#what makes me sad is that if I want the one with star noodles

[spookyboywhump]

Thank god Campbell’s makes soup without chicken actually in it, perfect for my child like tastes

[an-idyllic-novelist]

Angel Dust with Violet Evergarden!reader platonic fluff scenario

Warnings: spoilers up to episode 4, possible triggers. If you do not feel comfortable venturing any further, please leave now and read something much more pleasant.

For everyone else, welcome to this small piece of fluffy goodness! You guys might know me from my other blog, @forbidden-sunlight . You have sent me your ideas for future Violet Evergarden!reader scenarios for Hazbin Hotel, and here is one of them! :)

Sit back, relax, and let us dive into a chaotic afterlife, where even a bit of reprieve from dishonesty and hypocrisy isn’t possible…until now.

Angel Dust's first impression of you is the following: a cute weirdo who dressed like a doll and didn’t smile much. What was even more tragic is that you actually believed there is a chance for sinners to be redeemed, and that the only to do that is complete Charlie’s half-assed rehabilitation program. You still do, even your progress hasn’t gotten you one step closer to Heaven’s pearly gates and the next Extermination is in six months. Five months actually, but who's counting?

That was around the time when he had to go back to work. He didn’t want to, but he knew if he didn’t…well, he didn’t want to think about it. Valentino is a psychopathic freak. He promised to make him, Angel, a big star in Hell’s entertainment industry, and instead fucked him over six ways from Sunday with false promises.

Long hours, shitty pay. No time to even take a nap in his dressing room because of course Big Daddy Val had his favorite toy’s schedule booked until he couldn't walk anymore and needed a stiff drink. When his afterlife seemed to take a nosedive for worse, and after Husk knocked some sense into him, he started finding letters under his door.

At first glance Angel could tell that they weren’t from his fans. No one’s gonna go out of their way and buy expensive paper to type it on, shove in an envelope, and put a wax seal on it just to praise him for his acting skills and share their wildest fantasies starring yours truly. No. This was….someone else.

He honestly didn't know how to describe the context of these letters because he had never received something like this from anyone who did not expect anything from him in PS or PPS. The sender would write either a short or long letter. The short letter was about half a page long; the sender would ask how he was feeling and ask him one question. What was his favorite food? What is the color he would never wear? The sender included a little about themselves too, as if to encourage him to respond. The longer ones started the same, with a greeting and almost the same stuff written in the shorter ones, but they shared how their day went with him, even the stupid, mundane shit they do every day as a part-time clerk at an antique shop and when they come home. The longer ones were at least two pages long. Some stuff made him roll his eyes, made him laugh…but it was the closing sentences, even as they vary from letter to letter, always jerked his heart in a way which made him both sad and happy at the same time.

I’m happy I’ve met you.

Thank you for being here.

Good night and have pleasant dreams.

You are stronger than you think, Angel.

I hope I can receive a letter from you someday.

You made a lot of progress today in Charlie’s exercises. I’m proud of you.

You’re doing great.

Angel might be a bit of a dummy….but he could tell right away who had been sending him the letters. The bit about Charlie’s exercises…there were only a few people attending that day. Vaggie, Sir Wet Noodles, and you. Vaggie wouldn’t write this kind of shit, and definitely not the wannabe overlord. You. You’ve helped him get through it with these letters and you never expected him to reply back. It’s as if you just wanted your words to reach him through Val’s sickly red smoke and hold his hand in your gloved one.

Naturally…the best way he can say thanks…for caring about him in your roundabout way…is to write a letter back. Maybe have a drink at Husk’s bar and talk about shitty coworkers or why Smiles never stops smiling? He’s not sure, but he’ll figure it out somehow. Sex isn’t the only thing he’s good at. And he’d like to get to know you a little more too.

Taglist

@angelltheninth

@tired-of-life-86

@nixie-writes

@frompeach

@riddle-simp

@likesugarandcyanide

@witch-of-the-writing-desk

@22carolina08

@angel-tsugikuni-kamukura

@justamegafan

@saltyfruitbat

@lanxianschoenheit

@trecllllllll

@vikkirosko

@imperfectbloodmoon

@theunknowntravel3r

@thatstonedwriter

@isuckatwritingsobenice

@chroniccorvus

@food-theorys-blog

@doc-tooth

[annimator]

I have not had this much cuteness aggression over gay fictional ships since like, last May, holy shit-

(aka, i react to tomjake episode 2 via a rambling tumblr post. I’m spoiling the episode, so everything’s under the cut)

• OH WE ARE STARTING OFF STRONG. ELLIE’S SLEEPING ON GABBY’S SHOULDER

• omg they’re much smiling so much at each other :>

• I feel like I should’ve mentioned that a clip of gabellie’s first kiss from S1 ep8 also got me into disventure camp in that other post I made. whoops :P

• HELP. AFTER ELLIE COMPLAINS ABOUT LOUD SNORING, IT IMMEDIATELY CUTS TO TOM SNORING-

• Tom, you’re canonically in your 30s. why the fuck are you going “ *snore* mimimimi” in your sleep. AND HOW THE FUCK IS JAKE STILL SLEEPING, HIS EAR IS SO FUCKING CLOSE TO TOM’S MOUTH- wait that sounds kinda wrong lmao

• anyways besides that, THE WAY JAKE AND TOM ARE HOLDING EACH OTHER WHILE THEY’RE SLEEPING IS JUST SO FUCKING ADORABLE BRO

• the spinoff intro never gets old, I love it so much

• WAIT THIS MORNING ROUTINE SCENE THAT PLAYS AFTER THE INTRO SONG PARALLELS THE ONE FROM LAST EPISODE, I LOVE HOW TOM LOOKS SO MUCH HAPPIER WITH JAKE

• THEY DID NOT HAVE TO ANIMATE A SCENE WHERE TOM LOOKS AT HIS SCARS IN THE MIRROR WITH A SAD FACE, ONLY FOR JAKE TO LOVINGLY KISS HIM ON THE CHEEK, AS A WAY TO SAY THAT HE LOVES HIM WTF (/pos)

• Awww, Jake’s looking for a job :D

• “Money can’t buy taste. Y’know, you’re lucky you’re cute.” “Aw, and?” “And lucky to have me” holy fucking shit (/pos)

• Physical touch and words of affirmation are definitely Tom’s languages. he cannot take his hand’s off of Jake, and that’s fucking adorable.

• “You’re persevering, that’s all anyone can ask. “I’m sorry you have to deal with me.” “Seems like the best deal ever.” WORDS. OF AFFIRMATION

• I can relate to Jake worry about finding people at the Pearson airport. There are so much godamn people there

• I LOVE TOM AND GABBY’S FRIENDSHIP SO MUCH. THAT HUG SCENE WAS ADORABLEEEE

• I shouldn’t have laughed so hard at Gabby saying that she and Ellie have no friends-

• THE WAY ELLIE’S CUPPING GABBY CHEEKS IS SOFQWOFNASBSV

• “THE GAYS AND SAPPHICS TAKE TORONTO!” Gabby ilysm. She definitely shares the title of being my favourite DC character alongside Fiore after this episode

• YOOOOO MIRIAM APPEARANCE :D SHE HAS SPEAKING ROLES TOO

• “You remind me so much of him sometimes.” hey wait I was here for the yaoi and yuri ;-;

• “Guess who… finally decided to call” lol

• wait Gabby’s job is self-defence training? That’s kinda surprising, but at the same time she kicked Derek’s ass during the s1 finale lol

• Aww Gabby wants Jake to spend time with Ellie so that she won’t be alone :D

• HELP THE PUPPY DOG EYES?!

• damn Ellie, you and Gabby live like this? She’s on that work grindset ig

• I’m still thinking about Tom calling Jake a housewife in that one greeting. Him cleaning up Ellie’s apartment while she’s sketching for her job is not helping-

• DAMN, HOW STRONG IS GABBY FOR HER TO DENT THE WOODEN POLE OF A MAILBOX

• “there were thankfully no murder cases just lying around” “We could make one!” Gabby are you ok

• that clip of Tom and Gabby thinking of what to do honestly has great meme potential tbh

• I’m honestly living for Jake and Ellie interacting with each other in a positive way fr

• “tax fraud, tax fraud,” LMAO???

