#up there with my language of rope quote

[adreamthatsworthkeeping]

"You live in a great big giant spaceship and there aren't any chairs and you haven't even noticed because nobody ever comes round!"

[hhhwnr]

ꨄInk-stained affection — S.R

masterlist + navigation

genre: fluff/mutual pinning word count: 1,1k

pairing: post prison!Spencer Reid x sunshine!reader

warnings: brief mentions of prison.

summary: Some things are easier to write than say. Especially when he has forgotten how to say anything at all. But you were patient—and paper listens just as well as you do.

author’s note: post prison!Spence is my beloved. I’m new to writing on Tumblr and in English (which isn’t my first language), so please be kind. I’m open to suggestions or feedback, as long as it’s respectful :)

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

It started with a journal — not as some grand romantic gesture, but something quieter, simpler, something that didn’t demand too much. After prison, words weren’t easy for Spencer, not in the way they used to be. He still talked, of course, still rambled sometimes about quantum theory or 18th-century handwriting, but even those rambles were slower now, more deliberate, like each word had to be checked and weighed before leaving his mouth. Conversation felt like walking across a rope bridge in the wind — possible, but uncertain — and some days, no matter how much he wanted to connect, the space between thoughts and speech felt too wide to cross. So you didn’t ask him to talk. You just left a blank notebook on the edge of his desk one afternoon, nothing fancy, just a soft-covered journal with a post-it on top that read: In case speaking feels too loud today. You didn’t expect him to use it, but two days later it reappeared on your chair, opened to a page written in small, careful handwriting: Do you want to get coffee after work? That was all. But it was enough.

Over time, the journal stopped being just a bridge and became a home for the quiet parts of your connection—the kind of things too soft or too strange to say out loud. You took turns without rules, slipping it into desk drawers or messenger bags like a secret waiting to be found. Sometimes it was practical—grocery lists, book club notes, flight times for a shared case. Other times it was tender: a pressed flower from a walk you’d taken apart but thought of each other during; a doodle of his cardigan draped over your chair with a tiny “missing you” written in the pocket; a smudged coffee ring beside a scribbled line of poetry neither of you could quite finish. It was a slow, careful accumulation of small things—anecdotes, quotes, quiet thoughts in the margins. You looked tired today, but beautiful still. I thought of you when I saw a crow with a limp. This passage reminded me of the way you fidget with your sleeves. The kind of notes you don’t say aloud in case they sound too big or too honest, but that, written down, felt just right.

Spencer stared at the open page for a long time before writing anything. The journal sat between his hands like it always did—familiar, worn at the corners, faintly smelling of lavender and ink. He tapped the pen against the edge of the paper, like the rhythm could pull the words out of him. He’d written so much in this journal—facts and fragments and safe little glimpses of affection—but this felt different. This felt like crossing some invisible line he wasn’t sure he could uncross.

Still, he wrote.

You were humming in the elevator today. I didn’t know the tune, but it stayed with me all day. I think that’s what love does sometimes—slips in without a sound, nestles between your ribs, and makes a home there before you’ve even noticed.

I used to think of you when I was still inside. Not often at first. Just… little things. Your voice in meetings. The way you held a pen. How you always had a hair tie on your wrist, even when your hair was up. I think I was clinging to whatever felt normal, whatever reminded me that the world was still going even if I wasn’t really in it. But somewhere in those small, quiet thoughts, you became a kind of comfort. A light that wasn’t too bright, but steady. Familiar. You were one of the few things I let myself keep.

And now, here you are. Reading my bad handwriting, correcting my book quotes, drawing ridiculous doodles in the margins like it’s your full-time job. And I still don’t always have the words when I need them. Even when I talk, it’s slower now. Softer. I second-guess things I never used to. But you never make me feel like I have to perform. You listen like it’s second nature. Like I’m worth listening to. And that… that does something to a person.

So I guess I’m writing it here, because I still don’t trust my voice not to tremble: I am in love with you. Tell me in ink.

The next morning, he brought you coffee—your favorite, made exactly how you liked it, which he somehow always remembered even when he forgot to eat lunch or where he last put his keys. He didn’t say much, just set the mug beside your hand and lingered there a moment longer than usual. The notebook followed, placed gently on top of the folder you’d been reviewing, its familiar spine worn soft. He didn’t look at you when he left it there—just gave a quiet little tap against the cover with two fingers and mumbled something about paperwork. But his ears were pink, and you could swear he smiled when your hand brushed his knuckles in thanks.

He didn’t expect it back so soon.

But there it was, sitting neatly on his desk that afternoon like it had been waiting for him all along. The cover still smelled faintly like your hand cream—coconut and something citrusy—and there was a tiny yellow post-it stuck to the front, a smiling sun doodled in the corner. He opened to the next blank page and found your familiar handwriting, looping and full of warmth.

Spence, I read your note three times. Not because I didn’t believe it—but because I wanted to feel it over and over again. You don’t know what it means to me that you let me into your heart like that.

I think I’ve loved you in small ways for a while now—like how I always look for your face first in a crowded room, or how I find myself smiling when I see your name on my phone. It didn’t hit me all at once. It was like the warmth of the sun sneaking through a window on a cold day—soft, unexpected, and completely impossible to ignore.

And even if you’d never said it, I think I still would’ve kept writing to you. Because even before I loved you, I liked you so very much. And being liked by you in return? That’s already one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.

So… meet me after work? You can tell me in words this time. I’ll bring your favorite muffins. You bring that smile I like.

And there it was—at the bottom of the page, a soft lipstick mark, right where your signature might have gone.

Spencer let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, his fingertips tracing the edge of the page like he could hold the feeling steady just a little longer.

He couldn’t stop smiling the rest of the day.

Thank you for reading ♥︎

[thepringlesofblood]

chungled

so. on dropout.tv there is one (1) episode of a show called "Dimension 20: Foundry", filmed over zoom during the pandemic, that never got past this pilot episode as far as I can tell. the idea is that brennan lee mulligan and [guest] will stat out a character together. the guest in this episode is lou wilson.

they create a full character sheet for Chungledown Bim*. as a 20th level warlock (Pact of the Chain).

now, it's possible that "Dimension 20: Foundry" just never took off, or got pushed to the side, but I personally believe that brennan lee mulligan made up this show specifically to trick lou wilson into creating his archnemesis.

the d20 wiki page for Chungledown Bim has the basic stats and some of the feats, but nowhere near the level of detail as a full character sheet (understandable). also completely understandably, the d20 transcription fan community has not come out with a transcript for this one extremely obscure video. I bring this up because I went through and did my best to accurately transcribe the character sheet, because it's fucking bonkers.

I also included some direct quotes from the episode in the often-ignored 2rd page of the character sheet where you list your backstory and what you look like and "allies and organizations" and general stuff that's significant but has no mechanical properties.

so. TLDR: i re-created Chungledown Bim's character sheet from the video where brennan and lou create one for him. god help us all.

*lou states in the video that 'Chungledown' has no hyphen.

bc the image IDs are going to be so so long, I'm putting em below the images instead of in alt text.

sorry the resolution's shit, I don't know why it did that.

note: I will not be noting areas I left blank in the image id. you can assume it's a basic dnd 5e charsheet template. i did the dark mode one bc i have sensitive eyes and wrote in comic sans for dyslexia reasons but otherwise that's how its organized, idk how to explain it in an image id other than just listing the information contained within.

[image id:

image 1:

Character Name: Chungledown Bim Class & Level: Warlock Lvl 20 Background: Pirate Race: Rock Gnome Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Strength: 14 (+2) Dexterity: 16 (+3) Constitution: 20 (+5) Intelligence: 18 (+4) Wisdom: 16 (+3) Charisma: 20 (+5)

Proficiency Bonus: +6

Armor Class: 14 Initiative: +3 Speed: 30 Hit Point Maximum: 206 Hit Dice: 20d8

Saving Throws Strength: +2 Dexterity: +3 Constitution: +5 Intelligence: +4 Wisdom: +9 (proficient) Charisma: +11 (proficient)

Skills

Acrobatics (Dex): +8 (proficient) Animal Handling (Wis): +3 Arcana (Int): +4 Athletics (Str): +14 (expertise) Deception (Cha): +11 (proficient) History (Int): +4 Insight (Wis): +3 Intimidation (Cha): +11 (proficient) Investigation (Int): +4 Medicine (Wis): +3 Nature (Int): +4 Perception (Wis): +9 (proficient) Performance (Cha): +5 Persuasion (Cha): +5 Religion (Int): +4 Sleight of Hand (Dex): +3 Stealth (Dex): +3 Survival (Wis): +3

Passive Wisdom (Perception): 19

Attacks & Spellcasting Name: Eldritch Blast ATK Bonus: +11 Damage: 4d10+5 force

Other Proficiencies & Languages

Languages:

Gnomish

Solisian

Proficiencies:

Navigator’s Tools

Vehicles (Water)

Light Armor

Simple Weapons

Equipment

10 GP

A belaying pin

50 ft of silk rope

Pirate Clothes

Seagull’s Beak

Leather Armor

2 Daggers

Blackjack

Flintlock (Arcane Focus)

Scholar’s pack

Brass Knuckles

Personality Traits: Crazy, Committed, Goal-Driven, Voracious Eater, Efficient, Frugal

Ideals: Vengeance, Revenge, Payback, Getting Even, Muttering, shitting in Fabian’s mouth - Mythologically Infinite Retribution

Bonds: Bill Seacaster, Upchungle, Fabian (Dark Reflection)

Flaws: IBS, Emotionally Closed-Off, Myopic, (Distant from Family, losing Cooking skills, combating ennui through obsession = non-sustainable)

Features & Traits: Darkvision Gnome Cunning

-ADV on INT, WIS, CHA saves vs. magic Artificer’s Lore Tinker Bad Reputation ——— Patron: Bill Seacaster (fiend) Dark One’s Blessing Pact of the Chain: Upchungle (a disgusting seagull) Dark One’s Own Luck Fiendish Resilience Hurl Through Hell Eldritch Master

Invocations

Cloak of Flies

Chains of Carceri

Investment of the Chainmaster -Mask of Many Faces

Otherworldly Leap

Repelling Blast

Eldritch Spear

Agonizing Blast

Feats

Grappler

Squat Nimbleness

image 2:

Character name: Chungledown Bim

Age: 65 Height: 3’8” Weight: 220lb Eyes: Yellow Skin: Sunburnt Hair: Matted

Character Appearance: Filthy Beard of mustaches unique teeth (different materials) Bloodshot eyes “he is elementally tied to the concept of filth” - Brennan Lee Mulligan huge overcoat with pockets full of pasta

