#will add to this if anything else weird happens

[hyperions-light]

hey

What is going on between Rook de Riva and Viago

Like he sends them away with that rude yet worried note and then they get back and everyone says

Oh my god, we’re so happy you’re back, Vi was INSUFFERABLE while you were gone, he missed you so much

and he doesn’t deny it

And Rook is very relaxed almost all the time talking about him, especially around Lucanis

But then sometimes

Like there’s that line where Emmrich is asking Lucanis about being a Crow, and de Riva will interrupt and say they’re also one, and then Lucanis will say something like, “oh, is that what Viago thinks?” And Rook gets all grumbly. It’s comedic but like… ????

And if you talk to Neri de Acutis in the Treviso market, he tells Rook they’re doing a great job, and Rook says, “Tell Viago that?” in the most weirdly uncertain voice, and Neri says like

You don’t think he’d kill you, do you? You’re family! We’ve all had to kill family before, but we were really sad about it!

Which is not reassuring at all

And then there’s the torture thing

Like did he torture them personally? Bc Heir says that he didn’t let Rook train with her bc they received the best training under Vi. And then Rook later says when talking to Lucanis that the training was torture (I do actually think this was meant literally, based on what we saw back in DAO from Zev). And they ask Lucanis if he resents Caterina for doing that to him, and the way they ask is like… they’re sort of also talking about themselves, if that makes sense. Like they’re asking because they feel that way, so it makes sense Lucanis might

BUT ALSO that makes it even weirder because like

You know how Jacobus is Rook’s little guy? Like you can check up on him throughout the game, and he idolizes them?

And it’s Viago that Rook asks about his potential. Like they want confirmation they’re right or… they want him to be a de Riva? But like if it WAS Viago who trained them, then like… they’re offering him up to the wolf, basically

But ALSO ALSO Viago is always protecting Rook? Like he shows up at the Dragon fight for them (he does this for any Rook, but the narrative significance is different for de Riva) and he yells at them not to get hit during the Illario fight… and then Jacobus also tells Rook that Vi thinks they’re doing really well… and I KNOW that Viago is going to directly compliment them at the end of the game (which he never does) during the battle for Minrathous. (I assume at this point Viago will collapse from having to give someone he cares about a genuine compliment)

Like he’s their mentor, he cares about them? They want to impress him, they’re worried he’s upset BUT HE ALSO LITERALLY TORTURED THEM MAYBE (or at least facilitated it) and they possibly resent him for that (valid)? They are devoted to him but also they think he miiiight kill them???

It’s giving “King and Lionheart” + “It Will Come Back”. It’s giving dog that someone treats like shit but that still loves them.

They’re so weird… they’re being weird about each other… mesmerizing

(haha wouldn’t it be fucked up if Vi asked Rook to make him King like he desperately wants and they agreed despite the many risks because… he’s Viago. tucking that fic into the draft folder)

[dollishsz]

BATBOYS JEALOUSY HCS ── .✦

a/n: I just ate which like now my stomach hurts because I ate this spicy burger (10/10) and my stomach is hurting so let’s hope i don’t die from a burger😭 also request from anon (here) tysm!

(Tags: batboys when jealous of crush!reader)

BRUCE WAYNE ── .✦

Internally Brooding, Externally Stoic: Bruce keeps a calm, composed exterior, but inside? Full-on brooding mode. He watches every move, his jaw clenching just slightly whenever the other guy laughs a little too much.

Passive-Aggressive Moves: Bruce subtly but effectively tries to interrupt. Maybe he’ll walk by and offer you something he never does, like coffee or water, just to make his presence known. “You looked thirsty,” he’ll say, while the guy looks confused.

Petty Rich Guy Move: He’ll ‘accidentally’ mention something about Wayne Enterprises, as if to remind everyone just how wealthy and powerful he is. “Funny, we were discussing corporate acquisitions the other day,” he’ll drop casually, as if it relates. (Let’s hope he doesn’t drain his bank 😞🙏)

The Comedy: When Alfred catches him glaring, he’ll dryly say, “Master Wayne, perhaps you should try blinking before you permanently furrow your brow.” Bruce will immediately deny he’s bothered, even as he side-eyes you again.

DICK GRAYSON ── .✦

Charm Dial Up to 100: Dick doesn’t even try to hide his jealousy. He’ll swoop into the conversation, throwing in his most dazzling smile. “Hey, I didn’t realize we were letting random guys have all the fun,” he’ll say with a teasing grin, while subtly nudging the guy aside.

Over-the-Top Compliments: He’ll suddenly become your biggest hype-man. “You know, she’s literally the smartest, funniest, and most beautiful person in the room, right? No offense to you, man.” The other guy feels awkward, and you just laugh while Dick grins smugly.

Puppy Dog Eyes: If you keep talking to the other guy, Dick’s smile might falter just a little, and he’ll stand in the background, clearly pouting. It’s so obvious that even you can’t help but laugh.

The Comedy: He’ll mutter, “Didn’t even know jealousy could feel this personal,” under his breath while side-eyeing the guy like it’s a soap opera.

JASON TODD ── .✦

Grumpy But Trying to Play it Cool: Jason’s jealousy is obvious in how stiff and silent he gets. He leans against the nearest wall, arms crossed, glaring like the other guy just insulted his whole family.

Blunt Interruptions: He doesn’t have the patience to be subtle. He’ll walk up and ask, “So, who’s this?” in the least friendly tone possible, with a fake smile that could curdle milk.

Accidental Intimidation: Jason’s sheer presence is intimidating, so the poor guy talking to you will probably start feeling uncomfortable as Jason looms over, cracking his knuckles or adjusting his jacket dramatically.

The Comedy: If you don’t notice, Jason will mutter sarcastically, “Oh sure, talk to Captain Chit-Chat over there. Not like I’m standing right here or anything.” Roy, nearby, might add, “Jason, you’re doing that ‘death stare’ thing again,” and Jason will growl, “I’m not jealous.”

TIM DRAKE ── .✦

Awkward and Overthinking Everything: Tim doesn’t get jealous often, but when he does, it’s a mess. He watches from a distance, wringing his hands, thinking, Should I interrupt? Maybe she likes him? Maybe I’m reading too much into it…

Accidental Sulking: He tries to focus on something else, but his mind keeps wandering. He sits down nearby, pretending to work on his laptop, typing nonsense just so he can stay close without being obvious. “Haha, yeah…no big deal…” deletes everything he just typed.

