#well. hmm probably eventually they finally learned

[mrnnki]

*squinting at wget* if I learn php will you help me

[andy-15-07]

hii. could you write something where like Pedro's dating a woman (preferably latina?) who's just as much of a bookworm as he is? so they always cuddle up on the couch before bed, each one focused on their own book. and Pedro keeps giving her some soft temple kisses and snuggling into her. and afterwards, they discuss their reading in between kisses.

Between the Pages and Us

AIRING:Pedro Pascal x reader

WORD COUNT: 956| requests are open (send requests, I will gladly answer them all)

Pedro Pascal Masterlist

The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast warm shadows across the living room as you curled up on the couch, a thick book resting in your hands. Pedro was beside you, his arm slung lazily over your shoulders as he, too, was immersed in his own novel. The silence between you wasn’t uncomfortable—it was familiar, filled with the quiet intimacy of two people who didn’t need words to feel connected.

Every now and then, Pedro would shift slightly, the fabric of his sweater brushing against your bare arm as he adjusted his position. You caught the subtle way his eyes flicked to you over the rim of his book, a soft smile playing on his lips. He loved this—these nights spent in comfortable silence, wrapped in the scent of old pages and each other.

“You keep staring, cariño,” you murmured, not looking up from your book.

Pedro chuckled, the warmth of it pressing against your skin as he leaned in, placing a slow, lingering kiss against your temple. “Can’t help it,” he admitted, his voice hushed. “You look cute when you’re focused.”

You smirked but didn’t look up. “And what exactly is so fascinating about my reading face?”

He hummed, pressing another soft kiss to the same spot, his scruff grazing against your skin. “The little crease between your brows,” he murmured. “The way you bite your lip when you’re deep in thought.”

You finally glanced up, raising an eyebrow. “I do not bite my lip.”

Pedro grinned, his free hand reaching up to trace his thumb over your lower lip. “Mmm, yes, you do.”

Rolling your eyes, you swatted his hand away playfully before turning your attention back to your book. “What are you reading?” you asked after a beat of silence, snuggling further into his warmth.

Pedro sighed dramatically. “Mmm… something you’d probably roll your eyes at.”

You turned your head just enough to look at him. “Try me.”

He lifted his book slightly, showing you the cover. “Steinbeck.”

You gasped, pressing a hand to your chest in mock offense. “Excuse me? Are you implying I don’t appreciate the classics?”

Pedro laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Oh, no, I know you do, mi amor. But you get that face when something tragic happens in a book. Like you want to fight the author.”

You huffed. “That’s a valid reaction!”

He pulled you closer, nudging his nose against your temple. “I love that about you.”

You tried to focus on your book, but Pedro’s lips brushed against your skin again, softer this time, barely there. A shiver ran down your spine.

“Pedro,” you warned playfully.

“Hmm?” Another kiss, this time just below your ear. “I’m just enjoying my book. And you.”

You sighed, relenting, tilting your head slightly to give him better access. “Fine, tell me what’s happening.”

Pedro’s voice softened as he summarized. “Well, right now, the protagonist is learning that the American Dream is a load of bullshit.”

You snorted. “Sounds like classic Steinbeck.”

Pedro chuckled, his breath warm against your skin. “Yeah. It’s beautifully depressing.”

You turned in his arms, shifting until you could face him properly. His book slipped from his hands and onto the couch as he immediately wrapped his arms around you, pulling you even closer.

“So tell me,” you said, tracing a slow pattern on his chest with your fingertips. “What’s your take on it?”

He thought for a moment, his fingers brushing along your spine absentmindedly. “I think it’s brutally honest,” he said eventually. “There’s something about the way Steinbeck writes about hope—how it’s always there, even when it shouldn’t be. Even when everything is falling apart.”

You studied him, admiring the way his eyes softened when he spoke about things he loved. “You have this look when you talk about books,” you teased.

Pedro grinned. “Oh yeah?”

You nodded. “Like you’re falling in love with every word.”

He leaned in, pressing a kiss to the tip of your nose. “That’s because I am.”

You sighed dramatically. “Ugh. You’re such a romantic.”

He laughed, nudging his forehead against yours. “You love it.”

You did. You really did.

His hands tightened around your waist as he pulled you even closer, his lips brushing against yours in a slow, languid kiss. You melted into it, your book slipping from your hands as you reached up to cradle his face.

When he pulled back, his voice was a whisper against your lips. “What about you? What are you reading?”

