#which is another reason why he hates them so much

[peachesofteal]

Tip of my Tongue - Azriel/single mom reader

He puts you out of his mind. 

Or tries to, at least. His thoughts stray, at night, in quiet moments, and he catches himself thinking about you, wondering if he should have done more, pushed harder, tried to get you to talk to him even though he understands your reluctance. It didn’t surprise him how you avoided his eyes, turned away. 

Illyrians both hate and fear him, and Azriel despises them in return.

Cauldron only knows how you may have suffered in their hands. 

It’s not his business. 

Illyrians are not unwelcome in Velaris, it is your right to live in the city if you so choose. 

Let it go.  

His effort is in vain, crumbling only two days later when he comes across you on the street, half open bag spilled out across the sidewalk. 

Leave her be, it’s not your business, not your-

You’re crouched, baby in one arm while trying to gather up your things with another, and without thinking, he swoops down at your side, picking them up quicker than you can protest. “Are you alright?” 

This time, there’s no opportunity for you to cut him off, or run. He’s holding a stuffed rabbit in his hand. 

“Yes, I’m…” you reach for the toy, rising to stand at the same time, and blood rushes in his ears. “We’re okay, thank you.” You watch him carefully, but for some reason, less guarded than that day in the market, a little more brave, open. 

“I’m Azriel.” You probably already know that, he’s sure. 

You bite your bottom lip and practically whisper your own in return before bouncing the baby on your hip. “This is Luna. Or Lulu.” You cup her cheek, and her head tips back, wonder in her eyes as she stares at you. 

It does something to him, breaks a dam of emotion inside his heart, warmth flooding through his body from fingers to toes, and his voice is rough when he speaks.

“She’s beautiful.”

“Thanks, she’s a handful.” You hoist her higher, wincing. “And heavy. Aren’t you, Lu?” You smile, but it barely touches your eyes, their corners tight with stress. 

He wants to know why, wants to know you- 

wants to fix it. 

“Thanks for,” you gesture to the bag with your free hand, “helping. And for yesterday, too. You didn’t have to.”

“He was ripping you off.” He’s stern, almost reproachful, and you avert your eyes, guilt pinging through his bones as a result. He shouldn’t expect you to be able to hold your own in a city who undoubtedly turns their nose up at you. You’re vulnerable here, to no fault of your own. He shouldn’t chastise you for it, so he switches tactics. “Do you live in the city?” You nod. 

“We’ve been here for a few weeks.” You shift uneasily. There’s so much left unsaid, and he wants to peel away the layers hiding it all, dig to the bottom and learn every bit of it. 

Of you. 

“Which village?” Your gaze turns bleak and then clears, clouds revealing the sun. 

“Stoneguard.” His control is the only thing that smothers his surprise. Stoneguard. 

No wonder you were so tense in the Palace. No wonder you practically ran away. 

It’s an insular northern village with its own camp, positioned deep in the mountains, sheltered by rock and forest. One of the most brutal, and backwards, one of few still left unchanged. The miniscule progress happening in Windhaven and Ironcrest is still progress, but it doesn’t reach the more isolated villages or their camps. Rhys’ and their efforts to corral them, change them, have been in vain for centuries. They subscribe to the traditional practices, brutality and clipping, abuse running rampant without care. 

You grimace, like you can read his mind, and another thought occurs, striking his soul with dread. 

How did you get here? You have no wings. Did you walk, all this way, with Luna? Alone? 

“I have to get going,” you break through his spiral with an apologetic glance, “she’ll need to go down for a nap here soon.” As if she insists on making your point, Luna’s lashes flutter, eyes struggling to stay open. 

“Right, of course.” He should let you go, should be satisfied by your answers, but the brief interaction only leaves him wanting more. Leave her be, leave her be, leave her- “Have you seen much of Velaris?” You blink, and shake your head. “I could… show you around, if you’d like.” Luna hiccups, a high pitch frequency akin to a squeak, and a smile tugs at his mouth, trying to pull it upward into something genuine. It’s a hard fought battle for a male who rarely does such a thing. You stare at him, considering, examining, like you’re trying to peer inside his soul and determine if he’s to be trusted, and then you sigh. 

“Okay.”

[mscherub]

Just Friends…

Ace Trappola x Reader (Valentine’s Day Special)

Reader is gender neutral; referred to as Prefect, Y/N

Warnings: Angst, BUT HELLA COMFORT AND MUCH LOVE YES YES, HAPPY ENDING, sorry y’all, oh and spelling mistakes, as usual <3

Due to Ace getting his UM and because of his dream, I just felt like I had to write a little something for Valentine’s Day so my mind can rest and stop thinking abt it, like it’s consuming me so much

You had eyes on you all the time at NRC, gaining the love and trust of many a man, multiple suitors that were rich and could provide, men who were prominent figure heads and widely known across the world with the title of “world class famous,” or, “Next in line for throne,” “Prince,” men who mattered more than just another somebody like him. What can he offer? Friendship, sure, but it doesn’t go beyond that, does it? Ace wishes it did, wishes it will, but wishing can only give you false hope, and that false hope can only get you so far in a lifetime and feed your delusions until it can’t anymore, leaving you to accept the nasty truth.

Granted he shouldn’t feel this way, you and him are friends, nothing more, nothing less, and friends aren’t supposed to feel that way towards one another, it’s wrong, because you’re just friends. Yet, whenever he sees another trying to flirt with you, trying to take you, he can’t help but feel that bad taste of jealousy which he’s grown to know so well when being around you. He hates it, hates you, hates the others who want you, because he loves you.

So, all he can do is sit by your side and watch— watch as others try and sway you into their favor with these stupid little chocolates on this stupid little day. Why did everyone have to like you? He gets it, no, he does, you’re favored and sickeningly sweet, but he still hates it, but he wants you to be happy more importantly, so he’ll sit by, cheer you on, try and act like his usual self, and maybe forget he’s even felt any of this for you, push it all away and hide it, for yours and his sake.

Because again, you’re just friends, and he needs to accept soon that you two could never be more…after all, you’d end up leaving one day and never think of him again, huh?

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

“Prefect! You have a lot of cards and boxes of chocolate it seems…” Deuce chuckles as he watches you walk in, scanning your desk to view all of the items about them.

Your seat has a reasonable amount of letters and chocolates piled up, all addressed to you of all people. Grim will have a field day.

Ace is in the seat next to yours like usual, but he rests his chin on the palm of his hand, a sour expression gracing his face.

“Mad you didn’t get any chocolates?” You smirk as you walk over to him, picking up one off he boxes from the place you sit and inspecting it with a critical eye, noticing it was a brand sold in town. You weren’t expecting chocolates, especially not this many.

“No…not yet, at least.” He huffs, side eyeing you in the process. “Didn’t know that many people liked you.” He sighs, his tone of voice more somber and sullen sounding, a contrast to how he usually is. It wasn’t what he was aiming for.

“Not yet?“ you hum. You take your seat and you open one of the letters. “I didn’t think this many liked me either. I thought I was hard to get along with…”

“Far from it…” he murmurs, you hardly catching what he said.

“What was that?”

“F-far from being hard to get along with because you are impossible to get along with.” He argues back quickly, the stutter not going unnoticed by you.

“Aw, thanks. But, I thought Valentine’s Day was where you were supposed to be nice to people, dickhead.” You make a small click with your tongue and you read over the letter.

It’s short and sweet, just a small thank you from a random student, them thanking you for being such a big help around NRC and helping their housewarden. At least someone thanked you finally…

Grim hums happily as he opens up a box and begins to eat the chocolate residing inside. There’s no use in reprimanding him because he’ll continue to do it, anyways.

“Be careful, Grimmy, eat too many and you could get sick.” You gently remind him as you open another letter, the contents basically saying the same thing as the last, short and sweet.

Ace continues to watch, his shoulders tensing even more and his brows furrowing in disdain, but when you glance over at him, he changes his look to a curious one, smirking and then poking fun at you for all the admirers you’ve gained, a ploy to hide his true pining after you.

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

The day continued to go on, Ace becoming more and more out of his element with each passing moment. He could usually push it off, play it off just fine all the time, he had to, but today was the true test to see just how long he could keep pretending.

Riddle gave you a bouquet of roses, not romantically, he said, but Ace could tell Riddle meant it that way, a glimmer of adoration in his eyes as he watched you take them.

Leona just gave you money randomly, telling you to buy yourself something nice with it, a gift from him to you. Azul gave you a free meal pass to use at the lounge, and of course you already have the unlimited access to join him in the VIP lounge whenever you need a break.

Kalim gave you many luxury chocolates and jewelry, which Jamil said he strongly had him double down on everything he considered buying. Vil had your uniform altered and gave you skin care items, a gentle smile on his stupid face as he watched you take them from his hands, Ace noticing his gaze lingering longer than usual.

Idia gave you a gaming console for Ramshackle so you could have entertainment if you’d ever find the time to wind down. And Malleus, he gave you even more than Kalim, gold and jewels that fit your complexion, he didn’t really understand the holiday and got advice from Lilia, but Ace knew Malleus understood the implications behind it at least.

They’re just a bunch of show offs is all, he doesn’t even like you…yea, no he doesn’t. Just friends. They could give you so much better than he ever could, and that’s clear based on how he didn’t even get you anything for this special day.

But…here you are, lugging it all back, talking to him, and only him as he helps you, him being the person you asked to help you in the first place. Deuce and Grim were back at Heartslabyul, so it really was just you and him right now, and it didn’t help with his overthinking. It refueled his selfish desires that maybe, just maybe—

“Ace…open the door, please.” You pant as you make small grunts from the weight of the items in your arms, dragging the bags off stuff up the stairs.

“Of course, anything for you, huh…man, you’re just so spoiled anymore.” He shakes his head and opens the door.

“Thanks…and it’s not like I wanted all of this…it just came my way. Anyways, thanks for helping. You didn’t have to.” You sigh as you set the stuff down in the entry way.

“You asked me to, why should I deny that?” He mutters as he sets the other bags down next to yours.

“Dunno…you seemed out of it today…you miss your ex or something?” You smirk and you elbow him. Usually he took well to jokes…

“As if, I ghosted her for a reason, and why are you bringing that up? That was middle school, dumbass…” he sighs.

“I was just trying to be funny, sorry…” you back away and you flex your hands to stretch them out from gripping the bags so tight.

“Yea, yea…whatever. Is that it? I gotta study so—“

“Actually…can you stay a bit longer? I actually needed some help with baking…”

“Why not just ask Trey…he’s better at it—“

“Ace…that’s not the point here. Come help me.” You smile your usual gentle and sweet smile that could cause anyone to fold, or maybe it was just him thinking that. It was sad for him to be acting like this, at least to him.

He reluctantly follows you into the kitchen and you pull out the materials to bake a cherry pie.

“It’s your favorite, right?” You hum thoughtfully as you go to wash off the cherries.

“I’m surprised you remembered.” He murmurs.

“Of course I would. What type of person would I be if I forgot one of my closest friend’s favorite food? I’d be an asshole, that’s what.” You chuckle.

Right, just friends. Any hope he had was dwindling away ever so slowly…

“Can you make the pie crust? I’ll work on the filling, or vice versa, pick your poison.” You chuckle.

“I’ll do the pie crust.” And he does with little complaint. You two work together to make a…well, sort of presentable pie.

It’s quite while you two work away at each needed ingredient, putting it into the oven sooner than later. Hey, at least it tastes good! The appearance of it didn’t really matter.