Passive Observing: Tim eventually tries to casually stroll by, acting like he just happened to be there. “Oh, hey… didn’t see you there. Weird, right?” He’s so awkward it’s endearing.

The Comedy: If Kon or Bart sees him sulking, they’ll tease him mercilessly. “Dude, go talk to her.” Tim panics, “I can’t. She’s busy… laughing… with him…” Kon: “You’re hopeless.”

DAMIAN WAYNE ── .✦

Silent Judgment Mode: Damian watches with narrowed eyes, judging every aspect of the guy talking to you. He might even mutter things under his breath like, “He stands like a fool,” or “He can’t even articulate properly.”

Direct Interruption: Damian doesn’t have time for subtlety. He’ll walk up and flatly say, “Are you finished with this conversation? It’s becoming unbearable.” The other guy is usually too shocked to respond.

Unintentional Comedy: He’ll start critiquing the guy’s conversation topics. “She doesn’t care about your opinions on sports,” he’ll state matter-of-factly, as you try not to laugh.

The Comedy: If you ask if he’s jealous, he’ll scoff. “Jealous? Of that imbecile? Hardly.” But the tips of his ears are turning red, and you know he’s lying.

[erathene]

There is something I would like to share with my friends, followers and the general population of Tumblr.

This is a very personal post coming up. I've been trying to phrase it in the right way for a long time, writing it and re-writing it, starting over again, leaving it saved in my drafts and then coming back to it. But now it's time to share it.

This post contains the following trigger warnings: conceiving, pregnancy, loss, pain, medical treatment, mental health.

If this is triggering for you, please block the tags used below, or pm me and I will add a tag to this post that you already block.

Over the summer I had a miscarriage.

I had what I thought was a very normal pregnancy; in May I had a very clear 2-line pregnancy test, throughout most of June I was struck down with morning sickness, I had food cravings and I was bloated/gained a dress size etc. Everything seemed normal.

In July, at 3 months pregnant, I went for my first scan, only to find there was no baby there whatsoever. It turned out that I'd had something called an anembryonic pregnancy, which is where a placenta and gestational sac develop normally but a baby does not.

In the 2-3 days following the scan, my body proceeded to - quite literally - evacuate the system. I ended up bleeding a lot, having to call 999 myself due to dizziness & hyperventilation & tingling at my extremities, ending up in A&E in so much pain, and topped it all off by passing out in the waiting room from blood loss. Not my finest moment.

Despite all that, my uterus was like Hold My Beer because she wasn't done yet.

At a follow-up scan it was identified that I had managed to hold on to the gestational sac. I opted for a minor surgery to remove it, which - thanks to the Tory government running the NHS into the ground for 14 years - was scheduled for August, and I had to Make Do with feeling like a walking talking zombie and days of high temperatures as my body fought off the early signs of infection. The surgery ended up being fine, and I was sent off on my merry way with a 7 day course of antibiotics.

Anyway. Why am I telling you, a stranger on the internet, all of this?

Doing any form of writing whilst all of this was happening was pretty much impossible. However, now that I am back to full health and starting to put pen to paper on a few projects, it's made me realise how valuable my silly little hobby has become. I was feeling a bit worried last month because after everything that happened over the summer, some of my WIPs have really taken a face-first deep dive into the Hurt/Comfort space, with some scenes that I've written becoming way more hurt than comfort.

It's been so hard to try and figure out whether I'm "over" losing my baby or not. Sometimes I think to myself, it's fine - I didn't lose anything because there was nothing there in the first place. But then something else inside me thinks, fuck - there should have been something there. It's such a weird space to be in. I guess overall, I still feel trolled - I went through so much and had so many 'normal' pregnancy symptoms only to not then have anything to show for it.

But I'm still here, and still alive, and I've slowly managed to pick myself up and start over again. Work has been the hardest, and only in the past week or so have I felt that I'm finally back to my old self.

Has writing helped me cope with everything that happened? Absolutely. Should I be embarrassed by that? Absolutely not. Has it helped me pick myself back up again after a pretty traumatic experience? Fuck yeah.

Cringe is dead. Long live fanfiction ✌️

[dykedvonte]

My post about Anya is making like a little ruckus on Twitter and I think it’s crazy how many people like have a problem with it.

Like you don’t have to agree with how I characterize Anya and her actions but it’s more like, why are you focused on only one aspect of her character? Why are you removing nuance from the situation? I don’t see it as giving Curly the benefit of the doubt when it comes to doing better for Anya, but as exploring his character and hers relationship with a the very little authentic facts we get about them. In truth, there’s a lot more I wish Curly did, even if it wasn’t pragmatic but I realize the issue there.

The first psychological horror game in a while that’s real intricate in its storytelling and makes you need to really need to address the morality of intentions and its already getting torn asunder smh 😔

[swedenis-h]

Day 7 Prompt: AU/Free Day

This is an au where they didn’t turn Claudia until she was 19! Their dynamic would definitely change, she’d probably become their little niece, or maybe still their daughter… idk idk. I haven’t thought about it much, but I love thinking about how this would change the story.

( @claudiadelionlac )

[triglycercule]

ok imagine nightmare sans. now imagine those minecraft villager trading halls where all the villagers are stuck in the little cell blocks to get ideal trades. now that but replace the villagers with the murder time trio and ideal trades with negativity. he's maxxing out the negativity output for every square foot i guess,,,,,,,

there's absolutely NO space for movement it's practically a little closet. only thing is like basic necessities like food and water distributed by a killer (because he wouldn't get attatched to any of them when there's so many,,,, perhaps a different cell warden for a killer only section to avoid a killer meeting another killer and then having to deal with the mindboggle they'd face and then UGH!!!) these little negativity farms cost so little effort to make!!! all nightmare has to do is keep as many (living) sanses (IN FACT NOT EVEN THE TRIO!! but also the trio since they're easy to break down) in as little space as possible and he's practically got like. + 100k negativity every hour with just 6 of these farms. how efficient!

what do you mean it violates the genevarsal convention. DREAM STOP CONDUCTING PRISON BREAKS

(a little birdie told me u wanted 2 be tagged,,, @qin-qin16)

[icewindandboringhorror]

Bad news, got back from the vet and my beautiful baby son is going to have to be put down soon, probably tomorrow or the next day, so send him best of wishes for his next few days~ Luckily, he's actually not in a lot of pain (for now, hopefully he won't be) and is acting pretty normal, so I'm hoping he won't suffer at all and everything will be peaceful for him.

