#writers block kicked my ass

[surr3al1sm]

I regret to in from you guys that I sadly will not be able to make my expected posting schedule of starting the newest installment of my fic series this week. I hope that you guys will be able to find it in your hearts to forgive me and wait another week for a better chapter

[hom3landr]

Sated

18 +

Homelander x Reader

After an exhausting romp in bed, you decide to ask Homelander about his enthusiasm towards eating you out.

You flop your head back down on the damp pillow, body heaving and glistening with sweat. You can feel every labored breath viscerally and your whole body pulses like a drumbeat. Your hair is matted and stuck to your forehead. You look a mess. You feel a mess. And it takes a significant effort to muster up the effort to try to push away the man still licking at your twitching and overstimulated cunt.

“Why…” You’re embarrassed that it is more of a wheeze than an actual word. “Why do you like that so much?”

The head between your thighs lifts, chin literally dripping with you. A long time ago, you’d been on a trip to Yellowstone with your family and had encountered a grizzly in the field near the trail. It was fat and sleepy, a bloody carcass cradled between its paws as it lazily ate its fill. The ranger insisted that no one needed to panic despite the relative proximity to the bear. After all, us tourists posed no threat and with a full belly and no cubs to watch, we were safe to remain near this dreadful creature. 

Homelander reminds you of that bear but with slick instead of blood. A rather graphic comparison to make but all of your fantasies about Homelander end up tinged with gore eventually. You can pet the bear and play with the bear. Watch as the bear feasts and rages and roars. You keep him well fed and as long as you do so, you can remain on the trail unharmed.

He licks his lips with a smack and a smirk.

“Are you complaining?” He purrs as he crawls up your body. He kisses the protest from your mouth before you even realize that you’ve opened your mouth to make it. His tongue is insistent, intentionally filling your mouth with the taste of your own pleasure. You wrap your arms around him weakly and cradle him as he indulges. Eventually he separates to let you breathe and you attempt to justify your question.

“It’s just most guys I’ve…” You respond before you’re cut off by another forceful kiss. Homelander does not like when you bring up other men while in his bed, even if your opinions of them are less than complimentary. 

“I thought you’d given up on comparing me to other men a long time ago.” He teases gruffly as he presses hungry kisses against your pulse.

He’s being deliberately obtuse and you wish he’d just answer your question. You know you’d offend him deeply if he ever knew this, but you hadn’t expected him to be a great lover when you first fell into bed with him. You figured he’d feel nice enough but a quick selfish fuck was all you expected. Imagine your surprise at the way he relishes taking you apart. He is selfish in bed but only because he leaves you so fucked out after that any further plans you could have for the day are cancelled.

“Ok on a societal level, it’s not always seen as a manly thing to do. Women give blowjobs but men suffer eating pussy. That kind of thing.” You try to explain in a way that doesn’t remind him that he’s not the only one to have explored your body. You don’t want to sour his good mood. It’s a bit hypocritical on his part, considering he still brings up Maeve. You wonder if this is why she managed to endure him as long as she did.

Homelander hums and pulls away with a heated kiss to the bolt of your jaw. He looks at you quizzically.

“And…? I don’t see what that has to do with me eating you out. You like it. I like it. You don’t have to make it complicated” He responds. His brows are furrowed and he’s quickly losing patience with your questioning when he just wants to enjoy the afterglow.

You huff and prepare to drop it when he speaks again.

“I’ve never really thought about why. You taste delicious and I love the way I can feel you twitch under my tongue when you come. You’re so vulnerable, even more than regular sex. I like that. I like how easy it is to make you feel good. I like the way you act around me when you feel good. You get all soft.” He answers and your body pulses with a new wave of arousal at the way he describes giving you pleasure.

“I’m always soft around you.” You reach up and fluff his hair lightheartedly but his gaze remains piercing. His hand wraps loosely around your throat. He doesn’t squeeze but the weight of him reminds you what he’s capable of. But you’re too lazy to think too hard about it. You don’t think he’s going to try anything now. The bear has been fed.

“No, you’re not, even if you think you are. I can tell when you’re drawing away from me. You get scared.” He squeezes just tight enough to restrict your breath, eyes never leaving yours, before releasing and removing his hand from your neck. “You’re not scared now.” 

He lays down beside you and you tuck yourself tightly against his side. He sighs heavily and wraps an arm around your shoulders as he kisses your forehead. The two of you lay in a peaceful but contemplative silence. Despite his admission, the confession hasn’t seemed to raise any of his defenses. You run your fingers over his whorls of chest hair and he nuzzles against your temple. You do really try not to be scared. You know him well enough that no matter how he might bluster, unless you betray him in some way, you’re likely to remain unscathed. It’s not your fault that it doesn’t stop your lizard brain from kicking in whenever his eyes glow red or his words turn sharp and accusatory. 

“You get soft too.” You admit. “… I don’t mean to get scared of you. It just happens but you don’t have to worry about me. I promise.” 

Things go silent for a while but it’s comfortable. He hasn’t gone all tense the way he normally does when he’s convinced you’re lying to him somehow. You’re glad he trusts you. You wonder if the post-coital glow is dulling some of his paranoia.  One glance up at the mirrored ceiling and your blood fills with warmth with how natural it looks for the two of you to be slotted together like puzzle pieces. Naked on top of the covers, not an inch of skin is hidden from your gaze. 

