#this makes it sound like i just discovered empathy lmao.

[funstyle]

i love reading about what are classified as "culture-bound disorders" like it really opens my eyes to how euro-american psychiatry oversimplifies things. the physical and psychological effects of grief were so intense and impossible to articulate for me. like of course it's no wonder that every culture has its own words and explanations for it. it's more than just grief or trauma. it's a demon. or a witch's curse. or being possessed by the ghosts of the deceased. or a mysterious illness that makes you act out violently. all across the world and forever and ever we've been trying to rationalise our own pain to ourselves. we just want it all to make sense. idk. people treat psychiatry like it's law despite its gaping sociocultural blindspots huh

[aconstantstateofbladerunner]

I sent the ask and totally forgot about it djjdhsjdhdj

Ok so my three unrecomendations are "memorias póstumas de Brás Cubas", everything Monteiro Lobato ever did, and "O cortiço"

The translation of the titles are roughly "post-mortem memories of Brás Cubas" and cortiço doesn't have one, but it means a complex full of rent bedrooms and a comunal living space

That will come in later in the book

But my first talk is Monteiro works, because what I do give him is that he has a pretty magical worldbuilding and prose, but his plot points are so very weak and questionable, and the racist characterisation of a TALKING PIG AND COB OF CORN being bigger background characters than the only black character, who si a maid, is very -_-, and the main character, a living roll by the wish of children, is literally the most annoying thing in the entire WORLD.

Post-mortem memories has an incredible premise and some narration moments, being that this book is allegedly author is the dead, not someone on the brink of death or a ghost, telling his life to the worms eating his body. But the worms are dead bored because his life is such a fucking drag of thing, he was a rich kid that found "likeness" in science but he never went deep into anything of that, what he went deep? Into the accidental relationships he had that had a political connection, which leads to him witness an assassination attempt at a party. You would think that is exciting in paper, but in his words are just such a boring moment because he is just flirting away and having inner nice guy monologue to himself, literally the most thrilling part of the book is we learn that he has tuberculosis and is looking out the widow having a crisis because of the quality of air in the city fndkbdksbdb

And lastly, cortiço, which is from the branch of national literature that boils down to "everyone in this country is a bastard and we make everyone that interacts with us a bastard also". Which, is a tiring branch of literature lmao, as it is said, we follow the owner of the cortiço and his looks at the residents and how he is snob up nose at them. Such people include a run away slave that the story ends with the cops showing up to do a run through so she kills herself with the blade to gut the fish instead of being caught and sent back, an upstanding American man with a nuclear family who is "corrupted" by Brazilians and so becomes a cheating lazy dog that end up losing his job because of it, a drug dealer who accidentally set the whole place ablaze, and the "homeless" looking man, which our main character discovers in the said fire that actually he is like those guys that save every penny by being absolutely disgusting, and the guy dies in the fire, so the main character, who at this point you grow to absolutely hate since this is the ending of the book, gets all the money the guy who died saved through his life, and sells the cortiço making everyone who is still there homeless. It is such a hateful read of a book and just says "hey, we as humans are THE WORST amirght?" Which, as someone who enjoys empathy and supporting narratives of human nature, was having a Hard Time lmao.

Those sound pretty rough

[btscontentenjoyer]

I've been waiting to get to this one for a bit and even with how anticipated it was by me, it absolutely did not disappoint. I am hooked.

"You stand on the second last step of your stairway, awaiting your sister’s arrival with the same old vexation you’ve felt since you met Jungkook for the first time. Years ago." I loove when there's history between the characters that we slowly get to discover throughout the story, can't wait to find out everything. Also, Jungkook is with OC's sister???

"Not that you walk the streets with a lifted dress and curses falling off your tongue." Lmao, that sounds like a fun way to live tho.

“I mean, it’s a Lord, for God’s sake! Such royalty doesn’t approach us every day! And yes, I think you’re very different from me. And a lot like him,” she emphasises, once more." Hmmm, so there must be some interesting circumstances for them to hate each other if they're so alike, it can't be because they just don't click. And now that I think about it, if they really are alike, it will probably make it even harder for them to hate each other once they're forced to actually spend time together.

“His name is Kim Seokjin,” she tells you, gulping hard, “and he has me wrapped around that pretty finger of his.” Ah, aren’t we all wrapped around that finger.

"It just doesn't sound like he cares a ton. And he has no manners," you look away, hiding the transparent disgust on your countenance. "He's frustrating and unpredictable, and his parents... caretakers had to save him several times." It's funny to me how these rants of what she dislikes about him sound quite alike to the rants you go on when you like someone too. I wonder if we'll get something like that down the line lmao. Also what happened to Jungkook's parents 🤔🤔🤔

"Might be the slightly tilted smile, the big, jet black eyes. Or the golden skin, the button nose. Constantly pouty lips, deep dimples that he doesn't need to smile for." I'm convinced that I'll never get tired of reading descriptions of Jungkook's beauty 😭😭😭 It's just something that always needs to be appreciated.

"If he wasn’t as imprudent as his reputation suggests, you’d probably be one of the many women sighing and dreaming in his presence." There's still time for you to become one of those women 👀👀👀

"Perhaps you’ve forgiven already — perhaps there’s even a shred of empathy left in you that feels guilty for disliking him as you do." There's already so much complexity to her dislike towards him and we don't even know the reason for it yet. I love when enemies to lovers has depth and it's not just them despising each other out of nowhere and then also falling in love just as suddenly.

"But you can’t bear his words anymore. Hurt accompanied his presence one too many times in the past, and you can’t hear any of it anymore." It really does sound like he's hurt her badly though.

"Jungkook cocks an eyebrow in irritation, fingers fiddling with his gloves, “Hold on. Did I do something to you?” Is he just pretending he doesn't know or did he really not hurt her on purpose? Either way, it makes everything more painful when a person who's hurt you won't even admit to doing it.

"So she waits for your expressions to relax, folding her hands, slowly blinking, before she reminds you, “There was a time, long before he courted your sister, when he was almost your suitor.” No You stuffed this very memory in the back of your mind, and you won’t let her tug it to the front. You won’t even tell her what occurred back then; why you wrote him off, all the things he said." Oh, if he insulted her so much when they were supposed to be courting, then I feel like the wound and emotion would run quite deep.

"They won't. All you have is a garden nearby, and the worst beast we might encounter is the sin... lust." Alriiiiight.

"If you’re the calmness of water, then he’s the danger of fire." And yet her sister thinks they're very similar.

"You remember. You did. But that’s because Jungkook began; knew how to humiliate you, knew how to nearly destroy your persona to the entire peerage." All of this sounds so intense, no wonder she doesn't like him.

“I remember,” he admits, “But I… I’d rather pretend I don’t.” Well that seems like a coward's way out though. You can't escape the past, no matter how ashamed you are of it. And definitely not when it had such a big impact on another person.

"You think you see the same fragments of guilt that are cutting your heart. Because when you think back to what he’s pretending to forget, you still can’t hate the boy for what he did. Only for the things he kept doing." Well it sounds like he did a lot, so her feelings are obviously very justified.

“We were adults then, and I was ready to forgive you,” you tell him, gulping, “until you told a handful of men who liked me, that I’m the most untrustworthy snake in town. And how my sister,” you laugh; your gaze shifts to the ground, “is much more beautiful and actually worth the trouble.” Daaaamn he was mean.

"Life threw hurdles at him, and soon made him someone he’d never aspired to be. Half of the things you listed have long escaped his memory — what remains is how empty he felt each night before he fell asleep." I know that having a hard life doesn't excuse you from being a mean person but also like 🥺🥺🥺. It's not so easy staying kind when your life is beating you down. I'm a little all over the place with my feelings for Jungkook lmao.

“Let me court you." Well, that's a bomb to drop when she was just reminding him of all of the ways he's hurt her.

"You wouldn't be. But, despite the hate we carry for each other, I think that you and I would understand each other." I'm so interested to see if they truly are as alike as everyone says they are.

“I… I want to try. I don’t want to regret not trying. And I am sick of sleeping around town,” he confesses. It’s something you didn’t expect, he thinks. Because you tilt your head in question." It’s really cute how he notices all of her little behavioural tells. It does seem like he's observed her quite a lot, doesn't it?

"He assumes you don’t hear it when he adds in a quiet whisper, “That brute in our mansion is right about one thing… I’m not good for much.” Well now I want to feel bad for him, but I also feel bad for OC too 😔😔😔 I guess the best way to go is just to feel bad that circumstances led them to hating each other instead of being close.

“Do you realise that most of our feuds are in the past?” he counters, his voice louder now. “If we hadn’t wounded each other so much at such a young age… I wonder if we could’ve been friends. I just. I don’t wish to foster bitter relationships anymore.” I hope there's still time for them to become friends, and that the damage isn't irreparable.

“That I shouldn’t have done all that to you that night. I don’t think it’s easy for either of us to find liking each other, because too much happened, but… I want to try.” Final statement. He wants to try. Even adds one single, “Please.” I feel like I'm more conflicted than OC at this point. Because at times he can seem really sincere but he seems to have hurt her a lot in the past and from what we saw in the teaser, he's still not completely above being mean. So I really don't want to let him soften me up like this.

"To you, you’re water, and he’s fire — but perhaps there’s a grey area where you meet. Where you collide and become steam, evaporating, hot yet calm." It seems like no matter what new genre you try out, Rid, your writing is always beautiful.

"But you still know that he left you speechless and confused. You were hurt, as much as a child can be hurt from another stranger child; but even then, you knew where his temper was coming from." See here's the thing. I feel for poor Jungkook, and of course a child isn't going to know how to handle his grief in the right way and not let it out on people. I'm sure OC doesn't blame him much for what he did back then. But for him to keep doing it later for no good reason??? Yeah, I might have been even angrier than OC.

"So you panicked when the man you didn’t know — Jungkook’s uncle, his dowager mother’s cousin who later married her and became the Duke himself, as you’d find out — came closer, peppering you with a dozen questions." Ew.

"But what you hate is how much that night started. How it rolled out the rivalry without any valid reason." Yeah 😔😔😔

"What happened to all those evil adjectives?” Taehyung prods, drawing close; Jungkook pushes him away lightly." Lmaoo, Tae coming in with all of the blunt questions. But really, it must be quite surprising to see Jungkook and OC together when he knows how much they hate each other. Also, Seokjin and OC's sister are cuuute.

"Like, when he says, “I meant to tell you that… you look gorgeous tonight.” Still not over this and him saying he thought about what she might be wearing 🤭🤭🤭

"You don’t think he should be doing any of it in public, that his expression should shift as it just did. But he’s a mystery, and you still can’t shake the glooming feeling that he’s following a greater agenda." This is too ominous and Jungkook is too charming. How am I supposed to keep my guard up and be wary when he acts like this?

"His hair tickles your cheek, and the heat of his breath skims your neck, “You meant something way worse to me than an enemy. Sometimes I hated you enough to feel closer to you than to anyone else.” I looove the intensity of everything going on. It's so great to escape into someone else's emotional turmoil between nerve wracking exams.

"You turn around, shaking your head in disbelief, “Pain is not one-sided. You will never be the only one to feel a certain thing. And no matter how bad you have it, no one deserves to be put in the same misery!” This is so well said! I hope that at least now Jungkook has realised that inflicting pain on innocent people isn't going to lessen your own.

