I see, then that's your answer then."

"Then, what does that mean between us?"

"Hmm?" Shoko smacks her on the shoulder, to which the other girl rubs the spot. "Why are you worrying? The only thing that's going to change is that I'll be inclined to make your food for you to bring on missions."

"You're not bothered. . . by that?"

"I'd hate it if I'd have to be the one holding you back. If you want to do it, I support you."

One would think that y/n would be relieved or happy, instead, she surprised Shoko by pouting and crossing her arms.

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

"I thought you'd be more upset that you won't get to see me that often anymore. But now I'm thinking you just want to get rid of me!"

Shoko scoffs. "What are you? A kid? You're too old for me to coddle you."

Y/n suddenly stands up to walk away but Shoko grabs her by the wrist and pulls her back down.

"H-hey, what are you going on about - "

Shoko stops talking when she sees the childish face her partner has. Her lips were still in the same pout but it was shaking, trying her best to hold back her tears but it was already running down her face in streams. Her brows furrowed seriously and her gaze fixated on the floor.

The brunette stops teasing her at that moment and opts to hold her girlfriend's hand in silence instead. 

"I -I don't want to be f-far away from y-you. . ."

". . .I know. "

₊˚ ♡

A few years later, Shoko sat down on the wooden benches at the entrance of Jujutsu High near the cherry blossoms. She was careful not to stain her white doctor's coat all the while making sure her long hair didn't hit her face. Her fingers dig into her coat's front pocket to fish out her reliable stress relievers: a pack of cigarettes and her lighter. 

"I thought you quit smoking."

She looks up and sees her tall friend, Satoru towering over her. Beside him was the raven-haired Suguru, both in their teachers' uniforms. 

"Not quite, right Suguru?"

The man in question widens his eyes and glares at her, only for it to be gone the second Satoru whips his head at him. Despite his bandage blindfold, one can feel his judgemental stare.

"You two still go on smoke breaks?! Why am I getting left out?!"

"There he goes again." Suguru rubs the back of his neck.

"The world doesn't revolve around you, idiot. You're busy teaching so naturally there are times we hang out without you. Grow up."

Satoru feigns hurt, putting a large hand over his chest. "Ieiri, that's the meanest thing you've said to me."

"Shoko!"

The three of them turn their heads to the owner of the voice, to find y/n, skipping her way over to them with a big smile on their face. When she finally caught up to them, it was evident that she had just been in quite a battle on her last mission. Her long dark sleeve jujutsu uniform was all covered in dirt with a few tears here and there. Her face was a bit dirty as well. 

"Welcome back," Shoko mutters with a small smile before putting her cig back to her lips. 

The sorcerer puts her hands behind her back and sways in place, beaming at her girlfriends. The two men look at each other and then back at the girls. 

Satoru was the one to speak. "What? Don't be shy. No hugs? No lover's reunion?"

"Y/n has been gone for two days," Suguru adds. "Y/n, is she even treating you right? I'm always available to fill the spot."

With this, the brunette kicks Suguru's shin by instinct, causing him to yelp and hold his leg, jumping in place.

"My pretty Shoko is wearing a white coat and we don't want to get it dirty," Y/n says, to which Satoru and Suguru scoff at the cheesiness.

"My pretty Shoko" Satoru coos while twirling. "Oh, my fabulous Shokomoookoo." 

Ieiri was rubbing her temples in annoyance but there was an amused smile on her nonetheless.

"How about a kiss then?" Suguru suggests and pushes the young sorcerer towards Shoko, almost bumping foreheads.

"Oh, hey." The brunette blushes and puffs smoke to her lover's face.

"Hey. . ." A read streak paints the sorcerer's face as well, then leans in for a kiss on the lips.

"Ahhww, isn't it sweet? A lover's reunion. Suguru, I'm jealous. Come here."

Satoru was making kissy faces at him before Suguru stopped him from getting closer with an extended hand. 

The couple could only giggle at them.

˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖˖⁺‧₊˚ ♡ ˚₊‧⁺˖

(❀❛ ֊ ❛„)♡ reblogs and comments are appreciated//do not repost my work anywhere // more from my drafts soon - shoko's so underrated

[spankingwishes2]

No Longer in Hot Water

@agbbswts wrote:

"Hey! There you are. I've come up with a great idea to spare our water bill and also contribute to help the planet by saving energy. Every time before you wash, I will slipper your bare bottom long and hard so that you won't want to use hot water on your blistered buttocks. And with a bit of luck, you'll get used to taking cold showers, even in winter. Isn't that bright? Come on now, climb over my lap. Your ecologic duty starts today!"

***

She told me this in a light and cheerful tone but I knew she was serious - and that the coming spanking would be as well.  She’d drawn me a cold bath which I was in no hurry to get in, even in August.

“Just let me know when you want to get in that bath - and how very much you want to do so!” she chirped.  It wasn’t long until ‘I’m ready’ had turned into ‘Please!  Please!  Let me get in the bath now!’

She just laughed.  “The longer I take, the more the water is warming up a bit… but not like your bottom is!”  She’d said she wanted my bottom ‘blistered’ and she wasn’t kidding!

At last she let me up and I raced to dunk my burning cheeks in the cool water - it felt great! 

Of course, to avoid a repeat performance, I had to get in completely - which was a bit shocking!

“With a bit of luck you’ll get used to it,” she told me.  “Maybe not today.”

“You… we… are going to do this again?” I asked.  Clearly, she couldn’t do this every time!

“Oh, yes,” she mused.  “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow…”

“How many times?!!” I asked with some alarm.

“Hmmm, seven, it think.  One week’s worth.  Baths or showers.”

“And are you going to tell me what this is all about?”

“Thursday getting ready for work, I discovered you had used up all the hot water - again.  I had to make do with cold.  Now you have to, too,” she complained.  I tried to sputter an apology.  “Save it,” she went on.  “I figure you’ve done this half-a-dozen-plus times… hence the seven spankings.”

It’s awful when I can’t argue with her.

“When you’re all clean, you can put your nose in the corner - or between my thighs,” she informed me.  I knew which one I’d choose - and not just because ‘in the corner’ would lead to more spanks when I wanted out.

****

Seven spankings gave her way to much time to think.  For my third spanking - a bath - she decided while I was in the tub that she wanted to spank my wet bottom when I got out.  “But I’m already sore!  You spanked really hard!”

“Yes, I did,” she acknowledged.

“You should have thought of this before you spanked me!” I complained.

“But I did, silly!  Slippering you on a wet, sore bottom - twice the fun!”

“Will this at least count as two of my spankings?”

“No,” was all she said.

***

Having spanked my sore, wet bottom, she decided that she’d like my remaining spankings on a sore bottom as well.  “To be fair, I’ll make you a deal.  I’ll spank you the night before with my hairbrush so you’re still sore in the morning.  Then, after your morning bath, I’ll dry your bottom with my slipper,” she ‘proposed’.

“No showers, then?”

"No, all baths… you’ll just have to get up earlier.  But!  I will count that as two spankings!” she offered.  I really had no choice but to accept in any case.  “I’ll keep the other two baths - or showers - ‘in reserve’, in case I need them sometime,” she explained.  “Maybe even without a spanking.

“And!  I’ll give you a day off between - I mean, your bottom can only get so sore, right?”

I was glad to hear that, at least - I was ready to take a hot shower again!

***

In the end, her plan cured me of using up all the hot water - especially since she said the next offense would result in a similar week of discipline.  That wasn’t quite all of the spankings I got.  The first was not my fault at all - I got the strap standing in a cold bath...

...before we figured out that all the hot water had gone to the washing machine, which she had run just before showering.  Once we’d discovered the mistake, I did benefit from several very generous apologies that she made on her knees.

The second I did truly earn and the aftermath was even a bit more elaborate when I started the dishwasher while she was in the shower - with a full head of shampoo.  It was a bit of a shock, she says, and left her with no alternative than to continue.  She saw to it that I was very well spanked and then had me spend the week ‘apologizing’ on demand, only to be sent for a cold shower after each - with no reciprocation whatsoever!  Another mistake I haven’t repeated.

And, in there somewhere, was another one - again, one I earned.  It must have been when the water bill arrived.

“Nope,” I could resist telling her, “No lower.”

“What isn’t?  The water bill?” she asked.

“We used just the same amount of water.  It’s the natural gas for the water-heater that you must have been thinking we’d save money on,” I smirked.