You smiled, nudging your nose against his. “A love story.”

Pedro grinned. “Oh? Is it tragic?”

You shook your head. “No. It’s quiet. Soft.” You brushed your fingers through his curls. “Like this.”

His eyes darkened slightly, his arms tightening around you. “That sounds like my kind of book.”

You kissed him again, slow and deep, reveling in the warmth of him, in the way he made you feel like home. “It is,” you murmured against his lips. “It really is.”

Pedro sighed contentedly, pressing another kiss to your forehead before tucking you against his chest. His fingers traced slow, soothing circles along your back, and you let your eyes flutter shut, feeling completely at peace.

After a few minutes of quiet, he murmured, “Let’s do this forever.”

You hummed sleepily. “Do what?”

“This.” He tightened his hold on you. “Reading together, kissing you between chapters, holding you when the words get too heavy. All of it.”

A slow smile spread across your face as you pressed a sleepy kiss to his collarbone. “I’d like that.”

Pedro let out a soft, satisfied hum, his lips finding your temple one last time before you both drifted into the quiet comfort of the night, wrapped in books, love, and each other.

[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.

[alena-draws]

Little rambling under the cut- nothing negative, just written down thoughts about doing art to help formulate them for myself. (It's as confusing as it sounds)

The thing is, I can never really decide what I really (like, really) want to pursue in art. (Though, I have just come to the conclusion that me being online writing about art instead of doing it is probably one of the reasons! I'm too much online, gotta change that) But! What I want to say is...there's just so much I'm interested in? Every time I learn more about a think, I'm like "Fuck I want to learn how to do that, too". I bought myself the AMB animation online class (which I haven't fnished) when I was in my 4th semester of bachelor- animation is super cool, I loved how it helped me immensely with my anatomy and overall character drawing. It's also given me my first job opportunity at the end of college so that's good, too! Lately, I've bought and watched the Storyboarding class by Petra Popescu on Domestika- if you are interested in Storyboarding, it's a direct recommend!! I have always done comics and made a short trailer film as my final project, but I never really learned Storyboarding as well as it is described in this short course, and it is so fascinating (yes, I ALSO still need to finish those exercises though). But you see where this is getting...I'm not finished though haha. After I watched some videos from the Draftsmen and read through the book "Color and Light" by James Gurney I was so fascinated by oil paintings and color, that I tried out oil colors for myself (admittedly, I haven't done a lot). I love creating scenes, too, and I love the amazing backgrounds from Avatar The Last Airbender, and I'm thinking about doing some more background work (especially since I did have a job interview for a background art position- didn't get it, but they did seem to like my examples enough to ask me, so I'm happy about that). Oh and I'm also doing character designs for another project...Look, (I say mostly to myself and the poor souls still reading this) I don't want to brag with the amount of stuff here, because while I might be decent with some, I'm not a real expert on any of those. But I'm not sure if doing everything a bit and nothing really stone-focused is really the best way? On the other hand, I try to keep in mind on what to work best regarding what could get me jobs, even if that's not my main interest-now? Only that my focus keeps constantly shifting from one thing to another because everything sounds so enticing and then everything is only half-finished...hmm. One thing is for sure, less online time and more actually doing away from the computer to work that out. But, to end this overly confusing text of more or less incoherent thoughts as they come to me: I do like that I find so many aspects fascinating, because art is so cool and imagine you can drew pretty pictures and characters and even do a story! I feel like a very dumb bumblebee flying from one pretty flower to the next without ever really landing. Hm, that kinda works as a metaphor. But Yeah, this is also the reason why I created a friggin new portfolio for each new application. I wonder where this will eventually land me. I'm slowly starting as a childrens' book illustator now, which is sweet, too, but I know that that's not all I would like to do. Howevery, I'm still in a lucky and pretty privileged position to do any of this so I'm not complaining! Just wondering. Bumblebee out.

[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.

[amorest-viesse]

[A Thank You to You, A Thank You for Me] - Rustica SSR Card Story

Ft. Rutile and Akira

Event Spoilers: In the White Day event, Akira is possessed by the ghost of a young girl named Ciel. The plot revolves around fulfilling Ciel's wish, so she leaves Akira's body and is put back to rest. Ciel as well as other plot details are referenced in this card story.

Sing Along to a Happy Song - Chapter 1

[Sky Blue City]

Rustica: The city looks so beautiful with the sun shining upon it like this.