“You don’t need to worry about me either. I’ll…try to be softer with you.” He replies, words taking an uncertain dip at the end.

You believe him. He’ll try to be soft just like you’ll try not to get scared. But you both know that as much as the two of you try. You can’t fight against nature.

You can only keep feeding the bear.

[uhhlifeig]

Kick - March 30 - word count: 90 - @wolfstarmicrofic

“You can’t just kick us out,” James pouted.

Sirius raised an eyebrow. “Well, would you rather hear Moony and I fu-”

“Shut up, Pads,” Remus said, burying his face in his hands.

“Well, they’re not leaving, Moons,” Sirius said, turning to face Remus and frowning.

“No, we’re leaving, aren’t we, Prongs?” Peter asked, aggressively tugging at James’s arm. “We don’t want to hear whatever the hell they’re going to do, do we?”

“Well, no, but-” James protested.

“No buts. C’mon, we have other things to do. Don’t forget your wand.”

[burningcheese-merchant]

How dare you making me a fan of Burningcheese with your beautifuly written fanfics? Now it's the only thing I can think about. What have you done to me?

(English it's not my first language, so i'm very sorry for any grammar mistakes, also I just made my first account of Tumblr, so, yeah)

Everyone is always blaming me for everything smh. I am performing my sacred duty (spreading the BurningCheese gospel), that's all. Is that really so wrong? What crime have I committed? I always have people coming after me, telling me I ruined their lives by making them ship BurningCheese... Bitch I made your life BETTER!!! Stop crying!!! Embrace the ship as God and Devsisters intended!!! Hoes always mad at me for no reason :/

(seriously though, I'm glad you enjoy my fics so much! And I'm happy to introduce another member to the BurningCheese cult haha. Enjoy your stay, because you can't leave! 😘)

[connorsnothereeither]

I hear a voice on the wind through the mist. I look over the fog. It’s the Brink series. Calling to me from across the moores. Unfinished. Abandoned. Waiting for the next update…

I miss my little horrors…

[v6quewrlds]

do you have anything with Justin Herbert? 🫶🏾

imagine being fuck buddies with justin.

author's note⠀⁎⠀another abandoned draft/stream of consciousness lmao, oc warning (sorry), despite the title there is no smut, this is angst (sorry again) <3

Ruby liked it when things were easy. Predictable. Like a perfectly seasoned stew that bubbled away, never burning, never needing to be checked on. That's what her life had been for the past few years, easy, breezy, Covergirl-adjacent predictability.

Then she met Justin.

Justin Herbert, the star quarterback of the Los Angeles Chargers. He was the kind of man who could turn heads without even trying, his tall frame and tanned skin a beacon of athleticism in a sea of mere mortals. His blue eyes had captured Ruby's attention the moment they met from across the bar. But it wasn't just his appearance. It was his charm, his wit, the way he argued with her about the last 30 minutes of Interstellar as if he had penned the screenplay himself. She insisted that it was much too complicated, that Nolan had gone full Nolan, while he defended it as a masterpiece of cinematic brilliance. That's when she knew he was different from most guys, as cliche and misguided as it sounded.

Their friendship grew through a series of chance encounters and shared laughs. Ruby had built walls around her heart brick by brick. She had her son, Malakai, to think about, a six-year-old tornado of energy and love that took up most of her time. And then there was her career, a demanding beast that required constant feeding with innovative ideas and late-night panics. But when Justin suggested they keep things casual, she saw the appeal. No strings, no drama, just two adults satisfying a mutual craving. It was perfect, and just like the two of them, it was structured.

Most of the time, they hooked up at Justin's place in Hidden Hills. Ruby would show up in the early afternoon after seeing a client, her work usually wrapped up for that part of the day. She knew the code to his door, had a drawer for her clothes, and even a set of towels reserved just for her. It was a strange dance of intimacy without the intimacy. Sometimes, she'd arrive while he was stuck at the Chargers' facility, working on his game or doing media appearances. He'd always text her, though, asking if she got there okay and if she needed anything picked up from the grocery store on his way. The answer was always no. But it was sweet, he was sweet. His upbringing seemed to be stellar, his parents had raised a man with manners, and it showed - in and out of the bedroom.

They'd melt into one another, go for a round or two, and then Ruby would shower, feeling the warm water wash away any lingering doubt or guilt she might have had. Afterward, they'd sit on his giant couch, eating a bougie snack she assembled in his kitchen, and sometimes they'd talk about their days. It was surface-level stuff, mostly. A cute drawing from Malakai, a new recipe she was working on, his latest endorsement deal. But it was comfortable, easy, predictable.

She would leave by 2:45. Malakai got out at 3 and Justin's place was - conveniently - just a 10-minute drive from the elementary school. But she liked to get there early, sit in the parking lot, and shift back into her Mommy Mindset. It was her little slice of me-time in an otherwise hectic life. Plus, it gave her enough space to ensure she didn't look like a hot mess when her son saw her.