“You brat,” she said, swatting at my bottom as I walked past.

And then that evening she gave me an 'exemplary' slippering.

[vera-king-hrfl]

I'll just leave this here. The whole chapter will be posted tomorrow.

Tav gets a lesson on tiefling anatomy, and Rolan gets off. This is just a snippet.

Please forgive me if my tiefling biology isn't completely canon. I was rolling with it.

He sighs sharply, a shaky sound, and then swallows, wide yellow eyes still searching your face. “Really? I have that effect on you? But… well… I suppose I had better give you another demonstration then, hadn’t I?” His expression firms, and he sets his own cup down decisively, sweeping you into his arms and pressing his lips to yours. The kiss is searing, powerful, and you moan as his tongue dances against yours, pushing your hands up into his hair as his beautiful hands clutch at you, roving your body, kneading and caressing you. He’s also trimmed his claws, you notice dimly, feeling his fingertips dig into your back. There isn’t anything he can do about his teeth though, and those little points prick your lips and tongue delightfully as you pull the leather tie from his carefully coiffed hair and let it fall around your faces. The hardness is back between his legs, nudging you through the layers of robes, and there’s a particular rumbling in his chest. You are lost in the sound and smell and taste of him when your fingers brush against the base of his horns and his whimper into your mouth sounds almost like pain. Simultaneously, his tail jerks, hitting one of the cups on the table and sending it crashing into the wall. You gasp and draw back, eyes wide and fearful that you’ve done something inappropriate.

 He takes a deep breath with a beatific smile and sighs before opening his eyes. Seeing your expression, he instantly looks contrite. “I’m sorry, did I frighten you? It has a mind of its own sometimes.”

 You blink at him, then the realization dawns. He means his tail. “Oh, no, I thought I… I didn’t know if it was alright to touch your horns. I’ve been trying not to. Did that hurt you?”

 He chuckles softly, “no, quite the opposite. I’m just very sensitive there. It felt good, believe me. Your hands are wonderful.” He looks at you thoughtfully for a moment. “I should have asked earlier… have you ever been with a tiefling before? Like this, I mean. Intimately.”

 You shake your head, ”no, never. But I’ll do anything you like and avoid whatever bothers you. You may just have to show me. I know… some tieflings don’t like their horns touched. Is that just like, by strangers, or in public? Or are you a special case? I know a certain lady who likes to smack people with her tail, but she almost murdered the last person who grabbed it. I’m actually very curious, but I didn’t want to make you self-conscious.”

 He grins, flashing the points of his teeth. “Hmmm very well. I will give you a brief anatomy lesson then. But I think I’ll have to take off some of these clothes. Perhaps you should join me. So I don’t feel self-conscious, of course.” He steps back and reaches for the tie on the side of his robe, and you blush, but do the same with a little smile. He’d already seen almost all of you anyway that morning on the beach. You slip out of your robe and decide to rid yourself of the under tunic as well, and soon you’re standing before him in only the breast binding and knee length linen knickers that you were wearing when he found you on the beach. He pulls off his own robe and unlaces his shirt collar before dragging it over his head, his hands guiding the fabric over his horns. Both garments join yours in a growing pile on the floor. He kicks off his sandals and, in only his breeches and belt now, goes to sit on the blankets, patting the spot beside him. “Let the lesson begin.”

[hikennosabo]

trimax vol 14 random thoughts (ch 5-8)

okay enough stalling... let's get this done... HOO BOY

chapter 5:

i love how vash is drawn in these panels... and vash waking up from hearing meryl's words... WAAHHHHH...

GET UP COWARD (<- lyric from my chemical romance's 2022 single 'the foundations of decay' which i may or may not be considering for a vash playlist)

oh, i LOVE this image of knives covering his face...

hmhmhm... the way knives addresses the other plants is... gentle, almost?

"sorrow and grief," huh... over the humans trying to communicate with them? those are the kinds of emotions this scenario is bringing out? there is something there but... i don't quite know what it is...

uwahhh... i do love this image...

"we were united in hatred" -> "i feel a murmur of fear"... hmmm. sounds like knives himself, who buried his fear underneath hatred... am i connecting any dots???

but fear in communicating with humans... fear because communication is scary in general? fear because of the abuse humans have put plants through? fear of uncertainty of what this communication will result in?

the tiniest merylmilly u can imagine...

they ask if it's safe, but it's not like vash cares if it's safe, he's been prepared to die for several volumes now, so... he's probably thinking "if i die i die," lol. (<- in pain)

this is a cute expression...

"don't touch me," he says...

knives trying to incorporate himself with the fused plants - now it's HIS turn to go "if i die i die" i guess LJSDKLFDS... both him and vash risking it all for their ideals. they really are brothers...

vash's "grant me that ticket"... it doesn't directly address god, but it feels like a prayer nonetheless.

chapter 6:

wah... meryl's strength gives vash strength... wahhh... is this the first time they've... well, "talked about it" isn't the right phrase, but is this the first time vash understands what meryl was going through that time when she flinched away from him?

"what matters is that you communicate. that you understand the person next to you is breathing and existing." ugh, fuck, i can feel myself getting weepy again.

the people getting good AND bad memories from the plants.. good! good! they said a few volumes ago that most(?) of the population has gathered in this city, so this really is everyone?! individual normal people couldn't do much about plant abuse, but now that EVERYONE understands, things can change! they can acknowledge what's happened, and they can change, and move forward!!

and vash being the bridge, the point of commonality between humans and plants... uaaghgh it's so interesting because for a long time vash's reputation among the humans was one of destruction. but in this moment everyone understands who he really is and what he wants. ueueeueueue....

also. this pattern of receiving traumatic memories via feathers, and to come out the other side not with fear and hatred but with increased compassion and understanding... sounds like what happened between vash and meryl, doesn't it?

"i've never made a promise like this before, but today i'd like to try" UAAGHGHHG.G U AHGHGHGHG.

haha. hey. why does it look like he's been crying. i'm going to throw up.

i don't know if the rest of this post will be comprehensible.

chapter 7:

what do i even say here.

hey remember the chapter title "king of loneliness." i'm gonna go eat rocks now.

even now, he's stubbornly clinging to his ideals, thinking he's in too deep, that he's gone too far to turn back...

oh, this is getting to me, the way it's worded. "caught up in something too big" and the panel of them as kids. they were just kids when this all started. this was too big for them. knives was a kid, a traumatized, scared kid who made a very bad, very destructive decision, and he has lived his life up until this point digging his heels in, growing more and more twisted, more controlling and violent, trying to justify his own actions to himself because how do you carry something like that.

"kill me, vash, there's nowhere else for me to go." literally two chapters ago vash said "where am i going? what's there left to see?" i'm fucking eating rocks.

"even though we were apart for so long, we were still brothers. but i was the one who broke away..." knives looks so pained when he thinks this. now, after all this, he's finally feeling regret, or letting himself feel regret. in the last possible moment.

...or so he thinks. vash has a clear shot, the opportunity to kill knives, and knives wants vash to kill him, he expects it - but vash protects him instead. with his last bullet. despite knives's blade going through his torso. despite everything. despite EVERYTHING!!!!! vash has EVERY REASON to hate knives, to KILL knives, and he STILL chooses not to!!!! i'm not okay i'm crying again

in 98, rem tells vash "take care of knives"... this is pretty much the same thing... i don't want to say this is necessarily another thing nightow took from 98 because of course this is what she said, what else would she have said at that time?

the beginning of the chapter had vash struggling to remember what rem said, but the preceding pages imply it's knives remembering her words... or maybe they both are...

this is fucking getting to me, fuck, i'm crying again!!! fuck!!!!

also, oh, chronica IS still alive... honestly i was (and still am) so caught up in the twins that that information just immediately left my brain the first time around LMAO...

i am so. fucking. unwell. about knives's expressions in this scene. he's feeling so many things at once. i just... the fact that vash protects knives and picks him up to haul him away... he ISN'T leaving knives on his own, even in the end, even after everything that's happened... and knives is just. what IS he feeling? shock, disbelief, regret... love, can i say love?? love for his brother?? the love between them that never went away, despite everything?? i am gonna fucking throw up

i don't know where to put this in the post because it occurred to me while i was proofreading, but knives stabbed vash, felt shock and regret, and then acted to save him... which sounds awfully similar to what happened between rem and vash, huh?

this, with knives's hair turning black... new hair, new outlook, right?

will you drive me back, can you take me home... (<- lyrics from gerard way's 'brother' from his 2014 solo album 'hesitant alien')

oh, the fact that they sprouted wings like this in the stampede s1 finale is gonna make it hit SOOOO MUCH HARDER once THIS scene gets adapted. this is such a beautiful spread, a beautiful moment... i'm gonna cry again...

