#work experience means observing and following someone around

[fazcinatingblog]

Gonna be training a new girl on Monday and she's got Monday to Wednesday as "work experience" (unpaid) so idk she'll just be observing me while I run around like a headless chook amid piles of papers on fire and answering calls from Sophia every two seconds and

[cera-writes]

Oh my fucking god I loooove your works. Literally fot me giggling, screaming and kicking my feet up in the air reading then

May I ask Remy with an insecure reader who craves someone who loves spoiling reader? Maybe reader never got what they want growing up, so they go to a mall together, and Remy notices reader starring at a lot of things but not buying anything.

Then Remy confronts reader and tells her that it's okay to want things, and that he's happily willing to pay for her

Bonus if reader fights him to split the bill :)

(based on my fantasies and personal experience !!)

thank you so much for considering this!!

A/N: I love this so much. Remy would absolutely steal for you too if it came down to it LOL. Also, I'm so sorry it took so long for me to write this up! I've been extremely busy 😭 Pairing: Remy LeBeau x Reader Prompt: Remy wants to spoil reader so he does just that. Reader is not used to having expensive things.

For You, Anything

The dazzling lights of the mall cast a kaleidoscope of colors across Remy LeBeau's chiseled features, accentuating the playful glint in his eyes. Beside him walked you, a quiet beauty whose gaze drifted longingly over the displays of sparkling jewelry and luxurious clothes. Your fingers fidgeted nervously, a subtle sign of your inner turmoil.

Remy, ever the observant charmer, noticed your silent yearning. He'd seen it before - a flicker of desire followed by a swift retreat into self-doubt. It tugged at his heartstrings, knowing you craved the simple pleasures that life had denied you. He understood the weight of your past, the unspoken scars that made you hesitant to embrace the good things life had to offer.

"Somethin' caught your eye, cher?" he asked softly, tilting his head towards a window showcasing a delicate necklace. The pendant, a shimmering teardrop of sapphire, seemed to mirror the longing in your eyes.

You blushed, your gaze darting away. "Oh, it's nothing," you murmured, a practiced smile masking your insecurity.

But Remy wasn't fooled. He gently took your hand, his touch sending a shiver down your spine. "Don't be shy, ma belle. It's okay to want things."

Your eyes widened in surprise. "But I..."

"You deserve the world, (Y/N)," he interrupted, his voice laced with sincerity. "And gambit more than happy to spoil you."

A warmth spread through your chest, a mix of disbelief and gratitude. "Remy, you don't have to..."

"But he want to," he insisted, his smile as bright as the midday sun. "Let Gambit show you how much you mean to him."

Reluctantly, you allowed him to lead you into the store. The air hummed with quiet luxury, the scent of polished wood and expensive perfume mingling in the air. Your eyes sparkled as you tried on the necklace, the sapphire catching the light and casting an ethereal glow on your face. It was as if the jewel had awakened a dormant part of you, a part that dared to dream and desire.

At the register, Remy reached for his wallet, but you stopped him, a hesitant glint to your eye. "Are you sure?"

Remy sighed, then placed a kiss to your cheek. "Positive." He paid for your jewelry and you felt seen, cared for.

You were positively blushing as he opened the box and clasped the little dainty necklace around your neck. "It's as beautiful as the person wearin' it."

As you left the store, hand-in-hand, you felt a lightness you hadn't experienced in years. The weight of your past seemed to lift, replaced by a newfound sense of self-worth. Remy's love was a balm to your wounded soul, filling the void you'd carried for so long.

The evening continued with a surprise visit to a fancy restaurant. As the waiter presented the bill, Remy reached for it, but you were quicker.

"No way, Remy," you said firmly, pulling out your wallet. "You bought me the necklace, I'm splitting the bill with you."

He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Are you sure, cher? I don't mind—"

"I insist," you interrupted, meeting his gaze with determination. "It's only fair."

Remy chuckled, his heart overflowing with love for your stubborn independence. He knew it was important for you to feel like an equal partner, not just someone he showered with gifts.

"Alright, ma belle," he conceded, his voice laced with amusement. "But next time, it's on me."

Later that night, nestled in his arms, you whispered, "Thank you, Remy. For everything."

He pressed a kiss to your forehead. "Don't ever be afraid to want, cher. And remember, I'm always here to give you the world."

[yuveenti-blog]

Astrology Observations: 💘💡 Clocking Your Tea💡💘

Disclaimer: As always, if this doesn't resonate with you, feel free to disregard it. While not everything will be relevant to everyone, most will find value in these ideas. I also want to express my gratitude to everyone who has liked and shared my post; your interest fuels my passion for creating content. A big thank you to my new followers as well—your support means the world to me, and I truly appreciate everyone who engages with my work.

* Aries individuals are among the most emotionally attuned signs in the zodiac. Imagine the delicate nature of infants; Aries share that same sensitivity. When their needs and wants go unaddressed, they can find it particularly challenging, often leading to behaviors that reflect their less favorable traits, such as anger, irritability, and even bullying tendencies.

* Taurus individuals truly stand out as some of the most visually appealing signs. They have a unique ability to manifest their visions of beauty, love, and luxury in tangible ways. Known for their exquisite taste, they often have stunning homes, stylish cars, and a flair for fashion and beauty. Their dedication to these aspects of life is unwavering, as they continually strive to elevate their surroundings. These are the people who truly personify aesthetics.

* Gemini is a sign that often leads to confusion, as mastering its energy can be quite challenging. Governed by Mercury and symbolized by the twins, it reflects a constant internal struggle. While many label Libra as indecisive, Geminis often experience a deeper turmoil. Their dual nature can trap them in a cycle of overthinking, which can inflate their egos. This ego-driven mindset frequently results in significant life challenges. Much like certain artists who thrive creatively during their most painful moments, Geminis often find their brilliance and creativity intertwined with their struggles.

* Cancers are among the most complex zodiac signs. When you think of individuals who are tough, resilient, or even a bit enigmatic, Cancers fit that description perfectly. Their protective crab shell symbolizes their desire to shield their vulnerable side. This means that Cancers are unlikely to reveal their softer emotions unless they feel safe and secure. If someone calls a Cancer overly emotional, it’s likely because they’ve lowered their guard around you, or perhaps you simply spend a lot of time together.

* In my view, Leos are intriguing individuals who can be quite difficult to read. Much of their persona is shaped by how others perceive them; when they are popular, well-liked, or possess conventional beauty, they embody the classic Leo traits, radiating confidence and charisma. However, it becomes challenging to identify those Leos who lack that external affirmation—those who may be loners, face disapproval, or don’t fit the traditional mold of attractiveness. These quieter Leos often get misidentified as other signs because they don’t display the typical Leo bravado and may even come across as reserved. Interestingly, they can sometimes resemble Aquarians, their astrological opposites.

* I see Virgos as being just as unfocused as Geminis, both influenced by Mercury. However, Virgos tend to manage their scattered energy more effectively because their essence is geared towards purification. Even when they seem all over the place—dabbling in various interests, skimming through books, or leaving projects unfinished—they rarely remain in that state for long. This is often a reflection of Mercury's elusive nature. Yet, Virgos possess an inherent drive to create order and clarity, which ultimately leads them to commit to deeper learning, dedicate themselves to a hobby for mastery, and complete that book they started.

* Libras often come across as feeling incomplete. The scales symbolize an intrinsic imbalance within themselves that they strive to rectify through relationships with others. This tendency leads me to believe that Libras struggle to thrive independently, which can sometimes result in a negative perception of them. Their difficulty in being alone may push them into a less authentic version of themselves, characterized by co-dependency and passive-aggressiveness. It's quite rare to encounter a Libra who isn't surrounded by friends, a partner, or some form of companionship. While some might assume that Libras possess an open-mindedness that allows them to appreciate various perspectives, the reality is that they tend to befriend just about anyone. Their diverse dating experiences may suggest a broad mindset, yet I find that many Libras, like several air signs, can be surprisingly close-minded.

* Scorpios seem to place a high value on their reputation. Many of them are remarkably perceptive, able to adapt their personas to blend in seamlessly, much like chameleons. Their enigmatic nature means that only a select few truly understand who they are beneath the surface. Often, they present a façade to the world, making it challenging to uncover the genuine Scorpio.

* Sagittarius strikes me as a sign that can embody two distinct lifestyles. With its dual nature of being part animal and part human, some Sagittarians are exuberant, straightforward, and the life of the party, always chasing after fun and excitement. Conversely, there exists a more sophisticated side to Sagittarius. These individuals often lean towards spirituality or religion, seeking deeper truths and understanding. They tend to intellectualize their experiences and may feel a need to refine their more primal instincts, striving for a higher state of being akin to the meticulous nature of a Virgo.

* Capricorns often come across as individuals who equate their worth with material possessions. They possess a certain self-awareness, recognizing that they may not always present the best image or have the most charming personality. However, they derive a sense of superiority from owning a beautiful home, luxury cars, or holding a high-paying job. These symbols of wealth bolster their self-esteem, even though they frequently grapple with insecurities regarding their appearance and character.

* In my view, Aquarians have a penchant for embracing the unconventional. It seems to me that they find the idea of being "normal" rather dull and prefer to stand out for the thrill of it. Many of their choices stem from a desire for excitement. However, there's a paradox to their nature; despite their seemingly open-minded demeanor, they can be surprisingly rigid in their beliefs. They often hold strong convictions that don’t easily sway. Additionally, their forward-thinking mindset can create friction with others, as they tend to focus on distant possibilities rather than the present. This future-oriented perspective can make them appear somewhat detached. Co-ruled by Saturn, they often find themselves caught between a serious approach to life and the exhilarating pull of Uranus, which fuels their desire for adventure.

* Pisces often reminds me of both Gemini and Scorpio. Their energy tends to be quite scattered, leaving them frequently uncertain about their next steps, caught in a web of indecision. They can easily become overwhelmed by their emotions, which may lead to a sense of aimlessness in their lives. This emotional depth is reminiscent of Scorpio, as they often craft a particular image for themselves. For example, they might project a tough or unkind persona, appearing as a bully or someone hard-edged, when in reality, they are deeply emotional, gentle, and nurturing. Their environment may pressure them to adopt this façade. Conversely, they can also present themselves as sweet, innocent, and compassionate, yet underneath that exterior, they might display rudeness or disrespect. This duality in their personality often stems from their experiences in life, leading them to shape their identity in complex ways.

* Many individuals resonate more with their rising sign. For instance, Aries rising folks often perceive themselves as adventurous, bold, and daring. In contrast, those with Taurus rising tend to view themselves as laid-back, steady, and goal-driven. Cancer rising individuals see themselves as nurturing, emotional, and caring, while Gemini rising people often identify as intellectual, social butterflies who thrive in conversation. Leo risings feel a strong connection to creativity, fun, and being in the limelight. Virgo rising individuals pride themselves on their refined tastes, attention to detail, and aesthetic sensibilities. Libra rising often see themselves as charming, sociable, and peaceful, while Scorpio risings may view themselves as introspective, observant, and somewhat reserved. Sagittarius rising individuals embrace a free-spirited, fun-loving, and adventurous outlook. Capricorn risings often identify as serious, ambitious, and reserved, while Aquarius risings see themselves as unique, logical, and different. Lastly, Pisces rising individuals tend to view themselves through a more dreamy and intuitive lens.

* Your moon sign can reveal how you sought comfort during your childhood. For example, an Aries moon might find solace in solitude, engaging in activities alone. A Taurus moon often seeks comfort through relaxation, pleasure, or by refreshing their surroundings with new items. Meanwhile, a Gemini moon thrives on acquiring knowledge and information to feel at ease. A Cancer moon focuses on creating a sense of home wherever they are. A Leo moon feels most comfortable when surrounded by admirers who offer constant praise. A Virgo moon finds comfort in establishing routines or diving deep into studies. For a Libra moon, socializing and spending time with friends brings a sense of ease. A Scorpio moon prefers solitude, finding comfort in time spent away from others. A Sagittarius moon seeks comfort through new experiences or outdoor adventures. A Capricorn moon feels at ease when they achieve their desires or surround themselves with material possessions. An Aquarius moon enjoys the company of diverse individuals or thrives in unpredictable environments. Lastly, a Pisces moon finds comfort in escapism, engaging in activities that nurture their imagination or allow them to process their emotions away from others.