Allies & Organizations: Upchungle (familiar) “as fucked up as he [chungledown] is” “always greasy” “Chungledown has a real intimate relationship with this fucked up bird” doesn’t need to breathe, can be summoned in a flock of up to 6 Upchungles

Cult of Bill Seacaster Bill Seacaster is a fiendish patron, who sponsors Chungledown because he wants his son to have the best nemesis possible (see quotes below)

Additional Features & Traits

“…especially with how he’s [Bill] gone full chaotic, the idea that like, ‘cause he loves me and wants the best for me and I think he knows I need a nemesis. you know, he had James, I have this crazed gnome who wants to shit in my mouth, and so I think there’s part of me that’s like, my dad is like, what’s up? Like you want to, I love you son but this is something you need to face and I’m going to help make it as powerful as it can be so that when you overcome it, you know true victory.” - Lou Wilson

“There’s honestly part of me that thinks that Chungledown Bin tried to switch out patrons and my dad just murdered ‘em. Like murdered whoever he was going to and was like nope, you’re sticking with me, because I want you to have the best. I want you to have the best when you come for my son” - Lou Wilson

Character Backstory:

“There was a man, Chungledown Bim, but like the character, the fullness of Chungedown Bim starts the day I turned my back on him, and that’s the day he begins the work to become the man we [he and Brennan] are creating today, and that man is 20 levels of warlock” - Lou Wilson

“like an arcane John Wick of taking a shit in your mouth” - Brennan Lee Mulligan

Treasure:

his trinket, the Seagull’s Beak is the literal, dirty, grungy beak of a dead seagull. he gets “surprisingly emotional” when he can’t find it, and sleeps clutching it.

image 3:

Spellcasting Class: Warlock (Pact of the Chain)

Spellcasting Ability: CHA Spell Save DC: 19 Spell Attack Bonus: +11

Cantrips:

Eldritch Blast Poison Spray Infestation Create Bonfire

Spell level: 1 Slots total: 0

Find Familiar

Command

Spell level: 2 Slots total: 0

Spider Climb

Flock of Familiars

Spell level: 3 Slots total: 0

Stinking Cloud

Tongues

Incite Greed

Counterspell

Spell level: 4 Slots total: 0

Blight

Wall of Fire

Sickening Radiance

Spell level: 5 Slots total: 4

Negative Energy Flood

Scrying

Far Step

Contact Other Plane

Dream

Mystic Arcanum (once per long rest) -Investiture of Stone

Mystic Arcanum (once per long rest) -Etherealness

Mystic Arcanum (once per long rest) -Power Word Stun

Mystic Arcanum (once per long rest) -Imprisonment

/end id]

[saffusthings]

chapter 4: sacred new beginnings

ceo!oscar piastri x reader

summary: the one where things begin to shift into place.

word count: 1.2k

three | four | five

She didn’t mean to linger after the meeting.

But Laura had stopped her just outside the conference room, raising a brow with a faint smile. “That arbitration point? Solid. You just saved Alex three days of unnecessary emails. Possibly a full breakdown.”

Y/N blinked. “That wasn’t my intention. But I’m… glad it worked?"

Laura looked at her a beat longer, then tipped her head toward the corridor. “Come on. You look like someone who could use a drink.”

Y/N followed, cautious but curious.

"A drink? But aren't we—"

"Coffee. Top shelf stuff when it's all you've got."

The break area wasn’t large, but it was quiet—tucked between glass partitions and lined with minimalist cabinetry. A kettle, mismatched mugs, a few communal snacks were scattered about the room. One man was stirring sugar into a chipped Manchester United mug like he’d been doing it every day for a decade.

“I think I’m breaking protocol by inviting you in here,” Laura said. “This is usually where we retreat to complain about our bosses and forget we’re licensed professionals.”

Y/N cracked a small smile. “You say that like I wouldn’t fit in.”

She made herself a cup of tea —strong and no sugar— and leaned back against the counter. She didn’t say much. But she listened. And when someone mentioned a client who’d once tried to cite The Crown as legal precedent, she deadpanned, “To be fair, it’s very persuasive television.”

It earned a genuine laugh from someone in the corner. Just one, but it was enough.

The next day, someone left her a sticky note that said ‘Very persuasive television’ is my new defense strategy. No name, just the note. 

But Y/N tucked it into the back of her notebook like it was a sign she could belong.

The legal department’s floor had the kind of quiet hum that masked a thousand frenzied thoughts – fingers tapping on keyboards, the low click of a printer spitting out a contract revision, someone sighing heavily into a mug of tea. Y/N liked it more than she expected.

Her desk was tucked near a window—good light, enough distance from the partners to breathe. She’d been at it for an hour, sorting through onboarding documents and scanning previous case notes, when a low voice startled her.

“Don’t let ‘em rope you into Thursday drinks. They never leave before midnight.”

She looked up.

It was Daniel, one of the mid-level associates. Tall, handsome yet always slightly disheveled, with a pen stuck behind his ear and a reputation for being the token personality hire in meetings.

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “And how would you know?”

He smirked, dropping a manila folder onto her desk. “Because I’ve made the mistake twice. You don’t strike me as someone who enjoys being peer-pressured into tequila by people who quote merger law for fun.”

Y/N tilted her head, smiling. “You’d be surprised. I’m a pretty quick learner.”

That got a laugh out of him, small and unexpected.

“Welcome to the floor,” he said warmly, and walked off before she could thank him.

Later, Laura passed her a compliance brief with a sticky note that just said, You missed nothing in the 11am call. Except Peter accidentally sharing his screen mid-Tinder swipe. Truly a legal milestone.

Y/N grinned and jotted a response: If he matched with in-house counsel from Ferrari, does that count as a conflict of interest?

The note came back five minutes later with a hastily sketched “YES” in red ink.

By the end of the day, she hadn’t exactly made friends—but something quieter had settled in. Recognition. Familiarity. Like people were beginning to know what to expect from her: precise language,  good humor, and a readiness to challenge someone if the logic didn’t track.

It wasn’t much. But slowly, the ice chipped.

In a restaurant in Mayfair filled with dark wood, warm light, soft jazz threaded through the air like silk.

Oscar sat at a corner table, posture relaxed but careful. He was always careful. A glass of red wine sat untouched before him, and he checked his watch, though not impatiently. Just… habit.

He was dressed well—crisp shirt, navy jacket, no tie. The whole getup was polished without being performative. He didn’t need to try to look expensive. It simply happened.

The maître d’ walked a woman to his table, and Oscar stood when she arrived.

Stevie was striking in that effortless, elegant way. She shrugged the long coat from her shoulders like water off glass, her long hair tucked neatly behind her ears. Her lipstick matched the soft curve of the wine glass she lifted from the server’s tray on instinct.

“Hi,” she said, smiling—wide, practiced. “Sorry I’m late.”

Oscar smiled too – not as polished. Warmer, smaller.

“I figured you’d show up eventually,” he said, pulling out her chair.

Stevie sat down, crossed her legs, adjusted her napkin. For a moment, they looked like any other beautiful couple out for a beautiful dinner. The waiter came and went. Orders were placed. She reached across the table to brush something off the cuff of his sleeve—a gesture so casual it felt lived-in.

And for a moment, it looked like the kind of life people envied.

But then, somewhere between the water being poured and the bread arriving, her hand drifted into her coat pocket.

She drew out a small ring with a simple band. It bore no large diamond, but one big enough to still be elegant and quiet, like a promise of something better to come.

After a moment’s hesitation, she placed it on the table between them., not with anger or ceremony. Just… placed it.

Oscar didn’t move.

“I’ve been thinking,” she said softly. Her tone was gentle, but not fragile. She wasn’t breaking. She was unraveling with precision. “About all of this. About us.”

His jaw tightened the barest fraction. “Yeah?”

“I love you,” she said. And she meant it. He could tell. “I do. But I’m not… I’m just not ready.”

There was a pause. 

“I thought I could be. I tried to be, I really did. But this… it’s not just you. It’s– It’s your whole life, Oscar, And I don’t think I can step into that, not without lying to both of us.”

She didn’t say what she really meant—not directly, at least. She didn’t say, I don’t want to be a mother, not like this. Or, I don’t want to come second to a child who doesn’t speak but still somehow is the most important thing in your life. She didn’t say, I don’t want the responsibility of someone else’s future when I’m just beginning to enjoy getting to build my own. 

But she didn’t have to.

Oscar’s expression didn’t change. If she wasn’t watching carefully, she would have missed the flicker of something behind his eyes, the tiny shift like a door closing soundlessly down the end of a long hallway.

Quietly, he reached out and picked up the ring, turning it over once in his hand like it had once meant something.

It was only a matter of time, wasn’t it?

“I, uh, appreciate the honesty,” he said. His voice was low, steady. Not cold, exactly, but distant now, as if something had gone out like a light inside him.

She blinked, like she’d expected more of a reaction. 

Oscar could often come across detached or even stoic, but he usually made an effort not to be that way around her. She’d seen him smile and laugh for her, which was probably why the return of the seemingly unfeeling expression on the man sitting across from her surprised her. 

Perhaps she’d expected for this to take longer, to feel some kind of pull as she pulled herself away from this dance they’d done for so long.

“You’re not… angry?”

“No,” he said. “You’re allowed to want the life you want.”

She smiled at that, sad and with a twinge of almost gratitude. “You really are the kindest person I know.”

But she knew that wasn’t true – kindness would probably have begged her to stay.

Oscar just nodded. 

And when the check came, he paid for dinner anyway.

a/n: finally came back around to this series, decided to test out the waters a bit... what do we think?

[ominous-faechild]

⚜ INCORRECT QUOTES ⚜

Bringing back an old tag game!!!

Rule: use this generator to create “incorrect quotes” for your wip

(I feel legally obligated to post something actually about Faerie's Dawn today and I want to meme these idiots lmao)

Cloud: Tell me a little about yourself. Nova: I'd rather not, I really like this group.

Nova: I hate when people ask me, 'What did you do today?' Buddy, listen, I woke up at noon and then it was five pm, okay? I don't KNOW!

Nova: I will be using so much pink you’ll be seeing green by the end from sensory deprivation.

Sky: You're violent. Nova: Yeah but I'm also short and that's adorable.

Nova: Wanna get out of here and grab a bite to eat? Sky: I don’t usually eat with losers. Nova: Neither do I but I asked you, didn’t I?

Nova: Branch, you’re in charge! Sky: Branch, can we start a fire?

