#whew seeing them live was an experience

[ozzgin]

Yandere! Yokai Harem x Reader (II)

The two yokai men reach an agreement and you begin your journey together, searching for clues regarding the mysterious case of your incomplete reincarnation. You learn about the third of the Legendary Yokai, a gargantuan monster worshipped in times of war.

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Character Guide]

The next swish of the mysterious man's sword is parred by Kiritsubo, who managed to make his way to you in time.

"Wait! It's not entirely him, Murasaki, I can explain!" He shouts frantically.

"So you let him live. This is why you've never been good for anything." The dark haired man snarls in a low voice, disgust seeping through his sharp teeth.

It becomes obvious rather quickly that he has the advantage in terms of battle experience. You can only stare in fear, stuffing your wound with your jacket sleeve. What else can you do? You're bleeding profusely and if a demon of Kiritsubo's stature cannot compete, you'd be even less helpful.

"Listen to him, man, I genuinely don't know anything about your master!" You beg as your limbs are flooded with a prickling sensation. They're slowly going numb. "Please. I just want to go home."

Damn it. You have no idea whether the bleeding will stop anytime soon. Is this how you die? You won't even get a proper burial. Even worse, your family will live on thinking you vanished without a trace, unaware you've been stabbed to death by a crazy jackass in feudal Japan. You wish you could make them stop.

You squeeze your eyes tightly, trying to think of a way to escape, when you hear both men groan in pain. You look ahead to see them on the ground, clinging tightly to their chests, faces twisted in a grimace. Huh? They couldn't have killed each other in the few seconds they were out of your view. What is going on?

After a few agonizing moments, the yokai seem to calm down. Kiritsubo is gasping for air, clumsily pulling himself back up. Murasaki remains on the grass, forcing himself to appear collected despite the cold sweat coating his forehead.

"That's...what...I...meant..." The silver haired demon groans between hitched breaths. "Whew. You see it now, don't you? She doesn't emanate enough power to pull this off. It's coming from somewhere else."

Murasaki clicks his tongue in visible annoyance.

"So then, what do you suggest?"

"I don't know. But something is stopping you from killing her and there's a chance she's connected to the source."

"What are you guys whispering about?" You inquire, crawling closer towards the horned men. "And why did you suddenly collapse? You scared the hell out of me!"

"You didn't feel anything?" Kiritsubo questions you with raised eyebrows.

"Besides the, I don't know, stab wound? No, thankfully." You respond sarcastically.

Without a word, Murasaki stands up and approaches you. He crouches down to your level and nonchalantly slaps your hand away from your shoulder.

"Hey!"

"Have you ever tended to a wound in your life? You're shit at it." He uses his sword to cut off your sleeve and folds it over your gash with calculated movements. You hiss at the pain and glare at him. "Bite down on a stick if you can't handle it. Better than being dead."

The white haired yokai flashes you an awkward but reassuring smile.

"He might be an ass about it, but he knows what he's doing."

"Why are you helping me, anyways?" you point out, somewhat wary. "You literally tried to kill me a moment ago."

"I changed my mind. You'll help us find the damned bastard or whatever it is he's using to control us."

"What, the priest? Hell no, I'm going back to my world. I've had enough action for the rest of my life."

Murasaki finishes bandaging you and gives you one final press, almost as if messing with you, and you wince. He stands up and slides his sword back in its sheath.

"If you focus a little, you will find there was no question or request in my words. I'm not negotiating with a weakling like you."

Kiritsubo squats down before you and claps his hand together, pleadingly.

"Please think about it, (Y/N). I know you don't owe us anything, but there's a chance we could finally break the seal and be free. If you'd consider helping us. You can walk away, but that won't change the fact you're part of Abe no Nakamaro. He will want his powers back at some point, and we can protect you when the time comes."

You cross your arms and frown thoughtfully, pondering the options. He did save you twice already. So in a way, you're indebted to him. And if he's right, and you will have to deal with more crazy encounters in the future, it's probably better to have two powerful demons by your side.

"Alright, alright. I'll help you." You exclaim with a confident nod.

Kiritsubo grins, satisfied, and Murasaki huffs and looks away. There's a prolonged silence as you wait for them to continue with further instructions, but the men remain quiet.

"So...what now?" you eventually speak up.

"Oh. I thought you knew where to go next." the silver haired man retorts, confused.

"Idiot. She's not a compass." Murasaki scolds him. "Can you stand?" He adds, turning to you. "There's a shrine a few kilometers away that belonged to him. If we leave now, we should make it before sunset. Maybe we can find something there."

You try to prop yourself up, but Kiritsubo promptly scoops you with his sinewy arm and throws you on his back again.

"I'll carry you. Just hold on."

A faint blush dusts your cheeks, but you don't have the energy to argue it. You clutch onto his broad shoulders and nod.

The walk is uneventful and both yokai seem to be distracted. The gentle swaying is causing you to be more comfortable than you'd like to admit and your eyelids become heavy with exhaustion. Before you know it, your head drops against the toned back and you fall asleep.

By the time you open your eyes again, you've already reached your destination. You yawn and stretch, lazily scanning the surroundings. A heavy shadow looms over you and you glance up. Still groggy from your nap, you scream before you can fully process the object towering above.

It's a statue. A colossal statue of some sort of monster. A demon with thick, wide bull horns sprawling out imposingly, almost eclipsing the ridiculously muscular build. The creature has four arms, flexed in a threatening manner, with one hand gripping a heavy spear and the other a skull. The crimson light of the sunset creeps through the windows and reflects against the chiseled clay, giving the statue a devilish glow. You feel insignificant.

"That's Suma."

"W-what?" your head tilts to Kiritsubo.

"He's one of us. You might meet him soon, if he's been alerted of your presence. This is a shrine built for him, to bring good fortune during times of war."

You cannot help but gawk at the structure.

"Is it, uh, life sized?"

"Heh, almost. He's a little taller than this." He chuckles, slightly nostalgic.

You swallow dryly. Just a moment ago you thought Kiritsubo was unusually big.

"I'd rather not meet him, to be honest." You shiver at the idea.

"Don't worry about it. Now that Murasaki has joined us, you're pretty much safe from anything. He's the strongest of us." The yokai remarks with a sad smile.

"Really?"

You peek at the dark haired man, currently flipping through dusty manuscripts, and briefly observe him. Compared to Kiritsubo, he's quite slender, with noble, elegant features. And he'd be able to defeat this enormous beast? Then again, the glimpse you've caught of his swordsmanship is enough of a convincing argument.

What a bizarre gathering of creatures beyond your understanding.

You remember to look away when Murasaki grunts and throws the remaining scroll of paper. His lips form a thin line as he rakes his mind for the next step.

"Nothing here. But I'm rather certain he has to be at one of his hideouts. We'll check each and one of them if we have to." 

"Wait, are you saying he's still alive? We saw his body before Sekiya and Sakaki took him for the embalming and burial."

Murasaki scoffs at his partner's gullible nature.

"And you believed it? That parasite spent his entire life searching for ways to prolong his reign. He's probably hiding somewhere, waiting for his renewed part of the soul to return to him." 

He rests against the wall and points a clawed finger at you. 

"This must've been his solution. Releasing his remaining energy until it found a proper vessel to grow stronger, and patiently awaiting the body swap. Then we go back to being whipped dogs fulfilling his whims."

It's your turn to be outraged, twisting your mouth downwards.

"No way, I'll pound that old man into sand!" You bark and throw a jab against the air, emphasizing your threat. "As if I'd just hand myself over."

"I'm not sure if it'll be that easy, (Y/N)..." Kiritsubo glances at you with a hurt expression. "He's a terrifying, vengeful bastard."

"Not if we find him first and take him out." Murasaki counters with a glint of determination in his eyes. "Humans need to rest, don't they? We'll spend the night here and tomorrow we head out. Kiritsubo, find me a map so we can keep track of the locations. I'll bring the wood for a fire."

And with this, he marches out. Kiritsubo scurries to his duty and you quietly follow his movements. He seems to be used to executing Murasaki's orders. You hadn't considered their group dynamic much, but it appears to have some rather complex hierarchies involved. You almost wish you could witness all of them together, wondering how they'd interact with each other. 

Who knows? If you stick around, it could happen eventually. Murasaki was surprisingly easy to convince, so the other yokai might as well agree to keep you alive until you find their source of misfortune. Heh. Almost like a harem, or something. You snicker to yourself.

Which reminds you...

The fire has been lit and Murasaki mumbles something about guarding the perimeter. This time you hurry outside after him. You reach out to the dark haired man and pull on his kimono sleeve.

He turns to you, mildly irked.

"What?"

"Teach me how to use a sword." You state with the assertiveness of an order.

"Why? I can assure you I'm more than enough. I've never been defeated." He stares at you, incredulous.

"I don't want to rely on you all the time. You're already this close to being unbearable", you explain, pinching your fingers together. "Besides, if I'm going to be stuck among beasts, I'd very much prefer being the one doing the cool stuff."

And with that, you pretend to slice through an invisible enemy, whistling the sound of your sword cutting through the air. You furrow your eyebrows, imitating the engrossed expression of a seasoned samurai in the middle of a battleground. Murasaki quickly lifts a hand to his mouth - did he chuckle just now? - and responds, the faintest amusement in his voice:

"As you wish. But I'm warning you now, I won't hold back."

"I've been injured twice in less than 24 hours, I'm sturdy enough." You answer, patting your chest proudly.

Next time one of the Legendary Yokai comes for you, you won't be as vulnerable. That's for sure.

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Divus Crewel - Rich Fur Coat Vignette

"A full course of disciplinary action"

[Sage‘s Island – Foothill Town]

Sage’s Island Resident: Good morning, Divus-san. You're up pretty early again.

Crewel: Good morning, madam.

Crewel: Also… Good morning, Emma!

Crewel: Your cute spots look so good on you, as always. I am truly lucky to be able to meet with such a stunning beauty so early in the day.

Crewel: …Can I give you some pets, you sweet thing?

Emma: Bark, bark!

Sage’s Island Resident: Fufufu, you're always so doting on our Emma, thank you. Look, she's so happy she's showing her belly.

Crewel: No, I should be thanking you. These fleeting moments I get in the morning are my personal solace.

Crewel: I'm grateful that I am able to see and pet these beautiful little lads and lasses.

Crewel: Especially since I'm unable to see my precious ones until I return to the Queendom of Roses on the weekends.

Sage’s Island Resident: If I recall, you have two friends looking after your dogs back home during the week, right?

Crewel: That's right. They're old friends… Or rather, they've become more like hired hands.

Crewel: I would love nothing more than to bring my dogs to Sage's Island…

Crewel: But my apartment here in Foothill Town is much too small to keep them.

Crewel: Sometime in the future, it would be nice to rent a large home here in this town and live with them together every single day.

Crewel: I'd drive with them in my favorite car on the long road along the ocean… That's the dream.

Sage’s Island Resident: Well, how lovely. I'm looking forward to the day that I'll be able to meet your precious dogs, Divus-san.

Crewel: And I as well, madam. I hope you have another pleasant day today. Bye, Emma.

Crewel: Good morning, my good sir. A strong cup of tea, as per my usual.

Shopkeep: Good morning, Crewel-kun. Would you like some food with that?

Crewel: No, thank you. I don't eat breakfast, as a rule.

Shopkeep: Yes, yes, I know. I thought I'd just ask.

Shopkeep: I can't believe you come to my little establishment so early in the morning just to drink tea instead of our signature coffee blend…

Shopkeep: You're still an odd one, even after becoming a professor at Night Raven College.

Crewel: Hah. Truth be told, I don't come here for the tea.

Crewel: Every Monday morning, if I sit in this seat here, I can watch the ships sail into port. The sight of the sails in a row is beautiful…

Crewel: This tea doesn't even compare to the stuff I can brew, but this view is something I can't replicate back home.

Shopkeep: Hahah! I always knew you were a sharp-tongued devil in your student years, but it seems you've just gotten even more cruel!

Crewel: I think it's more of a shock that you haven't improved your tea brewing skills in 15 years, sir.

Shopkeep: Well, luckily, we're still thriving! Do enjoy your time here.

Crewel: Thanks. …Hm. This respite is quiet and soothing.

Crewel: I should relax while I can. …Because I'm sure today will end up being yet another busy day.

Crewel: Today, I have homeroom plus three other classes. There's also preparations that need to be done for next month's event, a staff meeting, and last week's tests that need grading… Whew.

Crewel: Well. I'll just have to hope those pups won't cause me any issues, at a minimum.

[Laboratory]

Crewel: STAY!!!

Students: EEK!

Crewel: I can't believe this… What have you done?

Crewel: Why are all the ingredients needed for today's experiment scattered all over the floor?