* Women might feel a spark of sexual attraction towards a man if his moon sign aligns with their Mars sign. Similarly, a man could be drawn to a woman if his Mars sign corresponds with her moon sign. For example, a woman with Mars in Leo may find herself attracted to a man with a Leo moon, while a man with Mars in Aries might feel a strong attraction to a woman who has an Aries moon.

* The Mars sign can reveal whether your partner embodies the playful spirit of a golden retriever or the mysterious nature of a black cat. For instance, those with Mars in Aries tend to lean towards the black cat persona, just like Taurus Mars. Gemini Mars also fits the black cat description, while Cancer Mars is more akin to the golden retriever. Leo Mars shares the black cat traits, whereas Virgo Mars embodies the golden retriever qualities. Libra Mars also aligns with the golden retriever vibe. Scorpio Mars, Sagittarius Mars, Capricorn Mars, and Aquarius Mars all reflect the characteristics of the black cat. In contrast, Pisces Mars is more representative of the golden retriever.

* Someone you can chat with for hours might either resonate with your Mercury sign's modality or share the same house number as your Mercury sign. For example, a Mercury in Cancer and a Mercury in Pisces can engage in long conversations, just as a Mercury in Libra and a Mercury in Gemini can. Similarly, a Taurus Mercury and a Virgo Mercury can also enjoy extended discussions.

* It's not uncommon to feel a twinge of jealousy towards someone whose rising sign matches your sun sign. This stems from the fact that the sun represents your personal growth and evolution over time, while the rising sign reflects the traits you are born with, making those qualities feel more inherent. For example, a Leo sun might find themselves envious of a Leo rising, just as a Cancer sun could feel jealousy towards a Cancer rising. Similarly, a Scorpio sun may experience jealousy of a Scorpio rising, and a Sagittarius sun might feel the same way about a Sagittarius rising.

* A man might be drawn to you if your Venus sign aligns with his rising sign. For instance, a man with a Cancer rising could see a Cancer Venus woman as particularly beautiful. Similarly, a woman can find a man appealing when her Venus sign matches his rising sign. For example, a woman with a Pisces Venus may find a man with a Pisces rising attractive, just as a Taurus Venus might be attracted to a Taurus rising man.

* You could find yourself in a rivalry with someone who has the same sun sign as your Mars sign. For instance, an Aries Sun woman might experience competition with another Aries Mars woman, while a Leo Sun man could face off against a fellow Leo Mars man.

* You might notice a natural attraction to individuals whose rising sign contrasts with your sun sign. For instance, a Leo Sun may find a close connection with an Aquarius rising, while a Gemini Sun could easily bond with a Sagittarius rising. Similarly, an Aries Sun might develop a friendship with someone who has a Libra rising.

* A man might find himself drawn to conversations with you if your moon sign aligns with his mercury sign. For example, if his mercury is in Capricorn and your moon is also in Capricorn, he could genuinely enjoy chatting with you. Conversely, women often feel a strong connection to a man when his mercury sign matches her moon sign. So, if he has a Leo mercury and she has a Leo moon, she may find their discussions particularly enjoyable. Similarly, if he is a Cancer mercury and she is a Cancer moon, their conversations could be quite delightful for her.

* Typically, you might find yourself not fond of the sign that comes before yours, while feeling an attraction to the sign that follows. For instance, if you're an Aries Sun, you may have a distaste for Pisces but feel a pull towards Taurus. Similarly, if you're a Gemini Sun, you might not be keen on Taurus, yet you find yourself drawn to Cancer.

[neptunes-sol-angel]

Pick the picture(s) that you're drawn to the most, then scroll down for its corresponding message for insight on what's next for you in love.

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Pile One ♡

I strongly feel that most people in this pile would be considered as someone who is inexperienced in love, maybe you guys are bookworms, maladaptive daydreamers, and writers yourselves when it comes to visualizing your future, different settings for how the world could be, and breathing life into the people that you haven’t gotten the chance or time to get to know yet. What’s next for you in love, is practice. You’re upgrading from being Bambi by becoming the Great Prince of the Forest by taking risks before you are able to know and find what is right for you. Some of you may believe in holding yourself tightly before you meet “the one” but the message is that you are being unfair to yourself by putting your life on hold to revolve it around someone who is also learning too, but isn’t waiting like you are doing. This doesn’t mean to be reckless or to feel coerced into going along with people you don’t have a good feeling about just for the sake of finally being in a relationship. This stage is about exploration and enjoying yourself before you meet your life partner. If you resonate with being a bookworm, you could be the type to read romantic fictional stories on a platform like wattpad, and while it serves its purpose which is to make you feel good, it could create an irregular perception of love for you, like subconsciously romanticizing traits that are toxic or wouldn’t be something that you would actually like if you were to actually experience it. For some, it could be re-evaluating your attraction to individuals, like when you crush on someone, you could find that they really look good, but do you yearn for more from them? Your path in love could be redirecting you to pay attention to how a person makes you feel than what you get from them on a surface level of interaction.

Pile Two ♡

There was someone in your life that you once felt like you couldn’t live without or took something from you that seemed irretrievable, but you’re being blessed in a way that’s shutting all of those lies down. You’re getting you back, in whichever way that it applies. This could be your motivation to take care of yourself, to do things that made you feel happy and at peace before this dwindle ending happened, like going to the gym, arts & craft, writing, solo trips or going out with friends, and even something simple as such as looking good for yourself, but it’s not limited to what was mentioned. This could even look like getting closer to who your deity or deities and spiritual maintenance. The best way that I can describe this, is that this phase in love is like this big circle of energy, stuff that was taken or borrowed from you, that’s being marinated before it is returned because it isn’t just aspects from the past, it’s also the time for creation. This whole entire time, your rain of tears that were collected from this heartbreak were observed yet not ignored, but transmuted into this empire that you’re building off of the corpses of failures that you’ve experienced with not just people but life circumstances, maybe when that break up happened it just seemed that more tragedies kept following you after that and it drove you into insanity like when does this pain ever end? Although you can’t forget about it, you’re learning how to soften from these things that stung you in the past, so that you can keep moving and consolidate your wishes. For some, this is personal, and an era that you’d like to be selfish with in order to see what else you can create, like developing a strong daily routine, starting that business, or maybe even working on yourself so that you can heal others, while the other side of this collective will open their hearts again to a new love which can be romance, friendship, or even adoption that is just as equally healing.

Pile Three ♡

The next thing in love for you is learning how to stop trying to win. I’m picking up multiple scenarios for this but the premise is that people in this pile are in love situations where there is no winner, and if there is, let the other person be the one to have it so that you can walk away and stop blocking yourself from better to come in. Some of you are in a long battle with a person by competing with them on who has the upperhand in the situationship, this involves the runner and chaser dynamic constantly reversing and both of you keeping tabs on each other when you’re supposed to be in no contact. The second scenario is sticking beside someone who has a wandering eye but trying relentlessly to get this person to choose you the way that you choose them. The third scenario is in general, trying to prove yourself in order to gain love from others by manipulating yourself and even them to win their affection. There is this storm brewing, you can even call this a tower moment, that could happen to finally get you to see the many ways that you are downplaying yourself with people who have stayed in your space and energy for far too long. You’re going to surrender from these situations to know what it means to pick yourself up and see how beautiful and worthy you are to the extent where you’ll be baffled by how much you’ve been settling for people who don’t deserve you. This phase will come with new connections, but what makes it different is realizing your authority in this by realizing how possible and freeing it is to choose people that choose you. Once you realize that you’re the prize in this game, let the winner take pride in being the fumbler, and be proud of yourself for not being the one to fumble you.

[bitchy-craft]

Messages For You | Pick A Pile

Hello and welcome to this Pick A Pile! In here you'll find out a few things you should hear. I hope you guys enjoy and find this useful. Do make sure to leave comments down below on your experience! I do want to remind you all that this is a General Pick A Pile which means this is for a lot of people; therefore keep what resonates and leave what doesn't.

ANNOUNCEMENT: I added the ability to choose your own questions to be answered in my shop.

Masterlist > Questions > Paid Readings [NEW]

Pick A Pile!

Pile 1:

Relax, you deserve time off

It’s okay to take a step back; and when you do so, use that time to observe everything around you

Be confident and strong, you can do whatever you want

Be your true authentic self, that’s the way you’ll succeed

Don’t sit and wait, move and grow

It’s okay to take risks, most of the time they aren’t as big as you imagine them to be

Obstacles are there to overcome, do so

Leave behind what doesn’t serve you, they’ll be stuck where you leave them

Don’t always defend, start and fight

They’ll get what they deserve

Pile 2:

Be proud of what you’ve achieved, you deserve it

If you can’t reach what you want, jump and get it

Stand your ground and keep your head up high, the rest will follow

It’s okay to be worried, and it’s okay to have a support team to help you get through it

Rome wasn’t built in a day, you have plenty of time

They help you a ton, they want to help you a ton, let them

Someone is jealous of you, pay attention

You’re allowed a little help to grow

Patience is key

Focus on yourself, not around yourself

Pile 3:

Love yourself, you deserve to be loved

There are people who are protecting you

These people are trying to reach out to you; recognize their signs

You don’t need to do everything alone, there are people who want to guide you towards success

It’s time to heal, you’re ready

Balance your time and energy; take your time and take your needed breaks

It’s okay to not succeed immediately, you can try different things before finding what works best for you

Be optimistic, have hope; it’ll come to you

Choices are there to be difficult; take your time to analyse your decisions

What you’re waiting for will be there soon; continue what you’re doing, do your best

[imagine--if]

hii i saw that requests for alice in borderland were open and i rann 🏃🏻‍♀️

could you do a scenario where chishiya and banda have a crush/interested in the same s/o?? how tense would that be, especially in the solitary confinement game?? 👀👀👀

A/N: Oooo this is an awesome scenario idea, thanks for your request!! I'm still open for AIB requests until the 15th, so if you're interested then send some in!! A particular ask has caught my attention for after this... jealous Chishiya 😵😍 Little obvious disclaimer that the GIFs aren't mine- but look at Chishiya's, he's staring RiGhT aT uSsS 😭

Chishiya and Banda Both Crushing On You Includes...

💛• How'd you even manage to get the attention of both these guys?!??! I'm jealous 🥲 because the way these two fall for someone, combined, is basically the most intense and warm and crazy hot experience you'll have in quite a while. Let's say that this all starts in the Jack of Hearts game:

💛• With Chishiya, he's drawn to the little, unnoticeable things that interest him, like being a lot smarter than you look, or making a good decision that surprises, or even outwits him somewhat. There's not much of that in the borderlands, apart from Arisu's selflessness that absolutely confuses him until he starts admiring it, and the deadliness of the games, everyone looks like they're going to die. Except you. So he'll most likely start following you around - very subtly - observing your way of doing things and interacting with other players, until he properly approaches you. Probably asking you for his symbol on his collar, and asks you if you want yours. If you turn him down but give him his or something, he'll actually be taken aback... in a good way, because now he's obsessed with wanting to know how your mind works. So, basically, you've got yourself a new partner.

💛• With Banda, however, subtly and patience are not his things. All it takes is one minute of eye contact, or hearing something a little psycho come from you, anything that's potentially original and beautiful to him, and suddenly he's right in front of you with that dark smirk, giving you a twisted but flattering compliment. That's it. Now you've got a new protector who grows oddly possessive and obsessive over the first few rounds, pulling you back when you think about joining the others' big group. You don't need them. You've got him.

