#whelp it doesn't matter

[softquietsteadylove]

I would love to read more about Thenamesh and Dane. They are invited to Sersis birthday and they go to a bar or club. And Thena is tense all the time because she worries Mahd Wy'ry will crash the party.

xoxo

"Happy Birthday Sersi!"

Sersi made a very good show of looking surprised and delighted as some of their friends came out with a cake and candles for her. According to her, she always avoided giving people a solid birthday for her, so that no one could ever accuse her of lying (and not aging). But she had been in London long enough now that it was more suspicious to not have any birthday whatsoever.

Dane clapped politely as Sersi blew out the candles, letting the other party goers cheer and jostle her around. Everyone was a few pints in by this point, if not well on their way to being pissed.

He leaned back from the line for cake. Cake and beer really wasn't that delicious a combination. And he was - not so officially - keeping his eye on another guest to the party.

Thena had been quiet all night.

Sersi had asked him hastily and quietly to just keep somewhat of an eye on her sister for the night. Thena had agreed to come solely so Sersi and Gilgamesh wouldn't feel the need to stay home and watch her. But Sersi knew Thena would be far from comfortable in a packed little pub, pounding music, a dance floor, and nothing but loud humans to drown it all out.

She seemed to be doing okay, but Dane knew better than to assume anything by this point. And despite his initial impression, Sersi insisted that Thena liked him, so...

Dane excused himself, shimmying past people with his pint glass in hand. No one paid him much mind, much more focused on his partner--the woman of the hour. He set his glass on a tray with other dirty glasses and leaned against the edge of the counter. "Want some cake?"

She shook her head.

"I'm sure Sersi would be happy to save you a piece," Dane carried on. He found that the best way to get Thena talking was to do plenty of the preamble himself. Then, she could insert her one or two words as she pleased. "Or perhaps it doesn't stack up against what Gilgamesh makes."

He was maybe using all his best moves too early.

But Thena smiled faintly at the mention of her husband, "he did offer to make one but it seems more customary to partake in whatever someone has bought."

"I suppose, yeah," Dane nodded, still watching as Sersi did her best to cut small pieces and get them to everyone around her. She met his eyes, inclining her head in such a way to indicate that he was making the right move, according to her.

"Should you not be up there with her?"

"Ah, well," he tucked the corners of his smile into his cheeks and tapped his hands against the counter. "Just...need another pint. What about you?"

"I can see and hear her just fine from here."

She was even more tense in here than she had been on the tube.

Dane clasped his hands together on the countertop. He looked over at her, "you're doing well, for what it's worth. I know you're worried about that."

Thena didn't even move, locked up so tightly it seemed that moving her eyes over to him took effort. "If I go under for a second, I could-"

"No, no," he shook his head, discouraging the sentiment before she could speak it aloud. "None of that, now."

Thena looked at him more fully now, even if it was to express her annoyance at his dismissal. "You choose now to become abundantly confident?"

Dane put a hand on his hip. "While you seem determined to worry and think only of the negative possibilities. Have I rubbed off on you?"

She continued to glare at him.

"Is that why you're over here, sequestering yourself?" Dane looked from her over to Sersi and the party again. "Protecting them, as it were?"

"Indeed I am," she asserted more poignantly, just to shut him up.

"Come on," he insisted, though. He would have to be careful about just how far he could push the literal Goddess of War. But he leaned on the counter again, "I'm not saying you have to dance, but mingling a little wouldn't kill you, would it?"

"It is not my death that concerns me."

"You seem fine right now," Dane pointed out, and watched Thena absorb that observation from someone else's perspective. "You haven't slipped, there's no gold in your skin. I think you're okay, Thena."

"Hm." Dane was by no means an expert of communication with Thena. There were a lot of nuances and subtleties to it. But that 'hm' almost sounded...unsure. It sounded vulnerable and delicate.

"Look," he said more gently, even pulling out the seat next to her, "I know it took a lot for you to come here. That doesn't escape me, and you know it means the world to Sersi."

They both looked over again, Sersi almost glowing from sharing in the human energy in the room.

"She wants you to get out more, enjoy the world as it is now," Dane expressed on behalf of his girlfriend. She had told him all of this before, particularly from a place of guilt over not having seen Thena in so very long before reuniting last year.

"That is much more easily said than done, Dane."

"I know," he nodded, and it was true, it was. "But you're doing great so far. Why not - I dunno - run with that, a little?"

Thena looked at him with a smile furrow in her brow. She didn't always excel with modern figures of speech.

Dane chuckled, which only seemed to annoy her further. "How about this?--just a dance. Not all of these songs are going to be loud bops, and when a gentler song comes on, you can get on your feet, just for a little."

"Hm." That sounded much better than the last one!

"You and--where is Gil?"

"Hey!" he announced himself, rushing over to them with his coat on but not buttoned up despite the cold London air (just for show). "I had to go grab something."

Dane happily got up, surrendering the space next to the Warrior Eternal to the man who would truly know exactly what she needed and how to help.

Gilgamesh pulled out a tiny cake--an individual little mousse, of sorts. "There's a little convenience store around the corner and they had these in the case with the samosas and stuff."

Thena brightened considerably at the sight of a dessert which wouldn't require her to brush elbows with the rest of the party. "It is Sersi's celebration."

Gilgamesh didn't listen, pulling her head in to kiss her temple. "She can celebrate all she wants."

Dane skittered a little closer to the empty tray of glassware again. It was actually topnotch move, and he would have to remember that for the next time Sersi seemed down about something (or he was in trouble for something).

"Another, pal?"

"Please," he smiled at the barkeep. He eyed the couple as Thena dug into the single serving mousse, offering Gilgamesh the first bite from her fork.

"Hey, it's not bad!"

"You could make better," she declared without any room for argument, even as she took a bite of the light and fluffy chocolate with a sigh.

"How're you doing?" Dane heard Gilgamesh asked her much more quietly. His hand ran down her back. "I was a little worried about leaving you, but Sersi said Dane would keep you company."

He blushed faintly, unsure of how to feel about being the designated company keeper for his very lethal sister-in-law.

Thena smiled, though, her hand on Gilgamesh's knee, "he is a fine man. I greatly appreciate that Sersi has him."

