#to fight a...specific mysterious challenger

[senoleaf]

“Hmm,” he murmured, eyes squinting at the fluttering sheet in his hand, struggling to even discern the words in near absolute darkness. “No exact location, no actual date or time or anything. Guess we just gotta wing it as usual.”

— — —

from my Lost Silver/Door's Open (Strangled Red) centric fanfic "Golden Soul and Silver Heart"

(beware of the tags on ao3!)

[darkaac]

Fin.

[ladyloveandjustice]

Yuri Manga for New (AND Not-So-New) Readers

I was talking on discord about some good yuri for beginners, and figured I'd repost here.

I get way more detailed some of these recommendations in this post, and there's great recs from another person too! Check it out!

I'm doing this accounting to various tones and tastes, so what works as a beginner yuri for one person might not for another, just read the info to figure out what your jam is.

I'll put a star by the ones about adults (which is the majority of them) since I've found that's always something people want.

Goodbye my Rose Garden (Victorian yuri w/ beautiful art, just beautiful all around)*

How Do We Relationship? (messy adult relationships and lots of actually realistic intimacy)*

She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat- (A woman loves to cook but doesn’t have a huge appetite, only to find the woman next door to her does! She cooks for her and they really start to bond over food and the trials of being working adults. Yes, this is the one where the woman googles lesbian. It's really good)*

Bloom into You- a common go-to yuri for beginners for a reason, about a girl who believes she can't fall in love meeting a girl who wants to date her specifically BECAUSE she can't fall in love. Find out more about it and hear my thoughts here. It has a gorgeous anime that doesn't cover the complete story.

Doughnuts Under the Crescent Moon (sweet office lady romance, ace rep) *

Catch These Hands! (These two women were delinquents and rivals in high school, they meet up again, one reveals she was always into the other, she challenges her to a fight on the condition that if the other woman loses she'll date her. Lots of slapsticky fun and great for any lover of girl delinquents)*

Run away with me, Girl (there's some abuse shown in this one, but it's a story about healing, the premise is these girls dated in high school, but one of the pressured herself "normal" and marry a man, that man turns out to be abusive, so when the former lovers reunite, they decide to run away together. It's got beautiful art and a well done story)*

The Moon on a Rainy Night (absolutely spectacular, explores the relationship between a hard of hearing girl and her closeted classmate, the characters are complex and the writing is so good!)

Kase-san And...- Starting with Kase-san and the Morning Glories, this is a very fluffy and sweet high school romance. It also has a short movie. (as the manga goes on they become college students, too)

The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This (slice of life about a voice actress and anime screenwriter who live together as a couple. Unfortunately the ending is a bit abrupt (and likely premature) but I love their relationship)*

My fave Otherside Picnic is great for scifi and (mild) horror lovers. It's Scifi creepypasta adventure yuri. It's a slow burn but does truly spectacularly deliver on the gay. Has an anime, it's not great, you should start with the novels. Wrote an article here. https://www.animefeminist.com/how-otherside-picnic-masterfully-uses-horror-to-explore-abuse-and-show-healing-queer-love/ *(v young adults, college students)

The Guy She was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All: (A web manga about a girl who works at a record shop. Her classmate , Aya, wanders in but doesn't recognize her because she has her hair hidden with a hat and is wearing a face mask, and Aya assumes she's a guy. They bond over music and slowly start to get closer...and Aya's finds her heart is fluttering not only over this mysterious boy, but her female classmate that seems a lot like him...) It's got a physical release too!

This Monster Wants to Eat Me: (A depressed girl who's been searching for death gets approached by a mermaid who wants to eat her...but the thing is, our monster mermaid is a gourmet who wants her to be as delicious as possible, which means she's going to make her happy first (as apparently that enhances her flavor), and fight off all the other monsters who want to kill her. This is TOP TIER yuri horror and a must read for any lover of monster girls, especially monster girls drenched in the blood of their enemies, it's so good)

I Married my Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up (girl and her friend get married simply so her parents will stop bugging her about being single. You can probably guess where it goes from there) *

I Married my Female Friend (similar premise, except no parents involved, it's a platonic marriage they both agreed to with the promise they'll divorce if one of them falls in love. But one woman has decidedly not platonic feeling for the other that she's hiding from her, so things start turning a bit romantic...the ending is a little rushed but good)*

Whisper Me a Love Song: (A girl named Himari sees her upperclassman, Yori, perform with her band and falls in love with her music. She confesses her love of Yori's music, and Yori mistakes it as Himari confessing to being in love with her. Yori falls head over heels at first sight. (if you don't like miscommunication, dw this is cleared up fairly quickly and new drama ensues) Has an anime covering early material)

Monthly in the Garden with my Landlord* (it didn't really hit with me but I might give it a shot again, it's solid despite the terrible title, a woman moves into a house and finds she'll be cohabitating with an idol) (Some more titles I haven't fully read that could appeal: Still Sick*, Cheerful Amnesia*)

Hana and Hina After School: (a cute three volume about a gyaru and shy girl working together at a shop after school and catching feelings)

After Hours: (A cool punk girl meets a girl who's been abandoned by her friend at the club, and she introduces her to the world of DJ'ing...and romance!)*

My Cute Little Kitten (two roommates adopt a cat...and maybe fall in love?)*

I think all of those work as solid intro- though it does depend on what flavor you're looking for!

This article also covers some of these recs and some manga I didn't mention due to not having completely read it. so check it out: The Beginners Guide to Yuri Manga.

Here's some titles to try when you're a little more familiar with yuri (or you can try them now! I'm not your boss!)

SHWD (action yuri that's taking forever to come out over here physically, featuring extremely muscular women fighting monsters. I think it was forced to end prematurely too)*

Kiss and White Lily for my Dearest Girl: (The main storyline is about two academic rivals, where one is determined to rank first in class, and the other is an effortless genius who becomes intrigued at the possibility of someone beating her. Honestly they have the kind of messy combative sexual tension I wish we'd see more often in yuri because it's so good. The story follows other couples too. However, big warning for some nonconsensual kisses in early volumes, and a storyline in volume 7 that has implied incest and an age gap, though the older sister doesn't go through with it onscreen).

Sweet Blue Flowers/Aoi Hana- (This one is a little bit dated, and boy is the ending weirdly paced, but a lot still holds up imo. A painful and sweet coming of age tale, it also has an anime that's good but ends too soon.

One teenage characters backstory involves some very heartbreaking statutory rape/csa that's also incestuous (older cousin). The perpetrator is extremely manipulative and she even pulls the "oh no did I turn you gay? thing" but it's definitely framed as a bad thing.)

The Summer You Were There: (For tragic and doomed yuri lovers. A deeply depressed girl starts her journey to healing thanks to a girl who courts her and enjoys her writing. Unfortunately, said girl is terminally ill. The manga is a heart wrenching meditation on grief, redemption, and how being sick doesn't mean you can't still be loved).

Yuri is My Job- a story about messy lesbians in a yuri-themed cafe, and how their real relationships differ from the personas they put on. Read more about it here. Big warning for sexual assault of a minor (by an adult villain) in volume 12. Has an anime covering early material.

[mimble-sparklepudding]

OC Asks In The Library.

A little list of OC Asks based on various literary genres.

Action and Adventure:

Is your OC particularly "heroic"? What does that word mean to them? Have they always seen it as something to aspire to - or perhaps as a fate to be avoided?

Does your OC enjoys travelling to new places and challenging themselves with new experiences? Or would they sooner stick to the comforting and the familiar?

Is your OC more likely to be the rescuer, or the one in need of rescue? Have they ever found themselves in either role? Or perhaps both?

How dynamic is your OC? Are they quick to leap into action? Or are they more sluggish or sedate?

How handy is your OC in a fight? Could they give a good account of themselves in a brawl? Or are they more likely to hide under a table?

Romance and Erotica:

Does your OC utilise their looks to get their own way? Or is it more often the case that their appearance is a hindrance to their ability to connect with others?

Has your OC always had a clear idea of the kind of person they would fall in love with? Were they right? Or do they have yet to find out?

How much interest does your OC take in the love lives of others? Are they keen to give and receive the latest gossip? Or do they prefer remain unaware of other people's business in that regard?

How important is it to your OC that they are desirable? Does it matter to whom?

Has your OC ever dreamed of being a romantic hero or heroine? What would be the ideal storyline in which they could play such a role?

Crime and Mystery:

Does your OC enjoy puzzles, riddles and logic problems? Or do they find them frustrating or tiresome?

Is breaking the law sometimes justified in your OC's view? Or is this something they would consider only under the most dire of circumstances - if at all?

Has your OC ever uncovered the truth behind a mystery or rumour? Have they perhaps solved a murder, discovered a lost city or translated a prophecy?

If your OC was the victim of a crime, or other immoral act, would they report it to the authorities or would they take it upon themselves to enact vengeance?

Is your OC open about their past and their current motivations? Or do they prefer to keep an element of mystery - or even to appear as someone entirely different to who they truly are?

Humour and Satire:

Is your OC a "good sport"? Or do they bristle at the first sign of disrespect or mockery? How far can people go with teasing them?

Does your OC have any favourite clean jokes, suitable for polite company? Are they considered to be particularly witty and amusing socially?

Is your OC the sort of person to find slapstick amusing? Or do they prefer more sophisticated forms of comedy?

Does your OC like to tease or mock others? Do the targets of their jokes usually find it amusing themselves? Or are they often cruel or bullying in their attempts to humiliate others?

How good is your OC at recognising sarcasm and/or irony?

Young Adult and Children:

Did your OC have a favourite bedtime story as a child? Do they remember it clearly now?

Does your OC come from a culture where there are rituals or celebrations to mark the transition from childhood to adulthood?