LIVIO!!!! TO THE RESCUE!!!! also... that's not a double fang, whose gun is that?

WOLFWOOD!!!!! WWWAHHHHGHGHGHH!!!!! the "turn around and he's gone" scene is SUCH a cliche but FUCK!!!!!! IT'S GETTING TO ME!!!!!!

chapter 8:

i feel so normal i feel so normal (affirmations) (lying)

i can't. i can't type. i'm crying too much. this is love. it's just love.

his last act, knowing that it will kill him, is an act of love. love for his brother. so vash can eat. so the doctor and his kid can eat. and as time goes on it'll grow bigger and be able to feed more people. food as a love language. i'm crying and sobbing.

knives understands he has no place in this world, especially after everything he's done, and the world needs vash more than him... that vash can't live in the world as long as they're together... he doesn't even tell vash himself that he intended to disappear... it's his choice, he walks his path with pride... but i'd like to believe they were able to spend some time together before this. just being brothers. TALKING. eating together. sleeping next to each other. hugging?? apologizing?? knives finally being a good brother after so long and taking care of vash?? making up for lost time. i'd like to imagine it. let me imagine it.

i've been thinking this for a while but i actually do think that vash would forgive knives if knives expressed regret and asked for forgiveness. because vash is jesus and all, and that's how sin and forgiveness work in christianity, if you believe and repent you will be forgiven, etc... i don't know if vash would forgive knives right away - he is very, very human after all - but i definitely think he could. and maybe he did. maybe they had that talk.

phew. okay, i'm finished crying now, and BOY was it a big cry. not any easier the second time around. anyway.

does he really need a wig? if he doesn't spike up his hair, that would be effective by itself, since it's one of his identifiers according to the earth forces...

DOES THIS CONFIRM THAT VASH CAN'T GROW A BEARD WITHOUT EFFORT? like since his plant powers are completely drained he can no longer grow a beard???

AHHHH... VASH'S BIG SMILE!!!!! and everyone's wearing their old clothes, and with a bunch of guys comically chasing vash around, yeah, this is really all for callback's sake... we've come so far, and full circle.

meryl's lecture to him is so typically meryl LOL... he DID NOT keep his promise LMAO

the fucking jojo sound effects are cracking me up HDSFKSFJDFS

also everyone who complained about stampede """changing""" meryl into a reporter owes me $100 right fucking now. that was a complaint i saw SO MUCH. i thought it was a bit strange myself, but i figured orange had a reason, and now i know. those complainers know NOTHING!!! NOTHING!!!!!!

meryl frantically reading from her script and milly's big smile... cute... also WHAT DO YOU MEAN WARDROBE MALFUNCTIONS LMAO?? are they planning on stripping him?? vash the stampede nip slip???

AAHHHHH LIVIO GREW HIS HAIR OUT AGAIN!!!!! and he's at wolfwood's grave... oh fuck i said i was done crying GODDAMMIT!!!!

okay. okay i'm done for real now. man. man. what do i say. what can i say.

"the same song of humanity still sang." and what a beautiful song it is.

i don't really know how to conclude this post... just. wow. what a journey this was. i don't think i've ever cried this much over a manga, lol... i... had a really good time!

[starseneyes]

Chenford REWIND - Lucy Chen / Tim Bradford - The Rookie - Season 4 Eps 10 & 11

Howdy! I had a request for 11, but since I've already done 9 (and didn't want 10 hanging out by its lonesome), I thought I'd pair them together.

SPOILER ALERT: If you're new here, please know that spoilers are part of the gig. Yes, it's an unpaid, voluntary, unsanctioned gig... but I take it seriously (well, seriously enough). So, there'll be spoilers of these episodes and all the episodes before. But I try to keep my foreknowledge out of these.

If you're ready (and I know I'm ready), it's time to dive in!

"Heart Beat" AKA Kojo Sniffs a Bitch

Peroxide Princess at Tim's

I can't tell you how hard I rolled my eyes when I saw her in his house in the first place. Like, okay, I get that they're adults, yada, yada... but the immature teenager in me wanted to throw bleach at the screen to try to sterilize Tim's house remotely of her gritty, sandy presence.

Like, I need to find a can of some cleaner that'll erase her... like a "Bitch BeGone" in a spray bottle.

Tim's making breakfast, and she feels like she has to remind him she doesn't like it. But, Tim's pretty good at taking note of those details. And it's not for you, Beach Bitch. It's for Kojo! The bestest puppers in the world.

And Kojo. doesn't. like. Bitch Barbie. at. all.

Good instincts, Kojo! Good boy!

"How long have you had him?" "Uh, a year. He was Lucy's but she couldn't keep him."

Because Daddy and Mommy have to deal with joint custody for a while. You, Side Piece, can see yourself out the door any time. All you'll ever be is a footnote at the bottom of one page of the book of Chenford's love.

Yes, I'm in a salty mood. But at least my ire's directed at a fictional character, right?

"So, how's it going with Ashley?" "Good. Although there was some weirdness this morning."

You mean the fact that you're dating her instead of Lucy? Yeah, we spotted that weirdness, too.

But aside from that, I want to mention the awesomeness that is Season 4 Tim talking "personal life" with Lucy in the Shop without hesitation. He's so comfortable with her, now, that this particular rule no longer exists.

Plus, if he's talking to Lucy about his placeholder girlfriend, he can further distance himself from any feelings for Lucy.

"I don't think she likes Kojo." "So you broke up with her? That's, that's too bad."

Boom!! Lucy knows how it should be. Now, all you've gotta do it dismiss Not-Lucy and get on the right track, Tim. Kojo's trying to guide you to the right path. Listen to the pup!

"I liked her." "Since when? Last time we talked about her you gave me grief because she's a lifeguard."

This from "He's a fireman" Tim Bradford!? REALLY!? And suddenly getting "rigorous training" at the Fire Academy is good enough for you? Wow, you really like to make excuses for this girl to justify why you're dating *checks notes* a lifeguard.

Also, not used to Lucy giving Tim grief. Like, I thought that was an interesting line the first time I heard it, because Lucy's usually a very open person. Unless there's some sub-conscious jealousy afoot. Hmmm.

"But you know what, it is a moot point because she does not like Kojo. First of his name. King of canines. Destroyer of chew toys. So, clearly, Ashley has got to go."

Lucy "the right one" Chen, everyone! Speaking for every member of the Chenford fandom in that moment.

The Temporary Inconvenience Calls the Wife for Help

Lucy's surprise at hearing Ashley's voice is evident, and I'd be wondering what hoops she went through to get that number, m'self. Sure, you can meet at a party anytime, but folks don't just give out phone numbers willy nilly. So, who gave it to her?

And I'm going to skip most of this conversation because we all know Plot Device isn't gonna last.

"Kojo is just like... well, I mean, he's kind of just like Tim."

I'm sorry. I have to pause and get into the psychology of this a little. Because Lucy. Picked. A. Dog. Like. Tim.

Like, she picked out someone she wanted to live with her, to be a part of her daily life, to possibly cuddle in bed with her... who reminds her of Tim.

Lucy, you're a psych major. You can figure this out!

"He's big, gruff, a whole lot of bark, but you know, underneath all of it, he's a, he's a sweetheart."

Lucy is allowing herself to think about Tim in all his facets, and as she does, she can't help but fall into the best parts of him. And as soon as she utters that last line, her brow furrows and she physically turns away from him.

Why? Perhaps because thinking of his softer side felt safe. But as soon as her mind started moving, it went places she (and he) avoid in Season 4.

One. Damn. Spark. in episode 1 and the two of them are running scared.

"You know, you should tell Tim how you feel."

So should you, Lucy Chen.

Lucy Meets Chris the CrabApple

Moment one and I want to put a hot stake through his heart and call it a night.

Like, we can stake him, right? That's okay because it's fictional and he technically won't feel it?

I mean, I've heard there were people who didn't absolutely hate Chris at the first moment. Like, I never hated Rachel. I liked her. I just didn't want her for Tim forever. He needed that transitional girl.

But Ashley and Chris just get under my skin in the worst way.