“You’re not a tool to make my mistakes undone.” His digits wander to yours, fingertips finally brushing your skin like a feather; opening your fist. “But if you could make me feel so much resentment without deserving it… maybe you can awaken some of the good feelings, too. And learn to see me as a friend, too.” Damn, he's pretty convincing ngl. He seems so genuine, but the way he's hurt her continuously over the past is making me too wary.

"And you don’t ask; instead, you repeat, “You think I can awaken something good in you?” His words merge with the whisper of the breeze, accompanied by a gentle nod and a light touch on your elbow, “And you’d deserve that affection, too.” What a charming man 😔😔😔

"You puff out a breath, shaking your head immediately, and answer, “Oh no. I just read. I admire literature, because crafting an entire story must be… difficult.” I genuinely have such admiration for anybody who writes. And you're one of those people I admire a lot, Rid, you create such beautiful characters and stories that I love getting lost in.

"You surprise each other with each second you spend in the other’s company." It does seem like they have quite a lot in common and that everyone was right about how alike they are. It's really good to see them connect on a more personal level like this.

"And no one but you hears him say, “Just. If it’s not love, then you might want to use your fantasy. Then you’ll know.” What a little shit (I love it lmao)

"There’s a trace of guilt in his heart, because for all the mean years he spent tormenting you, he missed out on all the kindness your pure heart had to offer." Aww that's so cuteee and sad at the same time.

“But I—” He thinks for a moment, wondering how to phrase his next attempt. “I do think we’d look good together. Your hand in mine is the first thing royalty loving people might want to see, and… it’s the first thing that comes to mind when I think of you, too.” He's really got game, no wonder all the women love him despite his reputation.

“Riding, I do. Does not involve horses, though,” Jungkook admits." 😳😳😳

“Perhaps you can hold my hand afterwards. As a way to feign innocence,” you suggest. Your thoughts are blurred; so are your ideas." I love the way she's still managing to banter a little even in this situation that would have anyone lightheaded and speechless.

“Closer,” he repeats, basking in your gasp when his grip settles on your thigh, pulling you to him. “We don’t have a lot of time.” Daaamn, we really turned up the intensity, going from children in orphanages to this.

“Fuck,” he curses. His unoccupied hand immediately shuts your sudden cry as he bites into your shoulder, pressing harder against your clit. “You’re even worse than me.” Once again, your smutty scenes show off the overall dynamic of the couple so well, Rid. Because we've seen that other people think they're very alike, we've seen them have the same view on things, and now we see them both being equally horny. There is just undeniable chemistry between them that you can see in all of their interactions.

"But when the wish threatens to burst out, the coachman, hopefully oblivious, yells back, “We’re arriving shortly!” 😔😔😔 What a shame.

"Society is close — so you break the tension, and joke, “Hide whatever grew in your pants.” Lmaooo.

"But who could focus on split tongues and slit-formed pupils when a way brighter charm is standing right next to you? Shaking his head in frustration, rolling his eyes at people’s audacity." 🥺🥺🥺 That is so cuteee. Before he was the reason people talked about her like that, and now he's the reason she ignores the way they talk about her 🥺🥺🥺

"Caterpillars previously crawling through your stomach, filling you with utmost hate and displeasure, flutter as butterflies across your torso now. Whatever confessions would have riled you up not long ago, are now desired. Your heart craves them." 💕💕💕

"Jungkook smiles with his eyes, too, you noticed. The crinkles at the corners of them, the night sky inside them, the joy around them. His nose sometimes scrunches in the most devastating honey-sweet way; his lower lip is tilted." 🥺🥺🥺 As I said before, I could read paragraphs describing Jungkook's beauty, especially if they're written by you, Rid.

"You catch a tender smile, but when he spots the stranger conversing with you, his eyes narrow for just a moment. Relaxing when you give him a little wave." Cuteee. I'm sorry if that's all I can say at this point, but I find them too adorable.

“Sure,” Byun says, “I was solely wondering, because — and don’t take this as an offence — I’m aware that you’re a big man’s daughter. But someone like a Lord usually courts someone of his kind. Or at least announces the courtship in a more respectable way.” This really has no manners huh.

“And then I… I realised that the time for finding comfort in other women is truly over. I just wanted you as a friend, but…” He moves closer slowly. Fingertips on your arm again, lips close to your cheek. “Watching someone stand so close to you… I told myself it doesn’t bother me, but it does.” Sooo, I'm usually the biggest advocate against any semblance of jealousy, but something about this just... hits different.

“No. You being you… me wanting, craving you all the damn time. Me finally realising it. That’s why I’m furious… It enrages me.” One of the hottest things I've ever heard 😳😳😳

"You hate the transformation that occurred within those few days. Hate how his hands cup your face; fingers then shifting to hold your chin; then, a palm against your back like he’s treasuring you." LIKE HE'S TREASURING YOU!!!!!

"God, you despise him now more than ever. Hate that he’s so difficult to truly detest, despite his irksome flaws and incorrigible nature." Ah, I've been in this state since the beginning.

"He whispers, “My God, you enrage me… yet I need you near me all the time.” One of the hottest things I've ever heard part two.

"You ignore that he imagined kissing you, that he overthought your reaction, that you were and are one of his daily thoughts at all." So it definitely seems like he's very attracted to her, I just wonder if his feelings go a little deeper than physical yet.

“Yes, that’s a good alternative to absolutely dying to tear you apart,” he growls through gritted teeth, “more. Keep going.” Your smut genuinely never misses, Rid. It always matches the vibe of the story and the dynamic of the couple so well too.

"From the way he looked at you, his sentiment seemed and felt real. You won’t necessarily claim he’s in love with you, and you probably aren’t either yet, but you do think that he’s at least reached a stage of affection for you." Yeah, that's what I'm saying too! I hope it's true 😔😔😔

"You suppose you weren’t the only child fearing his presence. There was someone who was surrounded by it all the time, fearful and quiet." Yeah, no wonder he wants to leave the town.

"But it doesn’t hurt less. Because it means that anything he said, all the touches you shared were meaningless, a product of desire but nothing behind it." See, I just don't think that's true, but I guess only time and Jungkook will tell.

"She didn’t tell you just how bad it could be." I meaaan OC did say she wanted love and then heartbreak and then love again...

"You look around, goosebumps on your skin. Less because of the breeze, more because it carries his scent to you." I love these lines.

"An inside voice chuckles when your knees threaten to buckle — after everything you’ve heard, you still think that deep down, he cares. That despite his battle plan, you took over at least a tiny spot in his heart; somewhere in the back, hidden but there." I genuinely think that he has affection for her. This might be a bit of an unpopular opinion, but I don't actually hate Jungkook, like, at all. Like OC said, I'm sure he feels trapped in this situation by his uncle, who is probably one of the big reasons he wants to leave town anyway. And even if this started as his way of setting himself free from his reputation, there's no way that he hasn't grown fond of OC. I hope that he can show her that, but I'm sure that we'll have to get through some angst before he can accomplish that, since OC has every right to feel betrayed and angry.

"What your lips will do is let him pull you in and kiss you. Will move against his. Will drown in the deep tenderness of his touch, no matter how much it hurts. Will permit him to slide his tongue through, dancing with yours. When he's done playing with you, and you're done letting him, he pecks the apple of your cheek once more, and then mutters, "Good night, princess" This is so sad ☹☹☹ Poor OC must be feeling so conflicted.

This was such an intense ride and I'm honestly so excited for the next part. I feel like this review was a little all over the place and more me reacting than any actual meaningful thoughts lmao. But I was kind of more along for the ride here and vibing, because as I said, this was a great way to completely detach from all of my nervous thoughts and fall into someone else's problems that feature Jeon Jungkook instead of exams lmao.

Thank you for creating another amazing story, Rid <3

candles & flames | jjk (m)

Summary: He wasn’t supposed to be yours. His foolery wasn’t supposed to target you. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

➳ pairing:Jungkook x reader ➳ rating: 18+ ➳ genre: enemies to lovers, royal!au; angst, fluff, smut ➳ warnings: so! they’re both royalty/high in society (gd should’ve called this ‘royals’), fuckboy jk, banter, past side character death mentioned, hints of fake dating but not really, angst!, the ending.., douchebag jk at times, crying, guilt, jk is sus too, bits of jealousy, society sucks, explicit sexual content: carriage shenanigans, sexual tension, fingering, oral (m. & f. receiving), mouth fucking, spit stuff?, manhandling, spanking, dry humping, dirty talk, angry foreplay but things get softer, he comes in her mouth <3, they’re hiding during all that <3 ➳ wc: 24.6k 😐 ➳ a/n: sooo. i love e2l and regency aus, but i haven’t written much/any of those, so they’re not my strongest suit. but hopefully y’all will still enjoy reading it, bc i did enjoy writing it. it’s just the beginning hehe <3 this entirely new genre/trope took some brainpower lmao so i’d love if you dropped by and told me what you think !! 🤍 

TAGLIST | MASTERLIST | WIPs

Jeon Jungkook’s sincerity doesn’t run as deep as his undeniable beauty.

Keep reading

[concubuck]

Since you mentioned it, Ozzie/Alastor/Fizz (or just Alastor/Fizz, since you already did Ozzie/Alastor)

((First, Alastor/Fizz:

The low number of hearts makes me seem more lukewarm than I really am lmao. It's a ship I like, I just haven't explored it as much.

First off I think Alastor unironically enjoys clowns and thinks they're funny so jot that down.

Second, even though Fizz is playing sidekick, he's clearly JUST as into humiliating a paying customer via musical number as Ozzie is, which means he and Alastor would probably get along great on the sadism front.

Third, I think Alastor inherently respects and appreciates professional entertainers, whether or not he's into that kind of entertainment himself: singers, dancers, actors, porn stars, TV hosts... and clowns-turned-comedians who warm up the crowd at night clubs.

And fourth, Fizz is an imp—dead bottom of Hell's social ladder—who was just so good at being a clown that King Mammon's selling a successful line of robots in his likeness and King Asmodeus snapped him up as his opening act and secret boyfriend; and even though that obviously doesn't really raise his rank as an imp, celebrity does give him power he never could have had otherwise. In life, Alastor was a biracial man in Jim Crow Louisiana who gained fame and popularity by virtue of how entertaining he was on the radio (a medium, notably, where nobody could see his face, and where he spoke in an artificially-created accent that had been invented specifically to sound upper-class and well-educated). I wouldn't go so far as to say I think he'd empathize with Fizz, because I doubt empathy is Alastor's strong suit; but I feel like he'd see the parallels between their histories and respect Fizz a lot for coming from a place similar to Alastor's and finding the same way up the ladder. I doubt Fizz would be able to return any of those sentiments—I figure a sinner who's been in Hell for 80+ years probably has a better understanding of demonic hierarchies than a hellborn demon who's never lived in a ring with humans would have about human race relations—but they're at least there on Alastor's side.

And for Ozzie/Alastor/Fizz:

Basically just put together my Alastor/Ozzie thoughts and my Alastor/Fizz thoughts and throw in the fact that Ozzie/Fizz is already an established ship and it works. Ozzie & Fizz probably have a whole lot of people flinging themselves at them separately, but who are usually attracted them for more typical/expected reasons—because they're each independently sex icons and probably considered wildly sexy in Hell, because they're famous and/or powerful, because of what people think their personalities are like as a famous entertainer/celebrity and a powerful ruler, etc. But not many people are interested in both of them simultaneously—it's usually one or the other—and not many are going to list the top reasons they're interested as "because of your musical numbers, and because you're assholes to your guests and I think that would make you VERY funny to hang out with." Even better if it doesn't actually start at all as "attraction," and not even as an attempt to climb the social latter, but Alastor just thinks they seem like His Kind Of People (translation: the bitchiest theater kids in the high school).