How old would your OC say they were at the point their childhood ended? Do they consider this too soon? Or perhaps too late?

Does your OC prefer happy endings? Or do they consider themselves too sophisticated - or perhaps cynical - for such things?

Was there a fictional character, perhaps from a story or legend, that had a particular impact upon your OC as a child? What was it about them that was so inspiring for your OC?

Science Fiction and Fantasy:

What is your OC's greatest hope for future generations?

Is your OC particularly imaginative? Could they imagine what an different planet might look like for example?

Has your OC ever undertaken a specific quest or mission? Did they succeed?

Does your OC value the journey, or are they purely focussed upon the destination?

Is your OC the sort to throw themselves into battle on behalf of the oppressed or downtrodden? Or would they only help others if it benefitted them in some way?

[ourg0dsal]

Gideon Nav CANNOT Die. Hold on- I know... but give me one second and I'll explain.

So, as I said before Gideon Nav cannot die, or at least her body can't. Cause clearly (spoiler warning) Gideon Nav died at the end of Gideon the Ninth. There is no avoiding that.

But! If you have read all the books GtN, HtN, and NtN including all of the accompanying short stories (tho I will admit I have not read The Mysterious Study of Dr. Sex yet) then there is a better understanding of the timeline of the whole story outside of just what the three main books give you. Specifically and especially with Gideon's body. But also there are many times In Gideons life were she has faced near death events or events that she should not have survived from and still was breathing on the other side.

To go in chronological order of these events, when she was first born she was found in a container held by the air depraved suit of her mother. And while ofc In the book it does state that her mother had redirected her air supply to Gideon, but it is simply being stated to cover all my bases.

Then the 200 sons and daughters massacre when Gideon was 1 (or 2 im not sure) when she inhaled poisonous air without dying. Which led ofc to the Reverend Mother and Father fearing the ground she walked. And this is a big one because, it literally creates waves in the plot. It's a defining point of Harrow and Gideons relationship. That Gideon did not die when she was supposed to.

Later in the story Gideon talks with Pal when she believes Harrow to be a murderer and openly admits to him that "she nearly killed me a half dozen times growing up" which obviously in context was to emphasize on the brutal relationship between her and Harrow. But this could also be other times where miraculously Gideon survived death when she shouldn't have. Because as we know from the first confrontation between Harrow and Gideon. Harrow doesnt hold back for her.

Finally of all the events where Gideon escapes death, this one actually happens within the main story of Gideon the Ninth. When Harrow siphons from Gideon to retrieve one of the challenge keys. And at the end when Gideon passes out, it is narrated ""ha-ha," said Gideon, "first time you didn't call me Griddle," AND DIED." Now, this could obviously just be the snarkiness of Gideon narrating. Or something incredibly clever left behind by Tamsyn Muir for a book series that is so clearly meant to be reread. But ofc to do my rounds the next line after does state "well, passed out. But it felt a hell of a lot like dying." But then immediately after "wake up had an air of ressurection." Which honestly feels like Tamysn Muir teasing the readers at this point. The question then becomes rather, which one was the tease and which one was foreshadowing/ evidence.

Now the point of listing all of these events is that in all of these cases the chances of death are so incredibly high that for most its a miracle she's alive. Ofc most notably for the siphoning trial and the poision gas, but none the less there is proof within the written story and and out that Gideon has looked death in face and moved on with maybe a headache. And it wasn't just in her child hood this is something she can just do. Some recreated in the written story! Because as Pal said. Even with the siphoning challenge done perfectly the chances of leaving Cam with severe brain damage was far to high. And Gideon didn't even suffer that.

Sadly, despite all these Gideon gets to the final battle and fights Cytherea and does die. At the hands of a particularly pointy fence. Or was it truly the fence that did her in? Rather than the lyctorship ritual that was started seconds afterwards.

My full theory, isnt just that Gideon Nav can't die. It's that Gideon Nav wouldn't have been able to die... If Harrow hadn't sucked her soul out. There are at the very least 8 seperate events that Gideon should have died, two of which were nearly gauranteed, but she was ended by a piece of metal. Yes, a very well placed piece a metal, but the point still up to that point she had faced worse a came out unscathed.

If Harrow had not completed the lyctor ritual, Gideon would not have died. Wether or not through resurrection or simply walking it off. Gideon's body has some sort of necromantic attributes to it that keep her alive. We see this in the Untitled Entry short story with Judith Deuteros that describes Gideons body, as it does not rot, cannot be injured, cannot be fed to animals forced or otherwise. And that is all before Jod ever gets a look at the body, because otherwise he would have known Gideon was his daughter before the later events of Harrow the Ninth.

And ofc during the first challenge when Harrow uses Gideon as her eyes to be able to see the construct in the other room and Gideon is able to see the thanergetic signatures that Harrow remarks should be impossible. (I assume because the process is Harrow extracting information (Gideons eyesight) from Gideon and so Gideon should not also be receiving information (the ability to see the signatures)) unless Gideon had some form of necromantic abilities, which she was tested for as a kid and apparently did not have. Alongside not having the correct attitude to be a nun of the ninth. And so we can round it out to be her body being naturally necromantic leaving Gideon without the ability to use it. (Which Is a jump from the actual point we are attempting to use, but for now this stops us from assuming Gideon as any sort of necromantic ability which is a theory all on its own. One that I personally have no evidence for or against)

Now, that I have hopefully made both my Ap Lit and Lang teachers proud with my 3 am essay, I must give you the real tragedy of Gideon the Ninth. Had Gideon not died, had Harrow been unable to complete the lyctor ritual for emotional reasons or otherwise, had Harrow not become a lyctor and killed cytherea. Gideon would have had to watch Harrow and Cam be killed, possibly even Corona, Judith and Ianthe. And then to be used for Cythereas own motives. Tamysn Muir beautifully set up the story so that the best possible outcome could have happened. Had Gideon not died. Everyone else would have. And "Camilla the sixth was no idiot" cam knew and accepted this whereas Harrow never would have. And so the unkillable Gideon had to die, and forcing Harrows hand was the only way to do it.

[dc-comics-enjoyer]

More random hcs please, they are amazing

Thank you !! There you go ✨ (here's : part 1)

More random things I like to hc :

- When she's training, Diana listens to binaural beats claiming that it gives her the opportunity to train and meditate simultaneously. "It's an incredible time saving.", she'd say. Bruce would roll his eyes.

- Oliver and Hal would beg Batman to install a confessional in the Watchtower, like in reality shows. Because he obviously refuses, they'd stand in front of any security camera and use them as one, rambling on and on about the other members.

- Dick is a total extrovert. When he has some time to recharge in between day work and night vigilantism, he lets off steam in nightclubs. He took Tim (who-recharges-when-alone™) once : he hated it.

- Most of the time Dinah would show up at meetings with sunglasses to look "mysteriously cool". Actually, she can't sleep at night.

- Booster would definitely refer to himself in the third person.

- Clark being Bruce's personal masseur is one of their rituals. Whenever his super senses notice a specific tenseness in Batman's body, Clark would end up joining him in the batcave and giving him a massage session. Bruce would just accept it without a word (wrote a fic for this one : https://archiveofourown.org/works/56392753).

- When he's not the one leading the meeting, Batman is usually snacking on a bag of nuts.

- Alfred has a workshop in the manor where he makes pottery. He makes bat-shaped objects that everyone in the Batfam loves. He made mugs, plates, jars, etc.

- Booster would use Skeets as a soundboard to accompany his every actions and illustrate his jokes. Shayera lost her temper once and broke Skeets in half. No worries, Victor helped repair him, although it was still a traumatizing experience for Booster.

- Hal has a collection of Top Gun goodies. At some point, Bruce brought him the original G-1 jacket from Tom Cruise for his birthday.

- Batman is absolutely excellent at everything he puts his mind to, except the absolute purge that is the game Sekiro. It started when Tim was raging while playing the game. Bruce passed behind him and let out a fatherly "You should learn how to control your emotions better, Tim.". Cue Tim challenging him to play. Then, there remained Batman cursing at a screen, desperately replaying a boss fight for the nth time.

- Booster and Ted have this promise that if neither one of them gets married at a certain age, they'd marry each other. Although, Ted is still looking for love, Booster is satisfied with the idea he'd end up marrying Ted.

- Oliver's neck is very often covered in hickeys.

- Constantine and Alfred are actually good buddies. They facetime a lot when Alfred is busy in the kitchen and John has some free time. That's how John knows so much about Bruce.

- The batfam plays a game where they make up elaborate life stories for strangers they encounter in public. Using their detective skills, they later discover the real stories and the winner is the one whose made-up backstory comes closest to the truth.

- Sometimes, Victor and Clark play football together. They both loved it in the past and they both lost the opportunity to commit and progress in the field. It's just the two of them, but it still helps heal their inner teen.

[ripdragonbeans]

Don't Sniff The Flower // modern!Aegon x F!reader

For the lovely @ewanmitchellcrumbs

Summary: You've been working hard at King's Landing, trying to solve the mystery of the purple and red flowers that have been blooming around the raunchier places in the city.

A/N: For the sex pollen challenge!

Warnings: All sex, no plot.

Staring at the plant in front of you, you willed it to something, anything. It was a beautiful plant; gorgeous violet petals with leaves that burned almost a seductive red.

You sat in your chair, hot, sweaty, and exhausted. For the past five hours you've been locked inside the laboratory at King's Landing University doing work on some various new pollens that have shown up. No one knows where they came from, only that they began popping up specifically near strip clubs. Sometimes they bloomed elsewhere but very rarely. A knock on the door startled you.

“Thought I'd bring by some snacks for the hardest working scientist at the university,” called the visitor.

