#we'll see if i ever get to that point!

[wisemins]

hey miya! hope I'm not sending too many asks lol

I've been sitting with your ask about my spidersonas (cursed with too many thoughtsbut no words to write them😞) so I was wondering if you have a spidersona?

I think you mentioned f/oing hobie (if not then uh ignore this part lol🧍🏽) so you could also talk about their dynamic!

@i-put-the-s4p-in-s4pphic

TYSM FOR THE ASKK!! I love LOVE this question. I have yet to talk about my spidersona! Let's get into this because there is ANGST and LOVEEEE and all sorts of drama!! and yes i did mention f/oing hobie at some point...and i am very much teetering back and forth mostly bcus i swoon and i think he's so cool

ANYWAYYSSSOIJFSOIDFJ prepare for this to be very long-winded!!

So, when it comes to anything Marvel for me, there is one always true and positive thing ALWAYS in every canon of mine. I belong to the mystic arts, that is my gig forever and always. That is my home and my one true place in any Marvel universe ever! So no matter who I'm with or what the story is, I am always a mystic arts user!

So with that explained, here's some more background needed. I am in love with Doctor Strange, he's my everything and I love and adore him!! My first exposure to Marvel and why I'm so attached at the hip to the mystic arts. It is canonical to us that we have only one universe among the entire multiverse where we can be together. He is doomed to either lose me, perish, or for me to end up with someone else in every single other universe (staring at my other marvel f/os...). We both do love each other in every single universe, but it never ends up working due to his damnation in that regard.

So that's where my story begins in the spider-verse. It was a universe in which I ended up with Strange, married him, and then at some point got bit by some weird, radioactive spider. He's pretty genius, so he helped me in studies trying to figure out these new abilities. We're the sorcerer supreme(s) of this universe, so we have capabilities that are much stronger. We can see into other realities, and we discover that this is one true common occurrence among universes. But there was a sense of dread, it felt like some sort of dark premonition had been realized somehow. But we didn't understand it at the time. I'm not academically inclined or adept, so Strange did most of the intense scientific research. I began to master my new set of skills that paired very well with my magic use, and I became very adept at handling mystical threats with even more ease, and even began to take up more street level ones with this newfound responsibility. I got a new outfit to remain anonymous with the spider duties, and Strange even let me adorn his trademark cloak for those extra duties.

All the while, Strange discovered a horrible pattern among those who are apart of trend of being bit by these radioactive spiders. He searched every single possible outcome of this universe, and he found that in each and every one, it had a horrible end for him. He even tried to warn me without directly pertaining to the pattern, and simply tried to get me out of this universe and into another, but I wasn't understanding him. I didn't want to leave him alone, and he was being vague and ended up scaring me more than anything. But eventually he tried to find another way to disrupt the set outcomes, to try and find a new way to for us to go that wouldn't doom either one of us to be alone.

Needless to say, it didn't work. He dabbled in things he wasn't supposed to, added in factors that he shouldn't have. It spawned horrible things, horrible people, and he ended up dying trying to save me from a fate he couldn't escape from. And all I had left was his cloak, and the new knowledge that I was doomed from the moment I was bit by that spider. Although, at that time, I wasn't aware of Strange's "curse", so I was doomed either way. It was and forever would be a canon event.

This led me down a dark path, like most other spider-people. But with my magical capabilities, it lead me into delusion believing that I could somehow find a way to save him, to bring him back, turn back time, absolutely anything.

Not even the time stone could stop it, not even getting my hands on every single infinity stone could it have stopped it, and even still I tried that. I ended up tearing apart my universe in those attempts, and eventually I was plucked from my universe and into spider-society.

I had almost torn myself apart with that last attempt, and all of the stones were left in my shattered universe. I was confused and aggressive when I was first rescued, but eventually calmed down enough to take in my surroundings and actually see who these people were. It was Miguel, just him. And of course LYLA! I didn't know who he was at the time, but through peeking into so many possible outcomes and into other universes, I had at the very least seen him. So there I finally was, in Nueva York, within the Spider-HQ.