Dane jaw nearly dropped as he tried to sip his beer and pretend he wasn't listening. She had never said anything like that to him! Probably never would, too.

"Good," Gil sufficed to say, kissing her cheek again. "So, no flares?"

She shook her head, apparently feeling much more confident in it than a minute ago. Perhaps the little dessert really did that much to improve her mood. "We should dance."

Dane nearly choked on his beer, averting his eyes as he did.

Gilgamesh was definitely surprised by it too, but it didn't take much for him to agree to dance with his own partner, "don't mind if I do."

As Dane had promised, the club mix faded and a much more gentle melody replaced it. He had requested a few 'crowd bummers' himself, as it were, just to ensure that Thena had at least some relief from the pounding dance music.

He smiled into his beer as, on their way past, a hand gave the sleeve of his shirt a faint pinch. She didn't excel in expressing herself with words, but he had to assume it was a way of saying thank you.

[moggybuddy]

When you meme so hard, it lasts for hooours

Sent to my girl, and in the end she's sleeping

Sent memes till late even still

Looked up to see the time, I work at 9

. . . oh shoot, I messed up . . . Whelp, it is what it is.

[ladyzogs]

she's timid, shy, risk averse. never broken a bone, never threw a punch. 19 years of age and she survived her whole life by keeping her head down and waiting for it to blow over. she would've lived a boring life, died regretting it, then fade into obscurity. if it weren't for me.

it doesn't matter what unfortunate circumstances led to my employment of her; when you try your best to avoid life, life comes to you. she was too weak to be a laborer, too anxious to be a foot soldier, and there was no way she could be a pilot. "she'd make a fine technician or assistant", I thought, believing she'd only be here for a few years at most to pay off her debts, then I'd drop her back off at her backwater nothing settlement and she can get back to being a nobody.

that was until I decided on a whim to have her screened for NILC (Neural Interface Link Compatibility). I had lost a hound around that time and good hounds are hard to come by nowadays. Surely this would just be a waste of time and I'd have to get back to hiring real pilots

98. 98 out of 100.

the median is closer to 60. my best hound is 82. this girl, this pathetic little thing, was in the 2nd percentile of all humanity for NILC. Clockmouth, often considered one of if not the best pilot of all time, was 95.

I had the techs redo the test 2 more times. they re-calibrated the testing equipment and tested 2 more times. same result each time.

that's when I started to see it. the way this girl carried herself, the way she didn't walk but glided with long strides. the look in her eyes, the way she spoke. she was not born this pitiful, hopeless whelp.

I don't know what made her this way, nor do I care. I would not pass up this opportunity. I would make something of her, even if she hated me for it.

[homunculus-argument]

Character concept: A rugged and seasoned 58-year-old veteran adventurer who looks about 19. He's not an immortal or anything, but as his One Last Quest he headed out to find some kind of a fountain of youth or something alike to it. He now admits to himself that his whole plan was to die on this adventure - he didn't want to retire - but now that he actually found it and managed to achieve the goal he didn't actually really even want, he fucking hates it.

Nobody takes him seriously regardless of what he has to say. He had to start going by a different name since if he tried to use his old one, people would either laugh at his face for such a bold lie, or try to beat his ass for the disrespect of trying to claim to be This Famous Adventurer. He struggles to learn out of his habit of addressing every man who looks under 35 as "boy", because people keep assuming him for an insolent whelp looking for a fight.

Being young again is fucking miserable. The only women who are attracted to him are either far too young and only silly girls he can't find interesting, or women his own age who think they are taking advantage of a clueless youth, which he finds off-putting.

And now that his youth and vigour are renewed, he's pissed off to realise that they can't be turned off. He can't just retire, sit down and live a peaceful life. It doesn't matter that he's old and wise and wants to be calm, his body is young and restless and refuses to chill. So back out he goes to adventuring, despite of having seen all there is and knowing from experience that most adventuring quests are fool's errands that end in tragedy, and the spoils are rarely worth the work and sacrifice that goes into them.

He's a grumpy old man who just wanted to die with dignity, and now he has to do all this shit all over again. And he fucking hates it.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Margaret Killjoy’s “The Sapling Cage”

TODAY (Sept 24), I'll be speaking IN PERSON at the BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY!

The Sapling Cage is the first book in Margaret Killjoy's new "Daughters of the Empty Throne" trilogy: it's a queer coming-of-age tale in the mode of epic fantasy, and it's very good:

https://firestorm.coop/products/21646-the-sapling-cage.html

Lorel wants to be a witch, but that's the very last of the adventurous trades to be strictly gender-segregated. Boys and girls alike run away to be knights, brigands and sailors, but only girls can become a witch. Indeed, Lorel's best friend, Lane, is promised to the witches, having been born to a witch herself.

Lane doesn't want to be a witch. She wants to be a knight. So she and Lorel swap places, so when the crones come to their little hamlet to collect the girl who was promised to her, it's Lorel who steps forward, wearing the black dress Lane's mother left behind. None of the townsfolk rate Lorel out to the witches, and just like that, she is on the march with the coven, a whelp – the lowest ranking inductee, aspiring to "apprentice" and then, "witch."

What follows is, in some ways, a very expertly executed coming-of-age story. Lane is getting trained up with the coven, among a new cohort of whelps of varying degrees of friendliness and hostility. The world is a richly realized fantasy landscape of monsters and giants, magic and political intrigue.

Lorel has signed up for witching just as the land is turning against witches, thanks to a political plot by a scheming duchess who has scapegoated the witches as part of a plan to annex all the surrounding duchies, re-establishing the long-disintegrated kingdom with herself on the throne. To make things worse (for the witches, if not the duchess), there's a plague of monsters on the land, and the forests are blighted with a magical curse that turns trees to unmelting ice. This all softens up the peasantfolk for anti-witch pogroms.

So Lorel has to learn witching, even as her coven is fighting both monsters and the duchess's knights and the vigilante yokels who've been stirred up with anti-witch xenophobia.

This is a good, sturdy, serviceable plot, and in Killjoy's hands, it is expertly handled. There are lots of reversals and double-crosses, brilliant fight scenes, all the things you could want in an epic fantasy. And of course, it's a coming of age, with Lorel seeing the world and discovering who she is and brushing away the comforting half-truths and lies her elders have cocooned her in.