[lucalicatteart]

Poll adventure (paventure? lol) Day 8: !!NOTE: this is different from the past polls - rather than choosing a story action, you're picking supplies to craft a little makeshift boat (EX: wood will be the main platform, so there should likely be the most of it, however, if there were 100% votes for branches and 0% votes for rope, then it'd just be a pile of wood held together by nothing - keep them balanced reasonably, etc.))

(✦ see past poll results + further information HERE (link) ✦)

The winning option of yesterday's poll was that the adventurer should get around the barrier by crafting a little boat to take a river detour….

~

Finally crawling out of his hiding spot in the brambles, he meticulously brushes the leaves from his clothes and composes himself, now fully focused on his generic traveler's map of the area... After checking it about 500 times just to make sure he isn't confused, he determines that going down the nearby river would likely still get him where he's trying to go, and hopefully be much less treacherous than wandering through haunted forests or confronting the stern gaze of the barrier guards..

It only takes about 10 minutes of following a narrower rocky path off the main road to reach a nice shaded spot of land next to a small river. He kneels in the grass, eagerly rummaging through his backpack for supplies, in addition to whatever he can scavenge from the edge of the woods. The rush of excitement slowly dissipates however, once he realizes that he.. actually.. might not know how to make a raft as well as he thought... Surely it's quite straightforward, no? Just.. make it look like it does in picture books?? There are no rules, as long as it floats, it works! Probably anyone could build one on intuition alone! ... maybe...???

.. Once again sinking into a cloud of anxiety, he slumps over, staring at the pile of materials with teary eyes, doubtful what to even do next.... How should he build the raft? Help him by using the poll to choose the appropriate amounts of materials (determined by final % of votes in that category)!

[fi3stazo]

Something I wrote based off of something that’s not canon in my Kirby interp’s timeline anymore

——————

It has been years— no, millennia since the last of his family and friends had succumbed to old age and faded away. His once strong wings are now patchy and bony. His horns were chipped and worn—practically crumbling away—and was missing its golden glow. The bright fuchsia hue of his body had faded into a sickly pink, his bones the weakest they’ve ever been. Galacta Knight had lived far longer than he should have. Impossibly longer. He knows. 

The butterfly reaper watches him approach as he limps towards it. Its ghostly white eyes offer nothing but an unreadable stare. For not the first time, Galacta pleads to it.

“Please let me die,” he rasps, “I am very tired. The ones I loved and befriended are long gone. With too much time, I’ve lost my sense of purpose. I’ve lost everything.”

A hint of betrayal flashed in his company’s eyes, but dissolved as quickly as it came.

“Then wend and maketh yourself new friends,” Morpho Knight stated, it’s tone of voice eerily calm. Anger bubbled at the back of Galacta’s throat.

“There’s nothing left!” he groans. Long ago had he lost his ability to yell.

He grabs Morpho’s gloved paw with urgency. It’s wings twitch, and mirror the drooped posture of Galacta’s.

“Por favor,” Galacta pleads. “Déjame morir.”

Morpho’s glow dims ever so slightly. Something flickers behind it’s eyes. Frustration? Exasperation? … Sadness?

“It is not thy timeth yet,” Morpho only says.

It recoils from Galacta’s hands as if it were burned. Ignoring the whimper from said knight, it morphs into a butterfly and flutters away. It’s glow disappears into the darkness.

[todayisafridaynight]

WHAT DO YOU MEAAANNN "MID" THAT COMIC GOES SO HARD AND NOT FOR ANYTHING... THAT WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT VERBATIM... THIS GOES HARD. Incredibly effective composition and symbolism and use of values and shadow on the first page ESPECIALLY (I would love to hear what the third eye symbolizes as mentioned in your tags :) ) but. But. But like. Masato being Arakawa's comfort and not recognizing it and certainly not remembering it when he's older... despite how much it means to Arakawa in the moment... owwww owwie

I was gonna ramble about how much it hits home to depict Yoko as non-human because the nightmares that have stuck with the most about my mom were like that But Enough Of That We Get It... at any rate, as always, take care and I hope you get some good news soon!

thank you so much ♪(´▽｀) !! it generally felt like somethin i dont really post (but horror/blood is something i really love and love to draw), so its why i was especially excited to share it and see what people thought: im glad people like it from what i see (❁´◡`❁) ! and im glad the lack of color wasn't anything detrimental- it might have worked better in this instance. maybe.

i dont ever 'title' things per say since i feel weird doin it BUT i guess captions serve as the title sometimes. so the caption 'matrophobia' is really ironic with that whole aspect in relation to masato being arakawa's Everything: on the one hand, it can just be a general fear of your mother, but on the other hand it could also be the fear of becoming like your mother. if i ever intended to go through with a jo variant, 'patrophobia' would for sure be the title with that ambiguity in mind, but (and i suppose in both instances) with this its more ironic here since masato is the one who ends up the most like his parents' abusers- which ultimately just makes things more bittersweet in that moment dont it (´▽｀ ;;;) on top of masato being arakawa's comfort, it's not just masato himself being the only reason: tying back into the alt. meaning of matrophobia, it's also a relief for arakawa in that he didn't turn out like his mother- which, again, makes everything so bittersweet in the end. its like spiders in my brain when it comes to that whole aspect in regards to the arakawa family's history and dynamics...... it makes me insane to be blunt ☠️

ah but yeah ! i decided to make her an actual perceivable monster so people who. DON'T. have issues with either of their parents could get a better feeling of what it is like to have a troublesome parent/s (id rather see wolves in my dreams than my mom on that note- even if they were going to bite my face off ( ´◡` ;;; ) ). i ran out of tags before i could make any more notes i had while drawing （；´x｀） but i do have more and i'll be glad to explain the missing eye bit ! under the cut since it'll just be me rambling bout symbolism ig and its gonna get long (´▽｀;;; )

when it came to the third/center eye being missing specifically, i did it in relation to how the third eye can relate to enlightenment or higher knowledge. definitely just as a result of projection, but its cause all the time when i was growing up my mom would not only assert and act as if Her Way Was The Right Way and that she knew everything, but that i should only go to her if i needed help and no one else could help me- hence it being missing being a reflection of how that notion isn't true (or always true i should say). as en extension, it's also a dig at how enlightened persons are supposed to help others reach enlightenment- yk, guide them. yet, again, in this case, they're only doing harm.