“I think we outdid ourselves.” You chortle as you cover your mouth while chewing.

“Eh, it’s ugly.” He shrugs.

“Don’t say that. It tastes pretty good, so, I’m not complaining here.” You shake your head.

“You’re so weird.” He sticks his tongue out at you.

“Heyyyy, be nice— oh, actually, wait here a moment, I have to get something real quick.” You scoot back in your chair and you get up, leaving the kitchen and heading upstairs to your room to grab something.

A few minutes pass by and Ace waits alone impatiently at the table. He drags his fork around the plate, moving the extra bits of crust from the pie and toying with his food as he waists for you to return.

“Ace! Can you actually come here for a second! I need help!” You yell from upstairs. He quirks an eyebrow and he stands up himself, following the sound of your voice.

He enters your room and sees nothing, tilting his head out of confusing, but you tap him on the shoulder from behind, earning a small flinch from him. You keep your other hand holding something behind your back.

“Hey…”

“What’re you doing…” he suspiciously narrows his eyes at you and he turns to face you.

“Shhh, just give me a moment will you? I’m actually nervous now…” you clear your throat. “Look. I don’t wanna sound like a huge sap or anything, and I also wish I had more to show for my appreciation I feel towards you, but alas, I’m broke, so, there’s that factor, too.” You pull out a small box from behind you.

“For you. From me to you. Happy Valentine’s Day, Ace…”

He stares at the box in shock, disbelief, just utterly and completely confused.

“I…why?” Is all he can manage to murmur out.

“I thought it was obvious, but it’s cause I like you, you big dummy, big big dummy.” You sigh, urging him to take the box with a small shimmy of your hand.

“They’re homemade, Trey helped me so—“

“Why…”

“Huh…why what?” You tilt your head incredulously.

“Why like me…” he sighs out, sounding pathetically weak.

“Why should I like you? Does that really matter…” you murmur back.

“No offense, Prefect, you got all those other gifts from the other guys and…I don’t…I’m not following here, I thought you liked one of them. You know, Malleus is a pretty cool guy, rich—”

“But I don’t.” You take his hand and you put the box of chocolates in them. “I like you…”

“Why…” he sighs again, his hand trembling under yours. This moment didn’t feel real to him, far from it. He couldn’t come to terms that you liked him.

“If you want me to sound like Rook, I can…I like you because you’ve been here for me since day one of being plopped into this unfamiliar and unforgiving world, you’ve stuck by my side and never questioned really why I was here or my origins, instead defending me from others and always looking out for me. All you did was that and I…fear I fell harder than I thought…I mean, I get it if you don’t like me back—“

Without a second thought he moves to hug you, clinging to your form desperately as he uses you as a way to ground himself to the moment, to really gauge if it’s real. You hug him back and you let him lean against you.

“You ok?”

“I like you, too, no…I’d go as far as saying I love you. Can I say that yet?” He murmurs out with a shaky voice.

“Of course you can…I love you, too.”

“I love you, more…” he sighs, pulling away to look you in the eyes. “You’re so stupid.”

“No way…not me.” You smile. He smiles right back with a lovesick look and he inches his face closer to yours, practically crashing his lips against yours.

You smile against his lips and as you pull away, you both chuckle and hug each other tight again.

“Mmm, better not ghost me like you did your Ex…” you tighten your grip around him.

“Seriously? Don’t bring her up, she’s the past…plus, I couldn’t do that easily to you, anyways…so…we’re not just friends anymore, right?” He sighs out.

“Far from it now, Acey…we’re more.”

You two stay like that for a moment, staying glued to each other as you both finally come to the realization that this moment is, in fact, real, and that you two won’t have to hide your feelings anymore.

Done, done, and done. Sorry this one was shorter, but I did like writing it, not my favorite tho…rereading it I’m like “ehhhhh wtf was I on,” Also don’t rlly ask what I was going for towards the end cause idek myself, dont ask questions to what I have no answers to <3

Requests are open for Valentine’s Day!

Master List

Please don’t steal or copy any of my work! You may, however, reblog if you’d want to!

Pictures belong to Disney Twisted Wonderland but are edited by me :)

[elliewrites77]

Uncle!Sukuna Part 3

Uncle!Sukuna who doesn't talk to you for another 2 weeks after leaving your house that morning. He isn't avoiding you, of course. He sees you, when you take Choso to school or when you leave to go to the store. He just doesn't have any reason to start a conversation with you. Some days, part of him wanted to talk to you even without a reason.

That's why when Yuji starts complaining about wanting to go see his new friends across the street, he only hesitates for a moment to give the 'brat' what he wants. You make him feel stuff he isn't used to feeling, and he isn't particularly thrilled about that. But he can deny all he wants, he wants to talk to you again. So for that reason, as well as him not wanting to seem like a coward for getting 'nervous' around a pretty woman, he take Yuji over to your house once more, this time in the day time.

Uncle!Sukuna who knocks on your door, politely, just as you're starting dinner. Because of that, Choso opens it. The blank expression on the kids face lights up when he sees Yuji, and Yuji lights up too. Sukuna doesn't even get a word in before Choso is pulling Yuji into the house, the younger boy happily following along.

Uncle!Sukuna who shakes his head, hiding his amusement with feigned annoyance. He lets himself in, shutting your front door as you peak around the corner to see who had arrived.

Uncle!Sukuna who ignores the feeling he gets in his chest when you smile at him, greeting him with a polite hello. He returns it with a nod before explaining that Yuji wanted to play with your son.

Uncle!Sukuna who is surprised, but internally pleased, when you invite him and Yuji to stay for dinner. He immediately says sure, not doing that whole 'i don't wanna intrude' bs. Food was food, but free food was better. Especially since he wasn't the best cook, meaning Yuji and him often ate take-out or very basic meals that got pretty boring after a little.

Uncle!Sukuna who follows you to your kitchen, making himself at home while you get back to it. He finds himself enjoying the moment, the small talk (which he usually hates), the questions about himself.

Uncle!Sukuna who doesn't complain when you ask him to fetch the boys once you're done cooking. He was a decent enough person to figure he could at least do that, considering he just sat there the whole time while you made the meal.

He finds them in Choso's room, barely knocking on the kids open door before he mumbles out 'dinner's ready.', walking away almost directly after. Even then, he still heard the sound of excitement from the boys as they realized they would get to share dinner together and play more. He's, thankfully, able to hide the amused smirk that takes over his lips before he joins you back in the kitchen.

Uncle!Sukuna who actually try's to make conversation throughout the dinner. He doesn't talk much, sure, but he does find himself enjoying getting to know you. He learns that you're the Vice principle of the nearby Elementary school, the same one Yuji will be starting soon. He learns that you've lived here since you had Choso (no mentions of his father or anything), that you volunteer twice a month at a local homeless shelter, and that you don't drink alcohol. He even asks Choso a few questions about himself, albeit awkwardly.

Uncle!Sukuna who helps you clean up after all the plates are cleared and the boys run off again, even when you insist he didn't need to. He doesn't even reply to your words, just silently collecting the dishes and taking them to your sink, starting to wash them.

It flusters you how natural he looks in your kitchen, doing something as basic and domestic as dishes.

Uncle!Sukuna who has to carry a knocked-out Yuji home after him and Choso had fallen asleep on your couch. He helps carry Choso to bed first, though, gaining a smile from you that makes his heart pump a little faster.

He might need to see a doctor about that.

Uncle!Sukuna who, the night before Yuji's first day at school, has a long night at work. he ends up sleeping through his alarm and being late to drop Yuji off. When he goes stomping into Yuji's room, only to find the boy already awake and ready, he figures the brat didn't wake him on purpose.

Uncle!Sukuna who rushes to get dressed and out the door, uncharacteristically panicked to get Yuji to school before he misses too much on his first day. On the ride over, he can't help but muse over how different Yuji has made him in such a short time. The old Sukuna wouldn't have given two shits about Yuji being late, hell he probably would have just let the kid skip all together. But now, this new version of himself, cared about Yuji's education, cared that he got along with other kids and made some friends, cared that he enjoyed it. Old Sukuna would have laughed in New Sukunas face at how he was acting.

Uncle!Sukuna who practically drags Yuji into the school building, having to check him in at the front office since he was tardy. He sees how the young woman at the front desk blushes when he arrives, fluttering her eyes at him in, what he assumes is, an attempt to be flirty.

Uncle!Sukuna who's attention immediately fixates on you when you walk into the office. In his panic to get Yuji here, he had forgotten you were the vice principle.

it had been about a week since the dinner, which was the last time he saw you. He didn't realize how much he had missed your pretty smile until he saw it again when you noticed him.

Uncle!Sukuna who huffs when Yuji breaks from his grip to run to you, hugging your legs tightly and giving you a large grin.

Uncle!Sukuna who wouldn't ever admit the feeling he gets when he sees you hug and greet Yuji back, with just as much excitement on your pretty face.

Uncle!Sukuna who doesn't get a chance to talk to you there in the morning, but does when it comes time for pick up. He gets there a little early (though would never admit why), and chats a bit while waiting for the release bell to ring. During the conversation, he subtly brings up carpooling together, saying that it might save gas, and ensure he actually woke up in time to get Yuji to school and stuff. He says it as if it was a sudden idea, and more for convenience then anything.

Uncle!Sukuna who will never tell you that he had actually been thinking about it all day, and only wanted to carpool with you in order to spend more time together.

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

not proofread. let me know what you think :)

[kazbrekkerfast]

what instrument I think F1 drivers would play + reasons (from a cellist who is objectively correct)

(if you disagree that's fine please share your opinions I really want to know them)

Get ready cuz this is a LONG post. I also mostly stuck to the 2024 grid cuz I couldn't be bothered with much more

also please note that I wrote this whilst exhausted and avoiding practicing so if it has any spelling/grammar mistakes, you didn't see anything

1. Max Verstappen: percussion

ok so max is to me a percussionist through and through but also seems like the type of percussionist who learnt how to play the violin as a kid and hated it, so became a drummer instead. definitely plays the marimba like his life depends on it. also becuase I have a thing for them so ye 🥰 (I do however love a good fanfic where he's like a super competitive violin/piano player even if I can't really see him play them)

2. Charles Leclerc: piano

so he obviously already plays piano which suits him sm so I'm going to keep that because he has the correct vibes and everything for piano, but more on the late classical onwards stuff than the earlier music (I NEED to hear him play Debussy like omfg please)

3. Carlos Sainz: conductor

ok here me out but I can't see him playing in an orchestra BUT he would definitely conduct, and could probably play a string instrument/piano quite well but like it wouldn't be his passion if you get what I mean (I also feel like he'd be quite strict as a conductor but get super good performances out of the orchestra)

4. Daniel Riccardo: trombone (+bass trombone)

ok he's the reason I'm making this list because OMFG THIS MAN IS A BRASS PLAYER like defo lower brass too but I can't really see tuba player from him so trombone. he's also the kind of brass player to be stupidly good at percussion too so ye that too. also get this man in a big band. please.

5. Lando Norris: violin

ok so lando is always giving main character energy and like there's not much more main character than a violin, and also I can very much see him being a more romantic/lyrical player (he just has them vibes idk). HOWEVER broski has a MASSIVE hand span so he has to play piano cuz he can deffo reach them 10ths let's be real

6. Oscar Piastri: oboe (+french horn)

ok HEAR ME OUT!!!! tell me you can't see this guy play an oboe. I think he has the right sized face for it idk that sounds strange but I can see it please believe me 😭😭. Also french horn cuz it's my fave instrument except my own and I think he'd serve playing it idk

7. Lewis Hamilton: cello

I'm biased. he has the vibes. (not really but idc). also probably sings (he already does but shh). Definitely not a baroque player and probably plays more Dvorak era stuff (the things I'd do to see him play Brahms E minor) but this is all because I am spectacularly biased and want to see my fave drivers play my instrument. also producer vibes but that's unrelated.

