#yes I am aware the ending is cheesy

[sukunasdumbestchef]

way how i see you.

True form!Sukuna x Blind!Fem!reader

꒰You are the one and only wife of the King of Curses, but you don't just have this peculiarity… you are also blind. And painting is your way of painting and trying to represent what you see, even if it's just a little.꒱

Fluff, but cheesy.

BAD ENGLISJ SORRY😭

It was actually a secret… blindness. No one suspected…not even the King, Sukuna Ryomen. You hid it so well.

For obvious reasons, your life changed drastically after your vision got worse, the world around you lost its colors and beauty every day. Your world became just silhouettes moving around, almost colorless and blurred. But, you were aware of some things, just by looking at the silhouettes, you know how to differentiate an animal from a human, or if someone uses hair accessories. You weren't completely blind, but you were blind enough to be considered blind and have difficulties.

Uraume was the first to suspect, they were going to your room to hand over your newly cleaned kimonos. Uraume pushed the door open with an elbow. It was at the same time that you were combing your hair, your room lacked a little light, the candles had run out at the moment. You placed the comb where you thought the table was, but the comb ended up falling. You crouched down, trying to look for the lost comb on the floor, as the comb was clearly next to you. But they did not talked, nor did they mention this to the king.

Sukuna became suspicious when you two were at the table. In an attempt to get the chopsticks, you put your hand in a completely far place. It wasn't your fault, the chopsticks were the same color as the table! You tried again, nervous and hoping your husband wasn't looking at you. You went wrong again, you swallowed hard. You only realized where the chopsticks were when you turned your head drastically.

"…" Sukuna obviously noticed this. So the dots connected in his cruel head: Didn't she see where they were? Maybe… it makes sense, this woman is "strict" with how Uraume serves her food, she asks that the rice be placed in a light-colored bowl, if possible, in a light yellow bowl… and things like that...

"Wife. Are you blind?" Sukuna asked, without further ado. You felt your heart lock… could it be now? The truth?

"Sukuna…I, yes I am blind, please my king forgive me for keeping it a secret!" You soon explained yourself, standing up and crouching in respect. You thought he was angry, but he was surprised. He realized that you were not a silly woman, you are a very smart woman, no one suspected that you were blind… not even the king!

And that's how your life changed, Sukuna didn't even ask and you already explained your condition. You explained that you weren't completely blind, but you made her life difficult. Sukuna, like a husband who doesn't say 'I love you' but would burn the world for you, did everything he could to help you, Uraume helped you more.

You were an artist too, you painted several pictures. First, Sukuna thought they were cute and that was it. However, upon discovering your lack of vision, he began to see your paintings differently… it was you representing the world… through your eyes, how you imagine the colors, from the memory of when you could still see the colors…

Sukuna was stuck, looking at his painting where you had made him. He remembers saying in the past how different their brands were, but now he understands. "I'm more surprised, woman, you actually almost managed to draw my marks… Did you do what you imagined they would look like?" Sukuna asked, you next to him nodded.

"I could see the spots on your wrist, they stand out against your skin. The ones on your face are harder to see…" you explained. Sukuna took you in his arms, you were confused because you didn't expect this all of a sudden. "Sukuna?"

"Um, give me your finger." He took her index finger. Her heart warmed as she felt him trace his marks with his finger. You got closer to his face, getting a better look.

"Wait… you have a mini eye underneath? I thought you only had 3 eyes…" Sukuna smiles.

"It's small." Sukuna replied, getting her down from his arm.

"Oh, Kuna! I need to paint you again!" She said, looking at him with a cute smile. Sukuna saw her pull out a painting, and sit at her desk. Sukuna sat right next to her, very close to her. "Kuna… this tone looks strange, does this pink look like your hair?"

"Yes? I don't understand anything about this color thing… I don't care." You sighed, but started painting. You approached him very closely, to see his features up close. He gives you a peck, "You're so close." He complained, you laughed.

He pulled you onto his lap, so it was easier for you to see him. He felt her soft hand contouring his sharp features. Analyzing, Sukuna held her closer. It was such a rare moment, so warm…

But Sukuna closed his eyes in pain when she accidentally stuck her finger in his eyes. "Stupid, woman. Do you want to make me like you, you bastard?"

"I didn't think it was funny Sukuna, it was by accident…"

"Whatever, get it over with. My ass is going to hurt if I sit here for so long."

"HUSH!"

I have a version of this same theme with a longer story and angsty in the middle… do you want me to post it?

long story version

[amalgamateofficial]

A Quick(?) Update

Hey, everyone. I never know what to say, and then because of that, day after day passes in silence. I guess I just want to say that yes, I’m still working on chapter 21 of Amalgamate, and also that I’m sorry for the absolutely ridiculous amount of time that’s passed between chapters. I know I’ve been “absent” a lot online, too. Rarely commenting on fics, taking days to respond to DMs, hardly livestreaming…

I’m sure it’s a no-brainer that the kind of person who writes a story like Amalgamate isn’t exactly a “well” person. Those who follow me on social media for my cosplay and art content see such a small, curated snapshot of reality. The smile doesn’t exist until I hit record, and it ends when the video stops. So every day, my followers see videos of me at my “best,” but I film as much as possible on a single day because the next “good” day could be weeks away. Sometimes I worry that the next good day isn’t going to come at all.

The most frustrating thing about it is that I’m well aware of the cycle. Every year, starting in August, the darkness starts to creep in. By September, it takes hold. By the end of October, it’s inescapable. November passes, then December. Last year, December almost ended in the worst way possible, but as cheesy as it sounds, Amalgamate convinced me to turn it around. I thought, “What kind of example am I setting here? How can I let people down like this?” 

So this year, I tried to prepare for the inevitable… and failed. I thought if I could post chapter 21 before the end of August, I could just curl up alone and wait for 2024 to be over. But then everything went to hell and I missed my goal, and when the darkness started to creep in at the edges, I tried to make another goal, and then another, but every single time, I was dragged right back down.

Then a mini cycle started to form within the larger cycle. Every day that goes by in which I don’t post chapter 21, I think the chapter needs to be even better to make up for how long I’ve kept everyone waiting. Then the pressure overwhelms me, and the terrible thoughts creep in, and then the guilt sets in, and then I’m curled up in the corner again with nothing accomplished. DMs are left to fester. Fics I want to read collect dust. I drift away, and I let everyone else drift away, and I sit and stare and wish things could be different. 

I suppose it’s not all doom and gloom though. I tried really hard to work on myself this past month, and I was actually successful in a few ways. I tried to clean myself up, and in some ways, I did a lot better than expected. I’m hoping that means I can turn things around again. I want to finish chapter 21, catch up on all the fics I want to read, start drawing regularly, and be an active participant online instead of just tossing out content in a desperate attempt to keep up appearances.

But it’s such an uphill battle. I feel worse now than I did last year, so I’m trying really hard to cling to that self-awareness and prevent things from going the way they did in 2023. But I know that’s not realistic. Everything in life is worse than before, and I see no evidence that it will improve anytime soon. So that means it’s on me to simply power through it and do the best I can.

So, for the sake of my own sanity, chapter 21 will get finished as soon as possible. I don’t know how much longer I can survive with this awful feeling, and that feeling will go away once the next chapter’s posted. In the meantime, I’ll try not to miss the mark with all my other goals. No matter what, I’m going to finish my Halloween cosplay special for 2024. Last year, I had some funds to help me. This year I don’t because I dropped out of most of my conventions, made a lot less art, and overall just kinda gave up on everything. 

But it’s not too late. I’ll dive into as many dumpsters as I have to in order to make a Halloween cosplay that will hopefully be as good as Mangle. This year, I’m gonna be cosplaying Spamton NEO – which is probably cheating since I’m already a failed content creator past their prime who has no choice but to wear clown makeup and wave their arms at anyone who happens to scroll by.

I never know what to say, so I guess all I can really say is that I’m trying my absolute best. I know my best is often really disappointing, but it really is the best I can manage sometimes. Even when I’m distant, just know that it doesn’t mean I love you all less, or appreciate you all less, or feel any less gratitude. It just means I’m in the dark, and I’m trying to crawl my way back. Which is very tiring. And overwhelming. But I never stop trying. In part because you all mean so much to me. Last year would’ve ended differently if that wasn’t the case.

Anyway, I don’t know what else to say other than thank you all for your continued support. I’ll try to make it all up to you and then some. Maybe this year I can end things on a high note for once. I’ll certainly give it my best shot.

Uuuh… I guess if you do want to see me at my best, though, you can always follow me on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. That’s the best version of me in between Amalgamate chapters, and I recently shared a ton of Danganronpa cosplay videos because of Dragon Con. I have a Patreon now too, and even though it’s a ghost town, I’m still posting as much content there as possible. I’ll keep dancing until the stage lights are forcibly shut down. I think that's the best way to guarantee that I can turn this ship around.

[groverapologist]

hi!! i hope you're doing well!

i was wondering if you were still doing the headcanons for different characters submitted and, if so, i'd like to submit the one and only annabeth chase (me fr)

have a great day!

yes i am!! just taking more time with them

annabeth chase headcanons:

she is a list and schedule girl. due to her adhd she can struggle a lot with being on track of stuff and finds that scheduling and listing everything helps her exponentially.

as a child she wanted to wear glasses so bad because all the smart characters in tv shows and cartoons wore glasses. she never got them but she's okay with that.

she experiences really strong hyperfocus and burnout periods. she's learned to manage the burnout more over the years, but there are still periods where it sneaks up on her or she overworks herself.

she's always carrying anything you need in her bag. it boggles people's minds sometimes because she would be carrying what appears to be a small bag that fits nothing but somehow has everything needed for a full day of survival.

sometimes her hyperfocus gets really bad that she literally forgets to take care of herself and her needs. it's an issue she's aware of but has not managed to fix yet. percy helps by periodically checking on her and reminding her to take care of herself.

she loves a good cheesy romcom or romance book. she pretends she's above it in front of people she's not close to but is crying to 10 things i hate about you and legally blonde with percy and grover

she and grover grew up together, so they know way too much about one another. they blackmail each other with old photos or memories and threatening to "expose" one another to percy. it's all done as a joke, though, and it always ends with laughter.

she and rachel have grown to become friends and love to draw with one another. despite their completely different approaches to art (with annabeth focusing on geometry and architecture and rachel with surrealism and contemporary art), they love their drawing sessions and always help one another, compliment one anothers' works, and offer constructive criticism.