• “I’m having a lot of fun with you.” “Aw, why so sentimental?” “It feels like being a kid again!” ik i didn’t copy-paste the entire convo between them, but I love it so much

• aw, they left New York because they couldn’t pay rent :(

• OH DAMN THE GAYS ARE GONNA START FIGHTINGGGGGG

• “Do you even know what my life is like? Ramen noodles for dinner if I’m lucky.” Girl I would not complain about eating ramen, that shit’s amazing

• “Oh, I guess a privileged twink like me wouldn’t know the meaning of that, huh?” LMAO I JUST REMEMBERED YUL’S BITCHASS CALLING JAKE A TWINK (part 2) WHEN HE GOT ELIMINATED IN ALL STARS

• bruh, what are these insults y’all are calling each other you sound like toddlers

• wait, Jake actually took the words out of my mouth lmao

• I’m kinda disappointed that they didn’t apologize about what happened in DC, but either way, I’m happy to see Jake and Ellie reconcile and say that they’re cool :D

• “I still have a roof over my head, and Gabby” I LOVE THEMMMMMMMM

• Gabby’s having so much fun skating :D SHE LOOKS SO CUTE WITH THAT BEANIE

• “The dog stole it! I convinced him to give it back!” *hard cut to Gabby barking at the dog and Tom immediately picking up the gnome after it drops it*

• srsly tho that clip made me laugh lmao

• Aw Jake catching Tom before he slips on ice was so cute :D

• ANOTHER TOMJAKE KISSSSSSSSSS

• “Aw babe, I’m so proud of you!” “What can I say? You bring out the best in me Gabbs!” “The part of you is always there. I was always there to see it.” OH MY GODDDDDDD (/pos) AND GABBY KISSING ELLIE’S HANDS

• “Oh my god, Ellie look! It’s snowing! It’s so beautiful.” “I could think of something else more beautiful” AAAAAAA

• NO WAY WE GOT ANOTHER GABELLIE KISS TOO LETS GO

• Loving the implication that Ally wrecked Jake’s shit in Smash Bros lmao

• YOOOOOO LUCIA APPEARANCE!

• …ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME ARE YOU LEAVING US ON ANOTHER GODAMN CLIFFHANGER-

• Besides that, great episode 10/10. would rewatch until the heat death of the universe

[patronsaintofelsewhere]

'snow & dirty rain' by richard siken is so aziracrow-coded (the good omens brain-rot is so strong and so crippling)

Close your eyes. A lover is standing too close to focus on. Leave me blurry and fall toward me with your entire body. Lie under the covers, pretending to sleep, while I'm in the other room. Imagine my legs crossed, my hair combed, the shine of my boots in the slatted light. I'm thinking My plant, his chair, the ashtray that we bought together. I'm thinking This is where we live. When we were little we made houses out of cardboard boxes. We can do anything. It's not because our hearts are large, they're not, it's what we struggle with. The attempt to say Come over. Bring your friends. It's a potluck, I'm making pork chops, I'm making those long noodles you love so much. My dragonfly, my black-eyed fire, the knives in the kitchen are singing for blood, but we are the crossroads, my little outlaw, and this is the map of my heart, the landscape after cruelty which is, of course, a garden, which is a tenderness, which is a room, a lover saying Hold me tight, it's getting cold. 

We have not touched the stars, nor are we forgiven, which brings us back to the hero's shoulders and the gentleness that comes, not from the absence of violence, but despite the abundance of it. The lawn drowned, the sky on fire, the gold light falling backward through the glass of every room. I'll give you my heart to make a place for it to happen, evidence of a love that transcends hunger. Is that too much to expect? That I would name the stars for you? That I would take you there? The splash of my tongue melting you like a sugar cube? We've read the back of the book, we know what's going to happen. The fields burned, the land destroyed, the lovers left broken in the brown dirt. And then it's gone.

Makes you sad. All your friends are gone. Goodbye Goodbye. No more tears. I would like to meet you all in Heaven. But there's a litany of dreams that happens somewhere in the middle. Moonlight spilling on the bathroom floor. A page of the book where we transcend the story of our lives, past the taco stands and record stores. Moonlight making crosses on your body, and me putting my mouth on every one. We have been very brave, we have wanted to know the worst, wanted the curtain to be lifted from our eyes. This dream going on with all of us in it. Penciling in the bighearted slob. Penciling in his outstretched arms. Our father who art in Heaven. Our father who art buried in the yard. Someone is digging your grave right now. Someone is drawing a bath to wash you clean, he said, so think of the wind, so happy, so warm. It's a fairy tale, the story underneath the story, sliding down the polished halls, lightning here and gone. We make these ridiculous idols so we can pray to what's behind them, but what happens after we get up the ladder? Do we simply stare at what's horrible and forgive it?

Here is the river, and here is the box, and here are the monsters we put in the box to test our strength against. Here is the cake, and here is the fork, and here's the desire to put it inside us, and then the question behind every question: What happens next? The way you slam your body into mine reminds me I'm alive, but monsters are always hungry, darling, and they're only a few steps behind you, finding the flaw, the poor weld, the place where we weren't stitched up quite right, the place they could almost slip right through if the skin wasn't trying to keep them out, to keep them here, on the other side of the theater where the curtain keeps rising. I crawled out the window and ran into the woods. I had to make up all the words myself. The way they taste, the way they sound in the air.

I passed through the narrow gate, stumbled in, stumbled around for a while, and stumbled back out. I made this place for you. A place for you to love me. If this isn't a kingdom then I don't know what is. So how would you catalog it? Dawn in the fields? Snow and dirty rain? Light brought in in buckets? I was trying to describe the kingdom, but the letters kept smudging as I wrote them: the hunter's heart, the hunter's mouth, the trees and the trees and the space between the trees, swimming in gold. The words frozen. The creatures frozen. The plum sauce leaking out of the bag. Explaining will get us nowhere. I was away, I don't know where, lying on the floor, pretending I was dead. I wanted to hurt you but the victory is that I could not stomach it. We have swallowed him up, they said. It's beautiful. It really is. I had a dream about you. We were in the gold room where everyone finally gets what they want. You said Tell me about your books, your visions made of flesh and light and I said This is the Moon. This is the Sun. Let me name the stars for you. Let me take you there. The splash of my tongue melting you like a sugar cube... 

We were in the gold room where everyone finally gets what they want, so I said What do you want, sweetheart? and you said Kiss me. Here I am leaving you clues. I am singing now while Rome burns. We are all just trying to be holy. My applejack, my silent night, just mash your lips against me. We are all going forward. None of us are going back.

[posebean]

rinky adjacent except its shiina kyoudai (hiki) and sakura nee-han (shinju) that me and @nguyenfinity have an au of and are obsessed with have fun reading

um i think its obvious which characters are mentioned and their relations but if you havent seen the main posts for more information:

hiki: https://www.tumblr.com/nguyenfinity/746817271252533248/bean-and-i-have-been-locked-in-the-kitchen-so

shinju: https://www.tumblr.com/nguyenfinity/749132426169729024/so-like-women-oukawa-nee-hans-rehashed-their

also context is theyre at rinky wedding

Hiki loosened his tie, leaning on the balcony rails. He looked up at the stars, watching as they twinkled in the sky.

“What’s a guy like you doin’ out here all alone? Everyone’s inside enjoying the party, I think Kohakun is fighting the groom right now.” He hears an amused chuckle behind him, Shinju sliding up to stand next to him, a champagne glass in her hand.

Hiki gave a lopsided grin. “What’d Amarinrin do this time? That troublemaker really couldn’t go without instigating something, even on this specific day? Pfft, I still wonder what Nikkun sees in him.”

Shinju emptied her glass, setting it down on the railing. “Not sure, probably started it though. Kohakun is definitely making sure he’s getting what he deserves,” she laughed.

“Ha, yeah, definitely if it’s Chiikawa.” Hiki laughed airily, scooting over so Shinju had more room.

“You didn’t answer the question~” Shinju poked him on the cheek, a silly smile.

Hiki scrunched his face, batting her away. “Can’t a guy get some fresh air? All the idols in there are so~ draining. Did you see that one that was climbing the wall? Or the one that was lying on the floor asleep? Crazy bunch, all of them. How does Nikkun stand being surrounded by all of that 24/7~”

Shinju snorted. “Like you’re one to talk? You’re as bad, or even worse than the red one after several drinks.”

“Shi-chan, I do not appreciate this attack on my character~” Hiki whined, resting his hands on the railing.

They stood in silence, looking up at the stars.

“Shi-chan, Nikkun looked so happy.” Hiki mumbled, still looking up.

“Yeah. So did Ama-chan. I guess they’ve both been waiting for this for so long. It’s really sweet.” Shinju smiled, leaning back on the railing.

“He’s an idiot and dumb as fuck, but really the only one that can make Nikkun smile like that. I’m glad that Nikkun found someone that would never let him be alone again.” Hiki sighed, gripping the railing.

“Hikkun…”

Hiki turned slowly, offering a hand to his companion. “Do you think…we could’ve turned out like that?”

Shinju took it, giving a small shake of her head. A sad smile. “It would never work. You know this.”

Hiki laughed, squeezing her hand. “Yeah. You wanted to protect your siblings, I wanted to redeem my family name. Two dreams on separate paths, too far apart.”

Shinju laughed softly, squeezing back. “Yeah. It really wouldn’t have worked, no matter how much your mom tries to use her puppy eyes on me.”

Hiki rolled his eyes. “Pfft. I’ll tell her to stop. Whether we’re together or not, she does see you as family, though. You’re always welcome for dinner.”

“Hehe~ I’m always down for Shiina cuisine. As long as it’s not made by you.” Shinju stuck her tongue out.