You sighed in relief, thankful it wasn't Professor Larys to hound you again. Instead, it was your best friend, Aegon. That relief, however, became stress.

“Aegon!” You cried. “You shouldn't be here. This is a closed lab.” You eyed the food he held in his hand hungrily. Even your stomach wanted to fight you for the food. “And as much as I appreciate the good, I can't eat it here.”

“Then leave the lab, kitten.”

You blushed at the pet name. Since you told Aegon of your love of cats he's been insistent on calling you “kitten.” It would be a lie to say you hated it.

Aegon set the food down right next to you on the table, which you then promptly moved to a different table - away from the plant. Before you moved it though, you noticed it shift in the breeze as the food was dropped down. As you moved it, you got a whiff of the tempting smells. It was a burger, you could tell that much. And damn, did it smell good. Your mouth began salivating at the scent and thought of it. 

But there was more.

You couldn't quite put your finger on it but something now smelled of roses. You looked down and saw a very light dusting of purple pollen on the food bag. As Aegon moved to put up the bag and unwrap it you yelled. “Aegon, wait!”

But it was too late. Aegon's hand grabbed the bag, getting the purple pollen all over him. As though it shocked him, he dropped the bag down.

“How do you feel?” You carefully asked him. 

Aegon shrugged. “I feel fine.”

“You touched some of the pollen from the plant.” You said blatantly.

Aegon looked at his hand. “Oh, woops.” He went to put his hand down when his eyes lit up with an idea. “Can I sniff it?”

Your eyes widened. “I'd rather you wash your hands.”

“But I really wanna sniff it.”

“Aegon.”

“Kitten.” He gave you a pout.

Throwing your hands up in the air you rolled your eyes. “Fine. Sniff it. It shouldn't hurt you.”

Aegon smirked. “Awesome.”

Making a big show of taking a breath in, Aegon brought his purple pollen dusted hand to his nose and gently sniffed it.

You waited for something to happen.

Nothing did.

“Ha,” Aegon laughed. “See, there's nothing wrong. It's safe.”

Warrily, you looked at him. Scanning him from head to toe, you made note of everything. Including the shifting of his feet and his now frequent blinking.

“You're not okay.” Your eyes narrowed. “There's something going on.”

“Pfft, I'm fine, kitten.”

Again, you blushed at the pet name. 

Aegon seemed to notice this as a sly smirk played upon his face. Pushing the food to the other end of the table, he was in front of you in two strides. “Do you like that? When I call you ‘kitten?’” Aegon pushed himself against you. You were only a whisper away from each other now.

“Yes,” you said breathlessly.

Looking at Aegon, you noticed his eyes were blown wide. He brought a hand up to cup your face. You shook your head and tried to take a step back.

“No, wait, this shouldn't be happening,” you said.

Aegon cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?” A moment of clarity showed on his face.

“You shouldn't be flirting with me,” you told him.

Aegon blanched. “Oh shit did I - fuck - I mean…” he blushed. “I’d be lying if I said I never thought of you that way.”

Blushing at the thought of Aegon liking you in that way, you still shook your head. “Aegon, I think you should go home. I'll meet you when I'm done, yeah?” You reasoned with him. “And then we can talk about…us.”

Aegon went to wipe his face with his hand, the hand that had the pollen on it. Again, you tried to stop him but to no avail.

It happened so slowly at first. Aegon wiped his face with his hand. He took a deep breath. His eyes were blown wide with lust. He gripped the table so hard that you could see the veins in his hands and arms.

“Something is happening to me.” Aegon was shaking.

“Shit, shit, shit, it's the pollen!” You quickly turned to the plant and shoved it under the big microscope. Micro organisms with yellow tails and purple bodies swam wherever the pollen was. “It's an aphrodisiac.”

A grunt came from behind you. “What?” Aegon was still gripping the table.

“An aphrodisiac, Aegon. It stimulates the need to…breed, fuck, have sex, coitus, whatever you want to call it. Hell, I need to go. Or you need to go.” Stress was building inside you, but something else was as well.

“I can't leave,” he said through clenched teeth. Aegon took another deep breath and loosened his grip on the table. “I can smell you. I can smell how turned on you are.” When he stepped out from behind it you could tell he was straining in his pants. 

As Aegon came closer to you, you couldn't deny the lust that was taking over your body. The wetness that pooled between your thighs, the feeling of your bra suddenly being too tight, the sweatiness of your palm, your heightened heart beat. You closed your eyes and sighed. “Fuck.”

“That’s exactly what we're going to do, kitten.” You felt Aegon's hand wrap around your waist to pull you close to him. His hard erection was evident even though his jeans. Almost on instinct, you moved so your ass was against his cock and pushed into him.

The hand that was on your waist trailed up to cup your breasts. You moaned at the contact - it felt so good - but you wanted more. Suddenly your lab jacket and button up were too much for you. You began to fumble with the buttons.

Aegon growled then gently bit your earlobe. “Let me,” he whispered. Turning you around to face him, Aegon put both hands on either side of your jacket and tore it in half in one quick motion. 

“Aegon! I have to pay for that!” You protested.

Aegon growled again. “Don't worry, I'll pay for it. But right now I need less clothing on you.” 

He captured your lips in a heated kiss. You gasped at the sudden contact but soon lost yourself to the kiss. Never did you think you'd be making out with your best friend but never did you think this would happen anyway. 

Aegon’s hands danced up your button down and was able to pull it over your head, only undoing the first three buttons. There you were, clad only in a skirt and your bra. Breaking apart from the kiss, Aegon admired his work.

“Fuck, you're hot.” He looked you in the eye. “You're beautiful.”

You pulled him into another kiss and began palming him over his pants. Aegon let out another groan and thrust his hips into your hand. You kissed his ear love and whispered, “I can't wait to have you inside of me.”

Aegon moved to your neck and proceeded to kiss and nip his way down to your chest. “But first I need to make you cum. Are your tits sensitive, kitten?” He playfully asked. 

“How about you fi - oh!”

Aegon danced his finger over your nipples through the bra. Even then you could feel him and it felt so good. You arched into his touch.

“The bra is still in the way and you're already a puddle,” he whispered. He gently tweaked your nipple, causing you to cry out.

With finesse, Aegon reached behind you to unclasp the bra. Your breasts fell, free from their confines. Your nipples pebbled without the shelter of your bra. It strained and wanted more contact.

“Do you think I could make you cum just by playing with you? I bet I can make you cum without putting my mouth on you.” Aegon teased.

You groaned and grabbed his hand, trying to bring it back to your tits. Instead he swatted them. The sting brought pleasure all the same. Quickly, his hands soothed them, but went back to twisting and teasing your nipples.

Somewhere in all the chaos, Aegon found a chair and sat you in his lap. “Ride my thigh.” 

Straddling him, you began moving yourself back and forth. Between the friction of his jeans and the friction of your panties rubbing against you, you knew you were climbing to your climax soon. With your arms around his neck you rode him to oblivion. Aegon continued to play with your tits but soon trailed a hand down. He lifted up your skirt and gently grazed your clit over your panties. His feather light touch had you moaning and speeding up your pace on his thigh. Selfishly, you sought out your orgasm, and with Aegon’s help, you found it quickly. Crying out his name as though it was a prayer, you rode out your climax. When you came down from your high you buried your head in the crook of Aegon’s neck, taking in his scent while trying to catch your breath.

“Oh, we’re not done yet, kitten. Now I need to taste you,” Aegon whispered in your ear. He pulled you off of him to set you on one of the clean tables. 

The cold bite of the metal table hitting your back sent shocks through your body. Aegon stood at your feet, watching you hungrily. His eyes trailed your body as you slowly spread your legs open. In a swift motion, Aegon tore his shirt off and took your ankles to open your legs faster.

“It was taking too long,” he growled. “Fuck, you soaked your panties.” He dragged a finger over them before reaching up and ridding you of both your skirt and underwear. “Fucking perfect. All for me.”

Before you could do or say anything, Aegon ducked his head in-between your thighs and began to eat you out. He ate like a man starved. With every stroke of his tongue on your center, his nose would bump your clit, overriding all thoughts. All your moans only made him lick even more vigorously. He would moan against you, the vibrations sending shivers up your spine. When you thought it couldn't get better, Aegon pushed two fingers in.

You let out a loud moan. “Aegon, oh, fuck!”

Aegon smiled against you as he began to pump his fingers in and out. He felt so good; his tongue and fingers were perfect. He was perfect. When Aegon began to slow down his ministrations, you whimpered in protest.

“Shhh, kitten. I'll make you feel better,” Aegon comforted you. 

As he pressed a gentle kiss to your lips, you couldn't help but grab a hold of him to keep him as close to you as possible. He laughed against you, adjusting his positioning so he could slip off his jeans and underwear.

You pulled back to admire the specimen of a best friend in front of you. His member stood tall and hard; a bead of precum leaking out from its tip. You licked your lips as you took him in, spreading your legs wide for him once again. Leaning back down, you began to play with yourself as Aegon watched.

“Gods, you're perfect,” he growled. “That pretty pussy all wet from me, ready for me to fuck.”

“Then fuck me already,” you whined. You wanted nothing more than to be filled up by Aegon.

Lining himself up with your entrance, Aegon painstakingly pushed himself in. He took his time, savoring you. You closed your eyes, wanting more. When Aegon stopped, less than halfway in, your eyes shot open.

“Aegon, please,” you begged him.

He took a shaky breath. “I need to go slow or I’m going to ruin you, kitten.”

Sitting up the best you could, you grabbed the back of his neck to pull him down to your level. “Then ruin me. Take me. I’m yours.”

