#whichever one's more accessable to me in the moment

[caccry]

watched the hobbit. I adored him.

[ram-bles]

genuinely need more 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓼𝓾𝓴𝓮 headcannons 😭🙏

daisuke x reader | 🔞 headcanons

⚠️🔞 MDNI

# : gender neutral reader.

[ more dsk nsfw hcs : 🌺 ]

🌺 switch! soft/service dom. maso sub.

🌺 Vocal wise:

★ Sure, he can get loud and noisy. Rambles alot when he's super turned on.

★ No, but imagine sneaky quickies. It's either he's so focused on pleasing you that he ends up panting against your ear or he's so noisy that he has to have his mouth on you to keep himself quiet.

★ Moans ranges from those low-ish ones if he's trying to be quiet to squealing. Something about him having high-pitched moans makes sense to me.

🌺 dacryphilia

★ cries when overstimulated.

★ if you cry though, he'd feel bad and stop to make sure you're fine. if everything's fine, he'd probably go crazy over how you look after crying.

🌺 these specific scenarios (feel free to switch around w t!daisuke or whichever it's very general);

★ smearing precum over the other's lips like lipgloss.

★ this one's for Daisuke specifically (but it can be vv) probably into that porn thing where they show the cum inside their mouth before swallowing.

★ light pussy slapping. bonus if they're wet enough that the slick clings onto the other's fingers. He'd get so lightheaded over it.

🌺 definitely into lingerie (or cosplay). that thong daisuke fanart has me in a chokehold.

★ skirt stays on during sex.

★ doesn't have to be you. he'd wear it instead if you're uncomfortable. something about easy access has him going.

🌺 marking

★ I hc him with sharp canines and snaggle teeth.

★ his canines are crooked so it's obvious whose bites are on you.

★ loves marking and being marked. if you tell him not to leave any on you, he'll probably accidentally leave one or two.

🌺 mess

★ oh that boy is messy.

★ loves seeing his cum all over you and spilling out of you.

"Oh no! Here let me help you keep it in!" His thumbs spread your hole open for a moment just to admire his work before he guides his tip, scooping up his cum and pressing himself back into you. You call out his name with a tone that was warning him. "Can we go again, please?"

★ likewise, he'd want your mess all over him too.

[simplynims]

Polycule D.A.M.N Crew Headcanons

Was going through @polydamnory posts for the D.A.M.N polycule and it's inspired me to write down some of my own headcanons for these guys. Enjoy!

Dear and Damien are both the chefs of the polycule, Dear is probably the most trusted person to cook in Damiens kitchen unsupervised.

Huxely likes giving extra hugs to his partners whenever they're stressed out about something but it's really just an excuse to pick them up and drag them away from their laptop/whatever they're working on so they can get some proper rest. Has done this on both Damien and Freelancer when they both desperately needed a break from cram studying especially if the usual pleads to take a break don't intially work.

Dear has magic hands where whenever they run their fingers through their partners hair, they all melt at their touch. They turn to pudding as soon as those head rubs happen. They've actually helped a lot with migraines that Freelancer and Damien have.

Gavin, Freelancer and Dear have competitions sometimes to see who can fluster Lasko up more in one day. They all think he's adorable when he's choking on his words and trying to come up with a coherent sentence after mercilessly being teased. So far Gavin and Dear are neck in neck with these challenges.

Speaking of Gavin and Dear, Dear I feel like is someone who doesn't get flustered often which Gavin sees as a personal challenge to fluster them up whenever he gets the chance. Dear finds Gavin very cute whenever he tries to and flirts right back with that same energy.

This is more of a personal headcanon but from tallest to shortest it's Huxely, Dear, Gavin, Damien, Freelancer, and Lasko.

Lasko manages to get everyone into DnD and the polycule tries their best to schedule at least one session a month depending on their own schedules. Lasko usually DMs but Dear also DMs so Lasko can have a chance to play too. Gavin and Freelancer both shamelessly flirt with the DM no matter who it is and whenever it's Lasko it usually throws him off for a good minute or so.

Lasko gets cold very easily so he usually goes to Damien for cuddles when he's feeling extra frosty. Damien doesn't mind and likes having Lasko in his lap while he works if it keeps him warm.

Following up with that headcanon, Damien gets Lasko a shit ton of warm clothes, blankets and socks so he can wear em around the house around fall and winter because of how easily Lasko gets cold.

Freelancer smacks all their partners asses equally and with accurate precision.

Huxely I feel like would be a really good gardener for vegetables and fruits, Dear helps him with growing them. Every few months when certain fruits are in season, they bring em back to share with the polycule and make desserts outta them. Dear makes some killer peach cobbler, apple pies, strawberry pastries etc outta them and there's usually nothing left by the end of the week.

Gavin likes to playfully push Damiens buttons. Right when Damien looks like he's about to blow, Gavin kisses him and it gets to Damien every time lol. Gavin finds it highly amusing.

Freelancer likes giving gentle love bites to all their partners, it's not sexual all the time but whenever they're cuddling one of em or hugging them they have specific spots they like to go for.

For example, Freelancer likes giving love bites on Huxelys and Dears chests. For Damien it's his arms and chests if he's the bigger spoon while cuddling. For Gavin and Lasko it's their necks or arms, whichever is more accessible at the moment.

Dear most of the time is really good at hiding their emotions whenever they're stressed about something or just feeling sad in general but Huxely can pick up the signs pretty quickly. When it comes to his partners he's very observant and can tell when somethings off with any one of them and that includes Dear. Cuddling sometimes turns into a good cry sesh depending on how severe whatever is affecting Dear is.

Freelancer I headcanon as a little bit of a goofball and loves making their partners laugh, it's a wonderful feeling to see nearly all of the polycule wheezing and laughing at their stupid lil jokes and they take heavy pride in it.

[raainberry]

Nighttime Serenade

« Silly Series - 14 »

Sana x gn!reader

Fluff

synopsis - quiet nights and cuddles, doesn’t get better than this

wordcount - 664

A/N - rain got me inspired, not proofread bc its late i can literally feel the bags coming to life under my eyes. enjoy!

The slight panic Sana felt when you shifted your body on top of hers… Her sleepy eyes were suddenly wide and alert as she thought about you leaving her embrace.

It was a frightening possibility. It had barely been an hour since you’d sneaked into her arms in search of some comfort after a long day, but it was getting late. If you wanted to get to bed, she’d understand although she wouldn’t be all for it.

Your presence, the warmth and love you gave her were things she missed all day. She hated when your free days didn’t line up, leaving her alone with only thoughts and cravings with your name on them. The hours between your lips on her forehead in the morning and your soft, gentle kisses on her cheek in the evening seemed to stretch into infinity.

Tomorrow was her turn to leave you behind for the day. She liked to think your clinginess tonight was motivated by that thought. She hoped the small strokes of your palm, the delicate touches of your fingertips against her skin was a way for you to appreciate the few hours you had left in her company.

Her eyes kept looking up at the time displayed right underneath the TV, and she had to hold herself back from laughing at her own behavior. How much more obsessed could she be… You were in her arms, as close as you could be, yet she was already missing you.

Her gaze slipped away from the screen to find you every once in a while. The sight of your head resting on her stomach put a smile on her lips. She couldn’t see why nor how it could be as comfortable as you claimed, but she’d never complain. Easy access to your hair, random kisses, your soft breathing against her skin whenever her clothing allowed it… why would she complain?