“Hey! My instant food prep skills are amazing, thank you very much.”

“Instant noodles and microwave rice do not count as a good meal, your entire family is saying this and you still don’t believe them?” Shinju huffed.

“They just can’t appreciate taste like how I can.”

They stared at each other before both started to laugh, loud and clear and just them up there on that balcony.

Hiki grabbed her other hand, gently pulling her away from the railing. “But just for tonight, Shi-chan. You’re my plus one~ May I have this dance?” He lifted up one of her hands, kissing the knuckles.

Shinju laughed, eyes glittering. “Only for you, Sweetheart.”

They waltzed around the balcony, dancing slowly to the sound of some song that Hiki pulled up on his phone.

“Maybe in another world it’d be us at that table,” Hiki hummed, stepping one way.

“Yeah, after you try to and fail to fight my father over ten times. No, maybe a hundred times.” Shinju giggled, letting him take the lead.

“Hey! I’m hurt that you have no faith in me~” Hiki whined, spinning them.

“I’m just stating the facts, Hikkun.”

Hiki huffed. “Maybe like twenty. They’ll feel sorry for me and then let me win.” He swayed them, slowly and not even on beat with the music.

“I think Kohakun would rather die than have you as a brother. The other two are okay.” Shinju smirked.

“But he’d be fine with Nikkun?! The betrayal!” Hiki feigned a gasp, swaying them to the other side.

Shinju laughed softly. “Well? Tell me more about this other world.”

“Nikkun would want to be on catering…Maybe Mom and Dad will help. Amarinrin would probably be there too, I can’t imagine a world where he isn’t clinging to Nikkun.” He shifted one of his hands to her waist.

“Probably as annoying as always. The Ama-chan guarantee.”

Hiki smiled. “Yeah. You’d probably look very pretty for the first time ever, ha.”

Shinju pulled her hand free and whacked him gently. “I’d probably be the one in the suit, I think you’d fit the dress better.”

“I’m not Nikkun~ Not every man is willing to be a bride.” Hiki snickered. “No one would ever be able to look as pretty as Nikkun, anyways.”

“Hmm hmm~ I agree.”

Hiki spun them again, stepping lightly. “ We’d go wherever we want to, all over the world. I’d show you all kinds of things, maybe we’d have a bunch of near-death experiences.”

“Which you probably would’ve dragged us into, leaving me to haul your ass to safety.”

Hiki laughed. “My ever-reliable Shi-chan~ What would I do without you.”

“Die a stupid death, I guess~”

Hiki stepped forwards, dipping her. “And…I don’t know. It just feels like it’d be nice, that other world.”

“Yeah. It does.”

Hiki leaned in. “Shi-chan, can I be greedy for a second? Can we live in that world for just this moment?” he whispered.

Shinju smiled sadly. “Yeah.”

Hiki closed the gap, soft and sweet.

He pulled back, helping Shinju back up. “Bleh. B-tier champagne. Didn’t Amarinrin listen to any of my suggestions at all? After I worked so~ hard on that list just for him, and for free, too!”

Shinju laughed, rolling her eyes. “He actually ended up getting way more than what you suggested. ‘For variety’ he said. Come on, it’s cold and I want a refill~” She picked her glass up, pulling on his hand.

“Yeah~ Yeah. Okay, that’s enough fresh air for the night.” Hiki laughed, following her back in and leaving that other world behind.

[kirby-the-gorb]

reply roundup!

man apparently these are still hard even when I'm not Literally Dying anymore :v

the sad sale went great, thank you for all the support everyone <3 I bought shelves and makeup and paper star papers and stickers and a new blanket, plus it's helping cover my allowance until my wife starts getting paid. I am already thinking I might do another sale in november just for fun lol

my wife has started orientation at her program and she's having a great time, our partner and I are gonna go down to visit her in a couple weeks :) I also finished rearranging all my furniture now that her furniture isn't here and it only made me terribly ill once!

I am really enjoying everyone singing along on [live and learm], I love enthusiasm <3

on [stars] @korattata said: HEY THATS WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING ALL DAY!!!!! i just started learning last night! its a nice break at work to stop looking at the computer screen. they all still look a bit wonky and i think one of the sheets of paper is too thick but i'm just using paper i got from the supply closet and cut with the paper cutter lol

aw that's so cool! the ones that are like actually packaged for making paper stars are usually a bit thinner than printer paper, like other origami paper, but that also means they tear a lot more easily in the first step if you're not careful, so it's always a tradeoff. what a fun coincidence :>

on [hallway] @thesilentpotato said: the first thing i thought of was the "da dee la da dee la da" krabby patty zoom in scene from spongebob

lol I hadn't thought of that until you said it but you're so right (she is referencing [this scene] from the krusty krab training video for anyone unfamiliar)

(side note thank you to folks who put pronouns in easily findable places so I can refer to you correctly even if I don't know you <3 )

on [birthday] @joekingv1 said: *asks baby what gifts they received and if they would like to read/watch Komi Can't Communicate*

I never really got into komi because one of the side characters really squicks me out, but I have a friend that really loves it, so maybe they've watched it with her! I think they probably got to go somewhere fun for their birthday like a theme park or a zoo, and get a souvenir plush while they were there -u-

on [sheep] @ceylonsilvergirl [added] a different line for kirby, which I still think about regularly lol

on [pills] @minty-spice said: op i hope your health improves and your empire of pills eventually shrinks

thank you <3 honestly I'd be happy with just the first one, I don't mind all the pills so much as long as they're actually helping.

on [crackers] @amatsuki said: made a bunch of cold noodles today with cucumber carrot chicken & sesame peanut soy sauce. the only actual cooking i had to do was boil water and steam chicken

oh hell yeah cold noodles are a fantastic example of a basic food to go feral over. now I want noodles too.........

on [thinking] @adrawrable said: hope you're cozy op

not right now as I type this because it is Computer Work Time, but in general I am So Cozy these days, I have a whole queen bed to myself so it's full of big stuffed animals and fluffy blankets :) (tbh even once my wife moves back here we may just all have individual beds we all seem very comfy this way lol)

on [slam] @jeaniechibi said: we'll be right back ➡️ shshgdtsudtdidh why is every bit of art with a blurr effect so damn funny 🤣

it truly is, I love a thoughtfully applied motion blur (or perspective blur can be funny too) (altho tbh I don't use the perspective blur tool for those I just use separate layers and gaussian blur) (for anyone unfamiliar this is a reference to the eric andre show meme)

on [beehive] @galacticnova3 said: me @ wasp nests minus the frowning, little fellas doing their little fella activities. sometimes they squabble. the thinking man’s reality tv drama

true, true, gotta love little fella activities. personally I feel better observing from a safe distance, but we had a lot of wasps around my childhood home and I didn't really know how to get friendlier than not actively making them mad lol

anonymous asked: That profile is amazing

for some reason I don't feel like I understand, but thank you!

on [sale] @milkymoon-ramblings said: gahh why do so many people have so many cool probducts, the queers are tempting me with their cool swag. however I need to save money for my own cool swag (digital art)

I just love the phrase "the queers are tempting me with their cool swag", so relatable lol (also no worries to anyone who couldn't or didn't want to buy anything, it's not like I needed it to pay bills I just wanted treats :v )

on [solstice] @jaune-chat said: Definitely, the sun can fuck right off. I break into a rash if I get too much sun, and I can't walk outside without full body coverage to some degree or be itching for WEEKS! In order of preference, is fall, winter, spring, summer.

oof yeah my mom gets a bad rash from sun exposure too! I'm fortunate to not have that specific symptom, but dang it seems so inconvenient, especially if you're also sensitive to heat so being covered up puts you at additional risk. personally I rate winter a little higher than fall but otherwise yeah total agreement lol

on [rollerskates] @nexus-nebulae said: @ prev tags i used to daydream constantly about being able to roller skate everywhere because i would constantly think 'rolling would be way easier than dragging my feet everywhere rn' and it took me two months of constantly thinking about that before i realised OH i need a ROLLATOR that would help (<- i am not smart) i haven't actually tried roller skating bc i don't own skates but i have used a skateboard briefly and that also feels better than walking. i wonder.... if the roller skating rink nearby would allow me to use a rollator in the rink with skates on........ probably not lmao

honestly it takes so much to actually realize like "oh a mobility aid might help with this" which is like, a bad thing, but we're just gonna focus on the funny part for now happy disability pride month :v and tbh I think maybe they might let you do it??? cuz like at ice skating rinks they usually have those little penguins or just straight up plastic lawn chairs for people to support themselves on, so I don't think it would be that crazy to go out on the rollarink with a rollator? but also that's just me and I do not run the place or get paid minimum wage to keep people from breaking the place sooo lol

[help-i-need-a-cool-username]

Its the end of the year! Which means its time to post the

Tags That Made Me Smile 2022

The following are a collective list of tags, author notes, and fic names that i saw on ao3 and tumblr that made me either laugh or smile. Ive separated them by fandom but a good amount arent actually fandom specific. Ive added the character names or fandom at the end like {name} to clarify who the tag is talking about

