#well. hmm probably eventually they finally learned

[hell-drabbles]

Lucifer and Ra-on 2

Summary: Lucifer storms into the room, demanding you take out the thing that crawled into his wing wounds. Ra-on, after Lucifer warned him never to touch his wings, had to watch because he had a hard time believing how much this devil trusts you.

(More of Ra-on not getting what he wants and the Embittered Companion just having a life outside of Ra-on, and him being shocked when he sees that. I really like exploring that insidious feeling of someone else getting what he wants, and how much more enticing that other thing becomes because he's not getting it. It's also heavy handed symbolism that Ra-on is getting all the other devils but hasn't gotten close to a single healer class devil, because Ra-on refuses to travel the road of self-healing in favor of over-indulgence. It's not clever but oh well! Meanwhile, Embittered Companion gets along with these healers really well. Actually likes them a whole lot, shockingly enough.)

The first time Ra-on brushed over the stained feathers of Lucifer's missing wings, he was very sure that his head was seconds from being ripped off had he not retracted his hand. That voice, that warning, Lucifer spoke in a hiss to him. It was a line that Ra-on had crossed and, for his sake, Ra-on promised him he won't do that again. He never wants to make any of his lovers uncomfortable if he can't help it. They deserve that happiness, because the devils all make Ra-on feel so happy and loved with the way they all worshiped his body.

But, he will admit, Ra-on felt a little disappointed that he couldn't explore the constantly bleeding wound. That light touch was enough to leave a memory of silky smooth feathers and cute downy fluff. It was strange that anyone would have limits here in Hell. At most, devils would raise an eyebrow and probably cringe a bit but they usually go along with Ra-on with a bit of insistence. But, well, from what he gathered, Lucifer was raised an angel, so he supposed there would be many differences, despite his current status as a demon.

And, well, Ra-on was given a strict and hard no. Perhaps, in the future when they get to know one another better, when he fully integrates into Hell and the war has finally been put to a stop, Ra-on will get to feel those feathers again. Perhaps he'll be the only one to be able to touch them. That sounds nice, to have Lucifer eventually trust him like that.

But first Ra-on has to learn to control his fear towards him. Become more confident and have patience with Lucifer, so that he may eventually open up to him fully, as everyone else does.

"Hmm, you need something?" You asked as you turned from your seat, Ra-on nearly sucking the coffee into his lungs at Lucifer's appearance.

The dark sclera threatened to consume his iris, his jaw stiff and lips nearly bleeding. The sigh that escaped him made Ra-on's legs lock up, but his eyes can't help but wrack over the disheveled wear of Lucifer's clothes. The sleeves slid down his arms, exposing his wide shoulders, pants exposing the deep v of his hips, and he wasn't wearing any shoes.

Ra-on couldn't breathe, seized by this fearsome yet tantalizing sight.

But you... You always held yourself together no matter how beautiful the devil or angel may be, no matter how terrifying. Because Ra-on was there. Because you always felt you had to be the stronger one for the sake of him and Minhyeok.

"What's up?" You got up, instinctively walking into Ra-on's line of sight. He tried to look around you, but he didn't want to risk squeaking his chair. "You're not looking right. Something bothering you again?"

Right, right you've been talking to Lucifer more and more. You like your space and so does he. And when the noises become too much, you both drift off into the distance, until the both of you end up going to the same place.

You'd know what's wrong with him better than Ra-on could. He's still too scared of him.

Lucifer breathed in then hissed, "Something is in my wings. Wriggling. Moving. Get it out of me, please."

And the hiss ends with a plea. Only then did Ra-on remember to breath. It wasn't something he or you did, Lucifer just had something in his wings that was probably giving him pain. Or discomfort? Because he's seen him nap on his back and that didn't seem to bother him.

"Told you not to nap in the garden," you finally moved away to make room for Lucifer to move in, looking tired as though this wasn't the first time. Wait... It wasn't, was it? "Alright, get over here. Get on the bed. I'll get the tweezers."

As soon as Lucifer flopped over on your bed, Ra-on shot up to his feet and followed you to the bathroom attached to the side.

"Wait," he grabbed your elbow, "are going to be touching his wings?"

"Hmm? Yeah, he asked." You plucked his hand off and shifted through the drawers to find those tweezers. You found them and squeezed then together with little clicks. "He gets stuff stuck in there all the time. He really should wrap those up if he wants them to stay clean. Why?"

Wait.

"You touched them already?" When? How? If Lucifer was this close to to taking his head off, how come you're not injured? "And he didn't hurt you?"

"If he did, I would've slammed the door in his face," you quickly washed the tweezers, "He was pretty close though, that first time, but that's because he wasn't prepared. Even though he was the one that asked."

You're saying that you've touched them but, somehow, Ra-on has a hard time believing it. A simple brush against his feather was enough to anger Lucifer, and now you're going to be digging into the wounds as though you won't be ripped to shreds? Just, how?

Sure, you've been spending more time with Lucifer by sheer coincidence, but wouldn't it make more sense for Ra-on to be able to be close to his wings by now? Lucifer has been asking for him to visit. So, so...

Ra-on doesn't get it. So he had to watch.

He watched you brush past him, he followed you and stood in the middle of the room. He watched as you flicked on the table lamp and aimed it at Lucifer's bleeding stumps. You opened another drawer and pulled out a pair of disposable gloves, as though this happens to often, you have to keep the box close. Ra-on watched as you sat on your bed.

Lucifer didn't flinch, but he saw the tightening of his shoulder muscles, watched the way they flexed and tightened under his skin. Ra-on wished he was close enough to lick it, wished he could sooth his hands over his back, but he can't, because that isn't what he should be focusing on.

He has to see if what you say is true, if Lucifer has truly been asking you to get deep into wings to clean them out when Ra-on can't even get close to them.

"Alright, which stump is it this time? Or is it both?" You asked as you tugged his shirt lower, exposing his wings further.

Lucifer lifted his head from your pillow he was stuffing his face in. Was he taking in your smell? No, that can't be it. That's just silly. He was just getting comfy and the pillow is the closest thing. "The right one. Get it out."

"Hold still a moment," you adjusted the light and finally got to work. You placed your tweezers on his lower back and started your search. You moved the feathers away and Lucifer clenched his whole body, but otherwise did nothing. You pushed lightly against the bone to look further into the wound and all he did was push his face into your pillow.

And when your fingers dug in deep and stretched the wound open, when your hands brushed against an open artery and gushed out blood, Ra-on heard the sound of Lucifer tearing fabric with his teeth with a pain filled hiss.

"There it is," you said, voice a little dull, as though this wound was something you're used to seeing, "A big sucker too. Alright hold still."

You got your tweezer and dove right in. After a few twists, your hand popped out and revealed what looked to be a huge fly. Bigger than any other housefly Ra-on has ever seen. It buzzed and squirmed around, using it hairy limbs to try and pry itself from your tweezers.

Ra-on gagged and couldn't stand to look at it. He closed his eyes.

"You want to crush it?" You asked.

Ra-on didn't hear a response, he only heard a muffled crunch.

"Gross."

"...thank you. I couldn't get it out on my own," Lucifer's voice soothed over his ears, colored in the peace of relief.

"No problem, buddy. Just, put a blanket on or something, it's the third time this week."

"Hmm," Ra-on opened his eyes to catch his smile. A smile aimed at you. A smile from your bed as he continued to lay there, "I could nap here. Then all bugs have no choice but to stay away, right?"

"Yeah that's how rooms work," you chuckled and smacked his arm, marking his skin with his own blood, "Sleep in your own bed, man. I only have one."

...you really gotten closer to him. You can touch what he can't. And Lucifer... He can talk to you in the way he can't.

On the back of his tongue, Ra-on tasted bitterness.

[factual-fantasy]

Heya Factual! Congrats on the 23,000! Yet another well deserved milestone earned by your hard work and dedication! Really sorry about the cold- we always seem to get sick at the worst of times! Definitely don't do anything crazy till you're 100%, but thanks for making that really cute celebration piece- you can really tell how much the factual Fam cares about you from their worried expressions...and then there's Gerald, who refuses to let his happy demeanor waver for a second! Though then again, he is still quite young- he might not even understand the concept of getting sick yet!

And on that note, at least till you're better, I definitely won't send any unnecessarily exhausting Asks like last time ( thanks for answering that so thoroughly though- that was really cool! ) and just keep it simple- and my ask today is regarding the simplest Mario enemy, the goomba!

You've mentioned them in the past as beings created by Kamek- How does he do it? How long has he been doing it? Are the goombas sentient, or just savage constructs? How many are there, in ratio to the Koopas? Did the bros have to fight through a bunch of them on their way to the castle? And do any of their variants exist, such as the micro goombas, para goombas, or giant goombas? We require the Goomba Lore!

Thank you! :DD I'm doing my best to take it easy.. I've spent most of my days recently either sleeping, sitting, or playing Pokemon Scarlet XDD that's relaxing right? Yes, I believe so-

As for Gerald, he isn't ignorant to my condition- he's actually meant to be surprisingly emotionally aware. :0 He's smiling though all this because he wants the others to be happy. And if he's calm and smiling, maybe we'll smile too.. 🥺

I was intending to draw a comic that goes into Gerald's character a bit more... But I just haven't been well enough recently to take on a project like that.. :((

And don't worry about "exhausting asks", I encourage them! :D I could really use some lengthy asks as a form of distraction to be honest.. 🥹💔

Speaking of asks, about your Goomba questions..

Well, starting with Kamek actually- I have intentions to make him a few hundred years old. Being the most powerful magikoopa there ever was supposedly.. and he's been associated with the royal Koopa family for generations.. though this idea is in canon limbo, because I'm having trouble figuring how exactly he's managed to live so long. Considering how magic works in my au.. his lengthy life span shouldn't be possible..

None the less, even though I haven't gotten that idea to fit yet- I love it so much that most of the au kinda branches off from it- <XDDD so with that established, Kamek brings Goombas to "life" using magic of course!

I was thinking that the ability animate dead/inanimate things is a very complex magic that took Kamek years to learn. And he was only finally able to master it in the last 100 years or so.

Now for the Goombas, they are not sentient for sure. They are just these little.. zombie like.. machines. They start as poisonous mushrooms and when they are "brought to life", they gain this desire and need move and attack anything that doesn't appear to be a Koopa.

As for the Koopa to Goomba ratio.. I'd say they make up 1.5/10 of the kingdoms population. They are very disposable and "easy" to make.. but they are relatively fragile creatures and take a while to grow.. plus the Goombas don't live very long. Since they uproot themselves upon being "Goomba-fied", they eventually wilt and die.. :/ so that number doesn't ever go over 1.5.

I'm sure Mario and Luigi had to squash some on the way to save Peach the first time. But it was only after her rescue that one landed a bite on Luigi..

As for their variants, the micro and Giant Goombas surly exist! Though king Goomba might not because the original brown mushrooms probably don't grow that big-

As for para-goombas.. hmm.. I know there won't be any Goombas with wings going around. But perhaps there could be a Goomba that can release airborne spores.. or at the very least can attack from afar.. that could get them the title of para-goomba! :0

I think I covered everything, I hope at least-

Thank you for the ask and interest in my au! :DDD it was a nice read and took my mind off of all my ailments for a short time 🥹💖

[heeseung-min]

Hey! I have an idea you can try out like a drabble or thought or a full fic when the s/o act like they got the sherlock syndrome but they do not and that was their plan to escape but did they escape or not it up to you decide it it just a thought of mine i think you will able to write. i think this idea would suit more on enhypen sunghoon or jay but i think it can also be for txt.

Hi hi thanks for the request🤗 I hope you enjoy this

[21:39]

"If you listen to me, you will never be like this."

"I don't like hurting you. So, you better be good before I killed your sister in front of you."

"You asked for it, y/n."