that's all for the third eye bit, but also just some other things i didnt have room to ramble bout last post: i had her lips be torn away to constantly show her fangs since. well. i dont have to explain it i guess: its just meant to highlight the never ending feeling of danger when around her (and the promise of danger). her nose being gone is purposeful too: in animals, the smell of your family's significant and it helps you find out Which One Is Yours right. in her nose being gone- again, more projection and personal problems on my part- it's a way to emphasize the separation between mother and child: 'you're no longer my kid anymore, i can't even recognize your scent'. of course, that's only to the mother: she is the only one no longer able to say they're family because she can't smell that shared scent anymore. in reality, they could very much smell the same, it's just the mother's unwilling to accept that anymore.

i know i mentioned the flowers in my initial post, but her wearing a flower shirt really was convenient since it allowed me to add those thorns and vines. when you have a troublesome parent like that, the feeling of not just being trapped is there, but it's painful- it's not something you can deal with quietly. even if you're not interacting with the parent directly, the thought of their presence or the unfortunate thoughts that come about as a result of having been around them so long are a constant thorn in the side. if i may make a pun ( ´uゝ` )

alright NOW i think i've covered everything i wanted to. without all the symbolism aside, i hope she at least looks grotesque for people to enjoy without the added thought- and i hope i didn't overdue it. in any case im glad you enjoyed it !! i hope you'll enjoy the next comic i get out (❁´◡`❁) if i ever start it and i dont abandon it midway through ( ❁´◡`❁ ;;;)

[phoeeling]

I’ve become much more of a het shipper lately but I still can’t stand h*ntlow if I’m honest. it feels too pair-the-spares-ish and kind of unnecessary.

[lynzishell]

The Past 💛 Atlas

I return to the table and set the drink down in front of Asher. He takes a sip and smiles, “Much better, thank you.”

“No problem,” I reply, sliding onto my stool. I try to lift my feet back onto the footrest, but something is off. I glance down curiously. Are our stools closer together than they were before? Subtle, I smile to myself, though the act doesn’t completely surprise me. The energy has shifted between us since we hung out that day in his living room. While it’s true that we haven’t had a chance to really chat much since then, there have been moments when we occupy the same space, when we have the opportunity to be close. He’ll stand next to me in our morning meetings, near enough that if I shift my weight, I can rest my arm against his, so I do. My body instantly relaxes when we’re touching. Sometimes I don’t even realize how much tension I’m carrying until I lean against him and feel it release.

I’d assumed I was probably imagining things, that none of it was intentional on his part. He really is a very physical person by nature, and doesn’t have much of a personal bubble, so it seemed reasonable that I was reading into it too much. But now with the stools, I think maybe it was intentional all along.

I suppose now I have to decide whether to scoot away or stay where I’m at, not that I have to think about it too hard, more just an observation really. Without a word, I move my foot to the footrest on the side of Asher’s stool since it no longer fits on my own.

Realizing that I now have two drinks to finish instead of one, I take a large gulp of my beer, taking a moment to appreciate the warmth in my belly before stealing a glance at Ash who’s gone surprisingly quiet while I chase my own random string of thoughts.

He’s leaning forward on the table, propped up on one hand with the other wrapped around his drink, watching me.

“What?” I ask, suddenly feeling awkward.

“Nothing. You’re cute.”

Normally, a direct compliment like that would embarrass me, but with my anxiety slightly dampened under the weight of the alcohol, I feel relaxed, and I lean forward, matching his posture. My eyes drift down to the birthmark that starts at his jaw and trails down the side of his neck, disappearing into the black of his hoodie. I allow myself a moment to imagine what it would be like to kiss him there. To breathe him in and feel his pulse quicken beneath my lips.

I glance away briefly in an attempt to stop myself before my mind wanders too far in that direction. When I look back at him, the corner of his mouth is turned up into a half-smile that has now become familiar, and the second our eyes meet, he winks at me, immediately breaking my demeanor and causing my cheeks to burn. I laugh and sit up to finish my beer before swapping the glasses in front of me and starting on the one I stole from him earlier.

“That’s never gonna get old, y’know,” he takes a sip of his whiskey and then leans into me, “Okay, so, I’m curious.”

“About what?”

“You actually came out for a drink – which, they all told me you wouldn’t, by the way – but you walked right past everyone and sat back here in the corner. Is it because you secretly hate them all? Or did you just want me all to yourself?”

I can’t help but smile at that last bit, but I sidestep it and answer with a shrug, “Ah, no, they’re all fine. I just don’t like big groups. I get agitated when there are lots of conversations going on at once, and it gets worse when everyone is drinking and loud. It’s why I usually don’t go out with everyone.”

“I see. So, why’d you come out today?”

“Because you asked me to.”

“Aha, you did want me all to yourself!”

“Well, I wouldn’t word it that way. It sounds so… possessive. But, yeah, I guess I did.”

“Well, you’ve got me, so tell me something.”

“Tell you what?”

“Anything. Tell me something about you that I don’t know yet. Something that would surprise me.”

Oh god, he’s really putting me on the spot now, isn’t he? I buy myself some time by taking a drink of my beer and then settle on what feels like the easiest. “Alright, um, I like to rock climb.”

“Ahh, that explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“How you’re that fit when you spend all day sitting at a desk. I was starting to wonder if you live at the gym on eighty-third.”

“Well, I kind of do. I’m at the gym five days a week, and in the mountains every other weekend. I’m training to climb Mt. Komorebi.”

“You are?!”

“Yeah.”

“Like the actual mountain. You’re just gonna climb it.”

“Yes,” I laugh, “I’m going to climb it.”

“With who?”

“Um, my sister and her boyfriend. And Kiyoshi, he’s done it before, so he’s leading us.”