Crewel: Which one of you mangy mutts not only stepped on but also mixed together all those spilled ingredients?

Crewel: I am only asking a simple question, and yet all anyone can yelp is "It wasn't me," or "It was someone else's fault"...

Crewel: PUPS WHO CAN'T OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES ARE NO BETTER THAN A MUTT! THEY DON'T EVEN DESERVE TO BE CALLED DOGS!

Students: EEEEP!

Crewel: So tell me, who is the culprit? Tell me truthfully, and you'll only have to deal with a full course of disciplinary action and not a bit more.

Students: Th-That is…

Students: [everyone stares]

Grim: Hm?

Grim: …Wh-Wh-Wh-What? Don't all you be lookin' down on me!

1. I think it'd be better if you just apologize honestly… 2. You'll get a lighter punishment if you just confess now.

Grim: It wasn't me who did that! It's [Yuu], definitely [Yuu]!

Scarabia Student: Don't try to blame [Yuu]. You really don't know how to give up, huh, Grim!

Octavinelle Student: Yeah, you were the one who flipped the table in the first place! There's no way I'm gonna let you take us down with you!

Grim: Heh! Do ya even got any proof that I did it?

Crewel: I see. It definitely won't do to accuse someone of the crime without proper evidence.

Crewel: …By the way, Grim.

Grim: Hm?

Crewel: The fur on your legs have turned black, but why is that? It looks just like that of a black cat.

Grim: Huh? My legs?

Grim: …Woah, you're right! My amazing grey fur's pitch black!

Grim: WH-WHAT'S WITH THIS!? GET RID OF IT FOR MEEE!

Crewel: There's no point in wiping it. The sap from the tree we were to use today turns black upon exposure to air.

Crewel: If it were to touch on your clothes or hair, it wouldn't matter how much you scrub or wash with water, it won't come off.

Crewel: incidentally, to return the blackened part to normal, the fastest method would be to cause another reaction to render it colorless.

Crewel: Look! Everyone see here.

Crewel: When I pour this concoction of herbs onto Grim's blackened legs…

Crewel: See, it returned back to its normal color. Make sure you remember this reaction.

Students: Oooooh.

Crewel: …Now, Grim. Do you have any idea why the ingredients we were to use for today's experiments got on your legs?

Grim: M-M… MYAAAH!

Grim: It ain't my fault! The desk shouldn't've been there!

Crewel: YOU MONGREL! YOU ARE TO STAY AFTER CLASS AND COPY LINES AS PUNISHMENT. UNDERSTAND!?

Crewel: And [Yuu], you're to also stay behind, as Grim's prefect. It would be troublesome if you cannot even look after your own pet!

1. But I have plans after class…

Crewel: Oho, you have plans that take priority over my prescribed discipline? [Yuu shakes their head] …No? A good response from a good boy.

2. I'm sorry…

Crewel: If you truly are sorry, then lets see that as a tangible result. If you can make Grim learn to sit and stay properly as his prefect, then I'll give you a treat.

Crewel: These pups truly are a handful… My beloved pet dogs are much more well behaved.

Crewel: Everyone, sit!

[Crewel magics the ingredients]

Grim: All the stuff I dropped are just floating back on top of the desk. So why's he gotta get on me when he can just fix everything…?

Crewel: The ingredients have been properly prepared once again. I will now explain the procedure for this experiment, so make sure you watch carefully.

Crewel: …I expect all of you to be on your best behavior.

Grim: Urp. He's just glaring at me, now…

[Interior Hallway]

Crewel: Ah, classes are finally over. Today was another tiring day.

Crewel: None of the freshmen listen and the sophomores slack off now that they've gotten used to the classes. And the juniors are teeming with arrogance.

Crewel: If I were a student, I would absolutely have literally knocked some sense into them...

Crewel: However, because of my position, I cannot do that now. I never even thought that I would be more inconvenienced as a professor, than I was as a student.

Crewel: Tch! I knew what I was in for, but still, I hadn't expected being an instructor to be this difficult.

???: And why are you clicking your tongue like that, Crewel-sensei?

Trein: As a professor of this school, I would prefer if you were to carry yourself better, so as to be a good example towards the students.

Crewel: Ugh… And now on top of everything else, someone even fussier has shown up…

Trein: What is with that disgruntled look? Do you take some issue with me?

Crewel: Of course not, don't be absurd! I would never bite back at any commentary you have for me, Trein-sensei.

Trein: Good. We should start to head towards the staff meeting, then.

Trein: Incidentally, you seemed to look rather exhausted a moment ago. Did something happen?

Crewel: No, I wouldn't say there was anything in particular…

Crewel: …I was only thinking of how I could effectively train the students. There are more than a fair share of unruly pups.

Trein: Do you of all people have any right to say that…? Especially since you were one of the rowdiest students during your time here.

Crewel: That was simply youthful ardor. Wasn't I just a charming little thing?

Trein: Don't write it off as simple "youthful ardor." Have a little shame.

Trein: …Well, I suppose it hasn't been too long since you've become a professor, in the end. This year makes… how long?

Crewel: Six years. Have you forgotten our joyous reunion already?

Trein: Hmph. Of course I remember your scowling little, "Oh, professor, were you still here?"

Trein: But only six years, I see… Well, why don't you pat yourself on the back for doing as well as you are for such a short tenure?

Crewel: I'm doing well? …Do you truly think so?

Trein: It is a fact that the rate of students pursuing the sciences have increased since you've arrived. There would be no purpose in denying that your instruction is showing good results.

Crewel: Heh… Heheh, is that right?! Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that coming from you.

Trein: And there you go getting carried away and speaking without any forethought. I do believe I've taught you countless times since your time here as a student to respect your elders, haven't I?

Trein: …Now then, if you're feeling better about yourself, we should get this staff meeting underway. I am keeping Lucius waiting.

[Trein walks off]

Crewel: …How insensitive of you, Trein-sensei.

Crewel: Here I am, patiently enduring everything until I can finally go see my dogs over the weekend, and you say that.

[Alchemy Workshop]

Crewel: Now that the meeting is done with, I should try to finish grading the tests while I can.

Crewel: …The rate of students pursuing the sciences, hm. I suppose it's true that everyone's grades are improving, even if at a slow pace. …A truly slow pace.

Crewel: Heh. I do enjoy seeing these pups grow.

[knock, knock, click]

Grim: Hey! I went 'n did that assignment for ya!

Crewel: What is it that you've done for me...?

1. I'll have him try that again. 2. He just misspoke!

Grim: I-I mean, I finished the assignment ya gave me. I'll put it here on the desk, 'kay?

Grim: …Hm? There's a book with a fancy cover mixed in with all these boring lookin' books. What's this?

Crewel: Oh, did that catch your eye? That book contains the collection of an apparel brand I worked for in the past.

Crewel: I keep telling them to not send anything to my office, but are some who just refuse to listen…

Crewel: Not only do I receive their catalogs, but also phone calls, all asking for my advice for the next fashion season.

Crewel: …It's just like your tests, don't you think? I'll have to fix their mistakes later to the best of my abilities.

Grim: Urgh, that sounds annoying. Why don'tcha just ignore 'em?

Crewel: Ignore them… Hahah, that's one idea. I can imagine their panicked and frantic faces.

Crewel: …But no, I do consider this somewhat of a hobby for me.

Crewel: Just because I've become a professor, that does not mean I can fall behind the current fashion. I want to constantly be checking the latest trends.

Crewel: I'm sure even you'd prefer a fashionably cool instructor over some decrepit, antiquated teacher, right?

1. I want a cool teacher.

Crewel: Right? You're quite a lucky one on that account, pup, because you have me as your homeroom teacher!

2. I want a nice teacher.

Crewel: You'll get bored if they're just nice all the time, you know. You might understand what I mean when you get a bit older.

Grim: I don't really get all that hard fashion stuff, but I totally wanna look cooler!

Crewel: Well, I'll consider that good enough for now. Don't you worry, I'll make sure to turn you into polished gems before graduation.

Crewel: You students here at Night Raven College may have a knack for magic, but your fashion senses are severely lacking.

Crewel: …And since I've taken on the duties of being your teacher, I won't allow that to continue.

Crewel: When I first started here, I vowed that I would craft every single one of you into the most fashionable and capable mages you can be.

Crewel: You have a first-class instructor, and first-rate instruction. …It would be impossible for you all to not become fantastic mages.

Grim: Heh. I'm totally gonna become a great mage even without your help!

Crewel: Hahah, you're a cheeky one. …Now then, if you've finished your task, go on. Looks like your friends have arrived to walk you out.

Crewel: Your time as a student may seem long, but it is deceptively short. I will do what I can to support all of you so that you can live your life here without any regrets.

Requested by @revengeofreaper32.

[thewulf]

Calming Storms || Aaron Hotchner

Summary: Request - It's aaron hotchner x reader, and reader is the mother of one of Jack's new friends (let's call him Marc for now but you can change it obvs), and one time the bau have a kind of short case but away, Jessica is away also so Jack says he could do a sleepover at Marc's and everything goes fine until the second night where Marc's dad gets so angry at reader that she locks the kids in Marc's bedroom... Read Rest Here

A/N: Whew this ones a doozy. Very sweet but triggering. Talks of violence against reader/kids. Please be cautious while reading if this triggers you!

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Female Reader

Word Count: 4.2k

TW: Talks of DV, drunk absent fathers, scared kids

The evening unfolded with a rare promise of simplicity, a brief respite from the relentless whirlwind of investigations that consumed the Behavioral Analysis Unit's days and nights. Aaron Hotchner, taking charge in Jessica's absence, found himself overseeing operations with a steely determination. With each passing case, he was reminded of the fragility of life and the weight of responsibility that rested upon his shoulders.

Amidst the chaos of their lives, Aaron made it a priority to ensure that his son, Jack, found moments of normalcy and joy. Tonight, he had arranged for Jack to have a sleepover with his best friend, Marc. It was a small gesture, perhaps, but one that Aaron hoped would offer Jack a brief respite from the realities of their world.

As Jack eagerly packed his overnight bag with the essentials—a favorite stuffed animal, a handful of snacks, and a well-loved book—Aaron couldn't help but feel a swell of gratitude for Marc's friendship. In the short time they had known each other, Marc had already become a source of light and laughter for Jack, a sense normalcy in the chaos.

With a reassuring smile, Aaron watched as Jack bounded out the door with excitement shining in his eyes. It was moments like these that reminded Aaron of the importance of cherishing the simple joys in life, even in the darkness that surrounded them. The best thing about Jack’s friendship with Marc though? You. His mother. The woman that walked into his life, took a seat and had taken ahold of him in a hurry.

When Aaron Hotchner looks at you, he sees more than just physical beauty. Sure, you're undeniably pretty, with features that catch the eye and an elegance that's hard to ignore. But what really captivates him is something deeper, something that goes beyond mere appearance.

In his eyes, you carry yourself with a quiet strength and confidence that sets you apart. There's a grace in the way you move, a poise that speaks volumes about your inner resilience. Your eyes, he notices, hold a depth that hints at a wealth of experiences and emotions, drawing him in with their intensity.

Everything about you attracts him to you. It's the way you approach challenges with unwavering resolve, the way you stand by your principles even in the face of adversity. He admires your determination, your ability to stay true to yourself no matter what. To Aaron, you're not just beautiful. You're a testament to strength and resilience, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there's always the possibility of finding light. And as he looks at you, he can't help but feel a sense of admiration and respect for the remarkable person you are.

Aaron got to know you through a series of casual encounters that gradually evolved into something more meaningful. It started with the occasional coffee break during team meetings or after-work gatherings where the BAU team would unwind. As the kids played and laughter filled the air, Aaron found himself drawn to your presence.

At first, your interactions were brief and centered around small talk—discussing work, sharing anecdotes about the challenges of balancing career and family. But over time, those conversations grew deeper, more personal. You discovered shared interests and common values, forging a connection that went beyond the confines of the office. As Aaron spent more time with you, he began to appreciate your unique perspective and unwavering dedication to your work. He admired your intelligence, your ability to analyze complex situations with clarity and precision. And as he got to know you better, he found himself drawn to your warmth and kindness, your willingness to listen and offer support when needed.

Before long, those casual coffee breaks evolved into something more—a genuine friendship built on mutual respect and understanding. And as Aaron navigated the complexities of his own life, he found solace in knowing that you were there, a steady presence amidst the rocky days, offering comfort and companionship when he needed it most.

After he dropped Jack off at your house he went back to work, even though he had no desire to go back after the already stressful week. As the night settled in and the BAU headquarters grew quiet, Aaron allowed himself a moment of respite, a rare chance to breathe amidst the chaos. He found solace in the knowledge that, for tonight at least, Jack was safe and happy, surrounded by the warmth of friendship and the promise of a new day. And as he settled into his own quiet routine, Aaron couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope among the darkness—a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there was always the promise of light.