💛• So when the two ultimately end up bumping into each other when they both go to talk to you or something, there's just a moment of stretched, painfully strong silence as Banda eyes up this new 'distraction' to your attention, and Chishiya takes him in with that annoyingly indifferent, and kind of smug, look, before his brown eyes meet yours. Banda looks in your direction too. No pressure 😅

💛• I mean, Chishiya tolerates pretty much everyone, but Banda lurking around and infecting your brain with his sadistic ideas of entertainment and advice on how to win every game like he has, is something he's apprehensive of. He'll see how you react to it at first before jumping in, but overall, Chishiya thinks you're the first truly curious and inspiring person that's caught his attention in the Borderlands, and that's something he doesn't want to let slip as soon as he's found it.

💛• Banda has little to no empathy or care for anyone except what you're happy and unhappy with, so he's gonna be pretty forward with Chishiya and give him one of his hushed, intimidating, close-up threats to move along and find someone else to play with. When Chishiya retorts smugly with a comment about how the last women he hung around with suddenly made it onto the murder section of the newspapers, he'll get a deathly glare in his eyes, and basically the only thing stopping him from snapping at that moment is the rule of the game being that you can't outrightly hurt anyone.

💛• They let it go for now, but neither one of them is put off from hanging around with you. The rest of the players in the big group find it odd how you're just sitting there at a table, and within a few moments, Chishiya comes striding in offering his snack with you, sitting beside you on the table, all the while Banda's unblinking gaze is fixed on you from the other side of the cafeteria, where he sits on the floor against the wall. The Jack probably notices it too, but doesn't say anything, since no one really wants to see Banda Sunato get angry.

💛• Once the game has gone on and it's over, Banda has some 'business' to attend to with Jack, and probably makes you wear a tracker or something so he knows how to come and find you when he's done and figuring out how he can have more, or all, control over the lands. Cocky psycho even tries to kiss you goodbye too, and whether you let him go for it and leave you flustered after an intense few moments, or push him away gently with a blush is your choice. Either way, he'll still respond with one of his smirks and a wink before he causally pulls out his pocket weapon and goes into one of the cells after Jack.

💛• That just leaves you with Chishiya, who Banda has 'trusted' to keep you safe while he's gone. Since Chishiya figured it all out with him and survived the round in a pretty impressive way, Banda doesn't misjudge his intelligence and capabilites, even though he seems a little too relaxed when entering these life-or-death games. Still, you'll end up leaving with Chishiya wandering by your side and making small talk about who you are as a person as you go for the next game, or to meet his gang from the Beach, like Arisu. He's surprisingly talkative in his own way as he uncovers more about you and listens to every word you say, but when the questions are reflected back at him, the answers are simple and short - at first, anyway. It's not all because he's reclusive, but mostly because he didn't really like his life, or have much of one, in his opinion, before the Borderlands. But now, maybe he does. Intelligent and nice to look at. He'll stick around for sure 😉

💛• Elsewhere, Banda basically pulls up every file and piece of information on you instead of outrightly asking. It's safe to say that he's an obsessive and possessive crusher/lover, and he'll make that known once he's sorted things out and comes to find you again. And he will come and find you again 😏

[icanseethefuture333]

Solar Return Chart: Asteroid observations

Asteroids used:

Starr (4150)

Singer (10698)

Tone (1266)

Fama (408)

Talent (33154)

Actor (12238)

Lumerie (775)

Fan (151590)

Industria (389)

Universitas (905)

Sagittarius Starr in the 1st house 7°:

Stardom is a stronger placement than Fama in my opinion. You could always experience fame at some point in your life (being a meme, having a video go viral, etc) but it's nowhere near the level of stardom. This placement specifically shows how I will stand out in comparison to others. Sagittarius is well known for being philosophical, optimistic, and honest. People could appreciate or admire these characteristics that I have. Starr being in the 1st house could mean being popular for taking on the role of a leader and not being a follower. 1st house also pertains to the physical appearance as well as 7° (Libra degree), so I could be seen as having attractive attributes. I also interpert this as my personality being considered humorous and that I will be fair to others

Sagittarius Singer in the 1st house 7.59 (could be rounded to 8)°:

Sagittarius is so prominent in my Solar return chart it seems?! I see this as being a singer who's versatile and carefree. As much as I enjoy singing, I am not professionally trained, nor would I consider myself a technical singer. I see this as actually putting in the effort to practice and gaining wisdom from other singers techniques. This could also mean to sing various musical genres or blending different cultures into the songs I sing. This could mean singing in a foreign language as well. 1st house means to be discovered quite fast and be acknowledged by others for being a singer. 7°/8° (Libra and Scorpio degree) people could consider my voice as pretty and transformative. I coild possibly collaborate with other artists, and be involved with a lot of business matters (marketing my music, signing contracts, etc).

Pisces Tone in the 4th house 28°:

What a watery aspect to have JEEZ 😂! Tone pertains to how someone's voice sounds, so my speech could be softer in general this year or I will have a duality to my speaking voice. Being able to play around with different notes or feeling comfortable singing low or high notes. 4th house and 28° both embody Cancer energy. My voice could be regarded as feminine, soft, and gentle. It could also be obvious by my tone what emotions I feel (angry, sad, happy, etc) and having a harder time masking that. There will overall be a sincerity expressed in how I talk.

Capricorn Fama in the 2nd house 18°:

Capricorn Fama is a interesting placement considering it feels neutral here. I see this as having knowledge and means for me to become a celebrity. As a child, I remember I used to watch Yogi Bear on Boomerang and he would always say that he was "Smarter than the average bear" when that wasn't actually true, Boo Boo was a cub and much smarter than his elder. It could be possible I meet celebrities who are well seasoned and think they could steal my "picnic basket" so to speak. They could think they're better than me and would try to convince me to take opportunities from others to get ahead, when that's not how I roll. This placement requires me to be wise when it comes to having fame. I interpert the 2nd house as if I work hard and focus on my goals, I should be able to succeed financially. 18° (Virgo Degree) I believe means there will have to be a balance of health and work. Being famous for health or humanitarian matters is also a factor.

Scorpio Talent in the 12th house 17°:

The talent asteroid is comfortable with the 17° (Leo degree). It represents long term fame and being well known for your talents. This placement represents me very well when it comes to my talents. I am someone who is quite shy and being in the spotlight can be nervewracking for me. I am able to do a lot of things from drawing, singing, etc, but I am not very public about my talents or skills because it draws too much attention. Scorpio is very private, they are known for hiding anything personal about themselves and typically are considered mysterious to others. The 12th house could also mean hidden talents coming to the surface. I see this as slowly coming out of the shadows and allowing my talents to speak for themselves. It reminds me of indie artists when they start gaining popularity and people have discussions as in "Have you heard of this person?" or "Do you know about xyz?". My talents could be spiritually guided or there will be inspiration that comes from my subconscious thoughts. It is possible I will receive signs or premonitions within my dreams. People could ask what is the meaning or how did I become so talented at something but my geniune response would be "I don't know where it came from it just came to me honestly?". I see this as being humble regarding talents and not being someone who brags. This is a comfortable placement for fame and I see this as being known for having a good reputation. My talents could pertain to psychology, the occult, divination, and the arts.

Leo Actor in the 9th house 5°:

I see that I would be successful if I were to start an acting career! There could be a lot of potential for my acting skills and I would have to take lessons to improve them (9th house often being considered the house of travel, knowledge, and education). This could also mean I will be casted for roles because of my race or cultural background. It is possible it would be required for me to travel for my acting career or I would have to speak in a foreign language. 5° degree is the Leo degree and it also signifies short term fame, going viral, or being famous for your beauty. So this could mean getting casted for advertisements, commercials, and passing modeling auditions. Either way, I will gain prominence in the acting industry because of my charm, charisma, and appearance (I.E: Being selected for roles solely because of my looks).

Leo Lumiere in the 9th house 29°:

This asteroid is specific to film and photography, astrologers interpert this as what roles an actor specializes in. I see the Leo energy for this asteroid as being casted for glamorous and lavish roles or being casted to play a character that's brave or having "main character" energy. As in films that have a coming of age story. I see that I could be casted for roles internationally or will have to film in places out of the country. 29° is a big indication of long term fame but since it is a karmic degree, it could possibly mean having to play in roles that are controversial or challenges what society views as the standard.

Aquarius Fan in the 3rd house 18°:

I could gain fans/followers for shared interests and values. There will be discussions surrounding activism and social causes. People could admire my individuality and ability to be a free thinker. My fans will be mostly on social media platforms and could see them being interested in what I think or have to say. This could mean gaining attention from videos, podcasts, blog posts, or any thing that is a form of written/verbal communication. I could form connections with students from my school as well. 18° (Virgo degree) pertains to health, analytics, and human services.

Gemini Industria in the 7th house 14°:

I am a Communication major and this is a significant placement for me since it pertains to jobs in that career field. It is likely I will be able to work in jobs that pertain to communication such as journalism, podcasts, social media influencer, and so on. The 7th House and 14° degree entails Venusian energy (The 7th house representing Libra and 14° is a Taurus degree). This could mean I could work in the beauty, music, banking/investment, & design industry. I could see myself working in jobs related to beauty advertisement, investing in stocks for companies, and working as a intern for a art gallery/fashion magazine. I also see this a positive indication for singing and modeling. This placement feels very luxurious to me and reminds me of "The Devil Wears Prada". Andy was a college graduate and aspiring journalist who ended up working at a fashion magazine. Could symbolize working in a industry that's Glamorous but also requires communication skills, diplomatic behavior, and great determination.

Aquarius Universitas in the 3rd house 17°:

I associate Aquarius with science and technology. My experience for university this could mostly focus on subjects related to this topic. Interesting enough, for this winter quarter I have 3 classes that are all focused on science (global climate, flower science, & the application of computers in technology). 3rd house has to do with communication, intrapersonal thoughts, and social activities. It is possibly I could make friends through my classes. I am likely to participate in more extracurricular activities or school events this year. 17° (Leo Degree), I see this being considered a "picture perfect student". My mother has spoken with one of my academic advisors recently and they have stated that they were impressed with my diligence when it comes to completing coursework. I might be included in one of the photographs for my university's newspaper or social media platforms.

[queerholmcs]

the mind of moriarty 👑🧑🏻‍💻♟️

I had the absolute pleasure of doing the original "the game is now" escape room experience immediately followed by the new moriarty-centric escape room (as though the first one wasn't moriarty-centric enough?) with @victorianpining and @647763 back at the end of July, and I did promise a full write-up when I came back to my senses at the end of it!

First off, I could not have been more pleased with the experience; I do absolutely recommend giving it a go yourself if you have the chance. Now, if you're in the mood for spoilers, I'll be detailing some thoughts and recollections below the cut. 💙

Just in case the first escape room experience didn't quite convince you, Moriarty is dead. It's very important that you know that going into this. He's the most dead anyone has ever been. He's so dead he "wishes he could die twice!", after all! They have to keep saying it because otherwise you might forget it, you see. Especially after Sherlock had a whole drug trip on a plane to prove how someone might have faked their death in such a manner only to conclusively decide that dear old Jimmy boy is in fact dead.

I'm assuming everyone reading this is already relatively familiar with the first escape room, and the whole bit where the Network is operating under the guise of "Doyle's Opticians," so I won't spend any time discussing that, except to say that we did get a few confused looks from the various Stamfords when we reappeared (after finishing the first escape room and making the choice to stick to non-alcoholic beverages at the Mind Palace prior to the second) to say, "Oh, no, we didn't get turned around or anything. We've just got a second appointment." (You mean to tell me that most people who go do one experience and then just... leave? Without doing the second one the very same day? What an absolutely unfathomable concept.)

The opening puzzles before the "John Watson held at gunpoint" briefing video (which was the same as that used for the first escape room) were particularly fun: you're shown a series of four images, and you have to figure out the pattern of what's changing (being mirrored, one might say?) between each one to choose the fifth of the sequence from a selection. (Ref. 1: Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them, John Yorke.)