Mondays were added into their rotation when the season began. That was Justin's recovery day after Sunday games. Ruby would leave a hot dinner on the stove, knowing he'd be sore and tired, and that the quietness of her place in the Santa Clarita suburbs was something he craved. He would use the spare key hidden under the mat and let himself in, usually around 11 PM Sunday night. Malakai was with his grandparents, as embedded in Ruby's weekly schedule.

So, Justin would slip in while Ruby was catching up on sleep, showering off the stress and the loss or victory of the game. He had a little assigned space in the back of her closet, a couple of shirts and some sweatpants, not much more. He'd get into bed with her, his body warm and smelling faintly of muscle balm, and she'd curl into him like he was a giant teddy bear. The fever was slow and gentle in the morning, the kind that made her gasp into his chest and hold on as tight as she could for fear he'd vanish into thin air.

Justin would let Ruby boss him around as they made breakfast, the smells of eggs and bacon filling the kitchen. He liked it, liked that she was comfortable enough to take charge in her own space. They'd sit at the kitchen table, the sun peeking through the blinds, and she would listen to him talk about his schedule, how much he missed his family, and his fears about the next game. She'd nod and offer advice, her hazel eyes looking into his with a sincerity that was surprisingly comforting.

It was perfect. No labels, no drama, no expectations. Just two people enjoying the company of the other when their busy lives allowed it.

-

Malakai loved sports, which was a small miracle since Ruby had done everything in her power to steer him away from football. She had never been a fan, finding the sport too violent and too consuming of her ex's time. But when the six-year-old bounced around in the backseat of Ruby's Range Rover one afternoon after school, declaring he was a Chargers fan and Justin Herbewt (his consonants still a bit jumbled) was his favorite player, she felt dread creep up her spine.

Unable to deny her baby's happiness, she found herself sitting in front of the TV every weekend, pretending to work while Malakai's eyes were glued to the screen, cheering for Justin's team. It was strange, watching the sport she used to despise, now finding a strange comfort in the rhythm of the plays, the sound of the crowd. And every time she caught a glimpse of Justin, his arms, his height, his focus, she felt a swell of something she didn't dare name.

One wildcard weekend, the Chargers had a surprise loss. Ruby couldn't pull her eyes away from the TV as Justin's team fell apart. She saw his pained expression, the defeat etched into every line on his face, and her heart ached for him. It was unlike anything she had felt before. After tucking Malakai into bed, she sent him a tentative text, unsure if she was crossing a line.

The next morning, Ruby woke up to silence. No text from Justin, no acknowledgment of her offer to talk. She felt a pang of rejection, but she knew he was probably just tired from the game. She went about her day, dropping Malakai off at his grandparents' early Sunday morning. She couldn't help but wonder if she had made a mistake.

Her schedule was tight with meetings and calls, but she couldn't shake the image of Justin's face from her mind. The way his jaw had set, the tension in his shoulders, it was a stark contrast to the carefree, silly, intelligent man who occasionally slept in her bed. Ruby knew she was crossing into murky waters, but she couldn't ignore the pull she felt towards him. It was more than just the thrill of being with someone so desirable. It was his kindness, his understanding, his ability to listen without judgment that had started to mean more than she cared to admit.

When the text came, it was just like him - sweet, considerate, and yet straight to the point.

Sorry for the late response. Had a long night.

I'm with my family tonight, but if you're free on Monday, I'd love to come over.

Ruby felt a mix of relief and nerves. She didn't know why she cared so much about his response, but she did. She replied as simply as she could.

Sure.

Malakai will be with his grandparents, as usual. I'll be in the area all day. Let me know when you're on your way.

-

Monday rolled around, and Ruby found herself pacing the living room. She had done her best to keep the day as normal as possible, but the anticipation was thick in the air. She had met with clients, picked out the freshest ingredients for her next culinary masterpiece, and even squeezed in a workout, but she couldn't shake the butterflies in her stomach. When the doorbell finally rang, she took a deep breath and composed herself before opening the door.

Justin was dressed down in a pair of Nike training pants and a plain black t-shirt, his messy brownish-blondish hair hinting at the emotional rollercoaster he'd been on since the game. He looked tired, but his eyes lit up when he saw her. Without a word, he stepped in and wrapped his arms around her, holding her in a tight embrace that made her heart race. Ruby knew that this was a line they hadn't crossed before, but she didn't push him away. Instead, she leaned into his warmth and let out a sigh of relief.

"I was worried about you," Ruby murmured into his chest, the words muffled by his shirt. Justin's grip tightened around her. "That was a tough watch. How are you holding up?"

Justin stepped back, his eyes searching hers. "It's been a rough 48 hours, to be honest." He took a deep breath. "But I'm okay."

Ruby nodded, unsure of what to say next. She hadn't anticipated the raw vulnerability in his gaze. "Do you want to talk about it?" she offered tentatively.

Justin hesitated before nodding. "I don't know if I can put it into words," he said, his voice thick with unspoken emotion. "But it's more than just the game. It's... everything."

Ruby led him to the couch and sat down beside him, her hand resting gently on his knee. "Take your time," she assured him. "It's good to vent."