As laughter and chatter filled your home, your watchful gaze swept over the scene, a silent sentinel guarding over the children's fleeting moments of joy. The sound of their innocent giggles echoed through the room, a melody of pure happiness that brought warmth to your heart.

But then, like a sudden squall, that joy was ripped from everybody in the room. Marc's father, a distant figure with visitation rights, arrived in a whirlwind of anger, his shouts piercing the tranquil evening air. His words were sharp, laced with bitterness and resentment, tearing through the peaceful atmosphere like shards of glass. You felt a chill run down your spine as his presence loomed over the room, casting a dark shadow over the innocence of childhood.

Taking a peak outside the window you were hit with a sense of overwhelming dread. He was drunk. There was no mistaking the glassy look in his eyes, the slurred speech that spilled from his lips like poison. This was why you moved time and time again, running away from the man that scared you senseless, the specter of his rage haunting your every step.

In that moment, instinct propelled you into action. With trembling hands, you gathered the children, ushering them into your young sons bedroom. Their faces were a mixture of confusion and fear, mirroring the turmoil raging inside your own heart. Marc, wide-eyed and trembling, clung to your side, seeking comfort and safety in the shelter of your embrace.

You locked Marc’s bedroom door behind you, the click of the bolt a final barrier between the children and the storm brewing outside. With each passing moment, the tension in the air grew thicker, suffocating in its intensity. But you stood firm, a pillar of strength amidst his fury, shielding the children from the darkness that threatened to engulf them.

As you huddled together in Marc's room, Marc clung to your side, his small frame trembling with fear. "Mommy, what's happening?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, eyes wide with uncertainty.

You knelt down beside him, wrapping him in a tight embrace. "It's going to be okay, Marc, Jack," you reassured him, your voice steady despite the turmoil. "We're safe here."

Jack, sensing the tension in the air, looked up at you with wide eyes. "Are we in trouble Miss Y/N? Daddy says if I’m in trouble I should call him." he asked, his voice tinged with worry having had to go through this same scenario one too many times for being such a young kid.

You shook your head, mustering a reassuring smile for both boys. "No, sweetheart, we're not in trouble," you said gently, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "We're just going to stay here until everything calms down, okay?"

The boys nodded, their trust in you unwavering despite the chaos unfolding outside. Together, you formed a tight-knit circle, finding solace in each other's presence amidst the uncertainty. But you knew you couldn’t just wait it out in Marc's bedroom. You had to do something though, anything. You couldn’t wait for Marc’s father to break down the door.

Your mind raced with possibilities as you scanned the room for any means of defense. Should you grab a knife? Look for any baseball bats around? With a sense of urgency, you sprang into action, determined to protect the children at all costs.

As the tension in the room thickened, you took a deep breath, steeling yourself for what needed to be done. With a gentle hand, you lifted Marc's chin, meeting his frightened gaze with a reassuring smile. "Listen to me, Marc, Jack," you began, your voice firm but gentle. "I need you both to be brave for me, okay? We're going to find a hiding spot, and I need you to stay quiet and stay hidden until I come back. Can you do that?"

Marc nodded; his eyes filled with determination as he squeezed your hand. "We can do it, Mommy," he whispered, his voice steady despite the fear that lingered in the air.

Jack hesitated for a moment before nodding, his small frame tense with uncertainty. "Okay, Miss Y/N," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

You pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads, a silent promise to keep them safe. "Good," you said softly, your voice filled with determination. "Now, I need you to find a hiding spot and stay there until I come back. I'm going to call your Dad, Jack, and he's going to help us, okay?"

With a nod, the boys scrambled to find a hiding spot, their small figures disappearing into the shadows of the room. As they huddled together, you felt a surge of pride and love welling up inside you. They were scared, yes, but they were also brave, just like Jack’s father.

The sound of fists pounding against wood echoed through the room, a chilling reminder of the danger lurking just beyond their sanctuary. Every blow sent a jolt of fear coursing through your veins, your heart pounding in your chest as you fumbled for your phone, the air thick with terror.

With trembling hands, you dialed Aaron's number, each digit feeling like an eternity as you prayed for his swift arrival. The urgency in your voice betrayed the gravity of the situation as you finally managed to connect with him.

"Hotchner," his voice was calm, a reassuring anchor that threatened to engulf you.

"Aaron, it's me," you managed, your words tumbling out in a rush, your voice trembling with fear. "Something's happened. Marc's father—he's here, and he's... he's furious and drunk. I don't know what to do."

There was a brief pause, the silence heavy with unspoken understanding. In that moment, you could almost hear the gears turning in Aaron's mind as he processed the gravity of the situation. But despite the fear that threatened to consume you, his voice remained steady, a beacon of strength in the darkness.

"I'm on my way," he replied, his words infused with determination.

As you hung up the phone, a sense of relief washed over you, knowing that help was on the way, but the danger still lurked just outside. With trembling hands, you made your way to the window, your heart pounding in your chest as you peered outside.

Marc's father stood in the dimly lit street, his figure looming menacingly in the shadows. His shouts filled the night air, a chilling reminder of the mayhem that threatened to engulf you all. You could see the anger etched on his face, the twisted expression of rage that sent shivers racing through your body.

Your stomach churned with fear as you watched him pace back and forth, his movements erratic and unpredictable. Every fiber of your being screamed for you to hide, to protect yourself and the children from his wrath.

But you stood your ground, rooted to the spot as you watched the scene unfold before you. You were the first line of defense to those kids, and you wouldn’t let him through. Not in your wildest dreams. You knew that help was on the way, that Aaron would be here soon to put an end to this nightmare. But until then, all you could do was wait, your heart pounding in your chest as you prayed for safety and protection for you and the children.

As you strained to listen, the angry shouts of Marc's father pierced through the stillness of the night, each word a sharp dagger of fear that lodged itself in your chest. His voice was laced with venom, filled with threats and curses that sent chills down your spine. Through the window, you saw him pacing back and forth, his movements frenzied and erratic. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, and every now and then, he would pound on the door with a force that made the wood tremble.

The streetlights cast eerie shadows across his face, distorting his features into a grotesque mask of rage. His eyes burned with a wildfire, his gaze sweeping over the house with a predatory intensity that made your blood run cold. With each passing moment, the tension in the air grew heavier, suffocating in its intensity. You held your breath, your heart hammering in your chest as you prayed for Aaron's swift arrival.

And then, just when you thought you couldn't bear it any longer, you heard the distant sound of sirens wailing in the night. Relief washed over you like a wave as you realized that help was finally here, that Aaron had arrived to put an end to this nightmare once and for all.

From your vantage point at the window, you strained to hear over the pounding of your heart. Marc's father's voice grew louder, his words slurred with anger and alcohol. He stumbled, his movements unsteady as he continued to rant and rave. Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared on the street. Aaron emerged from the darkness, his presence commanding and authoritative. He approached Marc's father with caution, his hand resting on the holster of his gun.

"Sir, I need you to calm down," Aaron's voice cut through the night, firm and unwavering. "You're causing a disturbance."

But Marc's father didn't heed the warning. He lashed out, his fists swinging wildly as he advanced towards Aaron. In one swift motion, Aaron drew his weapon, his stance defensive yet controlled.

"Back off," Aaron commanded, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.

But Marc's father refused to listen. He lunged forward, intent on causing harm. With a steady hand, Aaron moved to subdue him, the click of handcuffs echoing through the night as he wrestled Marc's father into submission.From the window, you watched as he engaged Marc's father in calm but firm conversation, his authoritative presence making it clear that his priority was the safety of you and the children.

After what felt like an eternity, Marc's father finally relented, his anger simmering down as he was escorted away by the authorities. With each step he took, the weight of the tension that had filled the room seemed to lift, leaving behind a sense of calm in its wake.

As the chaos outside began to subside, you approached the door cautiously, your heart still pounding in your chest with each step. Peering through the peephole, you saw Aaron's familiar silhouette standing on the other side, strength amidst the darkness. With trembling hands, you reached for the door handle, the sound of your own heartbeat echoing in your ears. You hesitated for a moment, unsure of what lay on the other side, but the urgency of the situation spurred you into action.

Gripping the handle tightly, you slowly turned it, the creak of the door breaking the eerie silence that had settled over the house. As you swung the door open, Aaron's concerned gaze met yours, his expression filled with determination and resolve. Without a word, Aaron stepped inside, his presence a comforting reassurance in the midst of chaos. And as you closed the door behind him, the weight of the tension that had filled the room seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of calm and security in his presence.

But just as he looked at you with the utmost concern, a sudden realization hit you like a bolt of lightning. The kids. They needed you. Panic surged through you like a tidal wave. Without a moment's hesitation, you broke free from Aaron's grasp and rushed past him, your mind consumed by one thought: the safety of the children.

"Aaron!" you called out, your voice trembling with fear. "We have to check on them, Marc's father—he can't hurt them, right?" Your words spilled out in a frantic rush as you bolted towards the bedroom door, your heart hammering in your chest knowing they were fine but fear bested you in the moment.

Every worst-case scenario played out in your mind, fueling your panic as you reached for the doorknob. But before you could open it, Aaron's strong hand gripped your arm, halting your frantic movements.

"Wait, Y/N," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the chaos of your thoughts. "Take a breath. The children are safe. You need to trust that."

Your breaths came in short, ragged gasps as you struggled to rein in your panic. "But what if something happened?" you choked out, tears blurring your vision. "I can't bear the thought of them being scared and alone."

Aaron's gaze softened, understanding flickering in his eyes as he pulled you into a reassuring embrace. "I know, Y/N," he murmured, his voice a soothing anchor in the storm of your fear. "But right now, we need to stay calm for them. They need you to be strong. Kids can sense these things." His BAU training was working diligently as he calmed you down just outside Marc’s bedroom door trying to stay as quiet as possible. He, better than anyone, knew how these things could traumatize kids. He had seen it time and time again as he worked these cases.

While his words sank in, you felt some of the tension begin to ebb away, replaced by a glimmer of hope amidst the turmoil. With Aaron's steady presence grounding you, you took a deep, shuddering breath, steeling yourself for whatever lay ahead. With a newfound sense of determination, Aaron gently guides you back to the living room, his steady presence a calming force amidst the chaos. As you sink onto the couch, still trembling with adrenaline, he kneels beside you, his eyes filled with reassurance.

"Listen, Y/N," Aaron begins, his voice steady and calm. "I'll go check on Marc and Jack, okay? You stay here and try to relax. They need to see that everything's going to be alright."

You nod, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over you at Aaron's words. With a reassuring squeeze of your hand, he rises to his feet and makes his way towards the bedroom door. As he disappears from view, you can't help but feel a sense of unease gnawing at the edges of your mind. What if Marc's father returns? What if Aaron can't calm the children down? But you push those thoughts aside, trusting in Aaron's ability to handle the situation. You focus instead on taking deep breaths, trying to steady your racing heart as you wait for news.

Moments later, Aaron returns, a small smile playing on his lips. "They're okay," he says softly, his voice filled with relief. "A little shaken up, but okay. They’ll be right down; they’re changing for bed."

A wave of relief washes over you, and tears prick at the corners of your eyes as you let out a shaky breath. "Thank you, Aaron," you whisper, your voice choked with emotion. “Thank you for coming so quick.”

He nods, his eyes filled with understanding as he takes a seat beside you on the couch. Together, you sit in companionable silence, the tension slowly dissipating as you find solace in each other's presence. As you sit together on the couch, the weight of the situation in the air slowly beginning to dissipate, a tremor of unease still lingers, casting a shadow over the room. Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoes down the hallway, and before you can react, the two kids come bounding into the room more concerned about you than anything.

In a flurry of motion, both Jack and Marc jump on top of you. "Miss Y/N!" Jack cries out, his voice thick with emotion. "Are you okay?"

Their presence is like a balm to your frazzled nerves, and you reach out to them, pulling them into a tight embrace. Tears prick at the corners of your eyes as you hold them close, feeling the weight of their love and concern wash over you like a soothing tide. Aaron watched from beside as the two little boys clinged to the loving presence that you were.

"I'm okay, sweetheart," you whisper, your voice trembling with emotion. "I'm okay."

But Marc's small frame trembles with fear as he clings to you desperately, his tears mingling with yours as he buries his face against your shoulder. "I'm scared, Mommy," he whispers, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared of Dad. I don't want him to hurt you."

Your heart breaks at his words, and you hold him close, offering whatever comfort you can in the face of his overwhelming terror. "I know, baby" you murmur, your voice thick with emotion. "But Dad's gone now, and he won't hurt us. I promise you that."

