#while pointing to a massive chart

[phantom-of-innaovitch]

I’ve always found it interesting that when straight people make stories or media the villain is often queercoded but when gay people make media they’re like “I diagnose you with Aromantic.”

[avelera]

I’m curious, how much control do you think Viktor was in in season 2?

I have tried to analyze this but am honestly stumped. Because on one hand it is clearly his intentions and logic being used. Since the beginning he has been wanting to heal people afflicted in Zaun (while it was also to cure his illness I don’t doubt wanting to help those in need was a legitimate motivation). He does immediately go to heal people in Zaun and all the conclusions he jumps to through the season do seem perfectly reasonable for him. He was the type of person who didn’t even conceptualize in season one that something like the hexclaw could be used as a weapon. That and the hexcore showing that he was a pacifist to the point of it being a massive blind spot to danger. So it makes sense being shot by Jayce of all people while in his eyes he was healing people would cause him to go all glorious evolution mode as a natural progression of his arc.

On the other hand he definitely didn’t come back right. The show makes a point to show in season one that the hexcore has some level of physical control over him, and even when going to heal the shimmer addicts he is following Sky’s voice. The writers also confirmed that it indeed was not Sky and was the hexcore manifesting his guilt to push him towards to glorious evolution. And his emotions definitely seem to be muffled and unexpressive. I know this part is joked about a lot but honestly even the fact that he chokes Jayce is surprising because he is consistently characterized as a pacifist to the point of it being a fatal flaw. He doesn’t even commit an act of violence in a show filled with fight scenes until the second to last episode, let alone against Jayce of all people. I think the last thing season one Viktor would do is intentionally cause physical harm to someone, hence why it is only at the part where he is the farthest gone.

Basically if I had to guess I’d say it’s like 50/50 level of control, but you have written some great character analysis so I’m curious what your thoughts are as to how much of season two was Viktor and how much was the Hexcore

Honestly, Anon, I'm wrestling with this on almost a daily basis myself when I write fics. It's definitely not helped by the fact they avoided a lot of exposition in S2 in favor of pacing (the slower pace of S1 allowed for a lot more signposting and exposition of what was going on, I think somewhat to the detriment of S2) and the fact that we don't really get much of Viktor after he stops being the Machine Herald, because to my eyes that's the first time we see the real Viktor all season and it would be nice to get him to express some contrast with what came before (though of course it would ruin the pacing of a perfect moment).

I think you basically nailed all of the points of confusion. I've ever considered tracking all the points where his voice warps for clues, because I think there is something to be gleaned from how and when his voice distorts, but in what direction is also a curious question.

Was saying "affection" kept them together more or less than what Viktor would have said to Jayce? Would he on his own have said love? Or would he, in his infinite shyness, have not dared to mention emotion at all, because Viktor is an expert at pushing those closest to him away and hiding his own emotions? Was that the Hexcore trying to drag Jayce in closer by calling it affection, or push him away before it could gain strength by lowering Viktor saying "love" down to just saying "affection"?

On the other hand, during the Herald's villain monologue at the end in the Astral Plane, his voice is distorted for almost every line except, "This senseless waste," which does feel like a sincere Viktor line, perhaps the only one that is truly him that whole time, including when he said he was pleased to see Jayce, in that horrible mocking tone. Could that not be the Hexcore speaking there?

I'll offer what I think is happening:

In order to chart "What is Hexcore" vs. "What is Viktor" it's less useful to look at Viktor's motives than the Hexcore's.

The Hexore wanted to expand its influence. It wanted to become powerful enough to have its own army and to destroy the civilization around it as other versions of the Hexcore have done throughout history. I believe it reached those goals by posing them as things Viktor, on his own, would want to do like help the needy, thus hiding its ends inside of Viktor's motives.

Note too that people who have dosed up on Shimmer are more susceptible to its molding.

Hence we can assume that the Hexcore, in the guise of Sky, using Viktor's guilt about her and his own failures to help the undercity, guided Viktor down to the Shimmer victim encampment specifically.

Viktor is not a mystic. The most mystical thing he says in S1 is that the Arcane speaks through mages. But the Hexcore is a magical artifact. Something like the Hexcore also destroyed a civilization centuries ago, and the figure in Heimerdinger's memory looks like Viktor when he's cloaked.

So personally, I think we can ascribe any mysticism to the Hexcore's influence too. That means the Cult, for example. Also Viktor's, "You need not suffer anymore," and kind of making them all genuflect to him, feels very OOC and just plain wrong for Viktor.

Whereas Viktor in the Astral Plane feels like real Viktor. Even the fact that when we show his point of view out into the world he is himself in a field of stars, seeing the real world projected in front of him like Plato's Allegory of the Cave gives the impression of imprisonment, like he's looking out through the windows of his own eyes to a shrouded world he can no longer directly touch.

And note, for example, that Sky/the Hexcore doesn't want Viktor to heal Vander. That's all Viktor. I believe the reason is because it doesn't want to run out of energy too quickly.

Basically, I think the Hexcore is stringing Viktor along there as Sky, giving him a little terrarium of stars to play in, while using him as a vessel of assimilation under the guise of healing. These are on both sides, inner and outer, things that Viktor wants to do, so he's seduced. He doesn't fight it.

I also think at a certain point, the Hexcore Viktor gains enough power to be able to impact people who aren't dosed with Shimmer. I think this comes later though, which is why it's not interested in Jayce at first but it is interested in assimilating him later. At that point, again, those motives align with Viktor's own sincere desire to see Jayce again (maybe he's sick of all the hippies in the commune lol) and the Hexcore is happy to get rid of someone who could conceivably stop it.

But note, the Hexcore is still playing along with Viktor. It could forcibly assimilate Jayce, but Viktor wants Jayce to choose his side willingly, so it holds back. In part too because that disappointment is what fuels Viktor to give himself over the Hexcore's goals entirely and ask for Singed's treatment with Apex Shimmer. At that point, as the showrunner noted, it doesn't need the guise of Sky anymore, it doesn't need to string Viktor along anymore. He's bought into the idea of forcibly assimilating the world if he can't get Jayce to join willingly.

I also heard an interesting theory that I'd like to factor in: basically, until he gains access to the Anomaly, Viktor doesn't have the power to strip himself of the Hexcore's influence or overcome it. That's why there's no point in Jayce trying to get through to him sooner, it wouldn't do anything because Viktor would still be trapped in its web.

Once they have the Anomaly, Viktor as an ascended being can strip away the Hexcore's influence. And that's why I lamented that we don't get more of his thoughts in that scene. Because I think an interpretation can be made that the Machine Herald look is just the human form of the Hexcore, using Viktor as a vessel.

Once that outer shell explodes, it really is Viktor again, with all the power of the Anomaly and Jayce's rune at his disposal. Now he and Jayce can work together to reverse the damage, free all the trapped souls from the Hexcore's web, and save the day. But we see that only then Viktor is able to view his own actions as himself, and he's horrified. There I think we get Viktor's one true, sincere reaction to everything that has happened up to that point and confirm that, yes, while the Hexcore interwove its seduction through Viktor's motives, none of this is what Viktor wanted. The ultimate outcome was the Hexcore's goals.

Quick Doylist addition: I also think there's definitely a draft where it's all Viktor getting controlled, but the writers know that can be kind of boring. It's better when characters take action and make choices, rather than being controlled. So I think that's why they settled on a combination of "The Hexcore's end goals, but Viktor's underlying motivations being twisted to support them."

[jungshookz]

smitten: y/n (reluctantly) agrees to go to jimin's big halloween bash and she forgot how much she actually hated parties

➺ pairing; jeon jungkook x reader

➺ genre; smitten!miniseries!! bff!kook and smitten!y/n!! university!au!! honk honk humour!! the boohoo angsty wattpady fic of your dreams!! the pining and yearning is off the charts!! jimin’s still an asshole but what’s new!! 

➺ wordcount; 9.2k

➺ summary; putting on a smile while watching ji-eun cuddle up to jungkook is already hard enough, but when y/n is (reluctantly) invited to jimin’s massive halloween party, she can’t help but even more out of place. 

➺ what to expect; “you know, you’re my best friend and i wanna make sure that everything is… good between us.”

➺ currently playing on cee.fm; favourite crime [olivia rodrigo]

➺ smitten: part one [the almost confession]; part two [the incriminating note]; part three [the date]

»»————- 👻 ————-««

you’re pretty sure you’re in hell. 

you’re not sure what you did in your past life to have deserved this, but past-life y/n must’ve killed a baby or set an entire village on fire or something to that degree because you’re pretty sure that in this current timeline, you’re in hell 

you stay quiet as you munch on your (slightly soggy, unfortunately) sandwich, scrolling through your phone (but not really paying attention to your instagram feed because apparently you’re a glutton for punishment and you keep wanting to look up and just stare at jungkook and ji-eun in all their coupley glory) while your foot taps anxiously against the ground 

you know that if you say you can sit somewhere else to give the two of them some privacy that jungkook will insist that you stay, but you feel like the longer you sit here the faster the people around you will see that you’re just a big ol’ monster truck sized third wheel

you could lie and say that you have to go to the library to get some work done, but jungkook’s really good at knowing when you’re lying to him (apparently you have VERY obvious tells which you were very unaware of) so that’s not going to be a feasible plan either 

it’s just that being here is incredibly uncomfortable but it seems like the only option you have is to stay and sit through it — which, again, reiterates your point of you being pretty sure you’re being punished for something you did in your past life

“my handsome boy…” ji-eun giggles lightly, reaching over to adjust the collar of jungkook’s jacket before leaning over to kiss him on the cheek, “i like this jacket a lot.” 

“yeah?” he gives his girlfriend a boyish grin, looking down at his jacket before looking back up at her, “lucky for you, you can borrow it anytime you’d like-“ you glance up at them, the little voice in your brain stopping you from interrupting them to say that that is a nice jacket because you chose it for jungkook — and you feel like that comment could potentially lump you into the pick-me-girl-best-friend category which you’d very much like to avoid 

“borrow? no, i’m stealing it-“ 

“no way! i got this thrifted for, like, fifteen bucks, i’m not letting you steal it-“

“alright, then you better sleep with one eye open the next time i stay over at yours because this is a nice jacket-“ 

you can’t help but look over at the empty seat next to you on the bench as you let out a quiet sigh… you have never felt so horribly single in your entire life. 

and it doesn’t help that it’s cuffing szn this cuffing szn that all over your social media — your tiktok feed has not been very friendly to you as of late, the app flooded with countless videos of cute couples bundling up for the colder seasons

if anything you need to be cuffed to the wall before you go crazy and rip your eyelashes out from frustration 

unsurprisingly, jungkook and ji-eun are a couple now, but really, are you surprised? jungkook is great, ji-eun is great, they went on a great first date (thanks to you, let’s be honest) and all the dates after that went well too because it lead to jungkook asking ji-eun if she wanted to be exclusive with him 

you knew that things were going well when jungkook started hanging out with you less and less

and then when they officially got together, you didn’t think it could possibly get any worse but your already puny twice a week hangouts turned into two hours a week before he’d zip off to spend time with ji-eun

in fact, within the last two weeks, he’s only hung out with you once… which is fine, because you understand the honeymoon stage and you understand how giddy people can be when they get into a brand new relationship and just want to spend all their time with this new person 

you know for sure that if you were the one who’d gotten into a new relationship, you’d definitely want to spend as much time with your person because why wouldn’t you want to do that? you really can’t blame the guy 

you have other friends you can hang out with, but it’s just not as fun because even when you’re having a good time with them, your mind keeps wandering back to what jungkook is doing with ji-eun 

and of course, when jungkook mentioned to you over a quick lunch one afternoon that he was planning on asking ji-eun to make things official, it’s not like you could tell him that it was a horrible idea and that he shouldn’t be dating ji-eun without ruffling feathers and raising brows of suspicion 

the only person it would be a horrible idea for would be you, and you’re not enough of a dickhead to ruin a potentially good thing because of your own desires  

and obviously, she said yes because why wouldn’t she say yes?

…

you know, there really isn’t a way for you to talk about this situation without sounding like the most bitter person on the planet, so perhaps you should move on now  

“okay, i’m putting you two on drinks duty for the party!” jimin seems to appear out of thin air and you turn your head to look at him standing at the front of the table with an armful of flyers and the usual bossy, snarky persona that literally drains you every time you have an interaction with him, “unless you’re too busy making out to handle that.” 

“no, we can handle it-“ ji-eun rolls her eyes playfully, pulling away from jungkook before reaching over and plucking the list from jimin’s slim fingers, “jesus, jimin. twelve bottles of vodka??” 

“i’ll give you my credit card, just put all the charges on it-“ jimin shrugs, sliding in next to you before nudging you over a little, “this is going to be my greatest party yet. i’m charging $10 an admission and i’m renting out this huge house- i don’t think you can even comprehend how massive this party is going to be. it’s gonna be so much better than last year’s one.” 

“i remember hearing about your party last year!” you chime in, offering jimin a polite smile even though he’s not looking at you, “it sounded like it was super fun.” 

“so, you guys are on drinks, so that’s covered-“ jimin makes a tick on his clipboard before nodding to himself, “decor is covered, catering is covered, rent for the night is covered…” 

you poke your tongue against the inside of your cheek, slumping in your seat a little and resisting the urge to roll your eyes

you still have no clue what jimin’s problem is with you, but at this point you’ve gotten used to the way he acts like you literally do not exist at all 

you mentioned it to jungkook one time, wondering if maybe you were just looking too far into it and that there was nothing to take personally to which he responded with an enthusiastic nod and a “no, i also get the vibe that he doesn’t like you and i have no idea why… just let him be an ass if he wants to be one, don’t stoop to his level. life is too short to waste energy on weird people.” 

so if jimin wants to continue being an ass to you, you’re just gonna let it roll off you like water off a duck’s back 

“funny enough, y/n and i were gonna go to your party last year, but the kids in y/n’s building were trick or treating so we decided to stay home and watch horror movies and hand out candy instead-“ jungkook clears his throat, eyes flickering over to you for a brief second, “we also, like, decorated the doorway like it was a haunted apartment to freak the kids out. and y/n had this great idea to have a cauldron filled with warm spaghetti and she told the kids it was brain stew-“ 

“oh my god, i forgot about that-“ you snort, “i feel like we should’ve done, like, warm pudding instead or something, but the spaghetti kinda had the same effect and my kitchen smelled like an italian restaurant for two weeks after that-“ 

“let’s talk costumes!” jimin interrupts you, smacking his palm down on the table before pointing his pen at ji-eun and jungkook, “please don’t show up in anything tacky.” 

“we were thinking barbie and ken!” ji-eun grins, “not tacky, totally trendy — i know we probably won’t be the only barbie and kens in the room, but it’s just so trendy and i loved her pink sequinned cowboy outfit- or if that’s not available, i think the 80s skater costumes were a vibe-“ 

“i can’t whait to talk about horshes and capitahlism wiv a bunch of ovher kensj.” jungkook laughs lightly with a mouthful of sandwich, dabbing his mouth with his napkin before crumpling it up into a ball and tossing it at you

you scowl playfully when it bounces off your forehead and lands on the ground 

“you could go as allen, y/n. that’d be pretty funny.” jungkook swallows his bite, and you want to tell him that he doesn’t have to include you in every part of the conversation because you can practically see the pity for you radiating off of him in waves 

you know for a fact he feels bad that he’s not been able to hang out with you as much lately because every time you do hang out he always brings you a drink or a snack with sympathetic little puppy dog eyes

and every time you have lunch with him and ji-eun he’s always making an effort to include you in the conversation — especially when jimin is around because again, it’s pretty clear the guy doesn’t like you 

you and jungkook spent an entire afternoon trying to figure out why he didn’t like you so much, but you couldn’t come up with any conclusive results, so now whenever jimin is around, jungkook makes even more effort to include you in the conversation 

“allen was my favourite character, so that’s not even a bad idea.” you chirp, pulling out one of the flyers from jimin’s neat pile before looking at it for the details

“oh, right. yeah, you can come too, i guess.” jimin clears his throat quietly, taking the flyer back from you with a chuckle, “…you don’t seem like you’d have anything crazy going on on a friday night.”  

“i can come too? i thought that everyone was invited to this thing?” you raise an eyebrow, pointing to the little note on the flyer, “all it says is general admission.”

“…right.” jimin smiles sweetly at you, “and i suppose i’ll waive the fee for you since you’re… friends with jungkook.” 

“how sweet of you.” you respond curtly, offering a smile just as sweet before letting it drop as soon as he looks away

you are absolutely dreading having to go to this party. 