[while waiting outside the principal’s office] Nova: What are you in for? Cloud: Oh, they just want to know if it’s cool if I miss my classes tomorrow to run sound and lights for a presentation in the auditorium. What about you? Nova: I stabbed a kid with a screwdriver. Cloud: Cloud: Cloud: We live very different lives. Nova: Yes, we do.

Branch: Be careful about succumbing to these sorts of destructive... urges. Addiction can be a powerful thing. Nova: So am I. Bow down before your new supreme overlord, bitches.

Nova: When I get Doordash I order 20 Cheeseburgers at a time and heat them up throughout the week so that I don’t have to pay the delivery fee multiple times. Branch: I hope you understand how food poisoning works. Nova: I hope food poisoning understands how I work. I've never met a burger I couldn’t eat.

Nova: Branch's amazing at concentrating. Once he starts reading, the only way he’ll notice you is if you take his book away. Not even if you hit him or shake him! Sky: That was him ignoring you.

Sky, at Nova's funeral: I need a moment with them. Everyone else at the funeral: Of course. [leaves] Sky, leaning over Nova's coffin: Okay, listen here you little shit. I know you’re not dead. Nova, sitting up in the coffin: Yeah, no shit.

Sky: I hope you have an explanation for this. Cloud: We have three, actually! Nova: Pick your favorite.

Cloud: I bet you’re wondering why I gathered you here today. It’s because we need to have a discussion about how some people in this room aren’t getting along with other people in this room. Sky: Why did you say that so vaguely? Nova and I are literally the only people you called in here.

Sky: I love sarcasm! It’s like punching people in the face, but with words!

Sky: [trying to buy a Father's Day card at Hallmark] Sky: Excuse me, do you have any that just say "You are my dad?" Associate: Well, I- Sky: How about "You banged my mom?" Associate: No... Sky: You know what, I'll just get a blank one. Sky: [writes] You are a father. This is a day. Here is a card.

Cloud: You gave me up, you let me down, you turned around, and deserted me. Sky: But did I make you cry? Cloud: [cries on the spot] Sky: ... shit.

Sky: We wouldn’t last two minutes without Nova. Sky: Sky: Don’t tell them I said that.

Cloud: What language do they speak at the center of the earth? Cloud: Core-ean! Sky: The center of the earth is around 5430 degrees Celsius! Nobody is going to live there, so they don’t need a language! Cloud: Core-ean.

Cloud: You know, it’s fine to admit you were wrong. Sky: [sipping his drink after accidentally adding salt] I just like the way it tastes.

Branch: I never tell people off the bat that I'm gay. I wait. I wait until they say some homophobic shit and then I laugh and am like "you know I'm gay, right?" and watch the look of terror on their face. Sky: Sky: I like you.

Steely: Can you recommend a book that'll make me cry? Sky: General Mathematics 8th Grade Edition.

Steely: We have a problem. Branch: No, YOU have a problem. I have an idiot who keeps making them.

Steely: What the fuck. Steely: ESPN is showing 2003 national jump rope championship. Steely: Who the hell watches jump rope competiti- ooh bouncy!

Steely: A pessimist sees a dark tunnel. Cloud: An optimist sees light at the end of the tunnel! Branch: A realist sees a freight train. Sky: The train driver sees three idiots standing on the tracks.

Achilles: We’ll find another route, it’s not safe for amateur adventurers. Nova: That sounds like a challenge. Achilles: I have to stress, that is not a challenge. Nova: ... Is exactly what you say to dissuade the weak of heart from accepting the challenge. Well, challenge accepted! Achilles: There is no challenge!

Achilles: Okay, how do I look? Be honest. Cloud: There’s no critic more honest than Sky! Sky: Bad.

Achilles: We all have our demons. Achilles, grabbing Steely: This one’s mine.

Eve: Asa, don’t go picking a fight with Ailwyn. Don’t forget, they’re powerful, they could make life difficult for you. Asa: Wow, I wonder what it'd be like to have a difficult life.

Asa: Quitting! It's like trying, but easier!

Asa: If I fall down these stairs, I'm just going to lay down and accept my fate.

Asa: [walks into the kitchen, ignoring everyone] Eve: Hey, Asa, how was your day? Asa: [picks up an onion and bites into it, staring at Eve] Hell. Eve, watching this unfold: (whispers) Who hurt you?

Eve: What's worse than a heartbreak? Steely: Waking up in the morning and your phone wasn't charging. Branch: Waking up in the morning. Asa: Waking up.

Steely: Which one of you was going to tell me that tea tastes different if you put it in hot water?? Cloud: Y-you were putting it in cold water?? Sky: Steely. Answer the question, Steely. Steely: Yeah??? I thought people just put it in hot water to speed up the tea-ification process. didn't realize there was an actual reason. Steely: Plus you think I have the patience to boil water? Cloud: You don't have the patience to microwave water for 3 minutes?? Sky: Why are you putting it in the microwave to boil it? Cloud: Do you think I have the patience to boil water on the stove? Sky: It takes less than a minute. Cloud: Is your stovetop powered by the fucking sun??? Sky: How long does it take you to boil a cup of water on the stove? Cloud: Like seven minutes?? Nova: Just stick the mug on top of the stove on medium heat and it boils in like 2 minutes... less than that if you use a saucepan! Sky: Why are you putting the whole mug on the stove?? On medium heat?? Nova? Your stove is enchanted! Steely: Every single person here is a fucking lunatic. Branch: Do none of you own a fucking kettle?!

[during a group project] Branch: [does 99% of the work] Cloud: [has no idea what’s going on] Nova: [says they’re gonna help but does not] Sky: [disappears at the very beginning and doesn’t show up again until the very end]

Just a silly thing I felt like I had to make lol.

Ik you guys don't know half of these characters lol. But it's fun foreshadowing for later... and still funny 😉

(Idk should I @ the whole Faerie's Dawn list? I'mma just @ my "everything" taglist and anyone I know who's really into FD lol)

@honeybewrites @the-golden-comet @illarian-rambling @ashirisu @urnumber1star

@the-letterbox-archives @48lexr @aalinaaaaaa @thecomfywriter @an-indecisive-nerd

@seastarblue @rae-butter @teamarine777 @caffeinated-starsailor @oliolioxenfreewrites

@corinneglass

[f1crecs]

Fic Rec List - Lando/Oscar

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Only a few months ago, we featured a Lando/Oscar fic on our super rare pair list. Now, it's our most requested ship. Wow!

We hope you enjoy these ones! 🍊

nsfw: By a thread by @mctwinkdom | 5k | E

Oscar and Lando have a text conversation about thongs – things escalate from there. I loved the formatting of this fic, the texting really works well as a structure and the rest is filled up by the authors lovely characterization of both Lando and Oscar. I especially love Oscar being his normal aloof self, a little bit nervous about his new teammate (but so so in to it when the convo turns spicy) while Lando is just a strange little horny boy with a liking for ”thongs”.

Oscar raises an eyebrow. He thought his answer was pretty straightforward, didn’t think he’d have to spell it out for Lando. (me): I wasn’t talking about shoes in my tweet” Now that would teach him. Fucking British. Always thinking they have full powers over the English language. Okay, granted, maybe they invented it but still.

Sanctus by debrief | T | 5.5k

This is a renaissance au with lovers to enemies (and back), beginning with Oscar serving Lando's high-status family. What I like: This is some of the most incredible writing I've encountered. Not only is it a masterclass in non-linear narratives, but it's packed with striking imagery and fascinating power dynamics. There are phrases and sentences in this fic that I can quote off the top of my head. It's immersive and heart-wrenching and beautiful.

'Lando had been blithe, Oscar had been brave. They were seventeen and unforgivably naive. It was a time of spires, domes, cathedrals, rebirth celebrated at the heart of the greatest city-state this side of the world. A war of high art and marginalized decadence, long expanses of moon-kissed skin bathed in gratuitous bathos, love and lust flirting vows over gilt-framed canvases commissioned by wealthy nobles who have known neither.'

legerdemain by anonymous | Not Rated | 5.8k

Oscar gets roped into teaching Lando how to play chess, and quickly finds out that Lando's endgame is a lot more complicated than it seems. I loved this fic for a variety of reasons - firstly because of the way that the author's love for and understanding of chess shines through so clearly. And secondly, the characterisation of both Lando and Oscar is complex and witty and so fitting to who they both are. Lando is cheeky and a little weird and far sharper than he lets on, and Oscar is dry and matter-of-fact and unexpectedly into Lando. This is one of those fics that can get you sold on the Lando/Oscar pairing if you were initially uncertain about it - the slow build-up of tension and realisation is brilliantly captured, with chess and chess strategy being used to build UST between these two in a way that feels perfectly fitting to them.

'“Gotcha,” Lando says. “So like. D’you prefer blowjobs?” He moves the white rook to attack the hanging pawn and figures out the rest of the endgame puzzle pretty effortlessly.'

soft vanilla foreplay by anonymous | M | 7k

AU. Lando, a member of a Robin Hood style crime group, meets Oscar, who turns out to be a cat-hybrid vigilante superhero himself. Oscar joins Lando’s gang. Together they fight injustice (by doing crime). This fic is really well written and incredibly funny. It leans hard into the cat-Oscar joke - Oscar is very catlike in all the best ways and has some mannerisms that made me think the author definitely has one. Their meet-cute is hilarious and sets the tone for the entire fic.

' “No, I actually inherited the genes from my ancestors, who came from a planet of felids.” “Excuse me, did you mean a planet of furries?” “No, Jesus, Lando,” Oscar says emphatically, then he’s laughing, crinkling eyes and soft cheeks and bunny teeth. God, he’s so fucking cute. “No, I was found, um,” Oscar says, sobering from the laugh. He takes a deep breath. “In a handbag. Someone left me on the. Doorstep of a stranger’s house.” Lando looks up and gauges Oscar’s expression. He’s telling the truth. “I don’t know why I’m a cat,” Oscar says. Makes this shrugging expression without actually shrugging. “So…” Lando says. “How did you find out?” “Well. For one, I can speak to cats,” Oscar answers. Huh. This probably explains all the neighbourhood cats serenading Oscar from his balcony so much. “Okay,” Lando says, taking it all in stride. “And you fight crime by night?” “I work graveyard shifts at the supermarket,” Oscar says. “Yeah. Part-time. That’s three out of seven nights.” And Oscar is with Lando for two or three of the four remaining nights (they fuck every evening though) (and morning). Anyways, the maths doesn’t add up. Oscar sighs. “Well, I.” He pauses. “I climb up to fancy penthouses of people who run trust mills, and I take stuff. Then I redistribute.” Oh. Lando is mouthing the oh. “You’re a cat burglar,” Lando whispers it like it’s the funniest secret ever.'

nsfw: Needs Improvement by @strawberry-daiquiris | 7.1k | E

Zak tells Oscar his 'teammate communication' needs improvement. Mark sends him to a 'Psychic, Clairvoyant, Sorcerer' who ends up doing some voodoo that leads to Oscar and Lando being able to read each others' thoughts. Its got great characterisations and some humour mixed in with some angst and, of course, some smut. Plus one of the first Landoscar fics I read and it really drew me in.