A small hum resonated from your chest as her fingers gently pulled on a few strands of your hair, brushing them out of your eyes. The gesture alone could put you to sleep if she did it long enough. That was exactly what you wanted to avoid, but it didn’t mean you wanted her to stop.

So you focused on the TV, suddenly remembering about its existence.

The variety show you’dsettled on out of laziness to switch channels turned out to be more perfect than anything you could have willingly picked. Entertaining enough to share a few laughs, each other’s favorite sounds, but not interesting enough to make you forget about this moment you wanted to cherish.

Sana’s occasional giggles caused your head to bounce a few times, and as much as you loved to see her happy, came a time where your comfort just wasn’t negligible.

You lifted yourself off of her, unknowing and oblivious to her dismay as you went to find rest against her chest.

Relief washed over her when she realised you weren’t going anywhere. She bit her smile back at the familiar feeling of your hair tickling her neck, and her arms wrapped themselves around your back. A sudden surge of love pushed her to squeeze you closer, and your view on the screen was now blocked as her cheek was squished against your forehead.

“I love you.” She mumbled, her voice just above a whisper. You smiled at the words. You couldn’t get over them, no matter how much she said them. Whichever way she let them out, whenever she let you know, they seemed to have the same effect on you.

Warmth, from your chest to your veins. One that put your heart at ease. Your mind at peace.

“I love you too.” You sighed out, content and hopeful of the words making her feel the same way.

Sana smiled at the serenity you’d granted her, and pressed her lips on top of your head in a soft peck before training her eyes back on the TV.

Hopefully the night hours will take their time, stretch out as much as the day’s had.

[aihoshiino]

Hey there, another anon here! i'm not the same anon from the hikai breakup but i read your post and agree with everything you've said, especially on the reason why Ai did tell Hikaru the truth rather than lie during their final moments together. There's only one part of it that i find it hard to grasp: her giving Hikaru willingly the address of the hospital and day she'd give birth. I'm sure we've all spun around this likely scenario that it has to be Ai who gave it to him, because otherwise there is no rhyme or reason that he'd find it, or that he even has any intent to, to begin with. But I find it hard to assume that Ai would give it to him either since their breakup is very fresh, and the reason she wanted to distance herself from him is because a part of it had to do with the child(ren). Hikaru was mentally not in the right headspace at that time, and was heavily dependent on Ai, so i don't see her telling those details to him even if she'd have wanted him to be by her side at that moment, especially after (and if we're generous) about just 10-11 months after their breakup, knowing that Hikaru just wouldn't be ready. And it also feels extra hurtful if we go that route and think that from Ai's pov, he stood her up too like Goro, even after extending the invitation, though expectantly predictable he would. It also makes her calling him once again after several years the second time she tried contacting, even after (in this case) Hikaru's first rejection all those years ago. Whether he accepted it the first time or not, to Ai, he didn't show up still. Would you mind elaborating more on this part if that's okay? It's just a little hard to see Ai really contacting him more than once in whichever scenario, especially with her avoidant nature, unless necessary (and in this case, the hospital felt less necessary for the narrative, unlike where she called him for her twins' odd theories). i guess my tldr would be to me it feels like Ai wouldn't have contacted him so soon (i also apologize because i hadn't intended this ask to be so long!)

From an in-character perspective I can see why it might seem a little bit ??? at first glance but just through following what we're told about the flow of the information, there isn't really anyone but Ai who could've told Hikaru. The two characters we know for sure who are aware of Ai's pregnancy, her location and her due date are Ichigo and Gorou and we can maybe infer that Miyako is probably aware as well, for a total of three. But none of these three people knew who the twins' father was and certainly have no reason to contact him and risk the scandal of Ai's situation leaking, even if they did.

We also know it can't be Nino - while she might hypothetically have access to Ai's location, we're explicitly told that it was Hikaru who told Ryosuke and Nino where Ai was and that she was giving birth.

160 is admittedly a little unclear as to what we're supposed to take at face value and what's BS but generally speaking, when we're given a very direct flashback depiction to something happening in OnK, we can take it as the truth. And then obviously, Nino has no way of knowing exactly when Ai's due date was, even if Ichigo was careless enough to keep the details of her maternity leave somewhere B-Komachi members or other people could easily access it.

Ultimately, the only character who has access to all the information necessary to pass it along to Hikaru is Ai herself and it's also just the sequence of events that is the least convoluted to me and the one that requires the fewest leaps in logic.

From a character perspective as well, I also feel like this doesn't really require many leaps for Ai. While she might have broken up with him as a result of his overdependence on her, she also says in the DVD that she still wanted to be with him and wanted to raise a family with him. Even if she recognized that it wasn't possible at the time, it's not hard to imagine her naively hoping that the time and distance between them would have helped him get into a better headspace when it came to their kids.

It's also possible she just thought it was the right thing to do. Whether or not they broke up and whatever else was or was not going on between them, those were still her and Hikaru's kids and it may have just seemed like common courtesy (for lack of a better phrase) to give him an opportunity to be there for the birth. Maybe she was even hoping his reaction would help her gauge if he could play a role in their lives to whatever extent he wanted to.

That being said, I really don't think it was anything particularly calculated. I think it just came down to the fact that Ai was a sixteen year old girl who was alone and far away from home, who was scared about the changes that were about to take place in her life and even if she knew logically that the two of them were better off apart, emotions don't follow logic - especially not when you're a teenager trying to handle something as overwhelming as pregnancy and impending motherhood. We know from the DVD that even after the twins were born, Ai still felt very strongly about him and still wanted to be with him, even if it wasn't the healthiest or safest choice and I can imagine those feelings were all the more intense that much closer to the breakup and while she was feeling so vulnerable. I think that, when it came down to it, Ai was thinking with her heart rather than her head and what her heart wanted was for the person she loved to be by her side and make her feel safe. That Hikaru fails to do that is probably why she never reaches out to him again until the twins prompt her to do so.

[unknowns-musical]

I GOT STARKID ON THE BRAIN HELP!!!

OKAY!! TIME FOR A RANT!!!

I was trying to explain the Starkid trilogy to a friend and a rough understanding of the timeline... As well as what started this train wreck of my thoughts, and now I got a stupid theory. So, if any of you are interested get ready for a lot of text.

Also, I've only seen the musicals and nothing else, so if I get any info wrong please feel free to tell me or add onto this.

The random stuff that caused these thoughts

Alright!! To start this off I was telling @3rdrayman about Ted being the big brother of Peter, and that during AGWDLM Ted was upset that Peter was probably dead because of the infection. He was probably right considering the ending of the musical.

Before that though, when people get infected Peter was the hot chocolate guy at the coffee shop. Then I realized why he is there so much. Not only does his brother go there for his coffee, his brother goes there cause he has a girl there. So... Ted probably has his girl keep an eye on him, so Peter has a safe space to be in out of his home away from bullies, but probably also gets discounted drinks as well.

Now the actual timeline theory

Okay! So, what we know so far that AGWDLM is set in 2018, NPMD is in 2021, and Black Friday I'm not sure we ever hear a date. But I think that musicals go in that order for chronological order.

In AGWDLM the show starts off with a musical number, and we don't hear a single song until after the meteor hits, and the infection starts. The song at the very beginning shows characters we see both early in the musical and later on. With the way they talk, move, sing I'm going to say they are making a musical of the story of the infection and Paul's role in it.