That was enough to break Aegon’s resolve. In one swift thrust, Aegon was fully inside you. Moaning his name, you loved how full you felt, how complete. Aegon spoke true when he said he was going to ruin you. He wasn’t gentle; he pounded you. This wasn’t love making, this was fucking.

Using one hand to hold himself above you, he used the other to wrap around your neck. It should have been terrifying, being this vulnerable with him, but you loved it. He applied just enough pressure to build your orgasm and not actually cut off any air. Your eyes rolled back, nonetheless. Out of pleasure, of course.  Aegon bent down to crash his mouth onto yours. He devoured you like he devoured your pussy. There was no remorse, no regret, all passion. Your tongues danced with each other and you couldn’t get enough of him. When he began nipping at your lips you lost it. 

You met each of his thrusts with need. Your climax was building once more and it was all because of him - Aegon. Every stroke of him inside you stoked the fire within. When you began to clench around him more and more, Aegon simply chuckled. 

“You’re close, I can feel you. Squeezing my cock like a good kitten,” he praised you.

You preened under it. You wanted to be a fuck toy for him, to be good for him. The pleasure in your stomach was building and building. You were so close; stars were appearing in your vision, but right before you were able to push through that last barrier holding you back from pleasure, Aegon pulled out.

“Aegon, what the fuck?” you cried.

He stepped back and smirked as he continued pumping his cock with his hand. “I just love making you crazy. Get off the table.”

Following his command, you slid off the table.

“Turn around.”

So you did.

“Bend over and hook one leg over the table.”

The cold table flush against your sensitive breasts sent another wave of shivers through you. Not only that, but you were completely exposed to Aegon. From his point of view, everything was on display. You should have felt embarrassed, but no, you felt invigorated. It was when you felt the tip of Aegon’s cock pressing against you again that you felt on fire. 

This time, however, he took his time pressing into you. You both moaned each other’s name as he sunk all the way in. You swore he felt even deeper this time. This position had you feeling everything. Aegon was slow at first. His thrusts were long with a little break between each one. It gave you time to enjoy each other, truly feel and savor the feeling of being together. 

It was enough until it wasn’t.

“More,” you whispered.

Aegon’s pace picked up a hair. 

“No, more,” you said again.

He began thrusting faster.

“Aegon, please,” you begged. You began pushing your ass against him to try to get him to pick up the pace. “I need you. I want you. I need your cock. I need you to cum inside me, please!”

He smacked your ass in response. “If that’s what my kitten wants.”

Aegon pulled out almost all the way, leaving only the tip in. You were about to beg him more, but your would be plead turned into a moan of pleasure as he began fucking you from behind.

“Yes, Aegon, yes!”

With one hand on the table, he took the other one to grab a fistful of hair. The sting of the pull mixed with the pleasure. You were partly pulled up but you used your own hands to steady yourself on the table. Bouncing on Aegon’s cock was a delicious feeling. His hand tightened its grip in your hair and you knew he was about to cum. 

“Milk my cock, kitten. It’s all for you,” he ground out.

You were reaching your climax once again, gripping him like a vice. When Aegon pulled your hair one last time, stars burst through your vision as you screamed his name and came undone on his cock.

Aegon’s thrusts became erratic, gone was the rhythm. Instead, he was just rutting into you, chasing after his own release. Your own release triggered his own soon after. When you felt him finish inside you, you couldn’t help but have one last orgasm. His throbbing cock inside you felt so good. 

Aegon caught himself before he could collapse on top of you. You were flush against the table. Slowly, Aegon lowered himself so he was laying on you, still inside you as well. You felt his hard breathing next to you and smiled.

“Fuck, that was so good, Aegon,” you whispered.

“If it wasn’t then that would be embarrassing. Glad I made a good impression.” Even exhausted he was still cocky. 

Slowly, Aegon got up and pulled out of you. Whimpering at the loss of contact, you turned around so you could pull him into a kiss. This time it was a sweet kiss, no carnal need to fuck. Aegon kissed you back, cradling your head.

“Should we talk about us?” you asked when you pulled away.

Aegon asked you a question instead. “Go out with me?”

Your heart leapt. “How about I show you my answer instead?” you glanced down at his once again hardening cock. “I could go for another round if you want.”

“You’re right, fuck the date talk right now - fuck -” Aegon tried to continue talking but you had already dropped down to your knees to take him in your mouth. “Gods, you take my cock so well. What a good kitten.”

You moaned around him, sending vibrations through. Aegon began pumping his hips and you stayed still, letting him take control. He fucked your mouth deep. Tears began to sting in the corner of your eyes but you didn’t let them phase you. Aegon almost stopped but you replied by bobbing your head back and forth again.

“Fuck, your mouth is magic,” Aegon groaned. “I’m gonna cum, kitten. Will you swallow it all?”

Aegon looked at you and you did your best to nod. You then bobbed your head even faster and sucked hard. Aegon threw his head back in ecstacy as his orgasm took him. He spilled his seed into your mouth; it was almost too much. But you did what you said you would and swallowed every bit. When you stood up again, Aegon rubbed off the little that was on the corner of your mouth and captured you in another kiss.

Aegon pulled away. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

[coffeeailee]

HIII HEY HELLOOOO!!!!

Subspace x reader, sub is pinning on reader but he's terrible at it+ reader is oblivious. They're also neutral (but leaning more onto the negative side) to Subspace bc of his reputation n all.

Also unrelated but I love ur blog theme

———﹒♡﹒ Aim for the heart!

characters﹒ Subspace T. Mine

fandom﹒ PHIGHTING!

genre﹒ romantic, a lil comedy(?)

This post might contain incorrect grammar/spelling and out of character, it also might be a little bit too cringe, proceed at your own risk.

— ﹒﹒ Subspace ☆

— Subspace wasn't used to having his plans thrown off balance. He prided himself on his reputation...mysterious, formidable, someone people kept at arm's length. That suited him just fine. That is, until you showed up. There was just something about you that, from the instant you crossed paths, got under his skin, something that left him feeling off-kilter in ways he wasn't used to. Maybe it was because you never looked impressed with his bravado, or perhaps it was how you always challenged his ideas without batting an eyelash.

— He couldn't quite place his finger on when it happened, but before he knew it, you were all he could think about.

— Unfortunately for Subspace, his attempts to get closer to you were nothing short of disastrous. Subtlety wasn't exactly his strong suit, and every time he tried to approach you, it ended up either awkward or over-the-top. He couldn't figure out how to navigate the delicate balance between showing interest and not coming off as desperate, which, to his horror, he absolutely was.

— "[Name]! You!! let me do that! I have already calculated the best result!!!", he would tell you as you just return him your skepticism. You instantly refuse him and just brush right past him with no regard whatsoever.

— Subspace would just let himself get deflated by that. That happened many times; he just seemed to have never had enough of such occurrences.

— The problem was... you didn't trust him!! While you didn't overtly hate him, you couldn't help but keep your distance. He was unpredictable, erratic, and seemed like the kind of person who caused more problems than he solved.

— Still, he tried. Subspace wasn't the kind of person to go down without a fight, and as time went by, his feelings for you only grew stronger. He started looking for any excuse to be near you, whether it was volunteering for the same missions or conveniently...bumping into you in the hall.

— [Name], I made something for you!!!" he said one day, shoving some strange device into your hands with excitement as you examined it cautiously.

— "It's a personalized defense mechanism! I designed it specifically for your combat style! …Well, theoretically," he added, scratching the back of his neck. "I haven't tested it yet, but I'm ninety eight percent sure it'll work!!!"

— Your first instinct had been to give it back and walk away, but there was something about the expression on his face. Genuinely enthusiastic, he had seemed, and almost hopeful, as though, somehow, the outcome depended on your liking it.

— “Thanks, Subspace. I’ll… give it a try,” you said finally. The way his face lit up was almost endearing...almost.

— You blithely remained oblivious to the fact, even with the best, and rather clumsy, attempts at impressing you. To you, Subspace was just some other weird guy, no more, no less. Every time friends told you his crush was evident, you told them that was utter crap and ridiculous.

— Meanwhile, Subspace was only frustrated. In his head, he'd been clear: he'd dropped hints, gone out of his way to help you, even outright complimented you. And yet, you just didn't seem to get it.

— "Do you really not see it? " he muttered to himself one day, watching as you walked away after another casual dismissal.

— But when you were in danger, all of Subspace's awkwardness disappeared; on missions, he was the first to jump in and defend you, even if it put him in harm's way.

— Later, he'd make light of his actions, brushing off your gratitude with a wave of his hand. "Don't mention it at all!! I have already predicted the outcome!!"

— But it wasn't that at all, and you knew it. Finally, the dogged loyalty of Subspace began to chip its way into your guarded exterior, which had slowly worn you down. You still didn't quite trust him, but couldn't ignore how he always seemed to put your safety over his time and time again.

— One night, following the discharge of a particularly arduous mission, Subspace sat beside you, for once his bravado softened.

— "You know," he began, and his voice was softer than you'd ever heard it. "I might not always get things right, but… you mean a lot to me, [Name]. More than I probably let on."

— You turned to him, taken aback by the sudden softness in his voice. "What are you trying to say?"

— He cast a nervous laugh then hesitated. "Never mind! Forget I said anything! It's not even that important!!!"

— Even if you didn't quite grasp his emotions, Subspace was never waning in his resolve to be there with you, even over the frustration, rejection, and waiting that each minor instant of your time was worth to him. He knew that you would need some time before he's appeared in front of you with his real face, but he was not going to betray that, even at any amount of time. After all, when it came to matters concerning the heart.

Subspace wasn't about to give up without a fight.