And then you go on to 221B Baker Street for photos and a brief moment of shenanigans, and I must add a note here that the Stamford who was working with us on this round was brilliant, you could tell she was absolutely loving her job, and there was a bit of a spiel about observation and logic and deduction that turned out to actually be helpful in solving the puzzles in the first room. (Shocking, that she wasn't just harping on about those concepts for fun!)

Anyway, Mycroft shows up via video feed, per usual, and introduces the premise of this game: James Moriarty (who is most assuredly dead, by the way, it's very important that you remember that) programmed an AI before he died—"an archive of maniacal data"—and your job, as new (read: expendable) recruits in the Network, is to go into a virtual-reality space called the Nexus, where you need to hack into the AI and replace Moriarty's mind with—well, not yours, obviously, you're "far too, as they say, basic"—but with Sherlock's. But why not use Mycroft's mind? you may be asking. Especially if he's the smart one.—because, dear reader, "One Mycroft Holmes is already too great a gift for this world. Two would be an indulgence." And that's verbatim from Mycroft Holmes as protrayed by Mark Gatiss himself. I am going to haunt him in whatever comes after this life. Still can't believe that you give them money and in exchange they insult you for approximately ninety minutes and at the end you say 'thanks, this was so much fun, I will definitely be doing this again!'

Right before you go into the first room, you are helpfully reminded by Mycroft one last time that "despite what video games suggest, you absolutely can die in the virtual world." Bit of a theme they seem to be harping on! It's almost like they're trying to get you to really believe that Jim is actually dead or something!

(Photos are all from the official 221b social media accounts.)

The first room is a sort of fusion of the pool from TGG with a chemistry lab and a hospital corridor, and also a miniature version of Jim's prison cell from THOB is there. There's a mannequin of John Watson decked out in a Semtex vest in the corner, and you get the usual experience of solving lots of intellectually- and tactilely-satisfying puzzles, which included opening a bordering-on-comical number of lockers. The John mannequin has a key in his hand labelled "007" (classic!) and a phone in his pocket so you can text Mycroft. Moriarty reminds you that he's the good old-fashioned villain in this fairy tale, and that Sherlock needs him or he's nothing, and that John is Sherlock's "live-in ordinary person."

I also particularly enjoyed the little chemistry puzzle in this room—they do give you a periodic table on the wall, so you have all you need to solve it without any prior knowledge, but who goes to a Sherlock escape room without a graduate chemist in hand?

(We also decided after the fact that the gift shop definitely should have been selling packs of the stickers seen on the lockers in this room, one of which was notably a pixel-art TV with a rainbow screen and the phrase "brainwashed".)

The highlight here, however, was definitely the prison cell. There's a letter on the chair that's on Pentonville Prison letterhead and signed by Mycroft and otherwise consists of a paragraph or two of fully redacted text. The walls have a number of fun phrases scratched into them, like "THREE SIGNS IS NOT ENOUGH" and "TOO MANY THATCHERS", which continue to live in my mind rent-free. (Some of the other phrases were helpful hints for the puzzles you had to solve, but those two weren't even relevant for the puzzles, as I recall. They were just bonuses. Specifically designed to haunt me, personally.)

At some point in here, Moriarty—no, sorry; his recorded voice, because he's dead, remember! We're just poking around in his virtual mind! ("Jim recorded lots of little messages for me before he died," anyone?)—insults you over the speakers, saying, "Goldfish, goldfish, goldfish have better recall than you!" (Mycroft Holmes in TEH, "I'm living in a world of goldfish," anyone?)

Anyway, you solve all the puzzles and put the phone you were using to text Mycroft in Jim's prison cell and continue on your way, going further into the mind of Moriarty, in the direction of the "Watson Ward" and "No Sherlock beyond this point" arrows. (Big moment for "there's definitely a reason that every other character in the canon has the initials J(H)W or its respectable inversion JM" girlies!)

Also there's an audio clip of Jim saying "choo choo!" as you leave the room. (Big moment for TFP girlies! I think my exact words were "I am going to kill myself.")

Onto room two! Green lasers everywhere! (They definitely intended you to do a fun little acrobatics situation here but we were content to hit the floor and crawl to find the buttons to disable them.)

After you disable the lasers, you get to focus on the primary puzzle of the room: a wall covered with sketches of people and copies of incriminating evidence, and you have to connect the scarlet thread red strings between each member of the jury and the evidence that Jim was blackmailing them with—you know, from way back in TRF? When the key code wasn't important at all, it was just about knowing someone's pressure points? (There's a Mary who's having an affair and is a lesbian, btw. Just like our mystery corpse in the original escape room, we should never assume someone is straight when there's room for them to be gay.) This puzzle as a whole was really satisfying, I will say, though it did make us wish for either a notepad or a massive whiteboard to make notes on while we solved the little logic puzzles to match the people to their blackmail material. (They could give you little branded notepads and pens to take with you through the rooms, and to keep as a souvenir, like the ones hotels give you! It would be so fun!) This was definitely the puzzle we spent the majority of our time on.

And then you get to the highlight of this room: opening the safe to reveal Jim Moriarty himself—well, a mannequin version—decked out in the Crown Jewels, happy as could be. There's a reminder that nothing in the Tower of London is as valuable as a few tiny lines of computer code that can open any door. And Jim's written a silly little poem of sorts and draws far too much attention to both "the rod of power in his right hand's grasp" and "the Orb" between his legs (and then we were at the Tower of London two days later and found out that that's not just a euphemism, it's literally called the Orb? Unhinged behaviour. And I don't even know who to blame for it now. The "rod of power" bit was all him, though. Could have been normal and called it a scepter!) and you have to figure out a code and (spoilers!) the code is 7437. Which is fine and perfectly normal and I'm sure the vast majority of people who complete that room think nothing of it, but unfortunately, we were not a group of "the vast majority" and so our experience was not what you might call "fine and normal", because Mia input the code and there was a little beep of success of and then she, without missing a beat, went on to say, "Oh, that's so funny! That's the numbers for S-H-E-R," at which point Rebs and I immediately sank to the floor to stare into the abyss while waiting for the next door to open.

So, just to recap: the point of TRF was definitely that there was no code, there was never any code, it was just about knowing people's pressure points and getting them to do what you wanted, but now that we're inside Moriarty's mind it's definitely all about codes and there's a silly poem to draw attention to various things including, but not limited to, the Orb between his legs, and the code that you need from him so that you can go deeper into his mind is S-H-E-R. Yeah. Sure. Why not. This is Fine! What really haunts me is knowing how many people will do that escape room and will never know that that's what those numbers mean. Because why on earth would you?

(Just to prove how normal I am about this, I won't even say anything about a potential parallel between Moriarty's "Orb" situation and the globe on Mycroft's desk under Whitehall. See? I'm not even mentioning it, why would you bring up something like that? No M-theory here, no sir! Not a single trace of it!)

Congratulations, you've made it to the rooftop, where Sherlock jumped off a roof and James Moriarty met his end, and I swear Jim has a line somewhere in there complaining about how hard it is to plan this sort of thing. (Whatever that means!)

We've got screens playing clips from all thirteen episodes of the show—okay, that might be an exaggeration; I didn't actually check to see if there were clips from every single episode. But there were definitely clips from series four, which is very funny considering how the universe that these rooms seem to be set makes exactly zero mention of John's wife at any point in time. (Hey, hello, hi, it's me who's writing this. Obviously I noticed when there were shots from TFP on those screens.)—and there are computer-code-esque symbols on the walls and Jim is lying dead on the floor and Sherlock is standing on the edge of the rooftop.

Here are some fun facts for you: the gun is still in Jim's pocket. (He's definitely dead, though! You know how you shoot yourself in the head and then return your gun to its rightful place before you politely lay down and die?) And Sherlock's mannequin is wearing the purple shirt of sex a purple shirt, which is a detail that might not be noticed unless you're thoroughly ransacking his every pocket (twice) to check for a missing key, and I was going to say something about how of course he is, because what else would you expect him to be wearing when we're three levels deep in Moriarty's mind and the code to get this far was S-H-E-R, but then I went back and checked and Sherlock is, in fact, wearing a purple shirt at the end of TRF. (Which somehow still doesn't actually negate any of the above, imo.)

Anyway, the first puzzle in this room involves finding a bunch of physical puzzle pieces to solve a puzzle, and figuring out how to unlock doors to obtain all of the pieces, and some of the padlocks use code words that they give you by putting phrases from their "sophisticated and cerebral" merch on the screen and highlighting letters, and some use numbers that you get by solving other riddles, but one of them is a padlock with a physical key and (spoiler!) it turns out that you don't even need to get the key for that one, because there's another way to get the puzzle piece out without unlocking the door at all! (Was his grand daylight robbery scheme a matter of keys and codes, or was it just about knowing people's pressure points and blackmailing them? You decide!)

And then it's time to manage the final task of uploading Sherlock's brain to the AI, which is accomplished by running around hitting buttons while music plays over the speakers to instil a sense of great urgency. You definitely would not want to do this with fewer than three members in your party. This is where they use Jim's line of "Surprise! You didn't think I'd just disappear, did you?" as seen in one of the teaser trailers, and they also plaster every screen with the classic "Did you miss me?" footage that mysteriously appeared on every screen in the country at the end of HLV.

But when you do manage to complete the task, Mycroft's voice comes back to congratulate you, and to sort of threaten you (though that's par for the course when it's Mycroft Holmes we're talking about, I'll admit), and to leave open the possibility of your returning for another job someday. I, for one, cannot wait to see what they're going to do for round three. (Personally, I think it would be very funny if they put one of the rooms on the Demeter for the next one. No rebranding necessary, no discussion of Dracula at any point whatsoever, but for some reason you find yourself on a boat, in cabin number 9, playing chess with the Devil himself Moriarty! What a shocking and unforeseen turn of events that would be!)

(The only real downside of them doing a third room would be that I would then have to make time to do three of these in one day. And that might be a bit excessive. I mean, three eye exams in one day? Someone's definitely going to say something.)

We had a very lovely time at the Mind Palace bar after that, to debrief a bit, and there was a logic puzzle that I still need to sit down and crack at some point when I have a moment. I was personally very pleased to find drinks called "The Diogenes Club" and "The Lying Detective" (both of which I was contractually obligated to order, naturally), and did you know you can rent out the bar for private events? I'm sure I would be very normal about such a situation. (Good job I'm not local to the area, truly!)

This has already gone longer than I think I intended, and I'm sure I could keep going, given the opportunity, but I'll close things out here, and say again that I do absolutely recommend doing the escape room(s) if you have the opportunity; I could not have been more pleased with the experience. My sole complaint is that they don't let you wander back through the rooms after solving the puzzles to have a moment to appreciate all the small details when you're not working against the clock. And also they should send me the scripts, as a treat. Along with any remaining unused video or audio footage. (Moftiss, my DMs are open, feel free to drop the links at your earliest convenience!)

[hermajestyimher]

How do I stop letting depression/anxiety control me and how I view myself? I’ve gotten better, but I just feel like my appearance has so much control over me. I am black, but I’ve just been so insecure of my nose and it being on the bigger side, especially compared to other black women (this isn’t to out them down or anything! I think they are absolutely beautiful people and I love them :D). I just feel like I’ve been dealt such a bad hand in life by being unattractive and that all my hardships especially with my relationship with others (romantic and platonic) just stem from me being/feeling unattractive and being a naturally awkward person doesn’t help. I constantly day dream about being a woman like Anok Yai or even someone with the sort of energy as Mia goth. I don’t want this to turn into some pity post, but I want to be able to be beautiful while also replacing this awkward personality of mines. This feels super childish and all over the place, but I just feel a little lost with myself and who I am.

So TLDR is: How do I become/start feeling attractive and become a more confident and charismatic person? Thank you and Im so sorry for the messiness of this post!