Miguel introduced himself, told me where I was, and asked me to explain what had happened. When I did, he shared a similar despairing look. As if he understood what I felt, which I had a feeling in the moment that he did. Although he explained that what I had done had been entirely detrimental to my universe, and it was now subject to an incursion, meaning the two universes I had attempted to merge and travel back and forth to in a feeble attempt had decimated both. I was devastated that I couldn't reverse my actions, but quickly accepted my own self defeat.

Over the course of the next few weeks, Miguel helped me implement myself into the society, to adapt to this new way of life and even had me go on my first mission as a displaced spider-person. My title as sorcerer supreme was definitely long gone, and the other spider-people at some point deemed me spider-strange, or the lesser said strange-spider, it was mostly up to whoever. They mostly saw the cloak of my late husband, and took my last name as an indicator that I was my universe's Doctor Strange, only...a feminine one. I never bothered to correct them, as it was too painful to get into all of what I had done. Very few people within the society actually know that I was his wife, and they respect me in not telling others.

Then comes more and more work, meeting all these new spider-people, and eventually I run into Hobie and Gwen. I do a few missions with them, and they're very curious on my magic use and how it affects my being spider-strange. That's when I spend some more time with them, and open up a lot more. Miguel didn't like having me work with too many people on one mission due to my sheer power in comparison to the rest of the spider-society, but he saw that I really enjoyed the company of others and allowed it so long as I didn't go around causing anymore anomalies.

It was then that I started crushing on Hobie, we had a lot of common interests and beliefs, one thing being: we're both punks and artists! In my universe I had used my super-heroism for primarily activism when I wasn't out physically taking care of mystical threats or street-level ones. This is the case for any version of myself in marvel, upon being widely recognized among the public as a figure, it's all public activism alongside my work as sorcerer supreme.

Hobie was the first person I had met who I was able to finally unmask and let go around. It was the first time I had felt like myself ever since before Strange had died, even since before I got bit by that spider. I was laughing again, and I was starting to feel happy. And of course, getting to know him was a blast! Whenever he invited me over to his universe, I got to see him perform and just kind of let loose, really just learn how to exist again without dread.

Our dynamic usually consists a lot of humor, punk references, cop bashing, y'know the usual! We listen to music a lot together, teach each other things from our universes, he invites me in on his song-writing process and any ideas he's working on. We also like to visit different universes to go thrifting! DIY till we die!! Anyway- this is also when I open up a lot more, start talking about myself and my past. He always did wonder why I was close with Miguel and defended him vehemently, it wasn't in some authoritarian way, it was understanding. I had literal proof that avoiding canon events were fatal to people and universes, it wasn't just a pattern that could be broken, it was sealed fate. I had lost everything trying to break that pattern. But more importantly, I lost myself to that in seeing my husband die.

This offered Hobie a new perspective as well, but come way later during the whole Miles debacle? Well, it was hard to stick to my guns with Miguel. At that point, my feelings for Hobie were stronger than ever, but I understood both sides of the matter.

Miles was a kid who was scared of losing his dad, Miguel and I knew that he couldn't be saved no matter what. As much as I wanted to help Miles, I literally couldn't bear to witness another collapse of a universe at the hands of someone who had as much hope as I did. This was when I was also deemed "The Bad Guy" for being on Miguel's side, after everything. It broke my heart but, I couldn't stand to let a kid ruin his entire life and universe for something that couldn't be stopped.

So then the lore is at a stand-still for now! I definitely need to see where the story goes in canon, but right now as it stands my current spider-sona is just really upsetting overall! A sense of dread and doom, y'dig? I loved working on this lore though, I love me some tragedy! I do be crushin' on Hobie pretty hard though...so I suppose we'll see where that goes! I mostly think I need convincing that he'd actually still like me even though I'm Miguel Defense Squad™

TYSM FOR THE ASKK <33333 sorry this got SO long. I've been working on this for a little bit since you asked!!