That's where the fact that Lorel is trans comes in. Lorel is figuring out what that means, but she's also very worried about discovery. After all, she's entered the company of witches, the last all-female cohort in the land, and these are powerful women – what's more, they're anarchists, leaderless and fractious. Who knows what happens if Lorel gets discovered.

So you've got this incredibly well-turned fantasy/coming-of-age story going on, and Killjoy figures out how to work in this gender stuff not just as a way of doing "representation" or "queer joy" or any other value that's orthogonal to the literary merits of this as an adventure tale. Nor does she simply integrate trans-ness as an unremarkable fact of life, another kind of statement (indeed, there's plenty of queer characters in this story who are matter-of-fact in this manner).

No, Killjoy uses the special complications of coming-of-age while transitioning to heighten the stakes and thus fuel the suspense of the novel. In addition to all the normal merits of diverse characters, Killjoy is using gender issues to crank up the story, winding it up to a breakneck pace that makes the pages practically fly past.

Thematically, there's a bunch of chewy stuff Killjoy does with the way that magic transforms bodies, making monsters out of witches who push their powers too hard. The story has all these changing bodies – children coming of age, Lorel coming out as transfemme, the transformation of magic-users into monsters. It's just another layer of depth that supports a zippy, run-and-gun quest tale.

I've followed Killjoy's work for more than a decade, ever since her days publishing the seminal zine Steampunk (motto: "Love the machine, hate the factory"):

https://firestorm.coop/products/2624-steampunk-magazine.html

Years later, I had the pleasure of instructing her at the Clarion West workshop. She's published regularly all that time, and this is by far her most commercial – and, I think her best! – novel (to date).

Today, Tor Books publishes SPILL, a new, free LITTLE BROTHER novella about oil pipelines and indigenous landback!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/09/24/daughters-of-the-empty-throne/#witchy/a>

[romanarose]

Supportive Logan Thoughts: Writer GF

Logan Howlett x fem!writer!gf

Join my taglist : Masterlist

Buy Me A Coffee : Kofi : Go Fund Me

Summary: You're an aspiring writer, but having trouble finding time to write. Logan shows his complete faith in you, no matter what your family thinks.

Warnings: Not a lot, unsupportive/mean family. My massive daddy issues

A/n: I wanted to write this for myself because Im feeling massively unsupported by my family and several friends, and I with I had a partner with this much faith in me. I have another one I wanna do with supportive logan and reader who wants to continue education. If you have any self indulgant ideas you wanna hear, send em! It'll probs be short but I can have Logan say things i think you'd want to hear in a way that makes sense for him. Trans and lgbt themes encouraged.PS: catch the bobs burgers reference?

Dinner had been going pretty well, comparatively. Logan hadn't snapped at your dad for his passive aggression, and your mom hadn't commented on how you'd gained weight. It wasn't your fault your beloved boyfriend seemed to be fattening you up!

All in all, a peaceful dinner.

Until your brother, Mark, had to be a dick.

"You still writing on Wattpad?" He asked, an innocent enough question but you knew that tone. Logan stiffened, so you put a hand on his thigh. He chewed hard on the broccoli.

You brace yourself a bit. "Yeah, I got the fanfictions. But I'll have you know, it's a fun hobby and I do pretty well for myself-"

"Writing men kissing on tumblr isn't a hobby any more than making a porno is."

Logan speaks, through a full mouth. "I bet you're the porn expert, considering you're not getting any from anyone else."

"Except your mom."

You raise to hands at both Logan and Mark "Knock if off you two!"

Your mom is glaring at Mark for mentioning porn at the table, but he's pretending to be very interested in his chicken Alfredo.

Still, your dad always has something to say. "It's a shame you can't make money off that. I don't really understand why you do it."

"For fun?" You didn't know what not to get. Your grandma made terrible janky blankets and you all gushed over them. You loved them of course, because it was grandma. Why couldn't you have a hobby weather or not you were good?

But Logan wouldn't let the silence be filled with your families assumptions. "Well, she's writing a book, actually. And it's good, really fu- I mean, it's really good." Logan abides by your moms no swearing rule, but she pays no mind to the always f word as she somehow finds a reason to embarrass you.

"Oh she's always talking about some book or whatever. As a kid it was mystery because she was into the boxcar children. As a teen she was going to write the next big dystopian trilogy." She covers her mouth as she laughs about it.

Logans hand flexes and tightens under the table, trying to remain calm. "And what did you say when she told you about these?"

"Well, I told her she should be more realistic. I mean, I read some of her writing-"

"Because you snooped through my notebooks!"

"And it wasn't exactly Hunger Games."

Logan set down his plate. "So let me get this straight, Diane."

"Lo..." You warn.

"You snooped through notebooks that your daughter wrote by hand on notebooks, at what, 14, 15? Told her that this first draft, which I cannot stress enough, was written on a notebook, wasn't good enough to be published, then you're shocked she didn't finish it?"

When you're moms mouth gapped, your dad stepped in. "She doesn't finish anything, I'm sure you picked up on that. I mean, how many half started art projects are in your house right now?"

An embaressing amount. The other day, you found three different blankets with the same color scheem started. Three! Thrice, you had the same idea and never followed through.

Your boyfriend was not deterred. "Well, maybe, she needs someone whose going to support her, encourage her. Didn't seem like she had a lot of that before."

"WHELP!" You slap your knees, then stand up. "This has been great, but as usual we passed the 15 minute mark, and right on cue, it's time to go."

Your dad was as stubborn as Logan was and stood too. "Oh yeah, and just what are you gonna do to support her, to magically fixed years of fail-"

As you pulled Logan toward the door, Logan counts off on his fingers. "One, tell her that she can actually do it, because she CAN, two, check in on her and let her brainstorm with me. Have you ever actually asked about her plot? No?"

You're giggling to yourself now. Dinner was ruined, but you liked that Logan didn't stand for people talking bad about you.

"And three, she's gonna quit her job so she can focus on writing!"

Well. That one was new. Logan always encouraged your novel in progress, he listened about the characters and offered ideas, gave you a sounding board that wasn't judgmental. Yes, you've complained about no time for writing when you work so much but... No matter, you show a united front in front of your dad.