[2021's list]

Author Specific / Non-Specific

i saw canon; acknowledged it; And promply burned it in a dirty trash can thanks; Have this instead

Give me pain I need to feel something

this is self projection thank you coming to my ted talk

Whats that?? Overused tropes that everyone has seen before????? Pfffffffft. This fic is literally just a big mess of "how can I cater to myself and myself only"

you ever just look at your life and wonder how you got here; bc that's what this fic is for me

Don't underestimate me I DO NOT know how long this fan-fic will be

can you tell my target audience is myself

this is content specifically catered to me and no one else

these characters are my landlords and i pay them rent

P O L Y A M O R Y   I S   M Y   P O L Y J A M O R Y

cheek kiss warning

kidnapping isn’t sexy don’t do it

i've never read the archie comics but that's not gonna stop me {archie sonic}

not me writing a whole fic for a ship only i care about; that like maybe two other people ship; rowing this boat is hard but someone has to do it {scourge x fleetway sonic}

ankles don't heal this fast but fuck it i do what i want

no beta we die like men; or rather we drown like the sad shipper with a pool noodle we are

I'm afraid of the Danimals mascot and you should be too

if you're getting flood warnings, don't worry. It's just MY TEARS!

me at every character: anxiety be upon ye

Me (Grabs canon and runs a marathon with it)

Quote: Do you think God stays in heaven because he too lives in fear of what he's created (Spy Kids) {tmnt crossover}

Alternate Universe - Monty Python and the Holy Grail

contains dangerous amount of bed based snuggling

(kind of its a very short very homosexual fight scene); and then they kiss.

Hostage situation takes a romantic turn???? Not clickbait????

enemies to frenemies

Improper Use of Pool Noodles

stone cold stoicism meeting determined stupidity

Star Wars

Kanan Jarrus: The Daddening

platonic love is what healed his lonely existence {din djarin}

when in doubt: road trip with the besties {din, boba, fennec}

Soul Eater

found family at its finest {kid, liz, patty}

The Witcher

wife (platonic) {yennskier}

at first I was like haha geralt and Istredd should kiss as a joke…. but bro I don’t think it’s a joke anymore….

Sonic the Hedgehog

Movie!Super Sonic is made out of LOVE no one touch me

Sonics gay awakening I guess

sonic movie 2 made me make an ao3 account lol

Sonic was made to love people

Two Bros Chillin’ in an ER Five Feet Apart ‘cause they’re not gay {sonic x shadow}

the most dangerous thing is to love {shadow}

Trapped in a small box with just enough room to face some feelings {sonic x shadow}

the R in rivalry stand for romance {sonic x shadow}

The L in Rivalry Stands For 'Love' {sonic x shadow}

A Largely Platonic Cave

i love boom!shadow so naturally i made him even more insufferable

Sad-ow

Wachowskis holdin it down in the bg; Absolute champs

I love how Shadow is just so mindbogglingly utterly done with reality

Knuckles is a guardian of all things great and small

“Would you kiss a worm?" “If he was cute as fuck? Yeah.” {wade x stone}

"What is this made of, bendable titanium?!" "INCORRECT. IT IS MADE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS OF MOTHERS EVERYWHERE." {team dark}

featuring a scourge that trips far too much because it's my fic and I said so {scourge x fleetway sonic}

no thoughts just soft hedgehog moments

listen if im going to die at the hands of injured lancelot shit i might as well take advantage of it

Everyone has a crush on Lancelot and I'll die on this hill

fairy Lancelot Fairy Lancelot FAIRY LANCELOT!!!

TMNT

Slow Burn; mostly on april's end of things; casey and donnie are basically on fire right off the bat {tmnt 2012}

Rise!Donnie and 2012!Casey be out there committing arson together for their first date >.>

Please enjoy Casey, the fool, realizing his feelings for Donnie, another fool {tmnt 2012}

Draxum and Splinter are the turtles' dads (it's a reluctant partnership)

just two absolute powerhouses holding each other gently {raph x mona}

“There’s nothing wrong with the way you love, Dee. Goodnight.” {rottmnt}

Wondering what to do when the apocalypse happens? Easy: fly across the country and get Vegas-married. That's definetley an appropriate reaction that won't involve your complicated feelings towards your roommate at all {hypno x warren}

Look rise are weapons of war 12 were accidents and I play with that HARD in this fic

"GET IN THE TURTLE TANK BITCHES WE GOING TO FAMILY THERAPY" {rottmnt}

Donatello is now Dad-Atello {rottmnt}

The other [Casey] is out on a beach in Tahiti; It's what he deserves after surviving the Krang {rottmnt}

Leo is now actively being hunted for sport; (the only sport Donnie is good at) {rottmnt}

These turtles can fit so much trauma

2018 Karai lives because fuck Nick; Casey x Donnie x April are a healthy ship and also fuck nick again

I cant be the only one pissed by Leo's and Karais 'love interest plot'; Leonardo's weird feelings were simply gender envy...Yes that is canon now {tmnt 2012}

What happens when two "dudes" call each other 'girlfriend'; Transgender activities, that's what! {tmnt 2012}

splinter is twice divorced and never married {rottmnt}

Papatello / Dadatello {rottmnt}

draxum's gone from dadxum to grand-dadxum good for him

HOLY FUCKING SHIT YES YES YES YES; GRANDPA BARRY COMING IN CLUTCH

draxum just be like gramps still got it; and by 'it' i mean a complete lack of forethought for care when creating random children

Puts the Bi in Bitchless {rottmnt leo}

its because ninja turtles

feral mamatello {rottmnt}

Marvel

it's the anguish, the self flagellation, the audacity to love the man who annihilate ur nation and killed ur mother; your m o t h e r {black panther}

[penroseparticle]

Penrose Song of the Day, day 4- Seeds by Nathan Nzanga

There's this preoccupation, as a culture. With darkness as dangerous, or evil, or cruel. Darkness as shorthand for badness. It's not without merit- the dark can hide things worth fearing, after all. But heuristics are not exhaustive. They are not things that you can comfortably build your life out of. There are things outside what you know and can do shorthandedly. There are places your mind will travel without you, unbidden, and taking you to strange lands is a way of you getting outside of your rut.

I don't know what it is about this song that takes me in different directions. It's like I'm chasing smoke (hah), or trying to sculpt water. It's got some sort of like... hold, on me. At least spiritually. This song gets me, in some important, intrinsic way that I don't know how to describe. This song fucking. Obliterates me, sometimes.

Seeds by Nathan Nzanga is one of those songs that exists not just as a song, but as an entire experience. There are parts of this song that I cannot unlink from the album art, from the way I discovered it, nestled gently in my discover weekly playlist, handpicked by an algortithm I'm still not totally convinced isn't somehow a friend of mine. Seeds. The name is evocative, no? And it's just. Seeds are planted in the dark!

The whole point of seeds is that they're buried. Not all seeds. But most of them. In dark, rich, loamy soil. In something that will sustain us. In our home. Nestled in that darkness, buried where light cannot touch. Safe to reach out a single tendril. A single cotyledon, a tiny hand to the sky. Where the sun and the light and the scrutiny of the day won't scorch you before you have the strength to stand. To have the strength of your convictions is tough- conviction is tested by virtue of being what you believe in, and belief is so malleable- at least for me. I need the time to noodle. To poke and prod and slowly make my way, blinking, into the sun.

I need the cover of darkness.

This song is about growth. About hope. About who I am, who I want to be, what I want my life to look like. How I hope to grow. Your life is shaped by your experiences, yes. But you can lash your life to a trellis of your choosing, and but for an act of god, your life will start to take that shape. It's dangerous, right? To have that control over yourself. Careful. A little bit of a spiral, a little bit of a tumble, and you can be stuck in a dangerous growth pattern. Not enough sun, not enough water, not enough care and you can wither on the vine. A promising sprout killed by sadness.

I put a lot of pressure on myself. I don't have anything interesting to say on this particular topic- the song says it as well as anything. It's getting kind of old. I don't want to talk anymore, all I do is say the same thing over and over. I guess I just need to start sowing seeds. Growing my silver bells and cockle shells. Maybe Cantaloupes, if that's something I want in my garden.

I read a book back in the day that was pretty formative for me- It's Traitor. A Star Wars Extended Universe book (I know I know, stone the nerd, etc.). I read it at the right time to think it was imparting some deep, dark, immutable truth about the world. It was a little myopic. A little morose. A little bit negative. But it felt real, and it was one of the first books I read that really grappled with "What do you believe" in a way that grabbed me. In a way that felt, if not definitive, at least authentic. I read some things after that that all dealt with what you believe. Give Me the Bones of What You Believe, right? Take me to Chvrch. Christ. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Flowers for Algernon. It's Kind of a Funny Story. I'll Give You The Sun. Not all serious, not all important. All important to me. How to Talk To A Widower. I read that one after I tried to kill myself and it meant a lot, despite not being a widower myself.