[hollowtones]

they killed fucking Stray!!! my favourite game!!!!! they killed it!!!! and outer wilds!!!!! what am i going to fucking do man!!!!

that's not really what happened

like it's fucked that negotiations went the way they did & basically the entire staff walked out (good on them for sticking up for themselves, hoping everyone that left can land on their feet in some way or another because they were doing some good fuckin work) & it sounds like some of the devs working with the publisher were kind of left in the dark for better or for worse (reminds me of the recent Humble thing where their whole publishing branch was let go recently... right on the verge of one of their games coming out. man)

but like... they're not the developers. they're the publishers. the games & the devs are still there. & i have to imagine the billionaires behind Annapurna (they don't just do video games! they've been multimedia for a whiiiiile now) would like to continue making More Money. so unless there's some contract weirdness / the devs want to pull out of their publishing contract somehow / the owners of Annapurna are very stupid I have to imagine they're not going to just vanish all of a sudden

mind you I am an artist & entertainer and not an expert on american business law or video game publishing so it's entirely possible im getting something wrong here. but this is my understanding at least

[bookshelfdreams]

Once again, as it so often is with ofmd, it is about violence.

Ed is capable of violence and it makes him feel monstrous. Killing his father was a defining moment in his life, something that became a core memory: The darkest, scariest part of himself, but also one that has protected him and been immensely useful. No matter how much he hurts himself with it, how much it chips away at his soul, he's willing and able to do horrible things. This is the price we pay for violence: When you kill, you die as well.

When he met Stede, a man he thinks is fundamentally incapable of the kind of violence that's slowly destroying Ed, it gave him hope that he, too, could move beyond it. That a life full of comfortable and beautiful things was not only possible but attainable; if Stede can sail the seas with his ridiculous toy ship full of books and soft fabrics, have a positive culture of open communication and constructive feedback, then fuck it, why can't he?

To him, Stede's incapability for violence is a positive thing; it might be Stede's greatest strength. But what Ed doesn't realize is that Stede's life, too has been profoundly shaped by violence, how intimately he is acquainted with it - from the other side. Stede has only ever been a victim of violence. Where the moments that replay in Ed's head (the lovely little motage at the beginning of 02x06 for example) are moments where he enacts violence, the moments that define Stede are ones where violence is done to him. We see him splattered with blood, picking flowers: we know what follows is humiliation, verbal and physical abuse, that Stede was unable to protect himself from.

So of course, to Stede, his lack of talent for violence becomes a character flaw. Something that makes him weak, pathetic, cowardly. When he finally learns how to wield violence, how to use it to protect himself and others, it's empowering. He revels in it, the small moments (I did a punch!) and the bigger ones. For the first time in all his life, he's not a victim anymore.

Ed does not know this about Stede. To him, Stede is fragile, someone not yet tainted by violence the way he is. Ed feels protective of Stede, and it's that perceived innocence that I think is a big part of it. All he sees is Stede descending down a path of violence and piracy he has walked already and cannot go down again; the last time he did, it literally made him suicidal. He can't follow, and he can't watch Stede destroy himself the way Ed did, either.

So he leaves.

And Stede, who feels like he has finally grown into a better, more capable version of himself, someone who is able to see hurt and fight back against it for once, doesn't understand this at all.

Both these viewpoints are ones that ofmd wants to validate: Violence is a terrible beast that will eat you whole and spit out your bones AND Violence is sometimes necessary, and even good. It's a delicate balance to keep, and 02x07 doesn't quite manage to do so. But despite the awkwardness, the bones are still there; we end on Roach and Fang (two characters very capable of and good at violence!) having their cute little self-care spa day. This is the future ofmd wants us to believe in: a world where we can chose care and tenderness over battles.

[raelyn-dreams]

In light of fine's event announcement, I would like to formally welcome Eichi to the "Event 5-Stars Going Through The Horrors™️ (2024)" squad.

[thefirstknife]

rip gambit you will be missed 😔

Don't even know what to say tbh.

For those that don't know, the big State of the Game article came out detailing incoming changes and adjustments and all the big stuff. Gambit was mentioned! But at what cost. Basically, they are ceasing any kind of support for Gambit. What we have now is what it is. We will get the Dreaming City map back in TFS and they will add Shadow Legion and Lucent Hive as enemy factions in TFS. That's all.

