#v: main. / into the express.

[trlblzd]

@ruaimei sent : ' please, lie down and relax . ' ruan mei motions to the examination table she had prepared, granting stelle the space necessary to get comfortable. ' you'll only feel a prick. '

THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS THAT OF AN ODD KIND. truth to be told, it is something that they do not think they should properly disclose to any close companions unless they want experience deep concern. it is not like they have no say in the situation anyway; they possess full AUTONOMY of themselves & have chosen to continue being intertwined with her like this. in the far corners of their mind, they recognize that a part of ruan mei's self likely considers them as a mere lab rat at times. a kind of guinea pig that is made to test her experimentations and discoveries on but in some shrewd, demented way --- they LONG to be a subject of her interest forever. even if they were to be dissected from their skin to their very core, they want to be the very object that intrigues her to no end.

maybe they are insane for thinking that way. maybe they are even more DERANGED to follow suit with what she asks. the coolness of the examination table is felt along their skin --- the faint light reminding them of how transactional this interaction may become but if it means they can stay by her side, they will continue to be her mutt. those thoughts are unbecoming of them. stelle is grateful that she does not possess the ability to read minds as their back lays flat on the table. grey tendrils rest upon the surface of where they are. the nervousness that they SHOULD be feeling is nowhere in sight as all they experience is ease. maybe it will hurt for a bit but they trust that she will not do anything that will displease them or anyone aboard the express. after all, it is not their time yet to give their body up to her.

the faint ticking of the clock reminds them of the PASSING time. the people back at the train must be thinking that they are biding their time sweetly and in a way, despite the sheer MADNESS of everything, they are. they would not have this any other way. maybe they should apologize to herta for always being so reluctant to do what she asks considering that this is far more ... insane. maybe they should STOP thinking of others knowing that she is here. " is there anything that you have been finding strange about my body ? or is this simply maintenance to check if something is off ? "

[cursezoroark]

afterthoughts

[edwardwonghaupepelutivrusky4th]

technically if it's not simmered in the champagne region of france it's a sparkling best boy friend

[oh2e]

We were discussing our favourite Christmas films at work but the only one I’d seen was the Muppet Christmas Carol. However, who needs Christmas films when you’ve got the Thanktival special on DVD?

[daybreakrising]

@avaere: " just a moment , if i may — " kaveh to wriothesley ! ( i'm coming for an array of muses now lauri , but don't even fret about answering 2% of them )

Too long spent away from the Fortress leaves something of a bad taste in the Duke's mouth; it's like an itch under his skin that cannot be sated. It is both from a growing concern that his absence will impact on its running (that he has left it in capable hands does not assuage his fears; just as a parent might still worry for a child left with a trusted babysitter), and an equally rapid growing discomfort within the more open spaces of Fontaine's surface.

The confines of the metal walls have become a comfort - no, a lifeline - for him, somewhere he feels safe. It is his home, his haven. He knows every inch of his underwater domain, knows the ins and outs of its construction, the systems that keep it running. He can tell by ear which hiss of steam, clank of pipework, groan of metal is normal, and which pinpoints a problem that needs to be fixed. Nothing happens inside those walls that he doesn't know about.

By contrast, the surface is too vast for his liking. He has spent too long beneath the water to ever again feel at home above it. (Had he ever truly felt at home anywhere before? It gets harder and harder to remember.)

An overnight stay is usually as long as he allows, and only for reasons of the most dire importance: two nights he has now spent in the empty, alien setting of his surface home, though to suggest he lingered there any longer than necessary would be inaccurate. Home is not a word he ascribes to the oversized shell that is his only by right of his title.

So to say he is eager to return to the Fortress is something of an understatement. There is a quick, rapid pace to the rhythm of his boots on the paved streets of the Court, long strides carrying him closer and closer to the path that will lead him out and away. Already he is planning the schedule of tasks to undertake upon his return, his mind firmly situated back in the Fortress ahead of him.

But his singularly focused mind doesn't hinder the highly attuned instincts born of a life spent looking over your shoulder. He senses the approach of another before they step into his vision, before the call of their voice reaches his ears. Boots grind to a halt; a wintry gaze settles upon the unfamiliar visage of the man who had flagged him down.

There is an extravagance to his attire that would not be entirely out of place amongst Fontanian society, but the man himself is not of Fontaine - that much he is certain of. A tourist then, or here for business. Regardless, Wriothesley can see no obvious purpose for his wishing to speak to him.

But... perhaps he is simply asking for directions.

The Duke's resting expression cannot be described as overtly welcoming: there is a natural furrow to his brow, a serious set to his mouth. One could be forgiven for assuming that pale gaze is deliberately cold, though it is far from the truth. "Is there something I can help you with?"

[phoenixcatch7]

Love how LBH bonded with all the Batkids. And being technologically illiterate. The protagonist halo is not helping for once XD! But it’s ok, he can always go to SQQ for help UWU. Also, yes, I would like to hear more about Batman! SQQ cross dressing for infiltration purposes 👀 👀.

All the protagonist halo in the world can't make you technologically literate lol.