»»————- 👻 ————-««

“are you sure you don’t want us to come and pick you up? ji-eun has space in her car, you’d just have to sit in the back with all the drinks n stuff-“ 

“i’m good, jungkook, really-“ you mutter, pausing for a second to smudge out your lipstick before leaning back in your chair and turning side to side to look at your finished look 

not that this is jungkook’s fault, but the fact that the two of you really haven’t been hanging out as often gave you a lot of time to think about what you wanted to dress up as for jimin’s halloween costume, and after a solo spooky movie binge the other weekend, you decided that you wanted to dress up as emily from the corpse bride

sure, it’s been done so many times — but you love the movie and you love emily and you had so much time to get everything you needed for this costume so why not dress up as her?? 

you reach up to adjust your blue wig, tugging at it slightly to make sure it’s nice and secure 

“i’m just gonna uber there! plus, my place is kind of out of the way if you guys are already headed to jimin’s.” you clear your throat, “thank you for the offer though. make sure to let ji-eun know i really appreciate the gesture.” 

“okay, i will…” jungkook murmurs, and you can tell by the tone in his voice that he wants to say something but he’s holding himself back, “i guess i’ll see you at the party, then? we’ll probably be there in about forty minutes.” 

“yes, i’ll see you guys at the party.” you nod, wiping the leftover blue lipstick on your fingers on a tissue before reaching over to get ready to press the hangup button 

“y/n?” jungkook’s voice crackling out from your phone speaker makes you pause, and you pull your hand back 

“yea?” 

“we’re- we’re good, right?” the question is somewhat of a surprise to you due to its weirdly serious, non-jungkook nature, your eyes flickering down to look at the contact photo you have set for your friend

he grins like a maniac at the camera, eyes wide and lit up with excitement at the cheesy corn dog he’s holding in front of him 

the corner of your mouth twitches in a fond smile at the memory of that day — jungkook was convinced he’d be able to eat three corn dogs in one sitting and the day ended with him basically destroying your toilet and then refusing to let you use it until the smell cleared out 

“what do you mean?” you clear your throat quietly, lips parting to say something else before you press them together and decide against it

“i mean- i know we haven’t been hanging out a lot lately so i just-“ jungkook coughs, “you know, you’re my best friend and i wanna make sure that everything is… good between us.” 

“i-“ you pause again, gaze averting to the side as you think about his comment 

if you’re being completely honest, you don’t think everything is good between the two of you — the first reason why being the fact that you are still completely and utterly head over heels in love with him, and the second reason being that he’s in a relationship with someone else and you’re really not sure how much more of this you can take before you go insane 

but this isn’t exactly something you can hash out over a crackly phone call, and you’re really not in the mood to potentially destroy two relationships at once 

you really don’t know what you’re going to do about this emotional mess, but what you do know is that you’re going to have to take it day by day until you’re eventually ready to face it head on — and tonight, your only job is to smile, enjoy being young, and have lots of fun at what you’re sure is going to be an amazing party despite it being hosted by someone who hates your guts for no reason 

“we’re- we’re good, kook.” you manage to push out, despite the words practically fighting their way out of your mouth, “you’re my best friend, too.” 

“okay. so i’ll see you soon?” 

“yea.” you look at yourself in the vanity mirror, wondering if the sadness in your eyes will make your costume that much more believable, “i’ll see you soon.” 

»»————- 👻 ————-«« 

the six pack of lime seltzer water (you got the fancy kinds in glass bottles) clinks in their cardboard carrier as you walk on the sidewalk, blue heels clicking against the pavement as you follow the path leading up towards the house that-

“holy shit.” your jaw drops at the sheer size of this literal mansion — what looks to be an endless number of burgundy bricks separated by neat, thin layers of cement that are stacked on top of each other, two large, white columns that cast identical shadows on the curved sidewalk leading up to the large, black front door, and not to mention, the insane halloween decorations: huge spider webs stretched over the door and windows, fairy lights wrapped around the columns, a stack of pumpkins sitting by the front steps kardashian-style 

you don’t like jimin but you have to hand it to him, he sure can throw a party 

“s’cuse us, sorry!” a trio of girls dressed up as sluttier versions of the powerpuff girls brush past you, bubbles turning around to shoot you a grin, “love your costume, by the way!”

“oh, thank you!” your face immediately breaks into a wide grin, “you guys look great, too-“ 

the random compliment lifts your mood up slightly — you know you’re more than capable of making friends anywhere you go, so if jungkook is too busy mingling with the other couples, you know you’ll be fine 

and hopefully jimin will be too busy playing host to give you any attitude tonight 

you lift your dress up as you make your way up the steps, the corners of your mouth lifting in an excited smile when you see taehyung standing by the door greeting people and collecting their $10 by… having them tuck the bills into the waistband of his boxers

“magic mike?” you laugh, taehyung’s right eye dropping in a wink before thrusts his hips towards you 

“you know it, baby-“ he coos, reaching over to pinch the fabric of your dress to pull you towards him, your cheeks flushing when you stumble into his chest, “be nice to me and i’ll give you a lil lap dance in one of the private rooms-“ 

“taehyung, i swear to god, do not let any of those bills fall into your boxers because i’m not touching anything that touched your penis-“ jimin pops up behind taehyung dressed in a veryaccurate joker costume, his usual blonde hair dyed completely green for the look 

“hi, welcome to the party, $10 an admiss-“ the sweet smile immediately drops from his face when he realises it’s you, jimin leaning back slightly, “wow, corpse bride!” jimin nods, looking you up and down, “seems fitting.” he mutters under his breath, watching as taehyung tapes the neon orange bracelet around your wrist 

“nice to see you too, jimin.” you raise an eyebrow, lifting the six pack up with your other hand, “i didn’t want to come empty-handed, so i brought some drinks!”

“you brought six drinks for a house party? six sparkly waters, too… interesting.” jimin scoffs lightly, plucking the carrier from you before offering you a saccharine sweet smile, “how thoughtful of you. drinks are in the kitchen - first two shots are free, and then it’s $15 a shot after that. cocktails are $5 each, mocktails are $3- you seem like a shirley temple girl anyway- and all of it can be paid through venmo. the bartender will answer any other questions you have. bathrooms are upstairs, and the results to the costume competition will be announced at the end of the night. there are fifteen winners, and the votes are made by everyone here, so you might have a shot at winning something here.” jimin steps aside, gesturing towards the party, “have fun!”

“thank you, jimin.” you smile politely, stepping into the house and immediately rolling your eyes as soon as you turn away from him

so you weren’t able to completely avoid his dickheadedness, but hopefully that’ll be your only interaction with him tonight considering he’s probably going to be busy playing businessman all night 

$15 a shot is kind of insane, though 

you keep your phone pressed flush to your chest as you manoeuvre your way through the packed floor, the neon lights flashing and disco ball glimmering from above making it damn near impossible to navigate this place without bumping into backs and stepping on toes  

the DJ pumps his arm up into the air as he continues spinning his fingers against the discs, the crowd going wild as the song builds up to the chorus 

you can already tell that most of the people here are drunk (you can smell it, too) and you know, if you can’t beat ‘em, why not join them? 

you can find jungkook later, and alcohol is definitely going to make this night a little easier to handle 

“hi!” you smack your hands down on the marble countertop when you finally make your way to the bar, the vampire bartender turning to glance at you over his shoulder before tossing a cloth over his shoulder, “i want- something. shots, a drink, anything-“ your voice is already straining from the way you’re basically screaming over the music but this seems to be the proper way to communicate at a party like this 

“wait, y/n?” your eyes light up when you realise that it’s none other than namjoon in charge of the drinks (and you wonder if your friendship with him will mean he gives you more drinks without charging you for it) and you let out a gasp as you lean over the counter to grasp onto his wrist

“namjoon!” you grin, “oh my god, thank god, finally someone i know at this damn party. why didn’t you tell me you were going to be here??”

“why didn’t you tell me you were gonna be here?! i haven’t seen you at the library at all, otherwise i definitely would’ve talked to you about it- what can i get for you?” 

“top-shelf tequila, baby. i saw the list of brands that jimin bought - i want the most expensive one.” you raise an eyebrow, namjoon laughing to himself before nodding 

“alright, i gotcha- you need any chasers with that?” 

“you got cranberry juice?” 

“for you, i’ve got anything-“ namjoon smirks, holding a finger up to excuse himself  

it’s five seconds later that you’re presented with not one, not two, but three shots of tequila, namjoon winking at you as he slides the cranberry juice chasers over to you as well

“you better take these before jimin realises i’ve given you a freebie- i’m about to take a break here, someone else is gonna come in a sec to replace me- you wanna dance?” 

“um, of course i do!” you can’t help but squeal excitedly, “take one with me!” you push a shot glass towards him, namjoon shrugging before picking up the shot and downing it in less than two seconds

you take your second shot, eyes squinting as the burn of alcohol trickles down your throat 

you immediately shudder, reaching for the cranberry juice and tossing it down the hatch 

“oh, jesus-“ you hiss, shuddering against before sticking your tongue out in disgust, “god, that cranberry juice does not help whatsoever-!” you don’t get much of a chance to say anything else before namjoon has his slender fingers wrapped around your wrist, giggles bubbling out of your mouth as he drags you towards the crowded dance floor to join the rest of the drunken crowd 

»»————- 👻 ————-«« 

okay, so maybe this party didn’t turn out to be as bad as you thought it was going to be! 

“that- oh my god-!” you throw your head back in laughter when namjoon pulls out the worst dance moves you’ve ever seen, your eyes pinching shut as you clutch at your stomach 

you’re not sure how much time has passed (to be fair, it’s gonna be hard to tell how much time has passed when you’re at a massive house party with flashing lights and nothing but the sound of speakers booming to guide you) but you know you’ve been having a lot more fun with namjoon than you’ve had with jungkook these last few weeks) ((in fact you’re having so much fun that you almost forgot you were supposed to be heartbroken that the love of your life is with someone else, but also, that could probably be the alcohol taking over)) 

you know at some point you’re going to have to go over and say hi to jungkook eventually because you don’t want him to think that you’re purposely ignoring him or something — after all, it’s not his fault that he likes ji-eun and it’s not something you can pin on him and grill him for — but for now, you’re going to dance a little more, sing a little more, and- 

“i gotta pee!” you gasp all of a sudden, realising that you haven’t peed once since coming here and there’s a lot of tequila sloshing around in your system

“what?” namjoon furrows his brows, reaching up to tap against his ear, “too loud, can’t hear you!” 

“i gotta go pee!” you repeat yourself, pointing towards the staircase leading upstairs, “’m gonna go pee n then ‘m gonna come right back-“ 

“oh, pee?” namjoon nods, finally catching your words before stepping aside a little, “okay, i’ll be right here!” 

»»————- 👻 ————-«« 

the silence of the bathroom is more than welcome as soon as you step in and flick the lights on, not at all surprised to see a pair of elegant looking wall sconces lighting up the space 

you squint your eyes as you lean into the mirror, double checking that your makeup is still somewhat intact and you don’t look insane 

“hm. not bad.” you mutter to yourself, turning your head from side to side before nodding, reaching down to pull the endless amounts of tulle up so you can hopefully not piss all over yourself in your tipsy state 

…

…

…

you set the lid down as the toilet flushes, turning the tap on and rinsing your hands underneath the cool water 

“oh, damn-“ you wince when you realise you’re washing some of the blue body paint away and you quickly turn the tap off, shaking the water off your hands before reaching for a neatly folded cotton towelette of course, because regular paper towels aren’t fancy enough for a park jimin party 

you give yourself one last glance in the mirror (you could use a little more lipstick but it’s dark down there so no one’s going to be able to tell anyway) before flicking the lights off 

“oops! i’m sorry-“ you apologise instinctively when you open the door and stumble right into someone, taking a few steps back before looking up to see that it’s jimin, “oh, hey…” you clear your throat quietly, standing up a little straighter before offering him a meek smile 

you always feel like you’re in trouble when you’re around jimin and it’s the worst feeling in the world 

like he’s the principal and you just got caught cheating on a test and he’s about to call home to tell your parents as punishment 

or he’s an officer and he’s about to test you with the breathalyser and you know you’re going to fail because you definitely can’t walk in a straight line right now 

“why am i not surprised that you clearly don’t know how to handle alcohol?” jimin snorts, holding his hands out in case you fall over, “you better not throw up all over me, this suit is custom made-“

“i wasn’t throwing up in the bathroom, i just went in there to pee-“ you roll your eyes, placing both hands on your hips before shaking your head, “you are ridiculous, you know that? even if i was throwing up in your stupid fancy toilets, the normal thing to do would be to ask if me i was okay and if i needed some water! you- you are just so self-centred and just-“

“yeah, uh-huh-“ jimin reaches up to pat the side of your face with a smile, “by the way, if you were looking for jungkook, he’s at the VIP booth with ji-eun and the rest of us.”

“oh, perfect!” you nod, thankful for the information, “i’ll pop over and say hi in a bit, i think it’d be good to sit down too because my heels are kind of killing me and i wouldn’t be surprised if i had, like, a million blisters right now-“ 

“woah, i never said you were allowed to be in the booth with us.” jimin scoffs, pressing a hand against your shoulder to keep you from moving, “silly girl.” 

your lips part slightly as you look at him, and for a moment the only thing that can be heard is the faint boom and bass of the music playing from downstairs 

“are you… serious?” you ask, unsure if jimin’s joking with you or not

the bored expression on his face tells you that he is indeed, super serious 

all of this just feels so incredibly cliquey and immature and stupid and you know that you’re supposed to be the bigger person because jimin clearly won’t be and you like to think that you’re ten times more emotionally mature than him but he’s making it harder and harder for you to not want to shred up his nice suit with a pair of scissors and cuss him out in front of everyone 

“i’m dead serious. i’m just telling you this so that you don’t embarrass yourself when your drunk ass stumbles over and tries to join us.” jimin says as if it’s the most obvious thing in the entire world, “enjoy the rest of the party, sweetheart.” he brushes past you to head into the washroom and-

“you’re a fucking dickhead, you know that?” you snap, jimin stopping in his tracks before turning his head slightly so you can just make out the side of his face, “i think i’ve been nothing but nice to you ever since i met you, and to be honest, i can’t even think of one reason why you are constantly so fucking rude and overall just unpleasant to me. i don’t say anything when you purposely cut me out of the conversation, i don’t nag when you ignore my questions and comments but respond to everyone else’s, and most importantly, i’ve never called you out for being a jackass when i think i’ve had every chance and opportunity to. if you have a problem with me, then just say so so that we can hash this stupid weird rivalry out and just get along. your best friend and my best friend are in a relationship, and i think it’s in everyone’s best interest that we at least try to get along-“

“oh, shut the fuck up, y/n.” jimin scoffs, turning around to face you, “you know, you always act like you’re better than everyone else, that’s why i don’t like you.”

you feel your shoulders stiffen at the comment before you shrug, crossing your arms over your chest, “well, i’m sorry if i’ve given you that impression but that’s not my intention, i don’t think i’m better than you, i don’t think i’m better than everyone else, and i can’t control how you feel about me but-“ 

“oh my god, even when you’re confronting me about being a dickhead to you you’re still being a sensible goddamn person, it’s like you’re purposely trying to piss me off-“ 

“okay, well, i’m not going to apologise to you for literally being myself because there’s nothing i can do about it. this is a you problem, not a me problem, so if you insist on being such an unreasonable drama queen for however long we’re going to have to spend time together, then i think the solution here is just for you to ignore me — which, you’re already doing a stellar job of, congratulations — and in return, i’ll happily ignore you.”

“i hate when people aren’t themselves. i pick up on that shit right away, and i gotta tell you, y/n, you might be the fakest person of them all.”

“what the hell are you talking about?” 

“i think we both know you’re hiding something from all of us. i think you’re hiding something from yourself, too. i think you’re lying to yourself.” 

there’s a pregnant pause in the conversation and for a second you want to ask him what exactly he’s implying here, but… 

“alright, jimin, well-“ you turn around to head towards the stairs, “you’re fuckin’ being weird, and i’m just trying to have a good time, so i’m just gonna go back down-“ 

“yeah, have a wonderful rest of your evening, corpse bride-“ 

you resist the very strong urge to whip around and literally just strangle the man, but you remind yourself that before you had this little interaction you were actually having a very good time 

“y/n!” jungkook stands at the bottom of the staircase as you make your way down, being careful not to trip over your heels, “hi!” 

“jungkook! oh, there you are- i was wondering where you were-“ you loop an arm with his as you drag him through the hoards of people and towards the bar (you really need a drink and it looks like namjoon is back on the clock)

“there you are!” he laughs lightly, reaching over to tap your hand gently, “i’ve been texting you all night trying to figure out where you were but- is your phone on do not disturb or something?“

“no, it’s not! i’m sorry, i should’ve checked my phone-“ you smile sheepishly, “i’ve been dancing with namjoon this whole time but- where are you guys sitting?”