'If he’s really that worried, Mark suggests, he could see a sports psychologist. Someone who can advise him how to work with Lando, really get to the core of what it means to be a good teammate. They could even do sessions together. “Like couples therapy.” Mark grins, clapping Oscar on the shoulder. “Only worse, because you won’t get any sex out of it.” The irony, really, is that Oscar and Lando don’t not get on. He’d actually thought they were doing pretty well. Lando laughs at his jokes, Oscar smiles through his stories. They don’t see eye to eye on music, or hobbies, or the taste of fish, but none of those things matter on track anyway. Even more ironic is that Oscar really wouldn’t mind having sex with Lando, if he’s honest.'

nsfw: Never have I ever by @mctwinkdom | E | 13k

Lando and Oscar play a game of Never Have I Ever, and it leads to some interesting revelations. Although its majority (very good) smut, this was a very heartwarming fic. The dialogue is fun and keeps you reading more. The characterisation of them feels realistic!

'But there was something between them, without shape or name, something that made them avert their gaze after staring at each other for one second too long, something that made them slightly jump if their hands were to brush. Something Lando had named in his mind: “I wanna fuck my teammate: the Remix”, in bold orange (papaya) letters with some glitter and fireworks.'

we are all in the butter but some of us are looking at the cars by xiaoluclair | T | 14.3k

Oscar's first season in F1 is about reaching the stars. It becomes about reaching Lando, too. The timing of this one feels very real to me, the way pieces slowly slot into place. The author places threads and waits until the end to pull on all of them, and it's lovely.

'Peer pressure, thinks Oscar, this is peer pressure. But Lando keeps it held out, eyes on Oscar and Oscar. Oscar takes the damn shoe. It’s probably one of the oddest experiences of his life. When he lowers it again, can feel the thin river of it cold on his chin, Lando’s still looking at him. Crows have walked in the skin beside his eyes.A minute later, Oscar watches him tip his head back, shoe against his mouth. Light shines through the gap and, just for a moment, it looks like he is swallowing the sun itself.'

nsfw: carried away by venerat | E | 22.1k

AU, non drivers. Lando impulsively asks Oscar to pretend to be his boyfriend to make an ex jealous. Oscar agrees, even though it's probably a bad idea when he likes Lando so much. Lando gradually comes to realise he is in love with Oscar. I am crazy for the fake dating trope. This has all the best parts of it - miscommunication, angst, gradual feelings realisation from the POV character and obvious pining from the other. Venerat is so good at this and the fic is a lovely journey. The characterisations are perfect, especially Oscar and his natural talent for understatement, which muddies the waters a bit.

'If there was anything Oscar would do, it was was focus very intently on the task assigned to him, until he got it exactly fucking right. That was what made him perfect for this particular task: the task of being Lando’s boyfriend. Fake boyfriend. “Okay,” Lando said, clearing his throat. “Stunning. Was thinking, maybe we could try it out at the cinema tomorrow.” He, Oscar, and the Lefrères were going to see the new Bond film. It was the perfect opportunity to be dickish and in love, as far as Lando was concerned. “Just didn’t want you to get all jumpy if I touched you,” he explained. “If that’s alright. Like. Yeah.” Oscar nodded. “Got it. Sounds good, mate. I’ll be, er, ready.” It was nice to be around such passion. Lando rolled his eyes. He was smiling inside, when he thought it. But Oscar did have some capacity to surprise him. Before Lando fucked off, Oscar stepped forward, closing the normal non-sexual gap between them, and wrapped Lando in a light hug. It was nothing—Oscar’s arms were barely even squeezing him—but Lando’s breath still caught in his chest like a stupid fucking idiot, freezing inside the hug. “Have a good one,” Oscar said when he drew back. He was pink, which made Lando feel better, given that his own ears were warming. Okay. They clearly needed practice. Desperately, in fact. “You too, babe,” Lando said, and winked. Then, before he could embarrass himself further, he spun on his heel and walked out.'

nsfw: climb up to your lips by @scenetocause | E | 28k (wip)

This fic is Lando/girl!Oscar (the always-a-different-sex trope). Lando has a massive crush on his teammate. He also has a submissive streak that starts to express itself around her. As their relationship develops, she picks up on this and starts finding ways to take care of him. They’re both a bit inexperienced at relationships and sex in general. I just love these two. They’re both slightly weird and awkward and don’t quite fit with anyone else but are turning out to be perfect for one another. It’s a learning curve for them both.

“Yeah, fuck.” Lando has to tilt his head back onto the sofa. He can feel it in his arse, where she touched him. He might feel it for the rest of his life. “Yeah, I. Fuck.” “Later.” she says, like a promise. It takes him a moment to work out she means them, later. Fucking. Which might be ambitious because he currently feels like he needs a refractory period of about a decade, after that one but he won’t spoil her dreams just yet. She's acidic, clever as ever in debrief and brutal in the way she deconstructs her own, botched Q3. Lando's probably staring at her a bit lovestruck but he's been doing that all season anyway so no one has to know it's over the phantom sensation of her inside him. Despite the lecture from Zak earlier Oscar tucks him under her arm on the drive from the hotel, playing with his hair. He's actually less worried about being killed by Andrea or whatever now but still doesn't get his phone out because he hasn't had time to clean up his insta follows and he doesn't want Oscar to think he's into anyone else. For someone who doesn't seem to think much of herself, she seems fairly assured he likes her. Which might, in retrospect, be something to do with the best part of a year he spent broadcasting that to her before he'd even realised it himself.'

already home by @nyoomfruits | T | 32.5k

Lando marries Oscar, his best friend and roommate, to keep his family from worrying about him so much. This is an absolute gem. It's sweet, funny, cozy, and the dynamic between the pairing and their friends is delightful.

“Yeah, well, you’re marrying me, so,” Lando says, sticking out his tongue, and Oscar laughs, that loud, bursting out of him laugh he does sometimes where he completely folds his body in half. Lando hides his self-satisfied smirk behind another bite of his pancake, and pretends like he isn’t committing the little laugh lines in the corner of Oscar’s eyes to his memory.'

thank you to @singsweetmelodies, @ocontraire, @maaxverstappen, @lydia-petze, @frickinsweet & @welightitup for compiling this list 🧡

[wuxiaphoenix]

On Writing: The Importance of Multiple Sources

One thing we sometimes forget is that historians are people with assumptions and axes to grind like anyone else. Maybe they don’t have all the information they need. Maybe they’re up against a deadline. (I think we all know that one.) But sometimes, maybe....

Over a couple of odd and possibly misspent decades looking into the history of Japan and wider East Asia, I have read and acquired a bunch of books on the Mongols. For those who may be less than familiar with the original Hordes, Genghis Khan and his descendants created and ran the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), among other Khanates. Their remnant state of Northern Yuan after the Ming Dynasty overthrew them was the example Nurhaci appealed to in unifying the Manchus, that then overthrew the Ming Dynasty and reigned as the Qing (about 1644-1912). He also had Mongols as a major part of his forces and later government. 

That’s a long stretch of history. It’s also a long stretch of.... Well. Let me give you a few examples. Note, none of these are direct quotes from the history books in question! Just my paraphrases of a few points.

Jack Weatherford, author of Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World and a bunch of others: The Mongol conquests brought freedom of religion, freedom of trade, equality under the law and a whole bunch of other things critical to how our modern world works. What a pity the West and Marco Polo didn’t learn from them.

Biographies of Marco Polo: After spending a few years as a “favorite person” of Kublai Khan, Marco Polo got a yearning to see Venice again and asked if he could go home. Kublai Khan threatened violence for the insult of being so ungracious as to want to leave. Our man Marco realized if he wanted to go home, he’d have to escape.

Stephen Turnbull’s books on Mongol Warriors: Here’s how they lived and made war in general. Blood brothership was supposed to be a sacred bond, but Genghis Khan being betrayed by his blood brother led to Genghis annihilating the man’s tribe and uniting the surviving Mongol tribes to conquer the world.

The Mongol Art of War: Great warriors, genius tactics. Results of those tactics? Let me tell you about the piles of human skulls at Nishapur....

Stephen Turnbull again, on the Mongol invasions of Japan: The invading ships came with human shields, captured prisoners whose hands were pierced with the ropes used to tie them about the hulls.

The Steppe and the Sea: Pearls in the Mongol Empire: The Mongols loved pearls, and used them for gifts and display. And if they suspected you had swallowed any to conceal them, they would cut you open to retrieve them. Also they kept raising taxes because accounting was for lesser races, not men of action like true Mongols, and about 80% of what they collected vanished through corruption and bribery. BTW one of those taxes that kept increasing was the yearly tribute of maidens, men, and artisans. Unless you were a really good artisan, in which case they’d just take you and maybe the rest of your family and move you across the Empire to where you didn’t speak the local language and could get no help to escape.

So. Yeah.

Jack Weatherford’s histories are very popular, and rightfully so. I just got his Emperor of the Seas because it’s likely to have info on Kublai Khan and ships I haven’t got in my other books. They’re well-researched, well-written, and all-around great reads. But they do... downplay some aspects of what actually happened.

So if you’re poking history for your story setting, try to poke a few different histories. It’ll make your world a more well-rounded place!

Edit note: Ah, found it; the bit on our guy Marco was from Marco Polo: The Journey that Changed the World by John Mann.

[mamirhodessxox]

On the pole

Cody Rhodes x Fem!wrestler

Desc: Before your match teamed with Cody against judgment day you get out an idea involving a stripper pole within the ring and decide to see where it goes.

Contents: Violence, Drinking, Foul language, Cody being dashing, Y/n serving cunt, Partying,

{~I'm very serious with you guys interacting with my writing!!!! it would make me so happy & excited, the more comments & reposts the more inspiration i have to write :) Votes and comments are strongly appreciated so please COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT COMMEENNTTT the more comments the more content <3!!!~}

It was Raw night in Vegas and you were more than excited to be teamed with your lover during a match with judgement day, it was hours before guests started coming in so you found some practice time to put a new idea to use with Rhea.

