#wherein we ask:

[ariespsyche]

shotgunning shenanigans

[thereareeyesinsidethetrees]

mullet stan, calling ford and actually talking for the first time: h-hey, ford, i uh- look, i know you’re probably still mad at me and i completely get it, i do, i won’t bother you again after this if you never want to hear from me again, but i just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. y’know, we both turn 25 today, seemed like a good milestone to give you a call

ford: huh. oh. happy birthday, stan

stan: …what’s that noise?

ford: what noise

stan: the scratching sound in the background?

ford: oh, uh. i’m filling in the entirety of my chalkboard right now. with chalk

stan: why?

ford: hngh don’t know

stan: …i, uh. i kinda thought you’d be more mad at me

ford: i have come to accept that the future is simply not an option for me and i would have failed either way

stan: what, no, don’t say that <:[

ford: stanley, i bought an entire chalkboard for my scientific projects and i’m sitting on the floor using all of my chalk to scribble the entire surface in. my hands are paper white. i’m probably going to suffocate and die after this

stan: that doesn’t mean you’re a failure

ford: i’m doing it because i’m a failure, not the other way around. anyway, how are you

stan: hiding from a gang that wants the rest of my teeth

ford: i have an attic in my house in the middle of the woods you can hide in

stan: is. is that an invitation

ford: yeah

stan: …what state are you in?

ford: oregon

stan: i should be able to afford enough gas to get there…what’s the address?

ford: 618 gopher road, gravity falls

stan: i’ll be there in a week maybe

ford: okay, i’ll. try to make the house livable until then

stan: (hangs up)

ford: …

ford: …what did he mean, ‘the rest of his teeth’

[tohruies]

“coco, do you mind if i hold your hand for a while?”

“h-huh?! um, yes!”

“oh… alright then, forgive me for being so forward.”

“wait, sorry, i mean— no, of course, i don’t!! um! sorry, i don’t mind! i don’t mind if we held hands at all…”

“… you’re, um, endearingly reactive.”

— THANK YOU SO MUCH NICK FREN!!! 🥺💖 for bringing yaoco ‘first date’ to life :’3 in your most beautiful cutieful art style :’’3 @scarameownya nick is so awesome to work with; he is exceptionally talented and communicative!! his eye for details is impeccable and he always strives to tell a story through his art which is so very lovely 🥺 you should absolutely consider commissioning him whenever he has open slots hehe YAY!!!!

[moiraimyths]

Is it possible for romance to bloom while mixing platonic and romantic choices? Sometimes the flirting gets a bit too overt or I just feel the platonic choice suits the mood more (especially often with Shae) so I was curious about how this might work! Do I need to pick romantic choices n number of times to get it on the right track or will it be fine if just sprinkled occasionally?

Short version: Yes, you can absolutely mix your choices! Long version:

There are a lot of choices in NDM. Some are general flavour choices, others are good/bad ending choices, and the remainder are choices that impact your relationship with the cast. When those latter choices are selected, one of these little icons will appear briefly in the top left of your game: A heart, two hands, or a crown.

Heart choices are the most romantic-coded choices; overt flirting, amorous expression, kissing, etc. They're the type of choices you'd generally expect to see in a romance game, and their purpose is to signal that you're pursuing a character romantically.

Hands choices are the more platonic-coded choices; congeniality, friendly ribbing, hugs, etc. If you find yourself faced with two choices and one seems more romance-y than the other, then that second one is most likely a hands choice and will signal your intentions as friendly.

Now if we stop there with our choice options, we run into a bit of a problem: By themselves, these options feel superficial, or too rigid for realistic relationships. Flirting alone does not a love affair make, and who hasn't kissed their homies goodnight before?

This is why we have crown choices. These choices are essentially neutral relationship points that could be plausibly romantic or platonic; gestures of loyalty, positive affirmations, expressions of care, etc. More importantly, if you -- the player -- decide to mix and match your heart and hands choices such to the point that they're essentially even or within a reasonable margin of error, the crown choices will allow you break the tie toward your preferred ending.

Ergo, let's say by the end of Shae's route, your relationship choices are 49% hands, 41% hearts, and 10% crowns. Hands (or the friendship ending) is leading by a teensy amount over hearts, but you really want the romantic ending. In this scenario, you'd be prompted in-game to answer how you perceived your relationship with Shae, which would turn your crown stat into the hearts stat, tipping it to 51%, which secures you that romance end. Same choice would be presented if you incidentally or intentionally had a plurality or majority of crowns over hearts or hands.

Ultimately, we want our players to be able to define their experiences and choose the relationship choices that feel most natural, without necessarily needing to worry about tallying up how many times they opted for smooches over hugs. So have fun! As long as your choices aren't majority heart or hands, you won't be too "boxed in" to one path or another.