"Yeah! Because he believes in me." And you were out the door.

*

The drive back was quiet. Espresso was on the radio, and you knew he must be distracted because he didn't change the station, so you spoke first.

"I don't have to quit my-"

"I was gonna talk to you about-"

You both start at the same time. Then you laugh. "You first, Lo."

His body language relaxes for the first time tonight. "I didn't mean to spring that on yuh." I don't wancha to think I'm like. Trying to tell you what to do or make you financially dependent."

"I don't." You assure him. "So... you thought about this?"

He nods. "Yeah I um... I really think you got something good here, baby. I think if you took leave for a while ad really could just focus on the book, it could be something great. I mean, I don't know much about books but even I like it, so... you know... it's gotta be good."

Warmth fills your body as a blush festers under your skin. Logan really believed in you. He believed in your book enough that he was willing to take this risk on you.

"Can we... afford that?"

"Well I thought..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I can always take overtime at work. If I pick up another day or two-"

"Logan! I can't ask your to do that!"

"You're not." He turns to you briefly, smiling, then back to the road. "I'm asking to do this for you, if you'll let me. Then, when you're a high falutin writer, I can be your sugar baby." He pokes yoru side, making you giggle

Still, seed of doubt were deeply entrenched. "But what if I don't do good? It doesn't sell?"

Logan shrugs. "Well, I guess... then you'll try again. Or you don't, an you'll know you finished it and you tried."

A pause. "You're really willing to do this for me?"

"Baby..." He places a hand on yours, eyes once again drifting only briefly from the road to you, then back. "I'd get the moon right now if you asked. Let me do this for us."

For us.

***********

Okay thats it im done im sorry, that was my own daddy issues, mommy issues, brother issues- lort help lmfao

anyway if you like this, check out my other stuff on my masterlist! if you like dark content, most of my logan is being written over at @romana-after-dark

the bobs burgers referece was the 15 min rule. at exactly 15 min, big bobs says something mean to bob asdfghjkl

my middle brother hosted a surprise party for my parents anniversary and we decided to have me an the ret of my siblings be surprise one, have my oldest brother hiding bc he lives the furthest away for surprise 2, then downstairs my extended family for three. My dad walks in, sees me and my youngest brother who he was't expecting, and before he even says hi he says "where's *oldest brother*" so that felt cool. And we got into a bit of an arguement where he was discrediting my feelings about the move when i was a teenager, and then my brothers and sister were assholes- and i just kept thinking i want logan or santi or joel here to protect me and defend me even against little stuff.

enough about me!

send your requests! give me chubby read, black reader, trans reader, native reader, bi reader, male reader- literally whatever tf you want. I cant say it'll be as long as this one but i got you. you desver to feel supported.

[hush-writes-preg]

oooooo, could you mix 5 and 9?

Can do!

"you can't give birth here."

"there. that ought to keep that baby in there."

(For the Birth Denial Writing Prompts!)

You're the expectant spouse of a powerful, egotistical king, but you didn't realize the depths of his self-absorption until today.

Today, your kingdom welcomes delegates from all across the continent to an important trade summit. Your spouse has spared no expense in preparing the most lavish, eye-popping display of power and wealth for all his guests-- including you.

You've been dressed in the finest silks and bejeweled clothing to showcase your delicate looks and the massive swell of your pregnant belly for all to see. It doesn't matter to your husband that you've been struggling with contractions since the evening before, nor that you can barely keep upright due to how hard and fast they're now coming. You're meant to be another piece of his display, and that means you'll be at his side, no exceptions. At least until he grows bored of your presence and lets you slip away.

"You're not going to give birth in front of all of those people," he says in response to your increasingly frantic requests to be excused from the preparations, his voice cold. "You can't give birth here either, because I still have need of you. So calm your ridiculous hysterics and act like the aristocrat you're supposed to be."

You plead for mercy, your massive belly visibly quaking beneath the fabric of your fine clothing. But he's never once shown you a scrap of compassion, and he's not about to start now. Sliding his frigid gaze down your quivering form, he finally snaps his fingers to summon a servant. They share a few whispers while you clutch at your laboring belly, instinctively knowing that the growing pressure in your pelvis can't bode well.

When the servant returns, he's carrying a box. Panic rises in your throat as the king orders you to turn around and bend over, knowing that you won't like his 'solution'. You choke back tears as strange hands slide over your body and a thick, chilly plug is shoved unceremoniously inside of you, lubricated but cold as it seals off your birth canal.

"There. That ought to keep that baby in there," the servant says without a hint of concern about what he'd just done. "Anything else, my Lord?"

"You're dismissed," says the king, watching as the other servants haul you upright and start tugging your clothing back into place. Once you're presentable again, he holds out his arm for you to take. "Now, put a smile on your face and stop looking so miserable; you'll be able to whelp my heir when the timing is more convenient. Right now, your place is at my side."

Another contraction shudders through your belly, but with no place for the baby to go, all you can do is waddle after your husband and pray you can make it through the next few hours.

[latias-eevee-hatori]

Me: *heads to refill waterbottle and detours to bathroom* Okay, game plan, I'll try to see if the DLC will download now and scan as many old sketches as I can while waiting. I should grab the shower doodles while I'm at it...

*while peeling the ones in the shower remembers ones stuffed into bathroom drawer*

These are so. old. why are there so many. Probably Pre-Time Period PLA took over my life, certainly pre-Owl House, F--K I've hardly touched these let alone sorted.

*looks at bookshelf and only sees one of the little booklets I bought it hold the shower sketches*

...Did I ever even FIND that one. ((O_O)) *It's been months I completely forgot about getting a new one or two*

*Has not even attempted to look for the stack(s) of loose sketches I know are there*

...I forgot my water bottle.

((O_O))

...I have so many things I need/want to do!

*Notification on my phone: Pokemon DLC Update @7?*

**Has not finished the Post Game Gym Leader Challenge or Teal Mask.**

Oh No.

[j2d3]

Killian Jones x Fem Reader - Ouat

Picture this, in ouat you as a character represent the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland but your not a cat your a witch, a mischievous one  and the mad hatter is your bestie. You were in the first curse so your in storybrooke and right now you and Killian happen in season 4 or 5, to sum you and Killian's relationship up your lovers in secret. (This is my first time writing smut so it may not be very good and descriptive) 

“You know I really think your as mad as I am y/n.” My bestfriend Jefferson says as he shoves a donut up his mouth. 