— Author's note

﹒﹀﹒ TYSM!!!!! <333 I was thinking of doing stargazer rocket themed cuz he's so pretty but I ended up going with subspace.. also I am so sorry for the delay 😭.. I actually forgot how to write subspace, ALSO I AM SUPER SORRY IF THIS ISN'T WHAT YOU WANTED..

[djarins-cyare]

Held Is The Seed for the fic asks game, please! <3

Hi lovely Caroline! ❤️ Thanks for the ask and sorry it’s taken me a while to get to it. I’m offering a snippet further down as compensation 😇

The title Held Is The Seed comes from a quote by John Harrigan: “Happiness held is the seed, happiness shared is the flower”. There’s no specific line in the fic that refers to it (at least, not yet), but it seemed appropriate because Din has always hunted his bounties alone, whereas in this fic, he’s teamed up with someone else. Still, he keeps himself relatively closed off from her, essentially holding the seed of his happiness close to his chest. It’s only when he fully opens up and shares himself with her (in traditional smutty fanfic fashion 😏) that his happiness has a chance to bloom.

It’s basically a four-part smut-fest. The concept is that they’re in a cantina (separately so as not to appear conspicuous or too threatening) to locate a potential source and get some intel. Reader is bored and drinking, and she gets chatted up by a random guy. He notices that she keeps glancing at the Mandalorian in the corner, assumes he’s got competition, and claims Mandos make poor lovers. Reader vaguely thinks Din is attractive but assumes he’s kind of sexless, but she defends his honour nonetheless and invents a few stories about him to shut her would-be suitor up…

“How would you know?” you challenge. “Maybe there are loopholes. Maybe he can take it off in the dark or if his partner wears a blindfold. Maybe he’s the best damn lay in this bar, and women tell stories about his legendary talent with his tongue. Did you consider that?” With your attention now entirely on Zabrak(ish), you can’t see Mando’s reaction to your somewhat lewd suggestions, but you can imagine he’s probably shocked. The two of you banter occasionally, but you know him to be a sweet guy when he hasn’t got his gruff hunter guise on, and you bet this kind of talk makes him blush. The one time you’d mentioned anything carnal in front of him, he had awkwardly slunk off to the cockpit and hidden for a few hours. You, however, are enjoying the expression on Zabrak(ish)’s face. It’s equal parts annoyed that you’re defending his rival and worried that you might be right and he’s lost the game. Hilarious. You need to press more. Swishing the whiskey in your glass, you take a swig and raise an eyebrow. “You wondered why I was looking at him. Maybe I’ve heard rumours. A Mandalorian in silver armour, the best in the parsec at licking and dicking. Fights well, fucks well.” You risk a glance at Mando and see he has his back to you now and is with a shifty-looking guy who is speaking furtively. The informant. You’re glad he’s distracted, to be honest. Maybe it’s better he doesn’t hear what you’re saying about him. It might reveal your desires, and since you work and live with this man, you shouldn’t complicate things. Zabrak(ish) now seems torn between erupting in anger or collapsing in tears. But emboldened by your success so far and the knowledge that Mando can’t hear, you decide to weave another false scenario to illustrate to this guy why he shouldn’t make assumptions about your partner. “And even if the helmet never comes off, maybe he’s got other talents. Knows exactly how and where to use his fingers to make a woman come in seconds. Talks so deliciously dirty through the modulator that he can get her off without even touching her. Has a huge cock and knows how to use it. And by the way, the whole mysterious armoured warrior thing is seriously attractive. So sorry, pal, you’re outmatched on this one.”

I’m sure you can see where this is going!

Din has, in fact, overheard, and he later offers to prove Reader’s speculations correct one by one. First with just his voice (dirty talk ahoy!), next with his fingers, then with his tongue, and lastly with his dick.

There’s a tiny snippet here from an old WIP challenge post taken from a paragraph near the end of the dirty talk scene. Depending on whether this gets much interest (which I doubt because I’m not tagging anyone), I may post something a little spicier later, but let’s just say Din finds an innovative use for that ridge along his shoulder pauldron… 😳

[jules-makes-stuff]

Been seeing ppl on reddit argue about magic in fantasy for a while and I don't want to lose 3 hours bickering over there but I have *thoughts*

By now hard and soft systems are pretty well known but people ague againt hard systems because it "takes away the, well, MAGIC of magic". I think people aren't considering tone and the overall goals of a work and are conflating personal taste with truth again.

In my mind it really depends on the above though. Say you are Hoffman writing The Golden Pot. You want your work to be dreamlike, ethereal, like a half remembered song. Everything operates on dream/fairytale logic and emotion is reality. You should absolutelt NOT explain magic. It should be a strange force adhering only to narrative and emotional forces.

If you are writing a magical realism piece, like One Hundred Years of Solitude, the magic again is there to emphasize the absurdity of reality people at the time faced. Explaining anything takes that away. Same with horror or something like Metamorphosis. You don't know why this is happening and that means you cannot stop it or it doesn't matter how it happened, only the consequences.

Then there are more classical fantasy stories like Lord of the Rings. Magic is something ancient and grand and mysterious.... and none of the hobbits have it besides stray magic items. That is what people miss, I believe, when using this example. Gandalf isn't our pov character. Most characters there do not have magic or only have limited magic w very specific limitations, tools essentially. So we can follow along and anticipate how these will be used. There is big, scary, unknown magic, but it is usually something used by the opponents or characters that come in and out of the narrative. And I think that's a good balance! Its fine that we dont know the science of magic, because we understand enough when we need to, we can make predictions and there is enough wiggle room for something like Gandalf the White to happen. A looot of fantasy had followed this setup: the mc has only a few well defined spells and magic items, the world has more deep magic.

But, I personally do like harder magic, if the mc is supposed to be a wizard (or the equivalent). I would call most battle shonen hard magic (I think this is where ppl might want to kill me) becauss in a good battle shonen we know what everyone can do and we can plan along with the characters and predict how the fight will go. When a problem is solved in an interesting way we can go "I should have seen that comming!"

In BAD versions people yell really loud and whoever yells loudest about friendship (once we wasted enough screentime to call the third act done) wins. And this here is my problem. Because I have seen stories where characters do the same with magic and it breaks my immersion. When magic used by the mc can suddenly do anything and everything what is the point? I'm no longer following a story w interesting twists and turns, Im waiting for the author to say "ok thats enough we can push the win button now". And listen, obviously its a made up story, none of this is real or matters, but its the authors job to keep the illusion alive that it isnt.

This is different from creating a mcguffin that can do anything once and having a quest about it, there getting the item is the challenge, not using it.

And a system being hard doesnt mean we need to know the science behind it, just that we need to know what it can do and the limits. In avatar they can manipulate the elements w martial arts. Period. Why? How? The spirits said so. Most ppl fuck up hard magic imo by starting to write a thesis about magical physics or overcomplicating it instead of taking 1 simple idea and exploring all the cool things that it can do. Witch Hat feels super magical and yet all there is to magic is drawing magic circles and we actively learn how to draw them in the series and the way the characters problem solve w magic and their try-fail cycles are super fun!

The point of this ramble is that I need structure that fits the narrative goals of the work. If we're doing a dream like narrative throw away explanations. If Im a wizard playing mind chess w other wizards you better tell me what chess pieces we have.

[kommandonuovidiavoli]

ok first of All, thank u so much for answering my KND mourning Au question. Loved the art ! 😍 I’m sorry if I’m bothering u. There’s an AU Idea that JUST struck me like a lightning bolt ⚡️. What if Irwin,Sydney,Lou,Charlie & Ray became the DCFDTL in 1984 instead of Sector Z? How much would change? Like Sector V since Wally canonically can’t exist in that universe. Would Sector Z become members of the Adult division? Who would marry who? Would their kids become members of Sector V? Would any of the C.A.K.E episodes change. Would they find away for the 5 to come back permanently?

You don’t have 2 if you don’t wanna, I just think it’s a neat idea 4 an AU 👐🏻Anyways have a good day! 😃

Here's a little visualization of them... spoopy. As for the rest, let's go for a rant under read more.

Being that Sector Z was the best of the best, I'm more than sure that all of them got promoted to the Adult Division, and now have jobs that allow them to keep an eye on the other kids.

Specifically, they might take the roles other characters have, such as:

Alessandra is the elementary school teacher. No were-dog shenanigans, unfortunately, but everyone likes her because she's very energetic and creative; she makes sure the is school safe and fair for them. She had that mishap with Grandma Stuffum but welp... it can happen;

Lenny is one of Mr Boss' workers, taking Sydney's role. He's the one who will solve the "take your daughter to work" situation and help Kuki get everyone back;

Constance will be one of the moms... even if no one has ever seen her kids. But this way, she's allowed into other moms' spaces, and makes sure Sector V is doing their job by casually visiting the kid's moms;

David works more secretly: he's never seen around unless things get really bad. He's Vicky's second;

And then... Bruce... my boy... I am so sorry... you're the new Toiletnator BUT DON'T WORRY! You'll have a slightly different costume and approach to the character! You will crack jokes every second and make everyone laugh as you want! The best jokes are for complete distraction! You'll do great!

(obligatory pic otherwise someone is gonna kill me @numbuhinfinitys )

As for how they got there instead of Sector Z:

As I said, Sector Z will disappear in 1984. Their Soopreme Leader Numbuh 420 told them that there was some strange activity in a house down the lane in a city in Virginia, and asked them to go investigate.

Being that, at that point, Sector Z and Sector Ʌ were friends, David was the one suggesting that Sector Ʌ investigate instead, so they can show not only Numbuh 420 but THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION that they could do as good as any other sector.

Billie was a bit unsure but accepted the challenge, and the Australian group headed to this mysterious mansion.