Akira: It feels like we’re in a fairy-tale!

Rutile: Just walking through it is a delight!

The Sky Blue City was, true to its name, an entire city painted in shades of sky blue and cloudy white. The wizards and I were called here to investigate a mysterious chain of events that were occurring in the town.

We were able to resolve the mystery after an encounter with the ghost of a young girl named Ciel. Now, the three of us were finally taking the time to explore.

Akira: Oh, that’s the town square. Do you guys want to head over? We could probably get a good view there…

Rustica: That sounds like a splendid idea.

Taking in the sights all around us, we walked up to a fountain in the middle of the square.

Rustica: Hm? There’s something written on the pedestal here.

Akira: Oh, you’re right.

Rutile: It looks like a poem. Hmm, “though you can’t grow wings…”

???: “Though you can’t grow wings, you can still learn to fly. Spread your arms and embrace the sky.”

Someone spoke from behind us, and the three of us turned around. Standing there was an old lady with a kind face leaning on her cane.

Elderly Woman: I apologize if I startled you. That poem was written for the very girl this statue was modeled after—the daughter of our town’s founder.

Akira: Was it really?

Akira: (So this is a statue of Ciel...)

Rustica: I appreciate you for telling us, madam. If I may, could I ask you to tell us a little about yourself?

We then learned that the old lady was the daughter of an innkeeper and that she used to give tours of the town in her youth.

Elderly Woman: I used to tell stories about this fountain and its poem all the time. However, that’s not all I did here…

Elderly Woman: The girl she looks towards the bakery, the bakery~ ♪ With its freshly baked bread from morning to noon~ ♪

Elderly Woman: I turned the stops on my tour into a song, so that visitors could quickly learn where everything was in town.

[Applause]

Akira & Rutile: Wow~!

Rustica: How wonderful! I’m sure you’ve touched many hearts with this song, especially since you have such a vivacious voice.

Elderly Woman: Why, thank you. You flatter me too much.

Rustica: It’s simply how I feel. Rutile, why don’t we try singing this lovely lady’s song?

Rutile: Oh, that sounds like fun!

Rustica: In that case, I shall start…

Rustica: The girl she looks towards the bakery, the bakery~ ♪

Rutile: Lalala~ ♪ With a fresh loaf of bread in my arms as I run, I hurry on back to you, to you~ ♪

As Rustica began to sing, Rutile continued with improvised lyrics of his own.

Elderly Woman: Oh, you���re very talented. Are the two of you poets by any chance?

Rutile: Ahaha, thank you so much. I am an aspiring poet actually.

Rustica: And I just so happen to be a musician.

Then, Rustica summoned a harpsichord out of thin air and began to play.

Sing Along to a Happy Song - Chapter 2

Elderly Woman: Oh, you’re also wizards! What a lovely tune.

Elderly Woman: Back in the day, the town’s residents would all join in the singing to welcome visitors to the town. However, that tradition has long since been lost to time.

Elderly Woman: Additionally, the fountain used to make sound as well, but the mechanism has deteriorated, and no one knows how to fix it.

Perhaps the loss of the fountain marked the beginning of the town’s decline, but the number of visitors began to dwindle soon after and the old lady eventually had to retire.

Elderly Woman: Hearing this song again brings back memories…

Akira: (Her eyes look so sad…)

Rutile and I unconsciously exchanged gazes. From the worried look on his face, I could tell he was thinking the same thing.

Rustica: Master Sage, Rutile.

Catching our attention, Rustica gave us a wink. It seemed like he was trying to tell us that he had a plan.

Rustica: …If I may, I have a slight proposal for you.

Rustica: Could I put on a performance with the song you’ve just sung for us?

Elderly Woman: Huh? …Right now?

Rustica: Of course I could never bring back those days as they were, but perhaps this song could open the doors of memory, if even just a crack.

[Harpsichord Playing]

Rustica began to play the harpsichord once again, filling the town square with a light and jovial tune.

Elderly Woman: Oh…!

The old lady placed her hand on her chest as if overwhelmed by old memories and looked towards the statue of Ciel.

Then, she took a deep breath in and began to sing.

Elderly Woman: The girl she looks towards the bakery, the bakery~ ♪ With its freshly baked bread from morning to noon~ ♪

Red-Headed Girl: Is there something happening in the town square?

Man with a Hat: Hm? Where have I heard this song before…

Drawn in by the lively song, the townspeople began to gather.