Those were the words you would hear everytime you cause a trouble. Everytime you try to run from the house, he eventually caught you before you can even go far. Each time that happened, he will punished you badly. Whether it is physical or mental, he will make sure you learn the lesson.

And that's why you decided to stop doing it. Stop trying to find a way. Stop causing a trouble. At first, your sick husband being skeptical thinking that you tried to fool him. However, it's been months you acted like that. You listened to him and being affection towards him and that made him believed that you finally submit to him.

"Y/n, what do you want to eat for dinner?"

"Can we get Chinese foods, Hoonie?"

"Sure, my angel. Come here. We can watch movie while waiting for it to arrive."

"You know, I'm glad that you finally listen."

You stared at Sunghoon who was eating his meal. He gulped the food before talking again.

"I'm happy that you finally understand me."

Your boyfriend looked really happy. His expression reminded you from the first year you guys being in relationship. You wondered how can he changed to this personality.

"I realized you are right. About the world is more dangerous and I could get hurt if I go outside. I'm sorry for not listening to you earlier."

Sunghoon's heart couldn't be more happier when you said that. He watched you smiled fondly at him and continue enjoying your food.

"I will leave and be back before dinner. Do you want me to buy anything?"

"Nope, I'm good. Be safe."

"I will and you be good. Okay?"

"Yes, my love."

Sunghoon kissed you before he went out of the house. You smirked when he finally left the house. You will use this opportunity to run away from him.

Before this when Sunghoon goes out, you will go out from the house and search a way for you to run without easily get caught. Then, you will be back immediately before Sunghoon back to make sure he didn't feel any suspicious. You had planned this for months and now finally you can use the route.

You changed your clothes to more casual so you can move easily since the area you need to go is the forest.

You started your journey with some snacks and water for your energy. The walk was a bit dangerous since there might be some wild animals and you still aren't familiar with the area. You keep walking for hours and rest for few minutes in between before you saw an inn meters away from you. You ran immediately to the place thinking that you finally escape from Sunghoon.

The inn looked empty since you didn't see any cars or travelers around. You walked closer to a young man that just came out from a room. He looked attractive even though his attire just ordinary. His sharp jaw made him more handsome.

"Um, excuse me?"

He turned to you. Looking confusely. Probably because he didn't expect anyone at this time.

"Yeah, how can I help you?"

"Well, I have a problem and I need a ride to town. Can you please send me there?"

"Hmm, I don't have any vehicle that can be used now. How about this, you stay at my inn for a night and tomorrow you can share ride with one of my customers. He often send home essentials every morning so I can ask for him to send you."

Well, it's not really bad even though you hope you can go to the town now. You agreed with his suggestion before following him to your room.

"Can I borrow your phone too?"

"You...don't have a phone?"

"Ye-yeah. It's broken before I came here."

He stared weirdly at you before shrugging. He showed the old phone that was located inside your room.

"You can use that phone."

"But...it looks old."

"So? It still can be used. Don't worry."

You sighed and just went inside. The room is not big but good for staying for a while. You rested your body on the floor. You can't wait to finally out from this place and Sunghoon. You have been waiting for this to happen. Before you completely sleep, you tried to call your sister. You felt awkward using the old phone at first but you got it eventually.

You groaned after the you failed to connect with her few times. You tried to think positive maybe the line here is not really good so that's why it's hard for you to reach her.

You sleep peacefully that night thinking you finally can be free.

You woke up when you felt someone was caressing your hair. Your eyes slowly opened up as you still felt sleepy. You saw someone sitting beside you. You blinked once again before started to see the clear picture.

When you recognized the person was Sunghoon, you shockingly woke up and backed away from him until your back touched the wall.

"Ho-how..."

"You really make me angry, Y/n."

Sunghoon just stared at you. There was no expression showing on his face. But, you knew better that he will not let this matter down just like that. Since you betrayed his trust, you will face harder punishment than before.

"Sunghoon- oh, you finally woke up."

You turned to the inn owner. He looked at you with bright smile.

"I'm sorry I didn't recognize you yesterday. When Sunghoon called and asked me, I finally remember who you are so I called him here."

You wanted to throw up. Panic started to increase and you felt suffocating. You can't move since you were still in daze so Sunghoon pulled you up and brought you out from the room. His hold on you was very tight that you could felt it started to bruise.

"Thanks for taking care of her, Jay."

"You are welcome. Make sure she will not run away this time."

"Oh, I am sure she can't go anywhere anymore."

_____

Sunghoon brought you to the basement. You smell a very strong smell when you entered the place. He didn't say anything from the time both of you were in the car until now and that's really scared you. You rather he shouted at you than being silent.

He stopped moving when both of you reached in front of punchbag. Two punchbags to be exact. You glancing confusely at Sunghoon before watching him took something from a drawer. A knife. He took out a knife and put your hand on the handle.

"I want you to choose between these bags."

"What...what do you mean?"

"Choose Y/n. Don't make me more angry at you."

He left you stood alone between the punchbags and went to sit on the couch near you. You still stood clueless and you looked to Sunghoon demanded details.

"Choose one of the bags and I want you to stab on it."

You didn't like where is this going. This is not how he usually do when he wanted to punish you. Why...why he looked so calm? You didn't like this situation.

"Hoon....I still don't understand."

Sunghoon sighed and decided to go behind you and hugged your body while his hands holding yours at the same time. You can felt his breath behind your ear.

"Let me help you then. Now, choose y/n. Left or right?"

"Hoon, I- I can't do this. You can hit me or do anything like what you used to. Please."

"Choose. I'm serious this time, y/n. Choose."

You were already in sobbing state but your boyfriend ignored it and still waiting for you to speak. You calm yourself down before staring at the punchbags in front of you. Why would he made you do this? Did he asked you to choose what type of punishment you will get? You gulped down your nervous and stated what have you decided.

"The...the right one."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You made a good choice then."

Without saying more, he jerked forward your right hand to stab the punchbag that you chose. However, as you focused more you saw liquid dripping from inside. You dropped the knife when you realized the liquid was blood. When Sunghoon took his hands off, you fell down to the floor with your hands shaking badly. Your boyfriend smirked and whispered to you.

"Should we take a look what's inside, Y/n?"

You wanted to say no but all the courage inside you has gone. You watched Sunghoon took the knife and sliced the punchbag until something or more to someone fell on top of you. You screamed and closed your eyes when the blood hit your face.

"Open your eyes baby. See it."

Slowly, you opened your eyes and saw a pair of very familiar eyes staring at you. You screamed again and threw the body to the floor beside you when you recognized it was your sister. Your dead sister was in front of you right now. You suddenly threw up and felt the tightness on your chest. You crawled to your sister and sat beside her body while holding her head.

"Unnie. Please, wake up. I'm sorry I didn't mean it. Unnie, please. WAKE UP PLEASE AAARGHHH"

You tapped her cheeks few times trying to help regain her concsciousness back. Even though you knew, there was no pulse nor slow breath from her.

"WAKE UP!!! I'm- I'm sorry I didn't mean to do it. I don't want to do this."

You turned to Sunghoon with full of rage. He didn't react and just waited for you to do or say something.

"You...you asshole. How dare you? HOW DARE YOU KILL MY SISTER!!!"

"I killed her? Are you forgot that you were the one who chose it. You made the choice, Y/n. You killed your own sister with your hands"

"NO! I DID NOT! YOU MADE ME KILLED HER."

"Look at your hands now, baby. It's your sister's blood and look at me, it's clean unlike you."

Once again, you started to hyperventilate and started to hit your head and chest trying to get rid of the tightness. You suddenly heard voices talking.

'You killed her'

'You shouldn't betray Sunghoon'

'This is your fault'

'Now suffer the consequence'

"Ahhh stop talking!! I didn't kill her!"

You hit yourself many times to protect yourself from the voices. You screamed and sobbing when it became worse. You moved to Sunghoon while still on your knee and hugged his leg begging for help.

"Make it...make it stop Hoon..I- I can't hold it. Please."

Within few seconds, you passed out after Sunghoon jabbed the needle he was holding on your neck. He called someone to clean the mess and carried you upstairs.

_____

You woke up from the sleep after few hours. You felt like you just had a worst nightmare ever. But then, when you looked on your clothes and hands you realized it's not a dream. The blood stain is still there and you felt like shitty remembering what happened back in the basement.

You sat on the bed quietly until you saw Sunghoon came in with small towel and bowl of water. He didn't say anything and just clean your face and hands from the blood. He also changed your dirty clothes to a new one and sat in front of you after finished doing it.

Both of you didn't talk. You looked down to your fiddling fingers and Sunghoon just stared at you. As like he knew you wanted to say something but you are afraid to do so. At last, you lifted your head and looked at him.

"What...what do you do to my sister?"

Oh, how soft your voice. Sunghoon melted at the sound of it. He caressed your face and leaned closer to you so he can kissed you.

"Bury her, of course. I would not keep corpse in this house, y/n."

It was a dumb question but you somehow really need assurance from Sunghoon that your sister finally not suffering anymore. You hope that he at least bury her at good place.

Sunghoon finally stood up. Before he walked away, he tied a cloth on your mouth and your hands to the bed. Again, you felt confuse with the act. He went to the front bed and facing you. He stared at you or more to your legs.

"You will run away again."

He tapped on your left leg.

"I don't want that to happen."

He tapped on your right leg.

"So, I should prevent you from moving."

You screamed out loud when you felt your bone on the right foot broken. You were trashing on the bed trying to let yourself off from the rope. It hurts so much and you started to cry because of the pain.

"Now, you can't run away anymore."

-----

Wow, did i wrote that😱😲 i hope you guys enjoy tho😁😁😁

Taglist: @stacey-stonem @duolingofanaccount @cyberpinkx

[yuesya]

In an AU where instead of Geto, it's Shiki who fall to the dark side;

How well would her friends and family take the news?

How scared are the Jujutsu HQ when the girl who can kill anything is now their enemy?

What would be her end goal? Classic stuff like kill all non-sorcerers? Or something else entirely?

Hmm villain!Shiki AU...

The easiest way I can see this happening would be if Shiki doesn't have any close friends or connections keeping her on the 'straight road,' so to speak.

In a world that's less kind, Shiki never meets Nanami Kento. Her parents sell her to the Kamo Clan after she wakes up from a coma with cursed eyes, and so one of the first lessons that Shiki learns in her childhood is abandonment.

The representative who arrives from the Kamo Clan to take her away is Araya Souren.

Shiki grows up with this man who is her teacher and father and jailer all in one. He tries to kill her, and fails. The second lesson that she learns is betrayal.

Once, Araya had spoken to her cryptically of his goals before.

To the end and the beginning, to life and to death. To the truth hidden within the core of this broken world… and the way to finally break free of this endless cycle of madness and suffering.

To him, the world is full of suffering and misery. He wants to 'break the cycle,' whatever that means, and apparently Shiki's abilities are the key to it.

Shiki doesn't care about any of that. Araya wanted to break the cycle? Well, then she'll just be part of it.

(Countless red lines beckon her, an allure that Shiki has no desire nor inclination to resist.

Destroy, destroy, destroy.

... It's not such a bad way to pass the time until her eventual death.)

'Shiki' probably becomes known as a fickle-natured globe-trotting curse user who spontaneously goes on murder sprees for seemingly no reason at all in this AU.

To (finally) address Anon's questions:

1: Shiki's family and friends from zenith of stars aren't emotionally invested in this version of Shiki.

However, Nanami probably experiences some sense of guilt and responsibility, when later investigations reveal that this is his niece. Even if he wasn't on good terms with his sister and brother-in-law, what happened to Shiki was... horrifying.

Shiki's parents are alive. They ended up using the money they got from selling Shiki to live a comfortable life, although their later years are spent in terror when they learn what their daughter has become. Their greatest fear is Shiki coming to kill them someday.

2: Jujutsu HQ probably starts losing their minds when they get reports of a curse user whose cursed technique appears to be killing, of all things. They do their best to monitor her and estimate her travel patterns, and prevent her from crossing paths with Gojo Satoru.