He leaned back, his eyes scanning the room before settling on hers again. "I just... I've never felt so... exposed before," he admitted, his thumb tracing circles on her hand. "Everyone expects so much from me. To be perfect, to win, to be the hero. And when I don't..." He trailed off, his jaw tightening.

Ruby's heart ached for him. She knew all too well the pressure of expectations, of feeling like you had to be everything to everyone. Recognizing the tension in his posture, she allowed him the space to collect his thoughts. After a moment, she spoke up, her voice soft but firm. "Sometimes, it's just not meant to be. And that's okay. You're allowed to be upset, but never feel sorry for yourself. You work too hard for that."

Justin offered a half-smile, appreciative of her understanding. He leaned back into the couch cushions with an exhale. "I'm sorry about all the football talk, I know it's not your thing."

Ruby shrugged. "It's fine, really. I mean, you're passionate about it, and it's a big part of your life. It's important to you, so as your friend, it's important to me too. No big deal," she said, trying to lighten the mood.

But Justin wasn't ready to let it go. "Friend," he echoed, his voice half-chuckle, half-challenge. "Am I your friend?"

Ruby felt the tension in the room thicken. "What else would you call it?" she asked, her voice just as light, despite the sudden heaviness in her chest.

Justin's smile grew, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Well, you know, we're not exactly hanging out when we see each other." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Friends don't do the things we do."

Ruby felt her eyebrows furrow for a brief second, but she held her ground. "What things?" she asked, playing dumb. She knew exactly what he meant, but she didn't want to be the one to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

"You know," Justin said, his voice a low rumble, "the kind of things that make me clear out a drawer for you and keep your favorite ingredients stocked." His eyes searched hers, and Ruby blinked back at him, her heart racing. "Or," he continued with a small smile, "the kind of things that make me want to risk everything just to have you in my life."

Ruby felt the walls she had so carefully constructed start to crumble. "Justin," she whispered, her voice shaky. "That's dangerous," a mirthless chuckle escaped her, "especially for you." She looked down at their intertwined fingers, his thumb still making lazy circles on her hand.

He sat up, his expression earnest. "I know. You're dangerous."

The words were simple, but they carried the weight of a confession, of something deeper than either of them had been ready to admit. Ruby's eyes searched his, looking for a sign that he was just saying it to get in her pants again, but all she saw was a sincerity that was as surprising as it was disarming.

"I'm dangerous?" Ruby echoed, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. She hadn't anticipated this turn in their conversation.

Justin nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Yeah," he said, "extremely dangerous."

Ruby's heart skipped a beat. "What does that mean?" she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

Justin sighed and leaned back into the couch, his eyes searching the ceiling as if the answers were written there. He clearly didn't want to dive into this conversation, seemed to be fighting with himself internally.

"Justin," Ruby said, her voice firm despite the shock, "what do you mean by that?"

Justin took a deep breath, his blue eyes finding hers again. "I mean that... I can't help but feel like I'm falling for you," he admitted, his voice thick with vulnerability. "And that scares the shit out of me."

Ruby's breath caught in her throat. She had been bracing herself for a casual, teasing conversation, not a declaration of feelings. She felt her heart thud heavily in her chest. "What?" she said, trying to keep the tremble from her voice.

Justin stood up, his eyes darting around the room, avoiding her gaze as best he could. "You heard me," he said. "I really like you, Ruby. More than I should, probably. I know you don't do relationships and I'm not supposed to want that either, but I can't help it. What we have is good, it's easy, but I keep thinking that I want more than easy. I want all of you."

Ruby felt like she had been punched in the gut. "Justin, we agreed on this," she said, her voice shaking. "No strings attached, no messiness. We're both busy, we have our own lives. Feelings ruin everything."

Justin nodded, his eyes downcast. "I know, I know. But I can't help it. I'm trying to be more intentional about how I treat you, how I talk to you." He paused, his voice low. "Because I don't want to ruin what we have."

Ruby felt the tears welling up. She didn't know why his words had such an impact on her, but she knew she had to protect herself. "Justin," she began, her voice shaking, "I agreed to this because it was easy. Because I don't have time for a relationship, especially considering who you are."

He looked at her, confused. "What do you mean, 'who I am'?"

Ruby took a deep breath, trying to find the words. "You're an NFL quarterback in LA, Justin. Like it or not, you're a big deal. I'm a single mom with a career, and I hate football. I don't have time to be a WAG, dealing with all the drama and the scrutiny that comes with it. And you don't deserve to be forced to deal with someone who can't handle that."

Justin frowned, his gaze intense. "I never asked you to be anything but yourself. Why do you think I've kept this from everyone? Because I know the kind of bullshit that comes with my job. I've done everything I can to keep us separate from that."

Ruby sighed, looking away. "This is exactly what I didn't want," she murmured. "This... mess." She knew she had painted herself into a corner with her own words, but she couldn't deny the fear that washed over her at the thought of letting anyone into her life in a real way, especially someone in the public eye like Justin.

Justin's hand cupped her chin, gently turning her face towards him. "Look, I'm not asking you to be my girlfriend, or to go to every game, or to deal with any of that crap. I just... I care about you, Ruby. More than I should, and I don't know what that means for us. But I had to tell you."