Full text:

As many of you have noticed, we’ve been quiet on Gambit since last year’s overhaul that launched alongside The Witch Queen. In that revamp, the team made significant changes across five categories in Gambit: core activity fundamentals, Primeval tuning, invasions, ammo economy, and rewards. Unfortunately, these updates didn’t move the needle for player engagement. Although we know our Gambit fans mostly care about new or returning maps, this is an area of the game with lower engagement that would take resources away from more popular parts of the game to shore up.   While we don’t have plans to dedicate more resources to significantly transform Gambit, we do have a few updates planned for the year of The Final Shape. These include porting the Cathedral of Scars map and its beautiful Dreaming City setting into the latest version of Destiny 2, as well as adding the Shadow Legion and Lucent Hive enemy types. 

I don't know how to tell you this Bungie, but the reason "engagement is low" in Gambit is because Gambit sucks. Ever since half of it was removed with DCV, it just sucked. It has no variety, the gameplay is largely busted, it's not sufficiently updated, ammo changes suck, invasion cycle sucks (why is the enemy even getting a portal when their Primeval is at 5% health and the other team is still in mote collecting phase is beyond me), there are no cool armour sets to chase (just look at Iron Banner and Trials stuff, imagine dedicated cosmetics) and finally there are simply no weapons that are worth anything. Both Vanguard and Crucible have more weapons and also adept versions. There is zero reason to go into Gambit without major changes to Gambit. And now with the further changes to how playlists and challenges will work, there will be even less reason to go into Gambit. Observe:

Before then, we’re making Gambit entirely optional to maximize your rewards unless you’re looking for a piece of gear that’s specific to the mode. Gambit will continue to serve as a source of Exotic engrams via weekly challenges, though as we mentioned above, you’ll be able to complete all your weekly challenges in any ritual you’d like starting in Season 22. If you want to stick to Vanguard or Crucible challenges without touching Gambit, now you can.  We’re also reducing the number of Gambit-specific Seasonal Challenges starting in Season 22, so players won’t need to bank motes to be able to earn that big purse of Bright Dust for completing nearly every challenge in the Season. Finally, we’re adding Fireteam Matchmaking to Gambit next Season, which will replace the Freelance node and should result in faster, better matchmaking by combining both Gambit playlists. We’ll keep an eye on reception and player engagement after these additions take place, and we hope you’ll visit ‘ol Drifter next Season to get your hands on his new Void Machine Gun. 

Ngl, but I don't think anyone besides like a total of 6 people will play Gambit next season. The incentive to go in there is completely removed. You won't even have to go in there for pinnacles or for challenges. The Void Machine Gun will not be enough of an incentive because the chance of that gun being better than two recently available craftable Void Machine Guns (Commemoration and Retrofit Escapade) is very low. And besides, once you get it at the end of your first match, you can leave Gambit forever.

This is the feedback loop that just reinforces the idea that people don't like Gambit. And I mean. Who would at this point. I'm pretty sure that if Crucible had stayed the same as it was at the start of Beyond Light, engagement would be low there too. But you know. Crucible has received major updates pretty much every season since with multiple new modes, several Trials overhauls, Iron Banner overhaul, competitive overhaul, new armours and weapons added and YES, even new maps. God forbid even 5% of these resources went into Gambit.

Anyway, this is the whole section about Gambit in 6500 words. It's basically a "you guys aren't playing this so we're doing the bare minimum of keeping it in the game as is, no new work will be done on it ever." Thanks I guess.

And for the record, something I also added while having a rant in my discord, I want to make it clear that I don't want anyone to spiral into a Bungie hate train. Even for this. I understand perfectly well what's the community attitude towards Gambit and what it's been for years now. People just don't like it and they're not incentivised to like it and they're actively encouraged to hate it. Spending resources into a game mode on the hope that maybe you can change people's minds would be insanity. Like, the amount of change Gambit would need to MAYBE start appealing to gamers would be beyond any reasonable time and resources Bungie can put in. And if you could guarantee that people would love and play Gambit then, fine. But you can't. Most likely, even if major changes happened, people would still just do their weekly stuff and bail. It's simply not worth it. In order for people to like it, it needs to be completely and thoroughly overhauled in a way that would need more time and effort than the entire Light subclass overhaul and it's just not a reasonable expectation, nor is it guaranteed to work. So I get it.