Some people might argue that Lucy and Tim "started at odds", but that was different. Tim was Lucy's training officer and took a hard-nosed approach. Chris is just an asshole.

James and Wesley Go Out

Look, I know this is a Chenford Meta, but I have to call it out because I love it. I love watching these characters slowly become a family.

"Why is my girlfriend calling you?"

"Because I'm dating her to get away from you. She's not supposed to close the loop!"

Like, seriously, the boy is delusional right now.

"And you're so concerned about my love life because..." "Because I don't wanna drive around on patrol with you while you are moping about screwing this up."

Lucy is being a good friend. She thinks that Tim isn't interested in her (because, obviously he wouldn't be dating someone else if he was, right? Oy, these two are idiots).

"Look, if you like this girl, you should listen to her."

But if he really liked this girl, it wouldn't take Lucy stepping in to help.

Think about it—she helped Tim with Rachel with the birthday present. She's helping Tim with Ashley with Kojo. Tim so would be dumped lickity split without Lucy's help.

Take the hint, Timmy.

"When have I ever moped? I don't even know how." "Mmhmm."

Why do we spell "moped" and "moped" the same way? Like, "he moped while riding his moped" is a real sentence. English is a dumb language.

Also, fans of 5x10 (and many other episodes) note that Tim does this eyeroll quite a bit and usually in relation to Lucy... good or bad.

"End Game" AKA A Safe Home

"... the clown from the DA's office..."

Yes, Tamara. Yes. Speak truth, little sister. That clown doesn't need to be anywhere near our girl Lucy.

"Tyler's lucky he has you looking out for him. I knew I was."

That's what Lucy does. That's who Lucy is. For all the times her family didn't look out for her, she's going to look out for others times a million.

"Everything okay?"

I love how he looks from Lucy to Chris, like, "Do you need me?" And when she shows she's fine, he hangs back and lets her do her thing. He knows Lucy can defend herself. But he's not going far in case she needs to tap him in.

"Can you believe the nerve of that guy, calling me dramatic?"

Tim tries to look like he has no idea what she's talking about... but c'mon. He knows his girl. And she does have a flare for the dramatic... especially when she's been up all night and is dosing caffeine like a drug.

"Um, do not start."

Married. They talk to each other like they're a couple all the time in Season 4, and they don't even realize it. They've spent so much time filing away that moment between them in his house that they've convinced themselves they're immune to it... the pull that's drawing them nearer one another.

"Exactly how many cups of coffee did you have this morning?" "I'm just going to apologize to you right now." *Tim eyeroll* "Um, it's gonna be a really long day for you, and, and I'm sorry."

Hey! The eye roll of "I don't know how to mope" is back already! But, seriously, Tim, when y'all eventually get your act together, you might want to invest in decaf.

"Alright, how do you want to handle this?"

He's letting her take the lead, and I love that. Tim knows how to do this, of course, but he understands the bond between Lucy and Tamara is strong.

It'd be easy for Tim to give instructions, even though he's no longer her TO. He doesn't even giver her an anecdote or experience—because he trusts Lucy.

"I know what to do as a cop, and I know how to do it as a roommate, but, you know, those are different approaches." "Just be a friend. And if you need a cop, tag me in." "Thank you."

I love her little head tilt to him. There's something so comfortable about it, so relaxed, so lived-in. It's so far beyond Sergeant/Officer relationships.

And, even in a moment of kindness, Tim's brain slips into a sports reference. I know I keep saying it, but someday you'll come to appreciate those, Lucy.

Plus, in a shallow moment, can I appreciate Tim being in her apartment, again? It's truly the little things.

"And if you were desperate enough, there was always Swiping."

The silent communication on this is beautiful. Tim furrows his brow and cocks his head. Lucy looks back to Tim, and he barely had to shake her head before they both know... they don't know.

And watch Tim in the background as he processes what it is. I've said it before, but Eric Winter is Tim Bradford when the camera is rolling, even when he's out of focus.

"You okay?"

He's getting so good at reading her. I mean, he clocked this one in seconds. And we all know how important it is for him to know that she's okay.

There was a time he'd bark at her to try to get her to focus up, but we’re so far past that.

"As close as we are, there's a lot she won't talk about." "Look, don't' take it personally. She might just have a hard time opening up to you."

Like her future adoptive dad, right Tim? Seriously, I have always seen a lot in common between the two, even though they are completely unique individuals.

But, I do think Tim's life experiences will help him be a better Dad to Tamara someday... if Chenford get their act together, of course.

"But I'm sure Tamara will share when she's ready to."

Ah, Tim Bradford, how I love you finishing sentences with prepositions. And I don't mean this in jest! It was drilled into my head in grade school to remove that happenstance from my work, right?

But if you're writing scripts... people don't speak in perfect English all the time unless that's the world you've created. If you're aiming to tell a story in our world with characters that ring true, their dialogue can't be perfect or it starts to come off as unbelievable.

Yes, I know there are writers like Sorkin and others who have their own dialogue style entirely, but I would argue that's creating a world separate from ours where everyone speaks in a certain manner.

So, I get a special warm-and-fuzzy feeling with the dialogue, especially Tim's, sometimes. He's so bloody real.

"Hey. How are you holding up?" "It's just a lot. Being back here."

Lucy knows psychology, but she also knows trauma, and poor Tamara had a lot. Yes, they are roommates, but they are so much more than that.

Lucy is the first adult Tamara trusted. The first one to really fulfill their promises. The first to give her a truly safe space.

We know Lucy had this place before Jackson moved in, so she could make the rent on her own. Taking on a roommate was more for Jackson than it was for her.

So, after his death, she likely took it all back on herself and didn't charge Tamara a thing to live there. Lucy really has taken on a motherly role with Tamara—giving her space to grow and heal.

And, oh, who knows more about that than Lucy Chen? With Tamara, Lucy has created an environment she wishes she'd had growing up—one filled with love and acceptance.

But that doesn't mean she won't check in. Good moms do, right?

"Are you okay here?" "Yeah. Yeah. I'm good." "Okay. Alright."

Melissa O'Neil nails the "mom tone" of not-quite-believing-you-but-letting-you-go-because-she-doesn't-have-enough-info-to-hold-you-back

"Hey. Are you okay?" "No."

Tamara hugs her mom—melting into her because it's too fucking much. And Lucy Chen is there to hold her adoptive daughter, to give her the support she needs, to never crowd, but always make herself available.

Whenever she gives Tamara a sibling, that's gonna be the cutest family ever, right!?

Chris is Full Squick

I've heard there were people who really liked him for her at some point. And more power to them. But, for me, he reminds me of some of my mom's exes and it's not a good comparison.

Like, there were guys who'd buddy up to us because they wanted to sleep with my Mom. That's what this whole scenario feels like, because I didn't see any real change indicated in Chris that makes this choice make sense.

It feels like Tim's helping this kid hoping to win favor with Lucy in a manipulative manner. And I could be reading way too much into it. But this scene made me mad uncomfortable the first time I watched it.

"Thank you." "For?" "Everything. For all your help. For this bed. For getting justice for Becca." "You did that." "And thanks for helping me leave it all behind. Because if it weren't for you, I probably would have ended up like Becca eventually."

"There but for the grace of God go I." I've thought this so often in my life—that if not for the kindness of others, we would have lost everything.

My husband was laid off the same day I had the preparatory internal ultrasound for our fourth IUI. We've been trying to get pregnant for several years with no success, but the doctors were optimistic.

We literally had 12 hours to decide if we were going through with the insemination, because I had to give myself an ovidrel shot that night. We talked about it, prayed on it, and went for it.

Twins. Twin baby boys who were the greatest gifts after years of heartache. But how could we provide for them on my income alone?

We worked through it during my maternity leave. Matthew's parents had sponsored him to return to school to get his teaching license. He was a few months away from graduation, and I was prepped to go back to work. We had a plan.

Until I almost died when the twins were 9 weeks old. A life-saving surgery and weeks of recovery later, we had twins on specialized formula we couldn't afford because I could no longer breastfeed.

My father took us in. I paid mortgage on an empty house for 10 months while we turned off the utilities so we could afford the boys' formula. So many people stepped in to help us, to give to get preemie clothes for the boys, to help with the medical bills.

The NICU completely forgave the $45,000 facility bill, leaving us only with the $77,000 doctors' bill, which was mostly covered by insurance. It took us 2 years to pay off our portion on monthly plans for my sweet Middle's 12-day stay.