If she and Gojo Satoru end up fighting... the end results would be catastrophic. They need to avoid that at all costs.

If she and Gojo Satoru end up getting along with each other... their combined strength would be enough to make the entire world kneel. They need to avoid that at all costs.

3: As stated earlier, Shiki doesn't have a particular goal in mind, aside from 'preserving' the cycle that Araya so abhorred and desired to destroy. She wanders the world sowing chaos to her whims, secretly hoping to find something that won't be fragile and ephemeral -as the red lines in her eyes indicate everything to be.

[broadwaybalogna]

@calderacitylovers : “Prompts, you say?

New Ambassador of the Northern Water Tribe to the Fire Nation is hitting on Ambassador Katara. Suddenly the Firelord can’t take it anymore and is spurred into action.”

I love this prompt sm I pray I do it justice

Please please please send prompts in my asks!! I love y’all’s prompts so much I NEED them. I eat them up. I gobble them. Nom nom nom.

-

Katara was seventeen when Sinjun was sent from the northern water tribe to act as the northern water tribe ambassador in the Fire Lord’s council.

Sinjun was a tall and burly man with an incredible presence. The moment he entered the council room for the first time, he had grasped everyone’s attention.

While Katara had taken notice of the man, she was far too concentrated on her own work to pay him much mind during his first meeting. Other members on the council found themselves helping him around anyway, so Katara pushed the thought of him to the back of her mind.

The thought was pushed back to the front of her mind when he approached her after the third meeting. She attempted to remember all she could about the man who stood almost a foot taller than her.

“Katara of the Southern Water Tribe, correct?” He asked as he approached the girl.

“Yes. And you are Sinjun, from the Northern Tribe? How may I assist you?” Katara always made sure to keep her work relationships professional, making sure everyone saw her as a colleague and equal. She learned early on that the easiest way to be previewed as such was to make no personal connections in regards to her job. Zuko was her only exception to this decision.

“Ah, well-“ the man who was no younger than his mid twenties seemed taken aback, “you helped aid the Avatar in his journey to overtake fire lord Ozai, right? Now, I’ve only heard rumors, but you couldn’t have been older than sixteen at the time, am I right?”

“Well, I was fourteen.” She clarified.

“I see, so that’d make you seventeen now?”

Katara nodded, suspicious of the man’s motives.

“Well, that is admirable. You are truly a woman of fine culture.”

“Ah, thank you Sinjun,” she smiled, still sensing that something was off.

Later that night, Katara brought up her hesitations regarding Sinjun to Zuko. Though it may have just been a ruse to get him to spend time with her.

“And then he said I was a lady of ‘fine culture’. What does that even mean?” She huffed as she crossed her arms and angrily sat in one of the various chairs in Zuko’s office. “Woah, is this new? It’s very soft,” her attitude immediately changed as she felt the cushion from under her.

Zuko laughed at her change in behavior and lifted his head from the note he was writing. “Yes actually, I had it made from the same material your parka’s were made of in the southern water tribe,” he said, smiling.

Katara blushed. “Wow,” she said, readjusting herself to feel more comfortable in the chair, if that was even possible.

“Perhaps Sinjun just meant you are a great representation of the women in the water tribes,” Zuko finally proposed, bringing Katara back on track with her thoughts.

“Hmm, maybe. Something was just weirdly off about him. Ugh, it’s probably nothing.” She rolled her eyes at herself.

“No, I’ll have a couple of my advisors keep an eye out on him. If you say something seems off, I’ll trust your gut.”

Katara smiled, “thanks Zuko.”

“Of course.”

She ended up sleeping in his office while he worked. And Zuko eventually dozed off on his own over his desk.

-

Katara was seventeen and a half when Sinjun approached her asking about her birthday.

“It’s in a few months,” she absentmindedly responded as she wrote a few notes from their past meeting down. Sinjun had made it a habit to approach her every so often. Not often enough to raise a large amount of suspicion, but still often.

“So you’ll finally be an adult?”

Katara paused her writing to look up at him, confusion clearly written on her face. “Yeah…” she finally said, offering the man an awkward smile.

“It’s hard to believe how long it’s been since Sozins Comet.”

“Hm,” she thought to herself. It had been a long while, a little over three years now. She felt much older when she thought about it. She felt the weight of her lost childhood. She especially felt the weight of the world. If she told her younger self that the hardest part of this endeavor would be the politics following their victory, she would have laughed in her own face.

By the time Katara was taken back out of her thoughts, Sinjun was gone. Katara sighed and returned to her work.

That night, she slept in Zuko’s office again, but not before relaying the past events to her friend.

“-But he got me thinking, y’know, about how long it’s been, and how old I feel now.”

Zuko laughed, “you’re not even an adult yet, Kat. how is time already catching up to you?.”

“I suppose it’s the weight of the world,” she half-joked, even though it was somewhat true. The future of the world was literally up to Zuko’s council. One wrong move and everything would go up in flames.

“Yes, but I see it’s made you strong,” he commented, “have you been working out?”

“Just the usual cardio. I go out on runs right out there,” she said as she flexed her biceps, bent her wrist, pointed out the window in Zuko’s office.

They both laughed as they continued to share stories about the past few days.

This had grown to be a common occurrence for each of them. Katara would step into Zuko’s office at some point in the evening and they’d pass out not long after sharing stories and talking with one another.

It was good for them both to have a constant in the ever changing world. It provides grounding for the both of them.

-

It was Katara’s eighteenth birthday when Sinjun tried to kiss her. Well, it was less of a kiss and more of a ‘he leaned in a little too close with his eyes closed and Katara punched him square in the face before she could even think’ type thing.

A few members of Zuko’s council had planned a surprise party for Katara’s birthday and invited the entire council, including Sinjun.

The night went about as expected. They all played games, ate food, forced Katara to not talk about foreign policy, and worked hard to make sure everyone had a good time.

Perhaps somewhere along the way, Katara had made more personal relationships with her coworkers than she originally thought. Or maybe her absentminded comments about her life she said to her council members as they tried to spark conversation while she worked became too personal.

Overall though, Katara decided she would work harder to create better relationships with the people she would be working with for the years to come.

After coming to that conclusion, she decided to get some fresh air outside near the palace gardens. Music from inside could still be heard but she paid it no mind. She took a seat on a bench nearby a fountain that was just an inch too small to keep all the water contained. She took a few deep breathes and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, not a minute later, Sinjun stood before her.

“Lady Katara,” he greeted.

“Hello Sinjun.”

“Why are you out here alone and not inside?” He pried.

“I just needed a breath of fresh air.”

There were a few moments of silence before Sinjun spoke again.

“May I sit with you?”

“Actually, I was just about to go back inside-“ Katara said as she stood up and began to dust herself off. When she looked back up, Sinjun was just a couple steps away.

“Just a moment,” he insisted as he stepped closer to her. Katara felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand as she moved closer.

“Katara..” he took her hands in his own. Katara felt her face contorted into something resembling disgust. But Sinjun couldn’t see her because his eyes were closed and he was leaning in and-

“WHAT THE HELL!”

Katara stepped back and let out a gasp at the older man’s outburst.

“I’m so sorry- you were just there and I was here and then you-“

“I tried to kiss you!? Yeah, that was the point!”

Katara paused her sputtering, “What?”

“Oh come on! I’ve been waiting since you were seventeen for this!”

“Waiting?”

“Yes! Agni, you women are so complicated!”

Before Katara could muster up something to say, Zuko came running out

“Is everything alright? I heard someone yell.” His voice slowed as she approached the scene in front of him. He carefully analyzed both Katara and Sinjun, who were both a mess in their own respects.

“This girl needs to learn how to properly respect men. Especially men who are willing to be patient for them.”

“Patient!? I- since when-“ Katara began sputtering again, now on the brink of tears, clearly unaware of Sinjun’s actual intentions. Even though she had suspected something off about him, she never would have considered that he liked her.

“What do you mean by that?” Zuko attempted to clarify. He started making his way toward Katara who was now sitting back on the bench.

“I mean that I’ve been waiting a year for some mutual appreciation and all I’ve gotten is a punch in the face!” Sinjun exclaimed, “Talk some sense into the southern peasant,” he said as he began walking away.

Katara hadn’t heard the word peasant in a long time. So much so that it had become a foreign fern to her. But hearing it again brought back memories of the war she would’ve preferred to forget. A time when Zuko wasn’t by her side was a time she didn’t want to remember all that often, not after all he had done for her.

“Can I-“ Zuko finally said after a few long moments, gesturing to the seat beside Katara. She nodded her head that was now in her hands as she tried to wipe tears from her face.

“God, I’m so stupid. How couldn’t I tell he wanted more than just friendship?” She internally criticized herself.

“No one could tell.” Zuko said as he placed his hand on her back, rubbing up and down. “One thing I can tell now, though, is that Sinjun’s an asshole who won’t be on this council from now on, so long as I’m the fire lord. Katara chuckled at Zuko’s behavior. “Hey, I’m serious!”

“Yeah, and I’m a turtleduck,” she joked, sniffling a little afterward. “Thanks for coming, by the way.”

“Of course, Katara! I was worried about you y’know?”

“Yeah, I really just wanted some fresh air.”

Katara took a deep breath and sighed.

“It’s a beautiful night. It shouldn’t be ruined by one man.”

The little music that could still be heard from inside was slow. Katara closed her eyes again and swayed to the tempo of the song. After opening her eyes, she turned to Zuko. “How about a dance?” She spoke.

“I- what?”

“You said the night shouldn’t be ruined. A dance under the stars would certainly help make it all the more beautiful.”

Zuko sighed and stood up, offering his hand to Katara. “Sure, whatever. But I should warn you, I missed the years in the palace where I was supposed to learn how to dance.” Zuko said, making a nod to his past exile.

“I’d say you spent a good amount of time dancing around the Avatar, though,” Katara said as she smirked.

Zuko laughed and led her through a (mostly) graceful dance.

Eighteen was certain to be an eventful year for the waterbender. But with Zuko awkwardly stepping on her feet during a dance every now and then, she was sure she would get through it quite nicely.

[alexsoenomel]

In The Air Tonight (Sub!Dean Winchester x Reader smut)

Summary: You like Dean but you are too shy to tell him until one night...

Pairing: Dean x Reader 

Warnings: sexy times with  Dean, teasing and bj :)

Word count: 1782

Note: Wrote it in the first person, it’s an old one. Like/ reblog or both if you like it :)

You know when your crush is so intense you find yourself not being able to function properly? Well, that’s how I felt every freaking day for the past 10 years ever since I started working with The Winchesters. After my parents died in an “unexplainable” fire (like their mother did) I had nowhere to go. I was 17 and hunting was still new to me. My parents never wanted me to live this life, we kind of got dragged into it by vengeance after we found out my aunt was murdered by a nest of vampires. After that hunt, there was another and another until we stopped counting and accepted our new life. At times it was exciting the adrenaline and traveling but other times I felt like giving it up. It was a love-hate relationship. My father told me if anything bad happens to them, to just call John (old friend of his), he will help. And after the fire I did, only to be greeted by Dean’s voice and the sentence “John is dead”. They took me in and the rest was history. After a while they learned that they could trust me and eventually I became family.

After few years of hunting with them I became quite skilled and found myself looking at the older Winchester more than usual. In fact at times I couldn’t stop staring. There was something so mesmerizing about him and his whole being I couldn’t put my finger on it. I don’t know if it was because of his piercing green eyes, his charm, and humor or overall just his heart, but I was head over heels for that dude. I managed to hide it at first, from him and from Sam, but I knew it wouldn’t last. My face was like an open book, you could read me easily. That’s how Sam found out.

One night after a hunt Dean came out of the bathroom in just his towel around his waist (Yeah…) to the library for whatever reason. Sam and I were deep in the books because we couldn’t sleep. When I saw him my cheeks went completely red and I refused to look at him until he went to his room.