There was a furious fight that involved lasers and gorillas and after that, Sector Ʌ disappeared.

Sector Z felt guilty and after some months of nothing, they took matters into their own hands and went to that mansion to see what was going on, only to be met by a young Father and his Delightful Children, who looked too much like their lost friends.

Since then, they swore they would find a way to bring them back, but also keep the other kids safe from them (spoiler: they took it too easy but realised how dangerous they could really be when they made Nigel bald).

INTERESTING THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE:

In Z.E.R.O. two things can happen: Sector Z comes out to help Monty fight Grandfather / Sector Ʌ is undelightfulizied and fights alongside Nigel;

Monty isn't the one that turns Sector Ʌ back to normal; it's actually David who gets the honour, and the two Sectors have a little sweet moment where they recognise each other and are told what they need to do;

Lou and Syd always hold hands, but you cannot see it because Charlie is in front of them;

Since the delightfulization works with kids who are not previously well educated, I think Irwin might sometimes snap out of it; he's had a very strict education that overlaps with the delightfulization. As we know, two negatives make a positive.

Sector V misses a Numbuh 4. In each "episode" there is a new kid filling that spot, and every time they quit because that Sector is "too much".

Around the second season, sometimes they get help from a kid with blonde, wavy hair and green eyes, and he's the one they eventually give the codename "Numbuh 4", even if it's not official. He earns their trust completely.

Yes, Irwin is Numbuh 4 and a Delightful Child, but there's no risk of backstabbing: when he's Numbuh 4, he doesn't remember anything about his Delightful status, and when he's a Delightful Children, he doesn't remember about his Numbuh 4 status;

When he's Numbuh 4, Irwin doesn't remember his real name. When he was asked what it was, Hoagie remarked how it sounded like he was from Australia > Australia has a marsupial that sounds like a name > "My name is Wallabee. Wally for short."

It's gonna be fun and sad when it comes out, but also, it will give Sector Z a new hope to bring all of them back;

Needless to say, the end of INTERVIEWS is NOT canon here. Maybe the one in the previous bullet point is the end of the Delightfuls: a hope for the future;

And since I first talked about Z.E.R.O.: Numbuh 4 is strangely absent, saying he was going to tackle the zombie invasion from another point and then disappearing. He reappears at the very end in from the wreckage of the treehouse;

Numbuh 442, Irwin, and Numbuh 4 all have different looks as seen below;

It's a kind of "Superman/Clark Kent" situation. Abby is slowly connecting the dots.

Goes without saying but HE AND KUKI WILL HAVE NO ROMANCE. Irwin is not interested in love, and even if Kuki might have a crush, he will politely reject her and ask to be friends;

To the answer "do the other know about Irwin's double identity?" I reply: no. They don't. They DO notice when he's not around (of course), but when he's Numbuh 4 the hivemind doesn't work anymore;

Back to the group: as Delightful Children, they don't have the Australian accent, and talk in plain English;

They have normal CAKED episodes, but of course, Numbuh 4 is absent in all of them;

And... that's it, nothing else comes to mind.

THANKS, NOW I HAVE ANOTHER AU TO ADD TO THE LIST SIGH.

[kaizokuou-ni-naru]

Was reading over the reverie arc tag and saw that you said to re-ask you about Im after what happened is revealed. (I'd provide the link but tumblr won't let me) So, while not much was revealed, thoughts?

what i think is really interesting about imu is how they compare and contrast to the other characters who have been set up for us as endgame villains, those being blackbeard and akainu. compared to both of them, imu is established quite late in the series, and how they will fit into the unrolling narrative and themes of the story is still somewhat unclear.

both blackbeard and akainu are established firmly well before they enter the main story as primary antagonists. we hear about blackbeard as far back as alabasta and meet him in jaya, while akainu is first seen in robin's enies lobby flashback and mentioned even before that. and they each also embody a strong thematic conflict with the main characters that is going to need to be overcome by the end of the story.

blackbeard mirrors luffy in his pursuit of the pirate king's throne, existing in the same lineage of villains as doflamingo and big mom. it seems almost certain that he will be the final and most difficult fellow challenger for the title of pirate king that luffy will need to face, and the eventual showdown between the blackbeards and strawhats has been telegraphed for quite some time. the question this conflict asks is, what does it mean to be a pirate? what does it mean to be a pirate king?

meanwhile, akainu is the embodiment of authoritarianism. he's the law, brutal and indiscriminate; he represents the order that would stifle freedom. he is much more alike to antagonists like rob lucci and cp-9. while i usually try to avoid speculation on this blog, i think akainu's final defeat will probably not be at luffy's hands; i think a showdown with sabo is much more likely. and the reason i think this is because the question that the conflict with akainu asks is, what does real justice look like? this is ultimately the question of the conflict between the marines and the revolutionaries; they are two armies fighting over whether the current order will be maintained or torn down and built anew.

so, then, imu. we meet them quite late in the game, and still know very little about them. however, i do think this is in itself thematically resonant; we see almost no trace of imu anywhere else until we reach mariejois itself, because they have been deliberately erased from the world. imu is tied, specifically and inextricably, to the mystery of the void century, of the erased history, and we will only learn the truth about them when we learn the truth about everything else.

imu's role in the story seems to be specifically to finally provide a direct antagonist to the overarching myth arc of the void century, the forgotten ancient kingdom, and the will of d; the imperial crimes of the world government, shoved endlessly under the rug. can you build a world-spanning kingdom on a lie? will it stand? for how long? there can be no such thing as an immortal empire no matter how much force you might use to make it so. you can't pin the sun in place in the sky.

while it's impossible to really guess this conflict is going to unfold given how much information we still don't have, my top three guesses for who will be primarily involved are robin (for obvious reasons; unraveling the truth of the void century is her dream, and imu stands directly in the way of that), vivi (also obvious; imu is targeting her directly), and law (both because his new goal is to unravel the meaning of the will of d and because it seems significant that imu is likely a previous recipient of the ope-ope no mi's immortality technique).

[raayllum]

How do you think Arc 3 Rayla will learn her lesson in sacrifice?

That's a good question! I have more speculative thoughts on arc 3 here and here which isn't Super relevant but help highlight a specific thing, which is: the trio all make the Wrong Choices in 7x09, and they can't make those choices again in arc 3's finale (s10).

Like, arc 1 ended with Rayla being willing to sacrifice herself, and being subsequently saved by Callum. Arc 2 ended with Rayla being willing to sacrifice Callum, with it being avoided because of the archdragons. In some ways, all the trio are making the Arc 1 Viren choices in S7, and that can't be where their story ends.

I actually wrote a bigger meta post-S6 about where I thought Rayllum's arcs may go, and overestimated by cramming more into S7 than they reasonably had time for. However, I stand by like, 90% of that meta specifically:

So long as she’s Rayla — brave, selfless, loving — he can be Callum, and so long as he’s Callum — resourceful, persistent, loving — she can be Rayla. Not a dark mage forcing her to be an assassin, but two people who bring out the best in one another. And in doing so, in choosing to save rather than sacrifice each other, they get to likewise save, love, and preserve themselves.

So Callum throwing away being 'Callum' in 7x09, First, and Rayla following suit with him (as she always does) by doing the same is like, spectacularly on brand.

The other parts of the meta I think have a good shot moving forward is Callum having an arc of prioritizing love > mystery/knowledge (again, more on the meta) and Rayla finally, finitely, choosing love over duty.

She tends to go back and forth on it, and it's not as simple as "in order to be a protector she cannot be an assassin" (circa 3x09) but there is a Reason that Rayla has to literally abandon being an assassin™ in order to bring Zym home in arc 1.

When Runaan is brought back in S6/S7, we get a good look at how Rayla still views being an assassin:

I know I've talked about this before in a past meta but forget where, but a core part of being an assassin is dehumanizing others (your target, or targets by proxy) as well as yourself. You, like your targets, are not a person; you are a weapon, a tool, and you are "already dead". Your wants, needs, life, family, etc. doesn't matter. This is pushed even further by the three times we see Rayla take up the assassin mantle explicitly across the series:

In 3x09, wherein she is put into a situation where she cannot kill Viren without literally also killing herself, and is saved/spared only because of Callum.

In 4x05, wherein she abandons the drake vs 2x07 "This is where I'm meant to be," showing that she's continuing to siphon off Core pieces of herself ("Rayla's brave, she saves people [...] That's what makes her a hero. That's what makes her Rayla").

In 7x09, where she's prepared to murder Callum ("I almost risked losing the best thing I ever had" / "My heart for Xadia"), condemning herself to a life without her partner (which neither sets of her parents nor herself were willing to enforce for Lain/Tiadrin or Runaan/Ethari, as she fights to keep them together throughout all of arc 2). This, as Ezran states, would've meant "sacrificing everything we are"; if she'd killed Callum, she would've killed herself (symbolically), too, and she was willing to do it.

Moreover, sacrificing your loved ones is seen as a Big Bad Viren thing to do ("We must be ready to sacrifice, even the things we love" / everything with Lissa, and later Soren; even Runaan with Rayla in 1x03). This is further entangled by, to Rayla, a person just IS a dark mage, but being an assassin is a Separate Job that isn't who they are. And this isn't necessarily truly challenged until AFTER she's picking up her assassin father's bow (the Symbolism) and Runaan has realized maybe he was always wrong, each time, to ben an assassin, because each time he thought the violence was Necessary (Harrow, Callum), he was ultimately wrong (Harrow was a good man who wanted to change; the Archdragons could defeat Aaravos with others' help).

This is especially important because for Runaan, there is no separation of "Runaan as himself" and "Runaan the assassin (his job)". They're the same thing to him, I think, because he's operating under different cognitive dissonances / ways of thinking than his daughter.