“i don’t know, some area that jimin squared off for us and a few others- ji-eun’s been asking about you, she wanted to say hi-“ 

“oh! oh my god, yeah, i should probably go say hi to ji-eun-“ you gesture for namjoon to get you some water and he nods, grabbing a cup and filling it up for you, :your ken costume turned out great, by the way-“ you laugh, patting jungkook’s bare chest, “it’s, uh- it’s really giving horses and the patriarchy.”

“thank you, thank you- and your costume turned out so cool too, we should watch corpse bride again when we eventually have another movie night-“ 

“sure! sure, for sure.” you clear your throat quietly, a moment of awkward silence settling in between the two of you 

your friendship feels so… different now 

like there’s this unspoken air of something in between you and jungkook like an invisible brick wall 

and maybe it’s the liquid courage currently sloshing around in your body and the leftover exhilaration from finally calling jimin out on his bullshit, but now you have the urge to talk to jungkook about the weird tension 

“hey, kook, listen-“ you reach up to scratch the back of your neck, “there’s something i’ve been meaning to tell you but i’ve definitely been putting off for a while…” 

all of a sudden, a drum roll begins to boom from the speakers, the spotlights darting around the crowd before shining towards the main stage at the front of the room, whoops and cheers bouncing off the walls as jimin waltzes his way towards the microphone, a cocky smirk on his face as he raises his hand to get people to quiet down 

“oh, shit, the costume competition results!!” jungkook nudges your side as the two of you turn to face the front, “we can talk about it later, i wanna see who won what- i voted myself for best ken costume, so-“ 

you let out a breath you didn’t even know you were holding and you nod, thankful for the interruption 

maybe it’s a good thing you were interrupted 

telling him in the middle of a party probably wasn’t the best idea, anyway

»»————- 👻 ————-«« 

once again, you really have to hand in to jimin 

the man truly knows how to throw a party, because it seems like just about everyone is having the time of their lives — and this costume competition just made things so much more fun

there are definitely a lot of good costumes here tonight and jimin decided to change it up with twenty-five different categories to go through so he’s kind of speed running through the names 

most scary costume, most realistic costume, most well-made costume: he’s got a lot of categories to get through 

you keep a content smile on your face as the costume contest continues to go on, enjoying jimin’s commentary to the point that you nearly forget that the two of you hate each other and he totally just disrespected you like he’s never disrespected you before twenty minutes ago 

“i wonder how that guy made it look like his head was floating… that shit was so cool.” jungkook claps his hands along with the crowd and you nod enthusiastically

“i know, right?! i’m sure he probably took it off tiktok or something - we can definitely look it up after the party and maybe we can try to recreate-“ you stop yourself mid-sentence, suddenly remembering that you guys haven’t exactly been the closest as of late so it feels weird to be offering to do something together, “um-“ you clear your throat, offering a half-hearted shrug, “yeah, we can, like, look it up later or something. maybe you and ji-eun can figure it out and let me know.” 

“yeah! or- you know, you and me-“ jungkook licks over his chapped lips, “like- you know, like- old times or whatever-“

“yeah, yeah- maybe! maybe-“ 

“now, before i announce this special category, i have something to read because-“ jimin sucks in a breath through his teeth before cocking his head to the side, “well, let’s just say it’s some context for the best simp costume of the night.”

you can’t help but frown at the strange category — out of all the halloween costume competitions you’ve been to, “best simp” has certainly never been one that you’ve seen before 

“just wanna remind everyone that this is just a costume competition, everything is based off the costume you’re wearing.” jimin adds, taking a slip of paper out of his back pocket before unfolding it with nimble fingers, “so, uh- you know. don’t take anything seriously, you know? just gotta loosen up and have fun.” 

your brows dip slightly at the weird disclaimer 

…

something about this doesn’t feel right.  

“dear j, this is something that i’ve wanted to tell you for a while but have never had the courage to until now. throughout our entire friendship, you’ve been so kind and loyal and honest with me, and i think that you deserve the same, so this is me being honest with you.” jimin speaks into the microphone, reading the words off the slip of paper with a tone of amusement laced in his powder-soft voice, “to be honest, i’ve liked you for nearly a year now, and i’ve tried so many times to push those feelings down but it’s clear that my feelings aren’t going anywhere anytime soon…” he recites, a smirk twitching at the corner of his mouth as he puts the piece of paper down, “any thoughts on who the winner could be? or should i keep going?” 

your eyelids flutter slightly at the weird change in mood of the lines and a strange feeling of familiarity of those words

“me at that one hot english professor.” a voice pipes out from the crowd and that gets a round of laughter 

you laugh along politely, but you can’t help but feel as though something is off 

something is off

something is very, very off

“i cherish you as a friend and the last thing i want to do is to make things weird, so… you don’t have to worry about my feelings, you know?” 

oh my god. 

you feel the blood immediately drain from your face when you finally realize why these lines are so familiar — it’s because they’re from the note you wrote for jungkook when you were going to tell him you liked him. 

your brain begins to work overtime to figure out how the hell jimin got his hands on that note and why the hell he’d think it’d be okay to read it aloud to this massive group of people and what the hell he’s even doing right now  

“what i’m trying to say is that i like you, j. i like you so much that i don’t know where to even put my feelings, and i’m sick of holding my feelings back and pretending that i’m fine with being just your friend.” 

you know that jimin’s never really been a fan of you, but even this seems like too much of a dickhead move even for him 

you pluck at the cuff of your sleeve anxiously, tracing your steps all the way back to the day you were going to tell jungkook about your feelings for him and the note that you’d accidentally given him that you were hoping was rotting away somewhere in a dump yard but clearly isn’t 

jungkook said he’d given ji-eun the note to spit her gum out into 

but what if she uncrumpled the paper and saw the note?

and what if jimin was there when she uncrumpled the note? 

and then they read it together and ji-eun mentioned that you were reciting this aloud in the bathroom and-

your heart starts to race in your chest and you feel the hairs prickle on your arms as anxiety begins to bubble in your stomach, and you know that no one’s looking at you but you feel like everyone’s looking at you 

you feel sick

you feel like you’re going to throw up and explode at the same time 

“how could you like someone for a year and not tell ‘em?” jungkook snorts, nudging you with his elbow, “who do you think the poor sucker is who said that?” 

“beats me.” you breathe out, feeling yourself shrink slightly when you notice jimin starting to scan the audience, clearly laser-focused on finding you, “i have to- um, i think i need some fresh air, it’s a little warm in here-“ 

“oh- okay-“ jungkook doesn’t get the chance to say much else before you’re turning around, pushing yourself through the crowd of people and trying your best to stay calm 

just breathe

in and out

in and out 

in and out in and out in and out oh my god HURRY UP MOVE MOVE MOVE-

you’re sure that no one will notice if you slink out through the back

and you can always text namjoon later and say that it was great spending time with him but you had a personal emergency and needed to leave the party earlier 

and if jimin decides to expose you, at least you’ll be gone and out of this house and nowhere near any of these people and you don’t have to look at their stupid sympathetic faces and you don’t have to deal with- 

“and the best simp of the night goes to our lovely corpse bride.” 

you freeze when the spotlight lands on you, your heart going a hundred miles a minute as it starts to beat harder and faster in your chest 

you only manage to turn your head weakly to glance over your right shoulder, catching jimin in your peripheral view before you’re slowly twisting around to face him, feet glued to the ground 

“why don’t you come up here and accept your sash, corpse bride?” jimin smirks, plucking the satin sash from (a shocked looking) taehyung’s arms before raising it up in the air slightly, “congratulations on winning, you get two free drinks from the bar. one for you and one for… well, probably also you. get on up here and claim your coupons!” 

you feel your face burning bright red in humiliation and you’re unable to tear your eyes away from jimin, your hands clenched into tight fists at your sides

this is a nightmare

this is actually a nightmare 

this is traumatising in so many ways 

the music seems to quiet down, a loud silence washing over the room as people look at you with expressions of confusion on their faces, everyone clearly a little thrown off at the weird category 

eyes, there are just a million pairs of eyes on you and you feel like you can’t move or breathe or even do anything but stand still in shock

it’s only then that you notice the calculating look on jungkook’s face, his eyelids fluttering slightly before his eyes widen and his head snaps up and over to look at you

his lips part slightly as his eyes dart over the features of your face and you feel your entire body flushing in humiliation and shame, forcing your eyes away from your friend and back to the dickhead on the stage 

“you are really something else, park jimin.” you manage to mutter out before turning on your heel and pushing your way through the crowd, people stepping aside to let you out 

“aw, where are you going? you had a great costume, that’s all we were trying to say!” jimin laughs, actually laughs into the microphone before shrugging, tossing the sash over his shoulder before moving on, “alright, well, more drinks for me, i guess. the next category is best couple’s costume-“ 

“y/n- y/n, wait!” jungkook’s voice is the one thing you hear among the music and bustle of the crowd but he’s the last person you want to talk to right now so you pick up your pace upon spotting the front door 

tears blur your vision as you finally burst out into the open air, your chin trembling as you try your best to keep your composure and not completely burst into tears

“oh my god, oh my fucking god-“ you whimper, sucking in large breaths of air 

run, run, run, the only instinct you have is to run, and you reach down to yank both heels off before taking off into a sprint, the grass slightly damp beneath your bare feet 

it feels very cliché to be running out of a mansion in a big poofy dress, but you can’t even take the moment to laugh at yourself because the only thing you can focus on is the fact that everything has changed completely and you’re forced to face reality a lot sooner than you would’ve liked 

“y/n, come on!” you turn to glance over your shoulder to see jungkook hot on your trail, “you can’t just run away from a discussion you don’t want to have, we need to talk because we both know that things have been off since i started dating ji-eun and now-“ 

“okay, well, now you know, then!” your chest heaves as you come to a stop to catch your breath (you have no idea why you thought running would be a good idea, you get winded after thirty seconds on the treadmill), spinning around to face your friend who skids to a stop, tripping over his feet a little before standing up straight, “the secret’s out, jungkook. we finally solved the puzzle. i love you. i’ve loved you for so long that i don’t even remember when i started feeling this way, but all i know is i love you. you’re the first person i think of when i wake up and you’re the last person i think about before i fall asleep. i would literally drop everything i was doing if you needed me, and you’re the only person i want to spend my free time with.” all the words that you’ve been holding in for the last who knows how long finally spill out, your mouth running uncontrollably, “i love you so much that i helped you set up your date with ji-eun, i love you so much that i’m willing to run in the rain just to get you a teddy bear and a bouquet that’s not even going to me, jungkook, i-“ you blubber, reaching up to wipe at your eyes, “i don’t know what to do. there is no one else in the world i’d rather be with than you, jungkook, and i- to be honest, maybe it’s a good thing that jimin did what he did because you do deserve to know the truth and you do deserve to know how i really feel about you. if this didn’t happen i think i’d just keep it to myself for the rest of my life, but you deserve to know this. i love you, jungkook. i love you and i don’t know if i can keep being friends with you if you’re dating someone else because it’s actually killing me on the inside-“ 

“i love you, y/n,” jungkook breathes out, and you feel yourself letting out a breath that you didn’t even know you were holding

relief 

for the first time in a long time, you feel relieved, like a massive weight’s just been lifted off your shoulders 

you feel your heart soar in your chest, and suddenly it’s like all the humiliation and shame has completely washed away, and suddenly you have the feeling to run back into the house to thank jimin for doing this because you know you wouldn’t have said anything if it weren’t for this slightly traumatising experience 

“i love you, i do, but… not in that way.” his shoulders droop slightly and you feel your heart beginning to crackle like a delicate glass sculpture, each splinter creating more damage than the last, “i love you like you’re the first person i call when i get good news because i know you’ll be proud of me, or when i get bad news because i know you’ll be there to comfort me. i love you, like i envision you standing next to me at my wedding fixing my tie or calming me down when whoever i end up marrying is walking down the aisle. i love you like you’ll be fun auntie y/n who spoils my kids with shopping sprees at the mall and who allows them an extra scoop of ice cream after dinner. i love you because you make me a better person, i love you because you encourage me to be the best version of myself i can possibly be. i love you because you remind me to be smart and kind and humble and honest and i trust you to be the one to put me in my place if i ever need it but i-“

“stop.” you feel nauseated hearing all of these words coming out of his mouth, telling you that he loves you because and he loves you because but not just i love you too. “just stop, jungkook.” you know that you can’t control someone else’s feelings but you can control your own reactions, and if jungkook would’ve kept rattling on you don’t know what you would’ve said but you know you probably would’ve lashed out at him 

and it’s good that you finally got your answer, right? he loves you, but not in that way — not in the way that you love him 

“y/n, please-“ jungkook whispers, reaching out for you, his eyebrows scrunching together when you take a small step back, wrapping your arms around yourself, “please, i can’t lose you as a friend, you mean so much to me-“ 

“i need some time.” you manage to force out, the sickening feeling of humiliation and shame and embarrassment and disappointment and frustration and anger swirling around in your stomach, “i just need some time.”

“how much time?” 

“you should probably go back to the party.” you clear your throat quietly, offering your friend a weak smile, “i heard you and ji-eun were up for best couple’s costume. not saying that jimin rigged the system or anything, but-“ 

“y/n, how much time?” jungkook’s looking at you with sad puppy-dog eyes, and though it breaks your heart to see him like that, you need to put yourself first for once 

every instinct inside of you screams to console jungkook, to reassure him and let him now that you’ll still be around but you just need some space from him and the whole situation 

your eyes begin to water again as you press your lips together, shaking your head quietly, “i’m gonna go see if i can catch the bus home.” 

»»————- 👻 ————-«« 

(- “the FUCK is wrong with you, huh?!” jungkook barks, slamming jimin up against the wall before grabbing two fistfuls of his shirt, “you sadistic fuck, who in their right mind would ever fucking do that to another human being?!” 

“i’m the sadistic one?” jimin laughs, reaching up to wrap his fingers around jungkook’s wrists, “are you fucking serious? you’re the one whose been dangling yourself in front of y/n like a damn carrot to a starved rabbit-“ 

“what are you talking about?”

“you can’t stand here and honestly say that you didn’t have an inkling that y/n liked you more than a friend. i’ve seen the way you talk to her, i’ve seen the way you look at her, i’ve seen the way you are around her- you think i’m the evil one? at least i don’t take advantage of my friends who are CLEARLY head over heels in love with me and would obviously do anything i wanted them to do and ask them to help me set up a date that i’m taking someone else out on-“ 

“get a fucking life and mind your own damn business for once, you motherf-“) 

🎙️ console y/n or call out jimin because what the hell was that?! (talk to my characters!) 

📚 why not explore the rest of the library while you're here? (go say hi to yoongi and y/n in la vie en bonsai!) 

💫 or perhaps you want something shorter to read? (drabbles and mini series!)

🌟 or something even shorter? (teeny tidbits!) 

[drchucktingle]

whole new chord

there are common routes for artistic buckaroos to trot on their creative journey and find success, but that is only ONE path of many. you can also cut through the woods and chart your own journey. years ago chuck was told i was (and would be) massive failure and nobody cared for my art

would poke around writers groups online with help from sam rand and ask questions or give advice here and there and my way was always ONE HUNDRED PERCENT met with: ‘that is not the real path for getting your writing out there’ or ‘this is not real art’ or even THIS IS A MOCKERY

but i kept trotting on. now i think this timeline has shown where we all stand, and this is not meant to be TOLD YA SO post this is meant to say this: THERE IS NO ONE PATH AS A WRITER, PAINTER, BUILDER, ACTOR, CREATOR, DANCER, ARTIST. in fact this timeline NEEDS more unique paths

and while unique paths are all different the one thing thats same in their trots is this: they will make those in power, from low levels to top of the tower, VERY dismissive and upset. by definition this new way of yours will ruffle feathers, but sometimes feathers need ruffling.

POINT IS: TROT YOUR TROT. if you path is straight down the road thats fine and if its through the woods thats fine too. if you are creating WITH LOVE and harnessing the power of your unique one of a kind way, then you have already won the race.

whether or not the rest of this timeline resonates with what you make is a different story, in fact its DESIGNED not to, but thats not the goal. the goal is to SPEAK YOUR WAY and BUILD YOUR WAY and FILL THE VOID WITH LOVE and that in itself is the greatest prize there is but…

sometimes if you collect enough of these little raffle tickets and luck finally calls your number the WAY YOU RESONATE with not be extinguished by the vibrations of the timeline around you. SOMETIMES the timeline will start to match your pulse, and harmonize with YOUR wavelength

and in those very rare moments something magical happens. you create a whole new chord nobody has ever heard before

[reality-detective]

Prepare Now! They Are Preparing For Something MASSIVE!

Act now before it’s too late! The New Madrid fault line is primed for a disaster, and the 2024 earthquake drills are just the tip of the iceberg. Experts are sounding the alarm—massive seismic destruction could hit any moment, and you need to be ready.