Hi my love, it sounds like you need to do a lot of self-concept work to change your internal dialogue and improve how you see yourself. It's essential to build a strong foundation of self-worth and confidence that isn't easily shaken by external influences. Here are some practical steps you can take to begin this transformative process:

1. Eliminate All Forms of Negative Stimuli

One of the first steps in enhancing your self-concept is eliminating the stimuli that contribute to self-doubt. This involves a thorough examination of what you consume daily, whether it’s media, people, or experiences. Start by unfollowing individuals and accounts on social media that make you feel inadequate or pressured to conform to unrealistic standards. Pay attention to how certain songs or films make you feel; if they perpetuate feelings of self-doubt or insecurity, consider removing them from your playlist.

It's crucial to be mindful of what you're feeding your mind. Often, we internalize negative messages without realizing it. These can come from people who appear close to us or through entertainment that subtly promotes insecurity. Perform a detailed assessment of who you’re listening to and determine if their influence is healthy. If not, create distance, whether that means unfollowing them online or spending less time with them in person. Surround yourself with people and content that uplift and inspire you rather than bring you down.

Pro Tip: Make a list of accounts, shows, and songs you consume regularly, and categorize them into “Positive,” “Neutral,” and “Negative.” Actively replace those in the “Negative” category with something positive.

2. Surround Yourself with Positive and Aspirational Content

After you've cleared out negative influences, it's time to replace them with content that uplifts and inspires you. Look for media and role models that align with your aspirations. This could mean following influencers who promote body positivity, self-love, or healthy lifestyles. Find women who embody the qualities you admire and whose lifestyles you aspire to emulate.

Comparison, when used wisely, can motivate us to strive for more. Instead of comparing yourself to others out of insecurity, use it as a tool for growth. Observe the habits, routines, and mindsets of those you admire, and learn from them. Incorporate their positive traits into your life in a way that feels authentic to you.

Additionally, consider expanding your social circle by engaging in environments where aspirational people frequent, such as networking events, workshops, or fitness classes. Being around people who have achieved what you’re aiming for can provide real-life inspiration and show you that your goals are attainable.

Pro Tip: Create a vision board or digital collage of people and things that inspire you. Include images, quotes, and achievements you aspire to. This visual reminder can be a powerful motivator.

3. Reprogram Your Mind with Positive Affirmations

Changing your internal dialogue is critical for improving your self-concept. One effective method is using subliminals and affirmations, which can help rewire your brain with positive messages. These techniques work by bypassing the conscious mind and directly influencing the subconscious, gradually replacing negative beliefs with empowering ones.

Find subliminal audios or affirmation tracks that resonate with you and your goals. For instance, if you're working on self-confidence, look for recordings that focus on self-assurance and self-love. I recommend listening to this one for about 30 minutes daily, ideally in the morning when you wake up or right before bedtime when your subconscious is most receptive. You can find a variety of these resources online, just be careful to read the comments before listening to ensure the affirmations are safe and vetted by others.

As you integrate these practices, remember that consistency is key. Regular exposure to positive affirmations will slowly build a new mindset, one that's more aligned with your true worth and potential. You can also use affirmations to help change your physical appearance as well.

Pro Tip: Write down a set of personal affirmations that resonate with you. Repeat them to yourself every morning and evening as a daily ritual. This practice will reinforce positive beliefs about yourself and your abilities.

4. Improve Your Physical Health

Taking care of your physical well-being is a vital aspect of boosting self-concept. Exercise regularly, not just for physical benefits but also for the mental and emotional gains that come with it. Engaging in physical activity releases endorphins, reduces stress, and builds self-discipline, all of which contribute to a stronger sense of self-worth.

Create a balanced workout routine that you enjoy and can stick to consistently. Whether it’s yoga, running, weightlifting, or dance, find what resonates with you and keeps you motivated. Pair this with a nutritious diet that fuels your body and mind, helping you feel energized and confident.

Remember, discipline in maintaining a healthy lifestyle not only improves your physical appearance but also enhances your mental resilience and self-discipline. These are foundational qualities that contribute to a greater sense of life satisfaction and fulfillment.

Pro Tip: Set realistic fitness goals and track your progress. Celebrate small victories along the way to stay motivated and recognize how far you’ve come.

5. Cultivate Self-Acceptance and Reject Self-Pity

Finally, the ultimate goal is to cultivate a mindset of self-acceptance and reject any form of self-pity. Pity is a toxic emotion that disempowers you and feeds into a cycle of negativity. Recognize that your worth is intrinsic and not solely dependent on external validation or appearance.

Understand that you have the power to transform your life through consistent effort and self-belief. Your value is not determined by how you look or by the opinions of others, but by your inherent qualities and the actions you take to improve yourself. Embrace the fact that you are wonderfully made, unique, and deserving of love and success.

Pro Tip: Practice gratitude daily by acknowledging your strengths and achievements. Keep a journal where you write down three things you are grateful for each day. This practice will shift your focus from self-criticism to self-appreciation.

Remember that the journey to a positive self-concept is ongoing and requires patience and commitment. As you embark on this path, know that you are not alone and that every step you take towards self-improvement brings you closer to becoming the best version of yourself. Keep your head up, stay true to your values, and be proud of the person you are becoming.

You are not lesser than anybody else; you are wonderfully made, and you should be glad to be who you are.

[delulu-with-wandanat]

International Affair (Part 2) Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Last

Reader Description: Masculine style, They/He, AFAB, International Student, 20 Years Old. Sometimes will be describe using masculine terms (man, boy, handsome, etc)

Pairings: Wanda Maximoff x InternationalStudent!Reader

Warnings: Specified age gap (Wanda is 34), NSFW content (??)

Summary: Y/n finally got a job as a Barista, however they were only offering part-time. Wanda wants to keep them around as much as she can in the name of "extra work." Who is Y/n to say no?

They had always wanted to work as a Barista, thankfully Harkness Coffee was willing to hire someone without prior experience. Their first day was spent mostly on training with a senior barista, Kate Bishop. He learned that Kate was also studying at NYU. However, Kate was 2 years above him.

Kate was very nice and welcoming, she has a rather bubbly personality to her. Once they finished their training, Y/n headed to Wanda's immediately. Knowing the promise of an extra job in exchange for money, he was taking all the offer he could get. He knows that he should probably take it one at a time, but ay you gotta do what you gotta do to make ends meet.

They rang the bell and waited, feeling slightly nervous. Wanda opened the door and greeted him with a smile. Shit that damn smile. "Y/n, I almost thought you wouldn't come."

They smiled back at her as she opened the door wider to let them in. "Thank you, Mrs. Maximoff." He observed the house, it was lovely. The living room was decorated with many pictures of her family. "You have a lovely home."

"Thank you, dear. Follow me." Wanda then leads them to her backyard and a pool came into view. Man, now would be a really nice time to swim, they thought.

"I merely need someone to clean up the pool, just light maintenance. I have a guy coming in once a week, but he's been sick lately. So I need you to clean up the leaves and debris, also brushing the walls. No need for chemicals." Y/n sighed in relief internally, he didn't know jackshit about pool chemicals.

"Consider it done, Ma'am!" He said while beaming at her, Wanda goes to rest on one of the pool bench to relax and read a book. Y/n got to work immediately.

This was a relatively easy job. Get a net, get those leaves, and then get paid. It was easy money. However, it is summer so the heat of the sun was starting to get to him after a while. They were wearing a jacket as well and felt rather sweaty. They decided to take off their jacket, revealing a white undershirt that was hugging their toned figure just right.

Wanda, who had been secretly observing them, almost choked at the sight. The way his shirt fit him perfectly had her mind going all over the place. She probably shouldn't be thinking about all the dirty things she wanted to do to them, but can you blame her?

20 year old heartthrob, amazing sense of style, respectful, hardworking, lowkey submissive, don't forget the impressive physique. Wanda couldn't help but want to use him for pleasure to get closer to them. Y/n checked all of the boxes of what she looked for in a sexual partner.

Yes, she was married. But in all honesty her husband, Vision, was very neglectful. All he cares about is his job, always on some business trip, and not to mention terrible in bed. He wasn't a bad guy by all means, but Wanda has needs to be met. What's wrong with having a little fun?

Feeling a pair of eyes on them, Y/n glanced at Wanda just in time to see her eyes roaming their figure while subtly biting her lips. Feeling a tinge of nervousness again he gave her a smile and a wave, "I'm almost done, Mrs. Maximoff."

"Take your time, darling. I don't want to rush you." This time they noticed the flirty undertone in her sentence, they decided to just focus on their job.

Once the pool was cleaned, Wanda approached them while carrying an envelope. "Well done, Y/n. Here is your payment."

He smiled sheepishly while rubbing his neck, he took the envelope. "Thank you, Mrs. Maximoff. But it's nothing really."

"I still need a couple of help around the house. Would you mind if I ever give you a call?" She tilted her head slightly with a subtle smirk.

"I-" They cleared their throat. "Yeah sure." He grabbed her phone and put down his number. Wanda was not-so-subtly staring at him up close. Studying their facial features. I bet their very good with their mouth, she thought.

When they look up, Wanda was in their personal space. They were entranced by her captivating green eyes. "Say, Y/n, do you have a girlfriend?"

"N-no I don't."

Wanda gave them her devilish smile once again, "Shame..." She made a move to grab her phone in his hand, brushing their hands slightly. "I wouldn't want this to go to waste."

Damn this woman, she knows what she's doing.

So for the next few days Y/n would go on to do numbers of odd jobs from Wanda. Of course his main work was still as a Barista, but they had to be honest, Wanda's pay was somewhat higher? He didn't understand why she would be so generous with her payments, but he wasn't complaining. He needed this money bad.

And Wanda would also get more and more bold with her flirt each day.

Lightly brushing their hands together when he worked on her garden. Making flirty remarks like; "I wonder what other things those fingers are good at." when she hired them to teach her 7 year old boys guitar. Or guiding his hand while he was chopping vegetables that one time she needed a 'cook assistant'

Unfortunately, Y/n doesn't seem to be responding back. It frustrates her slightly as all she wanted to do was have them absolutely fucking ravish her. Meanwhile, Y/n was just happy that he's making a lot of money. Turns out they were right. A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.

And Y/n was good at a number of things.

That's how they ended with more and more side jobs from other neighbors. Which caused a slight jealousy on Wanda's end. There's no denying that Y/n is a young hotshot that catches many other women's attention. Which is why the next time Y/n comes over, Wanda would have her ways.

Things are getting spicy-

[serenpedac]

For that 'seeking physical affection' post, I would love to see how you think the members of Unit Bravo would do this with one another!

I’ve been thinking of this ask ever since getting it! Thank you so much, this was great fun!

A note: these are all written from the perspective of the person offering the physical affection, because I figured they would be able to more clearly observe what the other is doing. (The only exception is the one for Farah, because, well, you’ll see ^^) The downside is that it doesn’t show what the person needing the affection feels, but I hope the effect still comes across.

Also, this got kind of long, no obligation to read it all!

Words: ~1900 Rating: Teen and up Relationship: All of UB, the friendship edition Warnings: None

Ava and Nat

The hallway echoes with the sound of a training dummy being pummelled. Nat winces at a crack. The silence that follows it is broken again by the time she reaches the training room. On the other side of it is Ava, the muscles in her arms and shoulders working as she hits the dummy again and again.

Hands shoved into her pockets, Nat leans against the doorway. Ava has noticed her, of that she is certain, and will acknowledge her presence in time.

Two, three more strikes pass before Ava turns to her, panting. Her face is flushed and several strands of hair have escaped her ponytail, a detail that would make her look soft it it weren’t for her eyebrows knitted together. Undeterred by the expression, Nat crosses the training room, the floor giving ever so slightly underneath her feet.  

“I could hear you all the way from my room.”

Ava’s gaze flickers to the arm of the training dummy that is dangling at its side, and back to Nat, crossing her arms before her chest as if daring Nat to say anything about the crippled object. Nat leans back on her heels instead, raising an eyebrow at Ava’s knuckles which are chafed raw and red.  