*slams hands together* SO! I had this thought a couple days ago that there is a lot of things sqq would have mastered by living in an alternate pidw, archery and painting and music and horse riding and hair care and all sorts, but most importantly - wife plot/gay idiots hunt demons plot starters. A lot of fanfic and heist movies and adult 'coming of ages' and all sorts LOVE crossdressing as a trope, and I I do love me a good oblivious gender queer sqq!

He has 100% had to infiltrate a brothel or club or gathering or acted as demon bait at some point in his long life, and with his already lean and pretty figure, his own appearance perfectionist tendencies for the role of sqq, and his husband's refusal to let him out the house looking anything less than stunning, he's put a good effort and practice into it. Nanda parbat (or the other places he studied) is also well versed in disguise as a job. Canonically he uses stage makeup to create other identities, most famously matches malone. SO! By all logic batman would be EXCELLENT at disguising as a woman!

Also in this au I headcanon that cultivators are rarely super muscled, with agility and flexibility also being very important. Think more swimmers and barbarian and lumberjack builds - the muscle isn't for show at all, but some can lift more than the body builders twice their size! Unfortunately for sqq, system demands an imposing presence, and so he fills the bats suit out with fake padding and extra armour and tech. He tucks his long hair in the cowl. It helps emphasise the difference between Bruce Wayne and Batman, and the first time Jason saw him undress after patrol he thought batman was peeling his own skin off lol.

And what that means is he is completely unbothered when a pair of women are needed to infiltrate a club to gather information, and wonder woman is the only one free. She gamely volunteers to go herself, but is vetoed on grounds of safety and efficiency. So then the solution is Martian manhunter but he's off world.

So batman volunteers.

He's met with confusion and disbelief, and for good reason?? He's huge! Buff! Deep voice! Aloof! Batman is a very manly man!

But no, he can do it, are you doubting that he can't? It's fine.

Diana is very excited. Also very curious. Sure, there are amazonians bigger than him, but he is very much a guy and they're not going to a place known for inclusivity.

But despite their misgivings they set a time and place.

And as they're talking, waiting for batman to arrive, a bombshell of a woman walks past. Long dark hair, boobs peeking out of a window, glittery earrings, six inch heels, long and painted nails, big puffy jacket, trousers that flare at the knees, the whole works.

She walks past them again a minute later, and stops. Greets them with a low and sultry voice.

It's batman. Wtf.

Sqq rather thinks he's done a good job with the outfit. The trousers hide his calves, fake boobs are so much more realistic in the modern era, he took his voice changer out. Makeup changes his whole face. He's got contacts and brush through hair due so he doesn't look like Bruce Waynes sister. His voice probably sounds a bit funny but it's close enough! It'll pass!

The group of veteran heroes are choking on their tongues. Diana is delighted.

It's still early days for the league, they're still feeling each other out, seeing if they can trust each other with matters outside of heroism.

For Clark, it's the first of many existential crises.

[tarmac-rat]

(insp.)

[dutybcrne]

Okay, decision made:

He almost primarily uses his Abyssal abilities, and near exclusively in the way a Cryo Abyss Mage/Cryo Herald would, and had relied upon them alone, up until he was given an Anemo Delusion once he'd become of age.

[thiefscant]

[cont'd] — @grar

was that a hand on his sleeve? normally, sudden touch turned him off, but with them.. there's no reaction. huh, what an odd feeling it is, to have someone literally beg him to stay. " i thought that you didn't like me. " that's the most honest he's been. voice is low, quiet, but sincere. expressing how he truly feels is a lot harder than simply masking his feelings with a fake smile. with a new breath inhaled, he turns himself around to stare at anais. he feels exposed in her peridot eyes. " ..fine, i'll stay. if it'll stop you from looking at me like.. that. "

        there is, in fact, a hand on astarion's sleeve, and for a long moment anais cannot process that it is their own. it is, of course. they know the shape of their own fingers. but they've never seen them clutching at another person like this before. it is not in their nature for reach for someone else when they could simply suffer in comfortable solitude. the moment realization strikes, anais releases him, drawing their hand abruptly back, but it's too late to pretend it wasn't their own voice asking him not to go. "i'm not sure what to think of you," she admits reluctantly, rewarding his honesty with a little truth of her own. then, after an uncertain pause, because they can't quite understand what he means: "if you don't want me to look at you, i can look somewhere else."

[neige-leblanche]

someone's probably made this post before but reading dostoevsky as an aromantic really hits different, bc so many of the main or major characters when pursuing their love interests give the impression that they never learned how to fall in love, or that they know romance isn't supposed to be something moral or political but can't truly conceptualize it as otherwise. prince myshkin proposes to nastasya filippovna because he likes the idea of validating a "fallen woman" through marriage; raskolnikov sees sonya as the only person who can save him due to her "innocent sinner" position; ivan is said to be in love with grushenka, but these interactions primarily happen offscreen, and his brother and father are the only ones with a real chance at marrying her, because they're impulsive sensualists with specific desires who act on them. i think what really hit hardest was razumikhin and dunya's relationship; there seems such a strong tacit acceptance that this is how real people fall in love; good people with care in their hearts fall in love because of romantic desire, and it's utterly wholesome even when messy and imbalanced and in the midst of turbulence, and it is by no means a feeling raskolnikov can experience in his current condition. the way that "good" characters and "bad" characters both experience this tangible separation from romance too ;-;

[trlblzd]

️ ️️ @grlhood sent : march   is   gonna   play   with   their   hair   and   give   them   pretty   lil   ribbons   before   handing   them   a   mirror,   proud   smile   stretching   onto   features   as   pink   haired   girl   observes   friends   reaction   !