When she didn't respond, he continued. "I was honest about who I was from the beginning, and it was never a problem before. But if me being honest about how I feel is going to make you run, then maybe we should reconsider this whole thing." He paused, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped her eye. "Because the last thing I want to do is hurt you."

Ruby took a deep, shaky breath, feeling her heart twist. "It's not that, it's just..." she began, but couldn't find the words.

"What?" Justin asked, his voice softer now.

Ruby looked at him, her hazel eyes swimming with unshed tears. "It's just that... I'm scared," she admitted finally. "I can't be a part of that world, and you can't escape it. I have to protect Malakai, protect myself, and I don't know if I can do that if I get too involved in... this." She gestured between the two of them, her voice cracking.

Justin's gaze never wavered from hers. "I understand," he said gently. "But I'm not asking you to be anyone but you. I just want a chance to see where this goes. I won't push, I promise."

Ruby felt the weight of his words. He was giving her an out, but she also knew that he was giving her a chance. A chance to explore something real, something that could be more than just a casual arrangement to satisfy their physical needs. She took a deep breath and looked into his earnest blue eyes, searching for any sign of doubt or insincerity. All she found was hope.

"I can't promise that things won't be hard sometimes," he continued, "But I do promise that I'll always be honest with you, and I'll always respect your boundaries. If it doesn't work, or if you're not happy, just let me know and I'll walk away. I won't make it messy, I won't make it complicated. I promise I'll let you go. Just please, give me a chance to love you."

Ruby felt the words resonate through her, shaking her to her core. She had never heard anyone speak to her with such sincerity, such vulnerability. She knew that the life of a football player's girlfriend was not what she had signed up for, but she also couldn't ignore the connection that had grown between them over the months. "You swear?" she whispered, her voice shaking.

Justin nodded, his thumb still tracing gentle circles on her cheek. "I swear." His voice was steady, his gaze never leaving hers. "If you're not happy, if it's too much, you just have to tell me. We can go back to what we were before or I'll walk away. Everything's your call."

Ruby felt her resolve crumbling. The fear was still there, the shortsighted doubt and the uncertainty, but so was the undeniable pull towards Justin. The thought of losing him, of pushing him away, was suddenly unbearable. "You're not making this easy," she murmured, a sad smile playing on her lips.

Justin leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin. "I know," he said. "Please, let me in."

[croftersforlife]

Sara if she ever gets freed

[sleepy-aletheas]

I think we tend to pit Alhaitham and Kaveh as absolute opposites too often. It's always "one is loud, the other silent" or "one is warm and the other cold" or my favorite (i say sarcastically) "one is overemotional and the other is emotionally unavailable".

Am I gonna harp on the dehumanization of Alhaitham, because his rbf and title of genius makes it so easy to do? :) ...no, not this time, I swear. I stood on that defensive soap box a few too many times already. What I wanna point out how similar their personalities are through their communication/public perception way.

For one side comment before the comparison; their mirroring needs to have a common thing they can reflect off together, or they simply would never find the answers they need. Mindless reflections would just muddle their understanding of one another and themselves.

That being said...

I think all of us fell into the "let's make Alhaitham speak short and to the point" mindset. It's easier to think of him that way — he stands idly by, listening into conversations, and already contemplating the truth about what is going on. But I swear, when he opens his mouth, then he speaks, and not just factually. He wants others to come to their own conclusions, to find the truth of the matter on their own. He tosses some information here and there to lead people on the right path, and then steps back to observe. He is also someone who uses a lot of sarcasm and avoids direct answers for the most mundane things, obscuring his own truth along it. He doesn't mind going on and on to explain things, to take his time and be helpful when someone genuinely seeks answers. Is he blunt? In a sense, yes. Maybe clinical is the way I like to think of it. He often doesn't overstep boundaries (the only one who fully gets his opinion stated is Kaveh, but they're each other's exceptions anyway), so really, the "bluntness" is more of a disregard to "overfriendliness" that is seen as politeness towards strangers or the public at large.

Kaveh on the other hand is perceived as loud and passionate to its own downside, really. Can he be either of these things? Absolutely. He has the passion of a sun, the ambition of a tide. But it's usually perceived by people as overfriendliness and an emotionally charged thing, when he really is more, and I can't really find the right word for it so I'll go with, reserved. He is polite and tries to be as helpful to others as he can be, but he doesn't really divulge that much of himself. He focuses on others, but tries to keep the attention on them or the situation and not himself too much. He will toss in tidbits of himself here and there, but that doesn't mean he's suddenly spilling all his secrets — he keeps to himself, even if his outgoing personality makes it seem he doesn't. He can keep a cool head and be analytical (architect or not, he's still a scholar through and through), and his contemplation is more of a quiet moment that he doesn't mind vocalize to gain more input from the outside. His friendliness is seen as openness, when really he's just playing the social game, keeping his true self away from public eyes (Alhaitham is one of the few, if not the only one, who gets his full opinion, not sanitized, but candid, off the cuff that doesn't need to be "pleasant" and "for polite company").