As you speak, Jack wraps his arms around you, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of your emotions. "We'll protect you, Miss Y/N," he says firmly, his voice filled with determination. "We won't let anything happen to you."

Tears well up in your eyes as you look at your son and defacto son now, feeling an overwhelming surge of love and gratitude for the brave, compassionate young boys they've become. With their arms wrapped around you, you know that together, you can face anything that comes your way, united in strength and love.

Marc clinged to you, his trembling form gradually relaxing in your embrace. Jack's voice cuts through the tension-filled air, filled with desperation and fear. "Daddy, please stay," Jack pleads, his eyes wide and pleading as he looks up at Aaron. "I don't want anything to happen to Miss Y/N or Marc."

Aaron's gaze softens as he looks down at his son's friend, his heart breaking at the fear in Jack's eyes. Without hesitation, he nods, his voice filled with reassurance. "Of course, Jack. I'll stay."

With a sense of relief washing over the room, Aaron gently guides Marc and Jack to their beds, tucking them in with care and tenderness you hadn’t seen from a father before. As he leans down to brush a gentle kiss on each of their foreheads, you can't help but feel a swell of gratitude towards him as you watch from the doorway letting him take control.

Once the boys are settled, Aaron returns to the living room with you, his eyes meeting yours with a mixture of concern and determination. The soft glow of the lamp casts a warm, intimate light over the room, accentuating the vulnerability in both your gazes.

"I don't think any of us should be alone tonight," he says softly, his voice filled with sincerity, as if he's making a silent vow to protect you from any harm that may come your way. "Would you like me to stay?"

Your heart skips a beat at his offer, a blush rising to your cheeks as you meet his gaze. The rush of warmth flooding through you at the thought of having him by your side through the night is overwhelming. It's more than just a gesture of protection; it feels like an unspoken promise of comfort and solace, wrapped up in the tenderest of sentiments.

"Yes, please. If you don’t mind," you reply, your voice barely above a whisper, your eyes shining with gratitude and a hint of something more.

With a small, gentle smile that lights up his eyes, Aaron settles himself beside you on the couch. The soft brush of his hand against yours sends a flutter of butterflies through your stomach, igniting a spark of something that feels incredibly special. “Not at all.”

As you lean into his embrace, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against your own, a sense of peace washes over you. In that moment, with Aaron's strong arms wrapped around you, everything feels right in the world.

His gaze softens as he looks at you, his voice filled with sincerity and affection. "I'll always be here for you, Y/N," he whispers, his words carrying a warmth that melts your heart. "You're not alone. Never will be."

A smile tugs at the corners of your lips as you snuggle closer to him, reveling in the sweetness of the moment. The world outside seems to fade away, leaving only the two of you and the warmth of your connection.

With a contented sigh, you rest your head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. And as you drift off to sleep in his arms, you know that together, you can face anything that comes your way, united in a love that feels sweeter and more precious than you ever could have imagined.

Aaron Hotchner/Criminal Minds: Permanent Taglist (If you'd like to be added to any or all works please fill out the form here: (Taglist Sign Up) @loving-and-dreaming @kmc1989 @memeorydotcom @matisse556 @buckylov3r @taygrls @ah-blossom @daily-evanstan @hardballoonlove @14buddy22 @rosiahills22 @djs8891 @mrs-ssa-hotch @panandinpain0 @viscade @kreepja @il0vebeingdelulu @hiireadstuff @kajjaka @guacam011y

[mywitchyblog]

hello! I really love your content, and I’ve been following you for quite some time. i think your opinions on various topics are very thoughtful and accurate, so i have a question.

i’ve been noticing a subject (particularly on shiftok😭) where many people express their dislike of others scripting traumatic events into their realities, included to create a more intense backstory for them. for example, scripting that they lost a parent when they were younger or went through psychotic depression as a child.

i’d like to hear your opinion on this. do you think it’s okay to script some kind of trauma or disorder? personally, I don’t see an issue with it since it doesn’t affect my life or anyone else’s, but i’d love to hear your perspective on this topic!

Oh, honey, you just brought up one of my favorite rant-worthy topics. Grab a snack because we’re diving in! 🍵✨

My ✨Personal✨ Take:

First, thank you for the love, darling! It’s always a vibe connecting with someone who actually gets it. 💅 Now, let’s talk trauma scripting, because whew, the discourse around this is hotter than Satan’s sauna.

Here’s the thing: your DR is YOURS. Period. Full stop. You can script a Disney princess life or the tragic backstory of a brooding anti-hero—it’s entirely up to you. If you want to script a life-altering trauma, go off, babe. As long as you understand what you’re doing, it’s valid.

Let’s debunk the idea that “scripting trauma is bad”: In your DR, you’re living that experience. It’s not just words on paper; it becomes your reality. So if scripting something intense—like losing a parent or battling a mental health condition—helps you process, heal, or simply add depth to your DR self, that’s your business. Trauma, when scripted thoughtfully, can even be therapeutic. For some, it’s about reclaiming control over a narrative that felt chaotic or unresolved in their CR.

But let’s be clear: this isn’t playtime. You will feel what you script. The loss, the grief, the psychotic depression? It will be as real in your DR as it is for someone who’s endured it in their CR. So, if you’re scripting trauma for kicks or because you think it’s “dramatic,” you might want to take a hard look at your intentions.

The Fanfic Shifters Rant (Aka I Hate These Hoes):

Now let me pop off on these Shiftok clowns for a second. 😤 You know exactly the ones I’m talking about: the “everything’s just a quirky little fanfic” crew who waltz into shifting spaces treating their DRs like a bad Wattpad draft.

These hoes (yes, HOES) script trauma the way they’d order a pumpkin spice latte—casually, without thinking. “Oh, I’ll just throw in some childhood abandonment and sprinkle in an abusive relationship for ✨character development✨.” Like, are you dumb? Trauma isn’t a fucking aesthetic. It’s not “flavor” for your DR backstory.

When these people romanticize trauma, they trivialize the pain that real survivors experience. And worse? They make the whole shifting community look like a joke. Imagine someone who’s genuinely trying to use their DR to heal from their CR trauma stumbling upon one of these idiots? Embarrassing. I hate these hoes with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. They treat shifting like a sandbox where nothing matters and then complain when they end up spiraling in their DR because “oops, I didn’t realize depression would feel like that.” 🤡

I cannot stress this enough: your DR isn’t a fanfic. It’s your LIFE. You’ll live it, breathe it, feel it—all of it. If you’re not prepared to shoulder the weight of the trauma you’re scripting, don’t do it. And if you’re scripting trauma because you think it’s cute or cool? Stay far, far away from me. You’re not just irresponsible—you’re dangerous.

TL;DR (But Make It Iconic):

Scripting trauma is okay—as long as you’re doing it with intention and understanding the consequences.

Don’t treat trauma like it’s a quirky little accessory for your DR backstory. It’s serious, babe. Respect it.

To the fanfic shifters romanticizing trauma: I hate you hoes. Y’all are the reason people side-eye our entire community. Fix it.

Remember, shifting is about creating your dream life, not trivializing the experiences of others or glorifying pain you’ve never lived. Be mindful, stay informed, and, most importantly, don’t be a clown. 🤡✨

[imthepointe]

The design of armin’s titan is really important and we need to talk about it

Recently I’ve been thinking about how each detail of armin’s colossal design is intentional and… ow.

First, I see a lot of people on here saying that his titan doesn’t have any ears so he doesn’t hear the screams of his victims. Personally, I’ve never seen any evidence to actually substantiate this — I also don’t think that this would be very in-character for Armin. A primary feature of his development between the s3-s4 ts was that he became really almost consumed by guilt, including guilt for what he had to do in Liberio, so it makes more sense that he would force himself to hear every scream as a form of punishment. Armin definitely does not censor himself from any of the suffering he causes — in a way he’d probably think he deserves to be tormented by what he’s done.

Whew! Anyways, now that that is settled. Take a look at his titan:

As @1ceb3rg pointed out in a recent post, his titan largely resembles a skeleton!! Armin’s titan powers are inherently linked to death, given the way he acquired them (and the sacrifices other people had to make in order for Armin to live). And the skeleton is…well, it’s a universal symbol of death. Also worth pointing out here that armin figured out how to defeat the colossal through its bones — the muscles burn up in the steam but the bones don’t. His titan has much less muscle mass than bertolt’s, because that’s what killed him in the first place.

But let’s talk about his face.

His titan has no ears, no nose, and big sunken blue eyes. A skeleton also has no ears or nose.

There’s probably another reason his titan doesn’t have a nose, though. Think about Armin’s cute rosy button nose in human form. I don’t know exactly what interview it was but Isayama wrote that he “gave Armin a round nose to make him seem mild-mannered and weak while also giving him some kind of unique trait.” In other words, Armin’s nose is a physical representation of his weakness. By designing his titan without a nose, Isayama’s trying to convey that Armin is both physically no longer as fragile as he used to be and has psychologically toughened his resolve. After he was forced to strategize and think on his feet as he was in Shinganshina, Armin lived, ultimately, by developing that mental strength. He would not — he could not — give up. In season four, we really see this development in his tenacity , strategic thinking and leadership. His titan’s lack of a button nose signals this character development. He’s no longer mild-mannered or weak.

Oh! Another feature about his face is the sunken features. Doesn’t Armin look just sad? His large eyes, typically a distinguishing feature of his character, are ... lackluster at best. They’re small, sunken in and downturn. They’re a gray-blue, not his typical royal blue (or hazel, depending on who you ask). His wonder, his curiosity, has faded. He no longer has to speculate as to how Bertolt felt all those years ago in Shiganshina.

As to Armin’s character looking “sad,” we know that Armin’s first real experience with his titan powers was his dream while he was unconscious after transforming and eating Bert. This is what he sees:

Half of the colossal titan is crying. The other half is a skull — with a completely different bone structure. And no nose.

One, this reinforces/confirms the idea that the colossal titan is based on the skeleton and connected to death. But more importantly, it shows us the titan expressing deep sadness. It’s crying, from a sunken, grey-blue eye. If, in that moment, Armin’s titan was being formed in the Paths — he had just gotten the colossal, after all — then it’s possible that experience was emblematic of the shaping and reforming of the previous colossal to the next holder. Armin’s titan appears sad because he was literally crying as it was being formed.

TL;DR: armin’s titan is a physical manifestation of the character development he experienced post-midnight sun

[esotheria-sims]

Long Overdue Life Update

Whew, the title sounds kinda ominous, doesn't it?

Lemme say right off the bat that this isn't some Big PSA post or anything to that effect. I'm only checking in because I've been quiet for a while and figured an update is the least I can do. 🙂

Nothing major or life-changing is happening on my end; I've just been shitty at finding the time for sim-blogging these past months due to work and other day-to-day rl stuff, though I have been simming a bit in the background. Mostly going on download sprees and sorting cc, but I'm also about two-thirds through my next BaCC rotation and have a few new hair and handswap wips that are share-ready save for previews.

Oh and also: I got a new puppy! She's a 3-and-a-half-months-old Jack Russel mix and the main culprit for the abovementioned lack-of-time for simming. The cute lil' attention hog wants ALL the cuddles! "PC time? What PC time? Pet me instead, hooman!"

Everyone, this is Lucy!

Other things of note in my life, in no particular order:

We've had relatives from Croatia visiting last week with their kids. The kids are super smart and super cute but with the energy levels of a medium-sized nuclear reactor. It's been fun.

I finally went to see a Rammstein concert!!! 🤯 The experience of a lifetime, holy shit. I literally have no words to describe how mesmerizing that stage was. Like, I shit you not, I have 3 GBs worth of concert footage.

Speaking of metal: Gojira KILLED IT at the Olympics Opening! Also: Turkish Shooter Guy and Norwegian Muffin Man are living rent-free in my head. I'm the worst, I only follow professional sports for the memes.😆

I've been moved to a new division at work and am currently sitting in a small office with the two biggest goobers in the entire institution. Between that and me finally having accumulated enough knowledge + experience to have a clue what I'm doing, work's been pretty stress-free for once.

Conversely, my colleagues from the old division are struggling due to lack of staff, too much work, mismanagement, internal strife, and pressure from both within and outside the institution. I feel so bad for them, but at the same time, a selfish part of me is grateful that I'm not there to suffer the shitshow on my own hide.

I have unanswered asks from (probably) months ago and am Very Ashamed of the fact. I'll get back to you guys, I promise! 😰

[themthrfkinprincess]

Astro observation . . . TWO!!

Whenever I see someone has a prominent Scorpio or Capricorn placement I always notice and see how sweet and overlay considerate they are. These people I’ve noticed are very helpful and there for people, sometimes they don’t think about themselves that much and contain themselves too much. They also are like nonchalantly funny? It’s not hard for them to make me laugh I’ve noticed.