“Oh no…” Sam then came to a conclusion not whipping a huge ass grin off his face.

“Oh no what Sam?” I tried to play along.

“Oh no you have a crush.”

I gave him a typical harsh NO for an answer. I was lying my ass off and Sam could see right through it.

“Liar.”

And after denying it for like two minutes I finally gave up. “Okay fine I like him.”

“Since when?”

“Don’t know.” I mumbled. “You can’t tell him Sam.”

“Oh I won’t he will find out soon enough.” He laughed.

“What do you mean?”

“(Y/N) when he walked in you were red as a beet and practically drooling.”

“Hmm, good point.”

After that we never spoke about it again. I pretended like everything was fine and normal, but we all know how that shit always fails. And it did thankfully one night after me and Dean went to the bar we would always go after a successful hunt. Sam said he would go take a walk to the bunker saying he wanted some me time. I knew he just wanted me to spill my feelings to his older brother. Well after two glasses of whiskey I almost did. We talked about childhood, good and bad times, confessed stuff that was on our minds in that moment…We had a pretty good time. When clock hit 2am we knew it was probably best to go and get some rest. We were both tipsy but Dean was still capable to drive. When he finally pulled up in front of the bunker and as I was about to unbuckle my seatbelt when…

“Wait!”

“Yeah?” As I turned to look at him he leaned in and kissed me. I was taken aback for a second before I kissed him back. It was like swallowing something sweet with lots of alcohol. I undid my seatbelt and leaned in slamming him against his seat before moving on his lap. I could barely fit but I managed somehow. We stayed like this for a while; kissing and groping each other like a couple of teenagers before breaking the kiss to finally face each other.

“Well then…” I broke the ice not really knowing what to say. He brushed his thumb against my cheek not taking his gorgeous eyes off me.

“Yeah one word, wow.”

“Did you know I would kiss you back? Was I that obvious?” I asked him remembering Sam’s words.

“Yes and no.”

“How though?”

“I just felt like there was something more between us. I can’t explain it.”

“There was something in the air tonight, huh?” I remembered that song my dad used to play in the car while traveling.

Dean smiled because he caught my reference. Phil Collins never gets old.  “Yeah you could say that.”

“Since when?”

“Since when what?”

“Since when you see me more than a friend?”

“It has been so long at this point I don’t even know.”

“Same here.” I cupped his head with my hands and kissed him, this time hungrily telling him exactly what he wanted to hear. Now that secret was out, we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. We barely made it to his room without waking Sam up. We pushed each other against the car, front door and hallway walls until we finally reached Dean’s bedroom. I was pretty sure we will end up with bruises tomorrow.  I slammed the door shut and locked it just in case Sam wakes up.

I kissed Dean as I pushed him against the door making him gasp. When I couldn’t breathe anymore I broke away and started unbuttoning his flannel.

“Jesus (Y/N) what has gotten into you?” Dean smirked.

“I think you know my answer.” I responded. “You.”

Taking off his flannel I pulled him by his belt telling him to follow me to his bed and that was exactly what he did. He sat down and like a puppy watched as I undressed myself scanning every inch of me. I liked the attention he was giving me which was strange because I would usually shy away whenever he would look at me. Leaving only underwear on I sat on his lap and kissed him again as I slowly moved my lips on his jaw then on kiss neck leaving bite marks in the process. There was just something I liked about biting.

His hands were on my hips and as I started to grind his grip tightened. I could already feel how hard he really was.

“Are you actually trying to kill me?” He said almost out of breath.

“Kinda.” I smirked pushing him onto the mattress.

“How are you so…?”

“What?” I asked him undoing his belt. “Dominant?”

“Yes, that. And you’re always so shy.”

Taking off his pants I laughed and gave him the answer he wanted. “Shy girls are always full of surprises, Dean.”

“So far, I’m loving this surprise.”

“Good to know.” I climbed on top of him feeling his hard dick teasing me through my underwear. I started slow, kissing his lips, neck and going lower as his breathing became more apparent. He was slowly losing his mind and I loved it. When I reached his boxers I didn’t want to take them off right away. Instead I kissed the skin around where the hem was, licking ever so slightly just to drive him mad. I was succeeding because he was groaning and begging me to do something.

“Please.” Was music to my ears. I loved the control I had.

“Shhh don’t let Sam hear you!”

“Then stop torturing me.”

“Okay, okay.” I took off his boxers finally setting him free and stroked him a couple of times before licking his shaft slowly. A light moan escaped from his lips as I started to lick the tip of his long dick not breaking eye contact. He was on cloud nine as I took him whole and started to move my head up and down. My pace was slow at first but when he grabbed a chunk of my hair and started pulling me down I knew he wanted more. I decided to be good to give him just that.

“Jesus (Y/N).”

I felt his dick hitting the back of my throat with each and every move before he told me he was close and I stopped.

“Why?” He asked frustrated.

“Not yet.” I just winked at him. I took the bra and panties off before I let him touch me.

“You’re brutal.” He said trailing his fingers over my hips and stomach.  

“And you’re wonderful Dean Winchester.” I said positioning myself on top of him and slowly sat down. He was big but felt so freaking good. “Fuck.”

Slowly I started to move as my mind went on him. I was enjoying the sight beneath me and he sure as hell was enjoying his. We were both moaning each other’s names desperately trying not to get loud and wake up Sam. The bed was squeaking as I sped up my pace seeing he was slowly falling apart. His grip on my hips hurt, but I liked it. It was a different kind of pain.  

“Are you close?” I managed to ask him between breaths.

“Y-yeah.”

“Look at me Dean.”

“W-what?” Poor guy was so lost in me he didn’t hear what I said.

“I said, I want you to look at me when you cum.” I said locking my hands with his. “I wanna see you fall apart.”

“Jesus (Y/N).”

My pace became faster and faster and I could feel my orgasm approaching. I was falling apart just like him and I think he could see it.

Finally, and quite unexpectedly I came and few seconds later so did he. My body was stiff; waves of pleasure went through my whole body as I was moaning his name over and over again. Him, on the other hand, was clenching my hips with eyes shut, biting his lower lip not wanting to be too loud. I finally collapsed next to him covered in sweat and panting.

“Wow!” He said.

“Not bad for our first time, huh?” I asked him feeling proud. I just made Dean Winchester fall apart under me.

“Best sex I had, hands down.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I still can’t believe you’re like that.”

“Oh you haven’t seen anything yet.” I said and kissed him. “I really like you, Dean.”

“I like you too, (Y/N).”

[blackjackkent]

Oh man, more Jaheira conversations I never had with Hector bc it didn't occur to me to look for them. I'm sure I could have, because according to the dialogue files, this is a high-approval conversational line - nice to know that Rakha has reached that point with her also.

This is self-indulgence on my part bc my Jaheira brainrot is real and I'm making that everyone's problem. XD

"What can you tell me about the Harpers?"

"Hmm. I've learned not to unpick the legends so many have woven around our name. Seeing the hope die in a romantic's eyes - it is only funny the first few dozen times. Some call the Harpers heroes. Others, petty meddlers who cannot help but stick their nose into into every conflict they stumble across. The truth is in there somewhere. We try to work towards a common balance. If every other faction finds us equally annoying, that is probably a sign that we are succeeding."

"How did you end up joining?"

"I will not bore you with a long tale. The short - I was born to a high family in Tethyr. I remember little, except that when my family fell, they fell far, and fast. I learned young what fear and hunger make desperate people do. I learned to do some of it myself, even, until a roving circle of hedge druids found me. They raised me in the wild. But when it became clear I was perhaps not suited to a life of idle reflection, I was sent to the Harpers - to *do*. They showed me how to fight with sword as well as spell, and gave me ample causes to wield them for. If I was not always the truest believer in every cause, well..."

"I fell in love with someone who was. And that is almost the same thing."

(A/N: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 )

"Want to tell me more about this someone you loved?"

"Mm? No. Not really."

(A/N: Lmao.)

"It sounds like you and the Harpers have a complicated history."

"Oh, you might say that. I left their service and swore never to return. Multiple times, if I recall. It is easy to get tired of the intrigue, the high causes shrouded in secrecy. I thought I might find another way to be of use to the world. And for a time, I did."

(A/N: Travels with Rasaad, in this worldstate, among other things. <3 )

"But my comrades would use a rather irritating phrase - 'A Harper never leaves the chorus, she simply goes to spread the song.' Meaning that whatever cause I turned my hand to, there I would find them. Harpers, stuffed with their own virtue but always there, always trying to help. So I returned to the fold, returned to the city. Eventually, they hung a title around my neck: 'High Harper.' And I still do not know how to play one."

"If I tried to spare Geraldus the same headaches, well, now you know why. And if he is half the Harper I suspect, it won't make a damned bit of difference."

"But you're staring, which means the tadpole has finally eaten your brain, or I have been talking too much. Either way, time to move, no?"

[dyns33]

Flufftober 2024 - 11 Javi G

Y/N had been working for the Gutierrez family for a long time. A bit before the father died.

A brilliant accountant, she had quickly become friends with Gabriella, and without really trying to with Javi, who would soon become her boss.

It seemed stupid and cliché to fall in love with him. First, because it was not a good idea to have a relationship with her superior. Then, because he was too good for her. And finally, it seemed obvious that something was happening between him and Gabriella.

She liked them both very much, readily acknowledging that they went very well together, so Y/N never tried anything, staying in her place.

Several years had passed, Javi's cousin was in prison, he had started in the cinema with the help of the famous Nick Cage, and everything was going well in the best of all possible worlds.

Except perhaps from a romantic point of view. Even though they now had free rein to show the world their love, it seemed that Javi and Gabriella were too shy to admit their feelings to each other. Y/N didn't dare something, it wasn't her business. But she wanted them to be happy and was starting to get impatient.

When she learned that a Halloween ball was going to be organized, she thought she could subtly push the two idiots to talk to each other.

"What will your costume be, Gabriella ?"

"I don't know yet. I don't even know if I really want to dress up, I'm not a child anymore."

"No ! There's no age limit for having fun, and Javi will be disappointed if you don't come."

"Probably, but I'm the one who's going to manage everything so that the party is perfect. I can still wear a costume I guess, but I don't know which one."

"Why not something in common with Javi ? That would be really funny !"

"Hmm. I'll see. And you, what are you going to dress up as ?"

Y/N didn't know yet either. She hadn't really thought about it, not considering it to be of great importance, totally focused on her mission.

Like a good friend, Gabriella decided to help her by giving her some advice, eventually convincing her to choose Little Red Hood. Simple and fun disguise, among those who would be disguised as monsters.

When the big night arrived, it was a surprise to see her friend as a witch, and Javi as what looked like to be a trapper. Maybe they hadn't managed to find a common idea.

She asked him after a few drinks, when he came to keep her company on the balcony.

"A common costume ?" he wondered. "She didn't tell me about that. On the other hand, she insisted a lot for me to be a hunter."

"You're supposed to be a hunter ? But you don't have a gun."

"I'm a nice hunter, my knife is mostly used to cut my cheese. And you, Little Red Hood ?"

"Yes. Gabriella's idea."

"Ah."

A slight silence settled between them, their gazes falling on the ocean, as their brains began to understand their friend's plan. The latter was gesturing at them from the ballroom, grimacing, trying to make them understand that they had better things to do than stand there like that.

"Hmm." Javi said with an embarrassed pout. "She had spoken of a wolf too, for the wild side, before opting for the hunter, the hero who saves the girl."

"I don't really understand why your lover would want such a thing… If it's to make fun of me…"

"My lover ?"

"It's okay, Javi, everyone knows. You two are perfect together. I suspected that she had understood that I was… But I never said anything, it's not nice to do that."

"Wait… But I'm not with Gabriella. We're just friends. She knows I'm in love with y… Uh…"

"In love with ?" Y/N asked, turning to him, her eyes full of hope.