“Well, shit,” he takes a sip of his drink, shaking his head as if he still doesn’t quite believe it, “Okay, yeah, you surprised me.”

“Your turn then.”

“I’m gonna need another drink first. You want one?”

Since I’m training, I’m supposed to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum, but now that I have a buzz, I’m feeling far more relaxed and cheerful than usual, and I want to hold on to this feeling a little longer, so I tell him, “Sure, just one more,” a sentence I’ll likely repeat multiple times tonight if past experience has taught me anything.

While Ash goes up to the bar to get us another round of drinks, I notice that the group of our co-workers is getting up to leave. I can only imagine what they must be thinking or saying about us right now. I couldn’t care less, though. Let them say what they want. A couple of them look over and wave goodbye, so I raise my hand and give a small wave in return.

Ash comes back with our drinks and says goodbye to a few of them before sitting down. Once they’re out of earshot, he nudges my arm and says quietly, “Most of them are intimidated by you, y’know.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Probably because you’re really good at what you do. And you just sit back there all brilliant and serious all the time.”

“But you don’t think I’m intimidating?”

“Nah, I think you’re sweet.”

I give him a small smile, noticing the compliments that have started to pile up. Oddly enough, they feel sincere, and I’m not quite sure what to do with that, but, thanks to the alcohol, the filter between my thoughts and my words has started to dissolve and I say, “I see. So, I’m cute and fit and brilliant and sweet?”

He chuckles softly, looking embarrassed, “Yeah. Yeah, you are. And, as long as we’re keeping track, you’re funny too. Sometimes.”

“Sometimes,” I laugh quietly, more to myself than anything as I remember that first moment we met. And then I look down, down to where I feel his hand come to rest on my leg, the heat of it warming my thigh.

“Is that okay?” He asks, “Do you want me to move my hand?”

I look up into his eyes and shake my head slightly, “No. No, it’s okay.” I lick my lips and watch his eyes flick down to my mouth and back up again, and for a brief moment I think he’s going to lean in and kiss me. Or maybe not. Maybe I imagined it. Or maybe he got nervous and changed his mind. I’m not sure. But, instead, he reaches over and takes a sip of his drink.

As I watch him, it occurs to me that he’s cleverly kept the conversation focused on me the whole time, so I place my hand on top of his, as if to reiterate that I don’t want him to move it, and say, “So, you never told me.”

Looking confused, he asks, “Told you what?”

“Something about you that I don’t know.”

“Oh, that,” he grins up at me, “I won’t be able to top climbing a mountain.”

“That’s okay, it’s not a competition,” I assure him, “It doesn’t have to be anything big or surprising. I just want to learn something new about you.”

His grin stretches wider, reaching his eyes. He pulls the corner of his lip between his teeth, chewing on it as he considers his answer, and I run my thumb over the back of his hand while I wait patiently. Finally, he takes a breath, having made a decision, “Okay. I have an idea for a video game, and I’ve been working on it for the last, I don’t know, three or four years. Storyboarding it and sketching it out, the world, characters, environment, everything.”

“Really?” I ask, intrigued, “Can I see it?”

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“The thing is, I’m an artist, not a developer. The mechanics and the code, I basically only know enough to make a real mess of things.”

“What about Lex?”

“Yeah, she’s good. But you’re better.”

“Are you asking me to code your game?”

“Only if you want to. If you don’t, that’s okay. But, I don’t know, it could be fun.”

“Well, I can’t agree without knowing anything about it. For all I know, your idea is shit.”

He laughs at that, nodding, “Fair enough. It probably is.” He takes a moment to finish his drink, crunching down on a piece of ice, and then turns back to me, “Okay, long version or short version?”

It’s getting late, but I have no intention of ending the night anytime soon, so I say, “Long version.”

“Good. There is no short version,” he admits, his face is already lighting up the way it does when he talks about things he loves, making me all the more excited to hear this idea of his. “So, when I was in college—”

“Where?” I ask, cutting him off already.

“Oh, um, the Brindleton Bay School of Design.”

“Nice. Okay, sorry, go on.”

“Right, so I was studying architecture for a bit because it was a weak area of mine, and it’s good knowledge to have because you never know what you’re going to be asked to create in gaming, y’know.”

“Is that what you always wanted to do, be a game artist?”

“Not always. When I was younger, I wanted to write graphic novels.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I only ever finished one, though. And once I finished it, I never really got the same inspiration to write another, and then I started getting into digital art and, like, 3D modeling and stuff.”

“Do you still have it? The one you finished?”

“Of course. It’s locked away at my parents’ house.”

“Can I read it sometime?”

“No,” he shakes his head, “it’s, um, too personal. I like you, but I don’t know you that well yet.”

“Fair enough. Anyway, sorry again, you were studying architecture.”

“Yeah, and I got really into it, like obsessed.”

“Like the aspens?”

“Oh, so much more than the aspens. There’s just so much, y’know. It made me want to create these whole worlds that are set in different places and in different time periods, right. And then I wanted to bring them all together somehow, so I got this idea for a video game where you have this character who travels through time in their dreams, to each of these worlds, and each one is like a level with its own story and objective, and they’re each like a piece of the puzzle of the overarching story of this character’s life. And, like, the world they visit in their dreams each night would be determined by the choices made during their waking hours, right, so the story itself can change depending on how you play. And I know it’s a lot, but I know I can design it, I’ll just never be able to make it functional. I’ve tried to learn how to code, but my brain just doesn’t work that way. And now I’m rambling, but I can’t stop talking because now I’m nervous to hear what you think. Actually, don’t tell me yet. Do you want one more drink?”

My cheeks hurt from smiling as I listen to him, completely mesmerized by the passion in his voice, and the way the energy is practically vibrating around him. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like him. And I certainly don’t want this night to end, so I say, “Yeah, just one more.”

Prev // Next

✨I have to give a MASSIVE thank you to @herecirmsims for making the poses for this scene!! They are absolutely perfect 😭 I am always in awe of your talent and creativity, and you've been so lovely and kind, I just adore you! Words cannot express how grateful I am! These boys are so special to me and it means the world to be able to bring these moments to life for them! 💖

[siyzuii]

shifting is self discovery.

excuse the yap but i think it’s very important that people realize how fundamental you are in your shifting journey and that you are literally the only thing you need to shift.

you do NOT need:

a method

subliminals

(guided) meditation

to look for advice hour after hour online

symptoms

the void state

lucid dreaming

to visualize

to use your 5 senses

a script

you DO need:

yourself

you can say fuck you to the universe, doubt as much as you want, and still shift. i say that because i’ve done it before even with doubts! so you can too!