[transfemme-shelterdog]

i normally just send in anti-radfem sociopolitical rants but here's my SPECIFIC, NICHE Sexual Scenarios I Like Reading In Fanfiction rating submission (in no specific order, purely what I think about when I think of it):

1) someone being consensually possessed by a spirit/demon/whatever. being fully aware/awake/enthusiastically consenting while your body is made to do ~naughty~ things

2) intentional body-swapping. or not-necessarily-intentional body-swapping, but it ends up in them boning. or (in a more dub-con sort of way...) being body-swapped with someone they have a crush on, trying to be "respectful" by not getting unclothed or whatever, then being so overcome with horniness when they see their crush's naked form they HAVE to jerk off (and feel guilty after)

3) two women are forced to dress up as men to, like, do a mulan or something. neither know the other, both assume they are the only woman there. then their identities are revealed to one another (doesnt matter how..), and they r like "ok lets FRICK ;)". I am transmasc and sapphic, can u tell I came up with this idea BEFORE realizing I was transmasc and sapphic

4) ENTHUSIASTIC SEX WITH A TENTACLE MONSTER. U KNOW EACH OTHER AND TRUST EACH OTHER AND LOVE EACH OTHER. ROMANTIC CHEESY VANILLA SEX WITH A MONSTER IN GENERAL

5) being blackmailed into any sort of sexual situation and secretly enjoying it, being teased for enjoying it (pretty standard imo)

6) sex for medicinal reasons. fucking to be healed/heal your partner. no i can't think of a logical reason why u'd need to do this. i think it evolved from "we're fucking to Relieve Your Heat" (from a/b/o)... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

7) already mentioned this in a previous ask but being forcemasced and forcefemmed at the same time, without forcedetrans (just not my thing, no hate to ppl who like it)

8) fantasy races deriving sexual pleasure from non-sexual sources, such as an angel getting off to their wings being rubbed or elves with their ears (thank you for the new fetish, ed greenwood)

9) more of a fanfiction trope, but it's still sexual...fucking a companion in a fit of passion then being all "uhhh suppose we should never talk about this again lol?", then it becomes a massive point of tension in the story bc all they want is to fuck again. LOVE this with friends-to-lovers, but it's even better as an enemies-to-lovers thing sometimes. love when fanfiction edges me with these sorts of tropes

10) JERKING OFF A FLUSTERED INEXPERIENCED BOY TO COMPLETION THROUGH HIS PANTS, PREFERABLY IN PUBLIC WHERE HE TRIES TO STIFLE HIS MOANS. FROM EITHER POV. GAAAAWWWWWDDDDD I COULD READ THESE SORTS OF FICS DAY-IN, DAY-OUT

And I normally just post rants and stuff, but here we are!

Let's give this list a rating

1) someone being consensually possessed by a spirit/demon/whatever. being fully aware/awake/enthusiastically consenting while your body is made to do ~naughty~ things

Yeah, I like this. Throw in some forcemasc/forcefem and you got yourself a good fic! 10/10

2) intentional body-swapping. or not-necessarily-intentional body-swapping, but it ends up in them boning. or (in a more dub-con sort of way...) being body-swapped with someone they have a crush on, trying to be "respectful" by not getting unclothed or whatever, then being so overcome with horniness when they see their crush's naked form they HAVE to jerk off (and feel guilty after)

Also very hot, gives me Kimo No Na Wa vibes. I like it! 10/10

3) two women are forced to dress up as men to, like, do a mulan or something. neither know the other, both assume they are the only woman there. then their identities are revealed to one another (doesnt matter how..), and they r like "ok lets FRICK ;)". I am transmasc and sapphic, can u tell I came up with this idea BEFORE realizing I was transmasc and sapphic

Trans dude on trans dude smut? Fuck to the yes. 10/10

4) ENTHUSIASTIC SEX WITH A TENTACLE MONSTER. U KNOW EACH OTHER AND TRUST EACH OTHER AND LOVE EACH OTHER. ROMANTIC CHEESY VANILLA SEX WITH A MONSTER IN GENERAL

Tentacles are always super hot. I'd really love to read that! Same with monsterfucking in general. 10/10

5) being blackmailed into any sort of sexual situation and secretly enjoying it, being teased for enjoying it (pretty standard imo)

Really ties into the whole core concept behind CNC where "no I don't like this" means that you do. So I'm giving this a 10

6) sex for medicinal reasons. fucking to be healed/heal your partner. no i can't think of a logical reason why u'd need to do this. i think it evolved from "we're fucking to Relieve Your Heat" (from a/b/o)... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I like it, like a healer/mage type deal that has magical healing properties in their fluids. 10/10

7) already mentioned this in a previous ask but being forcemasced and forcefemmed at the same time, without forcedetrans (just not my thing, no hate to ppl who like it)

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 10/10

8) fantasy races deriving sexual pleasure from non-sexual sources, such as an angel getting off to their wings being rubbed or elves with their ears (thank you for the new fetish, ed greenwood)

I like it! 10/10

9) more of a fanfiction trope, but it's still sexual...fucking a companion in a fit of passion then being all "uhhh suppose we should never talk about this again lol?", then it becomes a massive point of tension in the story bc all they want is to fuck again. LOVE this with friends-to-lovers, but it's even better as an enemies-to-lovers thing sometimes. love when fanfiction edges me with these sorts of tropes

Yeah that's a pretty good trope. I'm down for it. 10/10

10) JERKING OFF A FLUSTERED INEXPERIENCED BOY TO COMPLETION THROUGH HIS PANTS, PREFERABLY IN PUBLIC WHERE HE TRIES TO STIFLE HIS MOANS. FROM EITHER POV. GAAAAWWWWWDDDDD I COULD READ THESE SORTS OF FICS DAY-IN, DAY-OUT

I'm biased as I may have done this already IRL. 10/10

Final rating: 10

I like you Anon~

[crow-of-paradise]

WoR is finished! I don't have a whole lot to say other than I enjoyed it! lol Disjointed out-of-order thoughts and reactions below the cut. TWoK ending is still TOP for me, but WoR ending was very satisfying too in a different way. Like letting go of a BIG SNEEZE (for me the big sneeze was Kaladin finally being his true self and not hiding anymore)

Honestly though this ending was kinda insane?! I'm looking at you, Adolin!

First of all, RIP TO A REAL ONE SADEAS. I LOVED YOU UNTIL THE VERY END, MY FAVORITE STYLISH REPRESSED EVIL GAY. You coulda lived if you'd followed Sebarial's hedonistic way of life, but you were too hyperfocused on Dalinar, I get it. And now ur dead smh. LOL but honestly what a stupid move on his part to lay out his plans like that right to Adolin's face IN A CORRIDOR WITH NO WITNESSES. Ok not stupid, bc he's talked shit about Dalinar in front of Adolin before but, this was just the last straw?! I GUESS? YOU CREATED A BLACKTHORNE JR CONGRATS

And, I doubt this will be the case, but a morally-gray-to-morally-bankrupt Adolin arc would obviously be my favorite thing ever and infinitely more interesting than another honorable character POV. But as that belongs to Moash (WHOMST I ADORE) and seeing as he is Dalinar "Live Laugh Honor" Kholin's son, right now I'm taking this as a moment that mirrors that of a younger reckless Dalinar. Regardless, I was Shook, lol.

Quick celebration/mention of these two bc I cannot deal with these divas. Was it absolutely ridiculous? YES, AND also right up my alley - which with Brandon's humor isn't always the case, lol.

LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN

-holding brandy's face- IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY SON'S PARENTS (I AM AWARE THAT IS A NONSENSE STATEMENT) I WILL CEASE TO FUNCTION. The dread I immediately felt. I am not ready for three more books of Kal suffering hahahaha

A LITTLE COMMOTION FOR KALADIN SAVING DALINAR'S BOOTY AGAIN PLS. In my head, he bridal-style carried him back to earth. 👉👈

Elhokar is now a flavor of pathetic man that I can 1000% get behind - thank you, Brandy.

BRIDGE FOUR FOUND FAMILY FOR LIFE!!! 😭😭😭 Oh Rock.... Oh Teft.... The love I have for this darling crew is SO MUCH MY HEART RISKS BURSTING EVERY TIME THEY'RE ON THE PAGE.

And oh I'm so happy Syl and Kal are back together... What a relatable queen - I too would let Kal's shenanigans slide for one (1) single smile from him.

How did I fare plot-wise? WELL, I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO KEEP UP. I am wonky on some of the factions affecting change in the world atm. I made a very incorrect cheat sheet so I wouldn't forget everything whenever I get to the next book LOL

Gavilar's confusing me rn tbh and also Nin actually bc he straight-up gave Szeth his honorblade and made him a Skybreaker (I just shoved him in the Ghostbloods camp initially bc of him exacting revenge on Shardbearers but I don't think he's part of them exactly) soooooo ???? I am not sure what's going on there EXAAACTLY but I am loving the ride, safe to say, lol.

The novella is up next! It's such a cute and tiny tome to hold compared to the Monsters. I will say I am very pleased that the narrative still leans into the cheesy, earnest tone of TWoK, and while Kal will always be blorbo numero uno, all the major and minor characters are so compelling to me. I love every single one, actually, lmao. EVEN AMARAM. He's really drinking the kool-aid so I don't JUST despise him with the passion of a 1,000 burning suns anymore, now I feel PITY for him. It's great!

The action in these books is always so epic and in particular the scene with Szeth and Kaladin fighting in the storms, my thoughts couldn’t help but go to “DO THE DRAGON BALL Z FANS KNOW ABOUT THIS” hahaha and ofc I mean that in the best way. I feel like a little kid hyperfixating on power rangers when I read the Windrunner action.

If there's one thing I wish for it would be another main POV female character that is not part of the Kholin family. Funnily enough Veil does somewhat scratch this itch for me, considering it's... just Shallan LOL, but yeah. ANOTHER! I don't think we're diverting much from the current POVs we have though (besides the interludes and the brief POV switches within the main POVs), which is fine. SHOULD I DO A RANKING? ok! My number one is still The Way of Kings, so obvs, for now, that leaves Words of Radiance in second place. :)

[siremasterlawrence]

Christmas Night Fight

This is a Christmas Boxing Match For A Very Special World Title for once in every twelve years a major box goes toe to toe with major other fighters going through the roof in hell like defeat.

I place my bet at the door on Jack L Monroe before sitting in my seat as the light pops on over the shadows of the boxing ring the spit light is giant. A fist pump into the air as a crowd goes wild in the boxer, steady with punches in the air.

Jack Mickelson the titan is a legend in the field, but he does not know that I am both the one betting against him and my almost ensuring my victory over this floor and his constant need for that overbearing and toxic desires, needs and wants above all else.

I can see that smug look cross his face in a cheesy stretch his fist in the other and starts jumping up like an idiot, howling, screaming, and shouting as crowd goes wild and the odd cheering only motivates me more and I could not tell if he was mocking me or not but I was about to win.