"I…"

"But damn it, kiss each other !" Gabriella yelled from across the room. "I've been putting up with this for an eternity, that's enough !"

With all eyes on them, Y/N and Javi felt even more embarrassed than they were before, realizing that they had loved each other for years, without ever having thought that their feelings were reciprocated.

The last to know, those around them were impatiently waiting for them to stop behaving like idiots. Even Nick Cage had noticed what was happening, even though he had just met them.

Shyly, Javi placed a kiss on her cheek, which made the assembly scream with joy. But if he didn't dare do more in front of witnesses, when they were alone, he quickly demonstrated that he could very well have chosen the wolf costume.

[lkfarrout]

What Happened Last Summer (18+) Chapter 2

This is the second installment of this series - read chapter 1 here :)

Chapter 3 and 4 out now!

“Get dressed, Poindexter, I’m buyin’ us breakfast.” Stan peered into Ford’s room as he fastened his belt. “Hurry, we’ll be late.”

“Late for breakfast?” Ford pulled on his red turtleneck. “They serve it all day, Stan – I promise they’re not gonna run out.”

“We’re meetin’ Kathy there, genius.”

Stanford’s face lit up. “Oh, so I finally get to meet the woman you’ve been sneaking off with every night?”

“Only if you can be in the car in the next five minutes.”

_____

Kathy found the conversation pleasant, and the pancakes even more so. They were nearly done with their meal when Ford commented, “Kathy, Stan tells me you taught school for 25 years?” He poured himself a second cup of coffee and began to stir in a little cream as Kathy replied in the affirmative. Ford continued with a chuckle, “Not exactly the type I would have paired Stanley with.”

Stan interrupted, “Yeah, ya probably couldn’t tell, but I wasn’t as big into school as Poindexter over here.” Ford nodded in agreement before taking a large swig of coffee.

Kathy patted Stan’s knee, “Oh, I could tell, Stan. You have a few learning disabilities.” Ford nearly spit out his drink trying to choke back a laugh.

Stan sighed, “It’s a good thing I like you, y’know.” He threw his arm behind her and let it rest on the back of the booth. “Let’s just hope the kids like ya as much as I do.”

“What time does the bus arrive?” Kathy inquired.

Ford answered, “In just a few hours. Are you coming with us to pick them up?”

“No, I’ve got some work to do today, and we decided it would be better to give them a few days to get settled back in first.”

“Mmhmm,” Stan agreed, “and once the motel closes on Monday, I thought we could all do minigolf or somethin’.”

“Oh!” Kathy looked at her watch, “Speaking of that, I’ve got to run! Thanks for breakfast. Great to meet you, Stanford.” She shook Ford’s hand, planted a kiss on Stan’s cheek, and left the twins alone in the booth. 

They picked at their food in silence for a moment.

“Stan?” Ford began.

“Hmm?”

“How much have you told her?”

Stan knew this conversation was coming – the question had hung in the air for all of breakfast. He set his utensils down and looked at Ford. “She knows about my criminal record, if that’s what you mean, and that I went by your name for a while.”

“Come on, Stan, you know what I’m talking about. The portal? Last summer? How much does she know?”

Stan slapped a handful of cash on the table and rose to his feet. “She knows nothing, Sixer, and that’s how it’s gonna stay.” He headed out the door and towards the car. Ford hurriedly followed and managed to get in his way. Stan tried to push past, but Ford grabbed him by the shoulders.

“Look, if you actually like this woman you have to tell her eventually. People are more accepting of the supernatural these days than you’d think.”

“Tell her what?” Stan shoved his brother off of his arms. “That I pushed you into a portal, took three decades to bring you back, nearly ended the world, and almost got the kids killed? She aint gonna leave over a few ghosts – she’ll leave over my mistakes.” 

“Stan… is that what you think happened?” Ford reached for his brother’s hand. “Stanley, you saved all of us. You saved me twice. Maybe your memory didn’t recover as well as I thought.”

Stan yanked his hand away. “My memory is just fine. I know you think I’m a hero, but I’m not sure she’ll see it that way.”

Ford conceded, stepping out Stan’s way as he stormed past to the car. They drove in silence for a few minutes, Stan’s knuckles white from gripping the wheel.

Finally, Ford cleared his throat. “Stanley, let the kids tell her.” Stan just side-eyed him as he continued, “If anyone can convince her you’re a hero, it’s them. And if she still doesn’t think so after that, she isn’t worth your time.”

[talonoa]

August DWC 2024 Day 7 - Enigma

“When are you going to retire?” Glowing, golden eyes raised, a mischievous grin tugging at Daxion’s lips. This has been a question Talon’s son had been asking him prior to every campaign that had been fought on Azeroth. Of course, nothing much had started nor was official just yet, but both Daxion and Talonoa knew this feeling well enough. Daxion now a Champion within the Blood Knights and Talonoa a Retired Commander of the Argent Crusade, the two had seen enough war between them to fuel a few lifetimes.

“At this rate? Never.” Talon’s icy gaze flashed with both amusement and truth, Daxion wasn’t as amused. Talonoa had become something of an enigma over the past decade and a half after his encounters with Gaebral. While his heart still beat and his skin still flushed with color, the remainder of him had taken on the properties of a Death Knight, or something similar. There was no need to sleep, to eat or drink, nor to rest in general. He had become limitless and not governed by the laws of the living. It was a boon, for now, but eventually Death would catch up to him.

Few people knew about his ‘situation’, but Daxion was one of them and didn’t always appreciate his jokes. “I suppose when I finally retire myself I can just come to you, hmm? Old habits do die hard.”

“You should start that family you’ve been talking about. With Eliesa? That was her name, right? She seemed like a nice woman.” The thought of becoming a grandfather was not a bad one, as the ship had probably sailed on him becoming a father again.

“Yeah, well, she broke up with me. You know the drill. Too busy, too work oriented. It’s true, I am. It’s hard to put someone else first when the world is consistently at war.” Daxion shrugged, he had gone through a handful of relationships over the years since Talon had finally met him.This wasn’t surprising.

“Seems as if we’ll have our hands full very soon anyways. Promise me you’ll keep me updated?” Despite not being aware of each other until only about a decade ago, the two had formed a tight bond, especially being each other’s only remaining family.

“Of course. You as well. Be safe and Light guide.” The Light was certainly no longer a part of Talon’s life, but it was a habit to say.

The two embraced before Daxion departed for Dalaran to meet up with the other Blood Knights to aid in the radiant echoes. It didn’t sit well with Talon, having his only family in a place that was ripe with rumors and bad vibes. There was a reason why he wasn’t having his mercenary crew gather in the floating city to be on call just in case they were needed within the echoes. Talon had learned a long time ago to trust his gut, and it was telling him to stay very, very far away from that city.

@daxionsunvale @gaebral

@daily-writing-challenge

[weepylucifer]

4 or 48 for steban/ulixes?

4. “Do you…well…I mean…I could give you a massage?”

Steban sighs and stares down at his desk. His unfinished essay stares back at him, accusing. Really, the only thing he still needs is a strong conclusion, but he's never been good at these, and he's tired. Then the draft will need to be edited. Steban considers the vast arry of edits that likely needs to be made, and contemplates going missing.

His wrist is cramped from writing. His shoulders ache from having sat hunched over the desk for hours. His eyes are disgustingly sticky with exhaustion. Vaguely, he notes that it has grown dark outside, most probably a while ago.

"Are you about done?" Ulixes asks, shattering the silence.

Uli has been so quiet, Steban almost forgot he's there. But all evening he's been on Steban's bed, a small pile of books close to hand, doing research for an essay of his own.

"I want to walk into the pale," Steban tells him.

"Succumbing to the pale constitutes defeatism, which is the enemy of the cause," Ulixes says, which, Steban has learned to identify in the two years they've been friends, is an Ulixes Joke.

He's too tired to laugh, though, so he just says, "Yeah. Good reminder." He rubs his aching wrist, trying to coax some life into it. It doesn't really help. Besides, he's starting to feel a tension headache coming on. "Alright, let's get it done."

Ulixes cocks his head like a curious creature. "I didn't mean to imply... you don't have to finish it right now. Take a break?"

"I'll fall asleep." He tries to relax his shoulders. Something crackles ominously. "Ouch. This chair might be really bad for my back."

When Steban cranes his neck to look back, Uli has sat up straighter on the bed. "Are you okay? Are you in pain?"

It's sweet, Steban thinks, how Uli wants to look out for him, but he startles so quickly sometimes. It reminds Steban of when he tried to raise his first plant: he'd plied it with attentions, completely overwatered it, and when it inevitably died, he'd lied on the floor and reproached himself for hours. Okay, the metaphor is getting away from him a little. It reminds him of somebody who's been tasked with safeguarding a fragile, precious thing, who has no experience with fragile, precious things.

"I'm fine," he says, "just tense."

Ulixes fidgets a little. Then he asks, "Do you… well… I mean… I could give you a massage?"

This is so unexpected, it snaps Steban clean out of his fatigue. It's not that he has a problem with the suggestion, but... Uli doesn't really touch people, in general. "Do you know how to do that?"

Ulixes blushes faintly, for some reason, and admits, "I read a manual. From the bookstore." He gestures in the rough direction of the bookstore. Before Steban can ask why he did that, Uli adds, "I thought it would be edifying to... acquire a set of diverse skills. You know, like Nilsen."

Steban nods. "Ah. Of course, that makes sense." Wanting to emulate Nilsen... it checks out. "Well, if you want a test subject for your new skill, here I am."

For a moment, Ulixes seems hesitant. Eventually, however, he approaches. "I haven't done this before," he says. "I can't guarantee it will be good."

Steban smiles at him, because Uli starting a hobby that is something else than reading about war crimes, debating war crimes, or sitting very quietly and thinking about war crimes must be encouraged. "I'm sure you'll do fine."

Slowly, skittishly, Ulixes moves to put his hands on Steban's shoulders. "Um... may I...?"

"Hmm?" Will he just start already, Steban thinks.

"Your hair."

"Oh. Right. Of course." He feels Ulixes brush his hair off to one side, and then, finally, Uli's hands settle on his shoulders. He expects Uli to squeeze way too tightly, but this doesn't manifest - his touches are light, gently prodding, checking for tension points. Testing the waters, almost. Eventually, he begins to rub his shoulders, still so lightly, like he doesn't trust himself with more.

"Go on already, I can barely feel it," Steban mutters. Then - and he doesn't quite know where that thought came from, only that it makes him feel a strange thrill, "Actually, should I take my shirt off?"

Uli makes an odd sound, like he just swallowed his own tongue. His voice sounds choked when he says, after a beat, "Yeah, okay."

Steban shrugs off his shirt, folds it neatly and puts it on the desk. He's not squeamish about this stuff, and Uli has certainly seen him shirtless before in the summer, when he just overheats so terribly, but there is a sense of heightened intimacy to it when Uli actually touches his skin. That hasn't happened before, as far as he can recall.

Is he imagining it, or does Uli's breath hitch minutely at the touch?

Then Uli's hands settle finally on his shoulders, and his long, clever fingers begin a kneading motion.

It's surprising how much it hurts - "Oof, you've got some knots here," Uli mutters, and Steban has to gasp mutely as his knuckles dig into a tight, tense spot along the back of his neck - but it's a good pain, benevolent, cleansing, and when it fades, it leaves behind... lightness. Ulixes is squeezing that sore and heavy feeling out of him, and Steban almost gets teary at the intense pressure followed by intense relief.

"The manual said this could hurt a little," Uli explains, and Steban shakes his head and breathes, "You're good. It's all good" as he, his head a little swimmy, has to imagine how it would feel if Uli's hands were on him everywhere like this, stroking and pressing, traversing every inch of him until no part of his body remained unmarked by touch. If he reached around from his back to his chest, palming his nipples, then down his stomach where he's been accumulating just the slightest sliver of softness since mums started sending all those care packages, then down his thighs and up again...