[grannie-nasty]

whats your go-to plane activity? i end up zoning out during movies so i bring a nintendo

So the plane is actually one of the few places I *can* watch movies! Normally I have trouble paying attention/ committing the time for 90+ minutes but I’ve I’m trapped on a plane with no other option that feels like my opportunity. If the plane selection has something I’ve already been meaning to watch that feels like a great victory

[anthurak]

I love how Gundam SEED Freedom decides to finally explain what was up with the whole 'Ultimate Coordinator' bullshit from the end of the original show...

...and STILL doesn't bother to explain or even so much as acknowledge, what the fuck the 'Seeds' are XD

[prismaticpichu]

I assume you watch party crashers

Lmaooo, spot on!!! I definitely did for a while!!!!! Lots of good laughs and memories from their dynamics and Mario Party rage!!! 😂💖

[lettalady]

Musical Ask! ♪

SEND ME A  ♪ I WILL PUT MUSIC ON SHUFFLE AND GIVE YOU A SONG AND MY FAVORITE LINE FROM IT

Feral Love - Chelsea Wolfe

Run from the one who comes to find you Wait for the night that comes to hide

[pinksilvace]

you think that since Solaris is a sun god and god of time, their job is to make sure the sun rises and sets everyday? or do they share that role with Chip

I'd say it's a joint effort. Chip, being daytime (and the Earth cough cough), welcomes the sun and guides it across the sky; Solaris, being time, controls and measures the planetary cycles, with the sun being the king of our solar system.

[overwhelmedfrog]

just remembered the time I had a meeting with someone regarding disability-related things and she looked at me and told me I didn’t “seem that autistic” because I wasn’t staring at the floor while speaking to her (notability I often stare up and to the left when speaking to people, and had been doing so for much of this meeting). anyway 5 minutes later I started fidgeting with the fancy pen she had given me to sign forms, and after several minutes of this, not only did I break it, I broke it in such a way that a large piece of the pen suddenly launched across the room as she was speaking to me. I was embarrassed but also like. do you stand corrected now

[ragnars-tooth]

On fire world rn and I'm losing my shit over Eliza going "david, he killed a man fucking around with time rifts and abandoned us bc he felt kind of bad about it 🤨"

(^eliza, pictured)

[hballegro]

not rly paying attention to what im watching and i hear someone mention Sherman Oaks and the Stupid part of my brain lights up and i go 'oh so this happened in scott bakula's neighbourhood'

[thepandalion]

I need you guys to remind me when it's morning that I want to make a post for pinned post that actually. Does stuff. Like explain my sideblogs and ongoing projects.

Also entirely relevant in the meantime any house md fans plz send me ideas for things to write for the werewolf wilson au (currently named the www.au in my brain for ease of access) because I got a great name for a fic and I want to make it a oneshot collection because I don't have those as a skill yet and what better way to polish a skill than with a fandom I'm dubiously and cautiously entering at 45 minutes after my bedtime on a weekend

[inkedbybarnes]

none of it was fake

bucky barnes x avenger!fem!reader

summary: you've been undercover with bucky as husband and wife. upon returning, he seems to have forgotten that it was all pretend.

word count: 1.6k+

warnings: two idiots cluelessly pining for each other. fluff. usage of petnames such as sweetheart, doll, and baby. lowercase writing.

note: hi, babies. how's everyone? this is my first fic in ages, so sorry if it's not my best one. i just wanted something cute ++ this is unedited & not proofread, might fix it laterrr. still hope you'll enjoy this one! xo

dividers made by @firefly-graphics!

comments, reblogs, and likes are highly appreciated. thank you! ♡

“i can't believe your first kiss happened during a mission. an undercover mission!”

wanda huffed, still hung up on the mission you had with bucky weeks ago wherein you had to play pretend as a married couple. there had been a kiss or two during that time, and it felt impossible not to tell your best friend about it when you had been crushing over the soldier for ages.

wanda knew what you felt towards bucky. in fact, she was the only one who knew, or at least the one you shared th information with, and she made sure to ask everything about the mission, even if it took days for her to interrogate you.

“excuse me? that was not my first kiss,” you said defensively, reaching for a cup from the cupboard that you had just opened. “and why are we still talking about this? you and nat already squeezed out every information from me for an entire week.”

“i didn't mean your first first kiss!” she exclaimed, following you around the kitchen as you made yourself a cup of coffee. “you've had a crush on the guy for so long, and the first time you two kiss each other is when you're pretending. that's not how i pictured it at all!”

you had to admit, the mission was sort of a blessing in disguise and a curse at the same time. you were glad to be able to spend time with bucky in ways you've dreamt of, but there was also the horrible reminder that none of it was real. with how avoidant bucky was with you, it was impossible for any of it to happen outside of the mission.