“I’m not mad, I’m simply mischievous. There's a large difference between bonkers and rebellion.”  

“ I’m pretty sure there's a short difference between bonkers and rebellion.” Jefferson mockingly says.      

“Whelp I think it’s time for me to go, I’ve got to go pick up Grace from school or wherever she is these cursed days, catch you later y/n!”  

“I’ll think about that!” I watch Jefferson run off near the street and around Granny's, now that I think about it I want Granny's, especially the hot chocolate . I walk to Granny's and make my way inside, I catch a familiars eye and the next second he approaches me. 

“What do you want Killian, and can you get out of my personal space your very suffocating.” It’s weird how he isn’t drinking yet he still approaches me in public especially when he’s really close, he usually does this in private. I really need to start going to Granny’s when Killian isn’t here, I can’t risk unwanted attention literally.

“Well what I want love is y-”  I walk out Granny’s hoping he doesn't follow or finish his statement  but of course Killian being Killian follows.  

“What I was going to say before you rudely walked away from me was, actually I don’t feel like telling you since you’ve been such a bad girl but maybe you can do something for me to hear it.” I keep walking away but what if I did what he wanted me to do for him, I already know what he’s going to say or do I? I turn around facing him, letting him know I want whatever he’s going to make me do with a mischievous grin.

“So you’ll do it?” Killian says with an eager smirk.

“ Well, some go this way, and some go that way. But as for me, myself, personally, I prefer the short-cut. Yes I’ll do it.” I disappear and appear again but this time much closer to Killian before pulling in Killian for a kiss, with my powers I teleport us in his room, well in a room on his Jolly Roger.  

“Easy there love, your forgetting your playing my game.” I roll my eyes in response which will probably make me a bad girl in his game.

“what was that, did you ignore me? Such a bad girl you are.” He puts me on his bed and I wrap my legs around his waist, as he touches my leg he moves his cold hook slowly closer and closer towards my clit. I’ve got to admit he has successfully gotten me horny and wet. 

“ A while ago I was going to say is I want you, and right now I’ll make you want me no matter how long our little game last.” He takes his hand and his hook off my thighs only to take off his belt and take his cock out, he then moves on to me taking my underwear off under my skirt. 

“Do you want me now?”   

“Mayb-” He pushes himself into me without warning, I let out a loud moan, as I grip on to his back along with leaving a scratch on his back, I catch a glimpse of him holding onto his sheets, gosh damn it he’s going to go hard.

“Maybe? Maybe’s not good enough love, rethink that for me.” Within a moment of catching my breath he pushes his cock deeper inside me leaving me pushing my nails in his back and letting many more loud moans escape my mouth. 

“So do you have an answer now love or would you like me to keep going?” No matter how many times I try to catch my breath I know damn well he won’t slow down, he’ll go faster. I can feel his hand move up from my thighs to my breast to the point where he’s ripping off my shirt and my bra underneath.

 “What a wet girl you are huh.” I can hear a low moan escape his mouth but other than that I’m practically his toy, “I wan--t you.” because of how many times I’ve tried to catch my breath I’m practically hard to hear plus how loud the bed is.

“Love speak up, I can’t hear you quite well.” Killian says as he goes even faster and deeper in me, at this point I’m completely paralyzed. He did not lie when he said we would fuck till I said I wanted him, and right now it seems like it would take me forever to say it. He kisses my chest up to my neck where he gives me hickeys, now I want him.

“I want you.” I stumble upon saying hoping it's enough and loud enough. “Good girl, that’s more like it.”

[bitterrobin]

IN FACT pushing past the incredibly boring idea that "Damian and Chris should be friends bc they both have evil parents" (which only exists bc I refuse to believe anyone's actually read Last Son and his Nightwing arc or anything w Talia pre-Morrison) - I instead believe Damian and Chris could have a much more interesting relationship if you build it around a couple things:

being a publicly known figurehead in situations that doesn't allow you privacy even within a closed community

becoming your own individual outside of your family and learning to explore the world/expand your horizons without any prior expectations

the contrast in childhoods/relationship w parents vs how similar their struggles are

To my knowledge, the idea of all the al Ghuls being worshipped within the League religiously hasn't been explored (if only to make Ras eviler bc scary cult things). In the Taxonomy-verse, a lot of Damian's au character is built upon him being regarded as a religious figure related to Ras (the League's god/Mother Earth's messiah). He's a piece of god, a piece of the Demon. He isn't his own individual to the worshippers and assassins. Everyone is a shared conglomerate, and Damian can't be any different. With Chris, he's publicly known in Metropolis as the alien boy who saved the city from Phantom Zone invaders and the god vessel of Night-wing to other Kryptonians (mostly Kandor). Damian is also known as the son of Batman and the son of Bruce Wayne/Talia al Ghul, and Chris is known as a Kryptonian under Superman's protection and Clark Kent/Lois Lane's son. Neither is allowed individual identities outside of their families. They are worshipped as something other, not human, not mortal. Their stories are fundamentally about striving for independence and identity when the world decides it for them. Damian fights bloody to define himself within the Bat-structure, while Chris always seems to give up his own happiness and individuality in service of other people. Somehow always ending up in the Phantom Zone no matter what. Damian will always keep fighting and Chris will always sacrifice himself - but they'll never be who they want to be. They can't endure being gods. They can't enjoy being children.

They can be very similar when explored this way, but where they differ is their childhoods. Chris was raised by textbook abusive parents. Zod and Ursa never cared for him beyond what use he had as a portal to Earth. He was kept imprisoned, experimented on, treated as a tool and soldier and not a child. The only person who showed him kindness was Non, but Non lacked the ability to help Chris is any way besides silent comfort after the abuse had already occurred. Damian was not abused physically, but psychologically. He was manipulated with expectations, religious zeal, cult tactics of bombardment and the constant shifting of training goals. His father cared little for him and only began to start parenting him after Bruce came back from the "dead." His mother cared almost too much, she wasn't able to do anything to help him other than just removing him from the life he used to know. Chris knows what it's like to live in fear of those who should protect you, and Damian knows what it's like to live believing you are the best and then having that image utterly shattered. Damian wouldn't know what its like for a father to be ready to kill you with his bare hands, super strengthened fingers around your skull and an iron fist around your arm. He doesn't know of a mother who drives blades of radioactive poison through flesh, a mother who calls you a pathetic whelp and beats you until you lie covered in your own blood. Chris wouldn't know a father who tries his best but doesn't see you a person until it's too late, a father who'll always choose something (justice, the city, his other sons) over you. He wouldn't know of a mother who had no choice but to abandon you, a mother whose life you know would be improved if you'd just never existed.