I'm still disappointed and annoyed about it because I believe it wasn't given a fair chance at all. I also know how good it can be and how Gambit Prime could've been improved upon over the years if they tried. Instead, it got removed and that was honestly the death sentence for Gambit. It's unfortunate. It's my favourite game mode that could've been so much better was it given even a fraction of attention of Crucible.

I'll still be playing it. You will find me in the Gambit queue waiting for 2 hours to find 7 other lunatics to play with, don't worry about it. But I'm absolutely incredibly sad about them being basically forced to axe the potential of the whole game mode that is incredibly creative and fits with the type of game Destiny is perfectly.

There's other interesting stuff in the article and some upcoming really cool improvements and changes to the game. But if you're a fan of Gambit in any capacity, this is a death certificate for the mode. I suggest coming to terms with it quickly because Bungie changing their minds about this is highly unlikely.

[grimark]

flying perilously close to spoilerposting here but one thing that's SO fun about garashir is how they have such complementary daddy issues and yet neither of them really fully grasp what the other one's problem is

[spaghett-onaplate]

depression is really weird actually wdym i spent 2.5 years of my life in bed

[kindahoping4forever]

Clips of Ashton performing Have U Found What Ur Looking For? live @ The Belasco - 18 July 2024

[danthropologie]

Even if he has made peace with it all (couldn't be me), that just means that he'll give an interview promoting wine or the hulu thing and just toss off some line about not wanting it to end like that or wishing he had his parents there for the last race, but otherwise he's fine and it'll get more attention than anything Christian has said in months + blow holes in their narrative. And it'll be a one sentence throw away

your lips straight to god's (daniel's?) ears fr anon

[liquidchocolatecake]

currently captive audience to a knock down drag out fight in my brain between desire to respect the wishes of the creator and not look for anyone redistributing the comic and god i fucking miss wonderlab i miss wonderlab so much you have no idea i want wonderlab back so bad

[allsassnoclass]

HELL YEAH!!! can i get uhhhh #9, an I'm so proud of you kiss? pairing, fandom, etc is all up to you :) ill read it even if im not in the fandom go fkn crazy ily xoxo

hi @clumsyclifford!!! alrighty let's throw some fake college sports players in here.

jerejean: I'm so proud of you kiss

Jeremy goes to find Jean after a few minutes, weaving through the crowd of his teammates and the Foxes until he reaches the edge of their party's sphere, out in the sand where the light from the bonfire has no hope of reaching. He stumbles over Neil and Andrew, drawn hypnotically to the bright cherry of the cigarette they're sharing, but neither of them question where he's going or make any attempt at conversation. Neil simply tilts his head to the left with a knowing look, and Jeremy nods in thanks once he spots the shadowy figure sitting yards away in the darkness, looking out at the waves.

Jean doesn't look up as Jeremy approaches, chin resting on his knees as he looks distantly out at the ocean, where the horizon line blends too deep in the darkness to discern what is sea and what is sky anymore. Jeremy flops gracelessly down next to him, kicking up sand and checking to be sure Jean isn't shying away. He relaxes when he doesn't. Jean still doesn't do well with isolation, but he's an introvert at heart and needs his space. After the events of today, Jeremy isn't surprised that he retreated down the beach to be alone, but he also knows that it's the kind of alone that Jeremy is welcome to interrupt.

It makes his chest fill with warmth, being one of the people that Jean doesn't need energy to be around. It's a privilege that he doesn't take lightly, especially when so few people in Jean's life have been safe. For him to have found a group of people to love and be loved by in return is no small feat, and it's something that they've gradually cultivated together in the past year.

For a moment, Jeremy thinks about the first time he saw Jean in person outside of a court, watching the shell of a man cautiously approach him at LAX with only a few t-shirts, a tattoo, and years of abuse to his name. He would never have predicted that they'd be here now, only a few weeks shy of a year later. Jean has grown in ways too numerous to list, but Jeremy has changed, too. It's a mutual metamorphosis, made more important for the way that they've grown in harmony with each other, filling in each other's gaps while leaving room for the other person to stretch and flourish.

Of course, one other difference is that they're NCAA champions now. It isn't a new title for Jean, but Jeremy suspects that this one feels sweeter, more earned.