Why him? He is the only guy who doesn't like musicals, and has come close to being infected/dying several times... I'm sorry, if I was the alien infection I would also be irritated by this. How does one being get away so many times? That would be so annoying to deal with. Of course making a musical based on him losing would be something they do. The story is told by the winners of the fight, so a story of them beating this hard to beat enemy seems plausible.

Next is NPMD, this goes in chronological order, but also where the actual theory comes in. Skipping over most of the musical we have two moments to focus on. The scene with Paul and Emma, and then later with the Black Book and Solomon Laughter.

Paul and Emma are talking to each other, doing their awkward flirting with each other as if the past events never happened. We have no actual explanation to this, but I think the thing with Solomon and the Book has something to do with that. When he gets the kids to dig up the Book he talks about an event from fifteen years ago, that showed him the power of that Book. We don't know what happened but it scared him.

So here is the theory... Assuming the Black Book has never been used since the Waylands and their cult until that point, Solomon was a witness/potentially involved with the Book and the Lords in Black. Everytime the Lords in Black (more specifically Wiggly), they always get their way at the end of the musicals. In NPMD Grace becomes their follower using their book, and BF I'm assuming they got free.

With no real access to the physical plane, but probably has some kind of Lovecraftian power that lets him affect the world without being there, Wiggly might have "helped". Say for example Wiggly has some followers or has an affect on those who have met him. Sensing the danger of the alien infection, he could have reset the town. Once everyone from the town was infected it would have given him access to every person at once, so to stay the most powerful being he used his powers to either weaken the alien infection... Or made a slight shift in the dimension.

Whichever happened, no one remembers what happened exactly unless they were specifically involved in the events of the infection, but now everyone is in a semi permanent musical. It explains why in NPMD and BF, people have their moments of singing and dancing in sync not thinking it's weird, but for the most part they still act like regular people... And not a hive mind anymore.

Paul and Emma seem to be the only ones who can recall what happened from what we've seen so far. For the most part, they just accept their life in this new Hatchetfield, good on them. So, they just go back to their new semi-normal lives, and choose to go at their own pace. Going back to their awkward flirting with each other, until they finally get together some time in between NPMD, and BF.

At the end of NPMD we all see that Grace becomes the new user of the Black Book and follower of the Lords in Black. They now have freedom and power over a single human being, a teenager with questionable morals and a rather unstable personality let's say... Who knows what they made her do after that.

Whatever it was, Wiggly gained new followers and created his plot which created BF. The Wiggly toys being sold, trying to be reborn with a new host, having more than one interdimensional doorways through different countries, his potential freedom, etc... Wait... Hang on... Oh god new idea... What if Solomon's interaction with the Lords in Black also played a role in this?

We don't know how long BF took place after NPMD, but however long it was, it was not enough for several countries to make those interdimensional doorways. But whatever happened with Solomon could have started Wiggly having an affect on the world again. John Macnemera also knows about Wiggly, and the doors... And was there for the infection... This man probably started the programme to defend the world against these kinds of things because of that event.

... John and Solomon most likely knew each other and what happened in the past... Maybe even friends or more...

Sorry, tangent, but whatever happened back then played a role in the time line, and I hope these noneseical ramblers make some sense.

[autism-autobot]

Flower of a Poisonous Seed Part 57:

Part 56:

After checking out all the houses on Nezha's list of potential places to live, they had to come to a decision. All were relatively close to their preferred hospital, to groceries, and were a good size for them and accessible by wheelchair.

Jing: Why don't you two build a house of your own in the place of the old one.

Nezha: We've discussed that, and ultimately decided not to go that route.

Jing: Is the cost of demolition and construction of concern?

SWK: No. Between us, we have more than enough to do that. But that would take time.

Nezha: Time we do not wish to spend waiting.

Jing: Well then, shall we get to it?

Nezha: Um, Father? I mean you no offense, but...

SWK: The house is going to be mine and Nezha's only.

Jing: Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude.

Nezha: It's quite alright, Father. You did not know how personal this was for us.

Jing: Thank you. I hope you both find the home of your dreams. *leaves*

Nezha: Gods, how are we to choose?

SWK: I don't know. I mean, I like the one with the brightly colored walls, but we can paint whichever house we end up owning.

Nezha: Process of elimination?