They'd be that obnoxious power trio that shows up to every event fashionably late in sunglasses with expensive coffee, knows everything about who's sleeping with whom, and lets that info slip strategically to cause the maximum chaos and fighting.

Bonus: one of the hypothetical ideas for the succubus Alastor AU fic I've been kicking around is Alastor getting knocked up (surprise! that was on my wishlist for this AU from the very start), Ozzie going "well I guess I'm gonna say it's mine and name it heir to my throne" while Alastor's still highkey panicking, them going to get a paternity test, discovering the kid is actually Fizz's, and Ozzie gleefully going "well now I'm DEFINITELY saying it's mine and naming it heir to my throne."

Because, one, the only thing better than the thought of having a kid with one of his boyfriends is having a kid with BOTH of his boyfriends; and two, this is a man who openly praises a prince for ruining his marriage over a socially taboo affair and who thinks the sexiest thing imaginable is a literal clown. He would absolutely hold up this little baby that's clearly some kind of imp/succubus hybrid and say "Yep! This is definitely my kid! No doubt about it! I'm 100% naming it my heir!" and letting all of Hell think that he's got it so bad for a hot piece of succubus ass that he's willfully blinded himself to the fact that the succubus cucked him with his over-promoted second-in-command imp. Like, that's leading by example. That's showing his people how to embody the true spirit of lust. He will give Hell the impression that the royal court of Lust is some sort of broiling soap opera, even at the cost of a little of his own respectability, because it sets a good sinful precedent and because it'll be really, REALLY funny. All three of them are clowns. They'd find the media frenzy hilarious. They'd be fighting not to laugh the whole time.))

[scraregenrecs]

Rec Roundup - May 2021

Hello friends! It’s June! (i know, i know, wtf, right?) Which means that we have a nice long list of fics from May that we know you all will love. There’s a little bit of everything. Everyone can find something they enjoy on this smorgasbord of rare ships and gen!

So, look through the list and buckle in for some AMAZING fic!

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Aeration by @middyblue, Alexis & David, rated T, 4495 words

Summary: Isn’t her whole life proof that she can handle it? However shitty life gets, she puts one heel in front of the other and keeps walking, keeps going to the next adventure, the next thrill, because it’s when you stop that it catches up to you; it’s when you stop and there’s no one there that you start disappearing.

The night before she leaves Schitt's Creek, Alexis gets a text from Sebastien.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: This is a stunning fic that takes an unflinching look at the people that Alexis and David used to be, and the people they've become. I haven't read an Alexis character study that touched me quite so deeply. Check the tags!

and i’ve known you for a long time by @hullomoon, Stevie/Twyla, rated Gen, 574 words

Summary: While moving in together, Twyla discovers something from their childhood

Rec [written by samwhambam]: I love this little fic for multiple reasons! Stevie! Twyla! MOVING IN TOGETHER! REDISCOVERING SHARED MEMORIES. I love it all. Give it to me. It’s a sweet little slice of life and hullomoon killed it. Again. Per usual.

Every Night Has Its Dawn by @lilythesilly, Stevie/Ruth, rated G, 633 words

Summary: Everytime Ruth takes her to a new place, whether it’s a karaoke bar or a concert in the park or a cheesy tourist trap, or to try her favorite foods (sushi is so far a yes, the bistec Ruth made in her kitchen this afternoon is so far a yes, kimchi is so far a no) she watches Stevie with a bright smile, like she’s anticipating whatever her reaction is, good or bad.

Stevie never wants to stop chasing that smile. She’ll follow Ruth to a million different places in a million different cities if it means she gets to see that smile over and over again.

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Ruth + Stevie + Karaoke

Rec [written by doingthemost]: This is so pitch perfect, I could see it easily unfolding on my screen. I love the way you instantly get to understand the dynamics of their relationship through Stevie's amusing POV. This is a must-read for anyone curious about the ship!

The Future Is This Moment by floosilver8, Jake/David, rated E, 1774 words

Summary: Mostly canon compliant, David's POV for just before the cold open of S03E01 Opening Night

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: I’m such a sucker for David/Jake and this is super hot! I also love the tense shift at the end there.

High and Warm by lonelygrocerystore, Stevie/Twyla, rated T, 567 words

Summary: A (very stoned) Stevie and Twyla share a moment at Mutt's barn party and Stevie has feelings.

Rec [written by samwhambam]: Give me ALL the Stevie and Twyla making out while stoned at Mutt’s barm party. It is SUCH an underrated moment in the show. They both looked fantastic and it’s time we all really appreciated it. This fic is a combination of stoned making out and queer feelings and I really enjoyed it. So much. Highly recommend it.

In her brown eyes (the ones she gave to me) by @sarahlevys, Stevie/Ruth, rated G, 600 words

Summary: "I'm dating someone. Her name is Stevie."

Her mother tsks under her breath. "Stevie, ha? Sounds like a boy's name."

A laugh escapes Ruth despite her nerves. "Well – yes. I guess so."

Ruth tells her mother about her new relationship.

Rec [written by samwhambam]: This fic gave me mom feels. 😂 I read this and was really rooting for Ruth and I was so happy that her mom was receptive to meeting Stevie. It really breathes life into a character that we got limited screen time from. It’s a nice little treat!

Let’s all be with us by [orphaned account], Stevie/Albany/Jake, rated M, 1556 words

Summary: Jake and Stevie are at Café Tropical for their weekly milkshake the night of Jocelyn's baby sprinkle. After Albany overhears Klair saying breaking news: we still fucking hate her in regards to her at The Wobbly Elm, she flees back to where they'd indulged in lunch earlier that day, meeting the two of them in the process.

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: The thing I love most about fanfic is when I read something that makes me consider a character in a new way — or, honestly, makes me consider them full stop, which is something I’ve never really done with Albany. But this fic fleshes her out and gives her a damn good day.

my dress on the floor by @5ambreakdown, Stevie/Twyla, rated T, 4332 words

Summary: David smiles and squeezes his hand. “You’re cute.”

Before Patrick can respond any sort of way to that, he hears the door open behind them and turns to see Stevie enter, her eyes widening and mouth opening slightly. He hears her whisper, “Oh shit,” as she takes in Twyla behind the counter.

Huh.

----

are stevie and twyla together? will patrick ever understand fashion? did i just vomit a bunch of words onto the page and didn't double check to make sure it was coherent? all these and more just might be answered!

Rec [written by samwhambam]: This is such a fun fic!! It’s told from Patrick’s POV as he slowly starts to notice some uhhhhh things between Stevie and Twyla. I love the Stevie and Twyla of it and I love David and Patrick being the classic best friends and getting super into it. I was smiling the entire time. It’s such a good fic and I kept getting distracted while writing this review because I keep reading the fic instead lmao.

rise and spin / over and over again by @anniemurphys, Alexis/Twyla, rated T, 2384 words

Summary: The apartment is dark when Alexis gets home, curtains drawn, air heavy. She wants to give in to the darkness, to curl up in it – but she also wants to pull her wife out.

Seven moments of grief, and one moment of hope.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: Please mind the tags! That said, if this is something you're comfortable reading, you'll find a devastating, breathtaking, captivating story in so few words. This is a fic that reminds me of how powerful fandom can be, and how we can often find solace and empathy in telling stories through these characters we love.

save it from the funny tricks of time by @hullomoon, David & Moira, rated G, 1114 words

Summary: While David helps her pack up her wigs, Moira reflects on their relationship.

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: David and Moira’s relationship is one that always fascinates me, and the parallel between the opening of the first episode of the show and this fic is so brilliantly done.

Sweaters In the Dead of Summer by @kindofspecificstore, Heather/Rachel, rated T, 2195 words

Summary: Rachel desperately wants to bury herself in the covers and never come out again. The lights were off last night- Heather didn’t have to see the patchwork that makes up her back and shoulders, the speckling of white and pink dots in varying stages of healing scars. She doesn’t like it. She’s not proud of it. But Rachel doesn’t really know how to fix it either. It’s not embarrassing, per se, just awkward to explain.

You know that feeling when you want to pop a zit?

Like that, but all the time. Except it’s all you think about. And you can’t control it.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: Yay, more Heather/Rachel! Please mind the tags with this one, but with that out of the way, this is a touching look at their relationship (every relationship in this fic, in addition to the Heather/Rachel, is treated so well!) and the importance of being seen and cared for.

To the end of reckoning by @dinnfameron, Patrick & Ronnie, rated T, 1308 words

Summary: He should get David a coffee. He could deliver it to the motel, see how he’s doing. His arm is raised halfway to flag Twyla down when he catches himself. David doesn’t want to see him right now. He may never want to see Patrick ever again. The thought makes him sick.

“Brewer.” Patrick turns at the sound of his name. There aren’t many people in this town who call him that, and sure enough, there’s Ronnie Lee at a table near the front. He’d missed her, somehow.

“You look like shit,” she says.

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: I love Patrick, I love Ronnie, I love anything and everything that explores the contentious relationship between the two of them. I love post-barbecue angst. Basically I love every single thing about this.

you make everything good by @rosedavid, Alexis/Twyla, rated G, 835 words

Summary: “Stop being grumpy, it’s lame."

Twyla has to go and visit her gaggle of cousins for two weeks, and Alexis is pouty about her girlfriend leaving for so long.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: This is an adorable little slice-of-life type of fic with some fun banter and some true-to-the-show Twyla moments! It's cute and funny and exactly what I love about the ship.

-

Happy reading, friends!

[salemorbit]

awesome! could i possibly have a BOTW matchup with anyone except link cause I see so much for him already lmao-

i’m a 5’8 bisexual girl with no preference for either gender, everyone is hot to me fmjdnfh. I’m not that good at social interaction and I end up being really awkward as a result, although I’m super empathetic and often end up being affected way too much by the emotions of people around me. I’m a little emotional and I end up crying instead of getting angry at anyone who’s mean to me, I can’t really stand up for myself, but I can say that I’m super creative and a very good listener. I love baking and decorating cakes, and I’d say that I’m pretty good at it as I’ve been doing it for a while now ^^ I also play the cello, piano, and melodica, and although I can’t sing I have an ear for music. I love traveling and getting lost in pretty places I’ve never been to.

also random little tidbit I have a Holland lop bunny named Kona :)

hi! thanks for the request :) here you go!!

~~~~~~~

BOTW Matchup!

Based on your characteristics, I think you'd do best with.....

Sidon!

~~~~~~~

Sidon's outward personality really does counteract your more shy and awkward personality

Where you kind of clam up in social situations, Sidon is able to rescue you and become the extroverted and confident Zora you know and love

He appreciates your empathy to others, but he's also there to pull you out when you get too empathetic and let your emotions overtake everything else

He's very good at grounding you

He also coaches you on how to be more sure of yourself and not let others walk over you, because even though he can be aloof himself at times, Sidon knows when enough is enough and puts his foot (fin??) down

If you ever slip into a habit of letting people say or do what they want regardless of how it makes you feel, Sidon is immediately taking the reins and setting things straight

He knows it can be nerve wracking for you so he's not harsh with anything, but he does become stern (only because he cares!) if it's a problem

Sidon loves your ability to be creative and think up new things for the two of you to do or explore

He also appreciates how you listen so well and give your input when he has something he needs to get off his chest

Sidon also loves when you bake! He loves the smells and how happy it makes you, and he also likes to help out every once in a while and just be soft

But his favorite thing is when you sit down and play your instrument of choice

He doesn't really care what it is because he has full faith in you to just make wonderful sounds with it no matter what you play

He'll often use this as a way to digress after particularly exciting days, and your music always puts his mind at ease

Hyrule is large, so you two rarely ever run out of places to explore!