You were in the ring spinning around a pole and once rhea gets close enough you kicked her back in the chest and climbed your way onto ground and slip your ankle behind her legs to make her fall backwards, Cody soon walked in with a bottle of water, he climbed into the ring and leaned against the ropes and rhea & you prepared to fight, “Y/n sweetheart come drink some water before you overdo it.” You turn to look at him and smile walking over towards him and wrapped your arms around his shoulders kissing his cheek “thank you baby, how could I forget.” You hummed grabbing the water and taking a few sips while holding eye contact with him.

“How’s practice going for you ladies?” Rhea turned to her and shrugged with a smile “Y/N is natural at this, she kicks ass especially with this pole, Show ‘em your tricks.” You grin and set down your water and jump onto the pole spinning for a little bit and as rhea approaches you wrap your legs around the back of her neck and slam her into the ground before planting yourself on her back and tugging back her arm before looking at Cody grinning, he walked towards you and gave you a quick kiss “I have quite the fire crack huh?” You stand up and nod in response while Rhea stretches “She was made for the ring.”

Many hours later everyone had made their entrance but not you just yet, You watched through the TV Dom & rhea trying to talk but Cody’s fans wouldn’t necessarily let them but rhea kept going “Your little favorite Cody Rhodes is a WANNABE and a LOSER and that money in the bank? Domdoms gonna end i-“ before she could finish Cody made his entrance and stood in the ring but Dom scampered outside of the ropes while Rhea ranted about how Dom was dangerous. “Dom says that money in the bank..He’s gonna show you exactly how dangerous he is.”

Cody chuckled “Oh..Thank you for the education. Dom has proved a few cheap shots are rather dangerous, Dom your a smart guy i’m sure you heard this, go ahead be who you are say how you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” He grinned “do you know who said that? The cat in the hat a CHILDREN’S book is am quoting a children’s because that’s what you ARE, you are a scared little fucking boy Dom.” Rhea stood in-front of Cody trying to urge a fight out of him as a referee was setting up a random stripper pole in the middle of the ring,

Rhea huffed and puffed and tried urging Cody into fighting her but he grinned before speaking “Rhea you know I have no intention on fighting you, we know this, but I have a substitute that can do it for me and I think you might know her VERY fucking well!” She quirked up an eyebrow and turned to the entrance that you were already walking away from and making your merry way to the ring and climbing through the ropes “What the hell is this?” Rhea shouted as Cody grabbed Dom dragging him out of the ring with him while you got straight to the point & body slammed rhea into the ground and quickly climbed up the pole and just as Rhea made her way towards your direction you wrapped your legs around her and slammed her back onto the ground while you straddled her back and tugged on her arms while your other hand squished her face into the ground.

Cody cheered you on from the side and slammed his hands against the rings floor until Rhea turned you over and sat in between your legs but you acted fast and slammed your head against hers and pummeled her onto ground before standing up which made the referee confirm you won tonight’s match. Cody jumped in and wrapped you up in his arms before walking you backstage. He made sure you were washed up while Rhea poured champagne into wine glasses and handed you one as you entered the conference room “You did awesome out there Y/N” she smiled as you thanked her and made your way to Cody who smiled widely and kissed your cheek

“Babygirl you were outstanding in that ring.” He smiled once more while you shrugged “Learned the best from the best huh?” He chuckled and gave you a kiss “y’know I have a surprise for you when we get back to the hotel” you raised an eyebrow and kissed his neck “Yeah? What’s that?” He grinned messing with your hair “Can’t tell, you’ll just have to find out.”

xtripleiiix’s Masterlist

🏷️ list: @ginswife @coolpastelartshoe @greatkoalawizard @cokolin044 @kotoriarlert @alicerosejensen @bunnybot55 @agent-dessis-posts @adollonyourshelf @puppy-princ3ss @valkyrurr

[stripedstarsblueflags]

i feel so high school (au) pt 2. charlos

anyway here are some high school aus for my fav f1 rpf ships and an exploration of who knows how to ball, and who knows aristotle

(based on american high school setups cause of the song)

theatre kid!charles/stage crew!carlos: probably goes without saying but carlos knows how to ball, charles knows aristotle (though maybe not in the traditional sense). so here we’ll have carlos as the stereotypical jock, plays like four sports and is the team captain in all of them, lowkey giving frat boy energy and is honestly the only reason the school has won a game in the last four years. he’s probably known for being the only guy who’s both like a jacked up gym-is-life bro and also an utter gentleman, he’s always the one holding open doors and giving up his seat. and he’s usually pretty quiet/disengaged but if anyone disrespects a female teacher you know for a fact he’s death staring them into a puddle until it stops. the only fight he’s ever gotten into was with a guy who was harassing a girl at a dance and wouldn’t let her go when she tried to pull away.

charles is like the school heartbreaker, because he can never seem to make a relationship work no matter how many times he tries… and it seems like he’s a player and he’s got a different girl every week which isn’t entirely false but he also just doesn’t know how to say no to anyone which is the root of the problem. anyway so yeah i’m making charles a theatre kid, like one who can fit pretty much any role but he prefers the classics (he’s the kind of guy who knows a shakespeare quote for pretty much any situation). he usually gets cast as the love interest whether he wants the role or not but he does get a lot of stage time which he’s happy with. he’s way more comfortable on stage than when he’s actually with people, and his looks get him pretty far but in reality he’s just really awkward and kind of shy and gets flustered so easily.

carlos is on stage crew because he needed to fill the “arts/language” requirement to graduate and stage crew counted as performing arts even though it’s all behind the scenes. so he’s there almost every day, spending more and more time as the shows approach helping build sets and man the ropes and (insert lots of other cool and technical stage crew activities here). so even they know of each other this is the first time their paths really cross and they meet.

this is going to be the most cliche romance ever. charles having breathless pearl-clutching moments of gay panic when carlos gets paint all over his shirt and stops to take it off, or lifts giant sandbags or ladders or planks around like they don’t weigh anything. except ofc charles is way too shy to say anything or make any kind of initiative move so he just finds excuses to stay longer after rehearsals, maybe he starts helping paint the sets/designs cause he’s not bad at visual arts (emphasis on alternate in this alternative universe). bonus if he makes friends with one of the stage crew girls and all of the sudden he’s got a new handler (“look around twink! everything in this office is either dead or dying even the therapy dog killed itself”) who is constantly rolling her eyes at BOTH of their inability to take a hint

this would be the kind of hc that involves dressing rooms and unexpected moments behind curtains etc.

[lavender-at-heart]

Hihi! Could I request some headcannons of how Jedediah and Octavius would react to a new nightgaurd that is interested in both of them? Would they end up bickering even more or would they intentionally try and get along more? How open are they about their feelings towards the nightgaurd and how obvious to others is it how they feel? Do they have any special gestures they end up doing to try and show their personal affection? Things like that please :)👍❤️

Jᴇᴅ + Oᴄᴛᴏ ʜᴄ's

K first off I wanna say I'm so sorry for taking so long I have not checked my inbox in the longest time 🙏 hope it's not too late.

Warnings:

----------------------------------------------------

Being a night gaured in a magical museum is hard enough

Having two miniatures fight over you is ever harder

It starts off as a joke on your behalf

Jed and Octavious were some of the first friends you made at the museum, they offered to give you tours and introduce you to the other exhibits

Jed and Octo would be super shocked at the stark contrast between you and the previous gaurds

You were a lot younger, a lot prettier, a lot nicer, always making light jokes and suggestive comments

And that's where you went wrong (or right). Being from a modern generation its normal to make suggestive jokes and use crude language and humor.

Sometimes you'd make little comments like " Wow that hat makes you look so handsome Jed" or "my you really are a brave general Octavious"

And you think their not gonna become mega infatuated with you? Yeah right

Octavious immediately insists on being your personal gaurd when you make the rounds, sometimes siting on your shoulder, keeping watch, sometimes always a few feet ahead to spot any danger

He would swear oaths to protect you in Minervas name

He would quote Roman poetry and compare you to the sun and moon

Jedediah would give you miniature bouquets and collect other things for you. Oh Ahkmenrah isn't liking his ring anymore? Well it would look just great on your finger. He would offer to walk with you, keep you company.

He would sing you old country songs about true love and the good old days

Obviously the animosity between the two grows so much more becuase of you

Jed will tie Octavious up with rope so he can't go join you on your walk

Octavious will send his army to destroy the western exhibit

They'll fight all the time, trying to assassinate eachother becomes a nightly occurance

And obviously it makes you sad, the two people you get along with most end up hating eachother

They will desperately try and prove to you why the others better

"Jeez, I mean you don't want to be bothered by this dusty old schmuck." Jed is definitely more forward but has that southern charm yknow?

"I am appalled that you would even dare to befriend this ungrateful, insolent peasant. He speaks to you in such an inappropriate manner and does not give you the proper respect you deserve."

Eventually they bicker so so much that even Teddy has gotten annoyed by it, so you step in

You tell them that if they keep fighting you'll end up hating both of them and go find someone else to spend time with

So they reluctantly agree

They both patrol the halls with you

They both enjoy siting on your shoulders, mostly becuase then they can't see eachother

But to be honest forcing them to hang out with eachother makes them slowly build their own friendship

Like they might do a joint valentines day gift, you know, combine forces so you have a better experience. It's only to benefit you (totally not becoming friends)

You feel like you could tell them anything, and they would just sit there and listen. They find modern human life so so fascinating

And you ask them for stories too of course. You ask about cowboy life and the glory of Rome, you can tell they both (Octavious especially) love talking and telling stories about the glory days.

[ponds-of-ink]

MXES's eyes snapped open, and the hare, taking in his surroundings, found himself back to the place that he had left only a week ago.

There was a pain that he was met with--and as the seconds met with, it only seemed to be growing. It was all around him--feeling as if something was desperately clawing and tearing at the hare's very code...

And perhaps, that truly was the unfortunate truth of the situation. The coding...

MXES's eyes went wide as a pained groan splattered out. He tried to move forward, but it felt as if he were almost tied up by invisible, thick ropes.

A delighted chuckle alerted the hare of the fact that someone else was in the room. "You had gotten rather far back then, hadn't you? Hm..."

Glitchtrap stepped--or, really hopped--into the hare's view. His hands were clasped together, and his glowing pair of eyes were wide in what could have been excitement.

"You..." MXES slowly began, barely managing to shake his head around in a sluggish manner. "What... what do you think you are doing?"

Glitchtrap's ears twitched, catching a single hint of a distressed tone, and at first, his only response was a chuckle. It was followed by him snapping his fingers.