This is a win that Jean should feel proud of, one untainted by the shadow of black wings and bruises. A championship that has nothing to do with the number that used to be tattooed on his face and everything to do with the person he has decided to become.

"What are you thinking about?"

Jeremy tilts his head towards the quiet, lilting sound of Jean's words. His accent has lessened slightly over the year, either due to less necessity to use his French without Kevin around or being surrounded by people who never stop talking in loud California drawls, but it still colors his words like a swash of blue in a sunrise.

Jean never wants to return to France, but sometimes Jeremy wonders if he would enjoy visiting Canada or Haiti, somewhere that he could use a version of his native language without ghosts following him.

"Jeremy?"

Jeremy blinks, bringing himself back to the present rather than some unnamed future with the two of them wandering around Montreal.

"I was thinking about our win," he says when he can remember what Jean's original question was. Jean huffs, but the sound is fond. Jeremy can't see much in the darkness, but he can picture Jean's expression perfectly. He's not smiling, but he's softer, relaxed and open enough that Jeremy can read his intention.

"How does it feel to be a champion?" Jean asks.

"Amazing," Jeremy sighs, tipping his head back and remembering every hour of practice and hard-fought game that brought them here. Despite the backlash from his decision to cut down the line last year and all of the negative press surrounding Jean's transfer, they made it all the way to the championships and came out on top. It was a battle in more ways than one, but it was absolutely worth it for the look on Kevin Day's face when Cat stole the ball from him using a technique that Jean taught her, then slammed the ball down the court for Jeremy to catch and score.

The team as a whole has grown exponentially. Jeremy has never pushed himself harder, and it wasn't all sunshine and smiles on the court this year. Still, they held it together, and as turbulent throwing a former Raven into their midst was, Jeremy has never regretted the decision to bring Jean to them.

"It's sweeter because I could do it with you," Jeremy says.

He glances at Jean out of the corner of his eye. He doesn't duck his head bashfully, and he doesn't freeze awkwardly the way he used to when Jeremy would drop a sappy but sincere compliment months ago. He simply lets the sentiment wash over him, keeping his focus on Jeremy.

"I'm glad you are happy," he says. Jeremy reaches for his hand, fingertips dragging along his forearm and wrist until Jean turns to thread their fingers together.

"What about you?" Jeremy asks. "How does it feel to be a champion this time?"

Jean takes time to consider his answer. Jeremy listens to the distant sounds of their teammates and friends over by the fire and the gentle sounds of waves hitting the shore while he waits. A breeze gently shifts his hair, light and crisp enough that he nearly shivers.

"I didn't think it would mean this much to me," Jean says quietly. Jeremy squeezes his hand once, then relaxes, giving Jean the space he needs. "I knew that winning with the Trojans would feel different, but the Ravens won because we were expected to. You and I won because we deserved to this time. Because we fought harder and wanted it more."

"And you did it all without a red card, even though Neil was being annoying," Jeremy says.

"It felt good to beat him," Jean grins. "That was very satisfying."

No one felt like it would be a good idea to make Jean block Kevin, not with everything he's told them about scrimmages in the Nest. While he played with Neil at Evermore as well, it was never while Neil was playing striker, and Neil only features in a fraction of the traumatic memories that Jean has recounted. Jean has been doing great in his sessions with Betsy and has grown a lot in his recovery over the past year, but no one wanted to risk prompting a flashback during the championship game, when the eyes of the entire public and Ichirou Moriyama would be on him.

Jean seemed to enjoy playing against Neil, anyway. Jeremy still doesn't understand their relationship and probably never will, but it was one of Jean's best games. Neil ran him ragged, but both of them seemed satisfied with their individual performances, and Jeremy overheard Jean tell him to have a winning day while stealing the ball at one point.

It's taken a long time for Jean to be able to have fun on the court. Healing is slow and non-linear, Jeremy knows that better than most. The progress that is visible, though, is much more gratifying because of it.

Jeremy looks at Jean, tracing his outline in the blue shadows. He takes in the relaxed slope of his shoulders, the enticing tilt of his head, the self-satisfied smile that Jeremy can barely see gracing his lips in this light. He looks like he belongs on this beach, relishing in his win with dozens of people who love him only a few yards away, holding hands with someone who adores him.