“how do i shift?”

every time someone asks this i lose 5 years off my life span. i can’t determine that for you, nobody can. i can tell you what has personally worked for me and so can others, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work for you.

“so what do i do?”

sounds a bit harsh but you figure it out. and that’s what i mean by self-discovery.

of course, you can & should see what other people are doing to create a base line of what you think could work for you. for example try getting into the void state, see what happens from there. doesn’t work or you don’t like it? (because that obviously won’t do the same thing for everyone) try something else!

play around. add new things into the mix. affirmations. intention. you can visualize or use your 5 senses. keyword can. you don’t have to. because what do i think works the best? minding your business and shifting your own way.

remember that you can literally just say “fuck you i want to shift” and shift. you can shift accidentally. so who’s to say what you’re doing doesn’t work? (if it really doesn’t then you can adjust it slightly. look back on your behavior and think about what you want to change.)

seriously!

you can shift:

tired

awake

asleep

in the hypnagogic state (the state of the transition from wakefulness to sleep)

in the hypnopompic state (the state of consciousness leading out of sleep)

while dancing

sitting

standing

laying down

on the floor

accidentally

through a lucid dream

with doubts

and so much more i didn’t mention. seriously no need to overcomplicate it.

just remember that other peoples’ shifting journeys are not yours and that you’re the most important part of your own.

you are what makes you shift.

it’s not your subliminals or your method or whatever, it’s you. YOUUUU. subliminals? “methods”? those things? just helpful tools. they can HELP you shift, but there’s no guarantee.

for example, i personally have been getting more effective results after listening to specific subliminals regularly (psst.. i make sure they’re safe! to check if they are safe, look at the comments around the page and if you’re still not sure and you feel uneasy then do not use the subliminal. if it makes you feel unsafe or weird then do not use it. always read the benefits or what you can find in the description.) it works for me. it got me results (along with other stuff) but it might not give them to you and that’s okay. you don’t have to use subs.

just a reminder that you don’t need anything but yourself to shift <3

it’s self discovery because you’re learning from it and actively finding out (discovering) what works for you.

your shifting journey is yours so don’t make it rely on what someone else does.

THERE’S NO KEY TO SHIFTING EXCEPT YOURSELF.

[myimaginarywonderland]

Another long post in coming:

This fandom has gotten so weird.

I do not know what it is but something has definitely shifted and it honestly makes me uncomfortable to see how open some of you will be when it comes to not only invading drivers privacy but also just their general life it almost feels like.

Not only has it become normal that drivers are sexualized and treated like characters from a fucking TV Show but you are also all way too comfortable when it comes to treating them like an almost object. The amount of shit that some of you will post on public platforms where drivers can easily get access to is genuinely baffling. Some of you will have no hesitation telling a driver they should get ride of themselves but then will be not be sure about a fucking driver change?

So many of you will be so open to make posts about drivers ships and then go to said drivers and demand they comment on it and it's like, when did you all get so comfortable? Who gave you the right to demand a person's opinion on a complete non-existent relationship that you created in your fantasy?

Not to mention this weird wag culture, drivers insert like they don't have real girlfriends and this doesn't border on objectifying the drivers.

I know some of you might be young but the way many of you behave is truly not okay and you should maybe take a step back if you can't figure out why your behavior might not be mean.

And I don't mean there is anything wrong with complementing a drivers appearance or mentioning how the friendship of two drivers is sweet or intriguing.

There is a line and then there is going widely beyond.

Not to mention the complete willingness with which you will all blatantly play favorites like all of these drivers haven't done or said fucked up things in the past. They are human , they are bound to make mistakes. Of course you do not have to forgive them for that especially not when their hurtful actions affected you directly but don't act like most of these people would even be able to find a common ground with most of probably very open-minded and colorful folks. I can tell you that most of these man would probably if you actually talked to them one way or another in the way that some of you want to, turn out even shittier than previously assumed because their nothing like us common folks. They life in a compleltly separate and different environment than any normal working class person and they grew up in such a secluded way that ignorance is probably something that is bound to have been taught to most of them. What they do later is compleltly their decision but many are still growing and figuring out their place so maybe stop judging them while some of you are supporting people who are 27 and dating 19-year Olds. There's a German saying "Wer im Glashaus sitzt, soll nicht mit Steinen werfen" which means that someone in a house of glass shouldn't throw stones, translating to maybe don't judge if your position to judge is built on something just as bad.

Secondly this entire Lewis/Max fanbase feud has gotten so out of control that I feel like some of you are genuinely a hivemind that can't use critical thinking. We don't have to use every fucking word those two say and make it about how it could get ride of them or how they clearly are still hung up on etc.

I don't care who you support on this but maybe just stop fucking judging everything they say based on how you like/dislike them. Just like in the real world someone we might not like will also happen to make good points in an argument and there is literally nothing wrong with admitting that. I know we like to tag the position on this but like it's really not hard to ignore one side if you want to.

I am not asking you all to understand the other side in this because I agree that some of us just can't and won't see eye to eye and that's fine. But I wish some of you would step being so obsessed about a weird rivalry that really wasn't even that when there are so much more important and bigger problems we as a fan base should be talking about.

Another thing that I will never understand is this bitterness towards a driver who get another drivers seat. Yes, it will hurt especially if it's your favourite driver but also, the driver is not responsible for any decisions a team makes when it comes to who drives for them. That decision is either made in mutual agreement or the driver will be kicked out. And this is F1. Contracts really do not mean shit here and aren't a guarantee especially if there's any reason (performance, marketing etc.) that another driver looks more promising. I can guarantee that no driver is a villain in that sense and you should absolutely first and foremost blame the team.