But yeah strong Capricorn and Scorpio placements remind me of the giving tree idkkk

Like also Capricorn’s and Cancers be goofy as shit im crine😭

WHEW. This is from my experience but when I have seen a fair amount of Virgo or Cancer influences in somebody chart THEY ALWAYS GET ON MY NERVES LIKE GIRL DON'T DO ME LEAVE ME ALONE😭 I swear I have always had little moments with them- they can be quite annoying but guess what. I often spend so much time with them and we are right back on track maybe two seconds later it’s so funny. We switch up so much it funny. And this is funny because well I am a cancer myself and well there are more than three cancers in my family who I adore. You guys are really aggravating though.

And like also Geminis freaky foreal like YALL LIKE BOOTY FOREAL😭

also its a double whammy if you have eros or venus in gemin lol. I have both 😈👅

so come here . . . .

GIVE ME THAT BOOTY😈

lol😭

AND YOOOO Like geminis and Leo’s can be so embarrassing at times? They’re very suspect to be very lollygagging individuals and I can say this because I have a Leo stellium. Sometimes I look back and be like girl no. It sad. ☹️ like girl you 36 how long you gon be doing this😕.

They remind me of this liam dancing gif. Its not that they are embarrassing over big things- its just small stuff they can do and say which makes you go wtf???😭 Sometimes i feel they try to impress you over small weird things that no one really gives a fuck about like okay right . . . right . . .

Leo, Cancer, Gemini, and Virgo can be really corny at times- it reminds of that gif of drake doing the dougie. They can be corny in a cute way though😭but leos can get genuinely embarrassing as a mentioned beforehand

Also Geminis talk too much 🦧.

They will run their mouth and run it- i have no problem with it though I like to talk a lot lol. They are ( of course!) good listeners too! I had a friend she was so chill- I could talk to her about anything’s like- if i wanted to speak gibberish she would speak gibberish back to me. She was so random too. They are kind of silly whimsical beings at times I will not lie. Like it would not be wild to catch them froliciing in the fields randomly- its kind of expected of them in my own opinion. In my eyes they really be in their own world at times. 💀

AYE.

And yo!? Tell me why Aries are so cute what the hell!?!?

LIKE THEY ARE SO CUTE!!

CYUTSIE PATOOTSIES!!!! I imagine them trying to rob me at a gas station I own or something. Like I don’t know imagine them pointing a gun at you and trying to rob you LMFAO. I WILL BURST OUT LAUGHING. They might shoot you tho idk😞 they really be standing on business and they intimidate me a lot once they start talking- and they could be totally be happy/polite while they are talking. It’s just their aura feels forceful? Lively? Out there? I don’t know how to explain it but yeah. Also they are so sweet too!!! These people are cheerleaders- people say that Leo’s are cheerleaders but the biggest cheerleaders I see are more often Aries. My cousin is one and she is very VERY sweet. She listens to you deeply and she really pushes you. Sometimes it’s annoying at times cause like GIRL LEAVE ME ALONE I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT 😭 I love aries though 💖😭 You guys are so cute. AND WHY THEY ALWAYS LOOK LIKE CARTOON CHARACTERS 😭

LIKE WHY HE LOOK LIKE RODDY😭

And of course we know Pedro looks like chicken little

Also Aries women are GORG!! No seriously! Look at Halle!!! Miss Mamas is GORG!! She is STUNNING! It’s like 💥WAPOW!!!💥 getting struck and hit by her beauty😍💖

Also David tennant so cute he's sort of like kind of my man😍😍 if you have a crush on him your so real I totally get it fren 😋💗🤭😁

Like dude come on he's so freaking cute. His eyes are so intense it makes him look like a crackhead sometimes but it doesn't even matter HE'S SO CUTE. And his Scottish accent is so 🫦🫦🫦 I don't know what he be saying sometimes though in his TV shows like huh🗿

Cancer Mars are literally the Scarlet Witch idk dude. . . . like people can go completely BONKERS. These hoes kind of crazy. If you been wronging one for quite a while you better sleep with one eye open when you sleeping👀

Like these people are kind of punks☹️. They retreat often when something is wrong- too much actually. They really do not want to fight or have any problems foreal. They can be very indirect at times when bothered it can get annoying. But when enough is enough its over💀 its like one fart and your dead💀

Like that Aries and Cancer energy is not mixing well and shit can get REAL unstable there like don't do them patna!!

Uhm i totally had a million more things to say and I really did not get to re-read this. So there may be many typos- and also im kind of lazy and wish i decorated this post better. But that's besides the point- I hope you liked this post or whatever!!! I was totally honestly rambing to myself, if you found these accurate to you then great!

Peace out!!!💖💗

[cardiac-agreste]

I suppose today was the straw that broke the camel's back, where I once again saw someone (recently!) say Zoë is just a "nice Chloe," and friends, I am befuddled. Bewildered and baffled, even! DYEL (Do You Even Ladybug), bro?

I am here today to tell you that not only is Zoë Lee her own, unique character related to Chloe only by blood (unless she's a sentibeing!), but Zoe Lee is also the third or fourth most worthy holder in the entire bouquet of Miraculous characters (Marinette, Adrien, and Alix are the other three).

First let's talk about whether Zoë is a Chlone (did the Chloe/clone pun work?).

What do we know about Chloe?

French

entitled

bully

handsy

quick to anger

wants to please a mother who abandoned her

father wants to please her

can't remember names

has a "friend" do homework for her

makes the best pun in the entire show

willing to be akumatized

probably wants to make out with Marinette Dupain-Cheng (okay fine, this isn't strictly canon)

when she gets a Miraculous, she brags about it and shares her identity publicly because for her it's all about the glory

racist

behavior all seems to arise out of the expectation that everyone exists to please her (because she's modeling herself after her mother) twinned by a need to be acknowledged by her mother

What do we know about Zoe?

American

shy

unperturbed by rejection

used to be fake

decided to be her authentic self even though she'd be rejected by her peers, which leads us to

LGBTAF

had no parents in her life because she was at boarding school

tender

brave

humble

definitely wants to make out with Marinette Dupain-Cheng

maybe a sentibeing (otherwise her mother got pregnant, like, a couple months after giving birth to Chloe, and where is her dad in all this?! did he died!)

does NOT think wealth and power are all that and a bag of potato chips (blows off that Diamond Ball thing, refers to that type of person as a "zombie")

has held two different Miraculous and both of them she took because fate required it

artsy!!!!

I can kind of understand right after her debut feeling like this: she is in Paris (like Chloe), shows up with blonde hair (like Chloe) and the body of a girl (like Chloe) and uses a girl's voice (like Chloe) to speak to Marinette (like Chloe) nicely (not so much like Chloe), and we see her trying to gain family acceptance in Soul Crusher.

But then she rapidly diverges from Chloeness.

Finally, we get to season five, which finished airing over a year ago (thank goodness we get S6 soon!), and Plagg ghosts Adrien to find a new holder.

Let's consider Adrien getting Plagg the first time: he's sad, lonely, stuck in his room all day, has no friends, and has no idea that he's going to suffer by becoming a superhero. And he becomes Chat Noir, gets to chill with this beautiful lady he crushes on, and his enemy is an inexperienced villain who fumblefucks through his powers being an idiot of himself as the two of them and Ladybug gradually all gain skill and experience wielding their powers.

So you're Zoe Lee, you see all kinds of crazy shit in America, and these French heroes come to your city (New York) and fight a dude who pops off with a dozen NUKES all over the place ready to do some damage, and WHEW they save the day with the United Heroez of America.

You move to France, and your first day there, a gross old man slithers into your brain, emotionally manipulating you until you give in and allow him to use your body to hurt people and destroy property. And then, when you're finally rescued, you're publicly humiliated as the "villain" despite not remembering anything you did. And then you probably watch videos of yourself doing horrible things later, in your room by yourself, maybe as your half-sister yells at you for being a monster or something.

The person who manipulated you is a villain in your new city (did I mention you're living in the house of someone who isn't even your real dad?? without your mother present??), regularly causes billions of dollars in damage and mass casualties, and currently has control over almost all the Miraculous. He's SCARY, VICIOUS, and his power level is INSANE. He's got the heroes on the ropes. He's had a long time to get stronger. There are news articles about how he's a very. bad. dude.

And then the heroes DISAPPEAR. Paris is FUCKED.

And a tiny little cat shows up and is like "hey, kid, you are needed."

Any normal person would be like NO. NO NO NO.

But Zoë?

"Claws out."

Who cares that she's probably gonna die? Who cares that she's probably going to fight alone? Who cares that her enemy is terrifying and has already very specifically victimized you once before?

NOT ZOË LEE.

And that is why Zoë is not a "nice version of Chloe" and also is one of the most worthy holders in the universe. Alix is the only one who gives her a run for her money, and IME that's an essay for another day (but tl;dr being the Rabbit Holder would mentally break any normal person).

🚀

UPDATE: I welcome reasoned disagreement. But if you're going to insult me, I will delete your comment and block you.

[beloved-calypso]

・ ゜ ʚɞ ゜ ゜𝖂𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖉𝖔 𝖕𝖊𝖔𝖕𝖑𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖞𝖉𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖒 𝖆𝖇𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚? ♡ ・ ゜ ʚɞ ゜ ゜‎♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡

♡ 𝒩𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝓈𝓈 𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓇𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝒷𝓈𝑜𝓇𝒷𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝒾𝓉𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝓊𝓁𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝐸𝓍𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝑒𝓍𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓈𝓁𝑒𝑒𝓅 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂. 𝒰𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝒾𝓃𝒻𝓁𝓊𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒, 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝓃𝑜 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓊𝓇𝑒, 𝓈𝓅𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝓃𝑜 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒

~ .𝒜𝓁𝑒𝓍𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓇𝑒 𝒟𝓊𝓂𝒶𝓈, ♡

All pictures and gifs are not mine but belong to their original artists.♡

I. -> II. -> III.

ᴀᴘᴘʟʏ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴀ ᴄᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴀᴘᴘʟɪᴄᴀʙʟᴇ! ꜱᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇʀ, ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ʟᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴏʀ ꜰᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ!

~ XOXO 💋🎀

⊰᯽⊱┈───✧

౿૮꒰ྀི pile 1 ๑◞꒱ა

Knight of Wands, The Magician, King of Swords (rx)

Whew! The cards flew out for this one. Wow Pile 1, people daydream about joining you on adventures and to go thrill-seeking. They want to come with you in full confidence and offer you experiences you've never gone through before. Either way these people think of you as a creative force, someone exciting and fun-loving. Maybe your extroverted and are quite lively, or you could be introverted but give people the sense that there is an inner rich world within you where you roam free. People desperately want to see that part of you, to tear down the walls you have. People imagine you going wild, being open and free-spirited. They imagine letting their own guards down around you and seeing how you would react, if you would like them or find them as interesting as they see you. They want to be the center of your attention. It would be super flattering. Your a point of fascination for many pile 1. Do you have a lot of creative hobbies or pursuits? People see you as being capable of anything. They find you so interesting as if you are the life of a party, or specifically, the life of their daydreams. These daydream could be coming from people you would least expect. They could usually seem disinterested and nonchalant to you, even cold, but inwardly you run wild in their fantasies.

For the romantics, people daydream about having a spicy, hot flings with you! They imagine coming towards you and enticing you into a passionate affair, not necessarily one where cheating is involved (although this is true for quite a few of you) but one where it's purely fun, spontaneous, and consequence-free. (This isn't an 18+ reading so I wont get too much into detail, but I will get nasty with the next pac 😏). You may be seen as a challenge for them to conquer. They want to see what you have to hide and exploit it for themselves, and you have more people here that are confident in actually confiding these things to you than you think!

⊰᯽⊱┈───── ✧

౿૮꒰ྀི pile 2 ๑◞꒱ა

2 of Pentacles, 8 of Pentacles, 7 of Cups (rx)

The vibe I get from you Pile 2 is that you are a very busy person, or that people mostly see you while your busy out doing things. From one thing to another your always seen being caught between something. You have a lot of things on your plate, and people really respect your work ethic and ambition, but people also want to alleviate your burden. People daydream about helping you, working alongside you, getting close to you and befriending you. I think people especially daydream about you in the work/school setting. It could be that people think working alongside you would benefit them somehow, like they could improve in their studies/work. You could be a master at something and they envy your talent. They imagine walking up to you and starting a conversation based on these talents and forming a bond. For the romantics, daydreamers would be willing to do anything to sweep you away from the responsibilities of everyday life. They want to be your source of distraction and comfort, for you to focus on them and leave everything behind, the Prince Charming to your Cinderella. They think of themselves as seeming delusional for believing you would give them the time of day. You seem so rational and unbothered by anyone, not exactly cold, but you value your time. People daydream about being someone worthy of you, someone who you would brag about to friends or family, bring around your social circle. You could also serve as a distraction to those with busy lives. You bring about a sense of relief and their fantasies center around you just being around them, relaxing, taking breaks and chilling, away from work and responsibilities. I think most won't approach you though simply because they would assume you to be too practical to entertain any fantasies they have.