This song is a comforting darkness. It's a formative narrative. It's a song that I hope I can grow to be more like. I want to be kind, more than anything. I want to help people. I'm tired of being sad all the time. I'm tired of hating myself, because hating myself doesn't help me help people. I don't want to do anything these days, but I do want to help those I've chosen as my people. Those I'm close to. I know that I need to carve myself, shape my impact. Have a narrower focus. You can't help everyone, you don't even like everyone. Stop trying. Not everyone likes you.

I need to be more comfortable with failure. With being not enough. Because no one person is enough, that's not how people work. You aren't "enough" for anyone, because you're not enough for yourself. No one is. The idea that we are individuals, that we can exist apart from our peers, is such a stupid fucking idea. Who sold me on this idea of individualism, of perfection of the self. Who told me I had to be enough. Who told me I COULD be enough. I'm so furious with the idea that I can't make myself be vulnerable without almost dying. With the idea that I can't ask for help, as if the very first sign of civilization wasn't a healed femur. The whole fucking point is the community.

I've been isolating. I tend to do the whole wounded animal schtick. Leave me to die, let me languish alone while I lick my wounds. It's only now occuring to me that it's maladaptive. I hate how uncomfortable it is to be seen, to be known when a problem occurs. And even harder to recognize that the isolation- that wasn't always maladaptive! That served me well during hard times in my life. I need to thank it for the work it did keeping me alive. Helping me survive. But I don't need to do that anymore. I have a tribe. I have people I would trust with my life. Not even that- with the ugly, unfortunate darkness that I have. Just as everyone else does. The dark is not always so nurturing.

But emerging from the earth and bearing the sun's rays? I'm having a hard time making the change.

I convince myself I'm sinking when I'm standing in a puddle. Forget the I can't, the I ain't, just let yourself win. I am way better than I say I am. I am done with treating myself like this. My mind's the biggest trap in the world and it stinks. Life's a puzzle.

I love when a song feels grown in a lab for me. The idea that my little star in the sky perfectly eclipses Nathan Nzanga's at this exact moment. The kinship you can feel when you look directly at someone and say "I see you. I know you. I've walked this road, I'm on it now." And I would never hate Nathan for struggling like me! I would never leave him to flounder in his puddle. I would pull him out until he could see it for what it was.

I should do that for myself.

This song is so simple. Elegant. It's perfect. I wouldn't change a thing. Like watching streetlights pass you by in a dark car ride, in the rain at night. It's comforting. Nurturing. Like rich loamy soil, or dark chocolate, or a good coffee. It's like a sultry, dark night where the crickets lull you to sleep. It's like bedtime when you're tired. Something in this song is so good for my soul, I actually can't take it. Nathan Nzanga is actually a genius, I think.

I truly love this song more than most songs in the world. It's hard to overstate, really. My heart is full, listening to this song. Even when I'm sad, or I hate myself, or I'm down on the idea of improving or getting better. This song won't let me. No matter how negative I feel about life, this song challenges me to grow. To change for the better. The best time to act righteously is always. But if you didn't manage yesterday, why not today? Because you failed once? Why fail twice from one transgression?

I love this song. I love you. And hey. You could be dead right now. Go listen to something you love.

[squirrelno2]

My Star Wars OCs: a comedic primer

if you’ve wandered here from ao3 you’ve probably encountered at least one of these people, but if you’ve found me through the vagaries of tumblr that is less likely so! Here is a list of my major ocs for your convenience for the next time I start going off about nothing whatsoever, organised by the story/universe they were introduced in:

Sometimes a Family Is verse

Ven/Shiny: she/her, Nautolan, Dogma’s adopted daughter. half-forgotten childhood trauma papered over with borrowed trauma from her family who spends most of her time clinging to anything clone-related that she can

Nalyan: he/him, human, totally not Dogma’s adopted son (he is they just don’t ever admit it). A poorly rested limp noodle of a person who is too busy doing bootleg medical research in the back of a beat up ship to go outside.

Clone Rebellion verse

Sneak: he/him, clone, formerly served under Krell [Sneak darling I’m so sorry]. puts up a very good front of being a cool collected criminal mastermind when on a con but also will jump off a bridge if you dare him to. as one does.

Nali: she/her, Twi’lek, smuggler/con artist. her soft spot for slaves and clones is a parsec wide, but also she’s usually the one daring Sneak to jump off a bridge

Nine: he/him, clone, still serving under Krell. baby Nine is a bundle of joy and every version of him after the first chapter is deeply deeply fucked, but that won’t stop him from also daring Sneak to jump off a bridge. while doing a flip.

Drum: he/him, clone, pilot in 327th. he likes music and singing and making way too astute observations about people, and is probably the only person on this list who doesn’t think people should be dared to jump off bridges. in general he's under the impression he's the smartest person in the room, and on rare occasions he's almost right.

Dead Brothers Rescue Coalition verse

Nel: she/he/they, clone, lieutenant in the Coruscant Guard. by circumstance they are a pencil-pusher and by passion they are a detective, but mostly they're just really bad at friendship. they make up for it with stubbornness.

Jesse Lives verse

Jale: he/him, theelin, scavenger freelance salvage worker. brightly coloured dipshit who loves his mother and has never effectively used a weapon in his life. preferred survival tactics are Talking Too Much and Being Useful, but also the first one tends to get him into trouble more than anything.

Time Slip verse

Arson: he/him, clone, maintenance on Kamino. absolutely full of little shit energy and voted most likely to commit the crime he’s named for. likes droids more than people, which considering the people he knows is absolutely fair.

Murder: he/they, clone, washed-up medic in training turned Kaminoan maintenance. would never ever hurt a fly but also spends most of their time making excuses for their more violent loved ones because ??? cognitive dissonance I guess.

Jaywalking: she/her, clone, maintenance on Kamino. knows all your secrets and is just trying to decide if she wants to blackmail you or kill you over them. the thing keeping her from doing the latter is usually the fact that Murder and Arson would be sad about it.

Other

Nobody: he/him, clone, ARC trooper who works almost exclusively with 212th. he is exactly as fucked up as his name implies, and also more so because his best friend used to be Slick. make of that what you will.

Pip: he/him, clone, 501st. a beautiful ray of sunshine who will see the worst person in the room, ask "is anyone gonna befriend them?" and not wait for an answer.

Roadkill: he/him, clone, 501st. the worst person in the room. really tired of Pip's shit.

Zeel: she/her, Rodian, doctor with a very very lapsed license. abrasive at the best of times, but also winner of the "Most Cameos in My Fics" award because she can't stop helping people. mostly clones. she's very annoyed about that fact, too.

Tayonissa "Tayo" Miran: she/her, Mirialan, Jedi. it's a good thing she doesn't exist because if she knew I was the one piling all this grief and trauma on her she would become very violent very fast. as it is she's just trying to pretend she's not super gay for her second-in-command.

Errol Dasa: he/him, Cathar, bounty hunter. he's got a sister and a space cat and a fundamental belief in the goodness of the universe, which leads most people to wonder why the hell he assaults, kidnaps, and kills people for a living. he doesn't see why it's weird.

More OCs can be found @shagpaboloutpost (clones) and @relevant-url-incoming (SWTOR)

[solitaryandwandering]

Tag 9 people you want to get to know better.

Thank you so much for tagging me again in one of these @waitmyturtles, they're so fun to do!!

Three Ships

Suffering from some recency bias and don't really think in terms of "ships" anymore so I turned to my CHEMISTRY list on MDL to help... agonized over my choices and finally picked:

TinnGun/GunTinn (My School President) - they're just too wonderful. So sweet, and it's great to see a show embrace embarrassing teen crush behavior in a gay kid without making it weird. Tinn's BL-trope filled daydreams had me in stitches. Almost chose PatPran but that's too easy, I have to honor their successors!

Seo Joon x Ji Woo (To My Star) - love them so much. Relate way too much to Ji Woo and them together? So heartwarming. Despite some of the contrivance of their typical Kdrama split in season 2 I still love the way they reconcile and work their shit out.

Hira x Kiyoi (Utsukushii Kare/My Beautiful Man) - talk about recency bias, I'm currently watching season 2 and couldn't resist putting them here. They're just SO well-written. Accurate portrayal of the long-term effects of C-PTSD and the messiness of miscommunication sans lazy writing? Sign me up!!

First Ship

Romione (Harry Potter series) - I know, I know, don't @ me but I still have a soft spot for them despite everything

Last Song

Woof Woof (Live Version) - SHINee

Last Movie

Shake! Otis at Monterey (1987; dir. D.A. Pennebaker)

Currently Reading

Nothing much, honestly. Beginning of the year was HECTIC but hopefully March will give me some time to read. The fanfiction I have open in a tab on my phone is "honey, let me show you where your heart is" by sarahyyy. Cute Guardian one-shot!

Currently Watching

Guardian

Utsukushii Kare (Season 2)

I Promised You the Moon (finally on Viki so I'll be starting this soon!)