Also I will never understand this weird only hating RedBull thing when it comes to teams. Like listen yes RedBull is an absolute shit hole and has treated their drivers badly but at least they give their drivers a chance to fail. The academies and driver programs for other teams are even worse with people just stuck in a category hoping, waiting to move up and missing out all opportunities to go to any other sport, let alone a different team. The entire way drivers are handled is done badly by so many teams. If you only accuse RedBull you are so off. Just look at Kevin and Stoffel at McLaren, Pascal who was tossed aside although he is clearly now proving his worth in FE, Nyck never being able to go anywhere because he couldn't afford it, etc. The problem is way bigger than just RedBull and to only look at them completely missed any point.

Additionally this is a special shout out to the Seb fandom Listen, I know it might sting that the car is now performing. But Seb willingly made the decision to leave in order to spend time with his family. He looks so much happier and relieved now then I feel like he was for years. Let him enjoy this. If you can't enjoy F1 since he is gone that's fine or even if you need a break. What isn't okay is wishing a driver to be ill so that Seb could come back when it wouldn't even be him as a first choice. Maybe some of you should take a page out of Mike Kracks book because he said it so beautiful in that interview. Sure you consider what ways there are to bring him back but ultimately you should respect his wished and decisions to be there for his family while exploring other passions and continuing to advocate for environmental causes.

Lastly, I wish some of you would realise that in F1 there isn't anything such as a goat unless you are purely using statistics which doesn't work. People have opinions on drivers and that's all fair to prefer one over someone else. What isn't fair is to dismiss a drivers career or results without actually fact checking or providing evidence for it. There's many reason why a driver might be more of a team-mate in a season like 2020 that some drivers missing out on races due to Covid which just means they had less race to prove their worth and get results. You can't compare drivers from different eras because F1 was complelty different in both instances and we couldn't possibly prove which one was the better driver. What I want to say by this is : You can prefer a driver but that doesn't mean he had to be one of the bests. There's no shame in supporting a driver whose results might be lacking. What is not okay is to shit on drivers or other fans while most of you ignore actual facts that determine said drivers points/position in the statistics. Before you engage in why one driver is better than another maybe consider actually looking up said drivers career and when I say this I mean beyond just plain race results or points and actually seeing their starts, development, qualifying etc.

F1 is currently very hard to enjoy but sometimes this fandom makes it so much harder.

So a tip for those of you who struggle with it currently and start to see that it's affecting them negatively: Take a step back and maybe reflect on how you want to enjoy this experience.

I can guarantee there a beautiful and fun communities out there who will welcome anyone that is kind and respectful. I can guarantee that once you actively start to make your own experience and maybe also form your own opinions there will be a revelation that this sport isn't that important and serious.

Breach out. Look for other racing because there is so much more interesting categories out there who actually will give a happy experience.

Racing doesn't end with F1, it merely starts there.

But also, that does not mean we should let some of the treatment that has formed in this fandom especially on here be tolerated.

Like I said the line from drivers being actual people and athletes that you admire to this weird cult like characterization has become way too accepted. Maybe consider not being a part of that or reflecting and questioning why you might be.

[cinnamonest]

I'm not looking to start shit so I'm not linking it or anything, but you may have seen a recent anti-dark-content post circulating with a lot of notes making rounds in the x reader sphere and while I have nothing against people posting their feelings in their own private spaces, every time I see these kinds of posts there's a lot of misinformation that gets regurgitated in the reblogs/replies and I saw what looked like a battlezone in the replies, so.

I know posts like that can be very jarring and affects people like my readers, so to combat misinformation/shaming for anyone who saw it, I'm going to share some of my information on combatting fandom puritanism/misogyny/kinkshaming in its most common forms.

The most important fact, if you read nothing else, is this:

Most women have rape fantasies.

62% to be exact. I think the most pervasive myth on this content is that consumers are "weird" for it, when the numbers don't indicate that. You're in the majority!

The vast majority of people who have rape fantasies do not put them into practice in real life. A variety of factors can determine whether or not they do, particularly specific psychiatric disorders. (X)

To specifically address common harmful and pervasive myths:

the "go to therapy!" line

Generally any academic or professional resource will immediately tell you that consuming and engaging in "dark" fantasies is accepted and encouraged by mainstream psychiatry and part of the professional education for psychiatrists. (This also used to be pretty well-known until like the last 5 years or so, not sure why that changed.)

Here are some particularly insightful resources:

1) This article by Dr. David Wahl, in my opinion, hands-down does the best job of simply and thoroughly explaining why these fantasies occur and why couples practice CNC, as well as the fact that they are both harmless, psychologically beneficial to those with them, and not at all correlated to real-life rape.

2) Dr. Claudia Six has some of the best and most thorough material out there on the subject, specifically explaining why this is taught in mainstream academia psychology and how it is incredibly helpful to rape victims (X).

3) Lisa Diamond is a professional who focuses on this subject a lot, and was featured in the documentary "The Dilemma of Desire," in which she specifically focuses on how these fantasies are not correlated to real-life desires. (X)

4) Dr. Casey Lyle has specifically talked a lot on his socials about how fantasies, even in men/the perspective of the offender, do not correlate to actual risk of offending.

5) This article is not by a professional, but from the perspective of a survivor discussing how it is beneficial to survivors.

the "why would you want that?" line

The idea that fictional tastes = what you want to happen to you in real life is actually of misogynistic origin. I don't want to seek out or add links on this one, but if you're really curious, you can research about how the idea that "women read rape fiction, that means they secretly want rape!" was originally a classic "red pill"/MGTOW/4chan talking point that made its way into mainstream dialogue and thus the public mind in the last 15 years or so due to the incel epidemic popularizing those communities.

the "it's only valid for survivors then!" line

On one hand, yes it's very important to acknowledge that trauma victims use it to cope, however I feel that over-emphasizing that gives the impression that non-victims should be excluded from consumption of dark content, so to clarify, it's a very valid means for all women. Many women who have not personally experienced rape still fantasize about it, and that's fine.

The full explanation as to why this is true for many of them would be lengthy (and addressed in the aforementioned Dilemma of Desire documentary), but in the simplest terms, nonconsensual sex is the only context in which patriarchal society permits women to have sex at all without feeling guilt. For many women, particularly those in more heavily misogynistic or religious cultures, these fantasies are appealing because the idea of consensual sex may give them feelings of shame, guilt, "sin," etc. These fantasies allow them to experience the feeling of being desired without guilt of participation.

No society on earth is free of the psychological grip that cultural misogyny has on women, and shaming women for adapting to the conditions they are forced to exist under is as harmful as the misogyny that causes it itself.

