#yes i understand that the expansion will *make that true*

[definitelynotplanetfall]

lmao i'm going to have to change so many things in my mods when the expansion releases. like they are currently "make getting to the rocket slightly more complicated" which is fine for vanilla since megabasing isn't very interesting imo. but if you have to build a rocket factory and a mall on every planet you go to then making you build everything 5 times for a full playthrough is probably too much hassle.

I also do not terribly want to define masses of all items because the size of some items is "magic." i.e. you need one flywheel for gyroscopes which are a fairly expensive midgame intermediate despite representing a fairly small doodad, but e.g. gun turrets and mining drills also need a single flywheel and in those recipes the same item is clearly representing a much bigger object, because it wasn't really worth anyone's time to have separate items representing different sizes of flywheels. it's probably mostly fine? i don't know how the auto mass calculation is going to work with multiple recipes though. much like how all the quality apologia has shown the same simple loops as if they aren't a) boring to do for everything and 2) break down entirely for more complex recipes, this feels like a level of detachment from what mods actually exist and what kinds of complexity people like. like they keep going on about how great the mod community is and how things will be usable by modders but then design shit that needs seven layers of hardcoding to avoid allowing transmutation.

i also really fucking hate how they are shoving mentions of quality into everything, it is such a dumb bad stupid mechanic and i wish the discussion around quality was not about everyone giving their own idea for a new naming scheme as though nobody had given a suggestion for new names of the quality levels before.

like, i do not want the option of quality. i don't like the mechanic! there's one solution to it that you need to implement for EVERY. SINGLE. MALL. ITEM. that's tedious! how is nobody else seeing how tedious that is!

i'm fine with having to send up more rockets and i'm also fine with indulging some of the tier-porn tendencies i normally dislike, because the game is longer and that justifies more strict-upgrade progression. i don't like the idea of quality sitting there tempting me because i know it will make the bottlenecks easier but ruin the doing-anything-other-than-paint-by-numbers-nothing, like using requester chests for everything.

but then again i'm the only person who likes belt malls so maybe i am the moron here.

[aventurineswife]

Patience and Strategy

Tags: Aventurine x Reader, Sunday x Reader, Dan Heng IL x Reader, Ratio x Reader, Teamwork, Aventurine Boss Fight, SAHSRAU, Action, Character Development, Humor, Tension.

Warnings: Minor violence (combat).

A/N: I'm not proud of this one and I hate it... 🧍‍♀️ (Plus idk how the in-game battles work or how to describe it...)

Requested by: @neuvillette-x-water

The battle was set.

Aventurine, Dan Heng, Sunday, and Ratio stood in formation, each of them ready to face the final challenge. Their target? An imposing figure—Aventurine's counterpart or his final form, an enigmatic and unpredictable powerhouse who had taken on a form much more powerful than any of them had expected.

The screen flickered, the usual ominous energy swirling in the air as the enemy loomed before them.

"Alright, team," Aventurine said, flashing a grin that was only half a facade of confidence. "It's game time. Let’s see how luck and strategy fare today."

You couldn’t help but groan from behind the screen, frustration bubbling up inside you. "Why'd you roll a 1?!" You shouted, the words sharp and full of disbelief.

Aventurine blinked, his grin faltering for a brief moment. His gaze flickered upward, as though trying to spot you somewhere in the unknown expanse of the fight. But of course, he couldn’t see you. He didn’t know where the voice was coming from, but he could hear it. Loud and clear. He straightened himself up quickly.

"Nothing like a little motivation," he muttered under his breath, though his eyes narrowed at the boss. "Alright, time to show you what a ‘1’ really means."

Dan Heng, ever the professional, ignored the distraction. His eyes studied the battlefield, calculating each possible outcome. The battle was no longer just about defeating an enemy. It was about survival, precision, and strategy.

You couldn’t hold back your frustration. "Dan Heng, stop being so serious! Just land a hit already!" Your voice carried a hint of exasperation.

Dan Heng’s lip curled slightly, though the rest of his face remained as serene as ever. "I am calculating the best approach."

"Don’t overthink it!" You snapped, pacing behind the screen. "Just—Ugh, you’re making me nervous!"

Despite your irritation, Dan Heng didn’t rush. He moved fluidly into position, his body tense and poised. "Patience is key."

Sunday, ever the introspective one, spread his wings slightly as if to channel the celestial energy within him. "I have seen many battles in my time... but this one is different." His eyes glinted as he muttered to himself, the halo behind his head giving off a faint, ethereal glow. "The conflict between the dream and the waking world... which shall prevail?"