When Ava realises what she’s looking at, her frown smoothes out. Wordlessly, she gets the plain white wrap from where it’s stored and hands the rolls over.

Just as quietly, Nat slips the loop around Ava’s thumb and begins wrapping. Around and under, between the thumb and forefinger and over the knuckles, covering skin that has already started to heal. With each wrapping, Ava’s breathing becomes steadier, her heartbeat slowing down.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Nat says as she pulls the fabric between each of Ava’s fingers.

With all her years of experience, Ava must know it to be true. They had been given insufficient information, not enough time to prepare. Despite that, the hand Nat is holding twitches.

“Still,” Ava murmurs before letting out a sigh.

With a final tug, Nat fastens the velcro at the end. She gives a light squeeze, brushing the unwrapped skin of Ava’s fingers before letting go.

Ava wiggles her fingers, but doesn’t otherwise move out of the bubble of their mingled breaths and shared body heat. “Thank you.”

There’s a softness in those jade stone eyes, a vulnerability that only a rare few ever get to see. Nat counts herself lucky to number among those few.

“Always, old friend.”

*~*~*~*~*

Mason and Felix

“Again?!”

Felix’s head shoots up from putting on his socks to find Mason holding one of his purple hoodies. His very favourite hoodie, in fact. 

“Awesome timing, I just needed that one.” He jumps up to walk over in time with the beat of the music to take it from Mason’s outstretched hand. He pulls it over his head. His grin when he emerges is answered with a scowl. “Someone got out of bed with the wrong leg.” That’s not quite it, is it? Was it foot? Nope, that doesn’t sound right either. He shakes his head.

Mason, meanwhile, is still standing there, glaring at him. Definitely not in a good mood, but there’s more to it than that. He would have left otherwise.

“Did you already have breakfast?” 

Mason shrugs. That’s a no, then. Meaning he’s waiting for the rest of them so they can have it together or he’s trying to avoid the boost fresh blood will give to his senses. Considering his mood, Felix is more than willing to bet it’s not the former. So, that leaves the only other option: a night—or nights—filled with nightmares that have left Mason on edge. 

“Want to hang out here?” Felix asks as he turns off the music on his phone.

There’s another shrug, this one meaning yes—really, Felix is becoming a master at interpreting them.

“I’ll be right back.” Felix dashes out of his bedroom and, setting a new record, is back before Mason has wandered off.

Pushing a straw through the plastic bag, he sits down at his desk, debating what to do. There are a thousand things he could talk about, but that would be the last thing Mason, leaning against the wall with his shoulders drawn up and arms crossed, needs right now. No, he needs it to be quiet, but not so boring that he will notice the way those nightmares left his body stressed and frazzled.

After drinking the last drops of blood, Felix tosses the package into the bin, and takes out some paper and his drawing supplies. Crayons, because they don’t scratch as harshly as pencils do, and because they smell waxy smooth, much like the lines they draw across the paper.

While he is gathered his stuff, Mason went over to the beanbag in the corner to slump down on it. 

As Felix continues to blend layers of colour together, the atmosphere of the room changes, he can tell. His short strokes from the start turn into longer, slower ones, the crayons gliding across the paper. When he next looks over at Mason, he is lying with his head tilted back against the wall, his eyes closed. His chest is slowly rising and falling. Not asleep, but close to it.

The sight makes Felix smile, a soft glow blooming in his chest. And if the drawing takes a little—a lot—longer than it really should, well, Mason doesn’t know anything about art anyway.

*~*~*~*~*

Nate and Adam

“Would you mind if I joined you?” Nate’s low voice pulls Adam out of his research. 

The muscles in Adam’s shoulders tighten at the note of tension in his voice. After the brightness of the screen, it takes his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness and discern the tightness drawn across Nate’s face. The attempted smile as he draws near lacks his usual warmth, but it is enough to make Adam lean back in his chair and nod at the seat beside him. “Not at all.” 

It is when he leans over to turn on the light beside the desk that he notices it: a thickness to the air, the build-up of charge in inevitable anticipation.

A storm is coming.

Nate sits down and places the book he had brought on the desk. It’s one of the older books, hints of vanilla filling the air. Adam catches golden lettering on the cover when he turns on the desk lamp, though he doesn’t manage to read the title before Nate opens it.

There have been many storms they endured together, but it hasn’t always been like this. Those early years had been worse, Nate often locking himself away, and by the time he would finally open the door, his eyes would be shot through with red, his entire body hunched in on himself. Though there is little he can do, it is better to endure nights like these together, Adam thinks, and he is grateful Nate has come to that same conclusion.

The first raindrops patter against the window, followed by a gust of wind wailing around the warehouse walls. A shudder runs through Nate, the echo reverberating through the spot where Adam’s shoulder is touching his. He shifts his seat closer, until he can easily let his knee rest against Nate’s.

Shoulder-to-shoulder and leg-to-leg, they sit together, Nate’s eyes trained on the yellowed pages of his book, while the screen before Adam is filled with starker black on white. Nate does not read, the rhythm with which he turns the pages too irregular for that. Likewise, the research Adam had been working on progresses little. Not that he is worried, but it would be remiss of him not to pay attention to how a member of his team and his oldest friend is feeling.

As the storm howls outside, Nathaniel leans more of his weight against him, or maybe he is the one who has moved closer. The warmth of skin seeps through layers of clothes, their arms now pressed together tight enough for Adam to feel the tightening of muscles when lightning strikes some spot nearby, the air crackling and sharp with ozone.

Nate lets out a short breath and Adam nudges his shoulder. It’s alright, my friend.

Mercifully, the storm passes fast.

The book is closed with a dull thud, but before Nate can rise, Adam puts his hand on his shoulder. 

“Do get some sleep.”

The corners of Nate’s mouth curve with a glimmer of a smile, and he casts a conspicuous look at the laptop screen. “I would say something about a pot and a kettle, if I though it would be of any use.”

A huff escapes him, more out of amusement and relief, than annoyance. “I am almost done. Besides, I hardly need the sleep.”

“But you need the rest.” Nate places his own hand on his, the inside of his palm slightly sticky with sweat, and says, softer, “Please, let me help tomorrow.” After a brief moment, Adam nods. As if he had been waiting for that signal, Nate rises then and offers him a smile, one that is small but true. “Good night, Adam.”

*~*~*~*~*

Farah and all of UB

“Did you all miss me?” The last part of Farah’s question is muffled against Nate’s shoulder as she hugs him tight. He smells nice, the scent of his favourite soap hanging around him, together with that of the leather of his jacket, but this close, he mostly smells of himself.

Without hesitation, he returns her hug, long arms wrapping around her. “We certainly did.”

“Knew it!” With that, she’s off to the next person: Morgan, who is standing with her arms crossed as if that would keep Farah from hugging her. Pffft, as if!

Moving slower and squeezing not quite as much, Farah puts her arms around her.

“I sure as hell did not miss getting my ears blasted out,” Morgan grumbles, letting her arms drop to her sides to relax within Farah’s hold. That counts as a win, for sure.

It leaves only one other person: Adam. He looks about as excited as Morgan at the prospect of a hug. 

“You really could do with showing some more enthusiasm.” Farah pauses to give him a once-over. “Think about morale, team spirit. Look at Nate, for example. He made me feel like you missed me and were happy that I’m back.”

Nate gives her a warm smile, proving her point, while Adam frowns, proving her point even more.

“Of course I am glad that you are back. You’re an integral part of our team.”

Farah purses her lips, considering. “You mean that without me, you would be hopelessly lost and all would fall apart?” She claps her hands together. “I’ll take that.” 

She encloses him in a hug before he can do something like asking her for a debrief of the mission or, even worse, remember the supply of blood bags she forgot to put in the fridge last time she was at the warehouse. It only takes about a second for Adam to hug her back. He’s a good hugger, if he wants to be, holding her firm but never too tight.

When he lets go, she just manages to catch the dimples in his cheeks before his Commanding Agent mask slips back into place. He really is happy that she’s back. Farah knew that, of course, but it’s still nice to have it confirmed like this.

She looks around at her three teammates—friends—and smiles wide and bright. It’s good to be back home.

*~*~*~*~*

End notes

The one for Mason and Felix is a very broad interpretation of the prompt. It’s not that I think M would never seek out physical affection, but.. Okay, this is where my thoughts get a bit incoherent, but I was thinking about how M turns to sex (and cigarettes) as a way of overstimulating their senses so that the smaller things are drowned out. This is however not them wanting affection. It made me wonder: is there a different, more subtle way they would go for when they are searching for this?

With how strong their senses are, I figured that merely being close to someone, for example being in the same room, would already have a physical affect on them. So, that’s what I was going for here.

Also, I don't think they would be aware they're looking for affection, so it's a good thing F is this sensitive to other people's emotions!

[littlefanficprincess]

Bruises on your pretty face

OneshotPair: Tord (post end) x reader

Song: Class Fight (Melanie Martinez)

Part 3

(A/n): The title didn't want to work

(Y/n) traces her hand over neck, trailing over to the red sweater she was wearing. She grabs the collar of it, pulling it away from her. 'This thing feels kinda ichy'

She brushes the wrinkles out the coat that covered her figuren she looks in the mirror of her room, checking if she looked tidy enough. She wanted to give an good impression on her first day.

There was a knock on the door. (Y/n) Strolls towards it, grabbing the door handle and opens the door.

On the other side stands a woman she regonises as one of generals. "(L/n), it's time to begin your first day. Are you ready?"

The (h/c) haired girl nods, closing the door behind herself. She gets lead through the facility, getting a few stares from other soldiers.

"Don't mind the other soldiers. It's been quite a while since we've gotten a new admission, I'm surprised myself" The general explains, holding her arms behind her back.

They stop at an empty training room, filled with equipment. "This is where you'll be training for the next weeks. It will just be the two of us, as you aren't on the same level of skills as other cadets".

"When will I be joining the other soldiers?" (Y/n) ask, curiously."Once I decided that you have enough experience and skill to keep up with the other. Continuing on..."

They continue walking through the halls, (Y/n)'s (e/c) eyes observing the envoirment.

"Up ahead is the eating hall, where you'll be eating at eight, twelve and six. If you get lost, ask a nearby soldier" As the general speaks. (Y/n) notices a red door.

"Ma'am, may I ask where that door leads to?" She points towards the mysterious red door.

"That is Red Leader's office, the leader of this army. He is most likely in it, so we should not disturb him" The general responds, getting a nod of the girl.

┏━°⌜ 赤い糸 ⌟°━┓

Meanwhile

┗━°⌜ 赤い糸 ⌟°━┛Paul and Patryck stand outside, guarding. Patryck had his hand bawled up into a fist, pressed against his chin. A troubled expression was present on his face.It drew his follow soldier's attention "What's on your mind?" Paul asks, raising one of his thick eyebrows."There is something familiar about the new recruit, but I can't place my finger on it" Patryck answers, turning to the other.

Paul hums "Really? Which one?"

"(L/n), I think her name was. I had lead her to Senna's office a few weeks ago, it's not really a common name of I'm being honest" Patryck responds, still deep in thought.

"(Y/n) (L/n)?"

"Yeah, her"

"Tor- I mean Red Leader has mentioned her a few times. I don't remember what she exactly was to him, a friend, an rival or just someone he used to know"

"Why do I have the feeling this won't end well"

"That's the worse that can happen?"

┏━°⌜ 赤い糸 ⌟°━┓

Timeskip

┗━°⌜ 赤い糸 ⌟°━┛

(Y/n) holds up her arms infront, blocking the general's punches. Once she notices an opening in the general's attack, she pull her dominant out of the blocking position and punches the general in the stomach.

The general's figure stumbles back, surprised by the girl's action. "Good job, sproute" the general huffs. She pulls out a watch, looking at the time "Time for Lunch, I'll be see be seeing you after twenty minutes"

The soldier walks out the training room, she spots fellow soldiers, which she follow. Even tho this was her third day, she has failed to make any acquaintances.