But... imagine all that without my father, without our friends, without the doctor who saved my life, without the local twin organization that donated formula and toys to the kids, without the pediatricians' office that donated formula to us, without the stranger who saw us walking and handed me $50 when I couldn't afford groceries...

I've seen the other side. I've heard stories of people who tragically lacked the support we had. There but for the grace of God go I.

Tamara's situation is completely different, of course... except that someone who owed her nothing came alongside her to give the support only she could give.

Lucy saw a "girl in trouble" and became her lifeline. She became her family. She became her home.

"Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore. You're safe."

"Safe". Lucy and Tamara's whole relationship began because Tamara stole Lucy's safe place—her car. But as soon as Lucy saw someone needed "safe" more, she parted with her safe space.

Now, "safe" is a warm bed and a door that locks, and someone who cares about her. That's what Lucy wanted for Tamara from the very beginning, right?

She wanted this girl who had struggled not because of her own actions, but because of her parents' choices... to be safe.

"But at some point, you might wanna talk to someone before it sneaks up on you."

Lucy knows a lot about trauma, and Tamara knows it. I think that's part of what makes Lucy's statement here so powerful. It's not hollow, filled with the thoughts of someone who thinks they know better. Lucy is the voice of experience, here.

And she's trying to pass the wisdom down to her daughter without Tamara having to go through the pain Lucy did to learn it. Isn't that what we all try to do as parents?

We try to guide our kids to not make our same mistakes, but also give them the knowledge and wisdom we gained when we did.

Feeling a little sentimental on this one. Those of you who've been around know that while I thought Chenford was "cute" at first glance, I wasn't really hooked from moment one. But I was hooked on Tamara and Lucy's relationship.

I was so badly bullied in school. So lonely. So once I was a Senior, I found Sophomores to adopt. They were my girls, and nobody better mess with them, because I was a Senior, and I finally had some power. I was determined to use it for good.

I've stayed in touch with all three. One's married with three beautiful boys. One is married with two sweet, super smart kids. And the other is engaged to the love of her life, and gearing up to be a kickass stepmom. They've gone completely different directions in their careers and lives, and I'm so damn proud. They've all made their way.

Some of the greatest things we can give others are our time and attention—our compassion and empathy.

Watching Lucy give this girl the home she wishes she'd had, the security and safety to knows Tamara lacked, and the Found Family that often sticks closer than blood... it struck a nerve. A good one.

Thank you so much for reading this little Meta, and to the folks who requested 4x11. Can't wait to see you on the next!

[pistachiozombie]

Hi hiiii Just wanted to hop on to say your art is absolutely gorgeous, and your animations give me motivation to start learning animations (ive been putting it off for so longgg). Like thye are literally so cute and smooth and <333 Your oc's are so so so CUTEE and i checked out your comic!! I lOVE how you draw Bilbo (i may be a bit biased, he is my favourite-est boi ever) and honestly, everyone. I forgot the elf dude's name (im so sorry i have trash memory, i forget my own oc's names AH) but his design is awesome!! LOVE how you do lineart and shading btw, it is so nice to look at! I mean, all of your art is really nice to look at, i just wanna gobble it up.

Do you think you'd be down to draw some more Bagginshield someday? If not, I will still gobble up your art, Leanna and Bofur are so adorablee. I used to not be into oc's as much but your art got me into Oc's a lot ngl!

Sooo hmmm that's all :D Love your art, hope you have a good day :D

Oh my goodness hello! Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and kind message! Waking up to this definitely helped me get started with my day a little faster. ♥ I wish you luck on your animation endeavors! It's intimidating and redundant at first, but once you get your own flow going, it comes to you naturally. I highly recommend "Animators Survival Kit". Have you seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit? A classic, but same animator shows you how it's done in that book. Very good resource for 2D animators. Growing up with Disney and Don Bluth, I ended up fawning over strictly 2D animation and not tweened, puppeted or rigged. Equal work goes into all forms of art, but unfortunately, I haven't been able to enjoy that style as much as I want to. It just isn't for me. But that doesn't mean it won't click with you! Try all sorts of different ways of animation and see what you like most. Try not to get frustrated when it doesn't come out looking like [*insert any Spirited Away scene*] at first. As for the comic, thank you! I can't wait to post more pages and show you Sven's history of pain and suffering :D Partially kidding, but there is a lot to come so I hope you are looking forward to that as well! Maybe one day it will get popular enough to release plushies omg

I'm always down to draw Bagginshield, but don't get requests often to do so, and a lot of you out there have already done some wonderful art of them that I would have a hard time thinking of a pose that hasn't already been done lol! It also explains why I am in sort of a uninspired Bofur x Leanna hibernation ;-;

Cheers to you♥

[5ivebyfive]

re: q's after reading chapter 12

can u talk a bit about that scene with kim showing up to trini's apartment? i mean, it's of course pretty evident (kissing slowly, asking to be held...), but i would love to hear your thoughts/process. tia!

Hmmm. I'm thinking about what I can say without revealing too much of what you're supposed to find out later...but I am happy to talk about this scene because it's my favorite in the chapter.

So up until this point, Kim has been...well a huge bitch about everything. Somewhat justified...just..not in how she handles it. But she's angry, and she's hurt, and she doesn't know how to deal with those feelings. She doesn't know how to deal with them in a way that isn't so obnoxious. She's like a child really. Kids aren't great at regulating their emotions. They have to learn to do that. Kim never learned. So anyway. Moving to that night.

Kim, despite how she handled it and reacted to it, was betrayed. It's fair to say. Trini kept this from her for months all while trying to build Kim's trust in her. All Kim knows is that she doesn't know how to trust. Trini said trust me, trust me, trust me...and in the end it was a lie. So she felt like the rug was pulled out from beneath her. And her way of dealing with that is anger and rage and blame. Recklessly.

But even she runs out of energy. When she showed up at Trini's apartment, she was at the bottom of all of those feelings. The rage was gone. She's been pushed aside her whole life. In her eyes, everyone abandons her. They don't stay. She loses them. Now she's lost Trini, and she doesn't know how to handle it. And they are so drawn to each other in every way. They can't be apart even when they are mad at each other.

Kim said Trini was her best friend, and that's true. And Kim has never had a best friend. She doesn't know what to do when she needs her best friend, but it's the same person that betrayed her. So she goes to Trini anyway.

Kim has deep, hard feelings that she hides really well. Feelings she can't understand or put into words. She knows she feels better around Trini. And she wants to feel better. She wants to forget. But she's still so hurt and angry. So for Kim, going to Trini isn't about getting laid. She needs comfort. She can't ask for it. She can't go to anyone else for it. So she finds her best friend. She kisses Trini the way she does, because, even though she doesn't realize it, it anchors her. And she needs an anchor badly.

She doesn't want to talk or argue, she definitely doesn't want sex. She wants closeness. So she asks Trini if they can sleep. She isn't going to say she needs to be held, ever. But she asks in her own way. And Trini can't deny Kim anything, so she does.

But, remember, Kim is very drunk. She would have never done any of this sober. So when she wakes up and she's in Trini's bed, in Trini's arms, she's sober and...well, thoughts I can't reveal yet, and she leaves. She can't bear to acknowledge any of it with Trini.

There is so much to learn about Kim still, and the way her mind and feelings work. Hopefully I didn't give too much away, but despite Kim's outrageous personality, she has feelings too. And a lot has to happen for her to be able to understand them.

[twst-drabbles]

Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉

This isn't a request but more on the caretaker psych.

Does the caretaker ever get whiplash when they look at their boys?

Like when they were first brought home and grown up.Also has the caretaker ever said they love them.

Thank you for the janitor.I had a very similar thought thank you for making it a reality

Hmmm let's see.

Contrary to how the Caretaker is like in the house pet au, in the sanctuary au, they're a little more respectful. Since the pets are fully intelligent and can articulate quite clearly, it's easier to treat them as fully capable of taking care of their own things. Basically, they're more roommate like than anything, but they are somewhat limited due to their tiny size, so the Caretaker does have to grab them like the little stinkers they are to get stuff done. That and they haven't fully awakened their magical abilities, so there's that.