A shivery little sound of pleasure escapes his lips, almost a moan, but Steban can't bring himself to feel embarrassed by it. It simply feels too good to be touched by Ulixes, his comrade, his dearest friend. Alight, elated, he doesn't even mind that he's getting hard, shifting surreptitiously in his seat to build up friction. He hopes Ulixes doesn't see it, but it's a detached hope, and he can't even dredge up the wherewithal to be genuinely apprehensive about it. He bites his lip and contemplates, hazy and needful: he knows Ulixes focuses intently when he's immersed in a task, maybe, if his focus is deep, he won't even notice if Steban cums quietly in his pants, and that'd be that taken care of... he's just not sure if he can cum quietly. Already, he's making all kinds of small noises without wanting to that he can only insufficiently muffle or hold back.

No, undoubtedly, if he doesn't get himself together, Uli will notice, will look him over properly, concerned, and see the bulge in his pants. And that'll likely be the end of this, or maybe... maybe he will see the need in his lap and lean forward, reach down there and take him in hand, cup him in those slim, pleasing hands and draw heights of pleasure out of him...

...Nn-no. That's a little too much. He can't expect that of his friend, nor ask it... Uli has done him a great kindness today already. It would be uncomradely to exploit it, or even entertain the thought. With a great mental heave, Steban jolts himself back to reality.

"Okay," he says when he thinks he can trust his voice to come out relatively firmly, "that was... good. I think... enough, for today."

Ulixes takes his hands away. A part of Steban is relieved, another part wants the touch back. "Did..." Uli clears his throat. There's something odd about his voice. "Did I do okay?"

"Of course." Now, Steban reflects, he only has to get out of this situation somehow with his dignity intact. Maybe he didn't think this whole thing through.

Trying to shield his still-unflagging erection from view, he attempts to half-turn towards Ulixes, heeding too late Uli's startled cry of "No, wait!". He takes Uli in like seeing him clearly for the first time in a while: his hands still raised, his flustered expression, the flush on his face, the... quite sizeable tent in his pants.

"Ah. Hah. Well." Steban is keenly aware that his attempt at an urbane laugh just comes out... weird. He can feel his face heating up. But surely this isn't... well... they both understand these things, don't they. They're progressive, forward-thinking individuals, men of the world really, and as such enlightened intellectuals, they don't make a big deal out of it when they get hard touching their best friend. Right? Certainly.

...they're not men of the world, actually.

Steban realizes he stands at a crossroad: they can either try to politely ignore this situation, clumsily make light of it, and allow awkwardness to permeate the space between them. Or they can come together, press against each other, unite in a glorious, hungry kiss.

Steban makes a choice.

[mousemannation]

How did you get into fashion and what things do you want to design for like. Your career?

thank u for this question!!! hmm, when i was in primary school i did a little sewing with a friend's mum, and also my mum had to sew my costumes for my dance class end of year concert; so there's been sewing around me my whole life. We had a sewing class in year 7 too where I tie dyed and embroidered a pillow. I didn't take sewing elective though.

I properly started to get into it once I started watching historical sewing youtubers! People like Bernadette Banner, Morgan Donner, Bella Mae etc etc. I just found it so fascinating seeing the whole process of making clothes.

I also really enjoy cosplay and early on in my sewing journey my friend asked to do a Wicked the Musical joint cosplay as Elphaba and Glinda. My Elphaba dress remains my biggest ever sewing project despite technically being my first??? (technically bc I first wore it in 2020 after a year of making it but I've worked on it in the years since).

I'll also say, as someone who's always had issues with body image and gender, being able to make my own clothes massively helped me become more confident.

Gosh I keep having more points ejiejejej the next one is that I'm really invested in environmentalism and the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters. Between overconsumption, overproduction, unsustainable materials AND massive issues with slavery there is a LOT of change that needs to happen within the industry. Some of that happens with the general public, a lot of it must happen from the inside, and if I can be a part of that I would love it.

On to the second part of ur question (finally) well the real answer is I don't know kwkeksksksk. After I finished my certificate in fashion I had the choice to pursue a diploma in fashion (think commercial production, designing for brands, focus on clothing that gets reproduced and sold in large numbers) or in costume (specifically for live production like TV and film, theatre, ballet, dance). I didn't much enjoy the commercial side of fashion, stuff like sourcing materials in bulk, creating and organising patterns to maximise number of garments made- so I decided I'd prefer to do costume. I find the idea of creating one off garments to represent a character, using fashion to enhance a narrative really really enticing.

Do I really believe I want to pursue costume design as a career? I don't know. That question is a little more difficult for me since my disability has prevented me from getting a job. I don't have any working experience and already my job prospects are on shaky ground. The idea of having people rely on my is scary... but I don't think I'd be totally opposed. I'd probably prefer to work in theatre out of the options. Ballet is far too serious i could not handle the pressure, and I don't really like sewing other styles of dance costumes (like leotards or kind of anything Lycra lol). If I can find a local theatre company that's relatively low-pressure that could be fun.

I do also like the idea of making clothes on a small scale. One offs or small batch that I would sell locally. I enjoy the freedom of just letting myself create without restraints! Starting without an end goal!

I am STILL yapping but my final point is i have so many interests that i don't think I'll ever settle into one career. Even if i did get a job making costumes I'd almost certainly still be pursuing other things at the same time. It's a long term goal of mine to (eventually) go to university and get a degree in pure mathematics!!! I also want to do exchange at some point, find some three month program and go kskskwk. I want to travel, i want to write poems and books and songs, I want to draw more, paint more, learn to sculpt! I have always been a very ambitious person and this is not at all what u asked about so I will leave it here 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[sunshine-overload]

[BSTS] 4th Anniversary ‘Outsider’ Event Story - Part 2

Part 1

Chapter 8

-starless break room-

saki: Good work today, everyone.

ran: Oo it's Nee-chan! Ya came to watch us again today did ya?

nekome: It's been tough for Saki-chan too hasn't it~? Picking the cast members and coming to watch all our shows, you've got your hands full.

saki: Oh no, I haven't been doing much... Compared to you guys this is nothing.

taiga: I can't deny the fact that it's been difficult, this show especially. Like seriously, what was up with that improv part? The air still feels tense even now. 

ran: Hm-? I love that about it though, ya get used to it eventually!

taiga: Uegh, as if... There's no way I could get used to such a nerve-wracking show. Though, I guess I am a bit more used to it than the first performance.

kasumi: You really have to keep your guard up more than usual.

ran: This survival theme's great! It makes ya wonder if this is what it'd be like if we really did all try to kill each other. Ain't it exciting~?

nekome: That's quite a disturbing train of thought.

ran: No seriously, aren't ya curious what it'd be like?

taiga: Geh... Just imagining that happening is horrific enough.

kasumi: Since I'm a mob character I guess dying first would be my destiny~ When I consider that, it's reassuring.

taiga: No, what. Normal people wouldn't find that reassuring.

ran: Oh! So ya saying ya would still fight then, huh Taiga?

taiga: I wouldn't say I'd fight exactly... I'd make use of traps or something and survive as long as I can, basically. I ain't the sorta character that would fight head on in a bold fashion. If I were to run into Kokuyou he'd beat me to a pulp in three seconds flat.

nekome: Kokuyou does seem to be the type that would kill you quickly.

ran: Ahahaha, you're probably right! He'd take ya down the moment ya cross paths. However when it comes to those that are strong at hand to hand combat, all ya gotta do is take 'em out first by throwing a bomb or somethin'.

taiga: Hmm, a more guaranteed method would be better. Like setting up a poison trap from the same distance and then delivering the final blow whilst they can't move. Rather than planting your own bombs, defusing them and rubbing it in your opponent's faces is more fun.

nekome: You're really raring to go there Taiga, impressive impressive. However, aren't those sorts of crafty characters the ones that end up self sabotaging themselves in the end?

taiga: Geh... Don't say that.

ran: That's when Ran-chan would make his grand appearance. I'd show up an’ wipe out any of the remainin’ tough guys in one go~ ☆ Wouldn't it be the best if we were legally able to kill each other?

saki: (This conversation keeps heading in even more disturbing directions...)

taiga: Dude don't go full psychopath on us. Look, you're freaking Saki-san out.

ran: It goes without sayin' that no matter what happens, till the very last moment, I would plan to protect ya, Saki-chan. So don't worry!

saki: Ahaha...

—end

-

Chapter 9

-starless restaurant area-

aogiri: ...That's everything you ordered. Please enjoy yourselves.

female guest 1: Thanks. I've gotta say, your smile is so healing, Aogiri-san~

female guest 2: I know right. And you're so gentle and polite too, almost like a butler. I love it, I might become a stan~!

aogiri: Thank you, I'm honoured. I'm still only a trainee for now, but if I do get to be on the stage one day, I'll look forward to having your support.

-sceen pans to kei-

kei: Hm... He does not appear to be lacking in ability.

sin: Are you saying he's already grasped the upper strings then? Eloquence and secrecy go hand in hand. The tune that the crested ibis plays on the koto could easily become a melody that opens the gates.

kei: We cannot yet determine that. We of course still need to continue with caution but... If that's the case it may be safer for us to keep him under surveillance. How is the matter of the costumes progressing?

takami: Things are going well. I'm slowly learning more about how the external duties work. I was considering having him try and make a prototype costume for himself as well, what do you think? Well, first of all I think we should get him to show us what he’s capable of.

kei: ........

-behind starless, night time-

ran: Aaaand, there we go. Whew, today's been a lot.

-takami steps outside-

takami: Good work, Ran.

ran: Ooh, hi Takami, you too~

takami: How have things been going recently in Team B?

ran: Why ya askin' all of a sudden?

takami: I was wondering how Hinata's been handling things. Do you think he'll make for a good understudy?

ran: Ahh that's what ya meant. It's been tough for y'all on the temp management team huh. Hinata gives it his all during training, even though he's still got a lot to learn. But, the understaffing issue should be better now!

takami: That's good to hear. I'd heard he has been a big fan of Team B for a while now, so I was worried he might've just been slacking off.

ran: Yea he's a fan. The day Iwami-san brought him was the first time he'd ever been here though, right? This store is pretty underground, and minors rarely ever visit. So I was wonderin’— How on earth did he discover Heath then?

takami: Who knows. Perhaps he must've seen him in videos online?

ran: Ahh, he did say that, he did. That he saw a video of us! Well at any rate, don't worry, we'll make sure to take reaaal good care of him!

takami: I see, thank you.

ran: Imma head on in then~

-ran leaves-

takami: ........

—end

(tl note: I recommend listening to this ran takami convo voiced, I tried my best but it’s hard to convey that they clearly both know there’s something else going on, and that Hinata probably didn’t learn of B just from some video, its SUS)

-

Chapter 10

-rehearsal room-

kongou: Let's take a short break.

gui: Ok.

kongou: Make sure you keep your fluids up, Heath.

heath: I know.

-maica walks in-

maica: Hey, is Mizuki in here?

gui: He went out.

kongou: Did something happen?

maica: I came to tell him that his prop has been repaired.

kongou: Thanks. By prop you mean his weapon right?

maica: Yeah. He said the light wasn't working so it needed to be fixed. 

kongou: I see, sorry for the trouble.

maica: It's fine, I'm going to go and tell Nekome the same thing.

kongou: The close range weapons are more prone to breaking considering the circumstances huh.

maica: Sure, but he was still being way too rough with it. Mizuki almost hit me in the face the other day.

heath: That's because Mizuki's been going all out.

maica: And where did that Mizuki who’s skipping rehearsal go exactly?

kongou: He's not skipping. He's with Hinata who needed to go and buy a support brace.

maica: Oh? Just until recently he'd been going on about never letting you guys have an understudy ever, what changed his mind?

kongou: Now that you mention it, I don't actually know the details either.

gui: Mizuki told me to join B once before too. Is this different from that time?

heath: It wasn't because Mizuki changed. It's probably the opposite.

maica: That so?

kongou: In the end you didn't join B huh, Gui.

gui: My team is Team K.

kongou: Hahah, that's true.

maica: Well I'll get going then.

heath: Thanks for the help.

maica: Make sure you tell Mizuki to not break it next time.