SWK: Process of elimination.

~~~

A pile of pictures had been divided in two as they slowly eliminated certain options.

Nezha: Three houses down and... *checks pictures* eight more to go.

SWK: How did we manage to look at, let alone find, that many houses that fit our requirements in three days?

Nezha: Hearing my father and Macaque loudly arguing about sliced vs. shredded cheese was good motivation for me.

SWK: Oi. Those two.

Nezha: Mhm. Anyway, we figured out our definite nos, but what do we like about what's available here?

SWK: I personally liked the neighborhood these four were located in. The lakes and ponds were beautiful. And they have naturally occurring plant life there too. Many more trees and bushes than our old neighborhood.

Nezha: I enjoy it too. The water and plant life have such a calming effect. I like the architecture too.

SWK: It is very beautiful there. So, these four?

Nezha: Indeed!

SWK: Anything about any of them you like or dislike?

Nezha: It might seem contradicting, but I think this one has too much water on the property. It's practically a house on stilts.

SWK: Agreed. Too much water. *slides picture aside*

Nezha: This one has a pretty complicated floor plan for my tastes.

SWK: Yeah, seems a bit cramped.

Nezha: *slides picture aside*

SWK: Two to go.

Nezha: Two to go... somehow this feels harder.

SWK: Yeah... I just don't know.

Nezha: Why does this feel like such a huge decision?

SWK: Because it's our house. It's like the night you asked me to stay with you but...

Nezha: Real.

The two pause for a moment. Just a moment. Long enough to hold hands and place their foreheads together and share their breath with each other.

Nezha: *nervously kisses the back of Wukong's hand*

SWK: I'm with you. Always.

Nezha: Thank you dear one.

SWK: How about this: we close our eyes and put our hands on the one we want.

Nezha: But what if we pick the opposite ones?

SWK: Then we can state why we chose how we did and have a debate.

Nezha: Someone ought to teach Macaque how to do that.

SWK: *laughs* Yeah, no kidding.

Nezha: So, count of three?

SWK: Yep. *closes eyes*

Nezha: *closes eyes* One.

SWK: Two.

Nezha & SWK: Three! *slams hands on the pictures*

They open their eyes. They picked the same one.

Nezha: *flabbergasted* B-b-because it has a porch for our morning teatime, and-

SWK: And a cute little corner where we can read books and-

Nezha: And a beautiful bedroom that could fit a larger bed for us both!

SWK: And the spacious kid's room that Red Son would love!

Nezha & SWK: *erupts into a fit of giggles*

Nezha: We had our minds set on the same one from the start, didn't we?

SWK: We just didn't want to step on each other's toes if the other wanted something else! *laughs*

Nezha: Exactly! *laughs*

SWK: *calms himself down* No gonna lie, I did like how close to the convenience store it was.

Nezha: Me too! But it's not part of the actual house so-

SWK: You didn't want to say anything? Me too!

Nezha: *calms himself down* *takes deep breath* We truly are one now, are we not?

SWK: We are.

Nezha: Alright then. I will call the realtor.

SWK: And I'll pack our boxes!

Nezha: ...

SWK: What?

Nezha: We will only have likely five at the most, won't we?

SWK: Even five sounds like a stretch.

Nezha: I-

SWK: *grabs his hand* We will build our home together. We can have something better than before. And I don't mean in terms of material possessions.

Nezha: You are mine, and I am yours.

SWK: And we are one. Always.

Nezha: And forevermore.

SWK: Go make that call. I'll get things set up for us.

Nezha: I love you my darling.

SWK: I love you too, Daffodil.

Part 58:

Masterpost

@weaverpop @istopaskingmemate @ainnur @cutvdo @starrclown @swkbiggestdefender @fruit-fight @vivyainou

[redflagshipwriter]

Hi, it's Tim (just Tim) Chapter 4

Masterpost

Tim paid cash for a mid range hotel room. He had to use his ID, so the odds weren't zero that it was eventually going to be found when the hotel registered their current guests. But there was nearly infinite data out there. Not even Barbara could monitor every upload in real time.

Kon was hovering a nervous centimeter off the ground behind him when Tim swiped the door open. He flicked his eyes down pointedly and raised a single eyebrow. Subtle much?

“Thanks,” Kon said, apparently misinterpreting that as an invitation to enter first.

Ah well. Tim walked in second and surveyed the room. They'd been given a two queen setup. He gave the one near the window a disdainful look. Like he'd be caught dead directly under a viable entrance. That was just begging for some dickbag to shoot a bazooka at you, like what happened to that one mask creep a couple weeks back.

Kon plopped down on the bed by the window and posed, crossing one ankle over his knee.

“I thought you were going to get supplies so we can stay in?” Tim said, knowing he was ruining Kon’s attempt at seduction.

Kon stared blankly for a moment and then flipped up in a way a human never could. “That's right. What do we need?”

“Two boxes of poptarts, two pizzas, a pack of bottled coffee- I'll write down my preferred brand.” Tim ripped off the first page of hotel stationery and started scribbling out his list. Hmm. He looked at it and made some changes so that Alfred would be less upset at him. He wrote ‘vegetable’ before pizza and added “bottled water”. Tim looked over his list once more, frowning slightly in concentration. He was hoping to hole up here for 24 hours or until a bat came and dragged him out, whichever came first. Would this be enough food for Kon?

“How much do you eat?”

“Uh-”

“Daily calorie intake?” Tim clarified.

Kon blinked at him. “I eat until I'm not hungry, man.”

Tim sighed. “Make sure to get some things that you like too,” he prompted. He moved over to where Kon was still hovering over the bed and folded the paper into neat quarters. Kon watched curiously as Tim stepped to the edge of the bed and leaned over slightly to tuck the paper into his jacket pocket.

Then he dug his wallet out of his back pocket and did some quick calculations. “Use the blue-green card,” he decided. “PIN is 8516, if you need it. How fast can you fly without a human passenger?”

Kon rattled off numbers.

Tim nodded decisively. “Good. Can you use the card like, two cities over? Make sure to stay off of camera,” he clarified. “So my family doesn't spot you and realize it's not me.”

He took a moment to consider how Bruce would react if he thought Tim was missing and someone else was accessing his money.

Hmm. Tim frowned. “Be really careful to stay off camera,” he amended. He reached around and put his wallet in Kon’s back pocket. “I think that's all.”

He was going to have a hell of a time explaining this and paying for it. Tomorrow.

“Okay,” Kon said, strangled. He was gone in a blink.

Tim took the time to do a proper check of the room for surveillance equipment and any biohazards. It came up clean, or clean enough, considering it was a hotel room. He plugged his phone in on the bedside table without turning it on. It was just a burner but Bruce would check for it eventually. He didn't need to make it easier.

Knock knock

Tim heaved himself up silently and padded to confirm if it was Kon without a key, an assassin, paparazzi, or (worst of all) Dick.

It was Kon. He opened the door.

“Thanks man.” Kon breezed in and started unloading bags at high speed. Tim watched his teammate open up the mini fridge and start packing in coffees. He smiled. Then Kon started putting in vegetable puree style juice. Tim frowned. A bunch of bananas and “What even is that?” Tim complained. “A potato? You brought a potato?”

Kon gave him a piteous look. “It's a mango, Tim.”

Tim crossed his arms. “I don't see why we need it,” he muttered suspiciously. It still looked like a potato. He knew all about potatoes. Maybe Kon just ate raw potatoes like a- like a chicken or something.

“Why��” Kon smiled in disbelief and shook his head a little. “You don't have to eat it. You might like it, though.”

He chose to keep his thoughts on that to himself.

Kon let out a delighted laugh anyway and floated over, dubious potato still in hand. “Don't be so grumpy, baby,” he crooned.

Tim huffed. “I am not grumpy,” he lied. “I am just rightfully suspicious of unidentified produce in my vicinity-”

“I identified it,” Kon pointed out. He leaned down and brushed hair off of Tim’s face. “I promise it's a mango. Let me give you a taste?”

Ugh. Fine.

Kon rightfully took his posture as agreement. He looked under his eyelashes coyly as he peeled some skin off- and okay, that didn't look like a potato. Tim relaxed a little. Kon brought the mango up. Tim leaned towards it but Kon brought it to his own mouth and took a bite, releasing a sweet scent into the air. He swallowed. He put the mango down and crowded into Tim.

Oh. Tim realized where this was going. He smirked up at Kon and trailed his fingers up the bigger boy's biceps. God, they were enormous. When Kon leaned down, Tim lifted his face to match their lips together.

They were soft and- weirdly big. Tim wrapped a hand around Kon’s neck to pull him down more firmly so he could explore the new feeling. Was that how it just felt to kiss someone with bigger lips than yours? He licked the bottom one and dug his fingers into Kon’s scalp. Kon sighed and slid his hot hands around Tim’s back. Fuck. Tim pressed back into them. The one spanned the back of his whole waist and the other was splayed over both of his shoulder blades. Fuck.

Unfortunately, Kon took the movement as asking for an end. He broke the kiss and took a step back, eyes hazy. Tim let his hands drop to his sides. “How was the mango?” He asked, husky.

Tim had to take a moment to process. “I have no idea.” He squeezed his hands into fists. “I didn't notice that at all.”