And I knew she was right: I had become a monster. / I'm a monster!

So like, being an assassin — doing assassin-y things; dehumanizing yourself and others — is Bad. Every time, it's bad for Rayla from a physical or emotional standpoint, it's bad for her relationships, it's bad from a narrative perspective, etc etc. When Terry says in 7x02, "There's another way with less darkness and sacrifice," he isn't just talking (narratively) about dark magic.

Sacrifice is the cornerstone of being an an assassin and of Rayla's character arc, and always has been, being both a good thing, and a bad thing.

Rayla can be so selfless that it rounds back into being selfish because she doesn't consider how her actions or her going missing/dying will affect the people around her, and in arc 2, she makes a lot of progress, mostly in S4 and S5. The former lets her learn about the importance of coming back and second chances; and season 5 is about accepting grace, making good on those second chances, and learning how to ask for help. But S6 and S7 make it plain that her issues have not entirely resolved.

In S5-S6, she routinely puts her family on the back-burner, even if it's a burden and causes her immense anguish ("It hurts me to know they're trapped like this. It's agonizing"). In S7, she's willing to push, but because she conceptualizes it for being for Runaan and Ethari's benefit(s), not her own, and instead intends to leave without even reuniting with her second dad.

Hurting Callum is the last thing she wanted (5x04) but she was still willing to do it (s4) and even go so far as killing him (7x09), because her wants and needs and family members don't fundamentally matter when the fate of the world (or even someone she feels bound/obligated to help) is seemingly at stake. And, finally, S7 goes after this by attacking the sacrificial pillar of Rayla's identity has been scaffolded upon: Runaan.

Runaan goes I was wrong. He is also fundamentally changed by returning to Katolis and seeing the eyes of the person he hurt through his actions. He acknowledges that his precision violence, his quest for murder, wasn't necessary.

That he sacrificed his family, and he will not do so again (vs Rayla's assessment of "I can't help you yet [...] I think this is what you would want me to do" in 5x01, of course). Because Runaan has changed, and is not who he once was / does not have the same priorities he once did.

This, more than anything, is Rayla's way in, but as stated, it only happens at the end of S7, not Before.

After S6 aired, I remember still leaning towards Rayla being unwilling to kill him in S7 (as this was a kids' show, and they're not going to kill their central protagonist, particularly with Callum's importance as a mage) but being unsure of how they were going to get her there in just 9 episodes. After all, she was still wiling to sacrifice her parents time and time again (5x01, 5x04, 6x01, 6x05) and it didn't sit quite right with me that she'd Suddenly do a 180 when it was her boyfriend, alternatively, on the line. The fact that Callum, who has routinely encouraged Rayla to not make sacrifices, was also the one encouraging her to make this one, made it doubly complicated; of course she was going to waver, as she's always borrowed from Callum's (and others') viewpoint for her own:

VILLADS: Look at yourself, Rayla. Who are you? What do you stand for? Once you know that, you'll end up where you were always meant to be. (2x06)

RAYLA: I've been thinking about something someone once told me. About how when one person hurts another, and that person hurts them back, it becomes a cycle that never ends. CALLUM: Who told you that? RAYLA: You did. [...] Protecting that dragon doesn't just feel like the thing to do; it feels like the right thing for me to do. It's where I'm meant to be. (2x07)

DARK!CALLUM: Even if that means giving up your sense of right and wrong. (7x06)

RAYLA: An assassin doesn't decide right or wrong. Only life and death. (1x02)

Like, they can't have Rayla try to be an Assassin again after 7x09. That plot arc has been carried through. Therefore, the only one left is the Alternative: not an assassin, but a Hero™ who saves people, especially the people she loves.

Therefore, main reason to leave Callum open to possession as of the end of S7 (as similar drama could've been achieved or staged without him beginning the corruption spell) is for Rayla to un-make her 7x09 choice. She'll fight for him, and save him. She'll chase what she wants, for herself.

I have a few ideas of what could get her to that turning point, i.e.

7 years of a happy relationship with Callum and having a real support system (her family, her village, Callum + Ez, Soren, etc) and she finally feels like she doesn't have anything to atone for

Her and Runaan talking about his past choices and how/why he was wrong, and doesn't want Rayla to make the same mistakes

Rayla realizing/seeing that Callum Will Not sacrifice her, even for the greater good, and while she may be immensely angry/upset at first, she realizes that he was right and she'll do the same/whatever it takes to bring him back from the possession (theory on this that's been going for 3 long ass years + its 5 year old big sister)

Like, 7x09 ended with the heroes trying to kill Aaravos and trap him with dark magic. Both those options are now, seemingly, out of the question, or either imprisoning him with primal/deep magic (which would be very Iffy story wise) or changing his mind is like... some of our only paths through, and that applies to Rayla.

Aaravos wants the Cosmic Council to suffer forever, but Rayla asks how much suffering is enough to pay for the mistakes we've made? In 2x08, she cited that Callum's dark magic coma (the harm/toll it took on him) was him paying the price (cue him trying to trap Aaravos in a Literal Coin even if that means paying with his life). She quickly unlearns that (2x09) and is learning to stand by it (7x09) but still hasn't brought it to fruition; I look forward to seeing her do so.

[murderbot-moodboard]

I hadn't read a lot of scifi until after I read The Murderbot Diaries (which kind of introduced me to the contemporary scifi lit scene), but I'm currently rereading what was my favorite scifi book before I read Murderbot, and it's still in my top 10. It's a standalone novel that came out in 1988 called Hellspark, written by Janet Kagan. Martha Wells has said in one or two places that Janet Kagan is one of her scifi inspirations (and has mentioned one of Kagan's other novels, Mirabile, specifically), but I wouldn't be surprised if Wells drew some inspiration from Hellspark as well, because I was reminded of it when I read certain parts of TMBD.

Hellspark features a main character named Tocohl who is confident, pragmatic, and within the first few pages of Chapter 1 uses her fighting skills and responsive armor suit skin to take down a group of bad guys armed with knives who are kidnapping a woman who turns out to be an important character in the story. Tocohl is assisted by her extrapolative computer Maggie, who lives in Tocohl's ship but uses a remote to interact with characters on planet part of the time. Tocohl usually speaks to Maggie by subvocalizing—this book was where I first heard that term, though I didn't quite understand what it meant until I read TMBD.

The main story takes place on a planet where a survey team has gone to assess if one of the life forms there, the sprookjes, are sapient, because that will determine whether the planet can be developed by outside forces or not. But there's been a mysterious death, the planet is prone to frequent lightning storms, and the survey team are all humans from different planets, leading to cultural and language differences that add to the tension. Tocohl, however, is from a culture of traveling merchants, and she uses her understanding of the languages and the nonverbal movements of the different cultures to work through the group's communication challenges as she helps them try to determine if the sprookjes are sapient before their time runs out.

I absolutely love the cultural worldbuilding behind each of the fictional human cultures that is evident from page 1. The way Janet Kagan emphasizes the body language and movements of each culture isn't quite like anything else I've ever read outside of the class I once took on intercultural communication. If you're looking for a scifi story with a bit of mystery, intercultural dynamics, and analysis of the timeless question "how do you define, much less determine, sapience?," I'm fairly confident you will not regret picking up this book. :)

[thesimstree]

Best Mystical Sims Challenges for Occult Legacies 🔮🪄

Do you want to invite darkness and mystery into your game? Open the doors to a world of curses, ancient vampire clans, dark artifacts, and tangled family secrets with mystical challenges. In these stories, each generation faces new trials, and the fate of the legacy is entirely in your hands. But be careful…

Mystical Legacy Challenge by @maiatheesimmer

In a quiet town where reality intertwines with the supernatural, the story of an unusual legacy begins. According to the lore, the first founder discovers that ancient mystical blood runs through their veins. This revelation leads their descendants to gradually uncover supernatural abilities and form connections with various occult beings.

Your character, a young adult, embarks on a journey to the jungles of Selvadorada and stumbles upon an ancient artifact that places a curse on their bloodline. To keep it a secret, they marry a human and have a child. However, a hidden connection with a mermaid results in the birth of a mystical heir, a secret known only to a select few. Seeking redemption, they devote themselves to their family, take up knitting, and actively participate in volunteer work alongside their loved ones.

The second generation, upon learning the truth about their origins, moves to Sulani, dedicating their life to protecting nature and starting a family with Patchy. Future heirs will face various mystical trials: mastering magic, joining the ranks of vampires, searching for a way to break the ancient curse, and unraveling hidden ties to the otherworldly. Each new heir must confront unique challenges tied to their supernatural lineage until, at last, the family finds harmony.

This challenge offers a deep narrative and varied gameplay, allowing players to explore the occult aspects of the game and create a truly unique family. Expect jungle expeditions, magical mysteries, supernatural alliances, and the struggle to defy a fate sealed by the curse itself.

Full Rules

Vampire: The Masquerade Legacy Challenge by @anxiousmoodlet

Your journey begins with the first generation – the Ventrue clan. Aristocrats of the blood, born to rule and command. Each clan has its own defining traits and unusual objectives. You’ll walk the path of savages and lunatics, blood sorcerers and shadow dwellers.

The greatest challenge is the strict blood limitations placed on each generation. Some may only feed on their lovers, others can drink only from spellcasters, while some must live in hiding, allowed to hunt for blood only during specific hours of the night.

Generation after generation, your descendants will navigate this dark world, face enemies, build influence, or fight to reclaim their lost humanity. Expect secret societies and ruthless power struggles under the cover of eternal night. Just remember: never break the Masquerade, or the mortal world will come for you…

Full Rules

The 10 Generations/10 Ghosts Challenge by xmerer

In the quiet suburbs of Willow Creek stood an old mansion, shrouded in mystery and legend. The locals whispered that the house held something unusual, but no one knew exactly what it was.