The Warning Signs Are Clear

The intense earthquake drills in St. Louis aren’t routine. They're ramping up for something bigger. Why now? What do they know that you don’t? In 2024, a surge of simulations and drills have sparked concerns, raising questions about what’s brewing beneath us. The New Madrid fault line isn’t just another earthquake zone—it's a ticking time bomb.

This Fault Line Has a Dark History

The New Madrid fault, which stretches across Missouri, Arkansas, and more, has unleashed some of the most violent quakes in U.S. history. In the early 1800s, it literally reversed the flow of the Mississippi River and tore the land apart. Experts believe another catastrophe is looming, and the signs are impossible to ignore.

Since the April solar eclipse, strange phenomena have emerged—rare comets, bizarre animal behavior, and unexplained sky events. These occurrences are eerily similar to what happened before the massive quakes of the 19th century. Coincidence? Or a warning?

The Drills Are Escalating—But Is It Just Preparation?

2024 has seen unprecedented drills, simulating catastrophes on a scale we haven’t seen before. The National Guard isn't simulating small events—they're preparing for an 8.4 magnitude earthquake. The frequency and intensity of these exercises are off the charts. Missouri’s earthquake program manager, Jeff Briggs, keeps warning: the New Madrid fault is a real, catastrophic threat.

From January to March 2024, seismic activity in the New Madrid zone skyrocketed, with 63 quakes recorded. Experts argue over whether these smaller tremors are relieving pressure or building toward something massive. The truth is, no one knows when it will strike—but you don’t want to be caught unprepared.

Is the Media Downplaying the Real Threat?

While drills and preparations are ramping up, media coverage seems minimal. Is the gravity of the situation getting through to the public? If the experts and government are preparing for the worst, why aren't you? These drills aren’t just exercises—they’re warnings.

When the Big One Hits

The last time the New Madrid fault erupted, it was catastrophic. Tens of thousands could die in a modern repeat. FEMA and the University of Kentucky predict unimaginable damage: millions left without power, utilities destroyed, and entire regions isolated from clean water for months.

The experts have spoken—the question is, are you ready?

It's Not Just a Drill—The Time to Act Is NOW

The escalating drills, strange natural events, and seismic activity all point to one thing: the New Madrid fault is ready to blow. This isn’t just another disaster drill. It’s a ticking clock.

The time to act is now. Get informed, get prepared, and don’t underestimate the threat. The ground could shake at any moment, and when it does, the consequences will be dire. Prepare now—before it’s too late. 🤔

[ducktoo]

Syncing Dream [Aespa x M!Reader]

22. Imma get it done

Note: Last chapter of Arc 3! Quite a short arc but enjoy!

Masterlist here

With Supernova a massive hit, aespa was riding high on the wave of their success. The comeback had exceeded everyone’s expectations, garnering rave reviews and sending them to the top of the charts. Y/n couldn’t have been prouder, even though he had become an unexpected viral sensation himself.

But as soon as the hype around Supernova had begun to settle, the group’s attention turned to their next project: Armageddon.

And Y/n, despite the teasing he’d endured from his Supernova dance attempt, found himself secretly thrilled about Armageddon. This style? This was his kind of dance.

The girls were in the middle of rehearsals one afternoon, going over the new moves while Y/n watched from the back of the practice room. His eyes followed the sharpness of Karina’s moves, the precision of Giselle’s footwork, the elegance of Winter’s spins, and the playful intensity of Ningning’s expressions. They were nailing it, as always.

But the choreography for Armageddon stirred something in Y/n that Supernova hadn’t. It wasn’t just that the dance was complex—it was the attitude. The raw, powerful energy reminded him of his trainee days, when he had thrived on styles like this.

As the rehearsal progressed, Y/n felt his chest popping to the rhythm, as if itching to join in. He could already picture himself moving through the motions, flowing effortlessly through the choreography. His body craved the challenge, even though his rational mind warned him not to make a fool of himself again.

He’d barely made it through Supernova without becoming the fifth member. But this? This was different.

The music cut off abruptly, and the girls collapsed onto the floor, panting from exertion.

“Wow, this is a killer,” Giselle breathed out, wiping the sweat from her brow.

“It’s so intense,” Winter added, stretching out her legs as she caught her breath. “But I love it. I look so damn cool here.”

Karina looked over at Y/n, who was leaning against the wall, a distant look in his eyes. “You okay over there, Y/n? You’ve been awfully quiet.”

“Yeah,” Ningning chimed in, still catching her breath but wearing a mischievous grin. “You’re not planning on going viral again, are you? Because if you want to try this dance too, we’ve got our cameras ready.”

Y/n snapped out of his thoughts, blinking. “W-What? No, no. I’m just... watching.”

“Uh-huh.” Giselle raised an eyebrow, not convinced for a second. “You’ve been popping your chest the whole time. Don’t think we didn’t notice.”

Karina’s eyes lit up with realization. “Oooooh… you want to dance to Armageddon, don’t you?”

The room fell silent for a moment as the girls stared at Y/n, waiting for his response. He hesitated, knowing that admitting it would only invite another round of teasing. But the temptation was too strong.

“...Maybe,” he pressed his lips thin, avoiding eye contact.

The room exploded with laughter.

“Seriously, idiot?” Winter said, her laughter ringing through the room. “After all that from Supernova?”

Y/n’s face flushed, but he couldn’t help but grin. “Look, Supernova was... Fine and fun. But this? This is more my style. I used to train with songs and intensity like this all the time. It’s different. You guys saw my first one when I danced to Drama”

"Actually, yea you're right." Karina nodded. "Drama was your favourite track from last year, and it shows."

"See?" Y/n exclaimed, ignoring the subtle tease from Karina.

Ningning clapped her hands together. “Well then, Y/n-oppa, you’ve got to show us. Come on! We need to see this.”

Y/n shook his head, already regretting his confession. “No way. You guys will just record me again and make me the centre of another viral video.”

“Duh.” Ningning deadpanned.

"You're stating the obvious at this point." Giselle deadpanned.

Karina smirked and crossed her arms, tilting her head in a way that made her seem both intimidating and playful. “You’re not getting out of this one, Y/n. You already admitted you want to do it. We’re not letting you off the hook.”

The girls stood up, forming a loose circle around him, grins plastered on their faces. Y/n sighed, realizing there was no escape. “Alright, alright. But no recording this time. I mean it.”

The girls groaned but agreed to the terms, reluctantly pocketing their phones. Y/n took a deep breath and stretched his arms, preparing himself. He hadn’t danced like this since last year. But muscle memory kicked in almost immediately.

Karina hit play on the track, and as the heavy beat of Armageddon filled the room, Y/n let himself go.

"Imma get. It. Done~"

His body moved instinctively to the rhythm, hitting each beat with a precision that surprised even him. The choreography was sharp, aggressive, and intense—exactly what he thrived on. He spun, kicked, and hit the floor with practiced ease, feeling the adrenaline rush through him. For the first time in a long while, he wasn’t the manager watching from the sidelines. He was dancing.

When the song came to an end, Y/n froze in his final pose, breathing hard. The room was dead silent for a moment, the girls standing there, wide-eyed and impressed.

“Jesus Christ…” Giselle finally said, breaking the silence. “That was... amazing.”

“Why are you our manager again?” Winter asked, her mouth agape. “Just replace Naevis and be our real fifth member at this point!”

Y/n chuckled, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Ehhhh, no thanks.”

But the girls weren’t done teasing him yet. Ningning nudged him playfully. “You know you’re going to go viral again, right? Even if we don’t record this, someone’s going to find out. Fans always do.”

Y/n groaned, collapsing onto the floor next to them. “Please. No more. I have enough teasing from the other managers.”

Karina grinned, sitting beside him. “Sorry, but you brought this on yourself. The dance was too good not to share.”

-

After the intense rehearsal and teasing session, the practice room finally began to settle down. The girls were going through the motions of cooling down, wiping their faces with towels, while Y/n leaned back against the wall, catching his breath.

As the group prepared to wrap up, Y/n couldn’t help but glance at Winter. She was still in her stage outfit, a sleek black ensemble that fit perfectly with the fierce concept of Armageddon. Her hair was slightly tousled, her eyes still carrying that sharp intensity from the dance, and for a moment, Y/n found himself a bit… distracted.

(I mean….look at her!!)

He cleared his throat, trying to shake off the thought. "Stop it, Y/n. She’s just in her stage outfit. It’s nothing."

But the idea of filming a short-form video with Winter suddenly popped into his mind. He’d already danced to "Supernova" and, well, kind of nailed the moves for "Armageddon" earlier. Why not just one quick video with Winter? Something fun with your besties.

Besides, Winter in that outfit—she looked amazing. Maybe too amazing.

"Just a video for fun" he told himself.

But before he could gather the nerve to ask, Winter beat him to it.

“Ya, Y/n,” she called out casually, strolling over to him with her towel slung over her shoulder. “Wanna film a quick TikTok with me?”

Y/n blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “What?”

Winter grinned, crossing her arms. “You heard me. Let’s film a short video together. You know, for the fans and might as well get you viral for the lols.”

For a second, Y/n thought maybe he had spoken his thoughts aloud and she’d heard. But no—Winter had just sensed the moment. She always had this uncanny ability to read him since elementary schools. And now, there she was, standing right in front of him, offering exactly what he had been thinking.

He scratched the back of his neck, feeling a little embarrassed. “Uh, yeah… sure. What did you have in mind?”

Winter shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. “I don’t know. Something simple. We can do the chorus part of Armageddon—you know, the part you’re obviously dying to do again.”

Y/n laughed nervously. “Ok, that is exaggerating…”

Just as they started setting up, Karina, Giselle, and Ningning caught wind of what was happening. They exchanged glances and quickly circled around the pair, smirks already forming on their faces.

“Wooooow, so when Minjeong asked you to record together, you will? Favoritism!” Karina teased.

“Ooohh, what’s this?” Ningning asked, clearly enjoying the opportunity to tease. “Are we actually gonna see some content from you, Y/n-oppa?”

“Or should we say… couple content?” Giselle added with a wink.

Y/n flushed a deep shade of red. “Oh piss off! It’s just a video for the fans!” He laughed.

Karina leaned against the wall, crossing her arms with a mischievous grin. “Suuuuurrreee.”

Winter, catching on to the teasing, played along. She gave Y/n an exaggerated, flirty glance, making him even more flustered. “I mean, Y/n is a natural in front of the camera. It’d be a shame not to showcase his skills, right?”

"Since when?"

Winter raised her eyebrow. "Supernova, duhhh."

Y/n groaned, shaking his head. “You’re all going to make this impossible, aren’t you?”

The girls burst into laughter, enjoying every second of his embarrassment. Winter, still smiling, leaned in a little closer, her voice teasing yet somehow genuine. “Come on, idiot. It’s just a quick video. You and me, no pressure.”

Despite his nerves, Y/n found himself nodding. “Alright, alright. Let’s just get it over with before they start recording us. And I need a cap from you, Aeri.”

"Oh, shit. He's serious now." Giselle wooed.

Winter grinned in victory and quickly set up her phone. She positioned them both in front of the camera, standing side by side, ready to film. The beat of Armageddon played softly in the background, and as soon as the music hit the right moment, they started dancing together.

Winter, as always, was perfectly in sync, her moves precise and confident. Y/n, to his own surprise, managed to keep up. The intensity of the choreography suited them both, and for a brief moment, they forgot about the teasing eyes watching them from the sidelines.

But, of course, the peace didn’t last long.

“Look at them,” Karina whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. “They look like they’re shooting a couple’s video.”

“Maybe we should start shipping them,” Giselle added with a grin. “Imagine the fan theories.”

Ningning, never one to hold back, clapped her hands. “We could call it MinY/n Or Y/nTer!”

Y/n almost tripped mid-dance as his face turned a deep shade of red. Winter, however, laughed it off and continued dancing, her smile never fading. She seemed completely unfazed by the teasing, while Y/n struggled to maintain his composure.

They finished the short routine, and Winter hit pause on the recording. “There. Done. Easy, right?”

Y/n exhaled, grateful that the dance was over. “Yeah, easy.”

But before he could relax, Ningning jumped forward and grabbed Winter’s phone, quickly hitting play on the video. “Let’s see how it turned out!”

"I'll just go and bury myself in the corner." Defeated, Y/n dragged himself away to avoid any further embarrassments.

As the video played, the girls huddled around the phone, watching intently. Giselle and Karina exchanged knowing smirks while Ningning giggled at Y/n’s obvious nervousness during the dance.

“You two actually look pretty good together,” Karina teased. “Maybe we should make this a regular thing.”

Winter shot a playful glance at Y/n. “What do you think, idiot? Should we make this a regular thing?”

Y/n, still flustered, just shook his head and laughed awkwardly. “I think one video is enough for me, thanks.”

But deep down, as much as he dreaded the teasing, Y/n couldn’t help but enjoy the moment. Sharing the stage, even just for a short video, felt like a piece of his old trainee life returning. And as much as he tried to deny it, dancing with Winter, teasing or not, had been… fun.

Before the teasing could go any further, Winter tucked her phone away and turned to the others with a grin. “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s not torment our idiot too much.”

“Aww, you’re being too nice,” Giselle pouted, though clearly joking.

“Don’t worry,” Ningning added with a wink. “I’ve already saved the video for future teasing material.”

Y/n groaned but smiled despite himself. As much as they teased him, he knew it was all in good fun. These moments, as chaotic and embarrassing as they could be, were what made living and working with aespa so special.

-

As the laughter and teasing finally died down, Y/n excused himself, heading to the kitchen for a moment of peace. He grabbed a bottle of water, still smiling at the chaos the girls had stirred up. These moments—though filled with endless teasing—were oddly comforting. The energy, the camaraderie, the way they pulled him into their world—it made everything worth it.

But his peaceful moment didn’t last long.

“Y/n,” a familiar voice called from behind him.

He turned to see the CEO standing in the doorway, arms crossed, a knowing smile on his face. Y/n stood up straighter, immediately switching into work mode. “Ah, sir! Didn’t know you were here.”

The CEO walked into the kitchen, casually leaning against the counter. “Caught the tail end of that video. You and Winter, huh? Not bad, not bad.”

Y/n flushed slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ehhh. It was just for fun. The girls wanted to film something quick for the fans.”

The CEO nodded, but the glint in his eyes hinted at something more. “You looked good out there, you know. Really natural. Makes me wonder…”

Y/n blinked, suddenly sensing where the conversation was heading. “I don't like where this is going…”

The CEO straightened up, arms still crossed as he studied Y/n. “You were a trainee before, and clearly haven’t lost your touch. What if we… you know, gave you another shot? A chance to redebut. You’d have the experience and fan support now, especially after going viral. Plus, the girls clearly like having you around.”

Y/n felt his stomach drop.

Redebut?

As in, go back to being an idol?

For a moment, the thought danced in his mind. The training, the performing, the stage lights—it was once his dream. But now, standing in the midst of the chaos that was aespa’s world, he realized something important.

Sure, being on stage again could be exciting, but he had found a different kind of joy here. Being their manager, getting teased relentlessly, watching over them as they navigated their own journey—that felt more fulfilling than anything. They relied on him, just as much as he did on them. The chaos they brought into his life was something he’d grown to appreciate, maybe even love.

Y/n shook his head, smiling softly. “I appreciate the offer, sir, but… I think I’m good where I am.”

The CEO raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Really? You’re sure? It’s not every day someone gets a second chance like this.”

Y/n laughed lightly, glancing back toward the practice room where the girls were still giggling about their latest prank. “Yeah, I’m sure. To be honest, It is more peaceful than I thought…despite how it looks. Plus, it feels more fulfilling.”

The CEO studied him for a moment before breaking into a grin. “Fair enough. Not everyone can handle that kind of chaos, but you seem to be managing it pretty well.”

Y/n chuckled. “Barely. These kids will make me age faster.”

With a nod, the CEO clapped him on the shoulder. “Well, if you ever change your mind, the offer’s on the table. But for now, I’m glad you’re sticking with them. They need someone like you.”

As the CEO walked away, Y/n took a long sip of water, letting out a deep breath. The idea of redebuting… it had been tempting, but this was where he belonged. Watching over aespa, dealing with their endless teasing, and navigating through their ups and downs—this was his life now.

Otherwise, who would watch over that crybaby better than himself?

[vanessagillings]

I love your art so much!!! I've also been starting to paint with gouache, and I'd love to know a little more about your process! What kind of paints do you use, do you sketch first or start with paint, do you paint in layers over several day or all at once?

Hi and thank you! I hope you don't mind me answering this publicly and apologies for length, but:

MY ART PROCESS!