Sidon likes to find places for you that have the best view of the lay of the land, whether it be looking over the lush Zora Domain or the more expansive Hyrule Field

He just loves to spend time with you and discovering how you see the world!

~~~~~~~

again thank you so much!! sorry this took a little longer to write!

[sneezefiction]

rewatched attack on titan for the millionth time and remembered how much it shaped me. which sounds cringe but??? i remember watching it at 11 and being so shocked by how gruesome the animation was and surprised that they actually showed characters dying with blood, guts, etc… on screen for everyone to see. the concept of a “mature” rated show hadn’t crossed my mind in terms of animation before — I didn’t think anime was capable of that kind of production.

i’d gotten so emotionally invested in it that it was most of what i thought about (along with a couple other shows) for almost an entire year. and, at the time, i didn’t see why i was so infatuated by it. but i realize now that what i loved were the themes of purpose, injustice, sacrifice, and death. that there was something so much bigger going on in this fictional world than i could comprehend.

when you’re 11, your world is tiny. and when you’re me and you’re 11 and you haven’t got but one friend… your world is very tiny, quiet, a bit lonely, and feels a bit meaningless. i’m sure i threw many pity parties lmao.

but yeah, those are such big topics to watch and hear about when you’re not even in your teens yet. so naturally, i dug into a lot of theories, stories, met people online with similar interests (thanks deviantart), in order to satiate my infatuation with it LOL.

AoT satisfied my need for community at the time. i discovered fanfiction (i can’t tell if that’s a good thing though), a love for creating and writing, and it also let me in on empathy. stepping into the shoes of another person, even of that person isn’t… real. hm.

but, essentially, i learned from fiction, if that makes sense.

in my current english courses, we talk a lot about rhetoric and what makes something meaningful/valuable. i mentioned how i like (and have always liked) to draw meaning from shows/songs/books/ideas that, on the surface, just look like entertainment.

i was met with a lot of agreement. i explained that much of what i watched and enjoyed as a kid was meaningful to me because i could picture myself there. i felt involved. i learned a little about belonging/community, about different forms of intelligence, about art, and making a difference, etc… when i couldn’t learn about it elsewhere. and because i didn’t have family to guide me much at all for several years, i utilized a lot of media to give myself (my time, life…) a little bit of importance and meaning.

it’s a bit sad to see myself back then looking for a community within a show. i could’ve really used some friends and guidance and maybe a few more years before i watched people dramatically lose limbs on TV. but it’s what i was working with and i think that’s okay. even if it involved naked giants and lots of death

anyway, just thought i’d put it out there. someone might relate 👍

[marvelfansince08love]

Our own underground kingdom

Word Count: 1903 

Pairing: Wilhelmina Venable x Fem!Reader 

Warning: A lil angsty, soft Mina. 

Prompts: 2,5,17 - “The only thing I have left is you”, “My only fear is losing you”  “I can’t live.. Not without you”

Setting: Six months before the apocalypse, Mina is aware of Michael being the Antichrist but hasn’t met him in person.  

A/N: For anon, I hope you enjoy! x  @muted-stoneheart​ thank you for reading over this for me, thanks again bubbles! 

Also bonus points for anyone who picks on a certain quote said by the woman herself (I couldn’t help myself) lmao. Still in a slight love/hate relationship with this. 

Permanent tags and a few who i thought might enjoy it : @waitingfortheendtocome​ @natasha-danvers​ @saucy-sapphic​ @coconutlipss​  @stevenuniversetanzanite​

Prompts 2,5,17

“You want us to move where because of what?!” You exclaim, looking dumbfounded at a desperate Wilhelmina. She clutches her cane in front of her, brown eyes begging you to understand as you both stand opposite one another in your shared apartment. 

“To Central California, we’ll be safe there. I have it all planned out, I got two tickets that gives us access to a safe facility known as Outpost 3. My bosses may be coked up narcissists but they like me enough and know I’d be able to run the place well but I… I won’t do it without you Y/n. I need you onboard with this, please understand this is a matter of life and death.” She pleads reaching forward to take your hand. You hold your hand up in front, stopping her advance. 

“Mina baby, you are not making any sense. You are telling me that in as little as six months time the world is going to end in smoke and fire and you want us to go live underground with rich strangers until what.. Everything goes back to normal again. I don’t understand what you are asking and you’re scaring me,” You inform her quietly, trying to process this new information that your girlfriend has given you. 

You and Mina have been dating for nearly two years and in all that time you’ve never seen her look so terrified yet excited at the same time. You saw the glint in her eye when she first told you of her master plan to escape the upcoming apocalypse and to rule over one of the six outposts that were being built for the rich while the poor died from the nuclear bombs or worse. You understood that Mina’s empathy for others has always run thin, you were one of the few if not the only one who Mina truly cared for. You watch her take a deep breath in before releasing it in frustration, her eyes flash slightly at your lack of understanding and enthusiasm. 

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you Y/N. All I ask is that you pack a few items.. Maybe that pretty lavender lingerie number that I bought you last year for your birthday and I’ll figure out the rest. Please baby don’t make me beg you…” She asks, her tone soft yet demanding. Her eyes dart away from yours suddenly finding the kitchen marble interesting, her voice like a whisper that echoes across the room to your ears.

“I can’t live… not without you.” She confesses, still unwilling to meet your surprised gaze. You knew Mina loved you even if she rarely said it out loud, see Mina showed you love with affection, personal gifts and allowing you to see her deepest scars and insecurities behind closed doors while making love but her confession shocked you nevertheless.

“Mina I’m not saying I wouldn’t go with you. This just all seems a bit crazy, I mean your bosses selling their souls to the devil who happens to have a son who's roaming the earth right now planning to destroy it and pretty much everyone on it. Tell me you understand my hesitance.” You murmur, walking towards her and delicately lifting her chin up with your finger forcing her to look at you. Her big brown eyes stand out behind her framed glasses as you go to remove them from her face, knowing she’s probably forgot that she’s still wearing them. She blinks a few times adjusting to the new sight while muttering a quick ‘thanks’. She leans her cane against the nearby chair before placing her hands on either side of your hips pushing you back slightly guiding you to the breakfast island behind you, indicating for you to hop on top so she can stand in between your legs comfortably. 

“I know it’s a lot to process, I get it.. It took me a while to wrap my head around it but being around those two nutcases every damn day made it easier to understand why they didn’t have a soul, the rest just followed through. Baby this is a good opportunity for us, just imagine you and me ruling our own little underground kingdom, how satisfying does that sound hmm. I’m not embarrassed to say, it gives me a tingle.” She whispers brushing her nose against yours, her voice huskier at the thought of you standing by her side as she bends the guests to her very wimp as they beg for their life after disobeying the rules. 

You roll your eyes at her idea of fun and being slightly turned on at the thought of being in control of others. 

“But what about the rest of the world? Families Mina torn apart, children unable to grow up and become incredible people.who could go on to discover a new element or become the next president. Just gone, tiny specks of dust in the ground because some guy decided so.” You argue back, she pulls back a little so she can lock gazes with you dumbfound by your resilience. 

“This isn’t just ‘some guy’ sweetheart, we are talking about the son of satan and all things hellish.” Mina ridicules, shaking her head at your ignorance. 

“Have you met this man? Have you seen with your own two eyes what he is capable of?” You question, watching a flicker of hesitance cross her features confirming your answer without any words being spoken. Now it's your turn to look dumbfounded as you try to understand her eagerness to believe such nonsense. 

“Just as I thought. Mina, this man could be insane and those two dipshits have only three things on their minds robotics, cocaine and pussy. You really wanna believe all this?” She nods her head with determination. 

“I really do believe it. I’ll show you the planning if you like? I just need you on board with this Y/N. I can live with myself if the rest of the world dies out but baby, not you, never you. The only thing I have left is you, so i need you to come with me.” She speaks honestly, placing her hands on either side of your face wanting you to understand her. 

“Show me the plans first Mina, then I will decide” You compromise, still feeling ridiculous that you are indulging her proposition. She smiles satisfied with your answer knowing it was the closest thing to a yes she was going to get out of you for now before she pulls away completely, moving towards her cane and heading for the kitchen door, she turns her head towards you, her face serious. 

“I’ll show you the plans and I’ll prove to you that what i’m telling you isn’t some bullshit story to scare you, I’m not crazy dear.” She vows, continuing on her journey. Leaving you sat on top of the kitchen island, mind reeling from the information given to you. You know deep down somewhere that what Mina’s telling you is true. That woman is a realist who laughs at the thought of magic and spells, always believing in the science of things, never one to open her mind to more powerful beings. So there you sat waiting for her to fight her corner and prove to you that what she’s telling you is real and the idea of her mostly being right terrifies you. 

But I’d go anywhere with her, even to run away from death itself. 

***

“Jesus Mina and these are all the plans?” You mutter, looking closely at Mina’s tablet as you both sit at the wooden desk in her home office. The fireplace crackling to the side of you both, the light from the flames giving Mina’s side profile a soft glow of orange. As she leans over your shoulder, her finger sliding and tapping away on the tablet, showing you the other locations and its members. 

“Yes, we have full access to all construction work as well. Millions of dollars have gone into this Y/N, those A-listers you see right there all know what’s going to happen. Do you think they feel guilty? Of course not.” Mina reprimands, scoffing in disgust. 

“You could have gotten us into the outpost in Hawaii at least, baby,” You halfheartedly teased, still trying to process an actual response. Mina growls quietly and nipples underneath your earlobe before whispering in your ear. 

“What and have you drooling over Johansson, I don’t think so. I want you all to myself.” The possessive tone makes you roll your eyes in good nature. 

“So what do you think?” She asks into your ear, you hear the slight hesitancy in her voice making you turn your head to the side and placing a reassuring kiss to her cheek. 

“I have one condition. You promise that you will tell me everything, from any changes to new developments. I want to know Mina, don’t keep secrets from me. I still don’t fully trust this cooperative or whatever they want to be called, especially that guy who claims to be the antichrist.” You enforce wanting her to understand that although you are agreeing to this you still have your reservations. 

“Of course baby. We’re in this together darling, now about that little number… think you could put it on so we can celebrate our new move properly,” She hints before capturing your lips in a heated kiss. “So demanding.” you tease against her lips. Before you can continue with your heated makeout session Mina pinches the side of your hip making you jump slightly in the chair and yelp “Hey!” eyeing her fingers before locking eyes with her chocolate brown eyes, she smirks before replying “I won’t ask again, dear. You know where the closet is”.

With that you jump out of the chair and walk seductively out of the room before calling over your shoulder cheekily. 

“See you in five minutes, my love” 

***

As you lie beneath Mina, bodies glistening in the afterglow of your love making, you look up into those brown eyes above you as they sparkle with delight and admiration. Her forearms leaning on either side of her head, nose brushing eskimo kisses along your own. 

“My only fear is losing you, Y/N. I hope you realise that.” She confesses, eyes wet with unushered tears as she collapses on top of you, her head tucked into the crook of your neck as you clutch onto one another. 