—end

-

Chapter 11

-starless hallway-

-unei trips-

saki: Are you ok...!?

unei: Ow... I-I'm sorry~!

menou: Yawn... What are you doing?

qu: You really do lose your footing quite often hm? Let's pick up all these flyers first Unei-kun.

unei: Uwah, they really went all over the place... Would you two mind helping me out!?

menou: Don't wanna.

qu: I don't mind...

saki: I'll help too.

qu: Thanks, sorry for the trouble.

menou: Saki-chan shouldn't need to help out.

-menou picks up a flyer-

menou: Huh? This is from when he went on our onsen trip.

qu: And this one over here is for 'vow of love'. Time sure does pass you by quickly, it's already almost been a year since then.

unei: Every time our anniversary comes around I'm reminded just how much time flies. Wait, this isn't the time to be getting all sentimental, I need to tidy this mess up...!

-hari walks up-

hari: Qu, so this is where you were.

qu: What is it?

hari: Today's rehearsal location was changed to the second room, I came to tell—

mokuren: What the hell are you two doing? Rehearsal is starting right now. Oh Princess, what a nice coincidence, you should come and watch us practice too.

saki: O-ok.

-mokuren grabs hari and drags him away-

menou: Team C seems like it's been quite lively lately.

zakuro: Yes, it is as you can see. It is due to the number of sacrifices having increased from one to two. I shall tread carefully as to not be chosen as the third. So long.

-zakuro leaves-

qu: Everything’s tidied up here so you can go on ahead too.

unei: Yes, the flyers are all together again, thank you Saki-san.

saki: Is that so? Then, excuse me.

-saki leaves-

menou: You're not going, Qu?

qu: I will be. I just need to finish up here first.

menou: Hmm, to me it looks like you don't want to go. Your improv parts are pretty boring aren't they? You only put in the bare minimum. Were you always this bad at improv?

qu: Well... I wouldn't say it's the improv that I'm bad at. If it's to protect a country, a position or a person then I can act it out no problem. But when it comes to having to protect myself, to kill someone to do so... For some reason I just can't get a grasp on it.

menou: In that case you mean to say you'd be fine with it if Aogiri kicked you out of your spot and you became an understudy? If the options are fighting or being killed, then being killed is the easier option no? 

menou: Hari's performance is so interesting, since he's desperately fighting up there. Meanwhile, you just seem frightened Qu. Well whatever. When we're on stage together make sure you come at me like you're really trying to kill me, kay? Yawn, I'm going back to sleep.

-menou leaves-

unei: Ah, thank you!

qu: .......

qu: He really doesn't change does he...

—end

-

Chapter 12

-starless restaurant area-

maica: Looks like the fourth anniversary show is finally coming to a close.

akira: Ah... I'm so tired...

hinata: It's gonna be ending soon isn't it? It's kinda sad.

aogiri: I've learnt a lot, when I think about that I feel the same in wishing we could see more. Most importantly though, I'm glad the performances can come to a close without there having been any trouble.

hinata: Ahaha, yeah true.

-iwami walks up-

iwami: Yo, how are things?

hinata: Ah, Iwa-san-! Could it be you’ve brought gifts? Afternoon snacks?

iwami: Yeah, I picked out some sweets. They're for everyone.

hinata: Heck yeah! I was just getting hungry too~♪

maica: You've been visiting an awful lot lately huh.

iwami: That's just because I'm worried about you guys. Speaking of, there's a face I'm not familiar with here. Is he a newbie?

hinata (while eating): Das Aogiwi. He jus’ joined wike me.

aogiri: Nice to meet you. Um, and who might you be...?

iwami: I'm Starless' previous owner. But well, nowadays I'm just a regular fan of the place.

akira: Uwah, could you sound any shadier.

iwami: Leave me be. Well, we might run into each other every now and then, so let's get along.

aogiri: Understood. Speaking of the owner though... Where is the current one? I've yet to introduce myself to them yet.

iwami: Ah, Haseyama you mean. You don't have to worry about meeting him any time soon. It appears the store can run just fine without him here too.

aogiri: Is that so...?

hinata: I was wondering the same, why's that guy never come here anyways?

iwami: It's not that he isn't coming here, he can't. He got shot and is currently still in hospital because of it.

hinata: Huh? Wait what, you're being serious?

iwami: That's not all either. After that Saki-chan was kidnapped... It was a very troublesome string of events.

hinata: Whaaat, that's so scary.

maica: Oi, what unnecessary things are you filling the newbies' heads with. You're being inappropriate.

iwami: It's not unnecessary. If you don't tell them now it'll only affect you later, won’t it?

maica: That's...

iwami: Did they really not tell you anything about it when they employed you?

aogiri: No, this is the first I'm hearing of it.

maica: Um... Just make sure you're careful. There's recently been some bombing incidents nearby here too...

akira: Well, public safety ain't doing the best job in that case.

aogiri: ...Is that so. I had read this place was a cozy and well managed workplace though.

maica: Cozy? As an adjective for Starless?

aogiri: That's what was written on the job application page on your website.

akira: Sorry to say but you got duped, I feel bad for you~ 

aogiri: I do find it to be a workplace that's teeming with inspiration though.

—end

-

Chapter 13

-starless restaurant area-

saki: (Today's show was amazing as always. The other guests seem to all be fired up as well.)

female guest 1: Today's performance might have just been my favourite one out of all the fourth anniversary shows. Rindou was just so wonderful.

female guest 2: The way he endured villain Sotetsu's torture only to overthrow and defeat him in the end was so hot wasn't it~♪

saki: (Rindou-san's performance really did feel even more impressive than usual...)

-break room-

rindou: Is that so? If the guests enjoyed it then that's what’s most important.

saki: Yes. Everyone was really impressed by both you and Sotetsu's acting.

rindou: And what about you? Did you enjoy the show?

saki: Of course. It really was wonderful.

rindou: I'm happy to hear you think that. I'll do my best to keep that momentum going until the closing show.

saki: Yes, I'll be cheering you on. I'll go and tell everyone else my impressions too then.

-saki leaves-

sotetsu: You two seemed to be having fun. Was it about our improv? It was a pretty great show huh.

rindou: You're talking like you weren't involved. Half of the credit goes to your acting as well.

sotetsu: Really? I was just sticking to playing an easy to grasp villain though.

rindou: And that's exactly why it worked. It made it easy for me to choose the best direction to go from there. Thanks to that, I think it ended up being a great show.

sotetsu: Well that makes two of us. You seem to be looking well recently.

rindou: ...Yeah. For better or worse the situation hasn't changed but... I have no intentions to allow my personal feelings to affect the stage in any way, so don't worry.

sotetsu: I see. At this rate you could even take Kei on. I'll be expecting an exciting show.

rindou: You say it like that’ll be easy.

-starless backrooms-

ran: Rindou seems like he's back to his usual self.

maica: Yeah, thank god... By the way.

ran: Mm?

maica: I don't plan to get involved again but, I just want to confirm something. Have you made any progress regarding the Black Card?

ran: Nope, not at all. Of course I've still been gatherin’ info an’ stuff though.

maica: I see... I hope things can continue peacefully like this...

-break room-

rindou: Well, I'll get going.

sotetsu: Sure, see ya.

-rindou leaves-

sotetsu: So the card hasn't moved then huh... In that case...

-he looks to aogiri down the hall-

sotetsu: I guess it’s about time I start looking into this matter instead.

—end

To final chapters

[thornescratch]

15 people, 15 questions

@snipertrifle tagged me in the 15 things meme, and it's been sitting in my drafts since early October and I finally finished it.

1. Are you named after anyone? Yeah, my mom told my dad's sister she would name her first girl after her, since my aunt passed away young before I was born, and then they had to find a name that worked with that name. So, my middle name is for my aunt, and my first name was a convenience of assonance accompaniment.

2. When was the last time you cried? Like, actual sustained crying, back in June when my dad died. Some occasional tearing up since then, but each time I have immediately walled it off like some kind of imaginary cask of Amontillado because I have legitimately not had the goddamn time for an emotional breakdown until recently. (Now that it's November, I finally do have the time, but my brain is all, 'Hmm. No. I think we better wait for something innocuous in public to set you off unexpectedly. Perhaps the next time you got to Costco. Gotta keep you guessing.' Some poor customer service person is going to wind up on the witness business end of that, and it is going to be super awkward for everyone.)

3. Do you have kids? No, hasn't worked out that way. I always wanted them, though; I never had any doubt that I wanted to be a parent and have kids. It does make me sad. But I have nephews and nieces and godchildren I adore, so that's something.

4. What sports do you play/have played? Swimming, diving, soccer, some track and field, and I can skate well enough to not fall on my face most of the time.

5. Do you use sarcasm? Never.

6. What's the first thing you notice about people? How we would stack up against each other if we were stuck in a situation where cannibalism of the other was the only option for survival. (But in reality, eyes and voices. Sometimes hands.)

7. What’s your eye color? Brown.

8. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings. I do enjoy scary movies the way God intended, by reading about them in great detail on wikipedia but rarely watching them in full.

9. Any talents? I can tie cherry stems into knots with my tongue; I think my record is like, four in one minute. I can also touch my nose with my tongue and wiggle my ears. I'm okay at writing. Apparently I have the kind of face that people ask me for directions a lot (this is a mistake.)

10. Where were you born? Maryland.

11. What are your hobbies? Reading, writing, hockey, swimming, putting together Legos with the kiddos, screaming about Star Wars, occasional amateur skeletal articulation, foraging, the kind of hiking that's actually just rambling, and baking.

12. Do you have any pets? A turtle obtained through dubious legal means who will probably outlive me, at the rate he's going.

13. How tall are you? 5'6"

14. Favorite subject in school? English, Biology, Art. Surprisingly, Latin.

15. Dream job? I mean, optimally I would receive large amounts of money and not have to work at all! I used to say fiction editor, but now I want to just read whatever I want all day without necessarily trying to make it better. As long as I'm dreaming, anyway.

No pressure for tags, but I could always stand to learn more about @milliebeeweasel, @immoveableobject, @darkisrising, @bronze-lorica, @maikaartwork, @soranokumo-is-catt, @sushiburritonoms, and @marloweseyeball, if only so I can eventually steal their identities (both online and physical).

[randomkposts]

Tamaki Uchida as a Persona user

I want Tamaki fic. From If to P2. As she went to two schools that had demon outbreaks, became a devil summoner/part time detective while going to  college, then was probably awake during the dark hour, and that's probably the most in the know POV possible over multiple games. Unless you do Philemon or Nyarlathotep's POV, I guess. 

She was traumatized by the first one, refused to participate in the second one, and had moved city's and a world ending event happened.

Then the dark hour

I want Eriko/ Elly to drag her into the quest

They are both on the fencing team. Eriko is fascinated by The supernatural. And brave. And Tamaki knows the supernatural well from personal experience

So P1 protagonist, Mark, Nanjo Kei, Maki, and Reiji are doing the SEBEC questline. 

Yukino, Brown, Yuka, and Elly set out on the Snow Queen quest. Eriko notices Tamaki knows her Demon lore, and refuses the sword she offers, instead pulling her into the party

So on one hand Tamaki and Tadashi being a Devil Summoner duo is a cool concept if you choose to forget he's a self insert. Weird pairing, apparently canon. 

He is probably a strong source of support to her canonically, if you choose to view him as a character divorced from the self insert nature. But also we don't see it in focus often, so… I could take or leave him. 

But it would be interesting to have  a character who can summon Personas and Demons, and she is a crossover of 3 fandoms with her appearances in games. 