The announcer steps onto the ring with an awful condescending smile, foul stench and crooked teeth. The left hand picks up the mic as he squares off with the crowd who are losing all of the their minds, and great anticipation for their great hero, to win yeah, another victory, and prove his might.

He starts to hop on both feet coming at me with such intensity as I take a hop back my fist forms throwing a punch which he evade to hit me up and I avoid that as well but I go for it one curl punching hard fist hitting him in the chest.

The spot I hit on his chest glows hard as he hold on to it backing up he falls to his knees much to my delight I gleefully jump kicking him on both of his sensitive nipples areas as he cries the technique travels causing a electrical current down his spine.

He falls face forward when the alarms goes off ringing loudly in a resounding style the crowd is in a loss booing me as they throw cans at me I laugh shouting out loud to freeze which they do without being aware

of anything.

Tom struggles to rise to his feet barely able to stand up I punch him in his face the spit goes flying in to a air the man is done for as I watch it take effect he stops on his knees he is a mere puppet now. I unzip my pants exposing my cock as I stroll towards him and force his mouth on to it.

“There he is your number three seed in this World Championship.” He shouts lifting my hand in the air.

“Who wants to see the next match?” He is shouting.

“Let me hear you guys scream for it.”

“Wwwwoooohhhhooooo…let the games roll”

“Everyone! Please welcome Mathew James Howl”

“Gentleman! 1…2…3”

“FREEZE”

“What the fuck?”

“Why can’t I move?”

“Because I am the master of the ring “

“I rule the roost”

“Nnnnnoooo”

“I’ll have to educate you then”

“On what?”

“The proper behavior ”

“Unfortunately! I don’t obey anyone least of all.”

“One punch and you will fall into my submission “

“Never gonna happen…you….uuuugggghh…fffuuccckkk…yes Master Lawrence.”

“ I don’t know what you’re up to, but I do understand it’s something wicked because you two are up to something very evil and let me have a bad attitude problem, but I surly will not tolerate anyone getting in my way or causing more undue damage to my title.”

”Oh! is that what you were thinking? You have no idea what I am capable of doing you overgrown ape if you mind your own business. Getting angry, I see you throw a punch and failing because you are no good McGregor just another tough guy with pussy heart.”

“ What did you just say to me? I am to break to break you open, spit your ass open, fuck you raw, make you come and worship my skinny tone black ass.” I state to him as he races at me his speed up with every step I take but I launch my hand in the air throwing a one punch as I send him flying into the rings gate.

Meet all of my bodyguards.

The end

[sweetandsavageautistic]

(CW: Cringe, puzzle pieces, Autism Moms, potential sensory eyesore, ableism possibly, like one sex joke)

Welcome back to me harshly criticizing graphic design choices that people make about autism where I find pictures of shirts and whatnot and I tear into them like a lion tearing into its prey. Let's get into it.

In the words of @rebmasel on TikTok: "Ka-chow."

First up the only appropriate way to do this review is in the style of Dr. Seuss.

I do not like the puzzle piece, for it disturbs my fucking peace.

The color purple is real nice, but the message here I would think twice.

No tacky colors, so that's good. I don't hate it, though I feel I should.

Final Score: 4 out of 10. I'd rather not see this again.

I know the first line's kinda cheating, but I couldn't really think of any other fitting rhyme.

Next up is this:

This is already miles better than most of what I've seen.

The colors aren't tacky, they're actually kinda nice.

You have two wolves inside of you, both of them are gay and autistic. /ref

Autism Acceptance, that's a win.

Infinity symbol instead of puzzle piece, fuck yes.

Only criticism is that it's kind of a cheesy message, but not the worst.

Final Score: 9.5 out of 10. I'd wear it.

And then the quality drops here.

Puzzle piece means you lost points.

"Autism Mom." You can say it's difficult to raise an autistic child, but you're not a goddamn superhero.

How dare you use Rosie the Riveter for this. The disrespect. /hj

The military font is tacky.

I don't like seeing blue associated with autism, but at least it's not an abominable shade of blue.

Final Score: 1 out of 10. Get it out of my sight.

Speaking of lions that I mentioned earlier:

I'm already liking the absence of puzzle pieces.

Autism Acceptance is a yes.

When a lioness has children, she stops making love to the lion. The lion gets jealous, sometimes so jealous he EATS the children. You'd think this would upset the lioness; far from it. They make love again like the children never existed. I find that idea terrifying. /q

Not a fan of the colors, they're too dark for my taste.

The message feels cheesy.

Final Score: 7.5 out of 10. I dunno if I'd wear it, but it's not the worst design I've seen. The effort and care are present.

This feels like a roller coaster because it went downhill again.

"Share your friends." As someone with PDA, to quote Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 3, Line 87; "No." /hj

Autism Awareness. Once again, I am very aware of my existence but sometimes I wish I wasn't; there are days where I'd like to be both perceived and NOT perceived.

The blue isn't tacky, thank God.

I hate the quote because it gives the message that autism is nothing but a burden.

Also there's a bit too much going on with it, all of the decals and shit.

I don't see any puzzle pieces, so thank God.

Final Score: 2 out of 10. I do not recommend.

This is a bit different.

There's just way too much going on in this. Absolute eyesore.

Return of the Tacky Elementary School Colors, except they dragged orange into it this time.

So many puzzle pieces.

Why is everyone trying to fight autism? It's just minding its business.

I'm pretty sure that that's going to be a signal to mean kids to bully your kid. Like, even if there's more understanding of autism, there are still asshole crotch goblins.

I haven't "done" autism, but I am curious as to whether or not autism is good in bed. /j

Final Score: 1 out of 10. No thanks, I'll pass.

Let's end part 2 on a high note.

Simple design, but colorful and pretty easy on the eyes.

And the colors aren't patronizing.

No puzzle pieces.

Acknowledgement of the intersectionality of autism and sexuality.

No cheesy message; just a funky design about autism and gayness. Not all autism shirts have to be serious or UwU or motivating, so it's always a nice change of pace.

Final Score: 11 out of 10. As an asexual biromantic autistic, I'd wear this.

[nogenderbee]

Hi thereee ! Im a huge fan of your work (ur writing is rlly amazing ehejeidkwiwn) and ive had this ideea for a while so like

Reader and the pjsk guys (maybe tsukasa and rui, separately) are hanging out in reader's sekai (wich doesnt have a song yet) and the boys decide to confess to reader and reader accepts their confession the song from reader's sekai gets born, what would be their reaction?

(Also this is my first time requesting sorry if i didnt do it properly!! •○•)

Awhh thank you so much! And I absolutely love this idea, it's just so so sweet!! You can say I had a little too much fun writing it so... I hope you enjoy it just as much as I enjoyed writing it <3

Tsukasa, Rui are the reason for readers first song

TagList: @alicewinterway18 - come get your future star!

I won't tag you here since you'll get pinged either way heh

After Tsukasa discovered that the both of you have your own SEKAIs, it definitely was his idea that you should start hanging out with each others SEKAIs. It just so happened that you mostly hanged out at your SEKAI since your was usually free and his was often crowded by his troup.

So when you told him you don't have any songs, he decided to help you find the right feelings but of course he still had friendly hangouts with you. Today was one of those days when you just hanged out but he had some more serious plans, and fact that he was stressed was painted all over him, but he kept telling you that he's alright.

When he finally felt like it was the right time to tell you his feelings, he went on one knee and took your hand in his.

"YN, I am very aware that you probably think of my only as your friend but this star cannot hold his feelings any longer! The truth is, I have fallen deeply in love with you so will you give me this honor of being your lover?"

The moment was already so unbelievable for you and for him as well once the word "Yes" left your mouth. He literally stood up and hugged you tightly once he heard this one pretty word.

What both of you didn't knew this is the fact that his confession helped you create your first song. Unlike him, you noticed it the next time you were about to hang out in your SEKAI so of course you showed him. The song described the moment, your feelings, what you saw, how nervous he was, how he felt so perfectly! And the two of you even were singed as artist even though none of you remember singing that but I guess that's just the charm of SEKAI?

When you showed him that song, he was stunned... but in a good way! He simply couldn't believe that confessing his true feelings towards you was all he had to do to help you create your song. He doesn't mind tho, after all he helped you and now got you as his lover at once!

"W-We what?! So... at the end I helped you create your first song? I knew a star like me could do it! How about we get singing that song? It can be pretty fun!"

If there are some cheesy lines in the song then he may stutter a little but he quickly tried to go back to normal since he wants to impress you and a star shouldn't make mistakes like that. But he mostly wants to just impress you.

After Rui discovered the two of you have your own SEKAIs, he definitely was interested in yours so it's not a surprise that you hanged out mostly at there.

When you were hanging out there with him, the two of you usually just wandered around and maybe discovered some new places or things about your SEKAI. So of course he definitely noticed that you don't have any song but decides not to mention it and instead he tries to help you create one.

Today tho he had a plan in mind. He knew that you probably will hate him after it but he simply can't hold it inside him anymore. So when he felt confidence in him, he proceed to tell you what he wanted.

"YN, there's something I need to tell you and it's alright if you won't want to see me afterwards... but I really feel for you and if you let me then I'd love to be someone more than just a friend for you."

He really was ready for you to kick him out of your SEKAI and say no you don't want to ever breath the same air as he but surprisingly you agreed, and he couldn't be any more happier.

Although Rui felt like something happened right there, he thought it's just his imagination so none of you really noticed that song was created. After he left your SEKAI tho, you wandered around it alone for a bit of time and saw a song that wasn't there before, because hey you didn't had any song! And when you checked it out, authors happened to be you and now your boyfriend.

When you showed him that song, he really was shocked that his confession could create a song. But of course he listened to it and remember he'll pay really close attention to lyrics since he knows that songs are made from true feelings. So if there's something cheesy and we know there definitely is then he most likely will tease you about it.

"Awhh~ You really do have strong feeling for me, don't you? And I thought I was the cheesy one in our relationship!"

To be honest, he's a little relieved to know that you really do love him and not playing just some jokes on him.

❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉⊱•═•⊰❉

[bengiyo]

Theory of Love Special Ep (Finale) Stray Thoughts

I am curious how I feel about this as the end of the Theory of Love run. I won't recap since we finished the show, but I went back into my own posts and I previously liked this despite having no memory of it.

Okay, as cheesy as it is, I do generally like when follow up outings acknowledge or tease their critics.

Oh that play with the names. I saw that. It's 2020 and we all verse now. (Side note. I do not remember associating this special with COVID lockdowns.)

It's kinda fun when the epilogue content happens before the actual ending. We know that they will get back together to form Hod Production and that they'll succeed.

Special Episode: Stand By Me

Oh, Third. You really had this man sleeping on the floor for multiple nights. Even as someone who wanted him to suffer, you aren't serious.