Kon preened.

Ah. Tim frowned. He should have realized that would fuel Kon’s ego. “Are you hungry?” He checked.

Kon blinked. “No, not really.”

“Good.” Tim fisted the lapels of Kon’s jacket. He pulled in to get Kon off balance– and Kon let him. Tim pushed back. Kon went backwards onto the bed with pure confusion on his face. Tim swallowed a laugh and crawled into Kon’s lap. He knew he was making the smug expression that Stephanie had hated in bed, but Kon didn't seem put off at all. “Can I?”

Kon swallowed. “Y-yeah.”

[truthinlifetarot]

How To Access Your Best Self

How to Pick a Pile? Some of us focus on the image that seems to call to us most, some intuitively choose regardless of picture. Don't overthink it. Choose whichever pile you feel called to. It may even be more than one!

Gif credit: @userscully

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Pile 1: Take a moment. Make a wish. Instead of thinking about how improbable that wish is and how many tedious things would have to happen in order for it to come to fruition, just throw the wish away. Let it go like bubbles on the wind. Like it's not even yours anymore. Your biggest problem is overthinking and negativity. You have to fix that.

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Pile 2: Judge yourself as worthy of being who you want to be. For most of you this will mean taking physical action towards your goals. This action will bring you over a threshold that holds you back. In judging yourself, see only the good parts of you that make you smile. Yes, there are parts that need improvement, but we aren't looking at those right now.

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Pile 3: Treat yourself as royalty and someone worth love, riches, and everything else they want in this world. Use your hands to create what you want. Think of all the small things that your best self would know, or do. Make sure you know those things. Make sure you can do those things. Your future self is ready to be here, but certain steps need to be taken first.

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[touchtranscendslanguage]

Update and Fae Story Recommendations

First of all, I want to thank everyone for being so patient with me. This year has been A Lot. Sadly, I don't know when I'll be able to continue writing Touch Transcends Language. I don't think it will be any time soon.

In the middle of the year, a dear loved one was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died soon after. It took me a while to recover from that.

Recently, just when I was getting into writing again, another loved one who has had many health problems throughout the year and whom I have been helping care for was also diagnosed with cancer. We have high hopes that it isn't terminal (medical science is on our side) but it's a shock and at the same time we found out my loved one had another significant setback in health. It's important I be here for this person and other family members, so that's where my priorities are.

As far as writing goes, it's just not that important compared to everything else. I'm writing what I can, when I can which means I'm gravitating towards whichever of my WIPs feels right in the moment. Lately that hasn't been TTL and I don't know when it will be again.

On a much lighter note:

It has been brought to my attention that some of you may be in the mood for more fae stories! I have read quite a few Sanders Sides fae fics and have three recommendations for series in the fandom that I think everyone should absolutely read!

I also have a recommendation for a book duology that has nothing to do with Sanders Sides that I think you guys would love. It does not get nearly enough attention, in my opinion.

For Sanders Sides fics:

Love and Other Fairytales by SoDoRoses is, of course, a classic that many of you have probably already read. You can find it on AO3 if the link doesn't work. It's a poly love story about a human who was gifted a siren's voice by his fairy godmother, a witch who grew up hunting fae, a changeling who was raised by humans, and a faerie prince who was cursed to sleep for a hundred years. It's wonderful and if you want more smut you can find plenty of it for the story under one of the writer's pseuds! The main series is also available here in podfic form!

(Un)Wanted by TheAsexualofSpades is another classic! You can also find it on AO3 if the link doesn't work. It's a platonic story about a very traumatized human who is chased into a faerie garden. The fae there see how hurt he is and take him in, helping him heal physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's very sweet with lots of hurt/comfort. And if you contact the writer on tumblr you can pay to get it made in book form (which I have, it's worth it!)

Wasteland, Baby! by things-we-used-tc-share is an amazing fic I found more recently that is not getting the attention it deserves, likely due to a glitch that makes it so that you can't access the series page, but you can go through the fics one after the other. The link is to the first fic in the series which is called In The Woods Somewhere (in case it doesn't work and you have to search for it manually on AO3). It's about a human who falls in love with a fae prince, a witch, and a siren. Except, is he really human? You'll have to read to find out! The series itself is thirty-four parts with a few extras tacked on after and is well worth the read!

This last recommendation isn't a fic, it's the first drafts of two books and it's on the writer's Patreon. It's dirt cheap, though: only four dollars a month to get access to both completed first drafts of the books and the one currently being worked on! (I swear this isn't an advertisement, I just really love these books)

Try All By Fire 1 & 2 by Linked Soul are absolutely incredible. Just. Holy shit. I've read them so many times. The weird girl of the human village grows up visiting the asshole fae criminal forced to protect her village to pay for his crimes. As time goes on they slowly grow on each other. Unfortunately, their friendship leads to various people accusing her of being a witch. She has to face her fears and grow as a person to defend herself from these accusations. This summary doesn't do the story justice, but there's only so much I can say without giving spoilers! I promise it's amazing with incredible world-building and characters!

[miloscat]

[Review] Freedom Planet 2 (PS5)

A triumphant sequel.

After the original Freedom Planet, Sabrina DiDuro and the team at GalaxyTrail spent seven years crafting a sequel. I had quibbles about the first game, so I was pleased to find many tweaks that addressed these; not to mention all the other improvements and expansions that make this indie platformer a triumphant sequel.

It's been three years in-world and the main characters have had overhauls to their designs, plus the underdeveloped Milla getting a character development boost off-screen. Turns out the destruction of the MacGuffin Orb in the last game has caused an ancient evil to be awakened, as you do. From there the plot unfolds satisfyingly, with a new team of charismatic villains and some nice twists and turns leading to a climactic showdown on a dragon-shaped spaceship, while doing a good job giving personal stakes to each of the main characters.

The adventure takes our three returning heroines plus the newly playable Neera (a buttoned-up sourpuss with ice powers) across the East Asian-inspired world of Avalice. Only this time, there's map screens that help give much-needed context to the world, as well as hub areas where you can chat to NPCs to further flesh out the story and universe. These are populated by dozens of adorable and unique animal-person NPCs, who have interesting things to say. It all adds up to a much improved sense of place, the worldbuilding now evident on the screen rather than squirreled away in the writers' heads. The storytelling still throws you in the deep end and there's lots of callbacks, so experience of the first game's story helps, but it feels better paced and better explained this time.

Another needed addition is the tutorial level that explains the controls and each character's unique powers. The three returning champs have gotten buffed, with smoother and faster combat with more varied attacks. There's also a new dodge move that adds dynamism to the fight encounters. Energy bars refill faster, and Lilac's spin/double jump doesn't consume any; her dash is thus more useful and can even be interrupted at will, so she's a lot more fun to use as a result. Carol still has her wall climb and motorcycle (still sadly tied to a rare item pickup, but you can now force one to spawn with the equipment system and it doesn't explode when taking damage) plus a cool new throwable disc that you can zip to. Milla has quick access to shields and projectiles, and her big blast is now recharged by dodging which makes for good flow; she now also has a full health bar and her ear-flapping flutter jump is governed by a generous meter.

Less of a success is the new character, Neera. While the others have been rethought and improved since their first appearance, she comes in feeling like a first draft... or like a FP1 character. Her energy meter feels slow to recharge, since it drains to put her in an enhanced state when dodging, and her cool ice powers rely on a fully charged bar. She feels slow and clunky to use effectively, which is a shame for what should be an exciting addition to the roster. She also is the least fun character in terms of story and personality, although she gets a few good moments and some unique dialogue.