It's amazing, what a difference one year can make. Jeremy's chest feels warm and full, ready to burst.

"Hey," he says, squeezing Jean's hand. Jean turns towards him with a questioning noise. Jeremy tugs on his t-shirt, coaxing him forward until he can lean up to press their lips together. Jean responds once he catches on to Jeremy's intention, relaxing against him and sliding his free hand around Jeremy's waist. Jeremy presses forward, trying to transfer as much of the feeling in his chest to Jean as he can. He curls his hand around Jean's shoulder, partially to draw him closer and partially for his own stability. Jean sighs against him, and Jeremy can't help but smile into the kiss.

When they part a few moments later, Jeremy watches the way that Jean's eyes take a moment to flutter open.

"What was that for?" Jean asks. Jeremy smiles and brushes his thumb against Jean's cheek, right over the small heart tattooed there.

"I'm really proud of you," he smiles. Jean ducks his head, leaning into Jeremy's palm. "You've come a long way."

Jean wraps his hand around Jeremy's, pressing it against his chest.

"I couldn't have done it without you, Jeremy."

Jeremy doesn't think he'll ever get used to the way his name sounds in Jean's mouth, his accent curving around it and voice soft as music.

"Still," Jeremy says. "I'm really proud of you, Jean-Yves."

Jean ducks his head again, but Jeremy can't have that. He reaches for Jean's jaw again. Jean knows him well enough to evade and kiss him instead, the perfect distraction. Jeremy is happy to let him get away with it, because that was his end goal anyway.

They stay on the beach together for a long time. When their friends eventually find them, Jeremy watches the way that Jean lights up as Cat tackles him in a hug and he playfully banters with Kevin, two things that would've been impossible a year ago. Jeremy keeps hold of his hand, both of them on top of the world with no plans on coming down.

[wayfinderships]

Gamers this Yakuza crush is crushing! You know it's bad when I'm already trying to make an s/i

[aeolianblues]

I'm not an extrovert. At all. In everyday life, I'm a yapper, sure, but I need someone to first assure me I am okay to yap, so I don't start conversations, even when I really want to join in sometimes! It's just the social anxiety acting up. God knows where from and why I lose a lot of my inhibitions when it comes to talking to people about music. I don't know where the confidence has suddenly sprung from. I've made a crazy amount of friends in musical circles, either just talking to people about common music or (since it is after all in music circles) talking to bands about their own music. I let out a sigh of relief any time an interaction goes well, because in truth it's going against my every instinct. I wish I could do that in everyday life

[tankgotstuckinthecircusgate]

i know that when carlo suddenly decided that he needs to marry guy made a whole list in his head n like had a deadlines n shit. like it was some kind of a task he needed to do

[serenescribe]

40k has been broken. still not done. please help

[memento-morri-writes]

I've been thinking a lot about how Rook's reunion with his former mentor, Zara, is going to go, and since I can't predict what the DM is going to have her do or say, I can only dwell on what I know is going to happen. Which happens to include taking off the illusion ring that's been hiding his injuries from her. So have a snippet of the description I have planned for that moment:

tw for description of (mostly healed) injuries

He hesitates, twisting a ring on his finger. Looking at it more closely, she can tell it’s very finely crafted, and must have been very expensive. A large emerald is set into the band. Rook sighs, and pulls the ring off his finger in one quick motion.  Immediately she’s struck by the difference in his appearance as the illusion melts away. He looks awful. His warm, healthy skin fades to a dull and sickly grey. There’s huge bags under his deeply sunken eyes, and his cheeks are hollowed, as though they have been carved out by an overeager sculptor. He looks like he’s recently risen from the grave.  While he was thin before, now she can see his ribs under the skin, and his collarbones are exaggeratedly pronounce. Thin white lines left by dozens upon dozens of recently healed cuts are scattered across his body. On top of that, faded bruises cover most of his visible skin, a mottled mosaic of purple and yellow. They’re clearly days, maybe weeks old, and she can only begin to imagine what they must have looked like when fresh. Bandages are barely visible under his shirt, wrapping around his back, hinting at even more injuries.