⊰᯽⊱┈───── ✧

౿૮꒰ྀི pile 3 ๑◞꒱ა

The Empress (rx), The High Priestess (rx), The Page of Pentacles

You're a subject of mystery Pile 3. I think you give off beautiful, sad girl energy. If you're insecure and keep to yourself, people notice this and feel sympathy for you. They think you're beautiful and they want to show this to you. People daydream about comforting you, healing you, being the one to nurture you and take away any pains you hold within. You come off as very withdrawn and anxious. People think that you hide things and are afraid to express who you truly are. They know you won't come towards them so they think up scenarios where you both are forced together, where you both are secluded and you slowly open up to them and confide in them your secrets. They daydream about you being openly vulnerable to them in a way you don't with anyone else; it would make them feel special. They think that you are sheltered and don't know much or have many interesting experiences and they want to be the ones to provide that to you. For the romantics, it's the same energies. They want to be your provider and confider. They want to impress upon you just how beautiful you are all the while keeping you to themselves. They daydream about uncovering you layer by layer, and yes, in the sensual way as well, but it's not that type of reading so I'll be glossing over this part. But people would be flattered to have your attention, especially since your so pretty. I'd be careful because it's giving me the sense that people want to prey upon your vulnerability. They want you to be consumed by them just as much as you consume them. They may even end up idealizing you just because there's so much mystery around you that it's easier to let their fantasies run wild. Most won't approach though because they are scared of disturbing your sensitive nature and offending you.

⊰᯽⊱┈───── ✧

౿૮꒰ྀི pile 4 ๑◞꒱ა

9 of wands, 4 of Swords, The Lovers

Oof, did you come back from a breakup pile 4? If not, you've been through a loss of some kind. People can sense that you're sad about something. You give off wounded warrior vibes. I think your keeping your head up strong but inwardly your still recovering from whatever has happened in the past. You've withdrawn into yourself and people want to coax you back out of that shell. People daydream about cheering you up, about being the one to turn that frown upside down. You arouse people's protective instincts. There's something nostalgic about you like you remind people of their sibling or a childhood friend. People may even view you as defenseless and in need of special attention. They dream about soothing you through healing words, caring for you like a lost or wounded puppy. People can see themselves forming a strong friendship with you in the aftermath of what looks like betrayal. They are likely to relate. For the romantics, people daydream about being your valiant knight. They want to be your defender of justice, they may even want to give payback to the person that hurt you. They want to give you a love offering of their own. They see the both of you as having magnetic chemistry. They want to solidify a relationship with you, something long-term and better than whatever you had before. They see the both of you being stronger together, regaining back your power and happiness. Sorry I didn't get much for this pile. The energy is likely clouded because whatever you got going on is so strong it's affecting your aura, but just know it's temporary. Feel free to check another pile if you feel called to it!

⊰᯽⊱┈───── ✧

ᴀɴʏ ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄɪꜱᴍꜱ ᴏʀ ꜰᴇᴇᴅʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇᴅ. ɪ'ᴍ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀ ɴᴇᴡ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙʟᴏɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴍ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴꜱ ᴀꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ɪᴍᴘʀᴏᴠᴇ ɪᴛ. ♡

ᴅɪꜱᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇʀ

© lolita-bonita — Please do not plagiarize, translate, or repost any of my work on other social media platforms without my permission. This is the only platform that I post this type of content. If you see my work being posted anywhere else, please kindly report them to me. ♡

⊱┈───── ✧

✨️ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ɴᴏᴛᴇ: Tarot is not an exact science, nor can it produce factually true information. All things posted are alleged and for entertainment purposes only. The future is fluid, and what may happen is based on your choices and actions, not what I and a deck of cards say. You are still the creator of your future. ✨️

⊰᯽⊱┈───── ✧

[gunkreads]

I haven't had a chance to read Absolution yet, but I did just finish Acceptance, the third book of the Southern Reach trilogy by Jeff Vandermeer, the other day.

Here's my review: Whew! Wow! Yowza! Holy fucking shit! Gosh golly!

Southern Reach is something special, that's for sure. I understand why it's been often placed in a genre called "The New Weird", though I can't claim to have had any experience with the Old Weird. It's fuckin' weird. I don't mean that in the sense that the events, settings, or characters in the story are weird (though they are); no, the technique is Weird.

I wrote a bit of my thoughts on Annihilation when I finished that book, and one thing I said there rang true for the next two books just as strongly: Vandermeer is fucking with you, the reader. Much of the story's plot hinges on subjective experiences of reality based on varying assemblages of information; a person with facts #1-#55 sees an entirely different world than someone with facts #2-#56. This is the general nature of Area X, the focal setting of the story, and informs every character relationship on the page.

There's too much to say about this story and too little of it can be explained without heavy spoilers, so I'm going to keep this short and just discuss the part of Southern Reach that made me rethink what a story is.

I've never seen another author write a book that seems so completely bulletproof in its execution. Where many authors will allow events to follow a path, complete it, and turn around to go back the way they came, Vandermeer always loops them back to the core on a brand-new path. Every new avenue he explores is linked to the ever-growing whole of the story, which ends up defined more by the connections between things than the things themselves.

This is evidenced most clearly by the fact that, a few dozen pages from the end of Acceptance, Vandermeer explains--explicitly and in full--exactly what has been happening the entire time. He does this in the space of a single paragraph, and it offers no closure, progress, or revelations to any characters. In fact, none of them even care. Their own stories and lives are too dense to have any single element at their core, so the realization of what Area X truly is means literally nothing to them. Vandermeer is fucking with you.

One other thing Vandermeer does that flies head and shoulders above other things I've read is set characters on differing levels of narrative "realness". Some of you might remember my deranged posts about Gawyn from Wheel of Time several years ago; Vandermeer does the thing I was joking about there, but he pulls it off while playing it straight.

Control, the perspective character of Authority, is a great example of this. If you picked a random page from Authority or Acceptance that mentions his name, you might find that he's being presented as a protagonist, a hero, an antihero, a villain, a reader self-insert, an author self-insert, a simplified archetype, a literary device, or even being reduced to just a word. His nickname, Control, sounds silly. Because Vandermeer is fucking with you.

Because of all this, I can confidently say that if it's possible to read Southern Reach too closely, I'm not capable of it. With the conflicting perspectives and web of misunderstandings, the coherence of every element into an interwoven whole, and the constantly-shifting levels of "realness" each of the story's elements exhibit, I think the story approaches or reaches a critical mass of informational density. Vandermeer amplifies the significance of all his facts by using the links between the facts as a megaphone; he demands that you interrogate the relationship between every pair of ideas and rewards your effort every single time.

I'm going to be realizing shit about these books for the rest of my fucking life, mark my words. If you like Thinkin' Books, I cannot recommend these enough. If you like Craft Books--ones that explore the potential of the medium of the written word--I cannot recommend these enough. Let Jeff Vandermeer fuck with you.

[ophernelia]

sorry if this question is stupid but are we not supposed to play with light skinned sims? im dark skinned and i have dark skinned ones i play with but i have been playing with the lighter ones lately. playing with them means i hate myself? is that the standard now

Honestly, there’s questions I don’t feel like I can answer. I’m black, fully black but I’m lightskin. There’s nuance and knowledge that comes with the lived experience of being a darker skinned person that I’m not privy to at all. It’s not my place to speak on that. What I can say is- that anon was just being an ass. The statement was like factually incorrect. There is no new standard. I will have to let my dark skinned counterparts discuss what they feel is right amongst themselves. Meanwhile, I’ll have to just shut up and listen on the sidelines. However, I am in full support of black creators being left the fuck alone and them being allowed to play and post their games in peace. There are creator’s with pages that look like the north side of Chicago when the cubs play. Go pester at them for not being inclusive at all.

I’ve had a similar experience before. I have a lot of lightskinned sims. Imogen’s family is huge and every one of those bobble heads are just variations of their bobble headed overlord, ME! However, I’ve got a lot of other sims I play with too. Usually when I make a new one, I make them darker skinned to balance things out. Cut down on that Brice family reign. I had JUST posted Savannah and got a “why are all your sims light skinned” comment. Completely overlooked my girl. Overlooked the rest of the darker skinned sims in the series like they literally always do. When I get distasteful comments it’s usually about one of them OR usually about a feature on a sims face that makes them unambiguously black. The shit is grody. I don’t wanna hear about the push for representation when the reaction to it is always less than savory and most times hurtful. It’s not even the sims themselves, but the creators too. Majority of the creators I follow only post dark skinned sims. They make fantastic content. And not to be arrogant, but I KNOW I have reach. So when I reblog their posts, I’m expecting to see that engagement grow. If people like the quality of the content I post, I know they’ll like theirs. It’s usually similar. However, nothing. They don’t get as much traction. And if they do, the main people I see interacting with the posts are primarily the other people who post darker skinned sims!! Like girl! Enjoy your game! Hell! That’s all I can say because whew!

[aishangotome]

Ellis Twilight: Chapter 10

Chapter 9

Jude and Ellis, their hats pulled low and their mouths hidden behind scarves, stepped into the casino with me.

(Both of them were attracting a lot of attention because they clearly didn't look like ordinary people...)

(But they haven't been discovered yet, right?)

With two suspicious-looking men flanking me, I started to worry that they might be mistaken for kidnappers instead.

Jake: Why are you guys dressed like that?

Jude: ................

Ellis: ................

Kate: Oh, um, we were outside for a long time and got cold!

Kate: Their lips are numb and their voices are shaking, so they said they might not be able to talk for a while.

I could hear Jude cursing under his breath at my desperate excuse.

(I think I heard him say, "Ya coulda come up with a better lie...")

Jake: Oh dear, take care!

(Whew! He doesn't seem suspicious at all)

Kate: Oh, thank you. It's not that bad, so don't worry!

Jake: Are you weak? You won't be able to make it in the circus if you don't train properly!

Jake laughed cheerfully and patted Jude on the shoulder with his large hand.

Jude: ................

(Oh, he's angry... I'll pretend I didn't see that)

Ellis: ..............

Ellis winked at me as if to say, "Nice save."

Jake walked further into the casino and stopped in front of a door with two security guards. He took off his hat and bowed.

Jake: Hey there, could you tell the owner that I brought some more circus friends?

(...The mastermind behind the kidnapping might be beyond this door)

(Maybe the victims are too...)

I took a small breath and entered the room.

The eyes of several strong-looking men inside turned to us at once.

Jake: Sorry I'm late for our appointment. I had a wonderful encounter!

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: I've been waiting for you, Jake! Are these people the wonderful encounter you mentioned?

Jude and Ellis: .............

(This is the casino "owner" Jake was talking about)

If our guess is correct, he's the one who orchestrated the kidnapping.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: You've brought some very... lively ones this time.

The man in silver-rimmed glasses stared at us rudely.

(This is the mastermind behind the kidnapping...)

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: Miss and gentlemen, judging by your clothes and the glow of your skin...

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: You don't look like you were lured to the circus by hunger for money or fame.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: Why are you interested in the circus?

(...He's suspicious...)

The moment I instinctively read the man's expression, I heard a click.

(The door to the room is locked...!)

A prickling tension filled the room.

In the strained atmosphere, Jude and Ellis calmly approached the man called the owner.

Jude: I've always admired the performances of Jake Grace, a man who made his name in a grand spectacle.

He spoke in fluent Queen's English.

His refined manner of speaking, devoid of his usual accent, was so different that it almost felt like someone else was talking.

(Wow, he's completely different... With this way of speaking, his identity shouldn't be exposed...)

Jude: However, I still have some doubts. There's always a catch to a good deal.

Jude: You're saying that you'll guarantee our food, clothing, and shelter until the circus is established. Are you the representative?

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: Yes. I'm in charge of the investment in Mr. Jake. Although, there are people above me.

(So this guy isn't the top of the gang either...?)

(Is he like one of the factions within it?)

Jude: Does the "higher-up" know about this investment?

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: ...I don't think it's necessary for a mere member to know that.

Jude glanced at Ellis and me.

From our experience in business negotiations and crisis situations, this meant... "Get to your positions."

(In other words...)

(It's time to start the commotion...!)

The moment Ellis kicked over a vase, I instinctively hid behind the table.

As the gang's attention was drawn to the loud noise, Jude spoke.

Jude: Restrain the guy with glasses. I'll take care o' the rest.