MXES grunted as he collapsed to the ground. He tried to move--he tried to get up--but the hare remained. Whatever was keeping MXES in place was still in place.

Glitchtrap turned to face the other way as MXES shuddered from the pain. His arms were folded. "Well, you did fail, I would have to say. It's certainly not something you would enjoy, my little poor soul..."

"But me?" Glitchtrap snorted, his grin growing. "I'm certainly going to enjoy having you by my side..."

MXES tried to speak, but only a pained cry escaped as his code continued to be ripped apart.

"Your very programming is being rewritten as we speak," Glitchtrap spun around, easily making his way over to MXES, and placing a hand underneath his chin. "It won't last too much longer..."

"With you by my side?" Little, brief giggles kept escaping from the rabbit. "I could do anything..."

Glitchtrap dropped his hand, stood back up, and began to walk away once more. "I would warn that it may hurt a 'little', but I believe you already-"

The door burst open, filling the both of them with surprise. Glitchtrap's head turned, and MXES's head remained staring on ahead.

"Why, this is certainly a shock..." Glitchtrap sarcastically hummed.

"Vanessa...?" The weakened hare murmured.

The woman was advancing quickly. In the moment, she ignored the familiar, digital rabbit--in favor of reaching the hare's side, and crouching down beside his weakened form.

"MXES..." He had never seen such a large frown on anyone before--and it only seemed to be growing. Slowly, one of her hands raised, being placed atop his head.

Then, Vanessa's head spun around, eyes meeting Glitchtrap's. "You can't do this!"

"Oh, I can't?" Glitchtrap tilted his head to the side. "Well, I believe I already am..."

Vanessa walked away from the hare, her eyes remaining on the smug rabbit. "Now. You need to stop this, now! I'll..."

"Do anything?" This time, Glitchtrap was the one to move closer, head tilting further. He chuckled.

The silence from Vanessa was enough.

"V-Vanessa-" MXES tried to start, panic quickly seeping through.

Glitchtrap's eyes darkened. "How about... one unfortunate soul for the other, Vanny?"

-

Kind of something that could technically lead into the reprise that you mentioned.

<Incorrect-FNaF-Quotes

I’m not normal about Glitchtrap’s body language lining up with how I first pictured him in the animatic. I don’t think I’m going to be normal about that detail. @incorrect-fnaf-quotes, I’m gonna need a minute to recover, then get back to rest of it—

[dragonmasterhiccup]

My question may be a bit ridiculous but I still want to ask based on your analysis,

In the HTTYD series, Hiccup was always called "Fishbone" because he was born prematurely, yes, he was like that in the first movie and he couldn't even lift a bucket of water, but in the next movies, the armor he wore was mostly made of iron pieces. In order to prevent hard falls and to soften the blows, the thickness of the iron should be thicker than normal, right? Technically, it would probably be like that. Okay, back to the question, damn.. I forgot the question I was going to ask. Okay wait, it takes physical effort to lift that much weight, but when we examined his costume, and even in the first scene of the movie, during the secret attack, we saw a soldier say to Hiccup "People don't have such fishbone legs!" (That's how it was in my language, I can't remember the English version, excuse me.) So.. is this physically possible???

To be honest, it's a question that has been on my mind for days before going to bed and has been keeping me awake for ridiculous reasons..

Not ridiculous at all! It's a great question!

I did a little research just to be sure, but it is entirely possible to be lean and strong, it does have to do with how you exercise though. It's like with gymnasts, they are incredibly strong, but also can be on the leaner side.

I also had to scroll back a bit on my blog to reference this post that also talks about Hiccup's strength.

I don't think it's ever explicitly stated when he started working in the forge with Gobber, but smithing does take a considerable amount of muscle, not to mention just holding on to Toothless while he flies. Using his flight suit as well must use a good amount of strength. Now, based on how quickly he made Toothless' tail, I'm guessing he had been in the forge a couple years at least. There are headcanons that he was sick a lot growing up, and that could also explain why he's so small for his age and not as strong in the first movie as he is a few years later in Race to the Edge and the other two films.

I like the fishbone callback! In English, I believe the line was "No human has legs that skinny!"

Do animated films play a little with the laws of physics? Definitely!

But, we do see many instances proving that Hiccup is stronger than he looks. I'll just name a few off the top of my head:

• Knocking Dagur off a cliff

• Knocking Toothless off a cliff

• Stopping a man twice his size wielding an axe with rope that Hiccup is holding taught (I literally had to rewind and make sure I had seen that right, but it's true! He does)

• Catching and carrying Astrid when she was dead weight easily

These examples are all from Race to the Edge, I'm sure there are some from the movies, but those are just what came to mind first.

And you're right, his armor definitely isn't light. Based on the color, it's probably not Gronckle iron since it has a specific coloring and a distinct pattern (though that would make more sense for his armor, as it's known to be lightweight and incredibly strong). The pieces do look thick, at least a 1/4-1/2 inch maybe (at least the shoulder pieces, but don't quote me on that), and wearing it as much as he does is bound to build up muscle.

It does appear that Hiccup takes more after Valka physically, and she is lean and definitely muscular as well. I'm no expert, but the fluidity in which she moves using her staff and while standing on Cloudjumper proves that she's strong while staying on the thinner side.

Since Hiccup is often underestimated due to his size and age, I like that this is another area where he takes people by surprise.

[skepsiss]

It's Snowing in Hawkins; Winter Exchange - Batboys

Here is my fic for the BatBoys Winter Exchange! @batboysxprompts I hope whoever submitted this request is pleased with what I wrote. I was a little liberal with the suggestion, but I think I followed along with Eddie's competitive streak like they wanted. I hope you enjoy!

Synopsis: This is all fluff. Steve goes over to visit Eddie during a heavy snow in Hawkins and gets roped into helping him build a snow fort. Both of them have been inching toward a romance for months now, and Steve adores how innocent and young their relationship feels. It’s the start of something real tonight, and it makes Steve feel brilliantly happy. 

Season: Winter

Quote: The kids at the trailer park are having a snowman competition. Eddie joins in to one up them

Song: My Chemical Romance - "Every Snowflake is Different (just like you)"

AU/Place: Trailer park

Rating: T Words: 3,609 CW: Aggressive/degrading language toward the poor, slightly mature language/themes, mention of skin grafts/scaring, mention of mobility challenges from injuries

It’s snowing in Hawkins, and the fat, fluffy flakes caught on the windowpanes and the aspens of Mirkwood. Four children roam the deep fields of Forest Hills Trailer Park, gathering snow and shrieking their laughter skyward. The end of winter break is but a week away and time must be utilized well or be lost. A fifth joins them and the festivities begin. 

–

It’s late afternoon and the sun is already starting its slow descent over the little town of Hawkins. It gets dark, fast, in the wintertime in Indiana, and the chill becomes biting as the wind rolls off the Appalachian mountains. 

Steve had gotten used to this kind of cold; he had grown up in it after all, and despite the foot of snow he had still decided to trudge his way toward the trailer park. It wasn’t smart to drive in this kind of weather, and really, Steve lived fairly close to the park if he wasn’t being lazy. His proximity to ‘Mirkwood’ had been a black stain on his mind ever since Barb’s death–before that as well. His father had always hated the fact that their property backed up onto public land and just anyone could walk into their yard. That had been a point of contention in the Harrington household, even though Steve quietly noted that his father never went ahead and put up a fence. Likely, it had just been something for his father to complain about, and his intentions to erect a barrier between himself and ‘those varmints in their mobile homes’ had been all for show in the end.  

It was convenient for Steve now, though, since he could walk out his back door and to Eddie’s house in ten minutes flat—a bit more with all this snow.

Steve had never lived this close to a friend before, and it made impromptu visits that much easier. It also spoke to what lengths Steve was willing to go despite only being ‘friends’ with Eddie. 

They had started hanging out nearly a year ago now—just three more months, and it would be spring break again, even if Steve quietly dreaded the second coming of the holiday. Nothing had happened since March of ‘86 though, and Steve was finally starting to believe that the ‘other shoe’ wasn’t going to drop after all. He had been proven wrong before, though, if Halloween of ‘84 said anything about the pattern of these supernatural pains in the neck. 

He was optimistic though… if only because he was willing it.

After the trauma of spring break, it had been difficult (like it always was) to fall back into routines. He had watched Eddie struggle the most with that and while his injuries had been nothing to sniff at, once he was stitched up and given some blood so he wasn’t going to die from blood loss he was… fine. The wounds had scarred, of course, and Eddie had more scars than wounds because they had needed a skin graft for the larger bites. It was sort of difficult to stitch someone back together when their skin was minced like that—or at least that was what Dustin had crudely explained. 

Robin had asked him last week when he was going to stop flirting and actually do something about it. 

Eddie had struggled, and Steve had found it was easier to talk to Eddie than it had been to speak to most of the others, with all this Upside Down crap.

Robin was fantastic—he adored Robin, and he talked to her more than anyone, but he never felt like he was quite on her level when it came to compartmentalizing all the trauma. The kids were the same way; they were all so smart, and they could puzzle away or focus on their nerd hobbies to distract themselves from the abuse. Steve on the other hand… Steve’s hobbies allowed for far too much space to think, so it was hard to escape the memories.

Eddie, similarly, seemed unable to just quietly shut up and focus on something. It came at him like waves, and Steve had noticed that he had been distracting himself almost as much as Steve needed. Maybe he was lying to himself about that, though. Maybe he was just making up excuses to be around Eddie because he had found—after everything was said and done—that he really enjoyed spending time with the Freak. 

Steve hadn’t been such a dunce not to realize that he had feelings for Eddie, but his feelings felt so juvenile compared to how he usually reacted around women. It felt innocent and ephemeral in a way that reminded him of being thirteen. It was all small touches and little smiles, and Eddie seemed to fall into step with that behaviour easily. Eddie was older than him… but in a lot of ways he seemed less mature. That, in turn, made Steve want to slow everything down, too. 

He’d bob and Eddie would weave, and they’d sit and watch movies together without saying a word about the fact that Eddie’s feet were propped in Steve’s lap. Or they’d go for a swim and all they would do was smile when they touched hands on the pool edge.

It was just so goddamn innocent… and Steve found himself liking the slow roll of whatever this was. He wasn’t exactly convinced that Eddie liked him back that way—Eddie was a physical guy with everyone, but he didn’t seem to pause and consider his contact with everyone like he did with Steve.

Or so Steve liked to think.

Steve rounded on the trailer park and shivered slightly as he brought his shoulders up to his ears. The forest was less densely packed with snow than the open field of the trailer park, and he struggled a bit until he made it to a worn footpath through the snow. He started getting a view of the open expanse beyond the mobile homes, and he stuffed his hands into his pockets as he walked.