Supplies: I use winsor and newton gouache and arches cold press paper blocks, usually 140 lbs (the lime green ones) and sometimes 300 lbs (the teal green ones). Even though this paper comes pre-stretched in blocks, I actually take the sheets off and stretch them myself because I've found arches' glue isn't as strong as it used to be. This is how you get watercolor paper to lay flat! I recommend youtubing some videos on how to do it -- there's a lot of great tutorials out there. Also, I use princeton brushes, and kraft paper tape and these boards to stretch my paper. (these aren't affiliate links, I just shop at blick)

A word about art supplies: these are the exact tools I use but everyone uses supplies differently and two people with the exact same supplies might get different results! A lot of it is about what works for you and what you like, so I always suggest that gouache/watercolor beginners just buy a few tubes from a couple of different paint companies and some small pieces of paper from different manufacturers to see what you like. Just changing one ingredient in the above has created massively different results for me, but maybe that'll end up being something you'd like! The first step in learning a new medium imo is to play. Just have fun!

ALSO: gouache isn't super light permanent, check your tubes for which ones hold up to sunlight. Here is winsor and newton's color chart explaining which ones will fade when exposed to sunlight -- all manufacturers will give you this. I only use the colors rated A and AA, and I still frame my pieces with UV glass just to be safe. Not all gouache is re-wettable, but winsor and newton is. I just put it in my palettes and refill my palettes if it runs low. AND SOME PAINT IS TOXIC. A lot of paints have cadmium and cobalt in them. I don't use any of the toxic colors, but if you do, make sure you don't eat while working and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. This information is also usually available on manufacturer's websites. As more people are rejecting cadmium paint, you'll see more tubes labeled things like cadmium-free yellow. This is why. More artists should be aware that their tools can be dangerous. You don't need that many tubes of paint to begin, just a warm and cool red, warm and cool yellow, warm and cool blue, white and black. I have around 50 colors and use 20 regularly. I always mix all my colors myself, and never use straight tube paint. Most of my colors have about 5-6 different tube colors mixed together. If you use re-wettable paint a tube of paint will last you years; even as a professional I only buy new paints every 5 years or so.

Process: I ALWAYS start with a sketch first. Not everyone has to, but because I do illustration work -- where sometimes a client gets input on a drawing -- I always do a lot of preliminary work before I even begin to paint. At this point, even my personal work usually involves the exact same process:

I start with a 3" or so thumbnail that I scan (left; I traced it quickly digtally for clarity to myself here) and then either clean up digitally or print out and clean up traditionally with tracing paper (right):

Then I scan the cleaned sketch in and color rough it digitally (left, this was for a gallery show, so no one had to approve my color roughs, so it's messy!) then I transfer my sketch to my paper (with either carbon transfer paper or a light table), stretch my paper, and paint (right):

I obviously changed my mind about the color of the ribbon in the trees, ha, and made everything a lot more vibrant. The benefit again of gallery work is no pre-approval!

You are correct, I paint in a series of washes, going from lightest to darkest, where I apply the same color beneath all shapes that are the same warmth (cools under all upcoming cools, warms under all upcoming warms). I paint a piece usually in one or two days, depending on complexity. I didn't take pictures of the above painting, but here's a different painting to show you a little bit what I mean:

I painted the peach color under everything (and twice for skin tones), and the gray color of the sky under everything that would be grayish (the rocks, trees, her pants, her skirt, and coat). I do this to stop me from getting darker lines where two different colors butt up against each other, and also for color harmony. I have step by step photos of this in my process stories highlight on my instagram; also check my FAQ and tip highlights for more info on all this stuff. Most pieces take around 25-30 washes before I start adding in the details (sometimes I add in face details early though because if I mess those up it's not worth finishing the rest of the painting! 😅)

All this might seem like a lot of work (...it is) but I do it so that I can show clients previews of the final piece and so I don't have to repaint the finals. I also used to pre-test all of my washes on scrap paper like this:

I still recommend doing this if you're just beginning! But at this point I only do it when testing techniques because I know my paints really well. (the above was my test for the pine boughs in this piece)

Painting by far is the longest part of the process, so I do more work up front to not have to do it twice. Every piece takes about 6-24 hrs of actual work time to produce. Stretching watercolor paper takes about 24 hrs to dry, and because I sell most of my originals in galleries, they need to be flawless, so planning ahead is useful and in the end saves me time.

And to conclude this novel of an explanation, don't be overwhelmed by all the information I've given you! I put it here so that people at various stages of their artistic journey can maybe find something useful in it. But seriously, the first step to learning how to paint whether it's traditionally or digitally is just to have fun. Try it out, see what's working and what isn't, and then try to solve specific issues that you're struggling with. I've been doing this for a loooooong time at this point, but here's my first watercolor piece from when I was re-teaching myself how to paint traditionally nine years ago:

Obviously, I was destined for greatness. Ha, yeah, no. If you scroll back through my tumblr archive, you can see me learning how to use these paints in real time. And keep in mind that I'd been working digitally for years before then, and years before that where I didn't post my work online at all.

So for anyone who needs to hear it: there's no such thing as talent, just hard work, patience, and trying again and again and again...and sometimes again. What I do is a skill and anyone can learn it. Sometimes, progress is slow. I'm 38. I only really feel like my art was half-way decent starting a few years ago, but I've been making art my entire life, and I went to art school at 18. 20 years later I'm kind of figuring it out.

The best advice I can give, whether it's about art or not, is find the thing you love so much that you'll keep at it even when you suck at it, because most skills you'll suck at to begin with -- and perhaps for a long time. I sucked at art for yeeeaaaaarrrrs. On top of the usual learning curve, I struggled with fine motor control and dexterity. But I loved it so much I kept trying every time I failed. If I can do it, so can all of you, no matter what stage of art you're at now, and no matter how old you are.

Anyway, thank you to those still reading this deep in. I wish you all the best on your artistic journey. Art can kick your butt sometimes, but it's also pretty dang rewarding 💛

[astrologythingzzz]

Astrology observations Number 2 💜

I'm soo happy, this is already my second post! 🥺

These are my personal observations, they aren't meant to hurt anyone. Take what resonates!

Mercury in the tenth/ mercury conjunct mc is a law placement

Do all virgo sun/moon/rising women nag about everything when they're tired/ stressed? I feel like they are also really bad know-it-alls sometimes

They are also the ones to point out how much you're eating. "Do you really want to eat all of that?" YES! I feel like their parents were very strict or criticising in their childhood! 🥺 I love you guys, but please stop. This isn't healthy for you and neither for me

Virgo and pisces paired in a birth chart is an indicator of working in the medical/ health field

They are amazing at caring for other people and their virgo makes them detail oriented which helps them at university

Pisces mc's are sooo creative! They love showing or even showcasing their creativity on social media

They could also have a really nice aesthetic on social media, they are the ones to post only aesthetic stuff

Ic / moon in Virgo. Their parents prioritised books and wisdom in their childhood. Could have spent many days in libraries or with many books around in general!

Sagittarius moons/ dominants or 9th house dominants excel at university. They are known for their success and good grades, especially in law or politics

Leo suns can be very insecure. I don't understand why, because they're so creative and generous, but somehow they are.

Please embrace yourselves more leo suns! You are great!!

Also, aquarius paired with aries or sagittarius in a birth chart is a massive law indicator. Even Aquarius sun in the 11th or 9th house is.

Jupiter conjunct sun individuals are just beaming individuals. They are popular, well liked and really lively. They love adventures and travelling.

Sagittarius Venus / moon women love horseback riding. They love horses! Of course this can apply to other sag placements, but I noticed these two the most!

Virgo risings are ethereal. Gosh I love their beauty

Venus conjunct neptune hide their romantic feelings. They are literally drawing hearts all over the room while being too shy to actually speak to the person they're in love with.

Definition of falling in love with a version of someone who doesn't even exist. 🥺

These are all that came into my mind. Hope you liked it and resonated!

Until soon, love you, byee💜

[cupidastrology]

What the 12 signs experience with Pluto ♇ in Aquarius ♒︎ ✨❇️

Please do not repost or copy.

Associate with your Pluto position within your birth chart.

Notes: All 12 signs react to the power of Aquarius ♒︎ and the planet’s influence differently yet so despite not having this position Nataly.

Aries - more focus within an element of needing the self more than ever. a time where you carve new trends, styles, and mannerisms thats unlike others. the opportunity to establish a following or new career in life.

Taurus - advancements in cooking, and how you express your wants/needs in the world will be important. becoming a lot more progressive with your skills, a growth in the world of beauty may help you to reach new heights is creativity and talents in style.

Gemini - the subject of social media, literature, and study of new structures in architecture become interesting to you. there is high chance of wanting to connect with intellects, but a yearning to meet new people more than ever.

Cancer - to birth a new life for you in massive here; the subject of care and nurturing becomes obsessively involved in your life. you will want to create your own ways of living with your own rules, without anyone getting involved to sabotage that. a focus on your roots will expand.

Leo - your image, body, and the way you care for yourself will increase. expectations and different outlooks in the world of physical expression will advance, wanting you to grow an understanding of how more beautiful you can be in the world.

Virgo - the argument of fact or fiction will irk you, wanting to throw yourself into different forms of knowledge, experiences, and literature of fantasy, non-fiction, and consideration of dreams. health matters and dependency change big time.

Libra - the everchanging influences of artistry, equality, and peace will be a constant reminder to make changes that are necessary to your mindset. This transit will change you in ways where conforming to the same routine will not work, and independence in love will start to carve a deep point inside you.

Scorpio - privacy concerns will be a highlight for you in this transit; to focus on the subject of respect and honesty with your emotions will be a big deal as well. this transit influences to stay progressive, but yours will involve massive needs to let go consistently.

Sagittarius - your need to travel and learn new subjects become borderline obsessive; the relationship of learning and finding comfort outside your home is changing in rapid motions with this transit. you find yourself understanding the true meaning of independence and growth through new places, books, and movies.

Capricorn - it will be important to understand what it means to stay standing through building a larger foundation within your life. This transit invokes an intention to grow something that will last you a lifetime, while also focusing on what it means to keep up with the rapid changes of your world.

Aquarius - this is a long period of outgrowing the values, morals, and understandings of what you once had believed in your life. it is a time for stronger influences to help you connect with the ins and outs of life, carving a more solidified persona.

Pisces - what is true and what is not will awaken you to channel that aura of fixation into creative work, or to focus on a higher power in this long transit. you may want to understand more about the health and impact of others, understanding how healing can happen for the collective.

[evolutionsvoid]

Name: Sadicletius

Title: The Encrusted Titan

Species: Elder Dragon

"Not much is known about this monster, as its emergence has only occurred recently and its movements have called for immediate action over study. Through simple observation from airships and balloons, and a look at the history of the region where it emerged, guild ecologists have hazarded a guess on the story of this titanic beast. Evidence gathered from digs and fossils suggests that this region was once an ancient ocean, and that this monster was once a denizen of it. However, at some point it went into hibernation, either voluntary or forced, and it slept for centuries. During this time, the ancient sea vanished, turning into the salt flats known today. This in turn buried the creature under layers upon layers of salt, encrusting its entire body. Recent guild activities in the area appear to have roused the beast from this timeless slumber, and it now has found itself in a world it doesn't understand and in a state that causes it much misery.

No doubt this species was either amphibious or aquatic, but the waters of its home are long gone, and now it is inflicted with a smothering coat of salt. In its distress, it is seeking safety and familiarity, which is why it is charted heading towards the nearest water body. No doubt it is looking to return to water and shed this crushing shell of salt, but unfortunately the guild cannot allow this to happen. The lake it is crawling towards is fresh water, and also the site of a major base of operation. Not only would its path trample over the city, but its refreshing dive into the lake would destroy the ecosystem with the massive release of salt into its waters. It is up to the hunters to intercept the beast and take it out before this can happen.

The site of the operation has been set at a nearby canyon, where the beast will be funneled towards on its march to the water. Here a wall has been constructed to block its path, while levels of fortifications and siege weaponry line the canyon walls to give hunters a base to fight from. The plan is to pin Sadicletius in this canyon and use the weapons to bring it down. Due to its thick layers of salt and immense size, it will call for heavy firepower and concentrated efforts to do damage. This site is the one chance to break through this armor and slay the titan, if it smashes through the wall, then there will be nothing to stop it from its goal. Everyone, including the entire ecosystem, is counting on you!"

The assault on Sadicletius is a siege event, where the massive salt encrusted beast is crawling through a narrow canyon on its way towards the lake. Barriers have been erected to slow its progress, until it reaches the final wall that separates it from the lake and city. The objective is to slay the monster before it can break through this final wall. To do this, fortifications have been built on both sides of the canyon's walls, with high up bridges connecting them to one another. Each wall has four levels to it, each with their own supplies, siege weaponry and arrangement. Hunters are expected to go up and down these levels to access the tools they need to chip away at Sadicletius' armor and do major damage. As the barriers fall and the beast continues its march towards the final wall, hunters can use rails to follow it to the next section where they can continue their assault. Though the beast is slow and mostly unconcerned with the pests around it, bringing it down is by no means a simple task.

Sadicletius is coated by a thick shell of salt, which will absorb all damage as long as it is intact. If this cannot be shattered, then there is no hope in slaying the beast. Thus, it is important for hunters to use the siege weaponry to break these layers, targeting indicated weak points to slowly crack through the salt. However, cannons alone cannot do the job. Due to the strength and arrangement of this salt armor, various tools are going to be needed to successfully crack through each layer. At times, precise ballista shots will be needed to shatter specific nodes, while cannon fire will remove salt sheets covering certain spots. In some instances, the hunters will need to drop down atop the titan to strike areas hidden where siege weaponry cannot reach. Only through combined effort will each layer be broken off.

But this will not go down without complications, as the salt titan's mere presence will cause problems. Its many vents and spires release plumes and chunks of salt that will strike hunters and siege weapons. Each hit will slowly build up layers of salt, until the hunters are briefly immobilized or the weapons will become inoperable. When siege weapons are encrusted, pickaxes must be deployed to break the salt off so they can be used again. Be warned, the more salt that builds up on these weapons, the longer it will take to free them! So keeping an eye on your tools and clearing them when it starts to build up is key!

When a couple layers of salt armor are successfully removed, Sadicletius will begin to feel the effects of the attack and it will grow agitated. This is when it will start lashing out at the fortifications around it, smashing into the walls, breaking connective bridges and spewing geysers of salt. Hunters will face more threats and have to move their efforts to avoid these attacks. But the biggest threat comes in an insidious form. When Sadicletius is enraged, a crackle of energy can be seen deep within its shell, and suddenly its spires and vents will also start seeping out a choking gas. The yellow green mist is heavier than air and pools on the ground, but the vast quantities pumped out by this titan means it won't remain down there for long. If Sadicletius is not interrupted or staggered, this gas will continue to build and its levels will rise. Slowly, the noxious gas will begin to swallow layers of the canyon fortifications from the bottom up, rendering each one unusable, as any hunters caught in it for too long will faint. It is now crucial to destroy the salt spires and crack its armor to disrupt the gas production, giving time for the gas to leak away and for the cloud level to drop. If hunters do not work together and fast, than the whole canyon may be flooded and all will be lost. Workers on site, seeing this new threat, are able to cobble together a crude venting system to help shunt off gas. So in an emergency, a lever can be thrown that will remove a big portion of the gas cloud, perhaps enough to save a level currently being swamped. However, the design is crude and cobbled together, meaning it can only be used a limited amount of times and with diminishing returns. Be sure to save it when you need it!

As the salt is broken off, the cloud and armor will be weakened. However, this means less weight on its shoulders and thus it will begin to move faster in its efforts and attacks. The assault must be kept up to finally crack the last layer and reveal the true beast within. As the last pieces fall, Sadicletius will feel this relief and use its strength to shatter what salt remains. Now emerges its true form, crackling with potent electricity. Gone are the sluggish labored movements, as it is now free and fast. Hunters now take to the ground level to tackle the beast head on, as its new form will quickly destroy siege weapons used against it. Its powerful element and whip-like tail will prove to be deadly weapons, but if the hunters remain strong they will prevail!

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

"Sadicletius"

Hey, elder dragons count for the dragon month!

[honeybeezgobzzzzz]

🎃 Kinktober 2024: Siren Song

Siren Song: The ship you are on while pretending to be boy breaks apart in a storm, your saviors are not what you expected. Like, at all.

Warnings: Explicit Language, Explicit Material, MFM, MMF

To Note: Octo!Morpheus + MermanHob Gadling x AFAB!Reader

Prompt: Tentacles

Word Count: ~6.9k

The storm roars around you, a beast of wind and water. Waves repeatedly slam against the wooden hull of the ship, sending sprays of saltwater into your face. You grip the thick rope tighter, your knuckles white under the strain. The captain barks orders from the helm, his voice barely cutting through the chaos.

"Reef the mainsail!" he shouts, pointing toward the mast.