I'm not surprised Third and Khai ended up working together, and it's definitely good for Third's ego that Khai is being such a simp.

I was curious what hanging out for these guys would look like now that most of them are in committed relationships and Bone is healing from heartache.

Look at that, Khai. Growth. He was in a situation with some girls and made it clear he wasn't available. I will accept the incoming hijinks from this lipstick.

Yes, Khai, why did you lie?

I snorted at the camera guy having better communication with the director or cinematographer than Khai.

Did this girl suck on his neck? Why is he still hiding it? Just tell Third some drunk girl fell on you. Two saw it and Third trusts Two. Bone gets it.

I'm glad Third is aware that he's cute and actively maintaining it. Gun torments me regularly on IG.

I kinda like that Khai is being so ridiculous about this drunk girl situation. We know he's been at this for almost a year trying to prove his loyalty to Third.

This senior taking the graduation photo from them was one of the motorcycle guys in My Ride.

Aww, Bone. Do you think you're better off alone? Talk to me.

Any time someone points with their lips I laugh.

I love this confession in the car. Third is still testing Khai, but at least he knows Khai wasn't stepping out. I like that the resolution is one about how they're both trying to make this work despite the emotional baggage. I like the version of Khai that wants to honor Third.

These two made it four years and produced a movie together. I believe in their relationship if it's still going strong after making a highly successful film.

I am actually so into Khai doing multiple proposals to Third, elevating it each time.

Well, that was lovely.

Updated Verdict: 8.5, Recommended for Fans of Romance Cinema. I spent a lot of time over the last few days thinking about how I would recommend this series going forward. I think it is good on a lot of technical fronts, and there's a lot to like in the BTS: particularly Off using his own clothes to supplement Khai's wardrobe. Still, this show firmly sits right over the awkward line between BL and queerness that makes me uncomfortable with the genre sometimes.

Third's reticence to Khai only makes sense to me in a world where The Knowing occurs, and yet this is mostly a show in the bubble. So much of what's wrong with Third is because he's let the fantasy of romance films cloud his ability to have a mutually beneficial relationship with someone he loves. I do love when romance interrogates itself, and yet it feels like a hugely missed opportunity to discuss how queer people cannot rely on the presumptions of heteronormativity when building relationships with each other.

Moreover, I struggle with Khai's change narrative because I am not entirely certain who it's for. It reminds me of the Mulan problem, where we have a character who defies norms and expectations and it almost feels like the character exists to point to them and say, "You're not them." I have been hurt by guys like Khai, and none of them changed in a way that ever led to reconciliation for me. It's something I struggle with as I watch this, and it makes me wonder what the outcome of presenting this will be or the femmes and the gays who watch this since the Khai's of the world aren't watching.

Still, I will say that this show has incredibly fun structure if you know the major beats of the films used as the title for each episode. I think Off plays a jerk you begrudgingly want to root for really well. I think Mike actually did a really good job in this show and I apologize to Bone for being so pissy three years ago. Gun is beautiful and so easy to empathize with, but I gotta say that Third is not my favorite character of his.

I am glad @lurkingshan burned her coupons to make me revisit this show, and I've enjoyed having @waitmyturtles and @neuroticbookworm to talk about how I was feeling about things along the way. I don't think I love this show the way you three do, but it is a well-executed narrative doing some interesting things with the romance genre. My lingering hangups, and why I can't take it to a 9, have to do with the mixed bag of queerness in this. Third feels like a repressed gay, and Khai has a legit bisexual awakening, but the other cultural context being missing means it never connects for me as a queer narrative.

This is something I'm thinking about a lot as we head into Cooking Crush, because OffGun always leaves me a bit shaky on that front. On paper it's gay, but it never exactly feels gay for me.

Also tagging @twig-tea by request.

[englishmagic]

After @sillyshrimpfella suggested Disco Elysium tarot designs I haven’t been able to stop pondering it.

(Am I desperate to distract myself from terrible things in the world about which I can do nothing except “raise awareness” and donate money I don’t really have? …maybe)

It’s probably something that’s been done before, but here are my thoughts on the major arcana so far:

The Fool - Harry Du Bois. I was initially thinking the Magician for Harry, because of his effortless genius and creative mindset, but then I remembered the Fool, and… yeah. Naïveté, a fresh approach to the world, being ridiculous for better or worse - it’s all him, baby!

The Magician - Mega Rich Light Bending Guy. This one I am less certain of - I haven’t encountered him myself and I refuse to watch videos of it until I can make the check myself. I put him here because he does seem rather magical, but is he creative, talented, and an effortless genius? Unpredictable and unreliable? I really don’t know. Another person I was thinking of was Neha, she’s creative and industrious, but didn’t quite feel singular enough for the card, so I place her more as the Queen of Coins/Pentacles at the moment.

The High Priestess - Plaisance. She is a figure who (kind of) worships a higher power, and though she’s not really an oracle in the way that the card often represents, she’s a symbol of belief in the supra-natural in the forms of curses, entities, et cetera. Albeit in quite cheesy, culturally dicey ways.

The Empress - Joyce Messier. She presents feminine traditions and mannerisms, but also has a lot of institutional and traditional power as a representative of the capitalist world order.

The Emperor - Everart Claire. He’s a masculine-ish figure who uses his institutional power in the union to exert his influence on the world. Not physically imposing, but I don’t think that’s a requirement - he has a racist, a street gang, and an uncomfortable chair at his disposal where others would have fists to fight with.

The Hierophant - Dolores Dei. Yes, she’s the hierophant and not the priestess - Dolores is a figure of worship, not a worshipper, she represents organised faith rather than personal faith. You don’t have to stick 100% within the traditional genders for these cards.

The Lovers - Next World Mural. Self explanatory - I think that image would look good on a card too!

The Chariot - the Coupris Kineema. I like this because not only does it make sense sense to put a vehicle from the game on the chariot card, the sound of the Kineema is the journey from intro to gameplay, and this card is all about journeys!

Strength - Measurehead. Because… He’s strong. There’s not much more to this one; I’m happy to accept other ideas, especially since the card is usually a woman. Also, who or what would be the lion? Just… a picture of Jean-Luc Race Warrior wrestling a lion? …….actually what if this card depicted Samaran bear wrestling, that’s a fun alternative

The Hermit - Tiago the Crab Man. He is isolated by choice and strongly associated with philosophy. I was thinking the Deserter for this one originally, buttttt then I had a different idea for him.

Wheel of Fortune - the pleasure wheel. Visually fun. Also symbolically appropriate - the never-built attraction represents the investment gamble that didn’t pay off.

Justice - The Deserter. The card usually has a judge on it, dispensing retribution. The Deserter sees himself this way; he’s also a singular male figure with a “gavel” in the form of his rifle. Visually appropriate.

The Hanged Man - Lely Kortaneer. Because he is a hanged man. I wonder if he can be tied to the deeper meaning of the card through the “conversations” Harry has with him in his head, or simply through the fact that being dead he naturally has no agency?

Death - Working Class Corpse. This one is just sad. In some ways this death is more “death-y” than any other in the game, underlining how things, and people, can end abruptly and without warning. And his discovery is the end of an investigation, too.

Temperance - Washerwoman. Mainly a visual connection - she’s a woman with a container of water. The card could be her pouring washing water from one cup to another, and I think it would be a nice image.

The Devil - Cuno De Ruyter. He has given into vices already despite his young age, and he influences you to do the same. This is honestly one of the few places I consider a Fury could be a good choice for a card - Electrochemistry is basically the Devil personified.

The Tower - FELD R&D. A crumbling building where everything can quite easily go to shit - the tower is about things falling apart and potentially being rebuilt. The FALN employees fell apart - aka were executed - and Ruby is building something new in the ruins.

The Star - Klaasje Amandou. Kind of ironic to have her, a manipulator who’s always in control, on a card that represents leaving things to fate- but the visual of her hiding documents in the buoy really fits the traditional design of the card and could be adapted well, and while she’s not very up in the air herself, the skills all get up in the air while talking to her because of how you’re compromised by her beauty and charm. It’s not so much about where she finds herself, but where you find yourself in relation to her - unable to trust your own knowledge and defaulting to chance more often than you’d want.

The Moon - Insulindian Phasmid. It’s a mystery! Maybe it could be the crustacean in the design? Or it could be haloed by the moon the way Kim is haloed by the sun. I love the specification for the moon design in tarot so it does have to have two dogs and a crustacean for me to be happy.

The Sun - Kim Kitsuragi. Haloed by the sun. A new dawn. A new lease on life. This is what he represents to Harry.

Judgement - the Tribunal/Krenel. A tribunal is a court event, a judgement of sorts, and the event is a moment of dire consequence in the game. The mercenaries lining up like the angels on judgement day would also make a cool visual.

The World - Elysium. Self explanatory, I think? The image would be the world broken apart, with the isolas emerging from the pale.

For the minor arcana I’ve not got a lot of opinions - Lillienne the Netpicker as Queen of Swords for no deeper reason than the fact that she has a sword, Annette as Page of Coins/Pentacles because she’s a bright and precocious child… The cups would have a lung design on them, maybe? I really hope someone else has Thoughts about this because I would like to visualise the entire thing in my mind until I inevitably try to draw it and ruin my enthusiasm when I remember that my art skills do not match my ambition in this area 😂

[lazyrezi]

Tj klune books ranked by me based on pure vibes, re-read potential, angst to humor ratio and MY OBJECTIVELY CORRECT OPINION:

Tales of Verania - LISTEN! LISTEN!!! These books are insane and I don't even know if I mean it in a good way tbh. The characters are all on crack. It's both corny (HAH if you know you know) and raunchy. YES the humour is a bit out there and sometimes the sex scenes/jokes are almost too much for my virgin eyes. Are these books "good"? You're asking the wrong question! They're fun and you WILL have fun reading them!!! It's very self-aware, tongue in cheek also sometimes a little too cheesy for my liking.

Oh, also, there are lesbian and emo dragons and magic and monologuing villains and a prophecy because OF COURSE THERE IS. These books will not change your life, but they will make you laugh and maybe cringe and feel. I am thinking about rereading it for the vibes. 10/10 would recommend BUT ONLY if you can get silly with it!!! No doom and gloom!!! (Okay, maybe a little doom and gloom....)

Green creek - ANGST. WEREWOLVES. GAY POSSESIVE WEREWOLVES. FOUND FAMILY

(weird age gap relationships I'm so sorry I hate it too and I hate how easy it would have been to just not do that but oh well)

MORE ANGST.

It's been a minute since I have read these books but oh boy they had me in a chokehold for MONTHS. Full disclaimer I have not read the last book AND STILL I am fully confident in recommending these books.