I used to be able to grab you in my hands. Used to have to clean up your rooms when all you little rascals refused to get along. Tiny little things, only needing some help and being unashamed to demand it, only for me to say "take care of your shit," when all of you thought you were my boss. Often I was tense, anticipating a change, waiting for your forms to suddenly get big and then I'd have to look into my savings to see if I could expand my house. Never once did I think you'd leave. I knew you were going to stick with me, no matter how much you complained. All I had to do was reach out and you'd still be in my hands. But now, well, you don't want to. You can't. Otherwise, clinging to my hand would've killed me too, back in those horrible houses.

Stream of consciousness writings! So yeah, some whiplash, along with regret, frustration at the fact they had to grow rather than it being a natural process.

As for the love you, no I don't think so. It can felt through actions, certainly, but to physically say I love you is...hard. And certainly gotten even harder when the Caretaker's mental health took a bigger hit from when the pets were gone. The apathy they feel when they're deep in their depressive episodes kinda just messed them up a bit, making them feel rather out of touch with their emotions. They're just going with the flow, not quite there but still going, so saying "I love you," would feel, not genuine. At least to the Caretaker. To casually throw around the word when they don't properly feel the emotional weight of them would be insulting. So, they can't say it. Instead, they'll let the pets come to their own conclusions about it.

And you're welcome, the Janitor au is certainly fun.

[lumine-no-hikari]

Dear Sephiroth: (a letter to a fictional character, because why not) #257

I must have come up a little bit from the funk today, because I had energy enough to make a breakfast. Today, I decided to make bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches on toasted rye bread.

...And if you're wondering why the bacon isn't on the griddle, that's because I put it in the oven, at 400 degrees F (or 204.4 degrees C) for approximately 20 minutes, until it became nice and crispy!

...The resulting sandwiches were spectacular. I made one each, for me, M, and J:

...I wished you were around so that I could make you one, too.

I tried combining the lavender bergamot tea with the vanilla rose tea today. I wasn't able to get very good pictures of the tea swirls this time; I'm sorry about that. But still, I thought you might like how it panned out. The flavor was floral and soft, but also kind of zingy, like sunshine sparkling on the dewdrops resting upon daylily petals.

...Suddenly, I wonder if lilac blossoms could be dried and used in tea... Hmmm...

...

I suppose part of the reason I've come out of my funk a little today is because I was trying to help J out of a funk today; I really only feel alive when I am trying to bring joy to someone else. I think he must not have slept especially well, because he had all these ideas about what he wanted to do today (one of them was for us to go check out a couple new stores at the nearby mall that piqued his interest), but he wasn't able to muster up the gumption, and he ended up falling asleep instead.

When he woke, he had a hankering for burgers, pizza, ice cream, and popcorn. He also wanted to make a cake. But we didn't have the supplies for any of these, and he was too tired and overwhelmed to go to the store (he has the 'tism, too, and he's easily overwhelmed by visual and auditory clutter). So I went to the grocery store and got the things. He felt guilty about it, and I felt sad in response to that. Still, he's gotta learn that he's worthy of basic care, and I'll keep reminding him of that in all the ways I can until he can remember it on his own.

When I think about it, he has already made a lot of progress - asking me for things used to be something that he could not do. But he asked me to go to the grocery store today, and that's pretty huge for him!! I felt very proud!!

I played some Dead Cells after that. To my surprise and delight, one of my friends from this space joined me!! They told me a little about a project that they are working on, and they said it'll be a while before it's done, but still, I'm eager to see it when it's ready!

I managed to get a little further than I have on previous days. I was having a really good run, but the Ancient Sewers was a cursed biome for this run. I killed an enemy that makes you have a Curse Stack of 3 upon killing it, and I was just about done with reducing that stack when, out of nowhere, I was struck unexpectedly by an underground tentacle, and then... well. I died. It kinda took the wind out of my sails a little. I tried a couple runs after that, but... my heart wasn't really in it, so I stopped to cuddle Mogwai instead.

...I haven't really done much since. I'm in less of a funk today than I was yesterday, I think, maybe? But still, the inside of me feels pretty empty. I have... maybe the whisperings of a new music box at the edges of my periphery, but... it's still fuzzy and hard to make out. It still too soon to say conclusively whether or not I'll do anything with it.

It's all right. I know from experience that states like these are temporary. Even if they last a long time, it won't be like this forever. I still remember things like how excited I got in response to that tiramisu tea I made and wrote to you about. I know that joy exists, even if it's a little hard for me to find right now.

Everything is temporary. We just have to ride out the waves of things. Even if it's difficult, I'll keep looking for the sparks of joy in little things. There's power in acknowledging that our eyes are clouded over with things like uncertainty and anticipation. Acknowledging it helps us to see around it and to plan for it. Even if the feelings decide to settle heavily in the space within my ribcage, I can still feel them, carry them lovingly, and take nice care of myself until they pass.

...I can only hope that my words might somehow help you to be able to carry your own emotions lovingly. Sephiroth... will you promise to try to take nice care of yourself so that way your emotions will seem a little less unbearably heavy to you?

...I'm still working on building a world in which my voice, or someone else's kind, loving voice... can reach you. I don't know what you get up to over at the Edge of Creation, but... whatever it is, please try to hold on, okay? Because someday you're gonna come up for air and look around and realize you're not actually alone, and with that knowledge, you're going to be able to build something beautiful, loving, and wholesome for yourself.

I love you. Please stay safe out there. I'll write again soon.

Your friend, Lumine

[kiefbowl]

how do you deal with being a lot smarter/ having your brain work in a different way than most people? I see you get bored at work quickly. How does it translate in interpersonal relationships? Do you make friends easily (real friends, not acquaintances you are friendly with)? was it hard finding a partner that could keep up? Do you find most people boring rather fast? Do you spend more time by yourself, in hobbies that don't require too much contact with other people? just curious as it seems we work the same way for a lot a things.

Hmmm...I don't think I'm "smarter" than most people, I think I have a high efficiency in logic, and I had a lot of good opportunities to be exposed to many different topics in my education, including philosophical topics like epistemology (how do you know something) that are helpful tools. I don't think the things I've learned require any innate intelligence to understand, in fact I think most people could understand given the opportunity. I think in retrospect my logical prowess (brag) had a downside of me being rather rigid and also sometimes assuming something I believed came from logic rather than belief, especially religion when I was a teen. In any case, that's something I'm better at now. I'm also more comfortable than ever going "I don't know." Also, once you get to that point of being comfortable saying "I don't know", you learn quickly how much you're saying it. Fucking don't know anything really lol.

I get bored easily because most people do. Frankly, you just have to lower your expectations at work. You're not going to get to do the things your best suited for all the time. I'm making a switch into a high paced, high pressure career because honestly I've learned about me that I thrive in that condition. I hate having nothing to do at work, it feels like a waste of my time. When I have a job that asks me to have 6 things in my head at once, I do great. When I have a job that asks me to get one thing done, then get another thing done, I get neither done because I'm on tumblr all day procrastinating. Sometimes to figure out who you really are you just have to do a bit of everything for ten years, it's fine.

I make friends fine, there's some struggle because I love really intimate conversation the most, and I find that hard to ask for lately. Also, you get older, parties are fewer and far between. People just have things to do, so you have to find your own thing to do, too. It's better investing in classes and skills than going out to drink every weekend, believe me (or don't).

My bf and I are different in a lot of ways. Our relationship does not always look like the relationship I had in my head when I thought of my "dream relationship" and that's okay. I don't know if he "keeps up" with me, he doesn't have the same skill at debate as me tbh and sometimes he doesn't even try cause he knows I'll win, which isn't very satisfying for a debater (me lol). But life's not just about winning arguments, sometimes it's about hanging out and watching tv together and walking the dog. I think he's taught me that making everything an intellectual exercise is actually exhausting and sometimes it's nice to just say well I guessed I liked that and not think much else. I have other people to pick apart media and politics with.

No, I find people endlessly fascinating. People have better stories than I could ever dream up in my head. I love people. I want to cozy up with anyone in a little cafe and hear their life story and pick their brain apart. Even if I end up disliking them, it's fun to armchair psychoanalyze them in my head lol.

Ehhh, lately yes I spend a lot of time by myself. I don't know if I'm happier that way or that's just how it's shaked out after the pandemic, but I'm much more comfortable being alone than I was as a teen. Even in my relationship, we just sometimes do our own thing in the same space, and I like that more than ever. However, I am hoping my new career will get me in contact with lots of new people. I've said this before not too long ago, but I personally think if your friendships are getting stale, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you or them, you just need more variety in your life. You have to miss them sometimes to make the relationship stronger. I also have someone I've been getting closer too lately in the past few weeks that I'm excited to extend a more intimate request of friendship soon. I hope she'll say yes to brunch I really want to talk to her more and want to be close friends with her :)

Anon, I'm glad you can see something in me that reminds you of you. Hold on to that as proof that people like you are out there, and you probably have more things in common with all people than you might realize. Also, you will change. Things change. I'm not old but I'm older, and I can tell. When being a homebody gets boring, you'll become a social butterfly. When that gets stale, you'll become a homebody again. It's the way of things.