“Of course I do, Mina. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you either,” You reply, capturing her lips with your own in a heated kiss. You both moan in unison, loving the feeling of each other's soft lips seeking the love and comfort we share for one another. Once you pull back and settle into your new position, Mina’s head leaning against your chest where she loves to hear your heart beating steadily beneath her ears. 

“We will watch the world burn bright together and bring in this new world while making love in our own hideaway, my love.” She breathes, against your naked chest nuzzling her nose against your exposed skin.

And for the first time tonight, you were looking forward to spending your days in your own little kingdom with the redhead. As long as you have her, you’ll be content for the rest of your days no matter how long or short that might be. 

If you would like to be added to the tag list, just ask! 

[shima-draws]

can you tell us more about the pokemon au with the magical creatures stuff? you said ash draws magical creatures and is basically like a pokemon whisperer. is it connected to his aura stuff? also, what's pikachu's role in this? like basically a travel companion, maybe a familiar? thanks, love your works!

[[Anonymous said: Same anon that asked you about the mythical creatures AU . I wanted to know the backstory for the characters that you made ones for sorry for not making it clear last time 😅]]

No problem!!

Ash was basically born as a mage—most humans don’t have any magic at all, so it was a sort of rare thing 🤔 And yes it connects to his aura powers! Ofc he doesn’t really discover those until he travels through Hoenn and meets Lucario. They’re basically tradeoffs; Ash’s magic strengthens his aura and vice versa.

Naturally Ash wasn’t very good at using magic at first and wasn’t super fond of studying it since he’s more of a hands on learner lol. (Gary teased him a LOT for this.) But since Ash was a kid he’s had a knack for connecting with Pokemon, even the stubborn ones, and gains a reputation in Pallet Town for being the local Pokemon tamer. It helps that he has that sort of personality that’s very easy to make friends with.

His first encounter with Pikachu goes pretty much like it does in canon; the difference is that Pikachu doesn’t trust people who can use magic or mythical creatures—hence his initial hatred of Ash. But Ash is able to earn Pikachu’s trust!! So yeah he still acts as Ash’s main traveling companion.

Ash doesn’t openly use his magic a lot tho, only for when the situation really calls for it or when he’s trying to connect with a Pokemon. The same goes for his aura. Most of the time he just uses it to heighten his own senses, so he can tell what’s going on with other people and Pokemon around him. Sort of like hyper empathy? And he uses it for simple, daily tasks, like doing the dishes or making things float lol. He initially started his journey to get a better handle on his magic and learn more about Pokemon, but he developed a passion for battling instead, and devotes his time to that! He’s also fascinated by other mythical creatures—Pallet is a small town so he didn’t really get to meet a lot of unique creatures as a kid, so being able to travel the world and meet lots of different supernatural beings is a total blast for him!

Ash has tried using his magic to open portals to other worlds before, but he’s nowhere near strong enough to do it;; but in theory he could, if he were given a big enough power boost.

As for the rest—I honestly haven’t dug too deep yet, but I do have some background info on Gladion 👀

Vampires are very rare to begin with, and very reclusive. Vampires in Alola are unheard of, because it’s always sunny and warm there, and vampires prefer cooler temperatures and areas where the weather is usually overcast. Most of them live in the mountains of Sinnoh and Unova.

Ofc Gladion couldn’t really move away from Alola to some place colder, being so young, and with Lusamine being...how she is, so he learns over the years to cope with the heat and the sun. (He didn’t want to just leave Lillie behind like that, either.) He eventually finds an abandoned cabin at the base of Mount Lanakila and shelters there. This is where Ash visits him most of the time, especially since he never comes out during the day c: So this does mean that Ash hauls ass to Ula’ula Island to see him...that or he uses his magic to teleport over lmao

Contrary to popular belief and general vampire lore, they can be out in the sun, it’s just extremely blinding. Like they legit cannot see shit in the daytime, the light gives them splitting headaches and makes them extremely drowsy. (And it does burn, a little, so if they do have some reason to be out during the day they have to wear protective clothing.)

Gladion usually orders his blood online LOL I know that sounds weird but it’s not like he goes out and actually feeds on people, especially since he’s so anti-social to begin with and has massive trust issues. Vampire feeding is an enormous commitment and sharing of trust (and also very intimate), and he wouldn’t just go and suck blood from somebody randomly...so yes he does have to get batches delivered to him to keep him sated. Originally at Aether there was always a fridge stocked with blood for him, but since he left home he’s basically just been using his allowance and battle winnings to get his supply.

Since vampires also have a very keen sense of smell Gladion’s nose is very sensitive;; and since most mythical creatures are drawn to magic, he’s naturally drawn to Ash as well, who has a very wonderful scent to him. Gladion is afraid to be around Ash sometimes because of how openly reckless Ash is, and he fears that if Ash were to get into an accident that would spill blood, he wouldn’t be able to control himself around Ash and possibly attack him :’(

Still, Ash is one of the few people Gladion trusts completely, and who knows where his current hideout is. Since Ash hasn’t met a lot of vampires during his travels due to their rarity and general reclusiveness, he’s fascinated by Gladion and always drops by to battle and then pester him with questions about his lifestyle. (Also, he likes stopping by during the day sometimes, because rumpled sleepy Gladion is ADORABLE and a sight not a lot of people have the privilege of seeing.)

Anyway that’s probably way too much info LOL but I hope it was fun to read through nonetheless ^p^ Thanks for asking about the AU!! I’m always happy to share more.

[wxsuthorn]

a sort of organised analysis of The Gifted characters

pt. 1: Pang

(this analysis includes episodes 1-13 of season one and 1-7 of season two, so it probably isn’t completely accurate, but i tried my best. also please excuse grammar or spelling errors that i might’ve made cuz i write these late at night when my creativity sparks lmao)

Characteristics and qualities in the beginning of season 1

Even in the very first episode, Pang already showed some idealistic qualities. He always thought that the school system wasn’t fair, and he always tried doing the right thing (or what he thought was the right thing). His idealism wasn’t as extreme in the very beginning of the show, since he wasn’t as confident in his abilities. He probably didn’t have much interest in changing the school system when he (and the people around him) saw him as a dumb kid from classroom 8. Getting into the Gifted Program was what affected his idealism to the point where it became a fault.

Before he discovered his potential, he was most likely very confused about his “academic rank”. He was in classroom 8, yet he was in the Gifted Program... but he hadn’t found his potential yet. I can imagine him questioning his worth and how significant he really was; he was also one of the first kids in the gifted class to outwardly express how they felt about the unfair treatment of the ordinary students compared to the gifted students. This was probably because he got to experience both ends of the unequal treatment, unlike the rest of his gifted classmates.

In terms of intelligence, Pang is street smart. In episode one he thought of a distraction to not get caught stealing the test. He also used the egg drop parachute to save his phone. He is innovative and can create ideas and identify problems. In episode one (again), he noticed that Wave was sweating and seemed weak. He also noticed Ohm’s bloody nose and Mon moving a locker full of weights. He was aware of shit... but he’s not very aware of other people’s feelings... at least not fully.

Pang’s friendship with Nac hits different after the pangwave fight but anyways... Pang knew that he didn’t use the cheat sheet, and he couldn’t tell Nac anything about the Gifted Program, so he probably didn’t fully understand why Nac was so upset when he technically did nothing wrong. Nac even said he wasn’t upset that Pang was in the Gifted Program. I think that’s why Pang never talked it out with him and just kinda exploded at him. Even though he may see himself as empathetic, it’s really just him being idealistic. He mistakes his ideals about equality for empathy, when, in fact, those are two separate things. When it comes to individual people, I don’t think he’s very good at understanding them thoroughly enough. Nac’s reasons for being upset with Pang are realistic and valid. He’s in class 1, Pang’s in class 8, yet Pang was the one who got into the Gifted Program. Nac gave Pang a cheat sheet, and even though Pang denies using it, he couldn’t really believe that he got in with the grades he has. And on top of that, Pang doesn’t even tell him what happens in the class. Nac feels used and excluded, but Pang wasn’t paying attention to that. He ended up blaming the unfair system, which was just a factor of the conflict, but never took a moment to look at what he himself could’ve done to help the conflict, or even what he might’ve done wrong. but issokay cuz pang is a smol bean and i love him

Characteristics and qualities in the middle - the end of season 1

Lets talk about Pang discovering his potential in episode 6. He first noticed it when he told Nac to bang his head on a metal bar. This wasn’t the first time he used his potential on Nac, though. In the first episode he used it on him and said something like “don’t talk to me ever again”, and so Nac didn’t communicate with again him until episode 6. This was when Pang used his potential on him saying “why can’t we just talk it out?” and Nac was finally able to communicate his frustration. Nac was blaming Pang for shit he didn’t do and it was unreasonable, according to Pang, but Nac didn’t know the full story. If you look at the way Nac sees things: Pang is in the Gifted Program, Pang used me to get into the program (because there’s no way he just got in without using my cheat sheet), I got punished when Wave provoked me and Pang tried playing hero, as if he was some perfect angel. Pang has new friends, he has no use for me anymore, I don’t need him either, I find new friends, Pang suddenly joins in, everything goes haywire, my anger and frustration towards him explodes, and he just ignores what I’m feeling and tells me that I’m wrong and that I’m an asshole. Like I did something wrong, and he’s perfectly innocent. Lmao Nac is salty af. And he has a good reason to be. Pang doesn’t understand Nac’s thinking, and on top of that, he makes almost no effort to understand. His beliefs blind him into thinking he’s done no wrong.

Now lets talk about his actual potential, and how it affects him. His ego and self esteem rises, but Pang doesn’t notice it. It’s explained in the end of season 1 that the reason Pang lost is because he wanted to do everything on his own because he thought that only he was able to defeat the director. His ideals and his ego are very closely connected. Pang teams up with Wave because he thinks that Wave will be the most useful to stop Director Supot. Now, I don’t think Pang doesn’t care about his friends, but his actions are neglectful. When Pang teams up with Wave, he tells none of his other friends about what he’s doing. He doesn’t tell Namtaan or Ohm, literally his two closest friends, and convinces himself that he’s doing it to protect them. News flash, he isn’t. He’s trying to be a hero. His ego rapidly increasing might be because of how he was constantly ridiculed when he was in classroom 8, and suddenly he gets this power that makes him “superior” to ordinary people. Another possibility is that his ego was already big, but we he only showed it/applied it when he was trying to take down Director Supot.

Now lets talk about the season 1 finale: Pang becomes aware of his ego through the director foiling his plan and humiliating him. This is a big part of his development as a character. Ofc in season 2 he still has a problem with neglecting and doing things solo, but he become a little more aware, and for 2 whole year’s he’s able to somewhat-effectively lead the gifted gang in their fight against the anti-gifted.

Characteristics and qualities in season two (up until episode 7) 

Lets discuss: Ms Darin. aka ms loser. Remember in the beginning of episode 7 where he trusted her cuz of what she said and he noticed her actions (oop remember this trait from before? he’s aware of shit!), but it turned out it was all lies. He eventually got back on track after Third showed him the truth, and was smart enough not to trust Ms. Darin after that. I wanna guess that the reason he started trusting Ms. Darin so easily (other than what she said and did) is because he was in distress from failing Korn and Time. He needed some support, and he wouldn’t let his friends support him because “im a hero blah blah blah i dont wanna worry my friends they dont need to help me with my burdens cuz i can do it on my own :D” season 1 Pang type shit. Ms. Darin was an adult who seemed trustworthy enough, plus Director Supot was gone, and he was the main antagonist in season 1, so isn’t everything only gonna get better now that he’s gone? Plus when Grace said that he sounds like the adults lksdjlkjslfjjsdf THAT HIT ME.