8. George Russell: flute

ok so personally most male flute players I know are complete dickheads BUT I think George is the exception like he just seems quite flutey (also he kinda gives classical era piano player but that may be me being silly) but bro definitely doesn't like syncopated rhythms like let's be real if it's off the beat my guy would be completely lost. he does seem like the type to be able to read ledger lines tho

9. Yuki Tsunoda: percussion

I think he's another percussionist tbh but more cymbals and timps than tuned percussion. I don't have much more to say about Yuki because he's just cymbals in my head lmao

10. Pierre Gasly: euphonium

right. he gives wind because he's french BUT he probably is euf cuz like I can very much picture him playing it and also I can very much see him giggling at the back of a brass band or some shit with Yuki (yukierre nation what's good) so I've put him as a euf cuz why not

11. Esteban Ocon: clarinet

another biased opinion but I can see it like he just is a clarient I think. I think it's probs just the fact he's tall but like the stereotype of people looking like their instruments is real so he (he does give cellist a bit too but that may also just be because he's tall)

12. Fernando Alonso: trumpet

right this was a very tough one BUT he holds all the chaos and menace of a trumpet player (especially when he was younger), and I think it suits him quite well. he does give lower brass a bit but I think he has more trumpet vibes than lower brass so ye

13. Lance Stroll: clarinet

ok rich boi obviously would have been taught the violin and I think he'd be pretty good at it tbh BUT he gives clarient vibes so fucking hard like especially bass clarinet, cuz he's different like that

14. Nico Hulkeberg and Kevin Magnussen: trumpet

right. these two are together for a reason. these two are the two trumpet players in an orchestra who sit there yapping for half the rehearsal, play the 4 bars they have in a piece and then are done for the day. don't say you can't see it. you can.

15. Alex Albon: guitar

this one is quite specific but he gives like classical and jazz guitar vibes in a very specific way. also woodwind. idk he contains multitudes and I think we should celebrate that. maybe flute? I can see that. (I'm losing the plot here wtf even is an instrument)

16. Logan Sargent: viola

PLEASE DONT COME FOR ME I SAY THIS IN A GOOD WAY!!! he really has strings vibes to me but definitely is not violinist at all, therefore I think he'd be a good viola player. I'm sorry we all need one somewhere 😭. HOWEVER as he is American I will say get this man on the cheer squad and like idk have him throw people in the air while the marching band does it's thing I can see him doing that

17. Sergio Perez: french horn

sorry he's so far down I had actually no clue what instrument he has the vibes for at all. BUT I made up my mind, and I think he gives french horn vibes. don't ask me why I don't know it just is there

18. Valterri Bottas: tuba

HE TUBAS MORE THAN ANYONE HAS EVER TUBAD BEFORE also probs plays percussion on the side but in the sense that they didn't have enough one day so he volunteered to play for fun. I almost put him as a double bass but he really doesn't have strings vibes at all so I moved him to tuba

19. Zhou Guanyu: piano

this is going to sound weird af but don't take it that way but holy shit this guy's fingers are LONG like I think he could probs do a 9th or 10th easily (I'm so jealous) and I feel like he has piano vibes. also a bit stringy but also not idk I feel like he'd own a harp but not play it often so ye

20. Franco Colapinto: violin (?)

idk him that well and he has very similar vibes to lando (this may be due to the edits I have CONSUMED over the last few months) so ye I think he could be violin, maybe like leader of the 2nds kinda thing for the fun of it

21. Liam Lawson: guitar and drum kit

ok. this is a copout cuz he already does and posts things of him playing but like he just is guitar like that is what he is in my mind. also he gives the vibe of that one guitarist who decided to learn drums but hasn't got the coordination quite right yet so isn't great at keeping time but thinks he's great anyways (I love him really)

ANYWAYS IM DONE THANKYOU IF YOUVE GOT THIS FAR I WISH YOU ALL THE LOVE AND HAPPINESS IN THE WORLD

[my-rose-tinted-glasses]

Weekend Ramblings

GelBoys Episode 1

Great first episode. I like that they're using public transport and walking outside a lot, it feels more alive and realistic even if I have no real frame of reference. I like that the nails are telling the passage of time and this is going fast. The first episode spanned 3 months at least judging from that, probably more.The visuals are really good and I really like the editing, and the way it's shot almost makes me feel like I'm watching a documentary. Seems like this will be messy and angsty teenagers kinda bl and I'm ready.

Perfect 10 Liners Episode 16

I'm still comfortable in my hypocrisy and will use this gif whenever it suits me. Cause Faifa is me, in any other show but this one.

There's something about a brooder begrudgingly falling for the ray of sunshine he swore he’d never need, that I just adore. Add to that the fact that the brooder is played by Perth and I'm in uni bl heaven. I loved this arc so damn much. These two make such an adorable couple and Perth and Santa are great together. I'm surprised with their chemistry but also not, cause I think both of them can probably have chemistry with anyone. If they stay a pair for now I'm on board. Although I do enjoy seeing Perth kissing different boys. We had another parental forgiveness moment which I hate but at least she's moving away and I won't have to see her again. I love Faifa and as much as I hate saying goodbye to YothaGun, it's gonna be fun to watch him and Wine. I do hope just like ArcArm, I still get some crumbs from those two.

Boy Next World Episode 6

Say what you will about Mame but she can deliver a sex scene like no one else. I like that Phu has agency here and that there's real communication happening around and during the nc scenes. Boss and Noeul also deliver as usual but I find the dynamic a little too similar to LITA, and I don't love that. I think it happens more when it comes to Noeul, although I concede that I'm often too distracted by Boss's face to notice much of anything at all, but there are moments that I'm seeing Rain instead of Phu. Fake dating seems to be the go-to these days to keep psychos away and I'm not mad about it. That mother though. His stalking tendencies notwithstanding, it’s a wonder Cir is a functioning human at all. I really like the sides and I adore Jin.

Sangmin Dinneaw Episode 7

This show continues to be the weirdest. And I don't know what I did to deserve this but I think I got a double prize today. Amnesia plot my beloathed and some noble idiocy to follow. At least when it comes to the amnesia we were warned. Although I'm not sure when he actually remembered, so he might not have had amnesia at all. Honestly, who knows with this show? Half the time, I have no idea what's happening, and the other half, I wish I didn't. That scene with the sides gave us the usual whiplash, and the scene with the mother was just insane. It's psycho mom's day, apparently. At least with this one, we got to see some mom-on-mom fighting. It's all bonkers but at least there's only one more episode to go. Sangmin better have a damn good reason for leaving, although I doubt it. At least let me have some fluff from these two, cause they are cute. Also why is the hotel dude still breathing?

[shoups32]

Dude I hate the whole trope of red hood/Jason going back to batman after learning how sad batman is without him

Like it makes no fucking sense for his character

I have the belief that Jason knew batman was hurt when he died and he knew batman cared for him but it is the fact that he doesn't care *enough*. He didn't care enough to stop the one person who killed Jason and really hurt so many of the other robins all because he didn't want the joker to "win" even though letting him live and antagonize the robins and affect your life forever is letting him win.

I understand his whole no killing rule but there is a point where he needs to break it or at least let someone else kill Joker. The joker has actually ruined almost every single one of the robins lives in one way or another.

Also back on the Jason would forgive batman thing, it makes even less sense because in most media Jason hates the fact that Jason made more robins after him. Almost every robin was seen as a replacement of him. Tim was basically a copy paste of Jason and in some comics that is why Batman liked him so much. With Steph she was basically a sit in to make Tim upset until she was no longer needed and basically fired for the smallest fucking reason. With Damian Batman just pisses me off entirely (this part is based off the comics and not the movie because the animated movies because those were just super stereotypical and most stuff from those have been retconned for what I know). Damian is seen as a younger version of batman, which makes sense, the kid is his son but holy fuck does batman annoy me in this. I know Damian being a robin was more of a dick's thing than batman's thing but batman is still his dad. Batman was more than capable of stopping him from being a robin and trying to get him actual help. Actually Batman was capable of doing that with all the robins.

I know the robins chose to be robins but he was more than capable of just saying no and getting them (AND HIMSELF) proper therapy. Using the excuse of "Oh batman is also neurodivergent and has a lot of issues!" is so fucking stupid. I get he has his issues but you would think he would learn from his mistakes and even possibly get therapy after the second robin. He even could have still had them do robin work and get better but he didn't. He used them as child soldiers then got rid of them when they were no longer needed.

All this being said, as much as I hate batman he is very well written (well has the potential to be) but I wish people stopped seeing him letting the robins fight as an act of good and acting like batman can't be blamed for what happened to the robins.

[theladyofshalott1989]

"It's Me, Hi, I'm the Problem, It's Me" // An Ominis Gaunt/Phineas Black II & Sebastian Sallow/Damien Evans One-Shot

For @mscostac <3

If you haven't read her wonderful fic "Take Me to the Lakes (I Hate It Here)", WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GO. I'll wait.

Summary: Sebastian somehow managed to land a double date with another universe’s Ominis and his partner, Phineas. How? Damien, of course. Phineas and Ominis simply adored Damien. But why did they hate Sebastian so much? He’s determined to find out.

Or, Sebastian makes a fool of himself, all in the name of satisfying his curiosity. Anti-hero? More like anti-finesse.

Word Count: 2,790

[ AO3 Link ]

This version of Ominis didn’t like him for some reason, which was truly a shame because Sebastian quite liked his partner, Phineas Black. No, not that Phineas Black. The headmaster’s son, in fact. Yes, that one. 

Not that Phineas liked Sebastian all that much either. They both seemed to adore Damien though. It was the little things. 

Speaking of Damien, where in Merlin’s name was he? Sebastian pulled his pocket watch out of his robe and glanced at the time. Damien should have been here fifteen minutes ago! He sighed. That was, frankly, on Sebastian. He should have told Damien an earlier time to ensure he wouldn’t be late.

Phineas and Ominis were chatting amongst themselves on the sofa in the communal Undercroft, the one that served as a portal between the various universes. Yes, that was a thing that had been established last year. It was all very timey-wimey, and not something that Sebastian really wanted to think about right now. 

Phineas and Ominis though… What sort of scheme were they up to? Sebastian hadn’t the foggiest idea, but it nagged at him. 

Even though they seemed to barely tolerate him, Phineas and Ominis had agreed to go on a double date with Sebastian and Damien today. To be perfectly honest, Sebastian had been somewhat hesitant to agree to the idea, mainly because he found Ominis and Phineas’s relationship a tad bit confusing. It was far less established than Sebastian and Damien’s, likely because in their universe it seemed that the wizarding world wasn’t as accepting of same-sex relationships. At least from what Sebastian could tell. But Sebastian digressed.

They were whispering again, probably about him. You know what? Sebastian was going to address the Erumpent in the room. 

“Hey!” he said, interrupting the two lovebirds’ secret plotting. “Why do you hate me so much?”

Ominis’s mouth formed a straight line. He… glared? No, not exactly. Obviously. But the sentiment conveyed was certainly one of deep loathing. Phineas brought his hand to his mouth, presumably to hide a chuckle. Oh yes, he was definitely laughing. The telltale eye crinkle gave it away. 