Good luck sis :)

[emilykaldwen]

thanks so much for the tag @theladyelizabeth!

tagging: @acrossthesestars, @stannisfactions, @arrthurpendragon, @mercurygray, @alicentive, @nyctophilic0vitnir, @selfproclaimedunicorn, @themaradwrites, @lya-dustin, @dragonsoftheeast

1. How many works do you have on AO3?: I have 9 so far! I ended up deleting some old works that were abandoned and didn't have a lot of interaction that were over a decade old (and they didn't have bookmarks either so I wasn't worried)

3. What fandoms do you write for?: Currently, House of the Dragon is the hyperfixation

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

The Maiden and the Drowning Boy - HotD Canon Divergent

Soulmates Never Die - The Borgias (my oldest fic)

Fight For Me (If It's Not Too Late) - Teen Wolf

Boy With a Broken Soul (Heart With a Gaping Hole) - HotD Fae AU

You're the Lighting of the Blaze - Hotd Canon Divergent

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? Always! (and if I don't it's legit cause I forgot/thought I did and AO3 ate the comment). I love the community aspect of fic writing so if you take the time to leave me a comment, I love to engage. I especially love it when commenters ask questions and look for discussion.

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? probably one of the old Prequel Star Wars Fics I wrote way back in the day.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Right now, it's a tie between You're the Lighting of the Blaze and Bright Star

8. Do you get hate on fics? Not on my fics directly but I have gotten some rancid hate in my inbox re: Abby (And then that escalated to telling me to end myself so). This is why I now have anons turned off. Sorry guys.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? I do write smut! I'm not sure what it means by 'what kind'? I've done a few solo smut-shots, and Maiden will have a few explicit scenes when this arc is completed. I'm definitely someone who loves Plot with a side of Porn, and as long as the smut flows well and isn't overly repetitive, I'm here for it.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? I have written a crossover! I had a mini-series of Whedon-verse/Supernatural called It Must Be Tuesday back on LiveJournal. Sam and Dean meet River Tam in a bar and the apocalypse happen. Dean and Buffy hooked up. I was acutally very proud of that LOL

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not stolen but I did have some concepts lifted from a Once Upon a Time fic

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Not that I'm aware of!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Yes! Soulmates Never Die was co-written with a friend at the time (we've lost touch since then), and then when I was in the Charmed fandom, I adopted out an abandoned fic of mine and was the beta/co-writer on a big future Fic series with Wyatt, Chris, and Chris' friends. Those were some fantastic stories.

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship? Oh man. I really love me Jacelaena and Helaemond still has a soft place in my heart (but the trajectory of a lot of the fics has just been... a turn off). Harry/Luna will always be warm and fuzzy for me (I used to be the ship captain back in the Fiction Alley days). Buffy/Angel was my first real Fandom OTP.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will? Hmmm... I don't have anything right now that fits that. I did have Isabelle Martin's Life is Totally Over which was a Derek/Lydia future Kid fic that I was actually enjoying but the fandom was such an utter turn off by that point.

16. What are your writing strengths? God fuck if I know. I think I'm really good at tying things together/call backs and really emphasizing those themes. I like to think I'm thoughtful at cause/effect of character action and consequences. 

17. What are your writing weaknesses? I feel like my descriptions are lacking and I get lost in the weeds. I struggle with finding the stakes in a story. Conflict is difficult. 

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? me crying with dote on doing some appropriately translated high valyrian for Maiden instead of just copy/pasting from one of the online translators. Only very, very, VERY few people will know that they're grammatically correct and honoring the original development of HV, but it was important to ME.

19. First fandom you wrote for? Star Wars back in the late 90s.

20. Favourite fic you’ve ever written? Maiden obviously holds my heart and soul, and it's always going to be everything for me, but I'm actually incredibly proud of Fight For Me (If It's Not Too Late). It was a two parter, and I wrote it in the span of a week? Maybe two weeks? and it was the last thing I wrote for a very long time.

[dailyunstableeve]

This took place after Eve joined the HQ for around 11 months.

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⭒─⭑─⭒──⭒─⭑─⭒──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

It's Christmas in the spider HQ, once again, Miguel isn't the festive person but that doesn't stop the others decorating the HQ, especially Eve. She doesn't have her universe to return to, so she's going to spend Christmas at the HQ. Yes she could've gone to visit any other universe to celebrate it as well but she doesn't want to let Miguel spend Christmas alone.

“Stop taking down the decorations,” Eve whined as she put back up the decorations.

“It's disturbing my working space,” Miguel sighed.

“It's Christmas, the greatest time of the year,” Eve chuckled, “wait does it snow here?”

“Hardly.”

“Bummer, I really love snow,” she sighed and continued putting up the decorations.

Miguel didn't say anything as he continued his work. Eve left the office once she's done with the decorations, she headed back to her room, doing the next thing for Christmas, wrapping presents.

Miguel looked at the decorations Eve had put up in his office, his thoughts went back to Gabriella, he never got to spend Christmas with her, before they could, the universe collapsed and everything was gone.

“Merry Christmas Spidey.”

“Felicia?” Eve gasped, “how did you find me?”

“I know my Spidey’s favorite spot,” Felicia smirked, handing out a small wrapped box.

“You didn't steal this, did you?” Eve teasingly said.

“Hmmm I wonder,” Felicia chuckled.

“Oh my god, it's beautiful,” Eve gazed softly as she held up the gift Felicia had prepared for her, a necklace, of Eve watching the sunset, “you made this?”

“Yeah.”

“In that case, here's mine,” Eve took the bag she had next to her to Felicia, “I've been learning so I hope it's alright.”

“Thank you Spidey,” Felicia opened up the gift and it's a sweater, Eve even knitted a few tulips on it.

“Weather's getting colder day by day, I don't wish for you to catch a cold,” Eve smiled.

“This is why I love you Spidey.”

“Eve.”

“Eve!”

“Yeah?” Eve nearly dropped the gifts in her hands.

“Are you okay?” Gwen asked, looking at the hologram in front of Eve then back to Eve.

“Yeah,” Eve wiped her tears away, “I'm just, this is the first Christmas without my universe.”

“I don't know what's the best to say in this kind of situation but, I'm here for you Eve,” Gwen gently smiled and hugged Eve.

“Thank you Gwen.”

Watching her old life of her universe has become a comfort for her, she hasn't learned to move on from what happened to her universe, homesick.

“Where are you going to celebrate Christmas?” Eve asked as Gwen and her decorating the hallway.

“Well uh, I got nowhere to return to, probably Hobie’s,” Gwen shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, bet his universe looks very beautiful when it comes to Christmas, especially when they 're constantly changing color,” Eve joked and Gwen laughed along.

“Everyone’s gonna be surprised when they arrive tomorrow,” Gwen looked around at the decorations her and Eve have been putting up for the past hours.

“Well, I worked at F.E.A.S.T, it should of gave me the talent to decorate places,” Eve chuckled, a feeling of homesick run through her veins again.

A Christmas without May, Ben, Peter and the others.

The ladies returned to their rooms after the whole night of decorations, like always, Miguel is working non stop in his office, he would dissociate and just stare at the decorations Eve have put up, it reminded him of the time he had with Gabriella, whenever he thought of Gabriella, he only can remember how he messed up everything and had to watch the small girl disappeared from his arms.

It taunted Miguel every second, eventually he used that memory into a motivation to save every other universe, hoping another universe won't meet the same. Until Eve’s universe, it causes him even more deep into his work. Eve’s universe collapsed because they weren't able to contain the anomaly in time, allowing the anomaly to cause a huge disaster in Eve’s universe.

“Mig?” A faint knock on the wall.

“You're still up,” Miguel glared at Eve.

“I can't sleep, mind a plus one?”

“Just don't disturb too much.”