Ngl there is more weird shit in these books than I care to list. IT DOESN'T MATTER. If the tales of verania characters are on crack then these ones are living in a straight up soap opera. People leave. They hold grudges. THEY HAVE AMNESIA? They have enemies as well. Buildings blow up, people die ohymgod the melodrama never ends and. That is. SO FUN. albeit a different kind of fun but still. Fun times all around. I have finished reading these books and immediately reread them which should tell you everything you need to know. 10000/10

The extraordinaries - imagine you're watching a movie where a scene is coming up that just gives you THE WORST second hand embarrassment - now imagine it isn't a scene in a movie, it's three books and it's every page of all three books. Just sheer unadulterated second hand embarrassment.

Now if you look inside yourself you might find that your feelings are misplaced. The main guy isn't embarrassed and neither should you be! Life is all about falling on your ass and making an idiot out of yourself in the process and it's okay! It's okay. At least that's what I kept telling myself while reading these books.

No, but in all seriousness. These books are good fun. The greatest thing about tj klune is that he will take ANY theme and make it gay. We have gay superheroes. Gay werewolves. Gay magical beings. Gay ghosts! I as someone who regularly wonders why the media I am consuming isn't more gay, am a fan. I want him to do it all. Gay cowboys! Gay astronauts! GIMME IT.

These books I will not reread because I fear I might just die from the second hand embarrassment. It's so bad. But! It's also good! Educational fun. Wholesome love. Some minimal melodrama. 7/10

Oookay. Time for the stand alone books!

The house in the cerulean sea - okay don't hate me but this ain't my favourite. It's everyone else's tho! So I'm sure there is something to it. I think this is what you think of first when you hear tj klune - everyone knows this one, everyone loves it. It's like the popular kid in school. I, as a stubborn contrarian cannot abide this.

Still there is a lot going for this one. It takes you on a journey in a way a book should. And I personally love old gays being in big gay love so I can't complain.

But I will nonetheless.

So the thing about this book is that it's very innocent. And there isn't much angst just a minor misunderstanding that is pretty much quickly resolved. The big confrontation at the end is also quickly squashed by *checks notes* people talking to each other? I mean. It's nice! I would like it to work like that irl. In stories however.... I like a little more angst and anguish personally. There are also a lot of kid characters in this one which is FINE tj klune is actually pretty good at writing kids realistically (even special magical kids) but it's just not for me. I say that but I will be buying the sequel next month so jokes on me. The whole book was just a little too on the nose for my liking but it's still a very cosy read. Also someone pointed this out but WHY is this book so British? None of his other books are set in Britain and this one is set in a magical world so what's up with that?

Despite all my complaints I have reread this book twice. I don't know either. 8/10

In the lives of puppets - first tj klune book I have ever read and seeing as I have since then read everything written by this man I think you know this one is a good one. IT'S SO GOOD. It has everything!! Robots. Found family (families always find each other in tj klune stories). Asexual main guy. ROAD TRIP. Wholesome fun and existential crises for the price of one! 9/10 docked a point only because I don't think I'll be rereading it again. Also the romance was a bit weird BUT! It did grow on me. Like mould.

Under the whispering door - you would think this one would be an easy 10/10. Doomed love story (also gay 'cause of course it's gay), lessons about redeeming yourself, coffee shop and ghosts and and. Honestly it's been a minute since I've read this one. But what I remember is the ending.

Call me pessimistic but I don't think love should bring you back from the dead SORRY. IMMA SAY IT. Main guy should have stayed dead! Think like "the love was there, it didn't save anyone but it was there" vibes. Expect! Here it did save someone! Ridiculous concept! I buy ghost dogs but I WILL draw the line at being brought back from the dead. (The dog isn't brought back in case you're wondering). And it's such a shame because I really like the themes about death and redeeming yourself and it has such good potential! Unfortunately it suffers a serious case of not-working-for-me. Listen can I explain to you why this book didn't hit the same as the rest? Noo. All I know is that I read this book and immediately forgot about it. And unlike the house in the cerulean sea it looks like so did everyone else. Seriously tho. Anyone a big fan of this one? 6/10.

[skylerorionx]

Asexual Awareness Week (for some reason it’s “asexual” and not “asexuality”) is 22-28 October. So near the end of the week, here’s the second of two posts for a not-quick introduction to what asexuality is, and also what it isn’t. The first post is here.

Also, if I am wrong, add it in the comments.

Image text below:

(1) 

It’s asexual awareness week, so it’s time for a crash course into asexuality. Part two of two cause I have a lot to say. 

—

(2) 

Asexuality means a lack of sexual attraction. It does not mean a lack of willingness to have sex, a lack of romantic attraction, or an inability to love. It is also not synonymous with celibacy, and, like many things queer, exists on a spectrum. Asexual is often shortened to “ace.” 

—

(3) 

Where I left off in the previous post… Why does someone need to form a romantic connection before feeling sexual attraction, or lose attraction as time goes on? Why does someone feel attraction but don’t want it reciprocated? Why does someone wank if they’re ace? Why can’t someone tell if they’re feeling are sexual or romantic? Why is anyone asexual to begin with? 

The answer is: 

Because. 

Why does it matter to you? Unless you’re dating this kind of person, it kind of doesn’t. We’re just like this. It’s not weird, it’s just different. For whatever reason, every person is different and experiences sexuality differently. 

—

(4)

If you are dating someone who is ace or has an asexual-spectrum label, or who realizes they’re ace after you’ve been together for years, what do you do? (if you don’t immediately want to jump ship)

Talk to them. Learn what they want or don’t want. Don’t take it personally, you did nothing wrong (as cheesy as it sounds, it’s not you, it’s me). Know they may not be able to explain why they feel this way. Know this might not mean the end of the relationship or that their romantic feelings may not have changed. Seek advice or read stories on Reddit’s various asexuality subreddits or AVEN. Definitely don’t try to “fix” them. Learn what you can, and you can show that to them but don’t try to label them, that’s their job. Hell, go to couples counseling or talk about alternatives to a “standard” relationship if you have to. 

It may be helpful to know this: (go to the next slide)

—

(5)

Believe it or not, attraction does not equal desire or willingness to engage in activities associated with that type of attraction; so in the case of asexuality, lack of attraction does not mean lack of willingness to have sex… Some asexuals still have sex (whatttttt). 

It’s also a spectrum (yeah there’s like fifteen, it’s fun as hell!) that I’m going to call the “willingness to have sex” spectrum. We all (yes, you too) exist on this scale too. (You can also replace the word “sex” with “romance” and it works the same.) 

[adverse/repulsed — favorable] 

In the middle is indifferent. There’s also ambivalent, which is someone who has mixed feelings or fluctuates on this scale. 

— 

(6)

Once again, allow me to ask the rhetorical questions: 

Why does someone choose to have sex when they don’t experience sexual attraction? Cause their partner likes it and they can stomach it. Cause they have a disconnection between sex and libido. Cause that’s one way babies are made. Cause it’s a societal norm. Cause it releases brain chemicals that make them feel good. Because it brings them closer to their partner. 

Once again, the answer is just “because.” 

While we’re on the topic, celibacy and abstinence are different from asexuality. Why? Because that’s choosing not to have sex even though you experience sexual attraction and would probably like sex. Asexuals are not choosing not to have sex, Like Lady Gaga said, we’re born this way. (So don’t you dare compare us to Catholic priests.) 

—

(7) 

Asexuality does not mean a lack of romance or love. Sexual attraction is just one type of attraction. Romantic attraction is separate and not necessarily correlated. A lack of romantic attraction is called “aromantic”. 

Someone can be asexual but not aromantic. (Examples are an asexual lesbian, asexual biromantic, or omit the word “asexual” and just say “heteroromantic”, etc.) Someone can be aromantic but not asexual. (It’s called allo-aro or just allo.) Someone can be both asexual and aromantic. (It’s called acearo.) 

That’s it, there’s really nothing else to say about it. Some asexual people do fall in love and get married or whatever whatever and do some or all of the “normal” relationship stuff, just without the sex part. Once again, and remember this: a healthy relationship can exist without sex. 

—

(8) 

That’s it. Got questions? Just ask me, I have all the answers. 

Also, I know to actually sound like I know what I’m talking about, I need sources, so: 

Slightly uncreditable but first-person sources: 

Me

My existence on Tumblr for twelve years

AVEN and people’s stories there

“Proper” sources: 

“ACE: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex” by Angela Chan

“The ABCs of LGBT+” by Ash Hardell (published under their old first name and “maiden” name)

“Boston Marriages: Romantic but Asexual Relationships among Contemporary Lesbians” edited by Esther D. Rothblum and Kathleen A. Brehony

“The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality” by Julie Sondra Decker

[intotheelliwoods]

Bunch of asks! Sorry for no drawings this time around ive been pretty burnt out as of late whoopsies.. would appreciate it if you guys could give me some time with the next 2AL update!!

---

@snipersiniora Oh for sure! He is still Leo after all! After the whole situation after the invasion calmed down he would so crack a ton just to help lighten everyones moods! And yes, at multiple occasions would make fun of his own age, and throw in dad jokes!

---

@wraenata FLASHBACKS TO THIS ASK if you cannot ask me MY favorite kind of cheese, then you cannot ask ANY OF THE LEOS THEIR FAVORITE CHEESE impossible question. the answers have no end. cheese is delicious and every type is so valid.

But listen listen, Leo, no matter the age, is an incredibly cheesy fella.

---

@cartoonfan (this ping might not work oops) Waa thank you!!! I am turning this ask into an opportunity to say that having your own version of future Leo is so awesome because since we have only seen him for like 5 minutes, you can give him whatever personality you want and it fits no matter what you do pfft.

Like damn I want to make the most fluffy and kind peepaw imaginable? no problem 👍 no one can stop me and im so happy lots of people are enjoying my take!

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@allynabie Hello!!!

Everyone else feels great about it~ Yes, it may be weird having an extra Leo, but if that said Leo somehow manages to help your Leo generally have better coping mechanisms then theres really nothing to complain about here. I can guarantee you if future Leo was not here, Leo's recovery would have gone wayyy different, as in it would have taken him longer to accept his loss, and it would have been way more bumpy and harmful of a ride.

If you were to ask me about what the comic is about overall, my answer would be self love and how to accept reality by being open with yourself.

As for being aware of their future deaths, they are aware that they have died, yes! I actually plan on covering that a little bit soon but shhh you did not hear that from me~

---

AAa the amount of support I get from having the Leo's being supportive of eachother is amazing, said it so many times before and ill say it again, so glad people are enjoying this take! Happy I can provide this fandom some comfort between the two!

Though I should also use this ask as a chance to mention: I do not dislike or look down upon any version of future Leo where he hates/despises his future self!!! I apologies in advance if some of what I have been saying would lead people to thinking this of me and I just wanted to be a bit clear with that! Honestly the two not being very fond of each other can lead to so many interesting storylines so who am I to complain.