But maybe they find each other. Maybe even when Damian resents Chris's ability to be unconditionally loved and Chris balks at Damian's need to prove himself even through death. Maybe they'll talk about things they can't have (a home, a purpose), maybe they try to be kids for once, maybe they try to escape the shadows of their parents but go down different paths. Damian will not be Batman, Chris will not be Superman. But they hold heroes in their hearts. They look at each other and go "maybe this time, we can be ourselves. no judgement. no world ending."

[sonicasura]

I've been reading and going over Kaiju No 8 for awhile now. Kafka oozes pure disaster dad energy. The amount of times he accidentally parents his younger teammates and step in when need be is constant. Kafka clearly does a better job than a certain blonde teammate's father.

Anyway, why not really throw him through the dad shaped hole in the wall? I already got a few good examples. There's plenty of material from other media. I'll be adding some personal headcanons to Kafka's Kaiju behavior. Fully believe he wasn't unaffected mentally. Full headcanons here.

He has a feral side driven by primal maternal instincts. If the human half marks you as his kid(or whelp in kaiju term) then so will the other part. Feral side comes out under extreme distress like his whelps being in danger to a very powerful threat near them.

Kafka unconsciously exhibits animal behavior from his kaiju half. It ranges to purring, nuzzling, gentle headbutting, even grooming which includes licking. He's very embarrassed about that last bit cause he tries not to.

Also his Kaiju side is prone to adding changes without his consent. Extra appendages such as a tail, tendrils or even wings. This is merely so either mind can catch up and provide support like to his whelp. Kafka will struggle to will these away.

With that out of the way, let's get started.

Kirby

Yup. I'm really going there this time using Right Back At Ya cartoon for some inspiration. Kirby crashlands near Kafka's house a few years before the beginning of Kaiju No.8. The man across discovers the baby star warrior and is faced with an inner crisis.

It's clear Kirby is an alien but also a BABY. Kafka decides to keep the little pink puffball unaware of what said decision would bring. Like whenever he falls asleep, the man finds himself in Dreamland alongside Kirby. An unconscious effect from the Star Warrior that furthers strengthen into a small share of power aka being able to use Copy Abilities via Copy Essence.

Yup. I'm throwing Kafka through the ringer with the games first. He deserves a little heads up that his new kid is essentially a walking blackhole that can kill gods. Plus the boost is gonna be needed since Kafka won't have his Kaiju form until canon begins.

If you are wondering how he'll handle Kirby's appetite in his world, his job is cleaning up monster bodies. Thus any parts that will be trashed will go to the puffball instead. Yes, Kirby uses Cook Kirby to cook kaiju meat and share some with Kafka. A new business in the food entry might open up from it.

Finally we soon reach Kaiju No 8's events. Kirby is a stealthy little puffball who can find Kafka no matter where he is thanks to their bond. This connection being two way where emotions, location, current status and thoughts can be felt.

Kirby feels Kafka's distress from his kaiju transformation thus searches for him. Now the age range to join the Defense Force doesn't change here. Then how will Kafka keep his promise? Well it's quite a roundabout actually.

Kafka initially decided to help Reno get in while he tries to find a different legal way of getting into the forces. This way being an analyst from how quick he can pick out Kaiju weaknesses and strengths.

It was Reno's suggestion that led to this alongside being in the same division. Now Kafka trains his Kaiju abilities in both worlds. Finding training partners in Dreamland is easy but for his world it delves into vigilantism.

Kirby and him fight any kaiju that shows up on their radar if the Defense Force can't engage in time. The Star Warrior is listed as Kaiju No.8.5 by DF before you guys ask. It's mainly because he's never seen without 8.

How people view the duo is quite mixed. One part views them as heroes, one part is deciding/neutral and the last is a threat. A mix of emotions that even gotten to the Defense Force.

Engaging the two is very tricky and it's not just for potential backlash from the public. The Defense Force theorizes that No.8 treats No.8.5 as its whelp. Kaiju who follow their maternal instincts are much more dangerous than any other.

Thus everyone is in for quite a ride with this duo.

Rin Okumura

Next up we have the protagonist for Blue Exorcist and demon prince. I'll be doing a separated from birth scenario so Kafka shall be raising a more demon Rin. Earth and Assiah aren't in the same dimension either.

Now they don't officially meet until Rin is three. The cambion surviving on his own via animal blood, garbage or kaiju meat scraps. Kafka finds him when the toddler gets caught up in the aftermath of a Kaiju attack.

Like with Kirby, he's quite conflicted but decides to raise Rin. It starts off a little bumpy as the cambion much stronger than Kafka and his demon features are still present. Like the tiny horn nubs hidden underneath the fire, obvious tail, long ears, claws then finally fangs. Rin's flames only dissipate when he feels safe or content.

Can't forget his temperament either as Kafka been bitten a few times until the toddler truly trusts him. Once that does occur, anyone being mean to the man is met with Rin's wrath instead. Cambions are quite protective when it comes to their claims.

Kafka manages throughout it all as he plans how to become a Defense Force Member. His fellow Monster Sweepers know about Rin's condition and are fully protective of the kid. One reason why Kafka can keep attempting the test.

Rin is homeschooled and taught various things from controlling his fire to handling his anger than just basic education. The most important lesson is being reminded he is loved no matter what. The bond they both share grows stronger especially when Kaiju No.8's events officially starts.

Rin is present the moment Kafka turns into a kaiju. He also helps his father with this newfound power just like the man did for him. Reno is informed of Rin's inhuman status around the same time. Can I say brotherly relationship?