“Hate is a very strong word,” Ominis said.

Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s accurate though, right?” 

“Oh yes, it’s quite accurate.” 

“I thought so.” 

Phineas placed a hand on Ominis’s thigh, patted it lightly, then said, “Ominis—”

“Don’t worry, Phineas. I’m not going to tell him why.”

“What? Why not?” Sebastian scoffed, miffed but also taken aback. That seemed rather unfair. It wasn’t like he’d known either of them long enough to invoke such animosity. At least, he assumed. 

“Who knows what divulging that sort of information would do to our various universes,” Ominis stated.

“We’re here, fraternizing with each other,” Sebastian said. “I’m quite certain it would be fine.”

Ominis hummed thoughtfully. “Alright, fine. You caught me out. I don’t really care. I just don’t think you deserve to know."

“Bash doesn’t deserve to know what?” Damien said, ducking under the gate leading into the Undercroft as it creaked open. He never waited for it to open fully before entering. Most likely because he was always rushing to meet up with people on account of his habitual tardiness.

Phineas laughed. “I’ll never get used to you calling him ‘Bash.’”

“Why? It suits him.” 

“Maybe it suits your Sebastian,” Phineas replied, removing his hand from Ominis’s thigh and waving it in the air in a nonchalant manner, “but certainly not ours.”

Damien was only half listening as he had leapt over to Sebastian and drawn him in for a deep kiss, even going so far as to dip him slightly. Sebastian would have protested if he hadn’t been struck dumb by Damien’s enthusiasm. Instead, he surrendered to the kiss, totally and fully. Damien had a tendency to make him more compliant than usual. Not that he’d ever admit that out loud. 

When he’d recovered, and adjusted his trousers accordingly, as they were, erm, rather tight and uncomfortable now, Sebastian said, “Someone’s in a good mood.” “Damien’s always in a good mood,” Phineas piped back in, jumping up from his spot on the sofa. “That’s why we like him so much. Well, one of many reasons.” 

As Damien’s cheeks flushed, Ominis added, “He also doesn’t pester us with asinine questions.” 

Ominis then followed Phineas’s lead, just slower and more deliberately, wiping ash off his robes, since earlier Phineas and Ominis had been smoking. 

Sebastian always found that fascinating to watch. He might have asked to “borrow” a cigarette, to give it a go, if he knew they wouldn’t turn him down outright. He vaguely wondered if Damien would find Sebastian smoking alluring. Come to think of it, probably not. Damien had a fondness for the outdoors: fresh air, the fragrance of blooming flowers, all the simple pleasures nature offered. Not that Sebastian felt the need to always please Damien. No, of course not! He was his own man. 

“Earth to Sebastian,” Ominis said, stepping toward the exit. “Phineas asked you a question.”

“Oh!” Sebastian stammered as Damien chuckled beside him. “I missed it. Mind repeating that?”

Phineas grinned. “I wanted to know if you’re always this besotted. It might convince me to like you more, in fact.”

Sebastian opened his mouth to offer a barbed retort, then closed it, then opened it again. How was one supposed to respond to that? Was it an insult or a compliment? A little bit of both?

Damien answered for him. “Sebastian may not admit it, but he’s very romantic.” 

“Am I?” Damien grabbed his hand and squeezed. “You said you loved me first.” 

“I did, didn’t I?” 

“The circumstances weren’t ideal, but yes, you did.” Sebastian laughed nervously. “Well, I’m glad you don’t fault me for the circumstances…”

“Never." Damien squeezed his hand again and pecked the apple of his cheek. Sebastian felt his face grow hot, betraying him.

Ominis and Phineas were silent, their heads tilted to the side, echoing each other in their curiosity. “Care to divulge that story?” Ominis asked. 

“Hm,” Sebastian said, tapping his chin thoughtfully with his free hand. “I think not.” 

“Fine, like I care,” Ominis shot back, sweeping through the now open gate, his robes whipping behind him. 

Sebastian snickered under his breath. Two could play that game. 

Ernie Lark was in top form today. Most likely because Damien had thrown a sack full of Galleons his way, so he was playing every single instrument he owned, which was truly a wonder to behold. How anyone managed to juggle so many, even with magic, was beyond Sebastian’s comprehension. But, to be fair, he didn’t have a talent for music. That was more Damien's forte. 

Sebastian, Damien, Ominis, and Phineas were enjoying tea outside on this brisk spring day at Steepley and Sons Tea Shop. Damien sipped his Earl Grey, hot, with the lightest dusting of sugar and cream, per usual. Sebastian’s tea was also sweet, but much, much more so: six cubes of sugar, no less. He typically forewent cream, but today was the exception. He poured some in right now, distracted by Damien’s hand on his thigh, kneading it gently. So distracted was he that it took him far too long to notice his tea was overflowing and spilling out onto the lace tablecloth. Oops.

Phineas raised a brow, but kept silent. The lack of verbal chastisement was more for Ominis’s sake than Sebastian’s. At least Sebastian assumed. For Ominis and Damien were leaning back in their chairs, their eyes closed, their heads bobbing along with the music, completely enraptured. Damien and Ominis had similar taste in music, it seemed.

Phineas and Sebastian glanced at each other knowingly. Some camaraderie for once; how novel! 

Ernie finished his set. Ominis and Damien came back to life to clap for his stirring performance. Damien was a bit more enthusiastic with his praise. Okay, a lot more. He could be quite energetic when he was in good spirits. Sebastian found it incredibly endearing. He glanced down at his lap to hide his smitten expression. 

But alas, he was too late. Someone had seen. 

“Bash, care to share with the class?” Phineas asked.

“Share what?” Sebastian fidgeted in his chair, then grabbed his tea cup and downed the whole thing in one go. It was a wonder he didn’t choke. 

Ominis took a much smaller sip of his tea, then set it back down on the table delicately. “Up to no good, Sebastian?” Phineas merely chuckled.

“Lies! Lies and slander!” Sebastian retorted. “I was not.” 

“Bash, what were you doing?” Damien interjected, his tone wary. “Not a thing, I assure you! Why is it that I’m always suspected of some underhanded enterprise?”

All three responded in unison:

“You’re a scoundrel, that’s why.” That was Ominis, of course. 

Phineas next: “Don’t ask me! I’m innocent.”

“Well…” Damien! Even Damien! Et tu, Brute? 

Sebastian pouted. “It’s unjust, that’s what it is. Unjust!” 

“Aww, Bash, come here,” Damien said, reaching out for Sebastian with his long arms. 

Sebastian scooched his chair back. “No.”

Damien, however, would not be so easily deterred. With a decisive lean forward, he seized the armrest of Sebastian’s chair and effortlessly tugged him back into place. Then, in his usual manner, he cupped Sebastian’s head in his hands and placed a light kiss upon the tip of his freckled nose. “There. Better?” he inquired. 

Sebastian grumbled. Phineas chuckled as he explained to Ominis what Damien had done, then Ominis, too, burst into hearty laughter. 

Sebastian exhaled in resignation. Well, better to be the butt of everyone’s joke than scorned, or ignored entirely, he supposed. 

Come to think of it… If he could worm his way into Ominis and Phineas’s good graces, perhaps they’d reveal why they held him in such contempt. Yes, yes… He needed to know. And Sebastian would find out, no matter how much of a fool he had to make himself. The things he endured for the sake of knowledge. 

Damn, Damien was already suspicious. Perhaps Sebastian had overplayed his hand. 

“Sebastian,” Damien said, “I can’t exactly stroll through the gardens with your arms draped over my shoulders. What was wrong with merely holding hands again?” 

“I just wanted to be closer to you,” Sebastian tried, kicking himself internally.

Damien shrugged out of Sebastian’s firm hold. “Mhm, a likely story.” He narrowed his eyes. 

This was Ominis and Phineas’s fault! If they were just a bit more romantic with each other, Sebastian’s attempts wouldn’t stand out like a Mandrake being pulled out of a pot in the library. Oh, there was an idea… 

No, Sebastian! Focus! 

Damien must have been thinking along the same lines, as he cleared his throat and said, “Ominis, Phineas, I know it can be difficult to express yourselves when you’re so used to… well, holding back, but truly, there’s no need for that here. You can just be yourselves.” Damien finished with a sympathetic pat on Ominis’s back. 

Sebastian braced himself for Ominis to protest—vehemently, at that—so he was beyond shocked when Ominis simply nodded. Curtly, of course, but still. Then, without a word, Ominis extended his hand for Phineas to take.

Phineas’s eyes widened. He clasped Ominis’s hand without hesitation. As he did so, his face broke out into a stunning smile.

“Thank you, Damien!” Phineas exclaimed. “I knew I liked you.”

Sebastian sighed. He was doing a lot of that today. He didn’t bristle at the undue praise for Damien though. That wouldn’t do. Not if he wanted his plan to pan out.

“So,” he began, drawing out the word longer than he probably should have, but he was thinking, dammit! “Care to explain to me why you dislike me so much now?” Sebastian might be a cunning Slytherin, but impatience, ultimately, won out.

Ominis was about to open his mouth, probably to say no, when the unlikely quartet were interrupted by… Sebastian. Another one, that is. Intriguing.

“Ominis!” 

Ominis swiveled around at the ferocity in the other Sebastian’s tone.

“Where’s Carolyn?” Sebastian’s other self exclaimed, wiping away at a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead. Had he run all the way here? 

Sebastian inspected his counterpart up and down, then down and up. My, this Sebastian was rather fit, wasn’t he? And tall… How was he so tall? By Salazar’s beard, could he spare an inch or two? It wasn’t like he needed it. Ominis was tall and he somehow even towered above him! 

“How am I supposed to know?” Ominis spat back, dropping Phineas’s hand. Phineas’s face fell. 

The other Sebastian stared at the empty space that now separated the pair. “What are you doing?” he asked, his bushy brown eyebrows raised. 

Sebastian was feeling a bit dizzy. He wasn’t sure he liked seeing his counterpart in this state. He wasn’t sure if he liked seeing his counterpart at all. Especially since he was so dashing. The anger part was also a bit disorienting. He couldn’t recall the last time he was this furious. He certainly had his moments, but that was before Damien, before Anne was cured. 

“Who’s Carolyn?” Damien asked, breaking through Sebastian’s musings. Good question, D. Good question. 

The other Sebastian narrowed his eyes at Damien, and then stumbled back upon spotting Sebastian next to him. Ah, there it was. 

“You’re me,” he said to Sebastian. 

“Ten points to Slytherin,” Sebastian replied. 

For two beats, his counterpart merely stood there, jaw slack. But then, he shook his head, and resumed his interrogation of Ominis, bearing down on him like a troll in a china shop. 

Hah! Sebastian was having a grand time with these similes. 

“Tell me where Carolyn is right now.” 

Ominis huffed indignantly. Phineas’s face was growing redder with each passing second. And then, Phineas burst. “He’s telling the truth, Sallow!” he yelled. “Get over yourself. We don’t know where Carolyn is.”

Sebastian’s curiosity was, officially, piqued. “Is someone going to tell us who Carolyn is—?” He barely got the words out before Damien slapped a hand over his mouth and yanked him backward into a bush of lacewing flies.

Clearly, Damien hadn’t realized what was behind them, as they both promptly toppled backward onto their arses, ending up in a tangled heap of limbs. 

The other Sebastian, Ominis, and Phineas, however, remained oblivious, too absorbed in their shouting match to notice. 