Anyways, all takes of Future Leo are amazing, thought I should just through that here :)

---

Such a great sidejoke ngl~ Though I should mention, while there may be a tracker inside Leo's prosthetic, there is no recorder!

[matcha-green-bear]

✩pt.1: I told the moon about you

✩ paring: celestial!Seonghwa x f!reader

✩ genre: Hwa moon au, fluff, romance, strangers to lovers

✩ summery: At the end of the day, all she has is books, music, and her letters to the moon. Someday someone will bring the moon down for her in the shape of their love. . . .who knew it would've been the moon himself.

✩ warnings: cheesy romance, suggestive, mentions of loss (mc lost a family member and talks about it), sad themes, Seonghwa flirting👀😂, very cheesy flirting🤭

✩ wordcount: 835

✩ taglist: @justaaveragereader ​, @marievllr-abg ​, @owlmylove ​, @hwaightme ​, @layzfeelit ​, @bae4choi​, @jackinmyarea

✩ a/n: Taglist is open! Just shoot me an ask!💚 This chapter was cute!! akjnrgk especially when mc and Hwa meet🥹 Man they were so cute😭🤭 Had me giggling while I was writing it!! Ooh also did you know that it takes 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes for our Moon to complete one full orbit around Earth!

   "You know if you do this, you'll never be able to return, right?" He looked into his friend's eyes worryingly, "Yes, I'm fully aware of the consequences, but that's why I'm appointing you to take over. Joong, I've never felt this strongly in my entire existence. She speaks to me like I am who I am, not the big space rock everyone sees in the sky. I know she doesn't know, but this yearning feeling will never go away and continues to pull at my heart. Even if all we become are acquaintances, being so close will be enough for me." Hongjoong looked at Seonghwa. He didn't understand what Hwa felt, but what he does know is that he has never seen Seonghwa, so passion filled. Hwa truly fell in love with a silly human who talks to the moon, not even one of those humans that other humans deem 'important.' Deep down, he knew this would ultimately make Hwa happy. "Seonghwa I'll grant you your wish but grant me mine and just visit for each night till the next full moon and when seeing or meeting her in person, you still feel the feeling you say, and they do not diminish even a little! Then and only then will I give you a human life." Seonghwa was so happy he could barely contain his excitement, but before he could do anything, it was like Hongjoong read his mind. "Eh, don't even think about thanking me. Please, let's just see how the visits go, Hwa."

   You sat on your windowsill, window open, letting the crisp autumn air engulf you, bringing you at ease. You sighed, looking at the moon. "You know I miss her and her warmth, her presence, her fragrance when enveloped by absence, I miss her. Today, I miss her just like I did yesterday, and I will miss her tomorrow just the same. She loved you as much as I do, you know. She taught me all about your phases and the constellations." "She sounds truly wonderful." Taken aback by the sudden voice you look down to see a man standing in the moonlight, he was ethereal, blonde hair moving with the light breeze. A stranger, yes, but you felt at ease being higher up and basically in your home. "She was more than wonderful. She was so much more." You weren't even looking at the man anymore as you spoke. The night sky had your full attention.

   "Do you talk to him often?" Confused by his question, you looked down at him. He seemed you find your confused state amusing. The man chuckled and looked up at the sky, looking at the moon. "You know the saying, 'the man in the moon' that's what I meant by him." He was amusing to you as well. His silly quip had you smiling down at him. “Funny enough, and you'll probably find this strange, but I do talk to him often, every night, really. Helps me when I'm feeling down." Oddly what you said brought a smile to his face. "I find that endearing really, it's like the moon is a comfort for you and you confide in the moon with your troubles, right?" Laughing, you replied through giggles. “Now you sound like a therapist trying to chip at my walls to make me talk and open up about said troubles!" His face turned serious, and he looked into your eyes "Mmm I'm not here to break down your walls, I'm here to turn them into something beautiful that you are proud of, your walls make you, you."

   This made you blush hard. Who was this man? "Now I don't think Therapists are supposed to flirt with their patients." "Well thank goodness, I am not your therapist, so therefore flirting with you is allowed as long as you like it." You didn't know how to describe it but talking with him hit you with a wave of love so comfortable and deep that you felt like you've already loved this person for thousands of years. "I do like it, well not 'man in the moon', what do I call thee!?" He bowed, going along with your sudden change to Shakespearean language. "Thee fair maiden shall calleth me Seonghwa, what is thy nameth?" Full on holding your stomach from laughing so much, your wipe a tear away. "My good Seonghwa, thee can calleth me y/n!" Seonghwa is also laughing "Well y/n, parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow, I shall seeth thee again." "Adieu! When we do meet again, why, we shall smile!" He walked into the moonlight more, you turned around to get up but when you turned back to watch him go, he was already gone. Tired from the day you closed and locked your window and slipped into bed. Saying one last goodnight before you fell asleep. "I told the moon some more about you, and I met someone too! I love and miss you endlessly, goodnight, Mom."

✩✧✫next➵

✩ a/n: I swear Hwa and mc talking in shakespearean🥺 still makes me smile, like look at them being little goofballs🤭💛 Mmm I wonder what Hongjoong will say🤔 ig we will find out in the next chapter!!!!😘 Also some of mc and Hwa's lines were inspired by two Shakespeare plays, can you name them🤔

@matcha-green-bear / / do not repost or modify

[tryskomys]

Wet Sand

Stone Gossard x OC

Chapter 1 - River

Summary: He was a punk, she did...punk. Can I make it any more obvious?

masterlist

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫

Notes: but tryskomys, I hear you say, you have two unfinished fanfictions and you’re just going to pull a non-existent sixth member of one of the most influential bands of all time out of your ass? and my answer is yes. i am about to do that. i hope that this can be read even if you're not aware/a fan of this type of music. maybe i can convert you, though? give it a try, it might win your heart over. i'd be honoured if it was through my story. (more notes at the end)

tw: swear words, flirting skills of a 9 year-old. cheesy meet-cute. like, rom-com style stinky cheese. hope you'll like it!

songs:

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫

1987, December

It’s late.

Probably already dark outside, the basement didn’t have any windows so there was no way to tell. Not that it mattered anyway, winter seemed to feast on seasonal depression so it made the sun go down even before it could properly rise above the horizon of the Seattle skyline.

She was grasping at straws though, looking for any excuse to bail. Excuse for herself, that is. 

This was your idea, idiot. Sit and observe the local wildlife, you said. Serves you right.

She winced at her internal self-scolding as she looked around the room, scratching her forehead uncomfortably. It should be illegal to have this many people in one place. It just doesn’t seem right.

The human species has evolved from herd behaviour, but it seems like bars are a lingering relic of those times. Like a pocket universe where anything goes. A window to the past. Especially the mating calls. 

She allowed herself to break the edgy facade she cemented on her freckled face and grinned, hiding the smug expression by taking a swig of the stale beer that she’d been sipping for the last hour.

A couple of teenagers, definitely not old enough to be in a bar, just walked - stumbled by. Their tongues were so far up each other’s throats that they probably reached into their eye sockets, too. 

She managed to lift the lukewarm bottle of Budweiser just as they crashed into her table, minimalizing the spillage to a tiny puddle. They didn’t even seem to notice the collision, instead awkwardly taking a beeline to the restrooms. 

Bless their hearts.

She snorted and wiped the liquid with the hem of her blue sweatshirt before cuffing the sleeves. There were many more odd couples similarly lost in their little worlds, some of them more one-sided than others. Her eyes scanned the line of people standing in front of the counter, either waiting for their drinks or simply chatting. 

A surfer dude with a barely visible 5 o'clock shadow trying to woo a short brunette who seemed to be too drunk to realize he’s clumsily trying to slip a pill into her drink. Thankfully she seemed to be quite infatuated with his greasy blonde hair and wouldn’t look away no matter how hard he tried to bait her. In the end, her friend came up and dragged her away, leaving the guy to sit there like a lost kid.

All is fair in love and war my ass. Good riddance, prick.

The girl rubbed her eye and softly cursed when it stung. She forgot she had eyeliner on but it was already smudged, mixing with the purple circles under her eyes.

The bar was definitely going overboard with the heating, trying to make up for the coldness emanating from the brick walls, abused by the snowy breeze outside. The herd factor didn’t contribute to making the place more breathable either. 

She took another gulp of her beer, pulling a disgusted grimace as the stale liquid moved down her throat. Her gaze moved to another group of people at the bar.

Two girls, one very tall and the other trying to make up for her average height with big heels, talking to a fairly good-looking guy who just seemed to enjoy the attention.

There was no way she could hear them from this distance, but the body language was a clear giveaway that they were trying to one-up each other, one outfit more colourful than the other, showing all the peacock feathers that matter to a guy like that - pompous, in a tight shirt and permed hair teased as far as they could go. She even felt like she could smell his nauseating pine cologne.

Oh, a little bandana too. Cute. Crawled right out of a Mötley video.

She snorted again, wiping a drop of beer that ran down her chin as she moved to the next couple. One of the lone strings of artificial light was pointing there, making it seem a lot more dramatic than it needed to be. Like a Renaissance painting.

She was just about to study the scene but her eyes flickered next to them at the sound of a shot glass breaking against the floor. She rested her back against the hard wall, welcoming the stingy sensation of the cold stone. 

Ha, stone, what a grounding word.

Stone, stone.

My kingdom for a stone…

She sang a little melody in her head before frowning.

“What the fuck?” she whispered to scold herself again, wondering if there are any brain cells left in her brain, considering they seemed to be rapidly dying due to the lack of oxygen in the room. 

She realized she truly might not have much to work with at this point because she was starting to see colours that definitely weren’t there. 

Is that a fluffy pink scrunchie?

The pair consisted of what seemed to be another mating ritual, but this time, she couldn’t get a read on the situation. At all. She just couldn’t concentrate, all her senses were fixated on that one scrunchie wrapped around a high ponytail. 

She studied the flowing hair that cascaded around it. Long, a little wavy. Soft, considering they had an unnatural red tint near the ends, probably courtesy of a bad dye job. 

Too soft. Unfairly soft.

She blinked a few times and squinted, unable to make out the face they belonged to as he was facing the bar, his shoulders shaking with a laugh. Broad shoulders. Angular. 

She realized he was towering over most of the bar and wondered if he was really that tall or if it was just the phosphorescent scrunchie standing out like a black eye. She caught a glimpse of his hand as he moved his lanky arm to pat the blond girl next to him on the back, almost condescendingly. An unusual gesture for a mating ritual. 

The blondie, courtesy of peroxide, was pretty tall as well, but his huge hand seemed to take up a bizarre amount of length of her torso.