Rustica: Welcome, welcome everyone. Please, feel free to join in.

Rustica: Whatever it is you love about this town, we encourage you to put it to song. Isn’t that right, Rutile?

Rutile: Yes! For example…

Rutile: The sunlight reflects off the water, the water~ ♪ It glitters and sparkles in this town of blue~

Rutile: Sing with me Master Sage! Lalala~ ♪

Akira: M- Me!?

Akira: (I’m getting a little stage fright, but I’ll do my best…)

Akira: Lalala~ ♪ This town is loved by many, by many~ ♪ Like the sweet, young girl who looks over it still~ ♪

As Rutile and I improvise words to the song, others begin to join in as well.

Man with a Hat: This brings back memories of when I used to give tours of this city…

Boy with Brown Eyes: My grandma used to sing this song to me.

Through Rustica’s efforts, the crowd continued to grow and grow, causing the harmony of voices to swell.

Then…

Townspeople: The town’s best restaurant’s on Main Street, Main Street~ ♪

Townspeople: Just across the rainbow bridge~ ♪

Akira: (This is amazing. Everyone’s having so much fun!)

The old lady, too, had joined in the chorus and was happily singing along.

My heart felt like it could burst with joy, and I found myself looking over to Rustica who acknowledged my gaze with a smile.

Sing Along to a Happy Song - Chapter 3

With Rustica’s playing and the townspeople singing along, the whole square felt transformed into a music festival.

When the performance finally came to an end, laughter and cheer continued to ripple through the crowd.

Akira: That was amazing, Rustica! I can’t believe we improvised all that!

Akira: It looks like Rutile and that nice lady had a lot of fun too. Just look how they’re talking.

Rustica: Indeed. It was an honor to bring life and color to such a wonderful place.

Akira: It was like the whole town had united as one. My heart felt like it was singing with joy.

Akira: I hope this feeling was able to reach Ciel too, somehow…

Ciel was no longer possessing me. However, I felt like she was still watching over us from heaven.

Rustica: …I’m sure she feels it too.

Rustica: …However, we’re not quite done yet.

Akira: Huh?

Hearing Rustica’s words made me blink in surprise.

Then, he elegantly got on one knee and took my hand.

Rustica: Master Sage. Would you have this dance with me?

Rustica: I’d like to thank you for the role you’ve played in bringing happiness to everyone here.

Akira: Me? What did I do?

Rustica: You were able to resolve the mysterious incidents occurring in this town by choosing to surrender yourself to Ciel.

Rustica: If you weren’t here, we wouldn’t have been able to share this special moment together. Thus, I’d like to thank you for everything you’ve done.

Rustica: Not to mention…

Rustica: I love you, Master Sage.

Rustica: And I won’t let anyone else have you in this joyous moment.

Akira: …!

He spoke softly as if sharing a secret, causing my heart to race wildly in my chest.

Akira: I’m a bit nervous, but if you really want to…

Rustica: Of course I do. It’s you, after all.

I slowly put my hand into his…

And Rustica elegantly pulled me into a dance.

We stepped and spun around the fountain with the vibrant colors of the town all around us.

Akira: (It’s as if we’re dancing through the sky…)

Townspeople: Lalala~ ♪

Rutile: Everybody’s spirits are soaring high~ As we spin and twirl through the bright, blue sky~

Akira: (Oh! Everyone’s singing along while they watch us…)

Rustica: …It appears everyone is sharing in our happiness.

Rustica guides me along to the music that fills every inch of the square.

Truly, there was no one who could create happiness like him.

Rustica’s beautiful smile strikes me again as he spins me around the square transformed into a brilliant stage through the power of his joyful song.

A Heart-Stopping Proposal - Card Episode

[Courtyard]

???: Lalala~ ♪

Akira: (Hm? That voice is…)

Akira: Good afternoon, Rustica. What are you singing?

Rustica: Do you remember how that nice lady we met in the Sky Blue City and Rutile improvised a song together? It was truly marvelous work.

Rustica: Well, I was inspired by them to write a poem of my own as well.

Akira: Oh! That was a really fun day.

Rustica: Would you like to help me, Master Sage?

Rustica: While composing is its own reward, I’m certain having your input would result in an even more splendid piece.

Akira: I don’t really know anything about poetry, but I’ll give it a try.

Akira: Maybe we could take turns adding lines… Kind of like a rap battle?

Rustica: Rap battle? What a wonderful phrase; it makes me want to strike up a beat.