What in Merlin’s name was going on? This was nothing like Sebastian’s usual dynamic with Ominis, although, to be fair, his Ominis was happily dating his twin sister. Maybe Anne had a calming effect on him somehow. If that was the case, Sebastian would have to remember to thank her later.

“Do you think we should say something?” Sebastian whispered into Damien’s ear. 

“No, Bash. I don’t think that would be wise.” Ah, Ravenclaw wisdom. How predictable. 

“Hm, okay. Well, we could, erm, steal a kiss or two… or thirteen? While we wait, that is,” Sebastian suggested, crossing all his (metaphorical) fingers and toes. It did seem like they were going to be waiting a while. 

Damien rolled his eyes. “Yes, Sebastian. Excellent plan. Let’s lock lips while our friends engage in a heated argument right next to us.”

“Your friends, you mean.”

“They’re your friends, too.”

“Hardly! They merely tolerate me. You do know that, don’t you?” 

Damien gave him a pointed look, but he didn’t answer the question. 

Sebastian continued. “It’s the truth, D. They’d rather spend time with you than me. You’re the one they actually like.”

Damien gestured in the direction of the other Sebastian, who stood further down the path, glowering at Ominis and Phineas with his hands on his hips. He was still prattling on about that Carolyn girl. He must really be obsessed with her if he was this fixated on her whereabouts. Sebastian couldn’t help but notice the irony though—he was certainly one to talk, considering he’d been known to kill for Damien. But, of course, that was beside the point.

“What do you expect, Bash? That’s their Sebastian.” Damien shrugged. “Just continue to be yourself and I’m sure they’ll come around. You can be obsessive and dramatic, maybe even a little bit intense sometimes, but you’ve gotten a lot better over the past year or so.” He stared down at his hands. “For some reason,” he added, not glancing back up. 

“Hey,” Sebastian said, bringing his hand to Damien’s chin and lifting his head up. “Thank you.” 

“Thank me? Why?” 

“The reason is you, D. The reason is you. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

Damien flushed. “I didn’t want to presume—”

Sebastian cut off his words with a kiss. 

A Sebastian might have been the problem, but it certainly wasn’t him. He was a bundle of joy. Naturally. Carry on. 

[pain-is-too-tired]

As someone who does think Octavian is over hated i think this missing a few points

1. The monsters on Octavian side weren't actually on his side. They literally turned on the Roman's as soon as they could. Everyone else knew immediately the monsters weren't there out of loyalty or allyship. So to a bunch of teens who have an army at their border, having said army have soldiers that you know aren't entirely loyal to the leader gonna make you call it out. Especially with how The Cyclops, nature spirits and others are allies and kin to chb and have been for awhile now. Octavian was grabbing anyone he could without considering who they were and if they actually care about their comrades. He reinstated a guy who he knows has killed his own in cold blood.

2. In relationship to that. Camp Jupiter might seem put together, but it sucks. I'm sorry you're never gonna see me praising a camp that turns it's children to obedient soldiers who fight eachother for higher positions and fill rampant with corruption. Again. A guy killed likely encouraged by this rising up mind set. Not saying writing wise it wouldn't ever been like this(it very much parallel to actual ancient Rome where assassinations were a fav passtime/hj) but I don't think it should be seen as good. Jason himself mentioned having cause stir for wanting to change things up. They are so strict on old ways and traditions, that old families and strong heritage gets you a head start in the way up. Why chb isn't a military based camp. Yes they train to fight, but primarily because they need to for survival, they aren't having heavy military training. You aren't forcefully stripped from your family(this is no hint that cj kids go to their mortal family much iirc) and there's no fight for power. The cabins are family more then they are barracks of some kind. They are similar to how Greece has city states. And it helps them organize based off strengths and traits. Your Head Counselor is typically someone you trust and look up to. They're mentors like an actual camp for teenagers would be. That's one the reasons Luke's betrayal hurt, he wasn't just their superior. He was their brother. Their mentor.

Also. Chb has Chiron who guides them and seen as a leader(even if he has problems sometimes but that's another thing-) and usually assist in planning and decisions.

CJ,despite having a WHOLE CITY FULL OF ADULTS RIGHT BESIDE THEM. Is still led by mostly children who, again, are drill to be obedient soldiers who can face horrid punishments if not in line. When Hazel vouched for Percy in SoN, both their lives were on the live if something happened. And again, CJ has full grown adults just living it up and sending their kids to this camp knowing full well what they'll go through. (No wander CJ has whole lot more exciles and crash outs- I'd snap too.)

3. Most Roman's hated the greeks before they even met them/knew that still around, the attack on new rome just gave them a reason to hate them more. Chb didn't even really think of the Roman's outside full mentions here and there of how they changed up the gods and myths. When we hear most complaints about Octavian(which, it's primarily about Octavian. Who, again gets too much hate in fandom, but he was blackmailing people and hating a whole group of people before they even actually gave him a reason to. They were saying graecus like it was a slur sometimes 😭) it's cause he's literally at their border with freaking catapults. And this is taking place not even a year after BoM the last thing they want is another battle with other demigods. Octavian is actively disobeying Reyna's orders, making things harder for the war against gaea, and not even his soldiers agree with him. He's demanding full loyalty out of nothing but rank and greeks don't vibe like that.

They aren't calling romans as a whole all these names. It's specifically Octavian. Who's the reason for extra stress on the camp why Gaea's close to awakening. They're calling him out for making dumb decisions and honestly acting like the trust fund kid he very likely is.

I hate how everyone at Camp Half-Blood gangs up on Octavian. Will Solace, Clarisse LaRue, Jake Mason, etc. They call him a barbarian. They call him a dirt wipe. And they're supposed to be the good guys!? No! If anything, they're just as cruel as him. Demonizing your enemies is usually what leads to a perpetual cycle of violence. No wonder Camp Jupiter and Octavian hate Camp Half-Blood, if they say stuff like this about them.

Also, Camp Jupiter has randomly assigned barracks (not segregation by godly parent like at Camp Half-Blood), and Camp Jupiter has their own fully functioning city-state in the form of New Rome! Now remind me: which Camp is so barbaric, hmm? Kind of looks like it's yours, you Greek demigods. So don't go throwing stones when you live in glass houses! You're extreme hypocrites!

And speaking of hypocrisy, you greeks have cyclopses fighting for you! And nature spirits! Octavian has two headed men and dog headed men with poleaxes; and suddenly he's the barbaric one!? You're both using outside help, help which is supernatural and (dare i say it) monstrous! You can't condemn one without condemning the other! And since I like Tyson and the cyclopses, we should really be condemning neither. But I just hate the hypocrisy of Camp Half-Blood!

[allastoredeer]

You were wondering which circle Lucifer might live in, an if I had to guess, I'd say the sixth one. The one meant to punish heresy:

the belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine

An opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted

A fitting place to settle down for one so severely punished for thinking too far outside of the box.

That'd be fucking awesome and so so fitting.

I'm so curious about where Lucifer's house is. We don't see any indication of where he'd be living within Pentagram City, so if the 9 Circles are a thing, I 100% believe he lives in one of those. You're so big brained for putting him in the Heresy Circle, it's perfect for him.

(But I also love bullying Lucifer and I like the idea that he's cursed to be close to the Sinners at all times as punishment, that way he's constantly reminded of his hubris and mistakes, which is why he locks himself up in his work-room so much. He's as stuck with the Sinners as the Sinners are stuck in the Pride Ring, and he copes with that by never, ever going outside. That's the real reason he's so pale. Guy has a the Hell equivalent of Vitamin-D deficiency.

[butwhatifidothis]

I guess the ultimate thing that kills CF for me - or at least nudges it away from me saying I definitively like it - is just how much Edelgard is clearly written with the player in mind before she's written with her character in mind.

Because on all of the other routes, there's a power to Edelgard's presence. Even on BE, there's a sense that for as lonely as Edelgard might be, she still ultimately will do whatever it takes for her to get what she wants. Be that be killing her citizens (or otherwise letting them be killed), endangering her friends, assisting in kidnapping people, allowing Byleth to support her only when they have the Sword of the Creator, covering for TWS - no bar is too low for her to limbo under if doing so means she's even a step closer to her goals.

She's manipulative! She's deceitful! She doesn't care for the lives of her people! Even her friends are forfeit if they try to stand in her way! And this happens no matter how close you, the player, get to her, in the case of BE - C+ ain't stoppin' Remire, and going to the coronation ain't stopping the Holy Tomb.

And in the war phase, she is dominating the field. She has the Kingdom completely on the ropes, down to a few houses standing against Imperial rule, and the Alliance is stuck in neutrality - she may not be able to do much to it, but neither can they do anything to her (to say nothing of the Alliance houses who stand with her). She's far from the underdog in this race, and she shows off how threatening she can be.

CF? Her route?

She scweams at scawy rats. She gets embawwassed when you find her dwawings. She's just so wonewy, and she's just so gwad that you chose her. She somehow fails to capture Rhea, or frame Dimitri for regicide, and so now has to deal with that on the Kingdom's side of the war. But that doesn't stop Elly Welly-kins fwom twying to find her pwecious teacher, because you're just so important to her. She cwies and hugs you when you meet her in the Goddess Tower!! Because she missed you so much!!

It's like... Dimitri and Claude certainly show different sides of themselves on their respective routes. It's the whole point! You grow closer to them and thus see how they treat those close to them, as opposed to being the Kinda Neat Teacher they see run along every now and then. But, like... Claude doesn't become a blushing maiden whenever Byleth speaks with him on VW. Dimitri doesn't scream at scary rats and get called cute for it on AM. They don't get Basic Bitch Gap Moe Traits slapped onto them that are only ever shown to the player and only on their routes. Unlike Edelgard.

Dimitri's endearing trait is that he's this big huge dude who can bench-press forests and arm-wrestle god who still wants to learn to sew and who teaches kids to protect themselves and who buys candies for his friends. Claude's endearing trait is that he's this mastermind planner who has contingency and lie and obfuscation as three separate legal government names who still wants everyone to be safe and happy and hold hands and be friends.

Edelgard is strong, confident, and willing to do some of the shittiest things known to man for her goals. Her endearing trait is that her screams are cute. She's shy about her drawings of the player character. She blushes over the player potentially joking about having sex with her per her JPN version of her C support; you know, the one about how Byleth walks in on Edelgard muttering in her sleep from a nightmare about her tortured family? Perfect time to joke about fucking her! Dimitri and Claude's endearments are, well, endearing; Edelgard's are all straight up embarrassing for her.

Hell, even the smaller stuff is affected! Claude's passion for poisons and mushrooms are things he has no qualms about having others know about, despite how weird they are. Dimitri laughing at shitty jokes brings him no personal discomfort or embarrassment, despite just how loudly he laughs at them. They have traits to them that can easily be uwu worthy, and they don't care! Of the lords, only Edelgard does! Because, it feels like, the only way for a strong, resolute female character to come off as approachable is if she's knocked down a few pegs for specifically and only you, the player.

And that sucks ass! I'm sorry, but when I'm playing Edelgard's route I don't want to deal with her hiding herself away in her room for a month IN THE MIDDLE OF HER FUCKING WAR because she's just so embawwassed! It is so fucking insensitive that Edelgard is literally the only lord of the three who can have her trauma openly belittled at any point in the story by Byleth, all to have some cheap cutesy uwu moment about her fear of rats (calling her screaming in fear cute and INSISTING that it's really cute which is just. Fucking ew man)! Why can we fucking mock Edelgard's manner of speech during the MASSACRE OF REMIRE?