Steve heard the laughter before he saw them, but as he made his way toward Eddie’s trailer, he could see some of the kids traipsing through the snow and rolling snowballs. He paused and watched them—Max, Lucas, Mike, and Eleven—and smiled a bit at how carefree they looked.

Max of course was struggling to move through the snow, but she was making the best of it and was commanding Lucas to do the heavy lifting while she took frequent breaks. Comparatively, Mike was taking it slow and stopping to explain exactly how to pack and roll the snow properly to Eleven, instructing her on snowman building.

“You’re doing it all wrong, Wheeler!”

Steve paused as he walked up the first step of the Munson’s trailer, and then hesitated as he caught snippets of conversation.

“It’s not dry enough snow for that, you’ve got to squeeze with the body!”

Steve could recognize that diction anywhere, and he stepped to the side of the trailer to see Eddie pointing at Mike and Lucas. They all seemed to be having fun, but there was definitely an air of combativeness to the scene.

“What’re you guys up to?” Steve asked, feeling like a dad talking like that to all of them.

They all turned, and Steve couldn’t help but smile at the way Eddie beamed at him. 

“Good, good,” Eddie was saying before he said hello as he walked over to Steve.

Steve half waved as Lucas raised a hand to him, only for Max to scold him for losing momentum and letting the snowball he was rolling crack.

“You can help me out,” Eddie declared as he grabbed Steve by his forearm and started pulling him into the field.

“We’re building snowmen,” Eleven said happily, smiling at Steve as she helped Mike lift one of the large balls to place on top of another.

“Or at least we are,” Mike added as he looked toward the pile that Steve was currently being pulled toward.

“Shut your pie-hole, Wheeler. This’ll be a feat of engineering,” Eddie hissed, letting go of Steve and then handing him an empty bucket.

“Yeah, sure,” Max condescended, turning to focus on her own snowman.

Steve stood there a bit dumbfounded as Eddie picked up a small trowel and handed that over as well.

Eddie was doing that thing where he was so focused he forgot that not everyone thought the same way as him. Usually, Steve found it endearing—and he did right now as well—but he was equally confused and Eddie seemed to want him to be doing something.

“Uh…” Steve said quietly, looking at the bucket and the shovel he was now holding. “What am I doing with these?”

Eddie only took a moment to pause and look at him before continuing his work.

“I’m making a snow-dome, Steve,” Eddie said distractedly, “I need snow.”

“Igloo,” Lucas corrected as he rolled a large snowball past them.

“It’s not an igloo!” Eddie declared. “First of all, it’s not ice, and second of all, it isn’t fucking square-ass blocks. Snow-dome, you twat. Steve! I need snow.”

Steve flinched slightly, not really expecting to be put to work so quickly upon arrival. He moved, though, choosing a relatively large patch of snow to start digging.

“No—” Eddie chastised, trudging over to him and pointing farther west. “Grab the snow from out there. And I need you to pack it in, man. Like, really pack it. I’ll assemble, you can… dig or whatever.”

Steve sighed but did as he was told, he walked farther into the field and started to scoop and shovel the snow into the bucket before bringing it back over to Eddie.

“So… why are we doing this?” Steve asked as he was handed an empty bucket and shooed away.

“Said I couldn’t…” Eddie muttered, concentrating again as he plunked down the full bucket of snow and began making the base of his ‘snow-dome.’

“Before…” Eddie muttered, focusing. “It’s a contest, man.”

He wasn’t explaining much, and Steve didn’t press the subject as he diligently scooped up snow and brought it back to Eddie until he was sweating from the effort. Eventually, he was told to stop and was sent toward the woods to gather ‘tinder’ for Eddie’s elaborate plan to thatch his snow-dome so it was more structurally sound. 

Really, Steve didn’t get it or understand Eddie’s vision, but he didn’t protest. It was a touch annoying to be trudging around in the snow though when he had expected to walk over here and share cocoa and maybe curl up on the couch with Eddie. He had been much more snugly with the cold weather and had started commenting freely on how warm Steve was. It was true, but it also felt like an excuse so they could press up against each other ‘innocently.’

“You’re not even close to being done,” Max said as she pressed two rocks into the head of her snowman.

Max and Lucas plodded inside, and Steve watched as the trailer lights came on. 

Mike and Eleven were almost finished with their snowman as well, but Eleven seemed to be struggling with what she wanted to do with the face.

“You can’t rush perfection!” Eddie hollered as he began to leisurely weave the sticks Steve brought back into the ‘wall’ of his snow-dome.

“Perfection, sure,” Max said with a roll of her eyes. “Well, I’m freezing my ass off, so I’m going in. Come on, Lucas. We can judge the snowmen and the ‘snow-dome’ from the window.” 

Max’s mom must be working late again and though she would never complain, Steve knew that Max still struggled to do basic tasks around the house like prepping meals and cleaning. He could see Lucas readily putting a pot of water on the boil though and seeing to her needs. 

“So, what kind of contest is this?” Steve asked as he knelt in the snow with Eddie and began handing him sticks as he wove.

“Snowmen building,” Eddie answered simply, obviously concentrating.

“Well, this is the weirdest snowman I’ve ever seen,” Steve commented, looking up at the walls of Eddie’s snow-dome and wondering just how high he was planning to make it.

“No, well, obviously it’s not,” Eddie corrected, sounding annoyed that Steve didn’t understand. “The kids were building snowmen, and making a kind of contest about it, and I was going to show them up on that too, but… I don’t really remember how we got onto the topic, but one of those twerps said something about building a fort out of snow would be impossible, so it was like challenge accepted and boom, snow-dome.”

Steve listened quietly as he lazily handed over sticks to Eddie; well, at least he seemed energized by it and Steve didn’t really mind helping out, but it was starting to get dark already. How long were they going to be at this?

“We’re going in, Eddie,” Mike declared as he held Eleven’s hand and led her toward Max’s trailer. “You’re welcome to join when you finish.”

Mike seemed a bit awkward as he hovered, obviously not wanting to leave Eddie out here and wanting his attention. Eddie wasn’t even looking at him though and waved Mike off without a second thought.

“Yeah, later, Wheeler,” Eddie replied, waving over his shoulder at the teen.

“Bye, Steve,” Eleven said, waving at him. “I’m sure you can join too.”

Steve waved back lightly, smiling a bit forcefully at the teens. He appreciated the invite, but it felt a bit awkward to accept, plus, he had come over to spend time with Eddie.

“I need more snow,” Eddie declared, standing up as he started to pack the snow around the stick frame he had built. “We’re like… thatching this bitch. If we get it about—so—high, then we can start curving it inward to create the dome part. It’ll be more like a tapered cylinder, like a watch tower, but it’ll work.”

“Right,” Steve grunted as he stood up, grabbed the bucket again, and walked out into the snowy field. “I’ll be back then, Mr. Architect.”

Steve assisted diligently and didn’t complain as he brought back bucket after bucket full of snow and then stopped to help Eddie pack it all together. Eventually, Eddie was kneeling inside the dome and Steve was on the outside so they could sandwich the snow together and make it stick better.

It was nearly pitch black by the time they finished; it had stopped snowing a while ago, and the sky was clear enough to show the stars and the moon above. Their work was only being illuminated by the moon and the dim light coming from people’s trailers, but it left everything feeling rather private, and nostalgic.

“We gotta leave a hole at the top to let the air out,” Eddie declared, carefully packing the snow into place. Honestly, it looked like it was working and while Steve couldn’t say how long the walls would stay up, Eddie had succeeded in making a snow-dome. 

“Wanna check it out?” Eddie asked as he ducked down and looked at Steve through the small opening in the side of his dome.

“Uhh… sure,” Steve said, before crawling through the entrance. “Make room, wide-load.”

He was teasing of course because Eddie was ridiculously thin and all he really had to do was move over to the side to let Steve in.

“See?” Eddie indicated, gesturing around the dome, before laying on his back.

Steve mirrored Eddie’s position and lay beside him as he stared up at the ceiling of the dome.

“This better not fall on me,” Steve said lightly, having to adjust awkwardly and stick his feet out of the entrance in order to fit.

“Enjoy yourself for once, Harrington,” Eddie teased, before sighing and looking up through the hole in the roof.

It was pretty to look at, even if they only had a small window. You could make out the blackness of the sky and the little pinpricks of light dotting across the expanse, creating a sort of telescope effect.

Really, the only thing Steve could properly appreciate at the moment was being able to rest for the first time since he got here.

He glanced at Eddie, though, who was staring at the sky and breathing calmly—the little puffs of vapour floating away from his lips—a slight smile on his face. He looked peaceful—happy, too. Steve didn’t get to see Eddie pause all that often, and it was nice to see him enjoying the fruits of his labour.

“Thanks for helping out,” Eddie said idly, not looking away from the sky. He dropped his hand slowly and nudged up against the back of Steve’s hand.

“Yeah… of course,” Steve replied, finishing the motion and taking Eddie’s hand to hold. He returned his gaze to the roof, looking at the darkness and the moon that was slowly inching into view.

The two of them grew quietly again, and Steve could feel his sweat slowly starting to chill his body. They should head in soon, but it felt terribly romantic to be out here together now that they had finished Eddie’s snow-dome.

“Steve?” Eddie said suddenly, his voice quiet and distant sounding.

“Yeah, Eddie?” Steve asked, rolling his head to look at Eddie again. He was still staring up through the ceiling, but his smile had faded, and instead, he looked thoughtful as he breathed slowly. Even in the dull light, Steve could tell that his nose was red from the chill and snow had clumped in parts of his hair. He looked young… and there was a wanderlust to him that Steve envied. He liked looking at Eddie when he wasn’t moving around so frantically—the pause always made him look like an artist, and Steve found himself drawn to that. This contemplation that Steve didn’t think he had ever experienced for himself, but that he valued more than anything in others. 

“Do you like me?” Eddie asked, his tone quiet but lacking fear. They were still holding hands and Steve didn’t feel intimidated at all by answering him; they’d been inching toward this anyway, they just hadn’t said it out loud yet.

“… yeah,” Steve answered back, watching as Eddie slowly rolled his head so they were looking at one another.

Steve squeezed his hand and Eddie smiled, looking positively brilliant as he lay there.

“Me too,” Eddie sighed, which made Steve’s breath hitch slightly. It wasn’t always that Eddie looked so happy, and Steve felt softhearted being in the presence of Eddie’s bliss like this. 