One day, a young writer decided to settle in the house, hoping its atmosphere would inspire new works. Little did he know that he would become the founder of a legacy whose fate would be forever intertwined with the world of ghosts. His life was short, yet he managed to write several Books of Life. Unfortunately, his lack of skill with electronics led to his downfall. The founder dies from electrocution, but this is not the end of his journey. His spirit remains in the mansion, watching over the lives of his descendants.

Each generation of his family faces unique challenges, and each meets their demise in a different way, remaining in the house as a ghost. The only common thread is that their deaths are always sudden and come at a rather young age. Over time, the mansion fills with the spirits of ancestors, each with their own story and personality.

Players who take on this challenge will guide their family through ten generations, each encountering its own hardships and tragedies. Every ghost will leave their mark on the house and its inhabitants, creating an atmosphere of mystery and deep family bonds.

Full Rules

The Sims 4 Cursed (A Witch Based Legacy Challenge) by mooniebearz105

Your sim’s life is falling apart, and just when it seems things can’t get any worse, fate takes an unexpected turn: they inherit an old, crumbling mansion from their great-grandmother. But the house feels less like a gift and more like a sentence. Its walls are cracked, the air is damp with secrets, and strange whispers echo through the darkness. It seems as if the house has a life of its own.

But the most unsettling discovery awaits in the attic. Among dust-covered trunks and scattered candles, you find an ancient book: your great-grandmother’s journal. She was a witch who made a terrible mistake – she trusted the wrong people. As punishment, the magical community cursed her entire bloodline, stripping them of their supernatural abilities. The magic in their veins faded, and after two more generations, the curse could lead to the family’s extinction.

To survive, you must rebuild the house, learn new skills, and immerse yourself in the paranormal. You will uncover family secrets, unravel the mansion’s mysteries, and encounter supernatural occurrences.

Your sim’s journey will lead them to witchcraft, mediumship, and communication with spirits. The deeper they go, the stronger the curse’s influence becomes: dreams grow darker, unexplainable events increase, and fate throws more challenges their way. But the choice is yours: will you harness dark knowledge for your own gain, or find a way to break the chains of destiny?

Your descendants will not escape the past’s influence. Each new generation will face the curse in their own way. Some will seek harmony with the mystical world, mastering magic for good. Others will delve into the unknown, fully embracing their dark heritage.

Are you ready to uncover the mansion’s secrets and learn the truth about your bloodline? Or will the house become your eternal prison?

Full Rules

The Lunar Lineage Legacy Challenge by IllusoryThrall

Once, werewolves were more than just nocturnal predators, they were keepers of ancient knowledge and mystical power. Their packs lived under the moonlight, following the laws of nature and protecting their lands. But times changed, and the age of magic faded. Now, werewolves are a rarity, their blood diluted among humans, their legends reduced to mere fairy tales. Only a handful still remember what they truly were.

The Lunar Lineage Legacy Challenge invites you to restore this forgotten lineage. Your family begins with the last descendant of an ancient bloodline – a lone werewolf raised in a world where his kind is nothing more than a myth. He does not yet understand his true nature, but with each full moon, his body transforms, his instincts sharpen, and his dreams grow stranger. He must decide whether to embrace his identity or try to live among humans, forever hiding in the shadows.

Some will choose a mortal life, suppressing the call of the beast. Others will seek to rebuild the packs, reclaiming the lost power of their kind. And some will turn to magic, searching for balance between mind and instinct. The moon’s influence will never fade, and with each new heir, the same question will arise: hold on to humanity or surrender to nature’s will?

Full Rules

Mermaidia Legacy Challenge by @hzele-blog

The waves whisper an ancient song, and from the seafoam, a legacy of merfolk is born. The Mermaidia Legacy Challenge will take you through generations of magic, mystery, and the power of the ocean, from legends of sirens who lured sailors to their doom to myths of noble sea guardians. Each generation tells a new tale, steeped in salt and the glow of moonlight on dark waters.

It all begins with a siren. Dangerous, alluring, her voice is sweet, yet in its melody lurks the call of destruction. She dwells among coral reefs, captivating mortals only to shatter their fates against the rocks. Her descendants will inherit the blood of the sea, but their paths will diverge. Some will embrace the abyss, where every breath is a struggle. Others will become protectors of the ocean, defending it from those who fail to understand its power.

Among them are those who find joy in the sunlight, dancing with the waves, laughing with the tides. But not all merfolk are so innocent. In the depths, witches lurk, drawing power not only from nature’s magic but from unspoken bargains best left undisturbed.

This family’s journey will span from the seductive laughter of a siren echoing over stormy waters to the ominous figure whispered of in sailors’ darkest tales. It is up to you to decide what the next generation will become – a guardian, an outcast, or a curse upon mortals who dare to step into the sea.

Full Rules

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[pageofheartdj]

All jokes and horny aside(I do love horny and specific position only🙏 and them fighting over everything always ever and ooc fun scenarious) radioapple are so interesting to think about, about their dynamics, and the characters in general. So I will!

As they are in canon now, Lucifer did not care for Alastor plus the general disgust(and guilt) towards sinners. And then the song happened and Alastor became Lucifer's enemy number one xD If Alastor will drop it, Lucifer won't have a reason to hate on him, but initial negative imperssion is still there.

And Alastor, he is a mysterious guy. The abusive dad is still a theory, him being momma boy and therefore connecting with women better doesn't say anything about his dad situation. The Lilith's deal is also just a theory for now. So for me his immediate negative reaction comes from the same place as his annoyance at Carmilla disregarding him. He wants to be on the top, the most unknown, the most powerful one, the most scary one. He loves attention, he loves keeping everyone alert with his antics.

And he loves being in control, his plans going exactly the way he wants them, not that he can't improvise. He immediately tenses when he sees the sign welcoming dad, he knows. The King of Hell has the ultimate power, the ultimate influence, the ultimate importance. Alastor does not mind someone being more than him in something like he is politely neutral with Zestial. But the hotel carries importance for Alastor's plans so he feels threatened. Before with Charlie's daddy issues I guess he did not expect to see him anytime soon. But here he is, threatening to pull Charlie from his influence, from her needing his powers.

But then we see him being completely chill and not antagonistic at all. One of the reasons I think is that he let his stim out, for a reason being restricted in his activities, the deals he can make, the souls he can take, the kills. And because Charlie needed Lucifer to arrange a meeting with Heaven, something that only Lucifer can do. And that's it. So he lets go for a bit.

Who knows what dynamic season 2 will bring, now that Lucifer stays at the hotel and Alastor took a hard blow at his ego and reputation.

In the wiki it is stated Alastor dislikes people who are like him, but likes people who are more like him, but who knows where is this line. He also said to like Willy Wonka character for being an entertainer and a dick. And Lucifer was told to be like that character. For now Lucifer is a depressed sad baby, but we saw how he can be when he is fucking with others. Alastor likes fun, no matter how this fun is done. Potentially he can enjoy Lucifer's presence. Not to mention, he respects power, at least when the whatever deal with Alastor is done, potentially.

Don't know how prevalent this is now, but both seem to enjoy collecting certain things, like ducks and those firby toys. Both were drawn to dance-vibe with each other.

Speaking of, both love music and play instruments, they can totally jam with each other, making their own little concerts.

Lucifer's idea of sinners will be definetely challenged with Alastor. It's one thing to meet a nice sinner and think 'ah they are not like everyone else'. But it's a completely different thing when this sinner is exactly what you hate about them, the maniac who loves violence. And then you have to come to terms that even THEY can become better, can have something to them. Lucifer drowned himself in guilt and shame, it would be nice to get a bit in touch with people in Hell. Because it seems like he stays away from most things sinners bring with themselves.

Alastor was told to like theatres, so it would be nice for them to go together, to try and see something good from humanity even in Hell. Something that can still keep not being corrupted. And humans creativity and artistism can definetely spark more hope back to Lucifer.

And I think Lucifer would appreciate someone who treats him as equal, it doesn't look like he cares much about being a King, so having someone who will not shy away at punching first can be good.

Lucifer's main support of course would be Charlie(and hopefully hotel crew), but having someone who he can rely to get things actually done is pleasant. He is a King of Hell but he doesn't often act like one, he surely will benefit from someone who can act appropriately spooky. (He can get scary, but I think he needs to get MAD mad for this side of him to appear and at that point you better have Charlie around to calm him down)

And they have to keep the beef part of their interactions, it's just fun to have someone you can freely argue with with no hard feelings afterwards, just a battle of words, their interests don't always aligning. And it's fun to mindlessly banter about them. Like their sweet and bitter food preference, or cooking techniques, etc. Small irrelevant things, or maybe even some clash of ideals, but it is oh so fun to let yourself go lose and not hold back.

It would be nice for them to develop mutual respect and learn to care about each other's boundaries, be it the painful personal history, or choices of leading the relationship.

Yes, the aroace situation. Start with simple, I do not believe Lucifer is straight(nor NT xD) and he is perfectly sex-positive(he started with no experience and no shame either xD). He is more on a demi spectrum for me, getting excitedly horny only with close people(one-times can happen, it's a grey(literally) area). And Alastor... he is touch-aversed until you are close, then the touching is required(both gentle and playful and rough, depending if he wants to sooth himself or get energised or let the stim out). The same with the bed situation. He gets attracted long after all the other bonds are formed. He is sex-indifferent, never wanted with anyone so never went there. He is perfectly content with himself. And when it starts, yet again, depending on what it feels like in the moment.(cannibalism was not the only thing he grew to like in Hell(¬‿¬))