“well, maybe you should stop picturing us doing that sort of stuff. you're way more invested in this than i am, wanda. don't you have your own relationship to think about?” you asked. although you knew she was in a happy relationship with vision, you just wanted her to take a break from all the bucky talk. “when is your man home anyway?”

“my relationship is doing great, so i'm good. i don't need to think of it as much since he gives me everything that i need, and i think of yours because you deserve happiness as well.” she smiled fondly, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “and i'm glad that you asked because this reminded me that vision's arriving with bucky soon.”

“already?” your eyes widened at her statement, completely forgetting that bucky, along with steve, clint, and vision, were coming home today from their mission. “why didn't you tell me sooner!?”

after finishing your mission with bucky two weeks ago, he was immediately sent into another mission which specifically needed him. so, today would technically be the first time you're seeing him again since you last called him your “husband,” which was more nerve-wracking than you expected.

“hey, i'm your best friend, not your alarm.” wanda raised her hands up, defending herself. “and why are you so worried? i can feel your anxiety without needing to be in your head.”

“well, we never talked after.. you know,” you replied, taking a big sip out of your cup. “i know none of it meant anything and that we were just doing our job, but it's the first time i'll be with him normally and not as a pretend married couple. it's kinda awkward, wands.”

“you were able to pretend you didn't like the guy for months, you can do it again for another day.” she answered. “unless you finally tell him what you feel?”

“oh, that? yeah, never happening. i'm not going to risk—”

“there you are, sweetheart.”

there was a collective shocked gasp from both you and wanda, recognizing that voice from behind. except the gasps had different reasons.

you were surprised with his arrival.

wanda was surprised that he casually called you sweetheart.

you turn to find bucky already walking towards you with a smile on his face.

this man never smiles unless he was tasked to do so!

“bucky! you're back!” you awkwardly greeted him.

“yeah, didn't they tell you? i was looking for you when we landed.” he said, pulling you close to him before bending to place a soft kiss on your lips like it was something he'd always done. “you okay, baby? you look pale. did you eat?”

i look pale because wanda is right here with us and you just kissed me while acting like we're dating!

“um, yeah, i'm fine. i'm fine,” you answered, gently pulling yourself away from his arms before he could wrap them around you completely. “can we talk? privately?”

he frowned, worry etched on his face, but he nodded and squeezed your arm softly. “of course. where do you wanna talk, doll?”

“anywhere where wanda isn't there.” you said lightheartedly, throwing a sharp glance at wanda who finally understood what you wanted her to do.

“oh! right, right. i'm sorry, you guys can stay here. i have um..” she paused, thinking of a reason to say. “i have to look for vision anyway. we're supposed to watch a movie together. bye!”

and just like that, wanda was gone and you were left alone with bucky in the kitchen.

before you could speak, bucky asked you first. “what's the matter, doll?”

“what's the matter?” you echoed in a higher tone. “what was that all about?”

“what are you talking about?” he asked, seemingly confused.

“you kissed me, bucky, like it was nothing. then you keep calling me these nicknames.” you reminded him. “we're back home, not in los angeles in our fake house that we used as a fake couple.”

bucky took a step back when he realised his actions, now finding it hard to look at you. “i.. i'm sorry. i completely forgot. i just.. i wasn't thinking. i got used to how we were before,” he mumbled, still finding the right words to say. “did i make you uncomfortable?”

“no, but you made me confused,” you replied. “i'm guessing you got used to how we acted as a fake married couple, but you were gone for another mission. how are you still stuck with the old routine we had?”

“because that's all i could think about,” he answered, now staring at you. “while you're back here in the tower, completely done with our mission, i was thrown back into another one, having only you in my head to pull me back up from the fatigue.”

“you're telling me that you kept thinking about us even when you were gone? why?”

“haven't you?”

“is this a trick question?”

“it's a question to find out whether you like me too or not.”

“you.. you like me?” you blinked. “that's impossible.”

“how on earth is that impossible?”

“because you're always so cold and grumpy around me,” you answered. “i think you're just confused with all the acting we've done, bucky. you don't like me.”

“i was supposed to go on that mission with sharon, not you.” he exhaled. “she volunteered to do it, so she was initially picked. i tried getting out of it, but i had advantages that they needed for the mission to go smoothly. so, i agreed, but in one condition.”

“what was it?” you whispered.

“that you should be my partner,” he answered quickly. “ask me why.”

your heart pounded. “why?”

“because i wanted an excuse to act the way i've always wanted to. i wasn't cold or grumpy because i didn't like you, i just didn't want to scare you.” bucky explained, his hand reaching out for yours. “god, doll. figuring out whether you like me or not has got to be the hardest mission i had to deal with. so do me a favour and get me out of this misery.”

once your lungs found a bit of oxygen again, you finally spoke. “what you said.. you mean it?”

bucky nodded. “every word.”