Both of them use silence and vocalization in equal measure, just in different ways to divert attention from themselves. Alhaitham seemingly riddles people's attention span into a twist until they give up aften not being patient enough to decode it; Kaveh on the other hand speeds through pleasantries to get to the bottom of the problem so no one has, or can, focus on him specifically. Alhaitham doesn't see the point of the social game, and because he doesn't care about the public's opinion of him, he doesn't play along; Kaveh's reputation and work hinge on people's thoughts and knowledge of him, so he plays along, because people being kind to you (because they know you're kind) makes life easier. Two approaches, two ways of keeping their public perception away from their private one.

It's also why their conversations (or old married bickering, either wording works) are often so "explosive". One uses a direct approach to leave the vulnerability hidden, the other leads the attention away from vulnerability through convoluted misdirection; and both of them know this, and it's frustrating. And exhilarating. Because they're going down two paths that end up at the same destination; seemingly parallel lines that are actually intersecting lines.

They are two mirrors that reflect the same object, but one sees the object's shadow and the bright world around, the other sees the object clearly, but the world in shrouded in shadows. Who is who, doesn't really matter, because both of them can fit this.

[master-of-47-dudes]

Oh! For those of you who like Lancer, I've made major progress in the campaign I'm writing: Kindness of strangers!

LRBT-III, otherwise known as Blanche to the locals. This sun-baked dustbowl of a planet has the high honor of being one of the few habitable terrestrial bodies that anyone has discovered in the Long Rim, and probably the only one that's actually any use to anyone. Luckily- or not so luckily, if you ask some people- it was Union that found it first. Well, about 70 years ago when they stumbled across this star system they got it in their heads that the Long Rim's days were numbered. There’s untold millions living out there scattered along the emptiest shipping lane in the known galaxy who'd need a way out once no one needed to pass them by, and by Christ the Buddha Union was gonna be there for them waiting with open arms.

All of that is background, though. You? You’re a bunch of mercenaries who got their hands on a couple of GMSes, decided to make your manna selling violence for pay. Worlds like Blanche don't take to colonies very well, so even two generations in there's still plenty of frontier out there being settled and railroad tracks being laid. The people out there struggle day by day to survive, and people like you are there to protect them from those who got sick of the hard life. Not everyone out there has the guts to stand up for the little guy- that's why you're called Lancers.

A setting and a campaign all in one, Kindness Of Strangers and its (eventual) follow-up Dancing With the Devil are a series of Wild West-themed 2-mission adventures intended to take players from 0-12 as they find themselves embroiled in the midst of a corporate conspiracy to overthrow the Union-backed government of the isolated colony of Blanche and a ploy to seize control over a nearly completed Blinkstation. All the while, a strange religious movement worshipping an eons-dead alien civilization grows ever more influential in the background...

This campaign tackles themes of colonialism, nationalism, corruption, and conflict between indigenous peoples, settlers, and immigrants, all in a world where well-meaning intentions have gone sour and the ghosts of the past have come back to haunt it.

Kindness of Strangers, Missions 1-3

Field Guide to LRBT-PN

Exotic Gear Documentation

Variant Frame Documentation

Kindness of Strangers Worldbuilding Short Stories

Kindness of Strangers LCP, Maps, and Assets

This latest update includes the first(ish) draft of Mission 3: The Field of Blue Children, allowing play of the first half of Act 2 and extending the LL range from 0-3. Mission 3 is heavily intrigue and RP focused, featuring a wide suite of characters, relationships, and locations in the Tourist town of Baugh- a thriving immigrant community situated on a soda lake.

The PCs have been hired to investigate a bomb threat at the newly completed Baugh Pumpworks, and water filtration and chemical processing facility that stands to end the water shortage and threatens corporate control over the colony's water supply- but is everything really as it seems? In the process, the PCs will go toe to toe with teenage gearheads, Pinkerton-expies, and a group of Sparri Espadas who got roped into this whole mess, and uncover the mystery behind the threat!

Also, there's a subaltern that talks like a pirate and catholicism.

Anyway this mission also includes a custom NPC Template (kind of, I don't know how to design the LCP for that but i did include instructions on how it works), several new reserves, and several custom sitreps!

So, check it out- I'm always looking for feedback.

[rookinthecrownest]

I just think Spite being a fan of Rookanis is neat, okay.

Read Part I & Part II here, while I procrastinate and re-write Part III for the thousandth time this week.

[onyourowndaisymae]

strawberries

mammon hears you're missing something from the human world. so, he decides to fetch it for you.

content + warnings: just some cute (implied) x reader, can be read as platonic, normal mammon tsundere shenanigans, fluff

word count: 952

[longer oc version coming soon?]

mammon doesn't particularly think he's a nosy person. if you're having a conversation within earshot, then surely you're comfortable with someone nearby listening in. and when it comes to matters involving you-- well, surely your first man deserves to know more about you than anyone else, right?

while casually "passing by" (and definitely not stopping outside the door to the kitchen to listen in when he hears your voice get all soft and sentimental), mammon hears you talking to beel. you're talking about something you used to eat as a kid, laughing as you share how you used to make yourself sick on summer nights eating your fill. you paint a picture with your words of yourself several decades previous, with sweet red juice dripping down your chin, leafy tops discarded in the yard as you played long into the sunset. beel eventually has to ask you to stop-- he's actively eating his own meal, but your descriptions are so colorful that his stomach howls with want anyways.

mammon's lost in thought by the time he wanders off. what were these splendorous fruits you spoke so highly of? did they have a devildom equivalent? he didn't even catch its name...

part of him wants to grab these magical fruits and use them to turn a profit. since the exchange program had been initially proposed, a small but growing faction of demons had become obsessed with anything relating to the human realm. food, clothes, entertainment, etc-- all of it was heralded as exciting and mystifying. but the other part of him wants to see if you really liked them as much as you said. he wants to hear the stories directly from you, not overheard in the hallway, on how much you loved these little fruits.

a plan begins to form in his head. he'd be flying by the seat of his pants, but...