All four are available from the start which is nice, although the campaign plays out the same whichever you choose. There's occasionally a different cutscene or line of dialogue, but aside from Carol's Act 2, it's not the different perspective on the story that you get with some Sonic games. This sequel has a whopping 24 levels compared to the 12 or so in the first game, and as far as I'm concerned they're designed very well with some fun gimmicks, although certain ones can drag after playing through them four times. They're still quite expansive and packed, but this time around I didn't mind their length as much; I was enjoying the basic gameplay that much more, and they flowed well enough, that it didn't matter to me.

The combat was more engaging, getting much closer to rivalling the games such as Mega Man Zero that served as inspiration. Enemies maybe were still a smidge too tanky, but you can boost your damage a bit with the new equipment system. Items and potions can be configured to tailor your experience; for each playthrough I started on the easiest difficulty, which gives two bonus items, then tweaked the individual assist settings from there. The first game's settings helped a lot with not dying during gameplay, while this time they just give you more lenient respawns, which seems less useful for struggling players. To be fair I didn't try the auto-guard option which probably helps. The extra life mechanic has also been reworked in an interesting way, but can be quite punishing on difficult boss fights. As for the item system, it didn't have as big an impact as I was hoping; the potion effects are minor and there's a lot more items that make things harder in exchange for bigger rewards than there are ones that meaningfully adapt your playstyle or give you a boost.

Freedom Planet 2 is everything I wanted out of a sequel. The pixel art is effortlessly gorgeous, so much more detailed and expressive; the story is more coherent and engaging; the gameplay has been smoothed and tweaked in the right places. Everything from the first game that was cool or had potential has gotten the boost it needed here; it's just some of the new additions that now feel like they could use a once-over. Whether that means Freedom Planet 3 is an even bigger step up, or whether GalaxyTrail does something else next, I'll be watching with anticipation!

[ember-owlet]

hi, i'm just getting to learn about agere, and i'm a little anxious, i wanted to know if you could write something for mel as a cg?

a/c: absolutely firelight! thank you for your patience. i'm so glad you've been trying to learn more about age regression! speaking personally, it is a wonderful coping mechanism and i really hope this brings you some form of comfort on your journey. (/gen) this was an absolute treat to write and create the moodboard for as i don't see as much mel content in the arcane fandom, much less for elora in the agere tag and i hope to provide as much as i can. ʚ♡ɞ 

dynamic: gn!regressor! reader x cg! mel medarda x babysitter! elora

reader is referred to as: darling, little one, sweetheart, and my love. mel is referred to as mommy.

content warnings: descriptions of anxiety from reader and moments of overstimulation/overwhelm ((stay safe little firelights, you can always come back to this when you're ready))

"Now now darling I'll only be gone for a short while." Mel swept her hand across your cheek and slid down to your chin, giving you a slight tap with her slender finger to the very tip of your nose. Your caregiver had reminded you that she was going away to a council meeting for the majority of the day. "Elora will be here to provide you with anything that you'll need." Mel would look over to reveal the presence of her assistant, the woman giving you a slight nod of acknowledgment and a shy wave as to not startle you further. "You'll be a brave little one for me, won't you?" Despite the thousands of ways you wanted to beg her to stay, you knew that her work was important to her, but being without your caregiver for so long presented a new form of unease. Before you could protest further the door had already locked into place, the sound of the great marble echoing in the open air. Elora adjusted her posture before straightening once again, "I think it's quite a lovely day to go outside, don't you?" She paused, stretching beyond where you stood to retrieve your comfort plush off of the floor, eyeing the other toys and miscellaneous gifts scattered aimlessly, noting to have the place cleaned and organized before Councilor Medarda's return. "And, maybe if you feel up to it I heard there was a lovely spot near the marketplace to find a new outfit for you and your stuffie." Shuffling you weighed your options, and though it would have been wonderful on its own to stay inside and let the thoughts of missing your mommy persist, a day out couldn't hurt? The extravagant doors swung open again, much more persistent than when the two of you had exited the room moments prior. You had no idea where to go, but the overwhelming urge to curl up and cry overtook you as the room spun with you in place. You quickly launched yourself into bed, your ears tickled with the strain of picking up every beat and sound around you. Elora moved with ease throughout the room, resetting the environment to make it as quiet and calming as she physically could. Despite your best efforts, the town square was bustling with activities, unexpected noises, and situations you weren't prepared for. It was too much, and without Mel around to help it didn't take much for the churning in your stomach to become unbearable. The only other person present that brought you a sense of familiarity was now down to a side sitting position. "Hey sweetheart.." she cooed at the edge of the luxurious bed, guiding a pillow and blanket beside you, unrolling the silk should you need easy access to it. "Take as much time as you need. I let Mel know about the situation and she'll be here as soon as she possibly can." she spoke almost in a whisper, the pen in her hand being flipped between each finger back and forth. Her eyes flipped through the tiered bookshelf that rested not too far away from your bedside. "How about I read to you until she gets here. When you feel ready, pick whichever one you like while I get you something to drink." Time was lost in the countless titles that graced your collection, and through small sniffles, you gathered the energy to select a few. You draw a hand lovingly over the worn copy of The Short Tales of a Fox and Their Warren. You loved the way your mommy would effortlessly paint the images of the once lonely fox and how, after discovering another lone rabbit out in the forest, would create a warren of their own. You clutched the book tightly in your arms, another exhale to calm your restless mind. Elora poked her head gingerly into the doorway, the warm, freshly sweet scent of chamomile lingered in the air. The cartoonish mug stood tall and proud contrasted to the elegant tray. Elora bent down to hand you the heated vessel. "Drink slowly, it's still a bit hot." You took short but wide gulps of the tea. It was just what you needed and you exhaled deeply as it warmed your aching body.

Swaddled together in your bed she finishes, "And then, the once lonely fox smiled. For they knew that though this newfound family was different in many ways, they had finally found what they had been looking for: A place to belong. The End." She motioned to close the book, letting the spine crackle before it set into place. She looked down at you; rather fond of the way you clutched onto her side as you slept. Suddenly her attention was taken to the doorway, smiling at the sound of the approaching (and all too familiar) hasty footsteps. "Perfect timing. We had just finished storytime. They finally felt safe enough to rest." she greeted Mel with a gentle nod, sliding herself out of the bed to let the frazzled woman swiftly replace her position and slink into your arms. She looked around at the spotless room and sighed in relief to the peaceful atmosphere. "Thank you Elora. As always, you have done wonderfully. Tomorrow morning please have the rest of the day scheduled in my absence. I think I've had enough excitement for one day." She leans over, brushing aside the strands of hair that fell over your face. Already striking each event from the list, Elora bids the councilor a good evening and closes the door behind her. It didn't take long for you to feel the golden bangles around your mommy's waist, slowly bringing yourself to meet her gaze. "I missed you; so so much mommy." You whine, holding her tighter and burrowing your face deeper into her. She chuckles, wiping the dampness from your cheeks and placing your soft friend in your arms. "I missed you too. You did so well today, my love. Come, let's get you freshened up and ready for bed."

[no1ryomafan]

Ok so I’m someone who doesn’t like going into the dub vs sub debate, I think it’s stupid, I switch between which animes i wanna watch dubbed or not based on the mood i feel or the vibe of the show or if one is simply hard to access i go whichever is available even if I don’t deny the original sub is the definitive version most of the time- and while I’d need to watch Kikaider dub in full yet know overall I’ll probs like the sub more, I was listening to a bit for a gif and wow ngl Dave Wittenberg nailed the scream here better then Tomokazu Seki, I’ll put both below as comparison if I can: (cause tumblr hates videos)

Overall do I like Seki more? Yes, Dave a fine dub voice for Jiro but Seki most of the time nails the notes for him, however, this moment just feels better in English to me. Both screams they’re in pain, yes, but Dave hit for me more. Possibly because there was a delay in the scream? I’m not a va expert so I can’t judge deliveries precisely, but this one just feels better to me. I can def attest dub screams can be more hit or miss but Dave didn’t miss with this one at all. I did not expect to go on a weird va tangent with this fucking show but Gooood I miss it once again.