Finally she reaches the lunchroom, filled with cadets. (Y/n) goes first to get good, grabbing a tray from a pile. After obtaining something to eat, she looks around for any place to sit.

"Hey, fresh meat, over here!" A voice yells. (Y/n) Looks over where it was, an girl a bit older then her, waving at her.

(Y/n) Walks towards her, sitting at the table. At it sat three girls and two guys, seeming the same age as the first girl.

"I had no idea that they accepted people. What's your name, newbie?" The same girl questions, looking interested at (Y/n).

"(Y/n) (L/n), I kinda joined the three days ago" (Y/n) confesses, scratching her cheek.

One of the boys lets put a snicker "Wow, I wasn't expecting you to be that fresh" he soon gets an elbow in the side from an other.

(Y/n) hears a small group past behind her. She didn't think much of it, till a hand appears in her sight. It was going over her shoulder and going towards her chest.

As if instinct, (Y/n) grabs the wrist tightly. She stands up, tugging the arm over her shoulder. Turning around, she slams the person onto the ground, pinning them to the ground.

It was a guy who didn't looked very remarkable, he hisses in pain "Get off me!" He yells, drawing attention from others in the room.

But the girl ignored his cries, making sure he was on the ground. Her gaze was filled with hatred, glaring down at the man beneath her.

She was soon tugged off him, being held back by those she sat with. The guy stands up, looking disgusted at (Y/n).

Unknownly to anyone, Paul was watching from afar, watching every that just happened. He takes a mental note of it and walks out of the lunchroom.

He walks through the hall, it was mostly empty with only a few soldiers in it. His strolls comes to an end, once he reaches the infamous door.

The Dutch man raises his hand and knocks on the door. There were a seconds of silence, before he hears a voice on the other side telling him to come in. Opening the door, Paul walks in. His eyes spot Tord or more known as Red Leader at his desk, doing some paperwork.

"What is it, Paul?" He chimes, nothing looking away from his work.

"There was a fight in the cafeteria between two soldiers. The one who started was a new recruit that joined a few days ago" Paul explains, clearing his throat.

Tord pauses "New recruit? Why wasn't informed of this?" He finally look up to meet Paul's eyes, putting down the pen he was holding.

"You weren't? Senna told us that they were accepted without hesitantion, I thought it was because you had mentioned her before" Paul responds, slightly shrugging his shoulders.

"What is her name?"

"(Y/n) (L/n), sir"

[malfiora]

Characterization Compendium

Key

Star sign: (canon vs. inspiration) traits from that sign that fit with this character

Canon = this is the character's sign based off their official/generally accepted birthday

Inspiration = this is the sign that this character reminds me of, and here's why

Colors are based off the elements each sign could be:

Air • Water • Fire • Earth

Batfam

Bruce

Walks the razor's edge between light and dark and develops an unhealthy but necessary dependence on his kids (particularly Dick) to stay grounded in the light.

Loves his kids, loves being around them, will never say this to them unless he's on the brink of death but there are signs. Loves them all equally but treats them differently based on personality, age, and background, which is often mistaken as him playing favorites (it's not).

Pisces: (canon) works well with any other sign, creative, deeply emotional and intuitive, hates being inauthentic, shuts down when hurt or slighted, nonconfrontational (in relationships not in the field lol – he'd rather ignore the problem than have a difficult conversation about it)

Immutable personal moral code but demonstrates mental flexibility (or cognitive dissonance) toward others, especially his allies.

I go back and forth between Catholic, Jewish, and agnostic for him.

Dick

Extremely observant, which manifests as intuition. This means that both his deductive reasoning skills and ability to read others are par excellence. In social settings, he won't vocalize this process (depending on the context he may not even realize he's doing it) but will react to whatever he reads. Others read this as charm (or intimidation).

Talent for leadership despite working more efficiently alone. Both his charisma and experience make people naturally turn to him, and a deep seated compulsion to meet others' expectations means he often does take the lead.

Relationships: Barbara is one of his best friends before anything else; Jason is his (the one he gave the mantle of Robin to, the person who first shifted his identity toward mentor/big brother); Tim is the first he got to mentor; Damian is the son-brother (the one he raised and dotes on)

Scorpio: (canon? inspiration) [I will die on this hill] charismatic, manipulative, deeply and darkly emotional (some may say broody), fiercely protective of loved ones to the point of avenging them, holds grudges probably longer than he should, will lash out when hurt but feel bad about it

Barbara

Used to dealing with men who have strong feelings about everything (i.e. Dick and Bruce) and not being taken seriously (first year or so as Batgirl, then later dealing with people's perceptions of her while disabled) so nothing phases her. Still, she has some insecurities, which she overcomes with sheer force of will that projects strength. Ultimately, she'd rather suffer in silence.

Doesn't completely agree with all of Bruce's ideologies (leading to some friction between her and Dick), especially around killing since her father's a cop. But they align enough to be allies. She respects Bruce and believes in Batman.

Aquarius: (inspiration) Follows her own inner compass, pulls away the more someone tries to control her, enjoys engaging in mental exercises

Jason

As Robin, he was constantly caught in the tension of living up to Dick's example and wanting to be considered his own person. He always treated Robin with reverence and tried to do everything by the book. His own trauma and Bruce's guilt have convinced them both that Jason was a "problem" – he wasn't. He took school and his material comforts seriously because he never had them, so he was a tidy kid and a great student. Critical thinking skills that he honed from reading classic lit.

As Red Hood, he's now torn between living his own life/principles and begrudgingly wanting to regain Bruce's trust/faith if not his love. (He's never lost Bruce's love, but he has yet to accept this.)

When he came back to Gotham, he was pissed that his death seemed to change nothing: Joker was still alive, Batman had a new Robin, and crime was still everywhere. He took matters into his own hands. He still believes his way is better than Bruce's but recognizes that it's futile to pursue his vision with the Batfam still around. If he thinks he can get away with it, he'll kill someone he thinks deserves to be killed (e.g. someone who hurts children, sexual assault perp)

Leo: (canon) headstrong, charismatic leader who attracts people to him even if he doesn't try/want to/understand why, can be insecure about why people like him (are they just using him/wanting something from him, or so they genuinely like him?), protective of those closest to him, he'll talk a lot of shit but it actually takes a lot to provoke him to act, but when he does it's vicious and you'll feel like you deserved it

(Additional context)

Tim

Burnt out gifted kid who was adultified as a teenager because he had to basically raise an adult (i.e. help piece together again Bruce's mental health). Middle kid syndrome – used to being ignored and uses it to his advantage. Often manipulates (or tries to) the others to enact some plan. Pretty shameless

Libra: (inspiration) rigid sense of justice and morality, good judge of character

Knows a lot of random stuff because it's helpful for a case but kinda clueless about anything else, great at deductive reasoning. Lives to terrorize Dick (sometimes) and Jason (always), while genuinely trying to be a good big brother to Damian and Duke.

I usually envision Tim as middle/upper class east/southeast Asian, which comes with a few features: private tutors, attending a private or magnet school, expected to go to college; additionally, some cultural practices that Tim doesn't take too seriously since his family is multi-gen American. He def has a jade Buddha necklace somewhere at home.

Cassandra

Doesn't speak often, preferring to listen and use nonverbals. Has strong opinions about things. Protective of her adoptive family, enjoys participating in shenanigans if only because she's included.

I want to learn more about Cass and think harder about how I want to write her, doesn't stop me from trying.

Taurus: (inspiration) strong opinions that take a lot of energy to change, reliable, trustworthy, stoic

Steph

Keeps things lighthearted but doesn't forgive very easily. She and Bruce have a shaky relationship due to his (perceived) lack of trust in her but she keeps things positive due to her love and respect for Barbara, Cass, and Tim.

Extremely resourceful, solid investigative and deductive reasoning skills, dedicated to the mission, fiercely loyal but also independent.

It can't be overstated how much I respect Stephanie's ability to fill a role, on top of her creating her own.

Sagittarius: (inspiration) down for adventure, has her own set of principles and doesn't follow people who don't adhere to hers or at least have their own, impulsive, good with money, regrets nothing

Damian

Projects self confidence, which is mostly authentic, but he has some deep insecurities around living up to the expectations and examples of everyone who came before him. Extremely independent but protective of those who rely on him / he cares about.

Inevitably acts like a child when it comes to mature topics, feeling strong emotions, and wanting to form connections with others (particularly caretakers). Strict vegetarian due to his respect for life, was raised Muslim and maintains some of the cultural practices.

Leo: (canon) Very much an August Leo – somehow attracts others to him regardless of how he feels about it, no need for external validation (although it's nice to hear), respects competence

Duke

Simultaneously has a lot to prove and needs no one's approval. He cannot sit by when he has the power to do something. Exercises probably the most emotional intelligence and self awareness of the Batfam. Doesn't fully see himself as part of the Batfam, and definitely feels guilty about being "chosen" when his other WAR friends were discarded

Def uses his Black card when it makes life easier or funnier for him. Similarly, he plays up being a metahuman to garner sympathy or whatever from the others. Deep down, he's insecure about his powers because he doesn't know many other folks with powers who can help him train.

Leo: (canon) charismatic leader who attracts people to him, independent, doesn't care about what people think of him because he knows himself, knows exactly how to be annoying

[judesmoonbeauty]

Alfons Sylvatica Chapter 6 Semi-Summary

This is a fan translation only. Not 100% accurate. Please expect grammatical errors and translation inaccuracies. This is an extremely pared down SUMMARY of each chapter. I am roughly translating this with out much research other than specific lines from certain scenes. Why? Because it's a huge task to translate a main route chapter line by line. So, this is what we're working with, and I appreciate your understanding ♥︎ Cybird owns everything. Re-blogs are appreciated, but please do not post my summaries elsewhere. Minors: Please DNI or consume this content. CW: Dub-Con Dividers: @/natimiles

Kate, Roger and Liam walk into the dimly lit bar that was filled with the scent of smoke, alcohol and perfume. Liam suggested that they all go into the bar with disguises to blend in more, so she put on a hat and glasses that Liam coordinated for her. They lurk and search for Alfons with their glances, when someone tells Alfons that they want to see another one today and Alfons calls them impatient as he’s only on his first drink, and to wait until he’s a little less sober. Kate spots him with lots of women hanging onto him, and many men are around chatting and laughing, while they smoke something that Kate isn’t sure if it’s a cigarette or not.

Roger looks disappointed saying he’s at it again today while Liam observes that it looks like he’s just getting started. Kate realizes that their one night stands are just drop in the bucket compared to this dizzying experience, not that the prick she feels in her chest actually means anything to her. She tells Liam and Roger that this isn’t exactly a weakness of his and they agree because it’s common knowledge that Alfons goes around on the social scene. As she watches him through her lenses, she can tell that while he is smiling, he’s not really smiling because even his pleasant smile looks so cold to her. The discomfort she felt in her chest before comes back, because he appears to be here in order to let loose, but she doesn’t feel that’s the case. Roger asks her if she’s worried about Alfons, she says that she’s not worried, but some how she feels like his heart isn’t there sometimes, and that for someone who says he likes to have fun doesn’t seem to be having fun, so she is curious.

Soon she spots Alfons leaving the back of the bar with a few others, and when she tells the guys to follow him, Roger suggests that she doesn’t follow him out that back door. Liam says that they may catch him doing something naughty, and Roger agrees, but Kate goes anyway. In the alley, Kate can hear the voices of the men and women grow louder as she climbs up further the battered stairs, and reaching the door from where the voices are coming from, she finds thinly veiled canopied beds with several men and women entering them.

Alfons: …..Heh. You’re a very bad girl for following me all the way here.

Kate: !?

Alfons emerges from behind a curtain and slips his hand around her waist.

Kate: Alfons!

A sweet aroma fills the room and when it hits her mouth, she can’t tell if it’s a smoke or vapor, but when she inhaled it deeply her vision wavered dizzily.