"they're a summer-y red human fruit. y'know, with the juice that gets all over ya?"

two teenage employees stare at mammon, trying to understand what the hell he's describing. he's speaking cryptically, like he doesn't even know what he's looking for.

"sir, can you be more specific?" the employee with flaming red hair asks.

"you said a summer fruit?" the other employee, an older blonde girl, asks. "like, maybe... watermelon chunks?"

"I don't know, maybe?" mammon's face is just as befuddled as before.

"here," the ginger proposes. "how about we go get some samples and have him taste everything? maybe he'll be able to figure it out then."

mammon is left standing alone as the young girls dart off towards another market stall, whispering and plotting as they scurry together. he feels like an idiot, truly. damn you. damn you and your pretty words, your smile, the way you make him feel so in love with you that he's willing to brave a human world market by himself on a busy sunday just to make you happy. his cheeks feel warm just thinking about it.

the girls return as quick at they left, a little basket of fruit donated by some nearby stalls to help the poor confused man nearby find fruit for his beloved (a bit dramatic of a marketing pitch-- but they're not exactly wrong). they eagerly beckon him to try all of what they brought. after all, helping someone is much more interesting than, say, doing the more boring tasks in their job description.

watermelon are nice, but the moment he see the actual size of the whole fruit, he knows he's got the wrong one. cherries are too tart. he can't imagine you gleefully popping them into mouth as a child without choking and dying on a pit (humans are so fragile). raspberries are close, but he isn't quite convinced...

then he sees them pull out a fruit with the leafy green top-- if only he'd remembered that earlier-- and he knows he's found what he needed.

"what are these called?" he asks.

"strawberries?"

there's a sense of awe in your voice as you look down at the little container. your favorite childhood snack is staring back at you, and they look just as wonderful as ever. mammon's face is red as he shrugs noncommittally.

"yeah, well, whatever. those lousy witches gave 'em to me while i was up in the human realm. i figured you'd know what to do with 'em."

he's lying. you could tell he would before he even opened his mouth, but you don't mind. the berries are vibrant and pretty under the kitchen lights.

"would you like to share them with me?"

"huh?"

his confusion only makes you laugh. you take your time washing them off, telling him the stories of how much you loved eating strawberries and running around your back yard at night. you have a feeling he knows these already. but he listens intently, arms crossed as he leans back against the counter and watches you, sprinkling in some commentary now and again about how human children are strange. there's a soft look on his face as he watches you work.

finally, you back to the counter and sprinkle a light dusting of sugar on the strawberry, then hold it up for him to try. his fingers brush against yours, but you make a noise and open your mouth-- you want him to do the same. he gets red again, eyes darting around for a good several moments, before hesitantly leaning in to take a bite.

a dribble of juice trails from the corner of his lips. you smile, chest warm, and thank him for caring so much about you. his sheepish smile only makes the strawberry taste that much sweeter as you take a bite yourself.

[lordsukunas]

vampire!choso who likes watching humans bc he thinks their lives r interesting, but he finds u especially beautiful :3

he doesn't hide his vampire side from anyone, but it's not like he could if he wanted to. he's pale asf, dark eyeshadow around his eyes, dark stringy hair, and has fangs. it's pretty obvious lol

despite that, he doesn't wanna scare u away. so he makes sure to try and hide his fangs, to look a little more alive and less corpse-y, and he does his absolute best not to stare at your throat. he really, really does. he can't help a little glance every once in a while tho bc it just looks so yummy n enticing, kind of like the pastries he watches u take bites out of

n its rlly awkward bc u can tell he's trying not to smile w his teeth but u don't really get why. vampires r kinda like myth n nobody takes them too srsly bc theyre never out and about. thankfully for choso u find his awkward smiles and absolutely dead, pale complexion a little endearing

u also notice him staring super hard at ur neck sometimes and u have to go "???" before he snaps out of it with a buncha apologies. kinda weird dude but ok!

anyway hes just a silly little vampire guy who has a crush on u pls give him a chance. pls.