[elainsgirl]

Nesta conquered 1/3 sisters peak - Ramiel. Feyre conquered UTM. -

I don’t think Nesta is going to revive ghe dusk court or whatever but this isn’t really true.

in nesta’s book, she goes to the Prison and UTM. In Feyre’s books, she has a clear connection with the Prison, visiting it multiple times in pivotal character moments as she forms a connection with the Bone Carver, having a point being made of how she can access it herself through her blood because she’s mated to Rhys. And while Ramiel arguably focuses less, it’s pointed out she’s painted it to hang in her house and also literally has it magically tattooed on her body “marked forever” because it’s the symbol of the court she’s the High Lady of.

I’m not saying that Elain won’t have an important storyline connected to the Prison, but every sister has. And Ramiel and UTM are so important to the series that both Feyre and Nesta also has important connections to both. I expect that like her sisters, Elain will also have similar story beats (each sister went to the Middle for a defining character development moment, visited the prison for the same, fought and had significant interactions with death god(s), used their Made status to wield magical Cauldron created objects and so on). Because these areas and things are big parts of the series and night court.

but Elain and Az don’t have more of a connection to the prison than Feyre and Rhys for instance when we know the prison was given to Rhys and that’s why his blood (and Feyre’s as his mate) is specifically keyed into it. Or how it’s framed as related to silene’s decedents who “sometimes glowed with starlight” when so much emphasis is given to both Feyre and Rhys glowing or shining with starlight repeatedly to the point that nyx is said to “glow with his fathers and mothers starlight” at the end of acosf.

And just because Elain is related to life and rebirth? Feyre is sung to specifically by the Book of Breathings “life. death. rebirth” and has ton of those themes in her story as someone “reborn”and given new life as she was Made (unlike her sisters who didn’t die to be Made) and notes that all life flowed through her hands as she wields the cauldron. She’s born on the holiday that’s dubbed ��the light’s rebirth”. She’s associated with new life many times, like when Cassian says she looked like a goddess of old, crowned and glowing with new life when pregnant.

this isn’t me saying Feyre is going to revive dusk or whatever so much as pointing out that Feyre canonically has more connections if we use your definitions so that’s why it’s a leap to suddenly say Elain will revive it and only haters would deny it.

something is going to happen with the prison/dusk but just as you could say Nesta may have had a defining moment in Ramiel but isn’t unique in that and major characters like the bat boys have parts of their characters getting to the top, Elain will interact with the prison but it’s a wild leap to say she’s set up to revive the dusk court based on the idea that there’s some trend each sister conquered different mountains (while not having connections with the others). Nesta didn’t “conquer” Ramiel, she’s the one from her group not to reach the top. Feyre didn’t “conquer” UTM, it represents the biggest source of trauma for her and the place where she died. They both had big character moments there though as well as in the prison and I expect Elain will be the same.

sorry if this sounds strong but the way that this is being talked about, only “antis” don’t see, the dusk court being theorized in a way that whichever sister “revives it” will be this ultimate One, like there’s set up one sister is the one ultimately connected to it and don’t really look at the bigger picture of how it’s been used in the story as pervasive and impactful rather than connected to one or two characters.

UTM was Feyre’s defining character moment. Yes she died but she died protecting those she loved. She died for sacrifice and love. Its a mountain that played a huge part in Feyre’s life. ramiel didnt have that impact on feyre. Nor did the prison.

RAMIEL was Nesta’s , where we saw her choose to live, protect and survive. It was her defining character moment - what acosf led upto, so what she if she didnt reach the top? The mountain still had a huge impact on Nesta. Same for Nesta. UTM nor The Prison were there for this character-turning moment.

So whilst Nesta or Feyre may be connected to the prison- its not their significant mountain. They’ve had their moments in their book.

In Elains book she will have HER moment with the last sister peak, the last mountain to be conquered and thats the Prison. A character whose connected to Life and Nurturing bringing back to life a dead, isolated land is pretty straightforward imagery and symbolism.

Feyre and Rhys are connected to the prison but they’ve had their main story span over 3 books. Nesta had one book in which it built up this moment at Ramiel. She will now be a secondary character, she’ll play the role in Elains book that feyre played in hers. A character that is tied to the plot but doesn’t carry it forward. Elain will carry the plot forward and have her essential moments in acotar 5. Nesta isn’t going to do something huge in regards to the prison…when its ELAINS books. Same with Feyre. If Mass wanted her to do something huge as reviving an entire court it would have taken place in the og triology. Mass has clearly been saving the prison for someone else and since it didn’t play a huge, crucial part in Feyres or Nestas book / it leaves Elain. Elain might revive the prison but it could be Feyre that ends up ruling it. It could be Rhysands power that allows it to thrive as it once did. Or maybe elain does something else in the prison that’s huge but it takes all 3 sisters to revive the court.

so whilst im not denying that other characters are connected to the prison, all Im personally saying is that it will be the mountain Elain conquers, the mountain where she’ll have her main defying moment. Mass could have done it for Feyre or Nesta but as we can see, she chose it for Elain.

[alandietrich]

INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BERKELEY ON THE OCCASION OF HIS SWEARING-IN JANUARY 20, 2025

By Alan Dietrich

My fellow Americans—

Today, amid friends present and past, we celebrate the legacy of a nation that has taught us how to respect our history and build upon it for a grander future. We stand together in this sacred moment, bearing witness to the peaceful transfer of power that has defined our democracy for over two centuries. It is a tradition that speaks to the strength of our institutions, the resilience of our people, and the unshakable faith we have in the promise of America.

I know something about that promise. My grandparents came here with little more than a dream and the belief that America would keep its word to those willing to work for a better future. My parents raised me to understand that citizenship is a duty, that democracy is not self-sustaining, and that the American dream is not a guarantee—it is a covenant, renewed by each generation’s commitment to one another. It is a commitment I carry with me to this office, a promise that, as your President, I will work every day to uphold.

We face challenges—real, pressing challenges. Restoring abundance amid an economic shortfall, securing peace in a time of global conflict, sustaining hope in this winter of anxiety and fear. More than any time in recent history, America’s destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek, nor did we provoke, an assault on our freedoms and our way of life. We did not expect, nor did we invite, a confrontation with evil. Yet the true measure of a people’s strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive. And I tell you today: we will rise.

That most fundamental idea cannot be met with merely our support. It has to be met with our strength. Diplomatically, economically, materially. And if Pharaoh still doesn’t free the slaves, then he gets the plagues—or my cavalry, whichever gets there first.

We will take bold action on climate change, not just because we owe it to our children, but because America must lead in the global economy of the future. Clean energy is not just an environmental imperative; it is an economic one. And as the world moves toward sustainable solutions, I intend for American workers to be at the forefront of that movement.

We will fight for a democracy that is worthy of its name. That means protecting the sacred right to vote, defending the institutions that uphold our Constitution, and proving that government can and must work for the people. We will do this not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans—because the strength of our democracy is not found in the halls of power, but in the voices of the people who entrust us with their future.

Innovation is the engine of progress, and America has always been a nation that looks forward. The breakthroughs of tomorrow will be written in the code of today, and our government must embrace that reality. We will invest in the research that leads to new industries, protect the open internet that allows for free exchange of ideas, and ensure that artificial intelligence serves as a tool for human advancement, not human replacement. Because if the next great innovation is coming, I want it to have a Made in America stamp on it.