ALL women experience a form of psychological trauma inherent to female childhood and female adolescence in a patriarchal world, and that is just as valid as coping with individual traumatic events.

Good resources on the subject of why women have these fantasies and how they are helpful in general:

(X) (X)

The "what you consume will make you do it in real life!" myth

Although the resources above already address this, it's important to establish why this myth is so prevalent and what its origins are.

The idea that consuming media with dark themes leads to or indicates desires to replicate those acts is a residual element of two major events:

1) Puritan revival culture, popularized in the US and UK in the 90s and 2000s (also known as "Satanic Panic"). A major facet of this movement was TV megachurch preachers making money off of exploiting well-meaning but paranoid parents into believing that your child playing Dungeons and Dragons or Pokemon would make them future serial killers and lure them into satanic cults. (X)

2) at the tail end of this, it was cemented in the public mind as a cultural ripple aftershock of the Columbine shooting, where this sentiment became popularized as the general public blamed violent video games like Doom and "dark" music like Marilyn Manson (whose life was temporarily completely upended by the events and took him years to recover/be safe from) for the 1999 shooting. This event had MASSIVE permanent and global effects in all sorts of ways that the public often underestimates the sheer scope of, notably that it solidified, prolonged, and, in the minds of many, "proved" the paranoias of the preexisting Satanic Panic. (X) This established a precedent, leading to virtually any major horrible event being blamed on the perpetrator's media consumption, including murder and sex crimes.

What this myth ignores in the cases it references (the slenderman stabbings, columbine, sasebo slashing, batman shooting, etc) is two crucial facts: that hundreds of millions of people consume the same media with no negative effects (helpful effects even), and that in every single case cited as "evidence" to the claim, the perpetrator had a preexisting psychiatric condition correlated to acts of violence (which usually went ignored, downplayed and even accelerated/worsened by those around them rather than the help they needed).

Sorry for the wall of text, but I feel an ethical obligation to combat this kind of misinformation, and I hope these resources are helpful for those who may be negatively affected by common misunderstandings.

You are not abnormal or wrong for the fictional content you consume or the fantasies you have!

[leniisreallycool]

Salt

Hmm, still a little bland... Needs salt. You sprinkle a little more salt into the saucepan. Whisking with one hand, you set the salt shaker down with the other. But you're a little careless, and the shaker tips over onto the counter with a little smack! Little crystals sparkle in the dim light of the kitchen. Without even thinking, you scoop up the spilled salt with your fingertip and flick it over your left shoulder.

"Hey! What the hell's your problem?!"

You turn to see Mammon hovering right next to you frantically blinking his eyes, instinctively reaching to rub them but pulling his hand back.

The comedy of the situation hits you like a truck and you burst into hysterical laughter. Your back hits the counter and you brace yourself on it, unable to support your own weight. Tears stream down your face faster than you can wipe, and all the while you cackle like one possessed.

Through the veil of tears clouding your vision, Mammon obviously has no idea what's going on anymore. First you throw salt at him, and now you're laughing? Are you okay? He reaches out towards you, then pulls back. "Are ya cursed or something?" That only makes you laugh harder.

That's the last straw and Mammon dashes out of the kitchen, calling for his brothers.

"W-wait-" you wheeze between breaths, but that's as far as you get.

By the time Mammon returns with the other demon brothers, you've managed to calm yourself a bit. The mad cackles have subsided to occasional giggle and most of your tears are dried.

All seven of them start to speak, but seem to think the situation is a delicate one and decide to let someone else start.

"What happened? Mammon said you were under some kind of curse," Beel asks after a moment of observation, somewhere between confused and concerned.

"No, no, that's not- there wasn't a curse," you reply, rubbing your eyes. Laughing like that always makes you sleepy. "I threw salt over my shoulder, but Mammon was standing right there, and it got in his eyes."

Now Lucifer is the one to speak up. "Are humans in the habit of... throwing salt around?"

"I've never heard of anything like that..." Levi adds.

Belphie shares a look with Satan. The "how can we prank Lucifer with this" thoughts are so loud you half wonder if they're actually twins. The thought sets you off giggling again.

You've never seen Lucifer move so quickly. One second he's standing near the kitchen's entrance with Asmo clinging to his arm in worry, the next he's by your side, gently holding you elbow and checking your forehead (for fever? Through gloves?). You laugh harder.

"I don't sense any malicious magic. Perhaps it's a more advanced spell than I originally thought..." Lucifer gently squishes your face.

You'd be doubled over cackling if Lucifer wasn't supporting your weight. "No- there's not- there's no curse!" you wheeze, nearly choking on laughter.

The other six promptly begin speculating what could have brought on your strange behavior. "Maybe they are something weird?" "They haven't touched any of my cursed books recently..." "Are you sure they're not just sleepy? Tired humans act weird." "It ain't my fault! I haven't stolen any cursed objects recently! Quit lookin' at me like that!" "I hope it's not poison from the new facemask we tried earlier! I thought it was human safe, but maybe I was wrong..." "I knew I shouldn't have bought that new cursed game off Akuzon... These things are always my fault."

Their speculation isn't helping your situation. At this point your laughter is silent again, and your tears soak the front of Lucifer's shirt. Your face aches from the strain of grinning so wide and your lungs cry out for air.

Eventually, what feels like hours later, you're able to calm down enough to speak again. Your body sags in exhaustion and Belphie keeps glaring at you in worry.

"I'm not cursed, I swear," you say. "Just- in the human world, we have this superstition. I'm not sure where it started, or when, but it started with the belief that spilling salt was due to the devil, because at the time, salt was so valuable they used it as currency. That's also where we get the phrase 'worth their weight in salt'. But basically if you spill salt, you have to throw some over your left shoulder into the devil's eyes to keep him from harming you again. And Mammon was hovering over my left shoulder, and he's the Avatar of Greed..."

"So it's standard human weirdness, then," Mammon says, staring at you like he does when he's pretending not to be so relieved to realize you're okay.

You nod, rubbing your eyes. "Pretty much. Everything lined up perfectly and honestly it couldn't have been better if I planned it."

"Alright, well, you're taking a nap with me. Satan can finish cooking." Belphie grabs your arm and drags you out of the kitchen. For once, the others don't argue.