Moonlight Chicken - I decided to wait until this was over to watch to preserve my mental health. Despite my love/respect for Aof's work I am very very wary when any show or film either exclusively or in part centers around a story which heavily involves disability. In some ways this apprehension is similar to my aversion to sad endings in LGBTQ+ stories (unless it's earned!). Been burned WAY too much fictionally and IRL. 2023 seemingly is the year Aof decided to make shows about my two most central disabilities, deafness and blindness (Last Twilight even tackles someone LOSING their sight, seriously, Aof? What do you have against me?). Heart's story looks like it's being done responsibly/well (or well enough, considering this is the first of its kind in the genre, maybe Thailand as a whole?) so I am excited to jump into it soon!!

On that note, I plan on writing along with each episode my thoughts on Heart's storyline vis-à-vis Deaf representation. Commentary on his arc has been surprisingly decent especially amongst the people I follow (I knew I chose well) but the tendency to overly pity or infantilize him along with a general misunderstanding of Deafness made me realize I don't think I'll be able to keep my mouth shut when I watch, so. Keep an eye out for that if you're interested. Thai Sign Language was developed in part from ASL (ergo, part of the same language family) so I'm also planning to dive into what I've learned about the language and its similarities! :)

Currently Consuming

Leftover Thai food my best friend foisted on me, I forget what it's called but it's some kind of thick rice noodle dish. Very good!!

Currently Craving

Motivation, sleep, an end to the anxiety which has been plaguing me since the beginning of the year, better glasses. Ice cream sounds good too.

TAGS! No pressure!

I have no idea who to tag, so just flying by the seat of my pants here: @squeakygeeky, @absolutebl, @shesarealphony, @lesbianlovestay, @cinematicnomad, @i-just-wanted-hyphens, @bulkhummus, @anonyma13, @stillqueerstillhere

[kiebs]

Arviana Week

Day 5 - Date Night

Hello, I come with more arviana since I am a slow writer :')

AO3

---

"Where have you taken me now, little buddy?"

Juliana laughed and didn't answer, keeping an eye on the sky. It had been around here the last time she say them… Well, two years ago, she had been closer to Levincia when she saw them, which had made an amazing shot, but she wanted to be a little more secluded with a lot less light pollution this time around. The more northern region of East Province 1 should be the best place to see them without hiking up Glaseado.

She definitely wouldn't have been able to drag Arven up there without him complaining. That was the first comment he had made about the area before he commented on the other odd things about their current ride. Like her hair getting messed up in the wind whipped up by Miraidon or the fact her outfit was technically not fit to go riding in the middle of the night. (“That skirt looks like you borrowed it from Penny.” “I did, actually.”) Or the fact that it was chilly and didn't she want him to make something warm?

(She had perfectly well-made takeout from Kofu's restaurant in the insulated carrier behind him. The only thinghe hadn't commented on, to her surprise.)

"This should be good," she murmured and tugged on Miraidon. It chirruped and slowed to a graceful stop, rather than the skidding they usually did when they full tilted. "Good Mimi! Aaand we're here!"

She twisted around to see her boyfriend of a year look around in confusion.

He pursed his lips after a moment and turned back to her. He looked really cute all confused like that, but with a smile that said he was trying to save her feelings. It was nice that she could see both of his eyes, too, but that was mostly because Penny, Nemona, and the Star girls had bullied him into letting them give him a makeover. He looked good with swept back hair, even if she much preferred him in his natural Emo element.

Well, chefs couldn’t be having their hair in their face, anyway. She would be sad to see his long hair go, but if he was going to intern under Kofu for his work study post-graduation, the mullet would have to retire.

"And where is here?" Arven asked finally.

"East Province One, near the border of South Glaseado, E-Prov Three, and E-Prov Two," she explained and slid off Miraidon.

She was glad she went with her more sturdy starry tights than the thin pantyhose she had seen others wear with skirts. The tights didn't catch on Miraidon's armor like the sheer ones did, which was always a bonus, and they were warm.

Patting down her fluffy skirt, she turned to beam at Arven. She could just about see him in the dark.

"…and I'm lost." He sighed. "If you wanted to kill me, I think you could have just pushed me into the moat around Mesagoza."

"Oh, shut up!" She shoved him and set about setting up a late night picnic.

Well, after she summoned Habanero, who lit up his little bird as bright as can be for her. A flash later and Scovillain was belching up his own flare.

In no time, they had everything set up. Juliana had even remembered electric candles to set the mood, having decided against real candles so she didn't have to remember fire safety rules. These even had those little flicker bulbs so it was almost as good as the real ones anyway! It still cast a little bit of warm light that wasn't eclipsed by the brightness of the moon above them.

Setting out the takeout, she caught Arven's little half smile.

"Kofu's, huh?" he remarked as he opened the container of dan dan noodles. "Ooh, you got the extra ginger one for me? Going all out, aren't you, little buddy?"

"Well, yeah," Juliana admitted, opening her own order of sesame pork noodles. "It is our first anniversary, after all. It's not like this could beat your display from earlier, though."

Arven coughed around a mouthful of noodles. She immediately held out a cup of water towards him.

"Was it too much?" he asked after he had stopped. "I…don't really know what to do with anniversaries and stuff."

Her fingers tingled and a fuzzy, sparkling feeling filled her chest. She wanted to smother him in love and rip apart that remains of that lab deep, deep down that Arceus damned hole. Instead, she pushed the water closer to him and reached for his hand. She just reached his fist, but his fingers unfurled for her to hook them together.

"It was a little over the top," she admitted, but smiled all the same and squeezed his hand. So what if he had gotten her a truckload of flowers because she had expressed wanting to experiment with floral photography. So what if he had shown up in the entrance hall of Uva with a three tier cake he had made with Mr. Saguaro's help. It was adorable. "I don't really know much besides birthdays so we can learn how to celebrate anniversaries together, okay?"

He squeezed back.

"You sure?"

"Of course. We're a team, aren't we?" she said and his eyes shined.

Oh.

How pretty.

He was blushing, if she squinted.

"Yeah," he breathed and finally smiled warmly.

Wow, his eyes were really shining, huh?

Could those be tears?

…wait…

Juliana glanced upwards and gasped. She tugged at Arven's hand.

"Look!" she exclaimed and jumped to her feet.

Light shot across the sky, a brilliant display of light and color. Streaks of green and blue and pink crossed the sky, unhindered by the slim clouds that floated on.

Behind her, Arven gasped and her grin grew wider. That was the exact reaction she was hoping for. She had wished she could have shared this with him the last time she had seen it, but too much had had happened at that point between Area Zero and returning to the academy for her to really give it more than a passing thought.

They hadn't been at the point they were now, or even a year ago, when they were fifteen and sixteen. Now, two years later, elation swelled in her chest as she scurried to Arven's side. The meteor shower was just as beautiful now as it was then, maybe even more so.

"This is why I brought you to the middle of nowhere," she murmured, leaning against his side.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "This is definitely preferred over murder, I gotta admit."

She snorted and nudged him, but he only laughed and squeezed her tighter. Well, she hadn't really tried to escape either so she settled against his side as they gazed above them.

"Happy anniversary, Arven," she murmured into the night.

Her heart thudded as he murmured back, "Happy anniversary, mi cielo."

[chriskingwong]

Hong Kong

I met a friend of a friend of a friend the other night who said she was from Hong Kong.

My memories rekindled like fanned embers.

In an instant I remembered

My room in Wan Chai

The smell of the streets

The taste of dim sum at dawn

My friends

I remembered the late nights and early mornings and basketball after rain and the dan tats served from a window down the block and the 24/7 computer lounge where I played videogames in Cantonese while pointing my phone’s Google translate app at the screen. I remembered my favorite noodle shop and how the chili oil was so spicy it caught in my throat and I cried and how each time I came back I added more just to prove that the first time was a fluke but the owners remembered. I remembered the humidity that crushed me at a dai pai dong and leaving halfway through dinner to stand in a 7/11 for their AC and coming back with ice cream. I remembered walking under bamboo scaffolding and roast goose with my brother for his birthday and one of my best friend’s most embarrassing moments that I absolutely cannot write and share.

I remembered a girl I met at a coffee shop who made me remember what it was like to fall in love.

I remembered the art exhibit we stumbled upon afterwards and the painter who was beaming with pride and joy at their creations. I remembered them telling us that Chinese painting is a chemical reaction and thinking: “So is love – how lucky I am to have tasted both in the same day.”

I still have the flyer from the exhibit. And the ache she left behind.

Living there changed my life.

So, to this friend of a friend of a friend I met the other night, I said, “I lived there last year,” expectant of the conversation to come.

“How old are you?” She asked.

“32.”

She laughed. Hard. Turned her head into her friend’s shoulder and let her tears soak her skin.

“Why… do you ask?”

“I know a lot of people, but I don’t know anyone who is THIRTY-TWO!” She continued to laugh and left with her friend to dance with the bartender.

She probably doesn’t remember this interaction, or that night. But I do. I remember it.