     BEING  IN  MARCH'S  ROOM  IS  NOT  AT  ALL  A     rare occasion.     more often than not, they are usually found lounging in her room invited or uninvited.    there is just something about this place that makes them keep     COMING BACK     even if it leaves march annoyed sometimes.    after all, it is her room     &     rudely barging in without prior notice may leave a bitter taste in her mouth.    especially during times when she's looking to spend time in her     SOLITUDE.     but today is much like any other day    -     she has invited them to her room to test out something and stelle is more than happy to oblige.     not that there is    ANY     other answer to be given anyway provided that she might just plead more incessantly.    even then, they have no reason to refuse too since it's not like she does anything harmful to them.

as her fingers runs through their hair, they fight every sensation in their body to    NOT    nod off.    the drag along their scalp is really relaxing that they have to consistently remind themselves internally that they are not having a hair     TREATMENT    appointment.    a small hum is sounded out when the mirror is given to them, holding it up to their face to at least fidget with something and all drowsiness immediately disappears.    a small chuckle is heard, fond.    she always knows just what to do in order to make them    FEEL     and look more presentable.     that is precisely what makes march herself.    she has this ability to make people feel     GOOD    about themselves that they ogle at the ribbons.    it is nothing that has not been done before but the touch is pretty.     perhaps it helps that a pretty girl is the one who did it too.    

tilting the mirror slightly to reflect march's face, they grin.    a lazy    GESTURE    fit for someone who dons an equally lazy expression.   "  it's really cute, march.    you did a really good job.   i look slightly less disheveled now.  "     snorting, they shake their head.     "  you should totally tie up dan heng's hair like this too.  "     &    they would    ABSOLUTELY    help her with dragging him in the moment that he leaves the archives, too. 

[biitchcakes]

@h-osborn: ❛ I can’t see your face, but those are definitely your brooding and pensive shoulders. ❜ ⸺ SUPERNATURAL SENTENCE STARTERS / SEASONS 4 - 5 ( ACCEPTING )

〝 Yeah ? 〞 Harry was right ― Jess rolling said brooding and pensive shoulders at the mention of them. She was stressed beyond belief, her late night hobby of punching bad guys was becoming more of a full-time job. It was impacting her sleep, which was impacting her actual full-time job. And both of those things were having their own small, daily effects.

Today, she couldn't simply just hang out with her friend ― every stressful thought plaguing her mind. Now it was interrupting the time she was meant to have away from it all. So damn annoying.

Jessica turned to face him, she suspected her face was just as brooding and pensive as her shoulders. 〝 Just got a lot on my mind, I suppose.〞 She shrugged, attempting to dismiss her obvious, unusually lack-lustre mood.

[korinthiakos]

@pre1ude has sent this in: “you can kiss my ass.” | ˗ˏˋdialogue : kissingˎˊ˗ ( accepting !! )

"Please don't limit me to just kissing your ass, because I can eat it as well." A grin is spreading on their lips, and their voice drawls out, accent heavy.

[mmriesoftvat]

"Alatus, would you say you're more like a cat, or a bird? Because sometimes I swear you're both."

[darabeatha]

    /  H- H- HIS HA- HAIR IS SO S-S- SO SO F- F- FLUFFY AN-

[rabbitprose]

They've been attempting to learn, to imitate parents--usually little more than standing in one place, or attempting to step only to overbalance. Sometimes it seemed the twins simply grew frustrated, babbling to themselves as they crawled or rolled instead.

But it seems today is the day. Holding onto each other for balance, one foot is shakily placed in front of the other--unstable steps but steps nonetheless.

Steps towards Dōma in attempt to reach her, "Mm-mama? Papa?" Echoed between themselves, bounding off each other in attempt to learn, and to test new skills. "Papa!"

and the moment they stood on their feet, dōma reached out in case he needed to catch them – instinctively. and yet, talented just like their mother, the two slowly (but surely) came forward.

and then he was called that magical word – papa. more earth shattering than anything he’d ever experienced, as they echoed it amongst themselves, hands found themselves trembling. 

joy? was this… joy? he didn’t know – he didn’t have the experience to properly identify the emotion stirring. his breath shivered and his heart raced, but it was like flowers were starting to bloom in the pit of his stomach.

with shaky hands, he lets them come to him – and he smiles.

“y–yeah! i’m papa!” a nod as he cheers them on, “keep walking…! i’ll catch you if you lose your balance, o–okay?”