You scramble toward the rigging, feet slipping on the slick deck. Rain lashes at your face, blurring your vision. You reach the base of the mast and began to climb, hand over hand, each movement deliberate and forced against your inner voice shouting at you to take cover. The wind howls louder as you ascend, whipping your clothes against your skin.

"Faster, Henry!" one of the crew yells below you, his face shadowed with worry and exertion.

The sails flaps wildly above you, like great wings struggling to break free. You reach the top and started to tie down the sail with deft fingers, ignoring the sting in your palms from the rough rope. The ship groans beneath you, creaking under the weight of each monstrous wave.

"Watch out!" someone bellows.

You glance down just in time to see a massive wave cresting over the side of the ship. It crashed onto the deck, sweeping several crew members off their feet and washing them toward the railing. Heart pounding, you finished securing the sail and began your descent.

Your boots hit the deck hard as you landed, sending a jolt through your legs. The storm showed no sign of relenting. You made your way to help a fellow sailor who had been thrown against a barrel, dazed but conscious.

"You alright?" you asked, grabbing his arm to pull him to his feet.

He nodded, wiping blood from his forehead where he'd hit it.

"We've gotta secure those crates," he said, pointing to a stack of cargo shifting dangerously with each roll of the ship.

Together, you hurry over to stabilize them. The deck is a chaotic dance of men and water; every step had to be calculated or risk being thrown overboard. Lightning splits the sky in jagged streaks, illuminating faces drawn tight with fear and determination.

The captain's voice cuts through again: "Brace for impact!"

Another wave loomed ominously ahead. You barely have time to grab onto a rope before it hit. The force lifts you off your feet for a moment before slamming you back down. Your chin takes the brunt of your fall before you are able to catch the rest of your body.

"Henry! Get inside and report our position," the captain bellows over the howl of the storm. You don't bother replying, knowing your voice will never cut through the screams of the storm. You just go.

You stumble toward the hatch, your legs unsteady beneath you. The storm's fury makes every step a battle. You grip the edge of the hatchway and haul yourself down into the relative safety of the ship's interior. The noise outside is muffled but still ever-present, a constant reminder of the chaos above.

Inside, lanterns swing wildly from their hooks, casting eerie shadows on the wooden walls. The air is thick with the smell of saltwater and sweat. You make your way to the navigation room, where the ship's maps and instruments are kept.

The navigator, an older man with a grizzled beard, looks up as you enter, his eyes wide with concern.

"Henry, what's our position?" he asks without preamble.

You move quickly to the charts spread out on the table, your fingers tracing lines and markings as you calculate your location. The ship rocks violently, nearly throwing you off balance, but you steady yourself and continue your work.

"We're just north of Dead Man's Reef," you say, your voice steady despite the turmoil outside.

The navigator nods grimly. "We'll need to steer clear of it. The captain's orders?"

"Hold course for now," you reply. "Still going to Barbados… but we need to be ready to adjust if things get worse."

The navigator grunts in acknowledgment and turns back to his instruments. You take a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. The ship groans again, a low, ominous sound that seems to vibrate through your bones.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoes from above, followed by shouts and hurried footsteps. Your heart races as you rush back up the ladder to the deck. Emerging into the storm once more, you see a large section of the mainmast has splintered and fallen across the deck.

Crew members scramble to clear the debris and secure what's left of the mast. You spot the captain near the helm, his face set in a grim expression as he barks orders to keep control of the ship.

"Henry! Get over here!" he calls out when he sees you.

You weave through the chaos to reach him.

"We need more hands on that rigging," he says, pointing to where several crew members struggle with ropes and sails flapping wildly in the wind.

You nod and rush over to help. Together with the others, you fight against the storm's relentless force, pulling ropes taut and securing what you can. Your muscles ache with effort but there's no time for rest.

You pull on the ropes, your muscles burning with the effort. The storm's fury is unrelenting, each gust of wind threatening to tear the sails apart. You grit your teeth, focusing on the task at hand.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see a crew member struggling with a particularly stubborn knot. You shout above the wind, "Need help?"

He nods frantically, and you move to assist him. Together, you manage to secure the line just as a deafening crack splits the air. You look up in time to see a large piece of the broken mast flying through the storm-tossed air.

It happens in an instant. The jagged wood slams into your chest with a force that knocks the breath from your lungs. Pain explodes through your body as you're lifted off your feet. For a moment, you're weightless, suspended in the chaotic whirlwind of rain and wind.

Then gravity takes hold, and you plummet over the side of the ship. The world spins around you, a blur of dark water and flashing lightning. The warm sea rises up to meet you, and you crash into its depths with a bone-jarring impact.

Your consciousness flickers back to life like a guttering candle. Warm water laps at your skin, the sound echoing softly in your ears. You try to move but pain sears through your chest and you groan.

Hands are tearing at your clothes. You struggle to focus, blinking rapidly against the light filtering through a grotto's entrance. Someone's ripping open your shirt, revealing the tightly bound corset beneath. Panic surges through you as you realize what this means.

"No... stop," you manage to croak, weakly trying to push the hands away.

"Easy now," a soothing voice cuts through your panic. "You're safe."

The words are gentle, almost melodic, and they help calm the storm of fear inside you. The hands move with practiced ease, loosening the bindings that have hidden your true form for so long. The pressure on your chest eases as the corset is peeled away, and you draw in a shaky breath.

"Who... who are you?" Your voice trembles, but you're too weak to keep it steady.

"Rest now," he says, his tone calming and sure. "You're injured."

You finally manage to look up at him through bleary eyes. His face is rugged but kind, framed by damp hair that clings to his skin. There's something otherworldly about him, something that doesn't quite fit with what you've known.

Your vision swims, and you're vaguely aware of his hands moving to support your head as he continues speaking in that same reassuring tone.

"Everything will be fine. Just rest."

The last thing you see before darkness takes you again is his serene expression and the glint of scales where legs should be.

You awaken to the sound of a soft song, a melody that seems to wrap around your mind and cradle it. The tune is ethereal, weaving through your consciousness and making you feel strangely at ease despite the throbbing pain in your chest.

Your body feels limp, weightless, and you realize you're floating in warm water. You try to move but find yourself unable to muster the strength. Instead, you lie there, cradled by something soft and comforting.

Opening your eyes, you see tendrils—dark and fluid—holding you gently. They shimmer in the dim light of the grotto, moving with a life of their own. Panic bubbles up inside you, but the song keeps it at bay, soothing your fear and urging you to relax.

Voices drift through the air, breaking through the haze of the song.

"Quite a find," says one voice, calm and measured.

"Indeed," replies another voice, this one warmer and filled with curiosity. "A gift, perhaps."

You struggle to focus on their words, but the song keeps pulling you back into its lullaby. You manage to catch glimpses of their faces—one pale with eyes like distant stars and another rugged yet kind.

"Will they survive?" The warmer voice again, tinged with concern.

"They will," comes the assured reply. "For now."

The words swirl around you as your eyelids grow heavy once more. The melody seems to intensify, each note wrapping around your consciousness like a silken thread.

You feel yourself slipping back into unconsciousness, the voices fading into the background as darkness takes over once more. The last thing you sense is the gentle caresses of those strange tendrils and the lingering notes of that haunting song.

You waken to soft touches on your body, each caress sending shivers through your skin. Your mind feels clouded, wrapped in a haze as you float in the warm water. You struggle to piece together where you are, what has happened, but the fog in your head refuses to lift.

Hands—gentle yet firm—work to pull the remnants of your clothes from your body. You try to resist, to pull away, but your limbs feel heavy and unresponsive. Panic flickers at the edges of your consciousness but is quickly smothered by the overwhelming sense of calm that permeates the air.

As the last of your clothes are removed, you become acutely aware of how exposed you are. Naked and vulnerable, you try once more to pull yourself out of the daze, but it's as if an invisible force keeps you docile and compliant.

A face appears above you, framed by damp hair that clings to his forehead. His eyes are kind yet filled with an intensity that makes your heart skip a beat.

"I'm Hob," he says softly, his voice is soothing against your frayed nerves. He holds you against his body, the warmth of his skin contrasting with the coolness of the water. "You're safe now."

You try to speak, but no words come out. Your mouth moves soundlessly as you gaze up at him, searching for any sign that this is real and not some fevered dream. Hob's face inches closer, his breath warm against your skin. You feel his laughter more than you hear it, a rumble in his chest that vibrates through your body.

"What? You’ve never seen a merman before?" His voice carries a teasing note, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

Your mind struggles to process his words, the fog of pain and confusion making everything feel distant and surreal. You manage to shake your head slightly, your voice barely more than a whisper. "No… I haven’t."

He chuckles again, the sound light and comforting in the strange stillness of the grotto. "Well, there's a first time for everything."

His fingers brush against your temple, gentle and reassuring. You can feel the strength in his touch, tempered by a surprising tenderness. "You're lucky I found you when I did," he says, his tone turning more serious. "The sea isn't kind to those who can't fend for themselves."

You try to move again, but your body refuses to cooperate. A groan escapes your lips as pain flares up in your chest.

"Easy now," Hob soothes, his hands steadying your body against his in the water. "You've been through quite an ordeal, try not to move. Let us take care of you."

"Us?" you question with a scratchy voice. Tentacles slither across your body from behind, cradling and caressing you as you gasp.

"You've forgot to introduce me, my love," a deep timbre comes from behind you. Your breathing quickens and your head slowly turns to look over your shoulder. Behind you is an inhumanely beautiful creature. He has eyes full of stars, dark black hair, and shimmering pearl white skin… and a mass of tentacles where his legs should have been.

"What are you?" you ask before you can help yourself. You feel the soft caress of his fingertips on your bare shoulder. The touch is feather-light, but it sends a jolt through you, as if you've been struck by lightning. You turn to look at him in Hob's arms, your eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. He was so beautiful.

"I am Dream of the Endless," he says, his voice a melody that is almost hauntingly beautiful. “But you may call me Morpheus,” his eyes, a pair of distant stars, hold yours with an intensity that makes it impossible to look away. You still have no idea who he is. Your mind doesn't care.

Morpheus moves closer, his body brushing against yours, and you feel a shiver run down your spine as you're sandwiched between the two beings. His words echo in your mind, "You are ours now, and you will never have to hide your exquisite body ever again." The declaration makes a quiver of fear run through your body. But you can't react, your body melting within their grasps.

Morpheus' hand slides along your side, his touch cool against your feverish skin. His fingers trace the curve of your hip, and you can't help but squirm at the sensation. His eyes never leave yours, holding your gaze with an intensity that makes your heart race.

Then, he lowers his mouth to your neck, his lips brushing against your skin. You feel the flick of his tongue, a warm, wet caress that sends shivers cascading down your body. His kisses are soft at first, exploring the sensitive skin of your neck, each touch sending jolts of pleasure through you.

You react perfectly for them, your body arching into Morpheus' touch as a moan escapes your lips. Your hands instinctively reach out, grasping at Hob's bare shoulders for support as undiscovered pleasure blooms within your body.

Hob watches the flickering emotions on your face with a heated gaze, his eyes dark with desire. He was jealous that Morpheus could make you react so beautiful. So he reaches up, his hand cupping your cheek in a gentle yet firm grip. His fingers thread through your hair, pulling your head towards his.

Hob's mouth meets yours with a surprising gentleness, his lips warm and soft. The kiss is slow at first, exploratory, as if he's savoring the moment just as much as you are. Your mind races, struggling to process the sensations flooding through you. Your body responds instinctively, lips parting slightly as you yield to his touch.

At the same time, Morpheus continues his assault on your neck and shoulder. His kisses are more insistent, each press of his lips making you squirm just a bit more. His hands move with a deliberate slowness, fingers tracing the contours of your chest with a feather-light touch. Each caress ignites a fire within you, your skin tingling under his ministrations.

You whimper into Hob's mouth, the sound muffled by the intensity of the kiss. Your inexperience is laid bare, each gasp and shudder a testament to your virginal innocence. Hob deepens the kiss, his tongue brushing against yours in a way that makes your knees weak. The sensation is overwhelming, a dizzying blend of pleasure and desire that leaves you breathless.

Morpheus' hands roam lower, his touch igniting new sparks of sensation with each pass. His fingers dance over your nipples, drawing soft moans from your lips that Hob eagerly swallows. Your body arches into Morpheus' touch, craving more of the delicious friction he provides.

Every movement is heightened by your lack of experience, each touch and kiss more intense than anything you've ever imagined. The pleasure builds inside you like a rising tide, threatening to sweep you away in its current.

You whimper again as Hob's lips leave yours to trail kisses along your jawline. The loss of contact makes you ache for more, but Morpheus is there to fill the void. Morpheus' tentacles swirl around your legs, their touch both unexpected and stealing your attention. Each gentle stroke sends ripples of pleasure up your thighs, your body responding with a fervor you've never known.

His hand then slips deftly between your legs, the contact making you gasp. The shock of the unfamiliar sensation makes your heart pound in your chest. You've never been touched there before, never even considered it. Yet here you are, lost in a sea of newfound desires, your body awakening to sensations you never knew existed.

Hob's mouth returns to yours, drawn by your sweet sounds to assault your lips once more, his tongue teasing and tantalizing as he explores the depths of your kiss. His hands roam across your body, fingers tracing the lines of your chest and stomach, each touch a spark that ignites the fire burning within.

Morpheus' tentacles, with a life of their own, find their way to Hob's tail. They slide over the scales, stroking and teasing, as they inch closer to the notch nestled at the base of his tail. You feel the subtle vibrations of Hob's moans against your lips as the merman squirms in Morpheus' grasp, his own pleasure adding to the erotic symphony that envelops you all.

The Dream Lord's fingers continue their exploration, his touch light yet insistent as he navigates the slick folds he finds between your legs. A bolt of pleasure shoots through you as he strokes a particularly sensitive spot, your body arching into his touch as a cry is torn from your throat.

Hob pulls back from the kiss, his eyes dark with desire as he watches your face contort with pleasure. His hand joins Morpheus' between your legs, his fingers sliding against the Dream Lord's in a gesture that is both intimate and arousing. The dual sensation of their touch is overwhelming, each movement sending waves of ecstasy crashing over you.

Morpheus' tentacles delve deeper into Hob's notch, stroking and probing with an expertise that leaves the merman trembling in your arms. His cries of pleasure mingle with yours, a chorus of need and desire that fills the grotto with its intensity.

Your body moves of its own accord, writhing against their hands as you chase the elusive peak of pleasure. Your breath comes in ragged gasps, your heart pounding in time with the rhythm of their touch. The world around you fades into insignificance as you give yourself over to the relentless pursuit of ecstasy. The grotto, the storm, your former life—all are forgotten in the face of the overwhelming passion that consumes you.

As the first tremors of release begin to ripple through your body, you surrender to the tide of pleasure, allowing yourself to be swept away by the powerful currents of desire. Your cries echo off the stone walls of the grotto, a symphony of evidence supporting your climax as you shatter into a thousand pieces in their capable hands.

Floating there, your body still humming with the aftershocks of your release, you watch through half-lidded eyes as Morpheus withdraws his touch from the sensitive notch at the base of Hob's tail. The merman shudders, a low moan escaping his lips as the Dream Lord's tentacles slip away, leaving him aching for more.

Morpheus turns his attention back to you, his starry eyes gleaming with satisfaction. He leans in, pressing a soft kiss to the fluttering pulse in your neck. His lips linger on your skin, the sensation sending a fresh wave of shivers through your body.

"Would you like the pleasure of having her first?" Morpheus asks, his voice a low purr that resonates deep within your chest.

You feel Hob's body tense against yours, his eyes darkening with desire as he looks at you. His hand, still resting between your legs, gives a gentle squeeze, a silent reminder of the pleasure he can give you.

"I think that would be more than fair," Hob responds, his voice husky with need.

You can only just quiver where you float in their arms, your mind struggling to process their words. The idea of being "had" by either of these immortal beings is terrifying, but your body betrays your confusion with a fresh surge of arousal.

Morpheus chuckles, the sound like the rustling of silk against your senses. "I thought you might agree," he says, his eyes never leaving your face. His fingers trace the line of your jaw, the touch feather-light but filled with a dark promise that makes your heart race. You feel Hob shift slightly, his body tensing as he moves into position. The anticipation is almost too much to bear.

Hob's cock emerges from his notch, the thick length slipping out in a slither to press against your folds with desirous curisosity. Your body responds instinctively, your hips arching towards him even as a flicker of fear runs through you. You've never done this before—never been touched like this—but Hob's is reassuring.

"Easy, precious," Hob soothes you, leaning forwards to press his forehead against yours. "We'll go slow."

You feel the blunt head of Hob's cock nudge against your entrance, the sensation foreign and scary. Your breathing speeds up and you tremble while tears develop at the edges of your lashes. Hob hushes you, running his lips over yours to create electric pleasure along your trembling mouth.