Alfons: You’re following me was so obvious. You shouldn’t have done that robin.

Kate can’t even respond to him because his voice sounds both very near and far from her. A woman who is dressed in lingerie asks Alfons who the girl he is with, and they are sure she’d love to play with them since she’s probably been through something too and she can forget about it in a place like this. Alfons agrees with the woman and he asks Kate if she wants to join too. Kate’s thoughts are hazy and she can’t think clearly, but here senses are extremely sensitive. Alfons’ fingertip creeps through the gap in her blouse causing her body to feel excited. She finally is able to answer him with a struggle.

Kate: Oh…..please…..don’t…..don’t………..

Woman with Long Black Hair: Hehe…a first reaction….Can I touch too?

Alfons: No, you can’t. She’s my new favorite.

Woman with Long Black Hair: Yeah?? That’s so rare……

Kate starts losing her strength in her arms and legs.

Alfons: As usual, you’re defenseless.

Alfons traces the curves of her body and reaches in between her legs, which causes Kate to react with heat flooding into her, and boasts that he knows every nook and cranny of her feel-good spots.

Alfons: We have an unusual relationship after all….right?

He looks her in the eyes as he asks that question and her thoughts slowly realized that it was probably something she inhaled that has increased her body’s sensitivity.

Kate: N-stop…..ah……uh…no…no….

Alfons: ….Ah, stop making you wet.

Alfons: Maybe you were expecting something when you chased me from the bar?

Kate: Hoping, something like……No, I wasn’t!

Alfons: Really? …..You’re not just being stubborn?

He tells her that he heard that this scent enhances certain emotions, but in her case she’s being her usual stubborn self.

Alfons: I’ll reveal your true intentions to you.

(What?)

Alfons quickly looks around and on one bed, there are cocktail glasses, an earring, corsets and garter belts and then he picks up a hand mirror, and spins Kate around to face another mirror, where he exposes her to see herself down below. His fingers wriggle behind her skirt, open a gap between her underwear and he begins to invade her wet spot. The sight was confusing and shameful and Kate wanted to run away.

Kate: No……

Alfons: But, it feels really good doesn’t it?

The truth was that he was right and even the sight of her own lasciviousness in the mirror becomes a sight to set her body on fire, which throws her into more confusion.

Alfons: Don’t waste your time trying to find my weakness, it’s something that isn’t there.

Alfons: Surrender to pleasure.

Kate: Oh, oh, oh………

The sound of her voice mixes and mingles with the sounds of her wetness and the other voices and laughter that fill the room. She could no longer stand and fell onto a canopied bed.

Alfons: You want to feel better don’t you?

She stares at his smile as he hovers over her. The touch of the sheets on her back, his breath coming closer, the feel of his hand creeping through the hem of her disheveled clothes.

(……In this bed, Alfons has been doing things like this for a long time now.)

(How many….time? With who….?)

(Do you want to do the same thing with me……?)

Kate: …..

The moment she thought that, she pushed Alfons away.

Alfons: Oops.

Kate: …..I’m leaving!!

The hand mirror falls to the floor as she hurries off the bed, and even though she hears the sound of the mirror breaking, she doesn’t worry about it.

Alfons: I see. Take care on your way home.

Alfons was still lying on the bed when Kate turned around to say one final thing to him when she paused.

Alfons: What’s wrong? Do you want to continue?

Kate: ….

Kate: Drinking and staying up late is bad for you. If you do it, do it in moderation!

Saying the first thing that came to her mind, she turned on her heel and left without looking back.

Alfons: ………..

The door slammed behind Kate.

Alfons: ……Pfft, Ah-ha-ha!

No one was paying attention to Alfons as he clenched his stomach in laughter, and behind the scene, the same rowdiness continued.

Alfons: Ha……you’re really an idiot.

Kate darted out into the alley as she wobbled onto her feet and bumped into things when someone reached out to support her - it was Roger. Kate is upset that the tail failed and that Alfons is just living his life of pleasure, that she was cheated again, and that no matter what she can’t understand him. Liam notices that her breathing is labored and asks if she’s okay. She replies that she’s okay, but she isn’t going to give up. At the end of the day, she is still curious about his unpleasant smile.

[Next] [Master List]

[fafnir19]

Tamed

I stood in the large, airy stable, feeling the tension crackling in the air as the humans encircled me. Their voices were murmurs to my ears, their gestures uncertain as they called out for the horse-whisperer, Magnus. I snorted, tossing my head, refusing to yield to their control. I observed from a distance as a slight, wiry human stepped closer to me. His form seemed unassuming, and yet there was something about him that drew my attention. He moved with a calm determination, and I couldn't help but feel a stirring of curiosity deep within me. "He's a wild one, that's for sure," one of the humans said, her voice carrying a note of concern.

I snorted again, my eyes wary as I watched Magnus approach. I couldn't let them tame me, control me. As Magnus came closer, I noticed his eyes held a kindness that felt different from the others. There was a gentleness in his gaze that put me at ease, despite my instincts telling me to resist.

"Easy there, boy," Magnus crooned, his voice soothing and gentle. He extended a hand, but I sidestepped, muscles coiled for flight. I couldn't let them tame me, control me. Suddenly, I heard a soft hum in my mind, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Who's there?" I asked, bewildered by the unusual sensation. Magnus reached out again, locking eyes with me. A soft moan escaped me, and I felt a flicker of submission deep within me. It was strange, this pull I felt towards him. Day by day, Magnus worked with me, allowing me to have a say in our interactions. Gradually, a bond formed between us, a connection that transcended the physical. Then, one day, as Magnus was preparing to saddle me, I found myself communicating with him through our thoughts. It was an incredible, unheard-of connection that left me stunned. "All right, Meteor, we'll do it your way," Magnus murmured, surprising me with his acceptance of my guidance. It felt liberating to have someone listen to me, understand me. With Magnus following my lead, I found myself effortlessly navigating the show-jumping course, the wind rushing past us as we soared over obstacles.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Magnus and I stood at the edge of the sprawling pasture. The air crackled with tension, and I could sense Magnus' apprehension radiating from him like heat. His fingers twitched nervously as he glanced at me, a pale reflection of the confidence he had shown in the past. But now, everything had changed. I snorted as I pawed the ground, feeling the surge of energy coursing through my powerful muscles. No longer was I the untamable stallion that Magnus had attempted to conquer. No, now I held the reins of power, and I knew it was time to show Magnus just how much the tables had turned. With a flick of my mane, I stepped forward, my gaze locking on Magnus. "It's time, Magnus," I said, my voice filled with a newfound authority that sent shivers down his spine. "Time for you to experience the world from my perspective." Magnus' eyes widened in surprise, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "W-what do you mean, Meteor?" he stammered, his voice shaking. I didn't answer him. Instead, I lunged forward, the force of my movement catching Magnus off guard as I deftly maneuvered into position. With a sharp command, I propelled myself forward, my powerful strides carrying us across the pasture with astonishing speed. The wind whipped through Magnus' hair, and I could feel his arms tightening around my neck as he struggled to maintain his balance. "Slow down, Meteor!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the thundering of my hooves. "You're going too fast!" But I paid no heed to his pleas. With a burst of exhilaration, I surged ahead, clearing towering fences and hurdles with effortless grace. The sheer thrill of our wild ride electrified the air, and I reveled in the rush of power I felt coursing through me. As Magnus clung to me, his cries of fear mingled with the wind, I felt something shift within him. The resistance that had once defined him seemed to melt away, replaced by a subtle acquiescence to my will. It was as if a fraction of my own strength and spirit had infused him, altering him in ways he could scarcely comprehend. And as we thundered across the pasture, I watched in awe as Magnus' form began to subtly shift and transform. His once-timid demeanor dissolved, replaced by an arrogance and self-assuredness that sent chills down my spine. The very essence of his being seemed to morph before my eyes, sculpted by the force of my influence. His clothes also changed, becoming black and elegant to match me.

This was my triumph—my dominion over Magnus. As the wind swept through his newly transformed appearance, Magnus radiated a newfound charm and confidence that turned heads wherever he went. His eyes glinted with a fierce determination, and he reveled in the attention that now gravitated towards him. The insecurities that had once plagued him were masked by a veneer of power and influence, much like the sway I held over him. I had reshaped Magnus in my own image, an unwitting subject in the grand design of my dominance. We slowed to a halt at the edge of the pasture, the echo of our wild ride still lingering in the air. Magnus dismounted, his gaze unfocused as he struggled to come to grips with the transformation that had befallen him. I watched silently as he straightened, adjusting to the newfound weight of his arrogant demeanor. At last, he turned to me, his eyes reflecting a turbulent mix of awe and uncertainty. "What have you done to me, Meteor?" he gasped, his voice trembling with disbelief. A sly smile curved my lips as I fixed him with a knowing gaze. "I have released the power that was always within you, Magnus," I replied, my voice ringing with the weight of my conquest. "You are no longer the timid horse-whisperer you once were. Now, you possess the strength and confidence to command the world around you." Magnus' expression was a tumultuous storm of emotions, and I could see the realization dawning in his eyes. "I am yours, Meteor," he murmured, his voice charged with a newfound sense of purpose. "Bound to you in ways I cannot comprehend."

The world was now his for the taking, his every action a testament to the power that bound him to me. I, Meteor, had tamed the untamable, and in doing so, had forged my dominion in ways unseen and unfathomable.

The owners of the equestrian center, Gerald and Gina, observed these changes in Magnus with surprising contentment. Whatsoever, their main goal was to see me compete in tournaments, and they didn't particularly care who was in charge, as long as they were victorious.

One rainy day, as the humans Gerald and Gina drove into town, I decided to jump over a hedge in front of their car. I watched as their car swerved to avoid me.

It crashed into a deep ditch in which they drowned miserably. I felt a pleasant sense of satisfaction at their demise - this was revenge for their attempt to tame me. Gina and Gerald were gone and I trudged home contentedly, knowing that Magnus was now mine. They had named him heir, and I was the true owner. The equestrian center was now mine and I would lead us to victory in the tournaments.

With Magnus, my loyal stud-turned horse-whisperer, at my side we would be unstoppable.

[hellfirebride]

girl ur L headcanons r so good i love them sm !!!💕 i was wondering could u do some headcanons on L's first kiss with the reader? i have a feeling he hasn't kissed very many ppl sooo 💀

thank u bestie !!! thanks for requesting

L's kiss experience (excluding the time Misa kissed him on the cheek) is probably limited to him getting smooched on the forehead by his mom when he was like. under eight years old. He knows how kissing works from both a scientific and literal perspective, he's seen it billions of times between any kind of media and his case-related surveillance. It's like this aspect of nature he can't avoid seeing, but he's also never longed for it before.

Assuming you're someone he's in a relationship with, he figures it's probably something that's just inevitable. Personally, I think it could go down in one of two ways: 1. he outright asks you if he can kiss you or 2. you kiss him first.

He's not playing around here, okay. It's really just gonna be a "Can I kiss you?" or a "Would you like to kiss me?"

He's been reading your body language for a while by now and he can tell what you're planning on. Not only have you been facing towards him and leaning into your interactions, but your eyes have been flickering between making eye contact and glancing at his lips.

Either way, I think the first way I could describe it is. Awkward. It's either too long or too short, I mean, how is he supposed to know the time duration of a kiss? Would he average it out from comparing footage? I also feel like he would keep his eyes open the entire time. It's his first kiss, of course he's going to observe it and commit it to memory. Imagine kissing L and the first thing you see after you pull away a little is him and his huge ass owl eyes right in your face. smh.

I'd love to say he would improve a lot from that point, but like. Nahhhh. I think kissing would follow the 1 or 2 formula I mentioned earlier for quite a while. Another scenario I can see in the future is just him staring at you until you notice him and just saying "I would like a kiss." He is kinda spoiled.

L would taste so sweet that it's almost bitter.