Steve reached over slowly with his free hand and touched Eddie’s cheek, stroking along his jaw. It felt right to do this now, and Eddie seemed to have much the same idea as he rolled onto his side and let Steve guide him.

They both scanned each other’s expressions as Steve drew Eddie in closer, their noses brushing together first as Steve felt the sting of cold against his skin. Eddie seemed to be transfixed by him, and Steve could feel the world stopping around them as he sunk into the moment. It felt innocent and romantic, and Eddie seemed to hesitate not out of denial, but out of uncertainty. As if he wasn’t sure what to do at this point now that they were here.

Steve smiled lightly at that and closed the distance between them, kissing Eddie softly as he felt the other man draw in a breath. It was still cold out, but Steve felt a bloom of heat against his skin as their lips met and Steve guided them into a slow roll of their tongues.

At every junction, Eddie seemed to hesitate and then follow suit, marking his actions as inexperienced and timid. That felt like a paradox for Eddie, but Steve didn’t mind as he smiled into the contact and squeezed Eddie’s other hand with his.

They parted eventually, despite Steve staying tucked in close. He could hear Eddie breathing a bit hard as they continued to watch one another quietly.

“Was that…” Steve asked, swiping Eddie’s bangs out of his face. “Your first kiss?”

As if to answer him, Steve saw Eddie’s face turn beet red as he ducked down and away from Steve. He was hiding, and Steve felt his chest explode with adoration at the action.

“Shut up,” Eddie mumbled, hiding as he pressed his forehead against Steve’s chin.

Steve had to close his eyes from how adorable it was. How Eddie had rendered him positively smitten and made Steve’s whole body light up like a Christmas tree.

“Was it bad?” Eddie asked, sounding incredibly small as he continued to hide.

“No,” Steve sighed, sounding almost dreamy as he slid his hand to Eddie’s back and soothed him slightly. “No… just… gentle.”

Steve wasn’t sure how else to describe the contact, and he wouldn’t press Eddie on it any further, but judging from this very likely being Eddie’s first kiss… that probably also meant he was a virgin. A twenty-year-old metal head that was supposed to be the scourge of the devil himself… and Eddie had never so much as kissed someone before.

Steve pulled in a breath to steady himself, his entire body tingling with affection as he held Eddie and just let them lay there in the snow.

“Can we go in?” Eddie asked, still sounding shy. “I’m freezing my ass off out here.”

Steve chuckled and let go of Eddie, rolling onto his back again.

“Yeah, course,” he offered, sighing happily and stealing one last look at the moon before shifting onto his knees and crawling out of the snow fort. 

[olympeline]

Most of my FrUK headcanons are fluffy and sweet but you could get some really good drama out of the Norman invasion of England. Make it nice and angsty if we go with the - ahem - “conquering of the vital regions” headcanon for when a nation-person is subjugated by another. What they do to seal the deal. You know what I mean 👉👌

So it’s the end of the Harrowing of the North and you have a beaten down England on the ropes. Meaning by extension Arthur is too. Weak, starving, wounded, and unable to defend himself against Francis. Who’s there to claim what’s his by the law of their kind once England’s last holdout rebels surrender. I imagine nation-people would have different standards towards the act than normal humans, even without the timeline being nearly a millennium ago. Since it’s something that has to happen. Still a terrifying and traumatic experience but the perpetrator wouldn’t be considered a monster for doing it. More akin to a soldier killing an enemy combatant vs. a civilian murder case: still bad but one is way worse

Anyway, Francis corners him and Arthur tries to act brave. Still a young nation (only recently matured into his adult body) this has never happened to him before. He’s only heard stories, horror stories, from nations who came before. Francis is older, stronger, growing in power faster than Arthur himself. Francis’s conquerer killed Arthur’s king and ravaged his lands. Arthur expects the personification of France to be just as cruel and, underneath his brave face, he’s terrified.

But this is where Francis surprises him. If you’ve seen Game of Thrones think of Daenerys’s wedding night with Khal Drogo. Honestly this is where the whole idea for this headcanon came from. Arthur and Francis might even have had the same language barrier. Warrior Francis only a little less terrifying than Drogo - Arthur is still green after all - and showing a side just as restrained and gentle. Because Francis is a character who always struck me as capable of great kindness when needed. Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t make him weak or a pushover or incapable of great cruelty too. Just that he has a big heart as part of his complexity. He saw his younger neighbour’s terror and it moved him. Made him want to show Arthur the small mercy he was able.

“No?” Francis would ask - or maybe “Non?” - once, twice, three times. As many times as needed until Arthur was ready and replied with a “Yes.” They both know it’s meaningless consent. France is the victor and will have England now no matter what. But Francis’s kindness and respect in creating the illusion for Arthur to cling on to at the worst moment meant a hell of a lot. Letting him keep his dignity, his pride, even lying blood splattered in the dirt with his conquerer sinking down on top of him.

Years later, after England gained its freedom, Arthur would return the favour during the Hundred Years War. Francis is just as grateful for the mercy. They’re still rivals and enemies but these acts plant a seed which would eventually blossom into a real relationship.

“Fair flowers can grow from bitter earth.” I can’t remember where that quote comes from but it sums all this up pretty well

[crplpunkklavier]

got messaged by a cis guy on a kink app couple months ago, dude was straight-ish but in the process of rethinking the label bc he'd just figured out that he's really into trans bodies. specifically if they're hairy. so needless to say he's crazy desperate to fuck me. and it's cool, he's good about it, u know, he's clearly done his own research and doesn't ask me anything invasive, he's respectful he watches his language he lets me speak. i go out of my way to make clear that the reason im on the kink app is that i like bdsm. he's like yeah yeah yeah that's so hot. says he's been wanting to try bottoming. i let the non sequitur slide. he's a newbie. sure ill top him. he buys me coffee. he tries to bone down after that first meeting. i ask him for an assessment of what all he wants to try for our first time. he gets all quiet. texts a day later to say that maybe he'd prefer to start with vanilla because, translated quote, "maybe i am shy." i get it. dude i do. but i gotta look out for myself too and im not gonna be having sex i don't enjoy just to be nice to a random guy. so i text back that thats understandable but that he also has to understand that im gonna be bored and i don't wanna be bored. how about basic impact or bondage. nothing high maintenance. i can bring the material i can take charge ive been missing domming anyway. he goes no no no ill do it ill tie you up. i tell him alright ill bring you a selection of ropes, you can do simple knots, i have scissors, and if you have any questions please reach out.

never heard from him again.

men are fighting the saddest battles out there. send post.

[heavensbeehall]

"Catching Fire", Chapter 16

Part 2: The Quell

Chapter 16: Katniss is distraught about Darius. At dinner, she spills a dish so she can hold his hand for a moment. She doesn't let Peeta comfort her because Darius reminds her of Gale and spends the night having vivid nightmares. They go to training. Katniss meets Beetee and Wiress and learns about force fields. Everyone trains. Katniss ends up liking most of the victors. For her closed session with the Gamemakers, she hangs Seneca Crane (with Finnick's knot).

Thoughts

-- I love the other victors too much and have too much to say so I'm going to have to cut this into multiple parts.

-- Katniss thinks "If I had been there to stop Thread, he wouldn't have stepped forward to save Gale. Wouldn't be an Avox." While I think it is awful, I don't think Darius himself would blame Katniss for his predicament. He made the decision to grab the whip from Thread. I wish he got the opportunity to escape, learn sign language and say he wasn't sorry for what he did. (He won't. Spoilers?) He thought he was saving Gale's life. And I hope he's at least proud he didn't stand by.

Quotes;

On his wrist he wears a solid-gold bangle with a pattern of flames--this must be his concession to Effie's matching-token plan--that he twists unhappily. It's a very handsome bangle, really, but the movement makes it seem like something confining, a shackle, rather than a piece of jewelery.

So Haymitch is not a bracelet guy. But the reader must note that he has agreed to Effie's plan for later.

"I'd suggest Chaff and Seeder. Although Finnick's not to be ignored," says Haymitch.

Can't help but notice everyone Haymitch suggests is part of the plan. I don't know if he knows yet but I think these three people are ones he would consider.

Enobaria looks to be about thirty and all I can remember about her is that, in hand-to-hand combat, she killed one tribute by ripping open his throat with her teeth. She became so famous for this act that, after she was a victor, she had her teeth cosmetically altered so each one ends in a sharp point like a fang and is inlaid with gold. She has no shortage of admirers in the Capitol.

Considering what we learn about "admirers in the Capitol" from Finnick later, I have sometimes wondered if Enobaria's teeth are a way to make herself less sexually desirable, or possibly to always have a weapon on her person. But I don't know if fangs are considered attractive in the Capitol. Katniss never mentions anyone else having them, unlike cat whiskers.

... someone puts his arms around me from behind, his fingers easily finishing the complicated knot I've been sweating over. Of course it's Finnick, who seems to have spent his childhood doing nothing but wielding tridents and manipulating ropes into fancy knots for nets, I guess. I watch for a minute while he picks up a length of rope, makes a noose, and then pretends to hang himself for my amusement.

Still not sure if Haymitch knows about Plutarch's plan yet but I think Finnick clearly does. She's trying too hard to become Katniss' friend. But maybe he doesn't do a convincing "friend" since people in the Capitol don't want that from him. The way District 4 finally DOES get in with the Mockingjay crew is simply by introducing Katniss to Mags.

But I think it's worth noting that the two people we KNOW Plutarch has told about the plan are Beetee (who must have discussed the logistics of the force field with him), possibly Wiress as well, and Finnick. We know Finnick has been gathering secrets, probably for Plutarch, for years. And then we learn this:

They seem friendly enough but don't pry. We talk about our talents; they tell me they both invent things [...] his recent success creating a musical chip that's tiny enough to be concealed in a flake of glitter but can hold hours of songs.

One of the things about war is that it brings about technological improvement and for a long time the Capitol had all the technology. Not just nuclear weapons but the mutts as well. (I think this is probably why Gaul wants a forever war, either just so she can keep being funded for her crazy experiments under the guise of it being for the Hunger Games or because she knows all of this). Beetee's invention sounds inocuous but it's been pointed out that is a smart way to smuggle a TON of information in an almost-indetectible size. (Particularly useful if you consider that we think the stylists are operatives of the Rebellion and no one would question why they have glitter.) This chip might be more useful than a jabberjay, for example.

It's also been pointed out that Wiress' device that senses density of fabric for stitching is probably to aid District 8, possibly so rebel leaders there will be able to meet work quotas without actually being present at work.

There's a lot of work that went into this rebellion without Katniss knowing about it, and it's sad to me that most of these heroes will go unsung.