As Hob's tentacle cock slithers through your folds and presses against your virgin entrance, you can't help but tense up. The fear of the unknown, the anticipation of pain, it all crashes over you like a wave. You cling to Hob, your nails digging into his shoulders.

Hob's eyes are soft, full of understanding and concern. He murmurs words of comfort, "shh, it's okay, love. We've got you."

With a tenderness that overshadows his strength, Hob begins to push inside you. There's resistance at first, a sharp sting that makes you gasp and your body stiffen. Tears prick at the corners of your eyes, silent evidence the pain that blooms within you. Your lip wobbles. Yet Hob is patient, his movements slow and deliberate as he gives you time to adjust to the intrusion.

Morpheus' hands are there to comfort you, his touch a gentle contrast to the burning stretch between your legs. His fingers brush away the tears that escape down your cheeks, his starry eyes filled with a warmth that offers solace amidst the pain.

"Breathe, beloved," Morpheus whispers, his voice a distant echo that somehow manages to relax your body. "Let your body open up for him. For us, allow us to revere you in the ecstasy of bodily pleasure."

You draw in a shaky breath, forcing your muscles to relax as Hob continues his slow advance. The pain doesn't disappear, but it morphs into a dull ache that's more bearable. You feel yourself yielding to him, your body reluctantly accepting the thick length of his cock worming it's way further into your body.

Hob's lips find yours in a tender kiss, his tongue tracing the seam of your mouth in a silent plea for entry. You part your lips, welcoming the distraction as he explores the depths of your mouth with a passion that leaves you breathless.

As Hob begins to move within you, the discomfort gradually gives way to a new sensation. Each thrust sends waves of pleasure coursing through your veins, a stark contrast to the initial pain. You find yourself moving with him, your hips meeting his for more to the tingling pleasure that is slowly consuming you.

Morpheus' tentacles wind around your body, caressing your skin with a lover's touch. They explore every part of you, their movements synchronized with Hob's thrusts. A sucker finds the little space above where Hob's cock repeatedly plunges in and out and strokes.

Your breath hitches as Hob's cock thrusts deeper inside you, filling you in a way you've never experienced before. Any burning sensation that lingers disappears, replaced by a burgeoning pleasure that steals your breath. Each stroke of his cock sends shivers of delight coursing through your veins, your body responding instinctively to the rhythm of his movements.

Morpheus' sucker then latches onto your clit, the sensation jolting you with a bolt of electric pleasure. You gasp, your hips bucking involuntarily as it begins to suck in earnest. The relentless pull of his sucker drawing raw pleasure with Hob's steady thrusts drives your body to the edge, your body aching for the release of this unchained and thrashing pleasure.

You cry out, your voice echoing off the stone walls of the grotto. Your body is aflame with sensation, every nerve ending alight with pleasure. The dual sensations of Morpheus' sucker on your clit and Hob's cock inside you are almost too much to bear.

As if sensing your mounting pleasure, Morpheus chooses that moment to press a tentacle against Hob's ass. The merman stiffens, a groan torn from his throat as the Dream Lord begins to tease him with slow, deliberate strokes. You watch the play of emotions across Hob's face, the mixture of surprise and pleasure painting a vivid picture of his arousal.

Morpheus' tentacle pushes into Hob's ass, sliding within him to spur on both your pleasures. The merman cries out, his body shuddering in your arms as he's pleasured on both ends. The sight of him being fucked by Morpheus' tentacle while he's inside you is the most erotic thing you've ever seen. And you can feel the change.

You feel the ripple of pleasure as it passes through Hob's body, the sensation enhancing your own arousal. His thrusts become more erratic, each stroke of his cock, growing in size and throbbing harder, hitting new depths within you. The feeling is overwhelming, a maelstrom of pleasure that becomes too much for you.

Morpheus' tentacle moves in tandem with Hob's thrusts, the rhythmic fucking driving both you and Hob to the brink of madness. You try to thrash and squirm away from the painful pressure of pleasure burning away in your abdomen, but it's no use. Neither being plans on letting you go.

Hob's lips find yours in a desperate kiss, his tongue plundering your mouth as he loses himself in the pleasure. His body moves with a fervor that borders on desperation, each thrust of his cock teetering you closer and closer to collapse. Scales rub against your pelvis every time Hob ruts into your body, and with each thrust if feels as if his cock corkscrews within your body to draw out the most intense pleasure.

With a final, powerful thrust, Hob buries himself deep inside you. The sensation of his cock slithering and pulsing within your body triggers the pressure within your abdomen to finally burst, a cascade of pleasure that sweeps through you with the force of a tidal wave. A symphonic cry rips itself from your lips, pleasure rippling out from your pulsating and clenching cunt in waves.

At the same time, Morpheus' tentacle withdraws from Hob's ass, only to slam back in with a force that leaves the merman shuddering against your body and him moaning against your nearly paralyzed lips. Hob's eyes roll back in his head, a low moan escaping his lips as he succumbs to his own release, filling your body with an electric heat that makes you twitch and whimper.

The echoes of your climax still reverberate through your body as you go limp within Hob's embrace. His cock softens inside you, yet remains nestled within your folds, a warm reminder of the pleasure you've shared. You're dimly aware of Morpheus' tentacles withdrawing from your body, their absence leaving you feeling strangely bereft.

Hob holds you close, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he nuzzles your neck. You can feel his heart pounding in time with your own, the rapid beat gradually slowing as you both come down from the high of your shared ecstasy. The warmth of his seed inside you feels strange, yet comforting in its own way.

Morpheus' hands stroke your hair, your back, your sides—everywhere he can reach. His touch is gentle now, soothing after the intensity of your lovemaking. He presses a soft kiss to your forehead, his lips lingering on your skin as he gazes down at you with a look of pure satisfaction.

"You were exquisite, beloved," he murmurs, his voice a low purr that sends shivers down your spine. "Next time, I wish to be the one to make you scream so deliciously."

Your body quivers at his words, the thought of experiencing such pleasure at his hands sending a fresh wave of arousal coursing through your veins. Yet even as your mind reels from the implications of his promise, Hob's voice cuts through the haze of your desire.

"Only if I get to fuck you, my love," he challenges, a wicked glint in his eye as he meets Morpheus' gaze over your shoulder.

A slow smile spreads across Morpheus' face, the stars in his eyes twinkling with amusement and anticipation. "A fair trade, I concur,” he agrees, his fingers tracing the curve of your cheek. "But for now, let us simply tend to our little human. We seem to have worn them out quite thoroughly."

You nestle closer to Hob, your body still sensitive from the intensity of your first sexual experience. Morpheus' arms encircle you both, his presence a comforting weight against your back. Together, the three of you float in the tranquil waters of the grotto, your bodies intertwined in a tangle of limbs, tentacles, and tail.

Your body is suspended in the water, held aloft by Morpheus' tentacles. They coil around your torso, your hips, your thighs—each one exerting just enough pressure to hold you in place without causing discomfort. His grip is firm yet yielding, a testament to his control over his own form.

Morpheus' tentacle cock, slick and unyielding, is buried deep within your cunt, its presence a constant reminder of his dominion over your body. With each undulation, it thrusts into you, stretching you in ways you never thought possible. Your stomach bulges with each thrust, the sight of it fascinating Morpheus as he watches his cock disappear into your body. One day he hopes to see you round with his and Hob's children.

You can feel the ripples of each movement throughout your entire being, a sensation that is both overwhelming and addictive. Your breath comes in short, sharp gasps as you struggle to adjust to the relentless fucking. Your body is a mass of nerve endings, each one singing with the electric charge of Morpheus' touch.

His tentacles find your nipples, the suction of their tips drawing the sensitive buds into tight peaks. You cry out as pleasure mingles with pain, the sensation sending jolts of electricity straight to your core. Each pull of his tentacles sends waves of pleasure coursing through your veins, the feeling so intense that it borders on the divine.

Your body writhes within his hold, a puppet dancing on the strings of desire. You are helpless against the onslaught of pleasure, your every movement dictated by the rhythm of his fucking. Your cries echo off the stone walls of the grotto, a symphony of ecstasy that fills the air with its intensity.

Babbling incoherent pleas, you can't tell if they're for Morpheus to stop or to never cease. Your mind is a whirlwind of sensation, each thrust of his cock pushing you closer and closer to the edge. You can feel the pressure building within you, a tide of pleasure that threatens to sweep you away.

Morpheus' starry eyes bore into yours, the silver depths swirling with a mixture of desire and satisfaction. He watches you with rapt attention, his gaze never wavering from your face as he continues his erotic assault on your body. Each gasp, each moan, each shiver that runs through your body only serves to fuel his arousal.

As his tentacle cock pistons in and out of your body, you can feel your orgasm building. It starts as a slow burn deep within your cunt, gradually growing in intensity until it threatens to consume you whole. Your body tenses, your muscles coiling like a spring as you teeter on the brink of release.

And then, with one final thrust, Morpheus sends you tumbling over the edge. Your body convulses, your back arching as the most intense pleasure you've ever experienced rips through you. Your screams of ecstasy echo off the stone walls, the sound a testament to the power of your climax.

As the waves of your orgasm begin to subside, Morpheus withdraws his tentacle cock from your body. You sag in his hold, your body limp and sated as you float there, surrounded by the warm waters of the grotto. His tentacles release their grip on your body, their tips sliding away from your nipples with a final, lingering caress.

He draws you to his chest and brushes his lips over the crown of your hair. You happily float in the Morpheus' embrace, the echoes of your cries still lingering in the air when the water stirs with the arrival of Hob. He surfaces beside you, a playful grin on his face as he holds up a string of fish. The sight of his catch makes your stomach rumble, a reminder that pleasure alone cannot sustain you. A rather piteous fact.

"Got started without me?" Hob teases, his gaze flicking between you and Morpheus. There's a twinkle in his eye that suggests he's not truly annoyed. The way his tail flickers beneath the water's surface betrays his arousal at the sight of you flushed and sated by Morpheus' attentions.

Morpheus merely smirks, the corners of his lips curling into a knowing smile. "Hob, my love, you are always welcome to join us. I am far from finished with our beloved." His voice is a low purr that sends a quiver running up your spine, a reminder of the pleasure he can wring from your body.

A whisper of rebellion escapes your lips, the words barely audible. "When do I get my turn?" Both men turn to look at you, their expressions softening at your question. You see the flicker of surprise in Morpheus' starry eyes, while Hob's grin widens.

"Later, love. Promise. Let us take care of you for now," Hob assures you, his voice warm and soothing. Morpheus echoes his sentiment, his tentacles stroking your skin with a lover's touch. "Patience, beloved. We have eternity to explore each other's bodies. For now, allow us to pleasure you in ways you've never imagined."

You can't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at their words, but it's quickly forgotten as Hob swims closer. He presses a kiss to your lips, his tongue teasing the seam of your mouth in a silent promise of the pleasure to come.

As you float, you watch with rapt attention as Hob moves behind Morpheus. His cock, slick and gleaming with the water's touch, slides free from its protective notch. You can't help but lick your lips at the sight of it, your body responding to the primal display before you.

Hob's eyes meet yours, a wicked glint in their depths as he positions himself behind the Dream Lord. You watch, entranced, as he grips Morpheus' hips and hick cock slithers itself into Morpheus' mess of tentacles. With a single, powerful thrust, he buries himself to the hilt, his groan of pleasure echoing off the stone walls.

Morpheus' tentacle cock slithers toward you, its slick surface still glistening in the dim light from your earlier copulation. You part your lips obediently, your body instinctively understanding his silent command. The thick length of his cock slides past your lips, filling your mouth with its alien presence. You swirl your tongue around the bulbous head, eliciting a low moan from Morpheus' lips.

As Hob begins to move within Morpheus, the Dream Lord's tentacles find their way back to your body. They stroke your skin with a lover's touch, the suction cups on their tips teasing your sensitive flesh. One wraps around your thigh, pulling you closer, while another slides between the folds of your cunt.

You gasp around the girth of Morpheus' cock as his tentacle begins to fuck your mouth in earnest. Each thrust pushes him deeper into your throat, the sensation overwhelming yet strangely exhilarating. Your eyes water, your gasps for air mingling with the wet sounds of Morpheus' fucking.

Meanwhile, his other tentacles tease and toy with your cunt, their movements synchronized with the rhythm of Hob's thrusts. You can feel your arousal building, a slow burn that ignites in the pit of your stomach and spreads outwards to every nerve ending in your body.

As Hob's pace increases, his hips slapping against Morpheus' ass, you find yourself lost in the rhythm of their fucking. The sound of wet flesh meeting wet flesh fills the grotto, punctuated by the guttural moans and grunts that escape Morpheus' lips. His starry eyes are hooded, his mouth parted in a silent cry of pleasure as Hob claims him with wild abandon.

Morpheus' tentacles continue their erotic assault on your body, their movements growing more frenzied with each passing moment. His cock still fucking your mouth thrusts in time with Hob's strokes, the sensation of being filled so completely sending jolts of pleasure straight to your cunt which clenches. You can feel your body responding to their dominance, your arousal dripping down your thighs in a shameless display of your need.

The tentacle inside your cunt curls and twists, its slick surface rubbing against your sensitive walls with each thrust. You let out a muffled scream against Morpheus' slithering cock pressing against your throat. You can feel it exploring the depths of your body, its movements mimicking the rhythm of Hob's fucking. The sensation is a relentless tide of pleasure that threatens to sweep you away.

Your body trembles, your muscles clenching around tentacles while on the brink of release. You can feel the sharp pressure building within you, threatening to consume you whole. Your breath comes in short, sharp gasps around the girth of Morpheus' cock, the sound mingling with the wet slap of Hob's hips against Morpheus' mess of tentacles.

Morpheus' starry eyes lock onto yours, the silver depths swirling with a mixture of desire and satisfaction. He watches you with rapt attention, his gaze never wavering from your face as he continues his erotic assault on your body. Even as he grunts and moans. Each gasp, each moan, each shiver that runs through your body only serves to fuel his arousal.

Hob's thrusts grow more erratic, his body tensing with the approach of his climax, you can feel your own orgasm cresting. It starts as a slow burn deep within your cunt, gradually growing in intensity until it threatens to consume you whole. Your body tenses, your muscles now rippling.

And then, with one final thrust, Hob sends you all tumbling over the edge. His cock pulses within Morpheus' ass, the sensation triggering the Morpheus' own release. His tentacle cock swells within your mouth, a flood of warm, salty fluid spilling down your throat as he comes with a low, guttural moan.

The taste of him, combined with the sight of Hob and Morpheus lost in their own pleasure, pushes you over the edge. Your body convulses, your back arching as the most intense pleasure you've ever experienced rips through you.

As the last waves of your orgasm ripple through you, your body goes limp, floating in the warm embrace of the grotto's waters. Hob and Morpheus, sated and spent, hold you close, their breaths gradually slowing to match the rhythm of your own. The taste of Morpheus still lingers on your tongue, a reminder of the pleasure you've shared.

Yet, as the haze of your climax begins to clear, a flicker of dissatisfaction stirs within you. You've been the recipient of their desires, a vessel for their pleasure, but now, you find yourself yearning for more. You want to be an active participant, to explore and to take what you crave.

With a newfound sense of determination, you push against Morpheus' chest, creating enough distance to meet his starry gaze. "I demand my turn," you assert, your voice echoing off the stone walls. The words hang in the air, a declaration of your own needs and desires.

Hob, still buried inside Morpheus, raises an eyebrow at your proclamation. A slow grin spreads across his face, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Demanding, are we?" he teases, his hips giving a playful thrust that elicits a low moan from Morpheus.

Morpheus' eyes, soften at your words, a look of understanding crossing his alien features. "Of course, beloved," he murmurs, his voice a low purr that sends shivers down your spine. "We have indulged in our desires, and now, it is your turn to take the lead." You'd make them regret torturing you for their own delights.

Date Published: 10/8/24

Last Edit: 10/8/24

Dream of the Endless/Morpheus Masterlist

Hob Gadling Masterlist

Kinktober 2024

[babyleostuff]

Hey hey, i just randomly thought of this lol

I went out with someone today and idk my "protective" side came up like holding hands while walking and letting them walk on the inner-side of the road and always on alert mode, siren eyes and things lol (for some reason I wanna be on the receiving end but always end up being a giver-)

So how about the members reaction to it? Like them being taken care of!?

Idea maybe dumb but it just clicked to me, hehe

Get well soon bub ♡

um it’s definitely not dumb 🤚🏼 i love the idea (i decided to write short bullet points because why not)

also i love the protective ones, being protective is hot 😌 you’re slaying (although i get why you want to be on the receiving end 😔)

+ jealousy jealousy, because of the lack of my love life

➼ SEUNGCHEOL: a blushing mess, because we know that he likes being taken care of and he needs the attention AND HE IS A BABY (fight me). It would still take him by surprise if you ever did something like walk on the outer side of the road, but he would eventually switch sides because in the end he is the protector and the baby alpha.