This shit doesn't happen to Claude or Dimitri! And saying "oh just don't pick those options then" is bullshit because no equivalent options exist for the male lords! It's piss-boilingly annoying that the second you choose to see things from the strong confident villainous ambitious female lord's perspective you can reduce her down to this bumbling moeblob just for you (sometimes unavoidably!) like!! Dude!

[penn-dragon]

Kyoko still regularly visits the Corn clearing because it's her happy place, and early into the production Ren goes to visit the spot for nostalgia and happy memories. They run into each other there and Ren immediately realizes who she is

[ourceliumnetwork]

me, the symptoms experiencer, experiencing symptoms: wow gee i wonder what the fuck is happening right now i have no context for why i could possibly feel bad, surely i'm not experiencing symptoms. me, when i figure out it's the symptoms:

[arolesbianism]

I've been thinking abt Kim more and now I am very much in a place where I need a different name to call the actual nugget because I think of Kim and I think of a man I don't care abt I need my fucked up and twisted girlie who murdered him and stole his form

[kaijutegu]

Alligator Body Language and You, or: How To Know When An Alligator On Social Media is Being Stressed for Views

Alligators are wild animals. Despite the idiotic claims of animal abusers like Jay Brewer, they cannot be domesticated, which means they are always going to react on the same natural instincts they've had for millions of years. Habituated, yes. Tamed, yes. Trained, definitely. Crocodilians can form bonds with people- they're social and quite intelligent. They can solve problems, use tools, and they're actually quite playful. Alligators are also really good at communicating how they're feeling, but to somebody who doesn't spend much time around them, their body language can be a bit mystifying. And it doesn't help when social media influencers are saying shit like this:

That is not what a happy gator looks like.

That's a terrified, furious gator who isn't attacking because the ogre handling her has her in a chokehold. She's doing everything she can to express her displeasure, and he's lying about it because he knows his audience doesn't even know how to think critically about what he's doing. He knows that because his audience doesn't know anything about these animals, he can get away with it. This I think is why I hate him so much- he deliberately miseducates his audience. He knows what he's doing is factually inaccurate, he just doesn't care because attention means more to him than anything else in the world.

Let's change that! Here are two really important lessons for understanding alligator body language on social media.

Lesson 1: Alligators Don't Smile (in fact, most animals don't)

So what's going on in this video? Jay Brewer is aggressively choking his white alligator Coconut while scrubbing algae off of her with a toothbrush. And make no mistake, he is digging into the creature's throat while she is visibly distressed. He claims she's happy- but she's not. He is willfully misrepresenting what this animal is feeling. That's a problem, because people... well, we actually kind of suck at reading other species' body language. The reason for this is that we tend to overlay our own responses on their physical cues, and that's a problem. For example, let's look at an animal with a really similar face to ours, the chimpanzee. Check out Ama's toothy grin!

Wait, no. That's not a happy smile. That's a threat display. When a chimpanzee "smiles," it's either terrified and doing a fear grimace, or it's showing you its teeth because it intends on using them in your face.

How about a dog? Look at my smiling, happy puppy!

Oh wait no, this is a picture of Ryder when he was super overwhelmed by noise and people during a holiday party. He'd hopped up in my sister's lap to get away from stuff that was happening on the floor and was panting quite heavily. See the tension in the corners of his mouth and his eyes? A lot of the time when a dog "smiles," the smile isn't happy. It's stress! Why Animals Do The Thing has a nice writeup about that, but the point is, our body language is not the same as other species. And for reptiles, body language is wildly different.

For instance, look at these two alligators. Pretty cute, right? Look at 'em, they're posing for a Christmas card or something! How do you think they're feeling?

Well, I'll tell you how the normal one is feeling. He's annoyed! Why is he annoyed? Because the albino just rolled up, pushed another gator off the platform, and is trying to push this guy, too. I know this because I actually saw it happen. It was pretty funny, not gonna lie. He's not gaping all the way, but he was hissing- you can actually see him getting annoyed in the sequence I took right before this shot. Look at him in this first shot here- he's just relaxing, and you can see he isn't gaping even a little bit.

By the end, he's expressing displeasure, but not enough to actually do anything about it. He's annoyed, but he's comfy and that's where one of the best basking areas is, so he'll put up with it.

Reptiles open their mouths wide for a lot of reasons, but never because they are actively enjoying a sensation. Unless they're eating. No reptile smiles- they can't. They don't even have moveable lips. If a reptile is gaping, it's doing so because:

It is doing a threat display.

It is making certain vocalizations, all of which are threats. Alligators are one of the rare reptiles that do regularly vocalize, but most of their calls aren't made with a wide open mouth.

It is about to bite something delicious or somebody stupid. Check out this video- virtually all of the gaping here is anticipatory because these trained gators know darn well that the bowl is full of delicious snacks. (I have some issues with Florida's Wildest, but the man knows how to train a gator AND he is honest about explaining what they're doing and why, and all of his animals are healthy and well-cared for, and he doesn't put the public or his staff at risk- just himself.)

It's too hot and it has opened its mouth to vent some of that heat and thermoregulate. This is the main reason why alligators will often have their mouths part of the way open, but sometimes they'll open all the way for thermoregulation. This is what a thermoregulatory gape looks like- usually it's not all the way open, kinda more like < rather than V, but you can't say that 100% of the time. Additionally, a thermoregulatory gape... typically happens when it's hot out. If they're inside, maybe they've been under their basking light for too long. Heat's the dominant factor, is what I'm getting at.

There is another reason that a captive crocodilian might be gaping, and that's because it's doing so on command. Some places have their gators trained to gape on cue, like St. Augustine Alligator Farm and other good zoos. They have the animals do this in presentations that are genuinely educational. They ask the animals to open their mouths so that they can show off their teeth and demonstrate how their tongues seal off the back of their mouth. They'll also do it as part of routine healthcare, because looking at their teeth is important.

In this case, the animals aren't gaping because they're stressed, they're gaping because they know they're gonna get a piece of chicken or fish if they do it. And what's more, they're doing it on cue. They have a specific command or signal that tells them to open wide. It's not an instinctive response to a situation. It's trained. If the animal provides the behavior after a cue, the situation is much less likely to be negatively impactful.

It's also important to remember that there's a difference between a partially open mouth and a gape! As discussed above, alligators will often have their mouths a little bit open just to maintain temperature homeostasis. It helps them stay comfy, temperature-wise. These guys are all doing thermoregulatory open-mouthed behavior- that slight open and relaxed body posture is a dead giveaway. (That and it's the hottest spot in the enclosure.)

Lesson 2: A Happy Gator Is A Chill Gator

So if alligators don't smile or have facial expressions other than the :V that typically signifies distress, how else can you tell how they're feeling? One way is stillness. See, alligators subscribe to the philosophy of if it sucks... hit da bricks.

Basically, if they hate it, they'll leave. Unless, y'know, somebody has their meaty claws digging into their throat or is otherwise restraining them. (Restraint isn't always bad, btw. Sometimes the animal is going through a medical thing or needs to be restrained for their safety- which a responsible educator will explain.)

Let's look at a very similar scenario, in which a captive alligator is getting his back scrubbed.

As you can see, it's quite different. First, he's not being restrained at all. Second, look at how relaxed he is! He's just chilling there vibing! He could simply get up and leave if he wanted to, because he's not being held. Towards the end of the video, as he lifts his head, you can see that his respiratory rate is very even as his throat flutters a bit. I'm not sure what this facility is, so I can't comment on care/general ethics, but like. In this specific case, this is an alligator enjoying being scrubbed! And you can tell because he's not doing anything. A happy gator is content to be doing what they're doing.

Why Should I Listen To You?

Now, you should ask yourself, why should you listen to me? Why should you trust me, who does not own an alligator, versus Jay Brewer, who owns several?

Well, first off, there's no profit for me in telling you that what you're seeing on social media is in fact not what you're being told you're seeing. I'm not getting paid to do this. That's the thing with people who make social media content. The big names aren't doing it just for fun. They're doing it for money. Whether that's profit through partnerships or sponsorships, or getting more people to visit their facilities, or ad revenue, you can't ignore the factor of money. And this is NOT a bad thing, because it allows educators to do what they're passionate about! People deserve to be paid for the work that they do!

But the problem starts when you chase the algorithm instead of actually educating. A "smiling" alligator gets the views, and if people don't know enough to know better, it keeps getting the views. People love unconventional animal stories and they want those animals to be happy- but the inability to even know where to start with critically evaluating these posts really hinders the ability to spread real information. Like, this post will probably get a couple hundred notes, but that video of Coconut being scrubbed had almost 400,000 likes when I took that screenshot. Think about how many eyeballs that's reached by now. What I'm saying here is that it's just... really important to think critically about who you're getting your information from. What do dissenters say in the comments? What do other professionals say? You won't find a single herpetologist that has anything good to say about Prehistoric Pets, I can tell you that right now.

Another reason you can trust me is that my sources are not "just trust me bro," or "years of experience pretending my pet shop where animals come to die is a real zoo." Instead, here are my primary sources for my information on alligator behavior:

Dragon Songs: Love and Adventure among Crocodiles, Alligators, and Other Dinosaur Relations- Vladimir Dinets

The Secret Social Lives of Reptiles- J. Sean Doody, Vladimir Dinets, Gordon M. Burghardt

Social Behavior Deficiencies in Captive American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)- Z Walsh, H Olson, M Clendening, A Rycyk

Social Displays of the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)- Kent Vliet

Social Signals and Behaviors of Adult Alligators and Crocodiles- Leslie Garrick, Jeffery Lang

Never smile at a crocodile: Gaping behaviour in the Nile crocodile at Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa- Cormac Price, Mohamed Ezat, Céline Hanzen, Colleen Downs (this one's Nile crocs, not American alligators, but it's really useful for modeling an understanding of gape behaviors and proximity)

Thermoregulatory Behavior of Captive American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)- Cheryl S. Asa, Gary D. London, Ronald R. Goellner, Norman Haskell, Glenn Roberts, Crispen Wilson

Unprovoked Mouth Gaping Behavior in Extant Crocodylia- Noah J. Carl, Heather A. Stewart, Jenny S. Paul

Thank you for reading! Here's a very happy wild alligator from Sanibel for your trouble.

[sttoru]

Omg could we see reader getting jealous of Sukuna having sec with his other concubines? And maybe liek the other concubine rubs it in readers face?

 𝝑𝑒 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒. true form!sukuna x concubine!female reader. angst (no comfort), suggestive \\ smut aspects. size difference. one tiny mention of reader being a crybaby. reader gets called ‘little one, brat’ \\ kuna’s an asshole! not proofread, excuse the grammar. no part 2. wc: 3.3k

you’ve been away from the estate for three days; three days too long for the king of curses. so much had happened while you were away to take some well deserved rest—a small vacation that sukuna had granted you because you needed it.

perhaps that was his first mistake. giving you permission to leave his side ended up being a bad decision. he hates that faint feeling in his chest, the feeling of missing something.

missing someone.

it couldn’t be. sukuna doesn’t have any weaknesses, and yet he can feel his body reacting to that unfamiliar emotion again. all because of you— that one human who always succeeds to occupy his mind.

he couldn’t let himself succumb to it—he’s not going to. sukuna is not going to let a mere human like you deter him from his superior identity that he’s had for decennia. he’s not going to let you have that power over him and his body.

and thus, when you return to the estate, you find yourself being laughed at. you were unpacking your luggage when two concubines stand at your doorway, hiding their evil smiles behind their handheld fans.

they don’t waste a single second and immediately rush to ruin your carefree mood.