The father and son take out kaiju together but keep their identities hidden. No one has been able to identify Rin due to the young man always cloaking himself in blue fire. His obvious non-human visage marks him as Kaiju No.8.5.

The parent-whelp relationship between the two is quite clear to the Defense Force despite minimal confrontations. Analysts still try to clarify Rin's true form with no success from the intensity of the blue fire. Only thing they know is that he has a humanoid physique leading to speculations about both bearing a similar resemblance.

The cambion decides to join the Defense Force although as a potential trainee than full fledged member. Rin might be strong but he'll need to do some extra studies first. And an actual fighting style to use.

The path of the blade still follows Rin but he won't become an exorcist this time. Kafka will be there to help his son every step of the way. Whether they be human or not.

Link

Finally we got the bearer of the Hero's Spirit and eternal reincarnate, Link. I'll be going with BoTW/TotK iteration as I want to save OoT/MM for a different time. Linked Universe might have a part in this.

A camping trip gone wrong leads to late 20s Kafka to wake up outside the Shrine of Resurrection. He stumbles upon the newly awakened yet amnesiac Link. Feeling bad for the young man, Kafka helps the blonde on his journey. (Get home is a secondary goal.)

Throughout the adventure, Kafka helps Link more than just being a travel companion. He becomes an outlet for the Hero of Courage to express himself. A person to confess his sorrow, fears, and true feelings Link kept hidden from everyone else.

Unrelated note, Kafka is a magnet to fairy/divine creatures. Blupees follow him, the Great Fairies flirt, and the Sacred Dragons grant the man a gift should they cross paths. Kafka might've gotten a Blupee companion he named Konpeito.

Both however become separated upon the defeat of Calamity Ganon as Kafka returns to his world. (Konpeito comes with him.) One day, the older man begins to write letters to Link after receiving advice from a peculiar old woman. Letters that reach back and forth between the two worlds as they keep in contact.

Link and Kafka don't reunite until TotK begins. The latter has begun his first day as a kaiju. An accidental desperate wish from Link pulls the older man back to Hyrule. Both learn how to use their new powers as they journey to stop Ganondorf.

However Link's powers and Rauru's arms taken an unfortunate hold. The blonde slowly becoming a Zonai the more he uses his powers. Hero's Aspect is a conduit to make sure Link doesn't permanently lose his Hylian form. (I'll be designing the Zonai form later cause I don't like the Ancient Hero design. Also he's keeping Rauru's arm.)

Now this adventure comes with an incredible gift. A pair of Secret Stones that can allow travel between both worlds. Link decides to help Kafka join the Defense Force. Using his Zonai form, the Hylian hero helps the man fight kaiju in disguise.

Link is listed as Kaiju No.8.5 by the Defense Force since the two always fight together. Confrontation tends to be avoided especially when the Zonai got badly hurt amidst a kaiju battle. Kaiju No.8's fury and the immense damage to follow was proof enough.

Don't touch a whelp when the parent is around.

For Linked Universe(a fan LoZ comic series) shenanigans, it's a mix between being the Chain getting dumped there or Kafka and his son Tears get dragged in for temporary assistance. (TotK Link's nickname is Tears as BotW/Wild will be present). Entire reincarnation/curse business makes Kafka's head spin more than just the unknown enemy and portal mischief.

All these Links are technically his son so he is parenting all of them. Even Time(OoT/MM) whose probably a few years younger than him. Mostly everyone except for Wind(WW/PH) are befuddled or wary of the man who can become a mask monster. Nevermind the fact his world is ridden with giant beasts and kaiju attacks are normal.

Kafka is gonna have his hands cause everyone in the Chain reeks of various trauma. Trust issues, transformation based dysphoria, martyr behavior, and anything a Link adventure shall give. Plus his feral kaiju side is gonna rectify that whether everyone likes it or not.

"So what if you can turn into a wolf, Twilight(TP)? I think my scale covered mug would scare a lot more people." / "No one is gonna hurt you while I'm here, Hyrule(OG). They will be torn apart if they even dare try." / "Want some gum Wars(HW)? I heard it helps calm your nerves?"

Better watch out. This group of heroes got adopted by a himbo kaiju man and he won't hesitate to destroy anyone who dares harm them.

And that's it for now! Until next time folks, I'll see you later.

[flodaya]

"#those Z fans" and that twitter user is not even her fan, but it doesn't matter for you if there's a opportunity to paint Z fans as bad guys

oh fuck you got me there, whelp, still true <3

[bi4bihankking]

I am so sorry but maybe this would have more impact if this issue had actually released 12 months ago like it should have, instead I'm like "whelp Yolanda is in JSA 2024 this doesn't matter at all"

[bapydemonprincess]

Learning from the Past

Grelle prides herself on her change of temperament over the years.

Really, she does.

... Although she's definitely most certain half this change of her patience level is due to a particular Phantomhive Maid.

She cannot spend her evening today with the maid because the maid is spending time with the others.

Some sort of celebration at the estate is taking place, and the servants are even participating and look all the world like they are having the best time of their silly, bizarre lives.

Mey Rin in particular is beaming with glee as she wears a pointy party hat and stands around with the others, shaking her tiny fists in front of her, she's so into.. whatever this thing is.

This thing seeming to be focused around.. that brat of an earl.

For they're all hovering around him at a table while he eats a cake, grinning and cheering and just watching.

And Grelle feels like she'll grind her teeth to bloody fucking dust in her mouth as she balances precariously out on a tree branch watching this particularly pathetic excuse for a party she can't come near.

She has to wait, and wait and wait for it all to end so she can meet with Mey Rin.

It makes her wish aaall the more this little particular whelp of a boy had been killed much earlier, by her former lover, when she'd had the opportunity right. THERE!!!

....Deep breaths deep breaths.

In truth every time these thoughts stir in the reaper's brain she now recalls how disastrous that likely would be...

Considering it would mean she'd never be allowed to be with Mey Rin in the first place if that had happened.

And...

She'd very likely lose her love especially now if she were to act out in this moment.

The poor thing would look at the reaper with hurt in those big beautiful brown eyes behind those ridiculously big round spectacles of hers, if she were to crash this particular party and try anything.

And then there'd be a proceeding fight and...

A mixture of exhaustion and more anger comes over the reaper and she sighs out loudly.