The sagacious watcher darted her eyes from knuckle to knuckle, trying to count them as if she were making sure he didn’t have any extras. No, they were just very long. And elegant. 

When she reached his fourth finger, graced with a simple silver ring, the hand disappeared into his back pocket, awkwardly sticking out as it didn’t really fit. She chewed on her lip to contain another smug grin. 

Good riddance. That’s what you get for wearing tight jeans, you beanpole. Might as well wear stockings next time.

She quickly turned her attention the room again when she realized she held her gaze on his ass for way too long to pass it as simply observing the locals. Her breath seemed to hitch in her throat, so she sipped a bit of her beer to ground herself in the murky depths of socialization. 

Hm. Grounding. My kingdom for a stone…

This time she visibly shook her head and a blush crept up her jawline, perplexed by the way her brain ridiculed her. And the image of the guy’s fingers burned behind her eyelids like a cruel brand. 

They would look great wrapped around the neck. Of a Les Paul. The neck of a Les Paul. Not a Strat, that one is not thick enough for them. Fuck.

She looked again, this time he was facing the tall blondie next to him so she get a little peek at his face. She didn’t want to, though. The hand was enough. Somehow her head screamed at her to look away, to find a different object of attention, just not this stupid beanpole. She couldn’t help it. The overly dramatic lighting hit the angles of his face just too perfectly not to look.

His forehead was quite prominent. His nose too, true aquiline shape. And a sharp jawline, clenching from time to time when he chuckled at something the blondie said. 

Like a Roman statue.

She chewed on her lip again, this time a bit more harshly to silence her stained thoughts. She wasn’t sure about the rest of his face as the lighting only illuminated the most noticeable parts, but she could tell he had a very unusual kind of attraction.

Look anywhere else but his face. Or hair, or ass. Come on, there must be somewhere else.

She hyped herself up to leave his Roman nose alone and her eyes were already involuntarily falling back down his body, but this time she stopped at his torso. She sucked her teeth, trying to hide an amused smirk.

A white t-shirt, sleeves rolled up a bit. And a vest. Not just any vest. It was this grotesque mix of velvet, crochet and patchwork fabric, all sorts of different colours.

Really? With that scrunchie? Decadent.

She would’ve thought it was some sort of a bizarre Seattle trend if he wasn’t the only one wearing that. Somehow, it looked perfect on him, though. It hung from his slender shoulders like he was born with it, beaming under the sliver of light like one of those colourful kaleidoscopes kids buy in scammy souvenir shops. It must’ve been the way he was carrying himself.

He had this smug confidence around him, that was all she could make out. Otherwise, he was unreadable. Unlike the other guys around the bar, cool and unbothered. 

Like a stone wall.

This time, her brain didn’t sing a stupid tune. She was too fixated on the way his nose scrunched whenever he broke into a smirk, raising his eyebrows as the blondie tried to articulate something. She was clearly trying to play it cool but ended up being flustered instead. He seemed to bask in it, though. 

Figures that a beanpole with a scrunchie would be amused by some poor girl’s advances.

He does seem like he’s kinda into it, though. The way he bites his lip from time to time gives it away. And he’s definitely standing way too close to her.

She was so caught up in her crass analysis that she didn’t notice that the guy turned to face the room, leaned his palm against the wooden bar and scanned the crowd with a dissociated gaze. She thought she started seeing strange colours again when her vision blurred in a green haze. It took her a split second before she realized he was looking right at her. 

The green was his eyes. Huge, protruding eyes lined with the slightest hint of eyeliner. 

Shit.

Her head snapped to the restroom door, trying to avert her attention to anything else but the fact that she had been caught gawking at a stranger across a bar. The sudden motion made her neck cramp, so she reached up and poked it as nonchalantly as possible.

Very subtle.

Her eyes started wandering away from the restroom sign and she tried to not repeat her mistake. But he just stuck out of the crowd, with that stupid scrunchie and that stupid nose. It was like waving a diamond ring in front of a magpie. 

Her hopeless gaze just ended up on him again. She was taken aback when she found that the glowing green didn’t move. 

This time, he was the one to dart away when their eyes met, rapidly turning his attention to the blondie. He did it a lot more gracefully than her, but she couldn’t help but grin when he clumsily rubbed his neck. 

She caught a glimpse of the tiniest crack in his composed facade before he brushed a stray hair away from his face and tucked it behind his ear. He leaned his elbow on the bar, coolness wrapping him around once again.

Strike one.

She could still see in her peripheral that he was looking around the room and she subconsciously followed his suit, like yawning when someone else does.

It didn’t take too long before their line of sight crossed again, this time they both knew better than to lock themselves in an unescapable staring contest and looked away before anyone could classify it as anything else but a coincidence. 

Strike two.

She catastrophically failed at containing the smile that appeared on her face, quickly taking a sip of her beer to hide it in case he happened to look at her again. 

The beer was getting warmer and warmer and that made the bitterness overwhelming, so the grin was exchanged for the typical nose scrunch grimace you do when you drink something that used to have bubbles in it. 

The momentary lapse in attention caused her to involuntarily shoot him another look, but he was already studying her face with a lopsided smirk dancing on his lips. His eyes stayed the same, but somehow she felt the smile changed his demeanour.

Strike three.

He seemed to soundlessly tut and slowly shook his head as if he was deeply disappointed that she was making faces while drinking alcohol like a child. 

Before she could stop herself, she mockingly repeated his grin and then stuck out her tongue at him. 

Like a child. 5th grade flirting, very mature.

He closed his eyes for a second to compose himself and then turned back to the blondie next to him, unsuccessfully trying to hide a toothy smile with a gulp of beer, just like she did minutes ago. 

If she could deck herself in the face, she would do it in a heartbeat. She would deck him as well for the tasteless taunt. She rolled her eyes at her own immaturity, but it was simply a knee-jerk reaction to his mischievous expression. 

Pavlov’s beanpole.

She didn’t see that grin on his face when he was talking to the blondie. She couldn’t decide if that was a particularly good thing. The suave factor was exchanged for playful sarcasm and she was wondering if it was insulting or not. 

Is he insinuating that I’m not worthy of his coolness like Miss Fast Times over there?

She automatically tried to smooth her messy hair down, putting a stray curl behind her ear. 

Pavlov’s beanpole.

The curl just bounced back, joining the unruly sea that lined her face. Not that his lack of interest would be a big surprise to her, considering the out-of-place look that she was sporting.

The mousy fawn colour of the mop of curls was contaminated by a similar grown-out red as his, the sectoral heterochromia tinted one of her otherwise brown eyes with a streak of blue.

The satanic-panic-defying t-shirt with a red dragon didn’t help much, either. How could she compete with a girl-next-door-all-American sweetheart when she’d look like a stray raccoon from The Shire next to her and Mr. Beanpole who’s a whole foot taller than her? 

Thank god no one’s heard me speak, they would stone me for foreign espionage or some shit. That’s it. One last peek and go home.

Oh.

The scrunchie disappeared from her sight and so did the peroxide blond perm, leaving a gaping nothingness in the stream of warm light. 

Good for you, sweetheart. It’s not like you had to try or anything.

The watcher rolled her eyes at her bitterness and emptied the rest of the bottle in her throat, downing it like it was a shot. Another twitch of the nose, now accompanied by a stifled cough. 

See, that didn’t even hurt. The elders of Hackney would’ve been proud. Fucking lightweight.

That seemed to be enough for that night, so she rubbed her eyes again and tried to mentally prepare for squeezing through all those cheerful people. The bony fingers were still lurking behind her eyelids, now joined by a pair of cheeky olive eyes. 

When the vigorous rubbing stopped, she blinked a few times to make sure she did open her eyes, because the hands were still there. Right in front of her, leaning against the table, each fully wrapped around a dewy beer bottle. She looked up. The eyes were there, too, exactly as sly as before. Only even bigger up close.

Jesus Christ.

"Figured you’d want something you wouldn’t choke on. Seems like I came exactly at the right moment.”

His voice was a lot deeper than she would’ve expected, nasal and smug. The smug part was, on the other hand, just as she’d imagined. It was irresistibly annoying. 

Don’t be rude, don’t be rude, don’t…

“Did that line ever work out for you?” 

Oh well.

His smirk grew even wider, scrunching his nose just as she’d noticed before. Very irresistible. A chuckle rumbled somewhere deep inside his chest. It sent a jolt through her whole body, she was taken aback by the way her limbs jerked at his command.

Pavlov’s beanpole.

“I don’t know, that’s what I’m trying to find out,” he chirped, raising his eyebrows when she didn’t chuckle. Irresistibly punchable face. She felt like she was under a microscope, those saucer eyes inspecting her every move. 

His face was properly illuminated now that he leaned a bit closer, making all those angles even more prominent.

The nose looked softer somehow, almost elven, the scrunchie twinkled in all shades of pink. She noticed that he had two almost symmetrical freckles on each of his cheeks, as well as on both sides of his chin. A Roman statue sculpted with a protractor. He raised his eyebrows even higher, challenging her to respond. 

“Earth to Baby? Who put you in a corner?” he mused, waving his obscenely long fingers in front of her eyes. Measuring her entire face.

Pavlov’s…fingers? Quick, say something witty. 

“Budweiser tastes like piss.” 

Nailed it.

His laugh rang in her ears. She caught a glimpse of his teeth, observing the sharp tips of his canines. Even his teeth would cause a papercut.

“Different strokes, different folks,” he retorted, shrugging. She mirrored his movement.

“I’m not into golden showers, sorry,” she shook her head, putting on a pitiful pout. He let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head.

“In that case, I’ll be on my way, milady.”

He bowed and dramatically spun around as if he were leaving. She chuckled, a sound that made him spin back and lean against the table again, this time even closer, with another irresistibly annoying smirk. 

Jesus. Do you know the term 'personal space', mate?

She tried to convince herself that she minded by leaning back against the stone wall. It was like he could hear the wheels turning in her head, raising his eyebrows on cue with her inevitable train of thought. 

My kingdom for a…

“Stone.” 

Her eyes popped open. 

What the fuck is this fever dream? Can he hear me?

“Pardon?” she choked out. He narrowed his eyes at her.

“That’s my name.” 

Huh?

“Oh. I wish I could help you with that,” she blurted out, regretting it immediately when his eyes lost all cheerfulness.

If there was an encyclopaedia of human expressions, that would be the picture next to the definition of 'puppy eyes'.

Before she could say anything, he raised his eyebrows again and broke into a wide grin, the suave coolness back in its tracks.

“Oh my god, your face. Don’t cry, Baby, not for me.” 

Fucking beanpole.