How many galaxies exist inside each of us?

How many universes are left unexplored? I was ready to hear of her constellations and how they differed from my own. What she wished upon shooting stars. I wanted to speak of time in eons and distance in light years. Of her favorite places and whether or not she had broken her heart too and if she had, had she filled in the cracks with stardust or moonlight? With whimsy or wonder? With hopes or dreams? For my own glaze was a mixture of them all; fired in the kiln of the sun.

With each passing day I have more childlike wonder for the world. For people and their beauty. Their scars.

How incredible is it to be able to feel and think and laugh and love and meet someone at any moment who may inspire any or all of those things in you?

I’m sad that that night I did not meet someone who inspired me on any level. But I am grateful for all of the friends and mentors and people in my life who do. I remember all of your stories and how each of you make me feel.

One day, when all of our bodies have turned to dust, when the earth no longer remembers the feel of your feet pressed against it and the wind no longer sings the sound of your voice, just know that while we were here – while we had the chance – we were brave enough to feel and think and laugh and love. Brave enough to become planets in each other’s orbits.

-Chris King Wong

7/22/2024

[captainmarsupial]

the hot weather makes me sad. it's gonna be close to 100 degrees this week and it'll be october! WTHECK MAN.

anyway, camping was fun!! we were only staying a night, so we left early to get to the park. picked up some pandesal on the way & got there around 830ish? so we hit the trail right away and probably took 3 hours to do the hike lol. it definitely was supposed to be quicker but we took a lot of breaks and had snacks at the peak of it. by the end, there wasn't much tree cover & it was getting hot, so the last half mile or so was lowkey agony. afterwards, we grabbed the sun shade & a blanket from the car and posted up in some grass by the lake & had a lunch of egg salad sandos and onigiri. i got very sleepy & tried to nap but failed, so i just read some of guardian instead (my reading of choice for the wilderness is BL with supernatural elements i guess LOL).

closer to 2 we headed to the campsite, setting up wasn't that bad (i think it took about 30-40 min). i played some genius star at the camp table, took a hammock nap, and read & snacked to pass the afternoon. for dinner we made brisket & pork belly, ramyeon, & some veggies (definitely in part bc the brisket+noodles+lettuce they were eating on spring camp made me want it). washed it all down with beer and soju &got pleasantly drunk. we went camping last year in arnold which felt very quiet and woodsy but the vibes at this camp site were pretty different! like, people around us were playing music, which usually would irritate me, but they were playing some old school jams so i was fine with it & it actually made me more relaxed. once the sun went down, the people a few campsites down had a big projector screen & were watching despicable me.. LMAO. meanwhile, we sat at the campfire & had a nightcap of hot chocolate and some pocky. it actually got super cold & i was bundled up in a jacket and a fleece blanket my mom made. sleeping in the tent after such a long day felt sooooo good after.

the next morning, we had coffee & pandesal with eggs and vienna sausage. something about breakfast while camping just hits, especially when it's hella early. hahah. we lounged for a while before tearing down camp, but the sun came through & was hella bright, and it got hot so fast. we definitely got out of there by 1030 but it felt so much later because of the heat.

then we met up with my sister on the way back for some socially distanced ice cream. & went to a small coffee shop where they really had halloween/autumn on display. the vibe was already very dark academia leaning so it rly felt like fall! it was the first day of fall too! i was so pleased lol.

when we got home i took a well needed shower. i think one night camping, especially going somewhere so close was a pretty good move (we almost did two nights at first). & next year i would be down to go with a bigger group for sure.

on thursday & friday i played tennis! thursday was rj's birthday, so we went to hotpot after for dinner. tram & i got these soju capri sun style drinks that were hella fucking strong lol. i ended up with a freakin' hangover at work on friday.. but my boss was out so i took half the day from home bwahaha. on friday we played again since everyone was free, & then afterwards we went to jollibee for dinner. it was LITTTT &took hella long to get our food, but it was so good.

afterwards i drove back to my parents' & stayed the night. i slept super late because i found a bunch of bootleg recordings of kyuhyun's musical songs on soundcloud LMAO. honestly, i have no idea what korean frankenstein is about, & i've definitely heard that the plot is more bonkers than it needs to be, but one thing they're gonna do is make victor frankenstein a poor little meow meow.

in the morning i had to wake up early to hit up downtown with my sister. shockingly, it was warm enough already that a tank top was enough.. TT we walked around & got coffee beans for my dad, some coffee for ourselves, & then went to the bookstore. i got a book called "what you are looking for is in the library." so far i enjoy it but i don't really know where it's going. lol. then we got some pastries at a popup toni's cousin was doing. toni also drove into town that morning so she joined us briefly. then we all parted ways since my sister was going to a game, & i went back home.

i definitely should go home more, but it sounds like my parents are usually busy on the weekends anyway. hahah but yesterday i got to third wheel with them to dinner & the outlets. got myself a candle, a necklace and a new shirt :] it's one of those sweater-shirts with a collar, which is a style i have no clue if i can rock, so... we'll see. haha

&now september is basically over. it feels like it's about to be october, but it also doesn't? this month went by so quickly.. but also it didn't. IDK. from here on out, i'm gonna be pretty busy for the rest of the year! we're doing an early thing for my dad's birthday next week, then a couple of weeks after that i have plans with different groups of friends, then im going to hawaii with allison & our moms & marty & jake. and then japan! it's like all these plans i made months ago are finally about to be here & it doesn't feel real yet, i guess.

okay, i should wrap this up & then get ready for tennis. my body is so tired though!!!

[guvato]

Tamalog Day 8

We started the day pretty simple, at 7AM i just checked if they were ok and then called the sitter, figured it is the best thing to do to no end up forgetting what i've done after i wake up.

So at 5PM when i woke up i picked everyone up from the Sitter and since everyone was good i just went on to eat lunch, Picochutchi decided to sing for me and as always it's the cutest thing. Mofuwatchi evolved into Gunchitchi and not even 10 minutes later was missing from his usual spot, when i went looking for him, we found that he ate 4 Pots of Honey, and as he was bringing 3 more (i dunno where he found so much Honey), he saw that i'd seen his actions, but due to this being one of the cutest things i've ever seen, i gave him some pets as a reward for warming my heart up. (i freaking loooove the Smart's events like this one, they are super cute and have so much personality, it's amazing.) Himetchi went to the shop as usual for her Daily Prize Draw and we got 4th place, with the reward being a Lollipop, and hey, i with we'd get special items for 1st place instead of the 200Gs, it seems more interesting to be honest. After the prize draw we went to the restaurant and she had Fried Chicken for dinner and we cooked our daily meal, which was a combination of a steak and garlic bread, that turned into...a Shish Kebab!

In the evening, everyone was doing okay, but then Himetchi pooped and was feeling very sad with the mess she made, so i cleaned it and we went to the restaurant, she ate a Jumbo Steak and was back into her happy self again, i then went to take a look at Picochutchi, and she was a little hungry and a bit unhappy, so after a delicious Samgye-Tang Soup, we went into the TamaVerse to do our daily Tama Arena Match, which went great, but even though we played it pretty much perfectly, it was not enough to get us the 1st place, as a Bigsmile cleared the waves with 9300m over our 9100m run. But as always, all that matters is that Picochutchi had fun and that the event is really great and fun, i can't wait to see what the other games are. I reluctantly am trying not to give Gunchitchi much attention today as we want just one more Care Mistake so he can turn into Kuchipachi, but honestly it hurts me to neglect any Tama anytime, so even though i am not feeding him much or playing with him, i still take a look at him sometimes just to make sure he's not too bad.

I didn't even know it was already 8PM when i went to check on Himetchi and saw she was already asleep, so i checked on the other two and they were doing good, which is great, Gunchitchi basically didn't eat today but his hunger bar nearly didn't go down, since House-sitting is OP. Picochutchi was a lil hungry so i gave her some Somen Noodles and we went out to the Garden for some fresh air, and the stars shined on us on the near end of our 8th Tama Day. Gunchitchi asked me for some help to fall asleep, and we gave him some pets, so he surprisingly fell asleep quite fast. After that we gave PIcochutchi some love and played with her at the Arcade, after which i just waited for her to go to sleep, and when she did, our Tama Day was over.

[not-souleaterpost]

Lord Dunsany and the broken telephone of "fantasy"

So for my weekly post that nobody will care for, I'll again squeeze out some shit related to a topic I researched for the iceberg, but that doesnt really have anything to do with Soul Eater:

Lord Dunsany is often quted in some "deeplore" "well akshually" stuff to be the father of "modern fantasy", but did all the people who read him miss the point?

So I'll start by saying I wasnt ever into fantasy, it allways seemed kinda corny, only stuff I cared was LoTR cause I kinda grew up and around people were obssesed with it and DQ, cause of the DBZ bleed over and because I just like the slimes lol.