Now I wanna talk about him with Chanon. I’m praying that Chanon is pure and not corrupted because if he is he might’ve used Pang and might do so in the future too... but let’s not focus on that. Pang finally has a mentor-figure in his life that he looks up. Someone to balance out his ego and show him that he can’t do everything on his own. yeah that’s all i have to say about that.

Punn. “You’re done, Pang.” Yeah lets talk about that because holy mcnuggets. Punn knows Pang well enough to know how intensely idealistic and passionate he is. Once the director is gone, Punn is like, bitch u got nothing else to obsess over MOVE ON. He’s basically saying Pang’s existence was so heavily tied with fixing the school system that when eveything’s fixed, he’ll be “done.” It’s similar to Five from the Umbrella Academy, where his whole life was set on fixing the apocalypse that he felt that life had no meaning without an apocalypse to prevent.

Now let’s talk about PangWave... I truly believe that Pang sees Wave as his equal, as his friend, and as a person whom he cares for deeply. His ego and idealism, topped with all the stress he’s going through (by himself), are dangerous towards his relationships. Wave feels used by Pang, and explains how Pang only comes to him when he needs his help, and avoids him when he disagrees with what Pang thinks. Pang is so fixated on his ideals and beliefs that he will do anything to make sure they become a reality. He’s obsessed, and it’s sooooo bad for his relationships with others. It shows that even on Namtaan’s bday, he can only think about “doing the right thing”, because that’s his number 1 priority. PANG JUST GIVE URSELF A BREAK PLEASE TAKE A METAL HEALTH DAY JUST SLKJFLSDKJJD MEDITATE OR SMTH.

I could type for several hours longer but I think this is enough word vomit for this post.

Summary

- VERY IDEALISTIC !!!! TO A FAULT

- He has somewhat of an inflated ego, but uses his ideals and beliefs to cover it up and convince himself that he is a “good person”

- He overworks his brain by never thinking of himself or other people’s emotions and focuses on his idealistic goals and his idealistic goals ONLY.

- He’s very aware of the things’s around him, and is street smart, but he’s not as aware when it comes to other people’s feelings and thoughts.

- He cares for his friends, but his extreme idealism ends up hurting them, and in turn hurting himself and further encouraging him to self-isolate.

- Independent, but this is mostly due to him thinking that he can handle problems on his own and he doesn’t want to get others involved.

- He is becoming more aware of his wrong actions, hence him apologising to Wave about going after Korn without him, but not enough to actually prevent these wrong actions.

- didn’t talk about this much but GUILT!!! I can tell that he feels immense guilt (especially in the latest episodes) whenever one of his friends get hurt and he’s very involved in what got them hurt. However, when it comes to hurting people emotionally, his guilt is tricky to read. At least for me it is lmao. Cuz he doesn’t always fully understand his friends’ feelings because he can’t always admit that he’s done something wrong, but with the recent pangwave fight he definitely felt some type of guilt there. Or maybe it was frustration? idk skjdflajsdfl someone else step in on this one pls

- He needs rest and a mental break. And some therapy maybe? Like please can one caring adult help this poor child.

- His character is actually pretty consistent wow the writing in this show is great.

- a cute boi who needs a hug. Preferably from Wave and/or Ohm.

[poemsforpersephone]

The third and final book rec list for fans of The Last Sun!

The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen has really cool empathy powers which, although not the two way bond Brand and Rune share, does remind me of the emotion reading aspect in TLS. The m/m relationship in it is also super sweet. 

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee. This one I’m recommending because the protagonist is a snarky asshole just like Rune, and the writing style is so well done. It’s m/m and genuinely such a fun and quirky book. Also the cover art is gorgeous!

Silver in the wood by Emily Tesh. This is an LGBT novella where a wild man called Tobias lives in a place called “Greenhollow,” , where, and I quote, “Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past—both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.” So im recommending this one simply because of the involvement of secrets and troubled pasts haha. 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. The front cover of this one gives me The Hanged Man vibes like, all the way to the bone, which is initially what prompted me to rec it on this list. But also: “Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.” Idk about the dirty magazines but the rest of it scREAMS Rune. and the main character is a lesbian!!! yay!! 

The Black Veins by Ashia Monet. “In a world where magic thrives in secret city corners, a group of magicians embark on a road trip—and it’s the "no-love-interest", found family adventure you’ve been searching for.” It’s like someone looked into my heart and picked out my deepest desire and then wrote it and gave it life. This book is super diverse and super awesome. 

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a f/f take on Dracula basically. I’m recommending it because the main character and her sister go through a traumatic event similar to the loss of the sun court, when men come and burn their home to the ground along with their people and they’re captured and taken as slaves. It’s about family, friendship and survival, and it’s beautiful. 

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco. An LGBT book where climate change deniers are the villains? ... you have my atttention. 

Prosper’s Demon by K.J. Parker. This is about a morally questionable exorcist!  It’s a satirical, interesting take on the topic of possession with a kick ass cover. 

The Wishing Heart by J.C Welker. An LGBT fantasy novel where our protag, Rebel, finds a jinni’s vessel and is thus thrust into a whole new world of trying to keep said jinni from everyone else and find a way to free her! The world building is awesome and so are the characters.

Tarnished are the Stars by Rosiee Thor. “A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher's chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog -- donning the moniker Technician -- to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner's tyrannical laws.” i have the hardbook version of this and the cover??? is so?? beautiful.

The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum. TALKING OF PRETTY COVERS. “Ryann Bird dreams of traveling across the stars. But a career in space isn’t an option for a girl who lives in a trailer park on the wrong side of town. So Ryann becomes her circumstances and settles for acting out and skipping school to hang out with her delinquent friends.”

Predatory by Brooklyn Ray. WERELEOPARDS FRIENDS!!!! god damn wereleopards im?? so happy. m/m 

The Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capetta. FOUND FAMILY QUEER WITCHES. need i say more. 

Portraits of a Faerie Queen by Tay LaRoi. The fey run amok in this one! f/f with a gorgeous front cover.

Unbroken by Brooklyn Ray. step 1: rent haunted house. step 2: fall in love with witch-turned-demon who inhabits it. step 3: profit???

The High King’s Golden Tongue by Megan Derr. This one is lovely! Nice world building with an emphasis on languages and kingdoms, and a lovely m/m romance that builds from kind-of-enemies-but-not-really to lovers. the audiobook of this is great. 

Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch. SORRY YOUR BOOK IS SET WHERE? MY HOMELAND? MY COUNTRY MY COUNTY MY HEART? we never get any attention imma go cry in the corner. its a historical fantasy m/m romance in YORKSHIRE gosh im here for it. And let me tell you... this is one fantastic book. I really, really enjoyed it.

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner. fantasy, m/m, lotsa swords!

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst. f/f fantasy with a princess who has fire magic in a kingdom where magic is forbidden! 

Freedom’s Fate by Jennie Taylor. SPAAAAAAACE i love books in space.

Pegasi and Prefects by Eleanor Beresford. “Charley's final year at Fernleigh Manor is complicated by a runaway pegasus, unwanted Games Captainship, a dangerous new rival and, most of all, falling head over heels in love with another girl. What is a reluctant Senior Prefect to do?” catch me while i swoon.

The Necromancers Dance by SJ Himes. m/m vampire/necromancer romance, urban magic and fantasy, very fun and smooth read, a little bit insta love but not totally. 

The Star Host by F.T. Lukens. “Ren grew up listening to his mother tell stories about the Star Hosts – a mythical group of people possessed by the power of the stars.” a m/m fantasy book set to a sci fi fantasy background.

Empty Vessels by Nicholas Williams. “Lucas Mahler babysits clones all day, but he's trapped under the legacy of his body-builder father and his genius girlfriend. When Lucas tries to rise above, he's murdered. Waking up in the body of a clone, Lucas embarks on a mystery full of blood, old friends and lost loves.” idk the whole clone thing in this just always reminds me of lord tower making all the different fake versions of people he knows lmao. 

BOOKS NOT YET OUT

So, the thing is. 2020 is very close friends, and some awesome books are even closer. These below are books I’ve not read yet, since they’re not out and I am a poor ARCless girl, but they’re books you definitely want to keep an eye on.

Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. Latimer. Bisexual OCD protagonist who is a witch D: its everything i could want. 

Wild Sky by Zaya Feli. LGBT fantasy with dragons! It sounds so, so fun.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust. “A captivating and utterly original fairy tale about a girl cursed to be poisonous to the touch, and who discovers what power might lie in such a curse...”

The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos. “The Raven Boys meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, about an openly gay high school senior in small-town Georgia.” m/m fantasy which looks super sweet.

Cemetery Boys by Auden Thomas. “Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.” THIS SOUNDS SO COOL oh my god. Yes PLEASE. 

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey. “A sly, witchy dark comedy about four teens whose magic goes wildly awry.” Magic, darkness, comedy, what’s not to love for fans of the tarot sequence??

The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune. I absolutely love T.J.  Klune’s writing so I can’t wait to get my hands on this. m/m superheros!! friends!!! get excited!! I think anyone who likes how witty K.D. is will enjoy this writing style. 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. YES ANOTHER ONE this looks so good too we are BLESSED. “A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.”

Fragile Remedy by Maria Ingrande Mora. “Sixteen-year-old Nate is a GEM—Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue created by the scientists of Gathos City as a cure for the elite from the fatal lung rot ravaging the population. As a child, he was smuggled out of the laboratory where he was held captive and into the Withers—a quarantined, lawless region.” The idea of the Withers kind of reminds me of the westlands.

The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig. UHM im always here for lgbt vampires in young adult fantasy fiction. The author says that “this book is gay and filled with monsters” which also fits the last sun so i figured it belongs on the list lmao. 

Ruinsong by Julia Ember. “In a world where magic is sung, a powerful mage named Cadence is forced to use her power to torture her country’s disgraced nobility at her ruthless queen’s bidding.”

[shiteymighty]

Wait I was thinking about it and like.... It seems like all the gems' struggles kind of parallel at least one struggle Steven goes through... Hold on I am Thinking... And like I mean.... All the gems that actually get a storyline....... Wait a minute.....