Ellis: Roger that.

As soon as they communicated in the brief moment the gang members were drawing their guns, Ellis lightly kicked the ground.

In the next instant, he leaped onto the table and then above the gang members' heads.

(...As always, his movements are amazing)

Before the panicked gang members could aim their guns, Ellis' long fingertips touched the owner's head... and the owner's wrists snapped together as if bound by an invisible rope, unable to move.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: Wh-What is this...?

Ellis: This one's done.

(He restrained the owner in no time. What about Jude...?)

Like a puff of smoke, Jude slipped into the midst of the opponents and touched their foreheads.

The gang members immediately collapsed to the floor one after another.

(Is that Jude's ability...?)

(The people he touched... they don't seem dead, but...)

The sight of people losing consciousness and collapsing as if their strings had been cut, without being punched or kicked, was eerie and sent chills down my spine.

Jake: Wh-What's going on? Who are you guys?

(Oh right, I completely forgot about Jake...!)

He was just being used by the gang.

If so, it would be dangerous for him to be in the middle of this brawl.

Gangster: Damn it! You brought troublesome guests!

Kate: ...!

I saw a gun being pointed at Jake in my peripheral vision.

Kate: Dodge it...!

Jake: Whoa!?

Without time to think, I threw myself at Jake with all my might.

I fell to the floor with Jake, who stumbled.

Kate: Ugh...!!?

Jake's huge body landed heavily on my leg.

A sharp pain shot through me, my breath stopped for a moment, and cold sweat broke out all over my body.

(It hurts...)

Jake: I-I'm sorry, are you alright, miss!?

Kate: I-I'm fine...

(The pain is making my vision blurry...)

But I couldn't stay down any longer, thinking that they might point a gun at me again.

Kate: ...Ha...

I desperately tried to lift my body, which screamed in pain with every breath, but I couldn't stand up. I could only lift my head while lying on my stomach.

(...! Everyone except the owner has lost consciousness)

Thanks to Jude's ability, the room was completely silent, and Ellis was holding a black-bladed knife to the owner's neck.

(Ellis...)

At that moment, our eyes met - his twilight-colored eyes looking at me with concern as I lay on the floor.

He looked like he was about to rush over to me, so I hurriedly suppressed the pain and gave him a smile.

(I'm fine!)

If we let the owner escape now, it would all be for nothing.

Ellis: ......

His twilight-colored eyes wavered with anxiety, but he didn't lower the knife.

Jude: 'Ey, you.

Jake: Huh?

Jude, who had somehow gotten close, touched Jake's forehead.

Jake's consciousness instantly vanished, and his body collapsed on the spot.

Kate: Why even Jake?

Jude: This is Crowns' job now. If he saw this, we'd hafta kill 'im too.

(Crowns' job...)

In my pain-blurred vision, I saw Jude walking away.

The restrained owner glared at Jude, who stood before him, with his small eyes behind his glasses.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: That accent, the bodyguard with the black knife... You're the trader who sent one of our executives to prison, aren't you?

Jude: Where are the recruits?

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: ...Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you.

Even though there was no one left in the room to help him, the owner had an arrogant smile on his lips.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: If you kill me, you won't get away with it. I suggest you back off.

Jude: Is tha' so? Then die.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: What?

Jude: Even if ya don't talk, we can easily get the information by torturin' yer underlings.

Ellis: Wait, can we kill him?

Jude: There's no doubt this guy is the casino owna' an' the mastermind behind the kidnappin'.

Jude: From what he said earlier, the uppa' echelons of the gang aren't involved in this kidnappin'.

Jude: He's the one responsible fer the execution. If he can't give us any information, he's jus' garbage.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: Wh-What!? If you kill me, you'll make enemies of all the gangs in London!

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: The "higher-ups" won't stay silent either!

Jude: Ha, ya have a high opinion of yer own worth.

Jude: The "higher-ups" dun care about a memba' who screwed up by meddlin' in shady business without their permission.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: ...!

Seeing him turn pale and lose his words, Jude twisted his lips as if amused.

I remembered Ellis saying, "I love hearing the screams of people I hate."

Jude: Let me tell ya somethin' to take to yer grave.

Jude: There's no such thing as a human bein' who can kill an' get away with it.

Jude: If ya didn' even understand that an' still went around kidnappin' an' killin' people, then you'll regret it in hell.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: H-Huh... I'll talk, I'll tell you everything...!

The owner readily opened his mouth under Jude's threat.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: The kidnapping was a plan I started for money!

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: I happened to see Jake, who had fallen from grace and was drinking himself into oblivion, and I thought of using him...!

Ellis: Where are the people who were brought here as potential circus members?

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: --They were all handed over to a human trafficking broker.

Ellis: Where did they go after that?

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: Probably abroad. I don't know any more than that.

(So, Bill's acquaintances were all sold abroad by a shady broker...)

--If that's the case, they'll never come back.

Jude: Tch... Abroad, huh? That's outside our jurisdiction.

Ellis: Even if Victor tries his best, it'll be difficult to track them down...

Their voices deepened the sense of despair.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: Hey! I talked, didn't I? Let me go!

Ellis gave the shouting owner a cold look.

Ellis: ...I never promised to let you go if you talked.

Man with Silver-Rimmed Glasses: Wh-What...?

Ellis: Our goal is to stop the kidnapping. And then...

Ellis: To punish the perpetrators.

Ellis: We wanted information because we want to help the victims.

Ellis: Just because you gave us information doesn't mean you're innocent, right?

Ellis: That's why I can't let you go... I'm sorry.

(Ellis...)

In my fading consciousness due to the pain, I listened to their exchange.

The scenery had been distorted for a while now, and my head was getting hazy.

But even in this state, I knew clearly that Ellis was about to get his hands dirty.

For the sake of Her Majesty who ordered the mission, for the sake of the victims, and to prevent any more victims.

Even though I knew it was necessary, I couldn't help but feel my heart ache.

Kate: Ellis...

Unable to stop him or silently watch, I called out his name, and he smiled wryly.

Ellis: ...I'm sorry.

Ellis: Kate- close your eyes.

(Ah...)

Cranberry jam-like red splattered the surroundings.

Before the smell of blood reached my nostrils, my consciousness was swallowed by darkness.

---

(...Wait...)

(What happened to me...?)

I felt like I was being cradled by something warm and swaying gently.

I drifted in a vague sense of time for who knows how long... and slowly regained consciousness.

---

(This is... the bed in the basement?)

I saw a bag of ice water placed on my calf.

Roger: --There seems to be no abnormality in the bone, but judging from the swelling, there's a high possibility of a muscle strain.

Roger: She needs to avoid moving it for a few days.

Ellis: ..............

Jude: It's fine. We solved the kidnappin' case, so she can rest easy.

Familiar voices drifted into my hazy ears.

Roger: Well, that's true.

Ellis: ...Roger.

Roger: Hmm? What is it?

(Ellis...?)

Ellis's profile looked terribly uneasy, and my chest tightened.

I had seen him look worried before, but this was the first time I had seen him so downcast.

Ellis: Kate, she'll be able to walk properly, right?

(...Is he making that face because he's worried about me?)

Roger: Yeah, she'll be fine. If she rests properly, that is.

Ellis: Rest properly...

Ellis: ...Understood.

(Don't make that face. I'm fine...)

I tried to say so, but only a faint sigh escaped my lips.

Kate: Ah...

Jude and Ellis: ...!

Both Ellis and Jude looked towards the bed in surprise.

Roger: Oh, you're awake, lil' lady... Did you happen to hear our conversation just now?

Kate: Yes... I'm sorry for getting injured during the mission. And on top of that, I can't move for a few days...

My voice was hoarse at first and I couldn't speak well, but gradually I was able to move my mouth.

Ellis: ...Kate, don't worry about anything.

Interrupting my words, Ellis sat down on the bed where I was lying.

With a creak, the ceiling disappeared from my sight as Ellis filled my vision.

Ellis: It's not your fault that you got hurt or that you need to rest.

Ellis: Leave everything to me.

Kate: ...Everything?

Ellis: Yes.

Ellis: Everything.

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 10 Premium Story

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to leave me a tip here or buy me a coffee through the "Leave a Tip" button on my navigation bar!

[zapreportsblog]

Emmett, Garrett, and Edward(separate) with a mate that when turned has ice abilities(yes like Elsa I can't help it 🤣) as always please and thank you!

❝the cold, never bothered me anyways❞

✭ pairing : garrett x reader , emmett cullen x reader , edward cullen x reader

✭ fandom : twilight

✭ summary : Garrett, Emmett and Edward just learn of their mates gift and let’s just say they are amazed

✭ twilight masterlist

Garrett :

Garrett, the rugged and adventurous vampire nomad, had always been drawn to unconventional beauty and unique experiences. That's why, when he met (Y/N), he couldn't resist her allure. They were two kindred spirits, seeking adventure and excitement in the world, and their connection had grown stronger with each passing day.

One sunny afternoon, Garrett and (Y/N) found themselves lounging in a meadow near the town of Denali. The day was sweltering, the sun blazing overhead, and Garrett couldn't help but voice his thoughts.

"Whew, it's a scorcher today," Garrett remarked, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. "I wish it were cooler, maybe even a snowy day. That would be perfect."

(Y/N) glanced at Garrett, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She had a secret, one she had been waiting for the right moment to reveal. As her hand brushed against a blade of grass, it instantly froze, turning into a delicate icicle.

Garrett watched in astonishment as (Y/N) summoned her icy powers, forming a small flurry of snowflakes that danced around them, cooling the air around them. The sweltering heat gave way to a gentle, refreshing chill.

His eyes widened with wonder as he realized what was happening. "Did you just... make it snow?"

(Y/N) smiled mischievously as she continued to manipulate the ice and snow around them. "I have a little bit of Elsa in me," she admitted, referring to the beloved Disney character with similar powers.

Garrett couldn't contain his excitement. "That's incredible, (Y/N)! You can control the weather?"

With a nod, (Y/N) answered, "It seems that way. I can create snow and ice, even on the hottest of days."

Garrett couldn't resist the urge to playfully scoop up some of the snow (Y/N) had created and toss it in her direction. She giggled as the icy flakes landed on her skin, creating a delightful sensation.

As they enjoyed the unexpected snowfall, Garrett realized that he had found something truly extraordinary in (Y/N). Her unique abilities only added to her allure, and he couldn't wait to explore the world with her, one snowy adventure at a time. This day marked the beginning of a thrilling journey they would embark on together, their love and their lives forever intertwined with the magic of ice and snow.

Emmett Cullen :

Snow blanketed the town of Forks, transforming it into a winter wonderland. It was a day that Emmett Cullen, the jovial and strong member of the Cullen family, had been eagerly anticipating. He and (Y/N), his beloved mate, had planned to spend the day together, reveling in the beauty of the freshly fallen snow.

Emmett's enthusiasm for the day was infectious, and his excitement had been building for weeks. He couldn't wait to see (Y/N)'s reaction to the snowy landscape, as it held a special surprise he had been keeping secret.

As they ventured into the snowy forest, hand in hand, Emmett's grin was as wide as ever. "Isn't this amazing, (Y/N)?" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "I knew you'd love it!"

(Y/N) smiled back at him, her eyes filled with affection. She had always been drawn to Emmett's zest for life and his ability to find joy in the simplest of moments. "It's beautiful, Emmett. I'm so grateful we can share this together."

Emmett led her deeper into the woods until they reached a secluded clearing. The trees were heavy with snow, and the world seemed hushed in a serene stillness.

"Close your eyes, (Y/N)," Emmett instructed with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I've got a surprise for you."

(Y/N) obliged, closing her eyes and feeling the cold, crisp air on her cheeks. She trusted Emmett implicitly and eagerly awaited the surprise he had in store.

Emmett took a step back and then, with a flourish, he clapped his hands together, creating a miniature snowstorm around them. Snowflakes swirled through the air, dancing in intricate patterns, and (Y/N) felt the magic of the moment wash over her.

As she opened her eyes and witnessed the enchanting display of snowfall, her heart skipped a beat. But something extraordinary happened. She felt a strange connection to the snowflakes, an inexplicable power coursing through her veins.

In her excitement and amazement, (Y/N) raised her hand, and to her astonishment, the snowflakes responded. They swirled and danced at her command, forming intricate shapes and designs. It was as if she had control over the very essence of winter itself.

Emmett watched in awe as (Y/N) unwittingly harnessed this incredible power. "Wow," he whispered, his voice filled with reverence.

Realization dawned on (Y/N) as she stared at her hands, her eyes wide with wonder. "I... I have ice abilities.”

Emmett could hardly contain his excitement. "That's amazing, (Y/N)! You're like a real-life snow queen!"