Public education is not just a line item on a budget; it is the foundation of our democracy, the great equalizer that turns potential into opportunity. Every child deserves a classroom where curiosity is ignited, not stifled. Every teacher deserves the resources to inspire, not just instruct. We will fight for universal pre-K, invest in our public schools, and make higher education more accessible, because the best investment America can make is in the minds of its children.

Healthcare in America should be a right, not a privilege. No family should ever have to choose between putting food on the table and paying for a prescription. We will work to lower the cost of prescription drugs, expand access to mental health services, and fortify our public health infrastructure so that never again does a crisis catch us unprepared. Because the health of our people is the health of our nation, and a nation that takes care of its people is one that takes care of its future.

If we think we have reached the limit of our resolve, we need only to look to these heroes and decide that our resolve may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes, and we reach for the stars.

And to those who seek to divide us—to those who would tell us that our differences are too great to overcome—I say this: America has never been a nation of easy answers. We have never been a people who shrink from adversity. Ours is a country that was built on the courage to believe that a better future is always possible. We have proved it time and again. And we will prove it again now.

In this moment, I ask something of each of you. I ask you to believe—not in me, not in any one leader, but in each other. Believe in the promise of America, in the strength of our diversity, in the resilience of our spirit. Believe that our best days are ahead of us. Because I do.

May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

@berkeleys

[throughtrialbyfire]

Fic Author Self-Rec!

tagged by the lovely @mareenavee , thank you so much!! <3

tagging @dirty-bosmer @orfeoarte @gilgamish @umbracirrus @totally-not-deacon @v1ctory-or-sovngarde @thequeenofthewinter and YOU!! no pressure to participate, and if you haven't written 5 fics, feel free to just talk about whichever ones you have!!

Rules:

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love!

i'm going to paste each fics summary, and then go on my tangents!

An Inner Sanctity

Two months after attempting to utilize the Eye of Magnus and gain it's power, Ancano wakes up in an unfamiliar cottage, being cared for by the very person he intended to destroy. Navigating their strange and new dynamic, the Thalmor agent finds he may be offered second chance at life, but whether or not he takes it is another story.

this fic is a huge work of exploration into what indoctrination can do to someone who has never known any different, and how that can affect things as broad as worldviews and as personal as one-on-one dynamics with people. it's also partially catharsis-fic, as giving ancano some of my own mental and physical issues and dialing it up to 10000000000% is a hell of a lot of fun. i love seeing that old man suffer and then earn his rise from the ashes. plus, using athenath in a fic where they cant rely on the other two of the trio - as this is in an AU i call the "athenath solo run" - forces me to think of how they would handle situations on his own. spoiler? not too well.

it's on a hiatus at the moment despite having a pretty long backlog, i just don't have the motivation right now to edit and write more for it, but that definitely will change in the future, because i really love exploring ancano's psyche and how he begins to grow and change.

also the fic title comes from the song "Twilight" by Bôa, while that doesnt have anything to do with the fic, i loved the line "you give me an inner sanctity", sooooo <3

The Mark You Left

Two scientists realize, upon losing contact with Dr. Richtofen, that they are truly alone in the aftermath of their actions.

i don't have 5 fics for TES, so have my singular CoD Zombies fic as well! i've had a special interest in the ultimis timeline of CoD Zombies since uhhhh 2011? maybe? sometimes it lays dormant for months and then all of the sudden i think about it daily, especially the dynamics between Dr. Schuster, Dr. Richtofen, and Dr. Groph. so, i wrote this as a bit of a loveletter to a fandom i no longer am part of, but still have a lot of fondness for. it's a quick read that hits on this concept of ultimate betrayal in the aftermath of literally betraying someone else for that person. two people dealing with that, processing that, and what they'll do in the wake of all of this.

the title for this fic comes from the song "Birds" by BENN, who used to make CoD Zombies-based songs before rewriting/redoing them for his own original work!!

Portraits Under Forgotten Suns

A collection of short one-shot fics done for TESFest 2023. A werewolf in his cage, a Bosmer alchemists' first memory, a Dunmer mage's quiet contemplation, a humble keeper's last look at the place he's called home, a sailor's fate at the wreck of the Brinehammer, and an Altmer bard's fond summer memory.

as it says on the tin! its a series of one-shots i initially published to tumblr, then moved to Ao3 to make them more accessible and have a ready archive of them! i loved working on each of these, getting into different perspectives, and figuring out how to convey the narratives of the characters i worked with. i liked writing up details of my dragonborn trio's pasts, too, and the story for "Forgotten/Devotion" was a hell of a lot of fun, getting to pull the wreck of the brinehammer into a fic!

If by Sun and Moon I Swore

With the Empire's victory in the Skyrim Civil War, Hadvar has been quietly readjusting to regular life. When an old friend turns up at his door, that quiet he'd hoped for comes to a halt.

i love hadvar/ralof with all my wretched pining heart okay. i cannot deny this pair has a vice grip on me! and working with them, two soldiers touched by war on opposite sides who once had something (in this case, used to be (and still are) in love), can be something both so tragic and so healing. pulling this pair back together, giving them some form of comfort, even if it's brief, is such a joy. i have intentions of writing more for this couple in the future, but that's likely going to be a while. still, i'll be sure to let you guys know if i do get around to it!!

this fics title is from "Like The Dawn" by The Oh Hellos! its my quintessential hadvar/ralof song for sure <3

Cycle of the Serpent

Surviving Helgen by the skin of their teeth, three elves find themselves tossed into the middle of ancient legends, a civil war, and a hell of a lot of problems. They may all have different reasons for being in Skyrim, but if they have any hope of reaching their destinations alive, it lies in learning to trust their strange new companions… no matter what. From the ruins of Helgen to the plains of Whiterun, from the seas of Solitude to the grim frost of Winterhold, and everywhere sprawling beyond, the unlikely trio will find that being chosen by Akatosh is more than they've ever bargained for. And with their own histories crawling back, and secrets slowly spilled, the trio may find that there's little they can do to escape the cycles they've made.

this longfic is… a huge undertaking. "An Inner Sanctity" focuses on two very flawed people coming to love one another. "Cycle of the Serpent" focuses on three very flawed, extremely fucked up people learning to trust one another and face whatever fate awaits them together, even when that trust is tested, even when the world is cruel, even when trauma batters and bruises them in the current and then rises up from the briny depths of the past to tug them back down beneath. it's about sustained and sometimes self-fulfilling cycles of hurt, anger, and sometimes vengeance, and it's about love and joy and companionship and friendship that lives within it all.

in short, this longfic is one of my biggest undertakings in a very long time.

i started this as a bit of a joke. the idea of there being more than one LDB was a fun idea, and then i created three elves, and those three elves gave me their family histories and their childhood friendships and their previous travels and how it changed them all prior to helgen and i went… yeah i can't just not write this and go insane about it. these three and their various methods for dealing with situations, their triumphs and defeats, and how they bounce off one another became so organic and real to me that i feel continuously pulled to keep their narrative going. this story forced me to write my first ever combat scenes (posted the snippet of my second ever real combat scene tonight!) and learn how to navigate keeping it within TES lore, while also breaking out of some of the stale writing in skyrim itself. i have plans to rewrite/overhaul entire questlines and characters to give them more life, and i've got dozens of OCs lined up - at least one of whom is hinted at within the first chapter. i have this story and these characters arcs planned out, and they do get particularly grim at points, but i never want this story to go into "there is no hope" territory. there's always hope, it just lies in learning to break your own cycles, even if it feels like it may kill you.

the title of this fic was taken from the song "Pillar of Na" by Saintseneca, i very heavily envision emeros as the first verse, athenath as the second, wyndrelis as the third, with the fourth being all three of them, and the fifth (the "eternal, eternal, eternity round…") being a sort of ensemble of all the places and people they've touched in their lives.

woooooooooooooooo!! that was long-winded. thank you for listening to me ramble on these, and thank you so much again for tagging me, mareena!! i hope everyone is having a lovely wednesday/thursday!! <3333