➼ JEONGHAN: the urge to tease you??? immaculate. the urge to pinch your cheeks??? over the charts, only because he finds it so cute that you try to be the protective one 🥰 and you know what, fuck toxic masculinity, he’ll let you be the protective one in your relationship.

➼ JOSHUA: oh, his hearts skips a beat whenever he notices your small acts of “protectiveness” towards him. He never expects you to do so, and it always makes him so smiley, because you care about him that much??? to put his safety over yours??? and the fact that you do it almost unconsciously makes it even better.

➼ JUN: shy shy shyyyy. He loves your protective side, never comments on it though, but his heart eyes say everything - anyone of sane mind can see how smitten he is with you. But he loves being protected, and what about it haters.

➼ SOONYOUNG: gigglessss. This man is a softy, a softy for you, for anything you do - you simply breathe? perfect 🤌🏼 So seeing your protective side towards him??? everything he needs in life. He’d try to take over being the protective, but you wouldn’t let him :)))

➼JIHOON: okay this one is complicated. because yes, he’d very much appreciate being taken care of, and seeing you so protective over him, does things to him. BUT in the end i think he’d like to be the protective one.

➼ WONWOO: i don’t care how much of a hard dom you say he is, HE LOVES BEING PROTECTED AND TAKEN CARE OF. like, can you imagine his little cat smile and giggle, this man has me screaming. Yes, he loves being the protector, but he still goes insane anytime you do anything protective towards him.

➼ SEOKMIN: he has those massive biceps and for what, because he’ll still let you be the protective one (from time to time, he likes taking care of you way too much). Oh, the heart eyes he’d have for you 😍 also, i feel like at some point you’d fight over who should be the protective one.

➼ MINGYU: gym bro nr. 2 and the biggest baby of them all. It could go two ways - either he’s the protective one and you don’t have anything to say or “please take my hand” while crossing the street. The duality of this man makes him so difficult to write about, because you never know what he’s up to.

➼ MINGHAO: he’d try to be all resting bitch face, i don’t care BUT he loves you way too much to do that. It’s so precious to him that you take the role of being the protective one, because in his mind you don’t really need to do that, he’s right there??? to take care of you. Not this time Hao, let someone else take care of you.

➼ SEUNGKWAN: he’d fight, because isn’t he supposed to be the protector? but boo would quickly give up, he loves being a softy for you, and he wouldn’t mind being the protected and taken care of. BUT i feel like he’d also have this urge to protect you, i don’t know, but i see him as someone who is really protective of the people he loves

➼ VERNON: kind of chill about it? but then again, vernon is chill about almost everything. in his mind it should be 50/50, both of you taking turns being the protector and protected.

➼ CHAN: okay, my baby (he’s mine, fight me) would love to be the protective one. Like, we know how mature he is, + the fact that he’s the oldest in his family, he is a natural protector. OF COURSE he’d love and appreciate being taken care of and protected and whatnot, but he still, he’d prefer to be on the giving end.

in conclusion: these men are a bunch of softies

taglist (if you want to be added, check my masterlist): @weird-bookworm @sea-moon-star @hanniehaee @wonwooz1 @byprettymar @edgaralienpoe

[pallastrology]

🖤 astro notes 🖤

🐇 sun in the eighth house has always interested me, because i have found they try to be seen as enigmatic and shadowy, the way scorpio placements can be. i don’t know if this is a conscious want or a subconscious illumination of those traits due to the sun’s influence, though

🐇 women with cancer and pisces placements often find that they give off a safe, “familiar” vibe. people entrust them with secrets and sensitivities, sometimes without really knowing the native at all. in my experience, it’s most common that men empty their heads into your hands, leaving you unsure of what to do with the pieces

🐇 venus in sagittarius comes across as well-travelled and cultured, even if they’ve never left their hometown. i think it has to do with their dreaminess; they are accepting, intrigued and open to learn from those around them and the wider world. nowadays you don’t even have to leave your house to become acquainted with other cultures and places, either

🐇 sun, moon, venus, jupiter and ceres in the second house can point to a love of cooking. it can be a way to nourish and nurture yourself and your loved ones, a useful skillset and an intersection of art and science. with moon or jupiter in the second especially, the native may have inherited a love or need of cooking

🐇 taurus sun, leo moon natives often become a focal point of their social circles. they have an almost regal energy about them, and when they’re at their best, they can really light up a room and make everyone feel appreciated and welcome. at their worst, they can attract drama and chaos however

🐇 people whose chart falls into a wedge pattern can often, seemingly ironically, find themselves feeling lost and rudderless in life. i think it’s because the rigidity of the pattern leaves little room for exploration, and so the native can feel like they’re being squeezed into a hole. when their path isn’t working out, they can feel there aren’t any other options for them, though this isn’t really true

🐇 natives with significant virgo placements are often quite closely connected to animals; especially house pets. they may be one of those people who always end up making cat friends while out walking, or have a lot of pets, or even work around animals in some way. this is something that shows the softer, more nurturing side of virgo brilliantly

🐇 air moons are incredibly intelligent, but their intellectualising can be a massive pitfall for them. gemini moons overthink to the point of paralysis and catastrophising. libra moons won’t allow themselves to feel “ugly” emotions, and care so much for others’ comfort they push their own feelings aside. aquarius moons turn off their softness and can become cold and seemingly heartless, to their own detriment

[tanadrin]

What’s the case for an upper and lower chamber?

In my opinion, none.

The historical situation is that the upper chamber had more power and the lower was a sop to the common folk and petty nobility: this is why the House of Commons was formed (originally from knights of the shire and the representatives of cities that had been granted special rights by the Crown), and only later, after a very long process of constitutional evolution in Britain, did the Lords transform into a consultative body that was adjunct to the Commons, where the real power lay. For a while, even after you started to have something that looked like modern government in Britain, you still frequently had PMs drawn from the Lords--and still could, in theory, except that the convention is they come from the Commons.

In the U.S. example, the goal was simply to split the difference between a popular chamber (the House) and a chamber representing state governments (the Senate, whose members could be chosen by any method provided for under state law, but originally were usually chosen by state legislatures). This is because the people who drafted the U.S. constitution hated and were suspicious of popular democracy, because they were rich landowners and slaveholders whose positions were untenable in the long run if everyone in the country could vote and was equally represented.

Obviously they didn't put it like that--they spoke of the hotheaded hoi polloi, the changeable will of the people--but they were massive Romeaboos, and all the populist leaders who whittled away at the Roman republic managed to do so because they were willing to centralize power, to take it away from the baronial elite of the Republic, and to use that power in service of people further down the org chart. In service of themselves too, of course--these were not altruists--but it was the particularly Roman instantiation of the crown-vs-barons struggle, where the common folk usually side with the Crown, because the barons are bastards who abuse them directly.

(Very many "tyrants" in history were "tyrants" only in that they gave a raw deal to the barons in their particular social order, and very many events which we now describe as movements toward a more equitable distribution of power were in fact a very shitty deal for the majority of the population--the peasants--because it gave the barons even more license to abuse their serfs.)

And the American founders knew all this, and they were all barons, and they didn't like the idea of a federal government that was too effective, so they sprinkled it with veto points and also totally failed to anticipate the rise of modern political parties. (Which weren't exactly what they had in mind when they warned against factionalism--that was more about sectional interests. But still, they did totally fail to anticipate how this system would work as party politics developed.)

In a system of democratic government like the U.S. has now, where it is widely acknowledged the rule should be "one adult citizen never convicted of a felony who can get the day off work to stand in line and has a photo ID = one vote" the U.S. Senate is an inexcusable anachronism. Indeed, the Supreme Court has ruled that state senates modeled on the exact same principle as the U.S. senate (say, one county one senator, as the constitution of my home state Tennessee has it) are unconstitutional, because they violate the equal protection clause.

More recently, many countries have approached the idea of an upper chamber as a sort of "chamber of experts" meant to review and advise on legislation. This kind of makes sense in theory, I guess, but if voters want subject-matter experts to make policy, they can vote them in; in practice, any system of appointment or ex officio qualification is going to select for political lackeys without democratic mandates, and it's also just a bad idea to have people with significant power over the legislative process who do not have democratic accountability. The problem of creating legislation is never that we don't have enough smart people willing to offer their opinions; the problem is brokering functional compromises between interest groups and resolving incentives that push the process toward dysfunctional outcomes, which isn't really something you can fix just by fiddling with the composition of your upper house.

So in most modern parliamentary democracies, upper houses are reduced in power. Either they can't veto bills permanently (Lords), they can't originate money bills (Lords again), they only have input on certain matters (German Bundesrat), they're full of government appointees to ensure the government always has a majority in them (Irish Seanad), or the lower house can overrule them on most matters (Japanese House of Councillors). And the reason why is obvious: if your democratic mandate comes from the lower house, if that's where your government is being formed in a parliamentary system, if the whole principle of government is meant to be collective self-rule by the body of citizens, an upper house that is a check on that power is either definitionally redundant or a brake on democracy.

There are ways to ensure that a lower house is both representative and does not devolve into factional chaos. Proportional representation, four-year terms, constructive motions of no confidence (again, parliamentary systems only), etc. Plenty of countries and subnational entities have unicameral legislatures and are perfectly stable: Sweden, Norway, the Baltics, Portugal, Mongolia, South Korea, Peru [ok bad example nvm], all the states of Germany, all the provinces of Canada, most of the provinces of Argentina, Queensland, the vast majority of the states of India, and the three devolved legislatures in the United Kingdom.

Therefore in my opinion there is no good democratic case for an upper house. And all the undemocratic reasons why you'd want one are bad. Too much democracy is, in fact, a very rare problem for systems of government to have!

[facioleeknow]

hi!! saw that you're taking request!! how about something like jeonghan get annoyed by the reader because he thinks reader is too clingy lately so he decided to put some distance, end up with something bad happens to reader and he regrets everything he did? angst to fluff pls thank u so much 😭🫶

Hello, I hope you like this and I hope I did your request justice, I'm sorry for the delay it was a crazy week.

Clingy•Jeonghan

Tw: angst, not proofread, mean Jeonghan, men

Jeonghan was glaring at you. You brought him flowers, a beautiful and delicate bouquet made of pink and lilac flowers that complimented him wonderfully, and he was glaring at you.

 The new comeback was a success thanks to Woozi’s massive effort and the members enormous talent. God of Music was at the top of the charts everywhere and everybody was ecstatic, except your boyfriend apparently. His eyes bore into the side of your skull while you talked to Seungkwan and Vernon, making you fidgety and uncomfortable; even his members were starting to feel that something was wrong with the way he was basically stabbing you with his stare. This wasn't the normal jealousy that Jeonghan always showed when you were spending time with the members and not him.

“Come out for a second,” his stern tone made you slightly jump in your chair out of surprise, his slender fingers wrapped around your forearm tightly and pulled you away from the conversation hurriedly.

Outside of the dressing room Jeonghan loosened his grip on you and then let your forearm fall back into place. He let out a heavy sigh, his hand rose to pinch hard the bridge of his nose.

“Are you alright, honey?” you fussed, a hand coming to rest on his bicep. Jeonghan brushed your hand away and opened his eyes to stare at you. It wasn't a kind stare.

“Who told you to come here?”

Your words died in your throat, his tone was way too harsh and it did things, bad things, to your heart.

“I just thought it would be a good surprise, I'm sorry.”

You don't know what you were apologizing for but it was like a second instinct.

“God you're so clingy, I don't want you here, go home.”

His words shot right through you leaving you cold and empty. Tears started collecting in your eyes.

“Okay, I'll go home,” you whispered with a shaky voice. The bouquet you carefully selected fell on the floor (you actually had to suppress the urge to throw it at him but you were in public). Jeonghan’s eyes widened, realizing way too late what he had done but your eyes were on the floor and you couldn't see his guilty expression.

Everyone in the building was looking at you as you stomped out of the door and into the street. Your eyesight was blurry and your feet proceeded blindly along the sidewalk. Too engulfed in your own pain you didn't see the slightly uneven part of the sidewalk on your path.

CRACK!

Jeonghan went back into the dressing room with a face that spoke way more than words.

“You yelled at her,” said Wonwoo with a less than impressed face. Jeonghan sighed again and let himself fall on the small couch behind him.

“Hyung, you need to stop treating people badly when you're stressed, you know she's sensitive,”  Seungkwan side eyed him.

“I know, I know, I'm going to apologize right now.”

He took his phone out of his pocket and typed out a quick but meaningful text, hoping you would give him a chance to redeem himself but your answer never came.

Even after the show, no answer from you and Jeonghan was starting to worry. Anxiety bubbled in his chest with every breath he took. Just when he was about to ask Seungcheol if he could leave early to go looking for you, his phone screen lit up. It was you.

“Hello?” said Jeonghan urgently.

“I need you to pick me up,” you went straight to the point and didn't even greet him. Not good.

“Okay, where are you?” he asked while putting on a jacket.

“At the hospital. Hurry.”

Jeonghan's heart was at his feet, he had never driven that fast before but he still felt like time was running too fast. As soon as he entered the hospital he spotted you, in the waiting area with a cast on and a crutch. He jogged next to you, the same not impressed expression that Wonwoo always had on you as well, he must've taught you. 

“What happened?!” he asked a little too loudly.

“I broke my heel and then broke my ankle,” your voice was monotone. Really not good.

“You need to look where you're going baby,” he whined.

“I couldn't because I was crying, because someone thought it was fair to treat their girlfriend like trash,” you were definitely making a scene but you didn't care, you weren't the one that had to feel ashamed.

“Let's go to the car okay?” Jeonghan pleaded.

The silence inside the vehicle was defying.

“I'm sorry, I'm stressed and you know how I get when I'm stressed. I never meant to hurt you, that's the last thing I want to do, I would rather die than hurt you, baby. I swear that I'm working on it and it will never happen again. Give me one more chance,” his hand tentatively fell on your tigh and gave it a light squeeze. You just hummed.

“Will you forgive me?”

“Maybe if you buy me a milkshake I will consider it,” you mumbled. Jeonghan laughed, that cute laugh of his that always warmed your heart.

"One milkshake coming up."

[kennae-bae]

Here's a Fields of Mistria Relationship Chart!! This chart is free to use, I'd love to see everyone's farmer relationships so please tag me if you use this template 💕 Katt is an admin on the unofficial FoM Discord server and they made the Caldarus icon while I made the Priestess icon

The second picture features my farmer April's relationships with all the Mistrians! On mine, I made it so the arrow pointing at the character is how your farmer feels about them, while the arrow pointing at the farmer points to how the character feels about your farmer.

Under the cut is more details of April's relationships with everyone ✨

March - April's Partner; was the first to confess his feelings after learning about what Julius (one of my other FoM OCs) put her through and realizing just how strong and resilient she really is. (Though, March had a massive crush on her before this, but it prompted him to act on his feelings instead of burying them)

Caldarus - April feels close to Caldarus and knows she can turn to him if no one else is around. Caldarus also feels very close to April and admires her. Both of them want to protect each other, no matter what.

Celine, Reina - April considers Celine and Reina to be her closest friends aside from Caldarus and Ryis. The two of them, however, had little crushes on April (these crushes fade once April starts dating March, and when their own LIs (some of my other FoM OCs) enter the picture

Ryis - April feels comfortable and close to Ryis. Ryis also considers April to be a good friend, but prefers to be March's wingman and likes seeing them together

Balor - April considers him only as a friend, but Balor had a little crush on her for a while before it also faded (he also meets another FoM OC of mine who later enters the picture)

Adeline - April considers Adeline a friend, but prefers to keep a professional distance between them. Adeline is more so infatuated with April and her work ethic rather than having any feelings for her

Eiland, Hayden, Valen - Good friends, definitely a bit closer to Hayden as a fellow farmer

Priestess - April's curious about the Priestess down in the mines. She wants to help her and uncover the mysteries of the seals and what's down in the mines. The Priestess also reminds April of her party's cleric, Cannenta (<- a FoM OC of mine that will be introduced in the future)

Juniper - The only person April dislikes. This is largely because she dislikes how she uses her potions on people unwillingly and it just reminds her of a lot of people she encountered, including Julius who used his magic for harm against others.

The Older Mistrians - April has a generally positive relationship with them. Out of all of them, April considers herself closest to Terithia (she also admires her for her past on the battlefield, as she can relate), and Olric since he's March's brother

The Vendors - Doesn't get a chance to talk to them much, but has a generally good rapport with all of them

The Dragonguard - The kids really like April, and she finds them cute. Has a soft spot for Dell since she can relate to her love of swords and she also reminds her of herself when she was younger

Dozy and Henrietta - April adores animals, pet and/or farm animals alike! Both Henrietta and Dozy have a neutral, but positive view of April