She rolled her eyes so hard she might’ve pulled a muscle, letting out a heavy huff when he giggled. His hair bounced off his shoulders as they shook, waving a strawberry shampoo scent in her direction. That was enough to make a wave of blood rush into her cheeks. 

Cool down, fast.

“What a gentleman. Can’t resist a beer from such sophisticated hands,” she shrugged, hiding the way her throat knotted with a soft cough. He just nodded, handing her the bottle.

His fingers seemed to be everywhere, and when they brushed against hers, she could swear her eyes went fuzzy for a split second. He seemed to notice the contact too, quickly offering his bottle for a clink.

“Cheers, Baby.”

“Chin-chin, beanpole.” 

He snorted at the nickname, taking a swig. She followed, welcoming the harsh bubbling sensation only a cold beverage can bring. He tapped his finger on the wooden table.

“Can I sit?” 

“It’s the Land of the Free, mate. Be my guest,” she nodded, raising her eyebrows when he cursed under his breath with a chuckle. 

“Don’t spoil me, I’ll blush,” he reached for an empty chair in the cubicle next to them and sat down opposite her.

He folded his arms, trying not to take up all space at the table. She didn’t feel any less overwhelmed though, as his eyes were still darting around her pale face, very occasionally blinking in a slow, deliberate pattern. 

“Thanks for the drink. Hope your lady doesn’t mind,” she narrowed her eyes, trying to look anywhere but his face. He raised his eyebrows for a second as if he didn’t know what she was talking about and then nodded.

“Oh! Oh yeah, I was waiting for my lady to sober up a bit but she got spooked when she didn’t see my face four times anymore,” he shrugged, not showing a single sign of defeat or self-pity. She knitted her eyebrows as she took a drink, tutting.

“I think it was the scrunchie, Stone,” she put extra weight on his name and he gave her the best pout he could conjure. 

“Baby doesn’t like my scrunchie?”

“I think it’s cute, goes with the granny vest. But you know how it goes, different strokes…” she nodded sympathetically, her heart skipping a beat when his lips parted in a big “O” and he opened his eyes even wider. 

How is that possible?

“You think I’m cute?”

Abort.

“I said your scrunchie was cute. Big difference, Stone,” she emphasized his name again, making him shake his head in disappointment.

“That’s getting kind of old. You’re running out of ammo. That’s like waving a big red blanket in front of me, so watch out,” he threatened with his index finger. She raised her palms in defence. 

He scanned her arms, wondering how something so innocently small could make his cheeks inflame so harshly. He just started to imagine wrapping her hands in his when her voice tore him out of his thoughts. It was low and silent, velvety like a siren call. It undermined the whole 'innocent' thing.

“I surrender. I’ve just never met a person named Stone before. Might be a common name here, what the hell do I know.”

He managed to compose himself quite quickly, shooing dirty thoughts out of his head like unwanted pest.

“Let’s hear your name then, see how it stands the test of time. Kate? Audie? Marge?” he mused in a terrible English accent as he counted the names on his fingers. She mocked a laugh, shaking her head.

“Har har. Okay, Dick van Dyke, you struck me as a witty person. I’m disappointed.” 

“Maggie?”

“No.” 

“Agnes?”

“…no?”

“Aha! Adelaide! Maeve!”

“Do I look like your grandma? You’re the one who borrowed her vest!” she pointed at him, her voice changing pitch as she waved her arms around.

He smiled like the Cheshire cat, now being the one to raise his arms in surrender. She shook her head with a scoff.

“It’s Keeva.”

“See, told you.”

She reached up as if she was going to slap him, with a big grin plastered on her face. He flinched and raised his arms even higher, trying to contain the laughter that was rumbling in his throat.

“Your name is Kiwi and you’re…”

“Keeva!”

“…and you’re laughing about Stone? Baby, we’re in the same boat here,” he raised an eyebrow, clueless to the fact his Patrick Swayze routine impacted her more and more with every use.

Stop it, beanpole.

“No one calls me Keeva, though. It’s usually Kiki, as in the sound people make when they try to pronounce it. Easily disguised, unlike Stone, which sounds like a name from a Cheech and Chong movie, by the way,” she retorted, grinning in expectation as she noticed the single twitch in his eye that appeared before every snappy remark.

“Oh, ok. Kiki, as in the Kikimora, right? Kinda suits you, not gonna lie,” he smirked and she shook her head in disbelief at his blatant taunting. 

“Lies, lies. Don’t try to deflect, Stoner, you’re the one with the weird name here.” 

“It’s not just your name, though, I’ve heard things about you that you wouldn’t believe,” he shrugged, nonchalantly looking around the bar as she froze on the spot. 

What the hell…

He looked at her again and leaned forward, motioning her to come closer to him, too. His saucer eyes scanned her with intense sincerity. She frowned but inched closer. He nudged her head with his cheek so he’d be closer to her ear. His hair tickled her carmine face, his warm breath like gasoline on her already flaming ears. 

“I’m in your walls,” he breathed out, breaking into a wide pompous smirk when her eyes widened at his audacity. His aquiline nose brushed against her cheekbone as he sat back in his chair, clearly satisfied when she jerked her foot forward, kicking his shin with the tip of her worn-out Docs. 

Pavlov’s Stone.

“Ow! I just can’t get enough of that thing you do with your mouth when you’re pissed off, sorry,” he snorted, reaching under the table to rub the spot she’d just hit. As if the blush could get any worse.

“I’m fucking with you. It’s a small world out here. A friend of mine has a band who was told by another band that a band that practices in the Potatohead hired some hot-shot English munchkin as a session musician for their EP. And that she’s wreaking havoc and corrupting the youth of Seattle with good ol’ evil rock and roll,” he shrugged. “And the friend told my band and I told another band…you know how rumours spread like wildfire around starving artists.”

Oh. So the fingers do wrap around a Les Paul. Figures.

“You trying to tell me that I get jobs because of you? My knight in shining armour, pleasure to finally meet the man who puts crusty toasts with a smear of butter on my table each night,” she did a quick dramatic bow and couldn’t help but smile at the way his eyes twinkled when he realized that he didn’t mistake her for someone else.

He’d hoped it was her. He’d be disappointed if it wasn’t. 

“Anytime, Baby. If you behave, I might tell another band and you’ll get a slice of cheese on top.” 

Is the 'baby' still a part of the routine?

“Charitable. Well, there’s a surprisingly big market for session musicians here. It’s not the most fabulous thing in the world, but I get to play and get paid for it, that’s all I could ever ask for, really.” 

He looked so different when he was serious. Older. Stoic. Breathtaking. He nodded and Keeva knew Stone completely understood what she was talking about. It was in those damned eyes. 

“Is it fulfilling?”

“What job is? I mean, on top of it, I work in a café six days a week. When I get to go to the studio, sometimes they give me sheet music, sometimes they tell me to just do whatever, I do my part and go home. Hardly fulfilling for a musician, but you know…”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Stone nodded, focusing his distant gaze on the table.

He reached up to his hair and pulled off the scrunchie, letting the red waves fall in his eyes before carefully tucking them behind his slightly pointy ears.

Her nose was hit with his scent again and she was glad his stare was fixated on the pink fabric he was trying to play Cat's cradle with under the table. He always got to the first loop and let it go again, the scrunchie was way too small for his hands. 

“Are you in a band?” he asked, and for the first time that evening, he seemed to be a bit awkward, vulnerable even. It was endearing, another irresistible notch on his belt.

“Do I look like I have any friends?” she chuckled, relieved when he mirrored her smile. The sudden seriousness was overwhelming. 

Can this guy do anything in moderation?

“Different strokes...but I’ve heard that you’re fucking great,” he let the compliment hang in the air for a few moments before striking her with another look.

Scrutinizing her. Pinning her to her seat again. She shook her head, hoping the short curls curtain at least a part of her red face. 

“Not really. If I was, I would be in a band. I mean, I’ve been here for about a month now, so that’s a pretty short time to find anyone, but still…” she sighed. “I’ve had no time to go and see any gigs yet. I wanted to check out Soundgarden tonight, I’ve heard they’re playing Off Ramp, but…” 

His eyes lit up so bright they swallowed her senses and made her lips part in surprise. She thought they couldn’t get any more mesmerizing. 

There’s that misbehaving beanpole again.

“No way, are you stalking me? I’m going there, too.”

“Did you get lost on the way? We’ve both been here for hours,” she chuckled and took a drink of the beer that was once again indigestible. She pulled another face and that earned a deep, breathy laugh from him. 

“I know a shortcut, Baby. We’ll get you a fresh bottle there, I can’t stand seeing your baby face in pain. Come on, chop-chop or we'll miss it! Jesus, when Chris sees you there, he’s gonna implode!”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫

i've never been too comfortable writing about real, actual people so if this is awkward, i'm really sorry, i'm working on it ♡ i try to take this as more of an 'inspired by real events' story, so we'll see what comes of it.

sincerest apologies to fellow Pearl Marmelade fans, my brain works in bizzare patterns. Please, don’t stone me. hehe. heh. get it? love you all!

[carecarry]

02.20.23 𓍯𓂃𓏧♡

hey diary,

so, i’ve been stuck on this strawberry soju situation lately. yeah, it’s not a drink, it’s a person ප i know, sounds like i’m in some cheesy rom-com, but bear with me.

i thought i had my life together. i mean, who needs a drink when you’ve got plans, right? but then, boom, enter my strawberry soju. sweet, intoxicating, and way too addictive. i swear, just thinking about them makes my heart race like i’ve had too many shots of, well, strawberry soju. and yes, i’m aware of how ridiculous that sounds.

i keep telling myself, “no more! i don’t need another shot!” but guess what? i do. it’s like this never-ending cycle of craving and regret. every time i see them, it’s like all my common sense just goes out the window, replaced by this overwhelming need to be close, to be around them, even if it’s not exactly the healthiest choice.

sometimes i think it’s just this crazy, passionate flame. but then i wonder, is it really love or just me being swept up in this high? maybe i’m confusing the thrill of chasing after them with actual feelings. it’s like i’m mistaking the buzz for something deeper.

and get this: when i’m not wrapped up in this mess, i’m thinking about all these little things that remind me of them. like, their favorite drink flavor (seriously, who even has a favorite drink flavor?!) and kimchi. yeah, kimchi. don’t ask. i guess they’re just so tied up in my everyday that it’s like they’re everywhere.

so here i am, diary. stuck between wanting to walk away and knowing that every part of me is yelling, “but stay!” it’s a whole lot of confusion wrapped up in pretty memories and maybe a touch of delusion. and while i’m trying to figure it all out, i guess i’ll just keep on sipping this metaphorical strawberry soju until i either get tired of the taste or figure out what i’m really after.

wish me luck, ig?

yours in a strawberry haze, curry‧ ʚ🍓ɞ