“well, i like you too.” you tried to bite back a huge smile. “for some time now, actually. wanda will eventually tell you all about my obsession with you. i can't believe we were both worrying for the wrong things.”

“your obsession with me, huh?” he asked cockily, a teasing grin plastered on his face.

“really? i said all that and that's what caught your attention?”

“can't help it. i've been obsessed with you for a long time now as well.” his eyes crinkled at the corners, a little smile gracing his lips while his arm slipped around your waist.

your eyes peeked up at him through your lashes. “does this make it real now?”

“do you want it to be?”

“you're really asking me that?” your chest rumbled. “of course i do.”

“then let's make it real.”

bucky watched you intensely for a few seconds as if he wanted to frame this exact moment before licking his lips and leaning down. you suck a breath, eyes closing as you felt his soft lips meet yours.

you never realised how much you've grown familiar with his touch and affection since your time together as a fake couple.

except this time, none of it was fake.

should we see their time in los angeles as an undercover married couple? 👀

if you have any requests for bucky, send them my way! 💌

[todayisafridaynight]

My brain is like all over the place but like I haha no uno reversed card my breakup and we're just on break now- one of the things I find funny is that he still wants my updates for y7 so that's fun (I'm not even upset I'm just confused 🧍)

huh

[mcmansionhell]

McMansion Hell urges all New Yorkers to Rank Zohran Mamdani #1 for Mayor of NYC

I know I am just a blog about ugly houses but I want to say something important here: the ruling class in this country does not want you to have affordable housing. They don't want you to have clean, reliable public transportation. They don't want you to have access to groceries you can afford. If something bad happens to you, they don't care if you live or die. If you lose your home, they will hole up in their penthouses, McMansions, and mommy-bought apartments and tell you it's your fault -- but it's not. It is theirs. Everything from budget cuts to rent hikes, is their fault, their way of ensuring that the city becomes a place made up solely of people like themselves.

Zohran Mamdani is the only high profile candidate I've seen in my narrow, millennial lifetime running for any position -- least of all the mayor of the biggest city in the country -- on a platform of decommodification in terms of access to food, housing and transportation. City-run grocery stores would ensure that food stays affordable because there is no profit motive. While some are critical of his policy of fare-free transportation (as opposed to spending the same amount of money improving services), given the amount of policing involved in watching the fareboxes, it's something I'm coming more and more around to.

In demanding a rent freeze, Zohran is one of the only politicians able to articulate a direct plan for keeping people in their homes at a time when rent is skyrocketing with no end in sight. Zohran is one of a limited few in this miserable, cowardly country who are willing to speak out for the rights of Palestinians being murdered en masse by Israel. A vote for Zohran is a vote for the idea that better things are possible and, if you ask me, I think we live in such dire times that we've begun to forget this fundamental truth: things do not have to be like this. We do not have to live under the jackboot of privatization and exploitation forever. That choice, however, is up to us.

I am forever skeptical of the power of the ballot box to enact lasting change, especially in recent years. In fact, I am the most skeptical of electoralism I have ever been. However, why is it that the right can use what little sovereignty and enfranchisement is available to us to enact sweeping, if devastating changes, and yet, when the opportunity presents itself to the left, all we hear is that such things are no better than pissing in the wind? The answer to this question, of course, is that the ruling class is perfectly content with a party that hinders rather than ushers in change. Zohran may be using the sclerotic party system we've been doomed to inhabit, but despite these limitations his candidacy has surged immensely in the last few months, and the momentum of the people is on his side. This may be one of the last chances wherein one can attempt a truly progressive campaign like this.

Now that things are heating up, the ruling class, the backers of Andrew Cuomo, an abuser of women and a man responsible for the untold deaths of the elderly because he valued profits over their lives so early on in the pandemic, will stop at nothing to make sure that Zohran Mamdani does not win, that things stay the same. That the rent goes up, that the grocery prices continue to explode, that New York City becomes the playground of the rich and famous at the expense of everyone else. The party will try to intervene in undemocratic ways just like they did with Bernie Sanders in the 2020 primary. There will be untold lies and accusations, the press will abandon what few journalistic obligations they still abide by, and it will get ugly. There are even rumors that Cuomo will run as an independent even if he loses the primary, which, to be honest, isn't a bad tactic -- he's just the worst guy to be using it.

I realize this post may be annoying to some (hell, I myself live in Chicago), and I'm sure there's some rightful criticism for my not having used my blog like this before. (However, for those of you who don't know, I usually write about all manner of politics in my column at The Nation!) That being said, if you follow me and you live in New York City, rank Zohran #1 and Brad Lander #2. DO NOT RANK SUBURBANITE BIKE LANE-PARKER ANDREW CUOMO.

Anyway, that's all. I'll be back with a new McMansion Hell this Friday, so stay tuned.