That may makes me disqualified about commenting, but eh, I dunno, I think my point will still stand, cause I will bring it back to Tolkien now:

Some people say he was inspired by Dunsanys "word building" to make his own overly convoluted mythology, but here lies my objection:

The two books I read of Dunsany about "the gods of Pegana" seem not really care about the "lore"

They seem to be written in the style as if they were some holy book, yet the names seem deliberately random and often the storys are either contradictory or mix up the details to make a point and to reflect that feeling of myths that arent organized by some obsessive nerd wiki for logical consistency.

Because in the end the books arent about "fantasy" (atleast the ones I have read), but as kinda didactic laments about the authors perceived nihilism and meaninglessnes/cruelty of the world.

Ok that may be reductive, cause there are many vivid and even beautiful or fascinating things described, but in the end you feel that tone of "Oh that is like fanfiction from the Bible book about how everythings is just meaningles vapor" tone.

Like in "the gods and time" there is a great short story about a prophet who sees the "true gods" and abondons the old ones for them with his followers, only to repeatedly then see even greater gods, only to lose more and more of his acolytes with each subsequent trip and in the end arive back at the old gods he rejected at the star - basically a commentary at the foly for the strive of knowledge or about how things are more simple at the end of it all than one trys to think.

But the important thing is that the "gods" of this short story dont really matter more than for the point they make in it - I would be surprised that for example the "mocking gods" have some specific lore, events and super powers etc like shit in Tolkiens stuff has, or in modern generic fantasy, where everyone is some world or warcraft charachter shooting magical auras.

Still, maybe Im ignorant, and in all the other storys there actually is that feeling of a shared mythology and "wordbuilding" besides the tone of "life's a bitch and then you die"

Anyways, what was the point of this all? I guess to say that it is kinda sad that an innovatitive form of literature gets reduced into the current state of "top ten word building tips!" videos on youtube.

Ok maybe thats to harsh, even I know how fun it is to come up with a setting and its own intrincitys, but still, I think one shouldnt limit oneself to that - its like watching DBZ for the power levels - when the point is that they dont matter.

But in the end, maybe this post just shows my own ignorance - maybe most fantasy does that already. Yet when I allways hear everybody praise some Brandon Sanderson guy, who seems to only care about "magic systems being consistent" and literally color codes his creatures to match emotions or some shit idk😂

And also, I wonder if Tolkien had actually finished more books if he hadnt noodled around with his silly lore matching, especially when it in the end still is contradictory😂🤷‍♂️

Anyways, sorry this kinda sounds more spitful than I wanted, guess its cause I saw some video where they talked about these books as if they were all about just creating some wacky fantasy world, which seemed strange to me after having read even just a small part of his whole work.

So: Yeah...Sorry

[dearcraziness]

Chapter 75.

In the morning, the devils woke up refreshed and well-rested. Bendy was making sponge cakes with caramel cream and white chocolate crumbs while Lara was combing her hair. After breakfast, in the company of Boris and Alice, sweethearts were solving crosswords, sudoku, playing Sea Battle. After discussing yesterday's surprisingly pleasant dream, the imps kissed, the demon straightened a strand of hair near the girl's face.

"You have such sweet lips, vanilla... And not only the lips..."

"Stop it, baby..."

"Oh, sorry, Larry, I didn't mean to embarrass you..."

"It's okay, I was just joking... You kiss me as gently as on our first date..."

"Oh, violet, touching my lips to your face is just as quivering and exciting as the first time..."

"Sometimes you kiss me below the head, in the neck, for example... It's also nice..."

"The main thing is you feel good..." the young man bent down and, holding the girl by the waist with both hands, leaned his lips against the chin of his beloved, then to the place she mentioned. The demon raised his head, his voice sounded near the girl's ear, "May I kiss you here?..."

"Of course..."

The girl felt the lips of her beloved, which opened a little, making the imp's ear slightly moist. She closed her eyes and smiled contentedly. The young man looked at his precious one with interest, took her in his arms and covered her entire face with gentle kisses.

In the evening, when Bendy was cooking noodles with chanterelles and chicken in cream sauce, Lara decided to read in the book 'Psychology of Relationships' what the devil's recent kiss meant. Of course, the girl understood the young man was guided primarily by love and care, however, she was interested in an alternative interpretation of her beloved's actions. On page two hundred and seventy-six, Lara found a description of this type of kiss :

"The ear is a very sensitive organ, that's why your lover kisses this part, they usually open their mouth slightly. It means they want you phisically."

The imp closed the book, she was amazed by the last sentence; however, she wasn't against their closeness, but she didn't feel as if she was ready to take their relationship to a new level. She didn't think for very long, because the devil came into the room and called her for dinner. She nodded weakly, looking away.

"What's wrong, Larry?... You were thinking so deeply..."

"No, I was just a little doubtful..."

"Tell me what your thoughts were about..."

"Let's discuss after dinner... It's not urgent..."

"Alright, as you wish... Come on, sweetheart..."

It was getting dark outside. Only moon was shining in the sky, the stars seemed to have disappeared from the wide blue blanket. Bendy sat down next to Lara, who was looking away. She wasn't sad, just lost in her thoughts.

"Dear, it's not easy to guess your intentions from your behavior today... Did I upset you with something?..."

"No, honey... I just read the meaning of a kiss in the ear..."

"Oh, you didn't like what was written?... I was just going to please you, surprise you in the positive sense of the word..."

"I know; the book gave two explanations..."

The girl whispered near the young man's horn, the demon instantly blushed. He looked up in embarrassment, speaking hurriedly, "Laurie, believe me, I didn't mean it at all!... How could I have thought of such a thing before our wedding... Probably, on a subconscious level, I had a desire to deepen our connection not only spiritually, but also physically; however, I understand we're both not ready... Besides, kisses, although important, aren't the most important - sincere conversations, discussion of topics close to the heart are much more significant... Forgive me for my vehemence..."

"Don't apologize, I like your kisses... They' re one of the many reasons for my joy... Maybe my inner voice wants to try something new - I'm not sure if the time has come... We'll find other activities for the evening, right?..."

"Of course, dear!... Whatever we do, we'll have fun next to each other... We haven't yet opened the board games 'Imagine and portray', 'Show your creative personality'... Recently, new fashion trend magazines have arrived to you, and fresh issues of scientific, physical phenomena in different worlds, dimensions were sent to me..."

Sweethearts let go of awkward feelings and had a great evening. Bendy was telling Lara funny stories, she was laughing at his jokes for a long time. The imps hugged; the girl decided to try to tickle the young man a little, as he sometimes did, but Lara's action did not have the proper effect on Bendy - the demon smiled, kissed the imp several times and began to tickle her himself. The devils were smiling broadly, the demoness lay down on a snow-white sheet, the young man kissed her a couple more times ; however, there was something new in their poses : the demon was sitting on his knees over his beloved ; her legs were located between his left and right shins ; their bodies were at a small distance from each other ; the young man's hands rested on the bed near the the palms of the girl; the demoness's hands were relaxed bent at the elbows, lying freely near the wizard's hands ; Bendy's face was covered with a red hue - their bodies hadn't taken such positions before.

"Larry, sorry!..." he spoke nervously, quickly pulling away. "I don't know what came over me today..."

"No, Bendy, wait..." the girl took him by the forearm. "I like this feeling..."

"I also experience pleasant sensations... Even embarrassing situations which make my heart beat faster don't change the comfort and coziness next to you..."

"I think today can still bring its surprises..."

"You mean you don't mind trying?... We're both worried, so it's better to think carefully about whether we're ready..."

"Could you?..."

"One word from you and I'll do everything as you wish..."

"I'll say two words: not now..."

"Alright, sweetheart..."

Bendy sat down next to Lara, who turned on her right side, leaning on her elbow.

"You probably didn't know yourself what you wanted more..."

"I thought it wasn't necessary thing to do yet... There are millions of things which can bring you great happiness..."

"Hmm..."

"Why are you frowning, the light of my eyes?..."

"You control your emotions pretty well..."

"I can't allow impulsive actions take control... I'm trying to figure out what you want most right now... Seems like you don't mind talking, just like me..."

"Right... Perhaps I'm just not attractive enough to cause an uncontrolled flow of feelings..."

"Lara, don't doubt the power of your beauty, please!... You're so alluring and appealing, sometimes it's quite difficult for me to control myself, but your preferences are above all..."

"That's right, you don't act against my will, even if you have the opportunity..."

"Sunshine, I just can't behave otherwise... I love you very much..."

"Many creatures say these words to each other, but everyone understands the word 'love' differently..."

"In my opinion, this is a feeling you sincerely believe in, cherish with all your heart... In other words, love is eternity..."

"I think so... What time is it already?..."

"Two o'clock in the morning... Wow, you probably really want to sleep..."

"Not yet..."

"Then let's prolong our conversation..."

When the time was nearing morning, the devils fell asleep. The next day, the rays of the sun began to play on the spring foliage. A new joyful sunshine burst in, waking up friends, drawing a cheerful expressions on their faces. Warm and cozy gatherings in the kitchen, in the garden resumed, smiles lit up the lives of wizards, prompting them to share happiness with each other...