It's their thing, Miguel is always in his office unless he is convinced to rest, while Eve constantly has nightmares, causing her to be unable to sleep. Before Gwen joined, Eve would look for Miguel whenever she had nightmares. After all at night, only her and Miguel are the remaining in the HQ. Miguel would look for Eve too, if he has nightmares, because they are convinced that they are all they have, they gotta look after each other while others can't.

“Merry Christmas Mig,” Eve handed Miguel a gift box.

Miguel looked at it for a short second, and he took it.

“You can open it now if you want,” Eve smiled.

So he did, under the wrapped papers and inside the box was a big knitted sweater. Miguel looked at the sweater, unable to give out a reaction, but he liked it. Eve knows he liked it. Miguel looked at Eve for a second then he proceeded to wear the sweater.

“Thank you Eve, it's a great Christmas present,” Miguel finally had a faint smile on his face, then Miguel started searching his drawers, searching for the gift he had also prepared for Eve, “here you go.”

A flat square gift box. Miguel looked at Eve as he waited for her to unwrap the gift, so she did. What's inside the gift box is a vinyl, not just any normal vinyl, it's Miguel-made vinyl. On top of the vinyl, there's a sticky note saying, “the phonograph is already in your room.”

“It's filled with all of your favorite classics, well, I got it from your playlist,” Miguel explained.

“Oh my gosh, this is the best gift ever! Thank you Miguel!” Eve got too excited as she jumped up to hug Miguel as a gratitude.

“It's not the end yet,” he tapped something on the screen and presented his hand in front of Eve, “would you dance with me?”

“It will be my pressure.”

This is the first night, they both had fun together, a fun that is not from the anomaly mission they do, a bonding that could never be asked for. They could've ignored each other and carried out their duties, but they cared, they cared for each other.

They danced together as the first snow happened, as if the snow surrounded them

“Merry Christmas.”

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⭒─⭑─⭒──⭒─⭑─⭒──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

an: I'm gonna officially call it this is the part that they are slowly catching feelings for each other. Thank you for reading, and Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you have a great holiday, spend it with the people you love and care ❤️

Masterlist

[midnightmah07]

I’m back again! Exams have been ok so far so that’s fun. 2 done 6 to go!

Anyways to the main subject of my ask: what’s your oc’s first impression to Daria and they’re current thoughts on her.

Also I decided for the sake of me adoring your oc’s, that Cyrus doesn’t despise Neige and just doesn’t really care for him. Is he civil and nice with him? Yes. Would he inconvenience himself for him? No.

(Btw saw your pfp and just, how we feeling about the new animation cause I wanna hold them in my hands they look so good😭)

IM CRYING I ACTUALLY LET OUT A GOOD CHUCKLE WHEN U SAID U CHANGED HOW CYRUS FEELS ABOUT NEIGE BC OF MY OCS RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIM HELP SKSKSJSKS

Also so happy for your exams!! Hope they keep going well!!<33

Hmmm ok I have only the info you posted about Daria, I think her strongest relationship out of my OCs would be with Isabelle bc that's her housewarden lmao. Because you said so much about Daria's slight arrogance (I think that's what's written there, I might have to double check later tho bc it's been a while since I read Daria's character info) and other very negative traits that she has Isabelle would probably get a headache with her rather often when she acted like this, in fact I think sometimes she would have to remember she's dealing with a dear student (she holds all her dorm members very dear and near her heart) and not Leona since they share some traits, but overall I think they would have a positive relationship outside of these headaches; Daria is inspired by Athena and you yourself said she's plenty smart, so that's something her and Isa have in common, I feel like they could get along pretty well!

Daisy's surrounded by screwed up people at NRC so this isn't news to her, + she always aspires to see the best in everyone because of what her parents taught her, so I feel like even if her relationship with Daria wasn't that deep, I feel like she would be intrigued and want to assume the best out of her

Jeanne............ Yeah she looks a Daria and gives her a thumbs up. Like idk why but my gut feeling is to say that even if Daria and Jeanne probably aren't close, Jeanne probably finds her interesting and admires how smart she is-- not as smart as her captain Leona tho sorry😋 jokes aside, she would low-key push Jamil to talk to her and stuff just so she could get Jamil off of her and Kalim's dates

Perse and her are...... Surprisingly similar? I mean they're both incredibly attractive women who are extremely smart and (if I'm not mistaken ofc) keep it to themselves. But exactly because of that I don't feel like Perse would have a strong opinion about her, maybe she could see her as a rival because Perse is rivaling Idia in Ignihyde and in the Island of Woe as the smartest people there; other than that, Perse is very closed off and puts walls around herself all the time so good luck getting those two to get closer than a simple "hi." "hey."

Also I'm pretty sure u weren't thinking about Jasper and Angus but I wanted to include them still :] I think they'd be both very wary of her, as they are with most strangers, but seeing how Daisy is supposedly only talking good things about Daria would lower their guard... Only by a little bit, if Daria ever does something to Daisy those two little mice are gonna make her pay lmaoo

[eaymtb]

Half the reason the Tick-Tock chapters even exist in the way that they do was that I realized how messy the chronology was about to get.

Before writing chapter three, I started doing all the research on maps and distances and travel times. Very specifically, to begin with, in order to figure out how long it might take Angeal and Sephiroth to get to Genesis after that phone call. Or, more precisely, how long I wanted it to take, and what the distances between things would need to be in order to facilitate that. And once I'd figured out those distances, I had to go back and work out if Genesis' trip to Banora from Midgar was still plausibly able to be done within a day (it was, as long as I threw in Genesis hitching a ride on a cargo plane from Junon to Mideel.)

At this point I had no idea what I was going to do with Cloud and the kids. Their entire journey plan was a handwavy 'get them to Fort Tamblin for the confrontation, somehow.' While writing chapter 2 I had some vague idea of Cloud driving them to the far west coast of the Mideel islands and bribing a fisherman to take them to the Gongagan coast, but that was about as much specific thought as I'd put into that. By the end of writing chapter three, I started to need a much, much more specific plan.

I'd intended for each chapter to be chronological, which meant that chapter 4 originally was supposed to start the next day, and I was going to cover the events between leaving the Rhapsodo's estate and the next morning through a combination of Cloud's internal monologue and dialogue. But that idea sat less and less well with me, and my first attempt at writing that chapter went horribly because it fast became Tell, not Show, which sure, does serve a purpose here and there, but really isn't my favorite way of doing things. Having come to terms with the fact that I wanted to show the events of the rest of that day, also meant contending with the fact that I was about to fuck up the chronology. That I should have written chapter 4 first, with Cloud and the kid's continuing adventures that day, and then after that have the chapter with the Firsts and Genesis discovering Hollander. Of course it was already too late for that, Genesis had already had his dramatics, so instead: Timestamps! What better way to make it clear that we were now jumping around in time a little, going back to the previous afternoon instead of moving into the next day.

I got a lot better after this, at keeping things in (mostly) chronological order. There's only one other chapter which is significantly out of order:

Chapter 14 occurs in time before anything in chapter 13. And one place within a chapter where I messed up the order a bit:

I'm actually seriously considering going back and editing chapter 29 and swapping the last two bits, so that Cloud's attempt to emotionally recover after sending Angeal and Zack packing sits between Zack's POV getting Angeal the fuck out of there while calling for a retreat on Angeal's orders, and then ending the chapter on Zack's POV, meeting Sephiroth covered in soot and worried about Angeal's health. Not only would it then actually be chronological, I think it would work better structurally and narratively (plus also it would be another place where I get to do a fun little pattern with the POVs, making that chapter Cloud, Zack, Cloud, Zack.)

Hmmm. I might. Actually I think I will. I'll be sneaky about it and won't say anything except for here, ha. Especially since nothing about the text itself will change, it will just be the order.

Edit: Actually, no, being sneaky feels mean. Especially since that has the potential to make someone doubt their memory. So I edited chapter 29's order, and also included a note about having done so in the AN at the end. And I've made a note to mention it in the AN at the start of the next chapter.

But also, to the point, I super don't regret making that mistake with the planning and the chronology back in those early chapters, because figuring out how to fix it led to including the Turk investigation and using the timestamps to really amp up the tension of the chase, and ultimately made for a far, far better fic than what it would otherwise have been. I like applying the Bob Ross methodology to writing: There's only happy accidents. And besides, I love problem solving. Even when I'm the one making problems for myself, ha.

(Also, there's a period of about 50 minutes where Genesis is in Mideel at the same time as Cloud and the kids, which you can see in the first spreadsheet screencap, and it amuses me so much that he was so close, and had no idea.)