“you know, you shouldn’t have returned at all,” the brunette giggles, her laugh sounding like nails scraping against a chalkboard. she looks to the other woman next to her before glancing back at you, “i mean—heh—lord sukuna definitely didn’t seem to mind your absence.”

you figure it’s just another way to get you riled up, so you do your best to ignore them. you put your packed kimonos in your wardrobe as your back faces the two.

yumi, the second concubine, nods along. she knows what she’s about to reveal will get on your nerves. and deserved, if you ask her. they had successfully caught the attention of their king while you were away. for the first time in a good while since your arrival in the estate.

the fact that they managed to spend quality time with sukuna again, is a wonderful first step to your downfall. one that will surely crumble your confidence as his so-called ‘favorite’.

“mhm,” yumi grins as she recalls the memories of her time with sukuna. time spent together that you were unaware of, “lord sukuna definitely didn’t seem to mind your absence when he had me in his bed last night.”

you freeze.

your brows furrow and the corners of your lips twitch. you don’t know if you should believe them—they could’ve lied about it for all you know. although, the voice in the back of your head had already rang the alarms.

guessing by the way they were dying to talk to you the second you came back - which never happens - you realise that they’re probably telling the truth. they’re only telling the truth to agitate you. it’s so painfully obvious, and yet so. . . hurtful.

“what?”

you don’t recall when you’ve choked up. you feel a lump in your throat. it shouldn’t even be there. you promised yourself to not get attached to a monster like sukuna.

so what if he went to bed with his other concubines?

but of course he’ll get pleasure from his other women when you aren’t around. he doesn’t feel any love, he sees it as worthless, so why did you expect him to not indulge himself? he still has his other concubines around for a reason.

you really shouldn’t be surprised by this revelation.

“what do you mean ‘what?’ - you heard me,” yumi shrugs, that cocky smirk still on her face. she’s clearly enjoying your reaction to everything she’s revealing. all the two concubines wanted to get out of this encounter with you, is to break that delusion of yours.

the delusional thought that you’re special to the king of curses—the delusion that sukuna considers you as something more than a toy to emotionally manipulate and play with until he’s tired of you.

“my lord spent all night with me in his chambers until the sun rose,” yumi continues without an ounce of shame. she bites her lip as she remembers the way sukuna had her body positioned on his large bed. for her, it was a dream come true.

though for you, it’s a living nightmare. even if you try to deny the fact that it physically and mentally hurts. there’s a painful twist at your heart—reminding you of the truth.

the truth being that you had truly thought that sukuna wasn’t really a monster of a man. you thought he was a different, more softer person around you.

you should’ve listened to the servants when they told you to not get tricked by sukuna’s special treatment, that he could easily manipulate you and make you do and act as he pleases.

“do you want me to explain it in detail?” yumi crosses her arms over her chest as she looks down at you with a menacing glare. both of the concubines are loving that face you’re making. that face of defeat that you’re attempting to hide from them, “how he held me and pleasured me until i—”

“enough,” you cut them off with your hands clenched into fists. you don’t want to hear another word. you’re already feeling awful; already, not even an hour into your return. you can never catch a break.

you have an urge to throw things around. you already feel stupid, and if you decide to throw a fit, you bet that you’d feel even dumber. you truly do not know why you’re getting this worked up about it.

maybe it’s because of the special treatment. the delusional thoughts you have about your relationship with sukuna. you really thought that you two had something special. an unofficial romantic relationship, perhaps, or something that resembles it.

a secret, unspoken deal where you’re promised his loyalty in exchange for your body and soul.

although, those dreams have been shattered this very instance. you’re once again reminded of the animalistic nature of the being called ryomen sukuna.

he told you clearly that he’d never tie himself to someone, a human no less. devotion to one person? why would he.

“out of the way.”

you push the brunette and her sidekick the other way. you’re going to confront the man yourself. or at least, you’ll try to. you can hear their sick laughs and chuckles fade into the background as you stomp your way towards sukuna’s chambers.

the other concubines seem to have gotten the gist. some peek their heads out of their rooms, grinning at you in victory. seeing your confidence slowly crumble and the realisation kick in - the realisation that your dear lord’s special treatment means absolutely nothing - is a sight for sore eyes to them.

you enter sukuna’s room and close the heavy doors behind you. you swallow the lump down your throat and try your best to look presentable.

no tears, you promise yourself. you’re not going to waste them on something like this.

“oh, it’s you, little one,” the familiar voice calls out. sukuna’s low and husky voice rings from his bed. he’s laid back against the many silky pillows, blowing smoke from his kiseru. he lays there like he doesn’t care about your reappearance at all.

he eyes you up and down, “how was your vacation, hm?”

sukuna asks like it’s the most normal thing to do. it seems like he’s trying to catch up with you, to ask you how you’ve been enjoying your time alone, though it also seems like he couldn’t care less at the same time.

“just absolutely fine, my lord,” you reply with gritted teeth and an obvious hint of sarcasm. there’s also a bitterness to your tone that doesn’t go unnoticed by the pink-haired man. he frowns—this cold greeting is not what he expected nor what he wanted to hear from your mouth. he expected you to at least smile at him like you usually do, but you didn’t.

on top of that, you seemed to be annoyed with him. that unexpected attitude of yours made something inside of him snap. it irritated him somehow; the fact that you’re so comfortable talking to him like that . . . it reminded him of the recent inner conflict he had which you were the cause of.

one of his hands tightens into a fist at his side. his jaw clenches and his eyes narrow into slits. you’re physically in front of him, which means that he’s also about to experience those complicated feelings again. the same ones he tried fleeing from by letting you go on a break, and by physically taking his mind off you.

he did the latter by taking his frustrations out on his other women. the stress that came with the thought of him possibly liking a human, relieved by pure animalistic sex.

that’s exactly what you’re upset about.

there’s an urge inside of sukuna to act normal. to ignore those difficult emotions and just treat you like he usually does. yet, another part of him is trying to protect his sense of superiority by trying to push you away.

there’s a war going on in his mind as he tries to calm himself down. you’ve always had this effect on him and it’s becoming unbearable. he has to show you, no - remind you, that you’re nothing to him. you mean nothing—nothing at all.

he’s the king of curses, you’re but a human. he’ll need to remind himself of that obvious statement as well. he’s got all the power in this situation. not you.

you cannot rule over him or his mind.

“you dare come back with an attitude? tch,” sukuna scoffs, nearly breaking the kiseru with his fingers as they squeeze around the solid material. he’s turning off whatever emotion present in his body. that doesn’t belong there anyway. he won’t care if you cry—he won’t care at all.

you notice the sudden change in sukuna’s tone as well. you’re sure you’re the reason for it. perhaps you crossed a boundary with how sassily you replied to him when he was simply asking you how your vacation went.

“my apologies,” you murmur with a sigh. you try to avoid getting on sukuna’s nerves any further, yet when you remember the words from the concubine, how she implied that sukuna had given her the best night of her life when you were away, you get mad again.

your eyes have a fiery look in them. you don’t want to get worked up. you don’t have the right to. you were warned from the very beginning to not get attached to an asshole like ryomen sukuna.

you’re to blame for feeling like this. it could’ve been prevented if you just weren’t so weak. if you just stayed away from him.

“did you have fun while i was away, my lord?” you continue, your voice shaking a little. you need the confirmation. you’re sure sukuna knows what you’re referring to by now, especially because of the way you’re acting out of character.

the king of curses raises a brow at your question. you sound even angrier, even more pissed off. he tilts his head after taking a deep inhale of the tobacco from his kiseru. he tries to figure out what you’re hinting at, “what are you—”

and that’s when everything fell into place. the dots connect.

sukuna’s jaw clenches. he realises that you’ve found out about him receiving services from his other concubines while you were away. there could be no other explanation behind your sudden attitude. besides, he knows how his other concubines could be. they must have told you the moment you came back.

normally, he’d say that it’s none of your business. what he does is up to him—he does not care about the consequences of his actions. though, seeing the slight hurt in your eyes, mixed with sadness and disappointment stirred something inside of him. he brushes that feeling away and stares at you intently, awaiting another comment. perhaps you’d cuss him out or bawl your eyes out in front of him.

either way, he promises himself that he won’t care.

sukuna is the king of curses. feeling bad for a human like you would only further tarnish his image, that image of superiority and power he has.

he’s a man of many needs. you should’ve kept that in mind when you left him. he wanted to keep you with him—to hold you down and refuse to let you leave—but that would be another sign of weakness. one sukuna could not manage to show.

when you departed, he was irritated by the fact that he had no one to turn to with his needs. from simple needs like wanting your company to sexual needs like craving your body.

keeping you by his side or letting you go; both decisions seem to clash. either way, there’s one thing he’s sure of, as much as he doesn’t want to admit it: he missed you.

sukuna can’t believe that he can feel an emotion like that. he can’t accept that fact. that’s why his irrational mind took over—his dark urges that strived to prove himself to still be the same old ryomen sukuna. the monster that did not need a single soul. the ruthless man that did not depend on anyone else, especially not a human. a woman like you.

he thought he’d forget all about you if he’s surrounded himself with other women. but, he was quick to be proven wrong, and that only caused to enrage him more and more.

every time sukuna fucked a concubine, his thoughts still manage to drift away to you. to how he wished that it was you he was holding.

nothing hit the same with the other women and that frustrated him. he’d keep them around in his room after he fucked their brains out, something he never allowed a woman to do except for you, yet kicked them out again after a few minutes.

it doesn’t hit the same.

you’re just different. your presence is soothing and calming to the chaotic soul of the pink-haired man. no one else could compare. that realisation made him feel inferior; a feeling he loathes.

sukuna’s red eyes glow. he hates seeing you look so defeated, but he cannot give in. if he tells you the truth, he’ll admit his weakness. he’ll admit that a human like you has completely taken over his brain. that’s no good.

if he doesn’t tell you the truth, he’ll save face. he’ll feel like himself again. his old self—the cold ruthless monster that he was before he met you. one without a soft spot for a human.

it’s an active dilemma that’s running through his mind as he slowly blows out another cloud of smoke. you cannot guess what’s going on behind those intimidating eyes staring you down.

sukuna tilts his head back and scratches his neck, smacking his lips as he makes his decision.

“yeah, i did. i had lots of fun.”

the words sting. they hurt you and make your heart ache in a way that makes you physically weak. you should’ve expected that answer. your shoulders tense up and your fingers curl around the material of your kimono—feeling a sense of anger and betrayal.

you can see a ghost of a smirk on sukuna’s lips, which only reminds you of his nature. his nature as an independent, aloof and cold man who likes to play with his prey. a natural disaster that knows no emotion, that shows no mercy to anyone.

you’re naive for thinking that you could be the exception. all of those times with sukuna were confirmed to be but a lie in that moment. as your gazes meet, you can now easily interpret what that look in those red eyes meant.

‘know your place,’

that’s what it means. you’re foolish, dumb. you take a deep breath to compose yourself after you’ve been made out to be a total fool. you should’ve listened to those warnings, you should’ve known that you were getting played.

this is exactly what sukuna desired to achieve. to build up your trust, to make you comfortable enough with him, to think you’re special and that he won’t need any other woman other than you — just to shatter your pathetic delusions when the time comes.

“tsk tsk. no need to look at me like that,” sukuna scoffs, a mocking laugh leaving his lips. he can hear a small voice in the back of his head telling him to shut up and let you go, to not make it worse, but who is he to listen to that irrelevant thought? he can decide for himself.