ALSLFJFJSLDJFHKD JEANNE Your mind is HUGE!!! Okay...okay I am computing my thoughts...First of all, YES. This is a good point! All of the issues explored in SU can be seen reflected in Steven at one point or another, all the way up to White- who is supposed to be the most alien of them all. One of the defining features of SU is that it takes place from Steven's point of view only- we only see things from his eyes, and anything we get beyond that can be reasonably attributed to his power of empathy- and even without his powers, Steven is just a naturally empathetic person. Him feeling other people's pain is both abstract and literal when it comes to A) who he is, how he naturally responds to the world around him, and B) his actual gemetic makeup which gives him powers that allow him to connect to others in ways that would otherwise be impossible. In other words, one might say Steven's lense IS other characters' lenses, even if we never actually get to see it from their pov. He so easily empathizes that he is essentially acts like a mirror and reflects the people around him (very similarly to white, who has a very fragile and barely-there sense of self that she eschews in favor of her duty to gemkind. Just like Steven learned to do as his own sense of self got lost in the sauce of being what other people needed him to be.) We see their stories very clearly because Steven is able to relate and feel what they're feeling, basically acting as a sounding board (which is fun because not only is their an in-universe explanation for this, but it's also like. You can then use these characters to show things Steven struggles with in a subtle way that Steven himself doesn't even really notice until it bubbles up later. You have brought up such a good point bc it's like, through telling other characters' stories, it loops around so it's like he shows their struggles which is actually a nifty narrative way to then reflect his struggles. So many mirrors bro, so many mirrors just reflecting and bouncing off each other endlessly.) Anyway! Steven accrues all of these problems and it's no wonder it takes all of the people he cares about to reassure him they still love him too. All of them had conflicting beliefs, ideals, attitudes, etc. and it makes sense that Steven would feel scared to develop (or discover aspects of) his own self for fear that he is no longer able to be what others need- which is what he has based his entire worth as a person around. Bluh...I'm starting to ramble and lose my train of thought. I guess what I'm trying to say is: suf is amazing and very complex, your mind is HUGE, and you're so right about Steven reflecting everyone else's journeys. Damn I can't believe I was able to witness your thought process in real time in my inbox lmao. Truly a privilege!

[timedriving]

rip/ donna

send me a ship and i’ll tell you… ( accepting )

who hogs the duvet i think it’s a fair bit of struggling that eventually ends in donna’s favour because... rip can’t win even if he tries. LMAO. he gives up after waking up for the third time that evening but donna looks so comfy he’s like... all right. this is fine. i’m content with this

who texts/rings to check how their day is going rip does check-ins more often, but donna’s more likely to text when she’s got something on her mind, random or otherwise. rip doesn’t really understand the concept of “random texting when you’re bored” and doesn’t want to suffocate her or anything

who’s the most creative when it comes to gifts donna is better at intentional gifts, and rip does things that don’t SEEM like gifts to him, but totally are. an explanation of the latter is something along the lines of “rip taking donna on a surprise trip to go camping in arizona where they can look up at the stars and map out constellations together and also he made food and ALSO he’s got proper camping gear and he’s been thinking about this for weeks... what do you mean this is a date?”

who gets up first in the morning donna is probably one of the few people in the world who can wake up at the same hour as rip and not feel tired or grouchy at the godawful hour. this means rip gets to draw her in cotton candy sunrises and donna gets to show him the world she lives in before it all properly wakes up, and it makes the whole thing kind of ridiculously magic also, neither of them have to wait for the other to have breakfast together.

who suggests new things in bed donna! it’s not that rip’s not as enthusiastic, but more that physical intimacy in general is an adventure to him already. also, i imagine donna’s experience with society means that she gets a lot more inspiration for this sort of thing than rip would get at the vanishing point? the most kink he has is liking to blindfold his partners or bind them with simple ties. it’s donna who ends up suggesting her lasso, for one thing

who cries at movies do..nna...?? between the two of them her empathy’s developed a lot more than rip’s has. but his interactions with her and the films they end up watching together do help him build his own empathy! i like to think the first movie he properly cries at the end at is the matrix revolutions. i don’t know why i imagined them watching the matrix revolutions. anyway it astounds him to think neo could love machines so much he gives his life to save them just as he saves humanity (rip related more to the machines in this case, too.........)

who gives unprompted massages i keep answering donna for these things, but rip doesn’t really know that this is a thing! he’ll comes back from an assignment tense because it’d been a close call, and then she’ll kiss the back of his neck whilst he sits down and work his shoulders and rip kind of just melts under her touch (but, let’s be real, he melts around her all the time because he’s so smitten-- this is just his body finally matching up with his mind)

who fusses over the other when they’re sick i don’t think donna gets sick very often? and while she takes care of rip it’s not necessarily fussing either, but a bit more-- she knows what she’s doing, having come from a place where caring for each other is the common mantra, and he feels kind of ridiculous having someone be so tender and kind with him, but he really does feel like he’s cared for (a rare sensation overall)

who gets jealous easiest FINALLY i am answering rip. but rip’s got a big of possessive canine instinct going on, all fang-bearing and whatever if donna’s ever being threatened. he doesn’t care about playful flirting with, like, friends or anything, but strangers out in the open better WATCH OUT... not that rip’s the type to beat up strangers but. he’ll think about it. he’ll think about it hard until donna’s the one who shoots them down. and then seeing her shoot them down will make rip want to pull her aside and kiss her because he uh. he sucks

who has the most embarrassing taste in music rip doesn’t have a taste in music? but i can’t imagine donna’s to be EMBARRASSING to him... if anything he’ll be awed with whatever her music tastes are because. you listen to these things for pleasure? you enjoy them? i enjoy them because you enjoy them. these lyrics sure are something. it’s funny how i know what instruments are playing individually but i never thought they’d sound like this altogether the idea that donna introduces him to the music of the 90′s/00′s is really fucking sweet actually........... he only ever listened to music for stock knowledge, but it’d be wild to lie down with her and listen to something just for the sake of listening to music together

who collects something unusual rip isn’t allowed to own things at the vanishing point, so the fact he finds a home in donna means her room probably houses his postal stamp collection... and, okay, postal stamp collecting isn’t the SEXIEST hobby, but 1) it doesn’t take up much space; and 2) it’s rip’s gateway drug to collection/hoarding, anyway. she’s got the scrapbook he uses kept away in a drawer and sometimes rip makes his own stamps out of souvenirs he takes from his missions

who takes the longest to get ready donna, who really makes an effort! and rip with his minute attention to detail always notices when she has a new shade of eyeshadow or lipstick or something. he finds it genius how she can make her look change so much... on his own end, rip doesn’t know how to change his look. i figure in this stage of his life, he mostly defaults to shirts and jeans, so he’s pretty useless and basic. on the rare occasions that he wants to dress up nice for her, however, he will take forever... because he doesn’t know how to be handsome enough to deserve her, whyyyyyy

who is the most tidy and organised donna! but then, donna actually has stuff TO organise. rip, who owns nothing, wouldn’t have a clue if he did have something. all he knows is how to keep his living space at the vanishing point clean, but that’s like... the most basic of the basic things

who gets most excited about the holidays donna is really excited to share her traditions, and rip is excited to partake in them with her. he sheepishly tells her that he doesn’t have his own holidays; he doesn’t even know when his nameday is, so. (but she’ll insist they choose a date just so they can celebrate it, and he’s horrifically shy about it because... you want a day... just to celebrate him?)

who is the big spoon/little spoon OOOHHHH AN ANSWER WHERE I CAN SAY THEY’RE HAPPY BEING EITHER... rip has a bigger tendency to big spoon though because he likes the feeling of having his arms wrapped around her, but at this point in his life he’s not jaded or traumatised enough to be extremely touch averse, especially with the first love of his life i think donna has an innate sense of knowing when rip’s feeling especially drained and will tell him to lie down when she does, at which point she’ll come up behind him and hold him and rip will just sigh because donna thinks of everything... what a genius

who gets most competitive when playing games and/or sports oh god this is destructive shit. people get bored of watching them play ping-pong because it lasts FOREVER. and the thing is they’re both like, killer focused on it, so they’re not even hurling insults at each other or teasing or anything-- they’re both in it to win it and it’s a wonder donna hasn’t obliterated the ping-pong ball yet with her strength

who starts the most arguments i like to think that rip’s more likely to get angry about things, but not necessarily about them as a couple? it’s more like he’ll be more confrontational when they’re disrespected in public or something-- he’s got the temper of a leashed dog, again, and it’s not like his canines are weirdly pointed because he shouldn’t bite for all their youth i think they’re both old souls who know too well about understanding to start any stupid arguments. imagine having a healthy honest relationship wow

who suggests that they buy a pet i think rip mentions it kind of off-handedly and donna laughs like “why?” and rip’s reasoning is just, like, he’ll see other couples walk a dog together... maybe it’d be nice if they walked a dog together, too and it’s the softest thing on the planet, but they aren’t together enough to warrant owning a dog together, so they don’t end up getting one it’s nice to imagine, though

what couple traditions they have they seem the type to have a secret handshake from when they were still just friends? which was actually a secret handshake that adult!rip had taught kid!donna when they first met years ago, in a sort of time loop sort of thing because young adult!donna ends up teaching it to young adult!rip... you know, one of those “perfect circle” things. the only difference now is that the handshake ends with a kiss

what tv shows they watch together i think donna makes an effort to find shows that rip would find genuine interest in, since he so rarely has time to be around and she wants to make the most of it? but they have a nice mix of humour and romcom and action/adventure... she’ll discover that rip really, really likes westerns, too, and rip will be surprised that that’s a whole GENRE, holy shit?? where can they see MORE of that????? i want them to watch the nanny though.........

what other couple they hang out with god the thought of a dickkory + ripdonna double date is actually really cool to me? kori’ll take him flying and rip’s going to be like ACK and dick’s all jokingly like “you’re dating a serious nerd, donna” and she’s just. she knows. she knows... but he’s the sweetest man she’s ever met and yes, grayson, that means he’s sweeter than you! rip’s going to be just as good at darts as dick though and dick’s going to be like DUDE... FOR REAL?

how they spend time together as a couple it’s suuuuuper gross, but they! like! touching! and not even, like, dirty touching, but holding hands is pretty usual for them, and so is dropping kisses here and there, even if it’s not going to start anything. it’s a serious cliche puppy love sort of thing?? like rip will like keeping his arm around her, too, and donna will like having her head in his lap, and for indoor hobbies especially, they can do separate things (e.g. donna watching a movie and rip reading a book) but still be connected in this way if rip had his way he would be able to be around her all the time, too

who made the first move rip does, but it’s not like... outwardly flirtatious or anything (he’s useless!). he just, y’know, drops compliments here and there... looks a bit shy when he does it... and donna’s no idiot, she knows he likes her, and eventually grins and calls him out on it and rip’s like “I DON’T-- yeah okay i do want very much to take you out to dinner, can i?” and donna’s laughing at how sheepish he is and kissing him on the cheek like “yes, rip” and rip’s like “REALLY? i mean, erm-- outstanding! that’s outstanding, yeah”

who brings flowers home rip will come home from long assignments with gifts, ok! and sometimes those gifts include flowers. he studies flower language in his free time so he can do it properly for her, but i think with them real flowers aren’t so important... so rip will give origami bouquets

who is the best cook rip knows how to cook more things with expertise because of his job, but i think overall he prefers donna’s cooking. there’s something so kind and warm about eating food made by someone who cares for you... that being said, he likes to cook for her, too, and for all his gourmet knowledge he still just makes simple things, because i imagine donna the type to see the value of comfort food and for rip to have the same sentiments

[notcatherinemorland]

ok i Had a bit of Fancy UpMyArse Analysis about ‘emotional horor’ as a (sub)genre but i then saw a fire emblem post so naturally ive forgotten every other thought in my head. 