Of course.. Mey Rin would likely turn on her.

No matter how many kisses and touches they'd shared.

She'd pull out her guns in an instant to point them at the other intruding woman if she dared interrupt this precious.. young master of hers.

Familiar jealousy and frustration boil up, and the desire to simply slice up everyone rushes to her head like a sudden onset storm.

Just...

Just SCREW this blasted Phantomhive manor, and EVERYONE IN IT!!!

--- !

But then another image flashes in her head, involving this idea of killing the whole lot:

A familiar body falling, falling...

Falling off her death scythe...

Angelina.....

Except.

It's Mey Rin.

Falling, falling, collapsing into a bloody heap on the floor.

Eyes wide with pure shock that this would happen.

A deep gash in her middle; her maid uniform stained darker black with her own blood.

And she stares.

Directly forward.

And up at who did this to her.

Grelle leaves her perch on the tree in the darkness of that chilly December evening.

Goes home.

Doesn't get any sleep.

Nearly has a nightmare.

Practically throws up.

Curls up in bed.

Weeps.

A week later Mey Rin beams, comfortable as a kitten, cuddling up to Grelle Sutcliff in her personal quarters.

For it feels like it's been a bit too long, yes it does!

And Grelle seems to agree, because as soon as she'd arrived, she'd swooped in to take Mey's lips, and clutched her close.

Everything an hour or so ago has become a blur by now, for the passion had been... just that exhilarating!

But again Mey doesn't mind so much, as she stretches a bit, shifts around in bed, and then grins some more when her lover whines a small muffled complaint and tightens her hold on her.

"I'm not goin' anywhere, no I'm not," she lets her know in a whispered giggle.

Grelle isn't even looking, her eyes still closed as if she's currently asleep.

But her lips do curl a bit into a deeper pout as her fingers try to find more strength to clutch and squeeze the mortal woman closer and closer.

[luckcycler]

If Kiwa was a non-player character in a standard DR game, what do you think would be some of her stock dialogue soundbites in otherwise unvoiced Daily Life segments?

oh! interesting question! here's a couple from the top of my head:

"Hi." "Right…" "Well…" "Sorry." "Sorry?" "I guess?" "Oops." "Could be worse?" "Ouch!" "That actually hurt a little." "Just… forget it." "No idea." "I should just shut up." " *Awkward laugh" "You really shouldn't hang around me." "What's there to lose?" "What the-" "The what now?" "Whelp, it was good while it lasted." "I don't know…" "Interesting." "Doesn't matter." "Sure." "Uh oh." "But…" "Don't you think so?" "Uhhhh…" "You don't understand." "Hmm…" "I don't care." "You don't care about me." "That sounds right."

[inventors-fair]

Trigger Happy Casters: Winners! ~

Congratulations to @corporalotherbear, @izzet-always-r-versus-u and @wildcardgamez for winning this week's contest!

@corporalotherbear — Keranos's Conduit

I was really hoping for weird cards like this, and boy howdy is this card weird without actually being weird. I think that because I get exactly how the name, setting and ability come together, this is one of those cards where the mood presupposes the vibe even without a visual. Kinda funny because you're using stormless storm with the God of Storms, right? Heh. Anyway, though, this card can swing games like nobody's business. Limited means your Auras and "heroic" triggers—and also Constellation triggers!—become that much more radical. It makes having a lot of bodies and limited Auras so much better.

In terms of random constructed thoughts, can you imagine this with something like Etali's Favor? Because it's a cast trigger, you'll discover so much that you can hit and cast all the smaller Auras, which will get all of those other triggers if they got 'em, and so on and so forth. Sage of Mysteries, major mill? Wicked Visitor end step triggers? There are lots of ways to make this card fun and brewable and I'm really impressed by how much this card can be fun at the helm of its own deck. What a rockin' card and what a cool idea.

@izzet-always-r-versus-u — The Cozen, Syndicate Enforcer

PUNISHMENT. I love punishment! I love punishing people for their crimes of free-casting! Being symmetrical is kinda funny but at the same time reasonable for the colors. I'm thinking of cost reductions, Omniscience punishing, Force punishing, Elemental punishing—hm. I do actually wish this wasn't fully symmetrical but it don't matter because hnnnnng. Having this be so situational probably means that it's not going to have a massive effect on the various limited formats. Are there any common ways to reduce costs? Hm... Affinity, Convoke, Cascade and Discover, Cipher, Delve... Heh heh heh. Okay, it's environment-dependent, but still. Oh gosh, and Plot too.

I was also shocked that this specific flavor text hasn't been used because I could have SWORN that I've read it before. But you know, taking a character from flavor text and turning them into an actual card is one of my personal favorite things that people pull out from time to time—if done properly—and a debt collector punishing people for not paying their costs is pretty perfect. I honestly think this card is missing flash, though, and I don't know if that's negligible. It would make such a massive difference, and yeah, the body or cost would have to change, but having that kind of interaction almost feels necessary for the environment in which this card needs to be. Almost. I'm willing to hear arguments against it, though, so you know—invitation to discussion and all that.

@wildcardgamez — Galazeth's Whelp

You know, what I like about this card is that functionally you can pay the mana and get a Treasure regardless of whether or not the spell resolves, and that works similarly to the pitch cards from Prismari that would help you get to those massive spells eventually. People...definitely cast those. For sure. Anyway. I'm curious about if the dragons on Arcavios actually could have offspring, but I guess this card is the answer to that, right? Or maybe this is just a manifestation, or a dragon in the same clan, or whatever. Doesn't matter—this card is a functional card that does a LOT of work. I absolutely love how well this card functions in a spellslinging deck.

My Magical Christmas Land scenario would be to chain together spells like Sudden Breakthrough and Ancestor's Aid, deal an insane amount of damage, draw cards if you have cards like Flick a Coin, etc. I think it might be too slow for prowess-style decks but in terms of just Izzet Spells, this card's a limited bomb and a constructed possibility. Magecraft to damage is an awesome combo and this card does all those little pieces right. Sometimes the right combination can make some wonderful work happen. Flavorfully, too, it's all the best parts of artifacts and spellslinging together. Great job overall, I'd say! ... Just capitalize "Treasure" in the future, comrade.

Runners comin' up soon. @abelzumi