I would say Tamaki’s arcana is Strength for her starting persona.  The other bests are Justice, and chariot to start. Bads are, hanged man, the devil.

In persona 2 IS ,her goods are lovers, and the other 3 affinities.

In EP, one of her bests has changed to magician. Judgment has shown up in good. Possibly in place of lovers.  Hanged man is neutral. 

Hmm

Anyway as a Strength arcana, I'm thinking her starting persona might be Hervor. (From wikipedia)

Hervor was born after her father Angantyr's death (he died during a duel against the Swedish hero Hjalmar) to his wife Svafa, who was daughter of a Jarl Bjarmar. Rather than take on sewing or be raised as a bond-maid like other girls, Hervor proved to be as strong as the boys and learned archery, swordsmanship, and horse riding.

She dressed like a man, fought, killed and pillaged under her male surname Hjörvard. When she learned of her father's identity she decided to live as her father and to find Tyrfing, the magic sword."

One day, she arrived with her fleet to Munarvágr on Samsø (Samsey), but she was the only one who dared to embark on the haunted island. The remainder of her crew feared the nightly activities around the barrows on the island. As she approached the barrows she saw a fire shining above them, and she approached the largest one. She then talked with a loud voice summoning her father Angantyr to reveal himself. She said that as his daughter she was entitled to her rightful inheritance, Tyrfing. Then, she also summoned her eleven uncles and she did so with such a loud voice and such harsh words that finally, her father's voice was heard and he asked not to pursue her quest. She did not give in but continued to ask for her rightful inheritance.

Finally, the grave opened and in its centre a fire was shining. There she saw her father, and he warned her not to ask for the sword. It would bring death to their whole clan if she used it. Still, she persisted. Finally the sword was cast out of the grave, and she eagerly gripped it, bid farewell to her dead kinsmen and walked to the shore.

However, when she arrived at the shore, the ships were gone. Her crew had been scared away by the fires and the thunder from the barrows."

Eventually, she managed to leave the island and arrived at the court of Gudmund of Glæsisvellir. She still dressed herself as a man and called herself Hervarðr. Cunningly, she helped the king to win playing tafl. However, she also slew a courtier who tried to unsheathe Tyrfing after she had left it on a chair. Then, she resumed her Viking activities, and travelled far and wide.

After a while she grew tired of the adventures and returned to her foster-father Bjartmar. At Bjartmar's residence, she betook herself to sewing and embroidering like other girls, and was considered to be a beautiful and good-mannered girl.

King Gudmund's son Höfund, then arrived to ask for her hand, and she said yes. The old king Gudmund arranged a grand wedding, and entrusted the kingdom in the hands of the young couple. They lived happily and had two sons who were given the names Angantyr and Heidrek.

The sword Tyrfing would continue its ill work, and Heidrek slew his brother Angantyr with the sword. "

Tamaki does not so much go searching for a sword, but answers the call and receives a COMP. She goes on a journey and potentially saves her school or damns it. 

Then she tries to get out, to go do fairly normal girl stuff, fencing,and  avoid future Devil instances.

Of course, that doesn't work long term, but she tried.

For Evolved persona, am considering Bradamante.

(From Wikipedia)

“Bradamante, a female Christian knight in the service of Charlemagne, is the sister of Rinaldo and the daughter of Duke Amon, the duke of Dordognes.[4] She falls in love with a Saracen warrior named Ruggiero, but she refuses to marry him unless he converts from Islam. An expert in combat, she wields a magical lance that unhorses anyone it touches, and rescues Ruggiero from being imprisoned by the wizard Atlantes.She is described as wearing white, with a white shield and a crest of a pennon.

She is one of the French warriors fighting during a Saracen invasion into France. She is in the middle of fighting a Saracen warrior, Rodomont, when another Saracen warrior, Ruggiero, informs her that Charlemagne is retreating. Bradamante tries to leave to join the rest of the French forces, but Rodomont keeps her from leaving. Ruggiero, finding Rodomont’s actions dishonorable, steps in to fight Rodomont to allow Bradamante to leave. However, Bradamante is unable to catch up to Charlemagne’s army and instead returns to Rodomont and Ruggiero, feeling guilty for leaving someone else to fight in her place. Rodomont is impressed with the honor of Ruggiero and Bradamante and rides off, leaving Ruggiero and Bradamante together. They are mutually impressed with one another and share their identities. Bradamante also removes her helmet, revealing to Ruggiero for the first time that she is a woman. An ambush then manages to separate them.

The two lovers are separated many more times in the story, and Bradamante faces many challenges. She travels to a castle made of steel to rescue Ruggiero from the wizard Atlantes with the help of the sorceress Melissa and a magic ring, escapes from a castle full of illusions,and encounters many other difficulties.

After the lovers are reunited, Rinaldo grants Ruggiero his blessing to marry Bradamante. However, her parents reject the suitor even after Ruggiero converts to Christianity, preferring a Leo, the son of the Greek emperor Constantine. Bradamante manages to convince King Charlemagne to decree that she will only marry a man who can withstand her in battle, greatly angering her parents, who nonetheless reluctantly agree. Ruggiero, meanwhile, sets off to kill Leo. On the way, he finds the Constantine’s forces battling the Bulgarians. Ruggiero immediately enters the battle to assist the Bulgarians, who had been losing, and manages to turn the tide of the battle. However, he is captured and imprisoned by the Greeks. Leo, impressed with Ruggiero’s valor, 4frees him. He then asks for a favor, and Ruggiero, grateful for his freedom, promises to grant whatever Leo asks. Leo, having learned of Bradamante’s challenge and knowing he isn’t strong enough to win against her, asks that Ruggiero fight Bradamante on his behalf. Ruggiero reluctantly keeps his promise and disguises himself as Leo to fight Bradamante. He wins the match and retreats to the woods, wishing to die. There, Leo finds him and asks what is wrong. After Ruggiero reveals his identity and that he is in love with Bradamante, Leo annuls the engagement to let Bradamante and Ruggiero wed. At the end, their marriage gives rise to the noble House of Este, who were patrons to both Boiardo and Ariosto.

The poems drew from legends of Charlemagne, chansons de geste, and blended recurring motifs found in the Matter of France and the Matter of Britain. Bradamante and Ruggiero's romance is most likely made to parallel the romance of Angelica and Orlando. Bradamante and Ruggiero's love is reciprocated and honorable, whereas Orlando is driven mad with love and Angelica despises him. Bradamante also spends much of Orlando Furioso chasing down her love to save him, contrasting with Angelica, who spends most of the story running from Orlando."

Key word here is tries. In contrast to the first legend where she tries to give up the call and find love, the second legend has her keeping the call and finding an equal. Coursr that also depends ln keeping her OG arc. Or shifting to give her a new role in the stories.

I don't think the first Persona game was as thematically tied to legends origins. Also there's Nanjo, who has his butler as his ultimate so yolo.

One of her other bests are fortune dependant of Nova from SMT If. 

-Chariot for strength

-Magician for speed

-Temperance for balanced

-Wheel of fortune for luck

The other is justice, as she can either uphold fair decisions and consequences, and save the people, or she can turn on that and make decisions that are unfair, and lack accountability, and dishonest, as per SMT If.

The ones she is at odds with are hanged man and devil.

Hanged man is a card of stasis. A lack of a decision. Which she is at odds with. After all, she's always making some kind of decision be it active or passive.

-Upright card (keywords): Breaking old patterns, Circumspection, Letting go, Metamorphosis,

-Reversed card (keywords): Egotism, Inability to change, Missing an opportunity

And devil, a decision card. 

-Upright card (keywords): Bondage, Enslavement, Fear, Feeling trapped, Materialism, Temptation, more

-Reversed card (keywords): Breaking from addictions, Divorce, Freedom from restraints

Tamaki is not a character to stay still, take stock. It does not vibe with her strength Tarot. But as the hanged man card reveals she is keeping still, and the devil indicates she is the one trapping herself in it.  To make the best choices for her heart, she needs to reflect on what she wants, and cast off the self restraints keeping her from it. 

---

Of course, I'm not a Tarot expert. This is mostly with what I look up online. Feel free to add more in the comments or reblogs if you like. 

What Arcana's do you think Tamaki would have affinities for if she could summon a persona? And what Personas would you give her? 

[thelightofthingshopedfor]

actually I’m moving this to a new post because fuck it

okay so I finally looked at the reply, and

Even though there is no good way to prepare for a  neuropsychological evaluation, other than to get a good night sleep and  avoid feeling hungry, it is not unusual to feel as though you could have  done something more. In regards to the self-assessment tests you took  on-line, research has demonstrated that some of them result in high  false positive rates, which decreases the validity of the results (Sara  Jones, Maria Johnson, et al Autism Research and Treatment; Bram Sizoo,  EH Horowitz, et al Autism journal).  Other psychiatric diagnoses besides  autism can result in elevated scores on these self-tests.  Neurocognitive discrepancies and deficiencies frequently associated with  autism were not part of your pattern of test results. As I mentioned in  the report  you have symptoms consistent with autism but there isnt enough to reach  the severity of an autism diagnosis. The results in my opinion are more  accurately described by social anxiety, ADHD, and a persistent anxious  mood disturbance. I appreciate your desire to better understand yourself  and the test results and hope you are also able to discuss these  questions with your therapist as well.

a) maybe I’m overly sensitive (...fine, I’m almost certain I’m overly sensitive) but this feels patronizing b) part of my entire point in sending self-test results and discussing additional things that didn’t come up in the interview was to point out, hey, I have potentially new information that didn’t come up in the interview so maybe the evaluation should be reconsidered, at least a little bit, in light of that new information? and this basically sounds like “no, I’ve already decided your social difficulties are based on anxiety and new information doesn’t affect that because the cognitive tests don’t indicate autism.”

in some ways, I don’t know, maybe I shouldn’t find this upsetting because it’s not like they came back saying I’m neurotypical, they did confirm the ADHD so that’s something, especially because it's been pretty destabilizing the way my prescriber has always been kind of half-hearted about it (”yeah you fit the criteria but also it’s not a severe case, everybody forgets things sometimes, hmm wait you’re not responding to stimulant meds so maybe it’s not ADHD after all and I should change my diagnosis, idk”). and since there’s so much symptom overlap between ADHD, anxiety, and autism, maybe it shouldn’t matter that I only have a diagnosis for two of the three.

but it feels like--if it’s social anxiety, it’s on me to fix it. I have to work on it, and expose myself more, and put myself out there, and do exhausting shit that kind of makes me want to cry just thinking about it, and maybe if I work hard enough and burn myself out learning every social cue ever, I’ll eventually stop fucking up and manage to be normal, and maybe friends will stop ghosting me. I’m sure the healthier way to look at that is that it’s fixable and I should feel empowered to do something about it, but I don’t, I just feel exhausted and overwhelmed because I’m being asked to do something I don’t have the energy to do.

if I’m autistic, I’m...never going to be normal. I have to mask in certain settings, but the healthiest thing is to not mask as much as possible, to try to be authentic, whatever that ends up meaning. That’s...not necessarily good, because as I understand it a lot of people only like the mask, but at least that might mean it’s not my fault that people keep ghosting me, you know?

I don’t know, I’m probably looking at this all wrong because I just do that, because at this point my brain is so fucking rewired by depression I don’t know how to fix that either, but it feels like if it’s all social anxiety, any problems I have are my fault unless I put in the effort to fake everything, using energy I don’t have...whereas if I’m autistic, at least then maybe it’s not my fault, maybe I’m not already automatically wrong because it’s just how I am.

oh. and I did cancel my appointment with my prescriber. but I for sure do need to reschedule that one, because unlike my therapist I have her assistant actually calling back to arrange rescheduling something, plus you know I need to keep having appointments to keep refilling my prescriptions. only I still don’t want to. and I don’t really want to reschedule with my therapist either. probably I need to find a new therapist but just the thought of starting that process also makes me want to cry, so that’s not super great either