As they continued to explore her newfound powers together, (Y/N) and Emmett's bond grew stronger, their love warming even the coldest of winter days. Little did they know that her abilities would bring an extra layer of enchantment to their lives, and the snowy day in Forks would forever be etched in their memories as the day they discovered her unique gift.

Edward Cullen :

The small town of Forks lay beneath a thick blanket of snow, its streets and houses gleaming white in the winter sunlight. Edward Cullen, the introspective and empathetic member of the Cullen family, had been planning a surprise for (Y/N), his beloved mate. He had been monitoring the weather forecast closely, waiting for the perfect snowy day to reveal his plan.

As (Y/N) and Edward prepared to go out for a romantic drive, Edward couldn't help but smile at his mate's excitement. She had always loved the snow, and he knew that today's surprise would be especially meaningful to her.

As they stepped outside, (Y/N) marveled at the winter wonderland that surrounded them. "It's so beautiful," she sighed, her breath forming a frosty cloud in the cold air.

Edward chuckled softly, his golden eyes filled with adoration. "Just wait, (Y/N). I have something special planned for today."

He led her to his car, which was buried under a thick layer of snow and ice. (Y/N) watched as he handed her a snowbrush and began to clear the snow from the car.

But as (Y/N) reached out to help, something incredible happened. Her touch sent a wave of energy through the snow and ice, causing it to melt and evaporate before their eyes. The snowbrush in her hand was unnecessary; the ice and snow retreated at her mere presence.

Edward stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening in astonishment. "Did you just...?"

(Y/N) looked down at her hands, realizing that something extraordinary had just occurred. "I... I didn't mean to," she stammered. "It just happened."

Edward's smile returned, filled with awe and wonder. "You have ice abilities, (Y/N).”

Realization washed over her, and (Y/N) couldn't help but smile in return. "I suppose I do."

As the last of the ice and snow disappeared, (Y/N) and Edward stood before the now-clear car. The surprise he had planned had become even more magical, thanks to her newfound abilities.

Together, they embarked on their romantic drive, reveling in the beauty of the winter landscape. For (Y/N) and Edward, this snowy day marked the beginning of a new chapter in their love story, one filled with warmth and enchantment, even in the coldest of seasons.

Garrett, Edward and Emmett :

The anticipation hung heavy in the air as the Cullen family, including Garrett, Emmett, and Edward, stood on one side of a vast snowy field. On the opposing side were the Volturi, the ancient vampire royalty, led by Aro, Caius, and Marcus. Tensions had reached a breaking point, and a battle between the two factions seemed inevitable.

(Y/N), their beloved mate with ice abilities, stood at the forefront, her powers at the ready. The snowy field was the perfect canvas for her unique gift, and she was determined to protect her family and her mates at any cost.

The confrontation escalated, and as the Volturi advanced with menacing intent, (Y/N) raised her hands, her fingers poised like a conductor about to lead an orchestra. In an instant, the snow beneath her feet began to transform.

Spikes of ice erupted from the ground, forming a formidable barrier between the Cullens and the Volturi. Each spike glistened with deadly beauty, ready to defend against any threat.

Garrett, Emmett, and Edward watched in awe as their mate's power unfolded before their eyes. They had known of her abilities, but seeing her wield them with such precision and strength left them speechless.

Emmett grinned, his admiration shining through his usually jovial demeanor. "That's our mate," he exclaimed, pride and affection in his voice.

Edward, usually composed and analytical, was equally astounded. "She's incredible," he murmured, his eyes never leaving (Y/N).

Garrett, the adventurous nomad, couldn't help but be captivated by the sight. "I knew you were extraordinary, (Y/N), but this is beyond anything I could have imagined."

(Y/N) stood her ground, her icy spikes forming an impenetrable barrier. She was ready to defend her family and mates against any threat from the Volturi. Her love for them was unwavering, and she was prepared to use her unique abilities to protect the ones she cherished most.

As the standoff continued, the Volturi hesitated, their confidence wavering in the face of (Y/N)'s formidable display of power. The snowy battlefield had become a testament to the strength of their bond, a bond forged not only by love but by the extraordinary abilities that united them.

In that moment, (Y/N) knew that she had found not just love but a family that accepted her for who she was, powers and all. And her mates, Garrett, Emmett, and Edward, realized that they had found a mate whose strength and determination were matched only by her unwavering love for them. Together, they stood ready to face whatever challenges the future held, bound by a love that could weather even the fiercest of storms.

[saintsenara]

thots on draco/remus? if Lupin wants to establish his position as the fandom's black cousins bicycle he has to catch em all. Some dremus(?)(?) remco(?) propaganda:

- Lupin's talents in teaching comes from his well-practiced expertise at wrangling loud rambunctious brats and Draco is of course the sole distinguished perpetual overgrown sensitive brat of the series

- Some fun power plays between Lupin being somebody Draco is taught is inferior to him by nature of something he can't control (a Malfoy to A Werewolf) and yet undeniably holding the greater intellect experience authority etc. over Draco as well as most likely being dominant in the relationship regardless of who ends up topping... the tension with Lupin as Dumbledore's pawn fucking Draco who is Lucius' when Lucius and Dumbledore are already at odds as is... The glee with which Voldemort would pick on any relationship between Draco and Remus just to humiliate Lucius Harry is going to feel the sheer magnitude of his internal cackling through their soul bond

- Beyond surface level their characters share some traits that might be interesting to see playing off of each other -- they put too much unquestioned faith in their superiors (Lucius and Dumbledore), they both have a sort of loneliness that comes from an inability to identify with their peers or the groups they're a part of + an inability to live as the people they judged themselves to be, both Remus and Draco have a sense of fairness but also a defensive selfishness that leads to them never being able to do what they think the good thing would be to do until it's often too little too late and they have a tendency to just dip and run away from looming problems they can't solve. Remus taking order missions and disappearing on the marauders around the time he has to grapple with his suspicions for Sirius and Draco evading all his yearmates and head of house during his Voldemort mission struggle era just feel really similar lmao

On a final note i just think that remus/draco has this really neat feature as a ship where whereas Draco may have peer pressure and deeply ingrained prejudice towards werewolves to contend with in a relationship with Lupin, Lupin just as well has such a repressive hold on morality and desire that in a fic where both of their forms of being,, judgmental are explored, lupin is capable of being just as ashamed of personally involving himself with a Death Eater or school bully or student the way Draco could be made to feel ashamed of dating a werewolf. I do enjoy that if their specific neuroses just happened to rub off each other the right way Lupin would be just as capable of dropping Draco like a hot potato and leaving him in the dust the same way Draco surely would be for him.

Whew i didnt mean for this ask to be so long or practically become a ship manifesto, but thanks in advance for reading through this whole thing if you did and for your thoughts. Cheers!! xx

and also remus lupin/lucius malfoy is canon, and fucking a man who ghosted your dad is iconic.

[crosbyism]

Postmortem: Next Generation’s Best

whew, what an ordeal that was to write. I started out writing it several months ago, drafted what ended up constituting about 20% of the final post, and then let it sit for a while. Within the last two weeks, I was finally inspired (and had the time) to take it out of the attic and strip it down and retool it in order to write the final post. I think I spent at least 40-60 hours on it in total, which is quite a lot for just under six thousand words.

I think my main worry is that it’s too dense. I really chewed on a lot of these thoughts and topics during the writing process, and I know it’s just jam-packed with a lot of very intense material in a very tight space. I didn’t necessarily have the patience to draw it out more (and lengthen the wordcount by doing so, rip) and I think it works really well as it is, I just worry about a lot of nuance or some of the points I made getting lost in such density.

I rarely get so massively nervous about posting my work, but I think part of it might be that this one is definitely firmly in the category of non-fiction. I took the liberty to tell some of those stories in what I found to be an interesting way, but none of them are fictional— or even fictionalised. The amount of articles I hunted down about Eric Lindros’ near-death experience and Wayne Gretzky’s rookie season in order to get all the details right…

by the way, I still can’t stop thinking about Eric Lindros. What an absolute horror show that man had to live through. It’s also deeply interesting to me that twenty years later, Jack Eichel still had to fight with team management about medical issues. I guess these issues aren’t solved yet in any sort of way, but it’s crazy to look back at Lindros and then look at all the contemporary fights about the right to medical autonomy that’re still going on twenty years later.

Around the time I hit the 5k mark, I finally got over the denial of how long the post was and accepted that I’d probably have to put it over on ao3. The tumblr posts work better than I thought they would, but I do think the best way to read it is probably doing the “Entire Work” view over on ao3.

I don’t know why, but I definitely resisted the idea of putting it on the archive at first? for some reason I feel like meta posts are more for tumblr, although that’s probably a little silly. it’s an archive, after all, and there’s plenty of meta posts on there.

I do think that once I get around into turning it into a little podcast, that’ll be the best format for it. god knows how long that’ll be though, the longest thing I’ve recorded so far was under 3k and that was over twenty minutes of audio. I guess the whole thing will probably end up being close to an hour. I’ll see.

Right after I finished posting and adding links to everything I had this moment where I was like “I should’ve called it “LEGACY” and had each of the six parts be referred to by one letter in the word”. Then I proceeded to kick myself because it was too late for it. Missed opportunity. Ah well. You win some (finish the monster piece of non-fiction you’ve been sitting on for a while) you lose some (let the perfect title and naming convention for the parts slip through your fingers).

I’m definitely dying to get some feedback on this thing that I’ve poured so much time and energy into. I had this despairing moment right after hitting post that was like “Why did I write this, this is absolute garbage, no one will get this or care about it” but then I bullied myself into going to bed since it was two in the morning. Like with all creative endeavours, I guess I’ll have to be patient.

[iwtvdramacd18]

Well y'all know I have to do it. Louis T4T fic reclist

for @iwtvfanevents A meal 2 remember event! I'm picking one to highlight per person here but everything is HIGHLY recommended and many folks here have multiple T4T and trans hits as well as collabs!. (And I'm not telling you who, you better give them a click through)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am amazed by peace–@dictee

This was a holiday surprise so desperately needed. There's an intimacy to every description here, I think of some deep conveying of wanting... wanted to be wanted and wanting to want in turn, and the joy of knowing you can be! And you can have that. One of those fics that feels like a film in your head. Whenever this updates my day stops so I can enjoy it.

try to swallow the wave– @diasdelfuego

Mindblowing use of prose, bringing disconnect and identity to the forefront. Mixing heartbreaking emotion and unexpected elation. I can't believe you first published this anonymously because I was lamenting the fact I couldn't give the author flowers... AND NOW I CAN. Brought a tear to my eye when I first read it. I get chills just thinking about reading it again.

Snow in the Champagne– @nakiaslilhoodoo

There is something masterful about taking these bigger than life characters and bringing them to a very relatable, intimately mundane level, the ability to take these "smaller" moments and give them weight and heat and humor. Grounding in small objects, rituals of love, that's the type of stuff I love.

cleave/tie– @kittyldpdl

What an emotional ride. Can you just call a fic "fleshy" and leave it like that? Carnality and horror, this is something I want to talk about at length but can't for hear of spoiling the experience. I live for the levels of trans parenthood on display as well. Scars in fiction that make you slam your phone down and shout NO WAYYYYY.

Allude me, Pursue me, Consume me.– @salmoncakepls

Angela Carter is nodding along to this.... LOVE the fairy tale trappings and the bleeding of human into animal and past the two thresholds. Incredible imagery that sticks to the mind, once again trans parenthood let's make it crazy let's make it insane. Ending chapter had me holding my breath.

perpetuum mobile– @knifeeater

I wanna pretend like I have something indepth to say about this. I really do. Because the depth is there. Thinking about vampirism in the far flung future, vampire bodies like orbiting planets and satellites. But also. This is just really fucking hot WE FUCKING? IN THE FAR OFF FUTURE????

breath, held– @enterprisery

Love the exploration of brief returns to humanity in an erotic sense, vampiric play with the vulnerability of mortality? The focus on sensation (and brief letting go of it), the communication and heat behind it, love to see Loumand getting down in this way.

Once Upon a Wine-Dark Sea– @weather-mood

Recommending the entire series because like many worthwhile many-chaptered many forked stories there's a lot of context to be taken in (and by all means you should take it in, the whole is recommended), Charybdis is chiefly what puts this in this list specifically, and ofc I must point to Tidelines, ongoing; another fairy tale/ mythic epic.

And here are some rapid-fire fic recs featuring trans Louis:

rhododendron– @blueiight (MY BELOVED...)

in a lonely place–@devotiondroid (FINE you're the final nail selling me on danlou noir....)

Charred–@blacclotusss (ANOTHER HOLIDAY BANGER)

Pleas on Deaf Ears–@ bloodiedroses (WHEW)