Rustica: I’d be more than happy to take on this challenge.

Akira: Huh!? Are we actually going to have a rap battle!?

Akira: (I think… I’ve made a mistake…)

Akira: (Then again… I am curious to see what would happen in a rap battle against Rustica… Knowing him, I’m sure he’d find a way to make everyone happy in the end.)

Home Screen Voice Line

“Caramel that melts right on your tongue, adorable cat-shaped macarons, and fluffy madeleines fragrant with the scent of butter… There are so many things I want to give you as thanks that I can’t even hold them all. Will you accept these tokens of my affection?”

[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.

[zhehxmp3]

Hmm haven’t yapped in a bit

Theory times woo!

Mindful of spoilers for Towards the Truth, especially Shen Song backstory and ending!!

I was thinking about how TRUST is a very important thing present in the show, it’s actually genius and very well associated with every main character! (This is probably also why the show is called Towards the Truth LMAO)

The trust starts with Shen Song first, I know I made a post before about his mental illness and so this is expanding more on it. We know he was the one who accidentally got his entire village murdered (poor baby) but it starts with trust, he trusted one person outside of his village and it lead to blood shed. This is very interesting considering he’s so young at the time, but the mental impact and PTSD stuck with him forever clearly. He was naive and didn’t know any better which UH YEA?? He was 8 LMAO- he didn’t know this random guy was gonna do that sob..

So how does this play into the theme?

The trauma he faced, left him with amnesia but it’s interesting that throughout the entire show, he displays a lot of distrust towards anyone he’s not close with or even himself. He has no memory of this trauma so why would he already have such strong distrust towards people and be super sensitive towards lying (coming back to this)

I’m not sure what the term could be but from my general knowledge and talking to my friend who’s a psych major, it’s a form of suppression and PTSD. His brain blocked out the memories of what happened but at the same time, it has put up a defensive mechanism of a new personality trait. He no longer is trusting of others he doesn’t know well, that is why It’s possible in the beginning, his only friends were Lao Li and the restaurant owner. Lao Li wasn’t even that close of a friend though, and it only grows deeper later on, so who knows.

I think before he joins the restaurant, when we learn about his role in wanting to become someone important at first. He tried to become the Emperors advisor? Then was let down again, only adding more to his trust issues, this definitely also forms his bias against “privileged people” which is fair, their gov was lowkey corrupt as hell haha.

Now, he meets Gongsun!

And then was betrayed in the first three episodes ahh, Gongsun…

I always thought his reaction to the betrayal was very emotionally distressed. Abnormal or not? I’m not sure but it shows that he’s known this man for two and a half days and put all his trust into him, trusting that he’d actually be the same as him in getting Justice! Then BAM, gets a whole punch in the face and his reaction is devastating, it’s quite sad and interesting.

Maybe it was a form of PTSD, knowing he trusted someone and was lied to once again. Regardless of not knowing his memory, his brain subconsciously remembered his first traumatic betrayal as a child, and this soon is displayed in his emotions even as an adult.

They work around it of course, Gongsun does a little bonding with him and he promises to earn his full trust one day (which is like marriage basically). In the next eps 5/6/7, this is tested a little bit because Gongsun has a close relationship with Luanha (dk if that’s her name spelling sigh).

Besides Shen Song being a very petty and jealous wife, he grows distrustful of Gongsun again since he won’t tell him why he knows the Courtesan wasn’t the killer, and this lead to an intense argument tbh, which LOVEE THAT for them cough uh. This pressures Gongsun to eventually explain his friendship with her and he feels bad lmao, he trusts Gongsun again after that for a little bit aha!

It’s just an interesting dynamic for Shen Song at times, he’s learned to not trust others easily through trauma but he’s all about getting the truth and being righteous. He is full of determined intelligence that often is reckless and yet works! It’s really not till the end when he finally remembers it was “his fault” that his entire village was killed, this is kind of where he pieces together the last memory puzzle and that sends him into a coma… again.

To conclude this theory.

In the last scenes where Shen Song is in his coma, we see him reliving his entire trauma until Gongsun infiltrates his subconscious and starts to console the 8 yr old Shen song (sob). Then he sticks his hand out and the child finally reaches out and takes his hand as well, this symbolizes the trust finally being restored for THEM, but also in Shen Songs trauma. Gongsun is offering him help and comfort, he’s giving him trust, to trust HIM, and Shen Song alternately changes the fate of his own trauma by accepting.