[not-neverland06]

little teaser for what I've been working on so you guys don't think I'm abandoning you <3

At first, you don’t think they’re going to stop. They slow down slightly but it looks like they’re going right past you. “Shit,” you hiss, shoulder slumping in defeat. You push soaked strands of hair off your face and try to blink the rain out of your eyes.  There’s a slight screech and you whip around to see the truck parked a few feet in front of you. It reverses slowly and you feel something like panic bubbling in your gut. You stumble back a few steps from the road, wondering if you should lock yourself in your car.  Then the window rolls down and the person inside leans forward. “You alright?” You want to lock yourself in his car. He has to be the most gorgeous man you’ve ever seen, pretty brown hair pushed back as he glares out into the night at you. You find yourself tongue-tied, stuttering over your words until you finally push out, “Broke down.” There’s a slight curve to his lips as he glances back at your car. “Need a ride?” Pretty privilege is real because if this was anyone else you would say no and get back to the safety of your car. Instead, you find yourself nodding dumbly, eyes still locked on his. He laughs a little and hops out, his shirt instantly sticking to his skin.  You have to physically stop your jaw from dropping when you see the outline of muscle underneath his flannel. “Get in,” he shouts over the downpour. You nod, opening up his door and throwing yourself inside. 

lumberjack!logan supremacy

[atimeofyourlife]

A love written in the stars

written for @steddieholidaydrabbles prompt: Valentine's Day | rated: t | wc: 850 Steve always had bad experiences with Valentine's Day. Eddie makes him change his mind.

Steve had always hated Valentine's Day. Ever since he was a little kid. Because his early- only- experiences with it was an attempt to buy another's love. His father would always go overboard, showering his mother with attention and love and expensive gifts. Buying her love and loyalty for another year before going back to his mistresses by the end of the week. So by the time he was old enough to understand Valentine's Day, he already had a strong distaste for it.

Once he was old enough to start 'dating' it all fell on him. From when he was twelve, if he was even vaguely involved with a girl he was expected to get her a card and flowers or chocolates. Even when there was nothing more between them than holding hands at lunch and maybe a kiss on the cheek. He'd be lucky to get a scribbled note in return.

Once he was in high school and actually interested in dating and girls, Valentine's Day started to feel very transactional. He would put in cards and flowers and dates with expensive gifts, and he would get affection and maybe sex in return. But he knew deep down if he didn't go all out with it, they wouldn't be interested. Most of the girls around him wanted an experience they could brag about, not anything with commitment.

With Nancy it felt different. He knew she wouldn't want anything too big and out there. So he had a card and a single rose for her at school, with a candle lit dinner that he'd made that evening, with a full bunch of roses. A sweet date without any expectations for the evening. She'd got him a card and some chocolates in return. The date seemed to go well, but as the evening went on, Nancy started to pull away, the grief of losing Barb eating at her from the inside, making her feel guilty for doing something that Barb would never get to do. So the evening ended early with him comforting her and then dropping her home early. He knew it wasn't her fault, that she was suffering and struggling with her trauma, and he didn't blame her for the evening not going the way he'd planned it. But, when he got home to see the half eaten dinner that he'd worked so hard on, he couldn't help feeling that there was something inherently bad about Valentine's Day. It felt like it was almost cursed for him.

The years after Nancy didn't get any better. He tried to stay away from the spending a lot of money style of Valentine's plans, and focused more on the romantic, meaningful style dates. But once his dates realized he wasn't going to be showering them with expensive gifts, they lost interest. Often making excuses to leave before the date had run it's natural course. It made him want to just give up on Valentine's Day.

But then Eddie happened. Neither of them mentioned any plans for Valentine's Day. Steve was thinking of treating it just like any other day. Get up, go to work, come home, eat dinner together, have sex, then fall asleep. And to start with, Eddie seemed to have the same idea. The day started normal, a lazy morning make out session before they both had to hurry to be ready to leave on time for work.

When Steve got home, the table was scattered with folded paper stars. He didn't know what to make of it. He was so caught up in it, he didn't notice Eddie coming up behind him until his eyes were covered.

"You weren't supposed to be home just yet. No peeking." Eddie said, steering Steve into the bedroom and pushing him down onto the bed. "Now stay here until I call you."

Steve didn't get a chance to reply before Eddie had left the room again.

He wasn't alone for long before Eddie came back to him. "It's ready now."

Steve followed Eddie back to the kitchen. Plates already on the table with what looked like take out from their favorite restaurant. The room lit only by the star shaped lights that had been hung all over the kitchen.

"Ed's, I-" Steve didn't know what to say. He just wasn't used to a partner making an effort for Valentine's Day.

"Happy Valentine's Day, baby. I wanted us to eat under the stars, but it's too cold to eat outside, so this is the next best thing." "I. I love it." Steve choked out, unsure what else to say.

"And each one of these stars," Eddie picked one of the paper stars up, holding it between his thumb and finger, "is to remind you how much I love you. I know you don't have great experiences with Valentine's Day. But every time you feel like you deserved the way all those girls treated you. Open one of the stars. Each one has a message inside, reminding you that you are so loved."

Steve couldn't help the tears that were welling up. "I love you."

the paper stars are these origami wishing stars:

[qoldenskies]

How are you doing?

great depression two breathing down my neck no money no future no diy hrt unless i get Bit Coin (i looked. it's the ONLY way to get it) and no fire at will chapter two for ONE WILLIAM YEARS

[mmelete]

constantly debating between "this is the greatest idea/sentence/paragraph ever hell yeah I'm epic" vs. "oh god who let me near a keyboard what even is this???" while writing.