“y’ weren’t around, so the other concubines simply did their job by serving me,” he stares the other way, seemingly not interested by your presence anymore. his face is as expressionless as ever, “what do y’ think i keep them ‘round for, brat? for decoration purposes? hah, nah.”

another loud mocking laugh makes you nearly burst out in tears. you don’t know if it’s in anger or sadness. you take a deep, shaky breath for the last time. you unclench your fists and nod, accepting the reality check you’d just gotten.

it’s a slap to the face, but it helped you get out of your delusions. the delusions that sukuna is a man capable of loving someone, even if it is just for a tiny bit. this visit confirmed that there’s not an ounce of love or appreciation in that man’s body.

“i’m glad you had fun, my lord,” you answer after a bit of silence. you bow at sukuna in an attempt to stay polite while struggling with that inner turmoil. you don’t even glance up at him anymore. you need another break already.

sukuna isn’t dumb. you may think that you’re good at hiding your emotions, but you’re not. at least not around the king of curses. he’s spent enough time around you to realise that you’re going through a lot right now.

he’s the reason for it, yet he cannot bring himself to feel an ounce of empathy. he just looks at you with a blank stare, thinking that this is for the best.

“good night then,” you add and turn around to walk out of sukuna’s room. your steps are slow as you secretly hope to be called back, like sukuna would do every time you’d leave his room after an intimate night. you just want him to tell you that this was a test of some sort—a cruel joke.

you want to feel like his favorite again. you don’t want to be thrown away like this. you don’t want to be on the same level as all the other concubines. you want to stand out to him.

unfortunately, you don’t hear sukuna’s voice anymore. he lets you walk away without a care in the world. the heavy doors of his chambers close behind you and you feel your knees buckle. “fuck,” you cuss to yourself and clench your chest.

you lean back against the closed doors and try to regain your composure. crying can be done when you’re in your room—not in the hallway where anyone could catch you. you don’t want to give the other concubines more reason to bully you.

you drag your feet across the wooden flooring. all those times with sukuna, all those slight glimpses of his soft side that only you’re allowed to see— all of that is thrown into the trash.

you really shouldn’t have gotten so attached to him on an emotional level.

meanwhile, sukuna is silently sitting on his bed, thinking back to what just happened. he usually never doubts his decisions, but this is an exception. why couldn’t he just tell you the truth?

his mouth had moved before he could let his mind process all that he was feeling. a small part of him regrets it, though strangely, he couldn’t feel any real sympathy for your situation.

sukuna drapes an arm over his eyes, clicking his tongue at himself. he just wants to let the situation go, though his brain isn’t letting him to. the image of you standing at the edge of his bed, clearly hurt by his actions, flashes through his mind again.

he sighs. he’s sure that he’s going to forget about you soon enough. he needed an excuse to get rid of you for the sake of regaining control over his own being and he took the chance. he should be glad that he did—it meant that he’d be his usual self—with no weaknesses to look out for.

sukuna blows out another cloud of smoke through his mouth. as much as he’s proud of himself for not giving in to you, he can’t help but let his thoughts wander again. you’re probably crying in your room. he knows you’re sensitive. you would always cry about the smallest of things and he’d hold you (feigning reluctance) until you’ve calmed down.

he can’t do that now.

well, he can, but he won’t. sukuna has made his decision today: it’s power and status over you. that’s what it’s always been. you were but a toy he used to get a stronger grip on himself.

perhaps he simply is what people make him out to be; a monster. nothing more, nothing less.

[fullhalalalchemist]

URGENT: 🚨🚨EARN IT ACT IS BACK IN THE SENATE 🚨🚨 TUMBLR’S NSFW BAN HITTING THE ENTIRE INTERNET THIS SUMMER 2023

April 28, 2023

I’m so sorry for the long post but please please please pay attention and spread this

What is the EARN IT Act?

The EARN IT Act (s. 1207) has been roundly condemned by nearly every major LGBTQ+ advocacy and human rights organization in the country.

This is the third time the Senate has been trying to force this through, and I talked about it last year. It is a bill that claims "protects children and victims against CSAM" by creating an unelected and politically appointed national commission of law enforcement specialists to dictate "best practices" that websites all across the nation will be forced to follow. (Keep in mind, most websites in the world are created in the US, so this has global ramifications). These "best practices" would include killing encryption so that any law enforcement can scan and see every single message, dm, photo, cloud storage, data, and any website you have every so much as glanced at. Contrary to popular belief, no they actually can't already do that. These "best practices" also create new laws for "removing CSAM" online, leading to mass censorship of non-CSAM content like what happened to tumblr. Keep in mind that groups like NCOSE, an anti-LGBT hate group, will be allowed on this commission. If websites don't follow these best practices, they lose their Section 230 protections, leading to mass censorship either way.

Section 230 is foundational to modern online communications. It's the entire reason social media exists. It grants legal protection to users and websites, and says that websites aren't responsible for what users upload online unless it's criminal. Without Section 230, websites are at the mercy of whatever bullshit regulatory laws any and every US state passes. Imagine if Texas and Florida were allowed to say what you can and can't publish and access online. That is what will happen if EARN IT passes. (For context, Trump wanted to get rid of Section 230 because he knew it would lead to mass govt surveillance and censorship of minorities online.)

This is really not a drill. Anyone who makes or consume anything “adult” and LGBT online has to be prepared to fight Sen. Blumenthal’s EARN IT Act, brought back from the grave by a bipartisan consensus to destroy Section 230. If this bill passes, we’re going to see most, if not all, adult content and accounts removed from mainstream platforms. This will include anything related to LGBT content, including SFW fanfiction, for example. Youtube, Twitter, Reddit, Tiktok, Tumblr, all of them will be completely gutted of anything related to LGBT content, abortion healthcare, resources for victims of any type of abuse, etc. It is a right-wing fascists wet dream, which is why NCOSE is behind this bill and why another name for this bill is named in reference to NCOSE.

NCOSE used to be named Morality in Media, and has rebranded into an "anti-trafficking" organization. They are a hate group that has made millions off of being "against trafficking" while helping almost no victims and pushing for homophobic laws globally. They have successfully pushing the idea that any form of sexual expression, including talking about HEALTH, leads to sex trafficking. That's how SESTA passed. Their goal is to eliminate all sex, anything gay, and everything that goes against their idea of ‘God’ from the internet and hyper disney-fy and sanitize it. This is a highly coordinated attack on multiple fronts.

The EARN IT Act will lead to mass online censorship and surveillance. Platforms will be forced to scan their users’ communications and censor all sex-related content, including sex education, literally anything lgbt, transgender or non-binary education and support systems, aything related to abortion, and sex worker communication according to the ACLU. All this in the name of “protecting kids” and “fighting CSAM”, both of which the bill does nothing of the sort. In fact it makes fighting CSEM even harder.

EARN IT will open the way for politicians to define the category of “pornography" as they — or the lobbies that fund them — please. The same way that right-wing groups have successfully banned books about race and LGBT, are banning trans people from existing, all under the guise of protecting children from "grooming and exploitation", is how they will successfully censor the internet.

As long as state legislatures can tie in "fighting CSAM" to their bullshit laws, they can use EARN IT to censor and surveill whatever they want.

This is already a nightmare enough. But the bill also DESTROYS ENCRYPTION, you know, the thing protecting literally anyone or any govt entity from going into your private messages and emails and anything on your devices and spying on you.

This bill is going to finish what FOSTA/SESTA started. And that should terrify you.

Senator Blumenthal (Same guy who said ‘Facebook should ban finsta’) pushed this bill all of 2020, literally every activist (There were more than half a million signatures on this site opposing this act!) pushed hard to stop this bill. Now he brings it back, doesn’t show the text of the bill until hours later, and it’s WORSE. Instead of fixing literally anything in the bill that might actually protect kids online, Bluemnthal is hoping to fast track this and shove it through, hoping to get little media attention other than propaganda of “protecting kids” to support this shitty legislation that will harm kids. Blumental doesn't care about protecting anyone, and only wants his name in headlines.

It will make CSAM much much worse.

One of the many reasons this bill is so dangerous: It totally misunderstands how Section 230 works, and in doing so (as with FOSTA) it is likely to make the very real problem of CSAM worse, not better. Section 230 gives companies the flexibility to try different approaches to dealing with various content moderation challenges. It allows for greater and greater experimentation and adjustments as they learn what works – without fear of liability for any “failure.” Removing Section 230 protections does the opposite. It says if you do anything, you may face crippling legal liability. This actually makes companies less willing to do anything that involves trying to seek out, take down, and report CSAM because of the greatly increased liability that comes with admitting that there is CSAM on your platform to search for and deal with. This liability would allow anyone for any reason to sue any platform they want, suing smaller ones out of existence. Look at what is happening right now with book bans across the nation with far right groups. This is going to happen to the internet if this bill passes.

(Remember, the state department released a report in December 2021 recommending that the government crack down on “obscenity” as hard the Reagan Administration did. If this bill passes, it could easily go way beyond shit red states are currently trying. It is a goldmine for the fascist right that is currently in the middle of banning every book that talks about race and sexuality across the US.)

The reason these bills keep showing up is because there is this false lie spread by organizations like NCOSE that platforms do nothing about CSEM online. However, platforms are already liable for child sexual exploitation under federal law. Tech companies sent more than 45 million+ instances of CSAM to the DOJ in 2019 alone, most of which they declined to investigate. This shows that platforms are actually doing everything in their power already to stop CSEM by following already existing laws. The Earn It Act includes zero resources for proven investigation or prevention programs. If Senator Bluementhal actually cared about protecting youth, why wouldn’t he include anything to actually protect them in his shitty horrible bill? EARN IT is actually likely to make prosecuting child molesters more difficult since evidence collected this way likely violates the Fourth Amendment and would be inadmissible in court.

I don’t know why so many Senators are eager to cosponsor the “make child pornography worse” bill, but here we are.

HOW TO FIGHT BACK

EARN IT Act was introduced just two weeks ago and is already being fast-tracked. It will be marked up the week of May 1st and head to the Senate floor immediately after. If there is no loud and consistent opposition, it will be law by JUNE! Most bills never go to markup, so this means they are putting pressure to move this through. There are already 20 co-sponsors, a fifth of the entire Senate. This is an uphill battle and it is very much all hands on deck.

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.

This website takes you to your Senator / House members contact info. EMAIL, MESSAGE, SEND LETTERS, CALL CALL CALL CALL CALL. Calling is the BEST way to get a message through. Get your family and friends to send calls too. This is literally the end of free speech online.

(202) 224-3121 connects you to the congressional hotline. Here is a call script if you don't know what to say. Call them every day. Even on the weekends, leaving voicemails are fine.

2. Sign these petitions!

Link to Petition 1

Link to Petition 2

3. SPREAD THE WORD ONLINE

If you have any social media, spread this online. One of the best ways we fought back against this last year was MASSIVE spread online. Tiktok, reddit, twitter, discord, whatever means you have at least mention it. We could see most social media die out by this fall if we don't fight back.

Here is a linktree with more information on this bill including a masterpost of articles, the links to petitions, and the call script.

DISCORD LINK IF YOU WANT TO HELP FIGHT IT

TLDR: The EARN IT Act will lead to online censorship of any and all adult & lgbt content across the entire internet, open the floodgates to mass surveillance the likes which we haven’t seen before, lead to much more CSEM being distributed online, and destroy encryption. Call 202-224-3121 to connect to your house and senate representative and tell them to VOTE NO on this bill that does not protect anyone and harms everyone.