The handshake is kind of like a warm hug for the baby Shen Song, originally he woke up and had no one to trust after that event, but Gongsun is THERE now, he is there to comfort and provide trust for the baby Shen song.

This is really amazing to me 😞

It’s like Gongsun comforting the broken inner child in Shen Song, that is so beautiful sob.

Sorry for the many words sigh…

[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

[bunbeeplays]

After Jaden returns and changes out of his uniform, these kids are off! Gemma's going to keep practicing until her tricks are the sickest anyone's ever seen. Being the perfect bike rider might help her be the perfect horse rider!

Jaden's just happy to be out in the fresh air.

Xander's got a shift at the Lemon Drop, so it's just Ophelia at home with the kids. As she gets the little ones ready for dinner, she hears someone come through the door.

Jaden: Hi, Mom.

Ophelia: Right on time! You and Gemma can go wash your hands.

Jaden: Gemma's not here?

Ophelia: No?

Jaden: Oh. She got way ahead of me. I thought she was heading home.

Hmm. No big deal, Gemma probably lost track of time. Ophelia can call her and remind her it's time to come home.

Well, that would be a good idea, but Gemma doesn't answer. She sends her a text as she waits to see if her daughter eventually responds. The other kids have basically finished their dinner by now, but still no answer from Gemma. Maybe she stopped by Hilary and Omari's house.

Ophelia: You two haven't seen her? Okay, thanks. If she stops by, let me know.

After double checking to make sure Gemma didn't go visit Xander at the Lemon Drop, she didn't, Ophelia's definitely starting to worry. Why isn't Gemma picking up? Did she get hurt?

Dinner is long over and Gemma has still not come home, nor answered Ophelia's calls and texts. She's really starting to freak out but she can't leave the kids alone to go look for her.

Xander told her he'd leave work early to search for her if she didn't show up soon.

Ophelia's about to tell Xander to get out of there and start searching, but guess who comes strolling in?

Gemma: Hey, Mom! Any dinner left?

Ophelia: Gemma! Thank Watcher!

Ophelia pulls her into the tightest hug Gemma's ever gotten. Huh. Why's Mom look so worried?

Relief is immediately overpowered by frustration. Gemma's clearly not hurt, it doesn't seem like anything bad happened, so what gives?

Ophelia: What happened? You were supposed to be home 4 hours ago! Did you not get my calls?

Gemma: Oops, sorry. I wanted to keep practicing.

Ophelia is usually able to keep her cool with the kids, even when they're being little terrors, but she spent too much of this evening trying to remain calm to hold back.

Ophelia: Gemma, do you have any idea how worried we were? You can't just ignore my calls- or the rules!

Ophelia: I explicitly told you to be home by 6:30 for dinner, and it's nearly 11! I thought you got hurt!

Gemma: Mom, I'm fine! I just needed to make sure my wheelies were perfect for tomorrow.

Ophelia: That's no excuse. You know you need to get home before it gets dark.

Ophelia: If you want to stay out later, you need to at least call and ask first. Your dad and I trusted you to be responsible enough to ride around alone, and you decided to completely ignore your curfew!

She's never been this strict with her kids, but she's never had to be.

Gemma's certainly not used to this treatment. So she stayed out late, so what?

Gemma: Mom, I'm fine! I HAD to make sure I nailed my bike tricks for the ride to school tomorrow!

Ophelia: Gemma, you aren't getting this. You CAN'T ignore us and our rules to do whatever you want.

Ophelia: Until we can trust you to be more responsible, you are NOT leaving the house unsupervised. That means no riding your bike to school tomorrow.

Gemma: That's not fair!

Ophelia: You making us worry all night is not fair! You are grounded, young lady, and that's final.

Gemma: MOOOOM, you can't do that! I worked so hard!

Ophelia: There are consequences to your actions. You chose to stay out even though you knew you weren't supposed to, so this is what happens. You'll get your biking privileges back when we think you can handle them responsibly.

Gemma: UGH! You're the meanest mom in the whole world!

Ophelia barely has time to react before Gemma runs upstairs. That certainly didn't feel good, but Gemma needs to learn that she can't ignore rules, especially ones for her safety.

When Xander gets home, he reassures her that Gemma is getting older and is going to test more boundaries. It's better she learn now with a grounding than actually getting hurt.

That doesn't mean Ophelia has to like it.

[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.

[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? 

[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 🙏🙏🙏🙏