i absolutely sound like an asshole, and i know nothing about any of this. but i have a lot of emotions and i like gothic novels so therefore im absolutely 110% qualified to wax lyrical on the failings of modern horror as a genre.

the book i read that had ‘emotional horror’ as a tag-along line was devil rock by paul tremblay (which, wonderful book but i preferred his other two) where the pivot of the fear element, if u like, was the fear of a mother who’s child had gone missing. 

every time i talk about horror genre i Have to do the thing where i define things for the imaginary reader bc when i talk about horror and terror, i fully subscribe to ann radcliffe’s definition. i’m sure ive mentioned it time and time again here BUT because i enjoy talking about it. Terror is ~ the feelings of fear and dread, the suspense of the horror, capitalising on the anxiety, .. the gothic liminal space effect, if ur me, where you Know you’re not safe, but you’re not face to face with the danger. the space in between. Horror is ~ confrontation with the monster itself, fits alongside sublime and grotesque, its shock and repulsion and the immediate threat, the adrenaline rush that comes with experiencing the horror element. 

i don’t say that to be condescending or to mansplain.. i say that so a) any poor soul who reads things i say (future me) knows what the fuck im on about when i talk about it & b) . i just really enjoy chatting about that. i just. like talking about the difference between horror and terror . idk why. i just dig it.  also here down ‘horror’ equals radcliffe horror, ‘horror genre’ = .. the genre of horror. horror as the noun.

anyway. ‘emotional horror.’ i remember it struck me at first because i thought huh isn’t horror as a genre based in emotion? - but with pure regard to modern horror, emotional horror seems to mean the provocation of empathy for the characters, or that the ‘horrific element’ stems from an emotional source - grief, mental health, a missing child from a mother’s perspective. 

i fully admit i haven’t watched/read enough what i could annoyingly call ‘horror-horror’ content, ie films that rely a lot of physical action and reaction to be horror - the shining with physical safety, that one film about the deaf woman being hunted in her cabin in the woods (great film, i hated the experience of watching it.) uhh. i’m a philistine so i’d shove literally any standard horror film under this banner. friday 13th, chucky, that kinda thing. i’m sure there’s really nuanced analysis of them about the themes they explore like omnipresence of religion and how god doesn’t matter in a world with free will and that kind of thing . but the annoying bottom line for me is that if it’s got jumpscares and gore, it gets shoved into ‘this is a film with emphasis on radcliffe horror and i will Suffer.’ so. i don’t watch them. i fucking HATE jumpscares. I am abolutely passing judgement on a genre i have no taste for or care to experience, and tho i therefore should not talk about it . this will not stop me . 

sorry, it’s 1am. where was i. emotional horror. 

modern horror is a very foreign ground to me, because i just. entrenched myself in a little pit of gothic lit for 3 years, discovered that ‘woah! this is a contemporary genre too!’ and then read 5 chapters of stephen king and lost my faith in humanity hjgfhhhj. but emotional horror? that’s a fucking fascinating catagory. but i really bloody wonder why it’s been segregated from pure horror genre. because imo. they Should be one in the same. whats the point in horror genre content if it’s not digging claws into proper emotional fears and making a story out of that. OH one book i loved reading was ‘the wrong train’ by . someone. where the fear is typical and very abstract until the very last lines (spoilers.. where the protagonist is set up to die offscreen) and it’s a Beautiful twist. it’s very strange because the kicker of the book was the very last part and left largely unexplored. but at the same time if a story was to start there and follow onwards.. i’d be likely to shove it in my ‘horror-horror’ catagory. depending on if it explored the emotional effects on the characters in a way that was more than physical. 

films - especially films, because unless the writer is doing a dickhead move and eliminating the character’s emotional depth from the narrative, tend to have superficial displays of terror, horror and overwhelming emotion. by limitation of the medium alone . it’s the show not tell thing all over again. film a woman screaming and crying in fear of the ghost hunting her.. or have the camera circle her, blur all the shot but her, make the shot of her as intense as the emotion the actress portrays. i absolutely sound like an asshole, and i know nothing about this. but i have a lot of emotions and i like gothic novels so therefore im absolutely 110% qualified to wax lyrical on the failings of modern horror FHIGBKEFH. 

it’s one thirty am and i need to STOP oh my god how did i write this much about fucking horror genre but i can’t write 4000 characters of a ucas statement. many reasons, mostly that a ucas statement is zero wasted space and this ramble is 90% dead air. 

anyway. emotional horror. im fucking fascinated . im appreciative of the segregation so i can find things i’ll enjoy. but. why push it into a niche when it’s fucking integral to what makes horror .. good/worthwhile (to be an asshole)/what i personally enjoy lmao

edit: i didn;t actually,, fuckign say this,, when i say ‘exploring horror thru physical means’ like the asshat i am, i mean hack and slash film, gore, onscreen bodily trauma. that kinda content. the things out find in season 4 of supernatural. where the film is very concerned with exploring the boundaries of the physical body ie . get grusomely dismembered. as opposed to ‘emotional horror’ .. like the babadook honestly. where the boundaries crossed are very mental and emotional. 

that.. that’s a whole different post and the one i was actually trying to make. fuck. 

also. i’m just a picky bitch. one kind of horror is not necessarily better or worse than the other, and we choose where we place our value in media. personal taste is paramount and im not here to shit on what other people enjoy. i just happen to be annoying about what i do. 

[elirluna]

62, 28, 25, 7, 19? Have a great night boo♥️♥️

gooOOOOOood morning 💓💖💕

62. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?

hmm L sounds really smooth but also i like how Y looks in handwriting

28. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place? 

ok i'm gonna put two because i think these two go hand in hand

- greediness won't be tolerated. taking more than you need or claiming what you didn't work for will result in punishment.

- every member of the society has to contribute, be it little or big. people who refuse to do the minimum amount of work assigned to them with no valid excuse will be deprived of providing of their needs.

25. You just found $100! How are you going to spend it?

probably buy some fancy art supplies

7. What shirt are you wearing?

the Captain America Civil War one which I bought 3 years ago lmao

19. If anyone could be your slave for a day, who would it be and what would they have to do?

hmm inTErESTing question

OK it would be a politician (i have quite a few names in mind) and he'd have to work his ass off and do some charity work, give almost all of his money to the homeless and the sick, see what some people are struggling with and maybe he'll gain some much needed empathy by the end of the day! <3

[starswornoaths]

Furymint

I'm at work atm and on mobile plz ignore formatting but this is the source of all the jokes about furymint and I want to thank @aethernoise for indulging in this silliness lmao

*** *** *** *** *** ***

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you bake before, now that I’m thinking on it,” Serella mused, leaning across the counter to peer into the crust lined pan, now carefully being filled with a bright, citrus scented tart filling.

Sniffing at the not-yet-made treat, her mouth watered.

“Truly, I wish I had more time to dedicate to it,” Aymeric admitted, smoothing the filling out with a spatula. “I like it greatly.”

“More like you enjoy the end result,” Serella teased, even as she swiped a finger on the inside of the mixing bowl he had been using. To her delight, the lime custard was just as delightful and refreshing on the palette as it was to smell. “Same as me!”

“I can enjoy both,” Aymeric conceded, even as he swiped the sticky end of the spatula with a finger to taste it himself, “I daresay ‘tis better to.”

“Mhm,” she hummed in agreement, her finger still in her mouth.

“Since you are over there, dear one—might you cut off a spring of furymint for me, please?” He asked, even as he turned to place the tart in the oven.

When he straightened and looked at her expectantly, he was puzzled to find Serella staring at him in confusion.

“Fury…?” She trailed off—she was looking at the plants she had spent the last few years cultivating; he wasasking for a spring of one of them, but despite her best efforts, she couldn’t recall what furymint looked like. Had she even heard of that plant before now?

“Furymint,” Aymeric supplied again, wondering if perhaps she had simply not heard him clearly the first time.

“I…” She had never felt more stupid, staring at the myriad of fresh herbs she kept near the kitchen and struggling to divine what the fuck he was talking about.

“Ah, worry not, dear one,” he reassured her with a gentle smile. Reaching for the herb shears he dexterously snipped a particularly verdant looking sprig in anticipation to garnish it with once it was finished baking. “There we are.”

“What?” Serella blinked when she realized which plant he had taken a few leaves from. “But that’s not called—“ her frown melted away, and as it dawned on her that she may have to ruin another part of Ishgard’s history for her beloved, she stared into the bushel as though it had opened up her mind’s eye to some dark secret of the universe.

“Are you well, Ella?” She heard him ask but still she needed a moment more to be in awe of her newfound knowledge.

“Aymeric.”

“Yes…?” He asked, and now that she was careening back to earth she realized he sounded worried.

“Dear one. Light of my life.” She tried to stop herself from smiling like a madwoman, though all at once she felt a deep empathy with those raving about the things the world showed them on whatever street corner they could.

They suddenly seemed less crazy and more that what they had been shown had been too much for them to handle.

She felt much the same in that moment.

“Serella?” Aymeric asked quietly. “You are worrying me, love.”

“What…did you just call that plant?” She asked, and given the way he tilted his head and looked at her she must have sounded as ridiculous as she felt.

“’Tis Furymint, dear one,” he repeated as though he were trying to mentally prepare himself to discover she had some disease that ate away at memory and sanity.

“To you,” she replied, already beginning to lose ground to the giggles that threatened to bubble over in her throat, “and to all of Coerthas, perhaps.”

“What—“

“The rest of the world just calls it, ‘spearmint,’ my love,” Serella explained, already feeling her face split in twain for how wide her grin stretched. “So, err…thank your ancestors for that.”

“Wha—!” Aymeric sputtered, eyes wide in shock.

Her delight would not wait for him to process the revelation, however, and through giggles she mused aloud, “do you suppose it was discovered by some Orthodox botanist who was feeling particularly blessed that day?”

“I…am not entertaining that thought,” he said flatly.

“I mean, what else would be the reason? Who discovers a plant and says, ‘sure it’s got leaves like spears and all, but that’s an appropriation of Halonic iconography so I claim this plant in the name of the Fury, thanks lads,’ and the rest of the world, for all of history thereafter, deliberately ignored it and left Ishgard out of the joke?” Through her giggling she further pondered, “is that the real reason Ishgard wasn’t keen on rejoining the Alliance?”

“I…am not the person to have this discussion with.” Aymeric said helplessly, already deeply regretting that he’d uttered the word in the first place.

“I don’t mean to joke about Ishgard’s history—truly, I don’t!— But,” she gestured at the plant, “it’s sort of its own joke, isn’t it?”

When Aymeric let out a sigh from some repressed corner of his soul she leaned across the counter and rested her chin in her hands, beaming up at him in delight.

“I’m sorry,” she said in the least apologetic tone she had, “I’ve gone and side tracked us. What were you going to use it for?”

“It was,” Aymeric groused, “intended to garnish the tart once it baked.” He turned and pulled a glass from the cupboard. “It is now, however, going to garnish my drink that I am in sudden and urgent need of.”

When a bottle of gin and a shot glass joined the cup on the counter the Paladin snorted a laugh again.

“A shame you didn’t start drinking before you began baking,” Serella mused through her chortles, “that would have made a fun little experimint, would it not?”

As he twisted the cap off of the gin he maintained a flat, unamused expression that only served to make her laugh harder.

“Dear one~” Serella cooed to him, “are you furyous with me?”

As she managed to gasp around what had rapidly devolved into wheezing, silent laughter, Aymeric took a deep breath, resigned himself to the fact that it was going to be one of those days, and maintained unimpressed eye contact with her as he forewent the shot glass and just started pouring gin straight into his cup.