Your eyes narrowed in frustration. "Just get on with it, Sunday! What do you mean, 'which shall prevail?' You’ve been in a million battles, it’s just a boss fight!"

Sunday let out a soft chuckle, his calm demeanor barely broken. "Perhaps. But you see, sometimes, the world’s true enemy is not the one we face, but the one we carry within."

He raised his hand, a flash of light swirling around his fingertips. As the battle raged on, Sunday’s voice echoed in the midst of the chaos, soft but resolute. "I will not let this darkness cloud my vision." His magic surged, and an ethereal barrier formed to shield the team.

Ratio, standing to the side with a confident, almost smug look on his face, adjusted the straps on his armor, eyes glinting with intellectual curiosity. He smirked at the enemy. "I assume the strategy here involves a bit more than brute force?" His eyes scanned the boss with disdain, but that only made him more eager to dissect the fight. "Let’s see what this thing can withstand."

You gritted your teeth, feeling the tension rise. "Ratio, can you stop showing off for two seconds? Focus on the fight!"

"Ah, but it’s all about understanding the pattern, yes?" Ratio replied, as if the battle was a mere intellectual puzzle. "By the time this beast even attempts an attack, I’ll have already deduced its weaknesses."

And with that, he flicked his wrist, sending a surge of energy toward the boss.

Aventurine, however, had heard enough. "Enough talk! It's time to win this!" He shouted, his voice rising with an intensity that sent a thrill through you.

You quickly gritted your teeth, watching intently. "Aventurine, beat his ass! Wait... hold on, don’t get too cocky!" You warned, anxiety rising in your chest as the gamble felt all too risky.

Aventurine ignored the warning, the thrill of the gamble coursing through him. "This is what I do best!" He launched himself at the boss, his movements fluid, almost elegant, as he played the ultimate hand. But as he struck, the enemy retaliated, the shockwave of power slamming him back.

Your stomach dropped as you watched him stumble. "Aventurine!! What was that?!" You yelled, disbelief and concern flooding your voice.

Aventurine grinned, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "A setback! You’ll see. I’ll turn this around." He winked, determination flickering in his eyes, and you could feel the resolve in his voice despite the blow.

Despite the tension, you found something strangely comforting about hearing his voice—a reassurance that they weren’t about to back down. But with each blow and each retreat, the team began to notice that the enemy was growing stronger, adapting to their moves.

Dan Heng, ever the pragmatist, quickly adjusted his approach, leaping into the fray with careful precision. He struck from above, his sword flashing as he aimed for the weak points the team had uncovered.

Finally. "Finally!" You exclaimed, a rush of relief flooding over you. "Took you long enough to get in a good hit!"

Dan Heng’s lips twitched into a barely-there smile, but his movements were sharp and decisive. "As I said, patience."

Sunday’s wings fluttered in time with his next spell. He called upon celestial energies to lock the enemy in place, creating a soft glow around his body. His voice, though gentle, carried across the battlefield. "In the end, it’s not about winning or losing… but the balance we must strike."

You rolled your eyes, frustration boiling over again. "Balance? What are you, a philosopher or a fighter?"

Sunday shot a quick glance toward the screen, his golden eyes amused. "Perhaps a bit of both."

As Ratio unleashed another wave of energy, the battle seemed to intensify. But the mysterious boss was relentless, responding with overwhelming force. The team began to feel the strain, but they weren't about to back down.

"Come on, guys, don’t let up! You’re so close!" You urged, a sense of desperation creeping into your voice. The enemy was weakening, but the team was running out of time.

Aventurine’s eyes gleamed as he saw the opening. "This is it!" With a flourish, he rolled the dice of fate one more time, pulling off a calculated strike. The boss’s defenses cracked, and with a final, well-placed blow, they brought the enemy to its knees.

The screen lit up with victory.

"Yes! Finally! That’s what I’m talking about!" You cheered, letting out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding.

Aventurine, breathing heavily but smiling, turned toward his team. "I knew it was in the cards. That’s how we do it."

Dan Heng, his posture still relaxed despite the battle, nodded once. "We’ve won, but I’ll be ready for the next challenge."

Sunday let out a quiet sigh, wings fluttering once. "A victory, but a fleeting one. There are always more battles ahead."

Ratio adjusted his robes, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Not bad. I suppose there’s merit to a victory like this after all."

And with that, the battle was over. Your team, victorious once again. And while you could never physically see them, you knew they could hear you. After all, you were their guide, their unseen strategist.

"Yeah, yeah," you muttered, wiping your brow in relief. "But seriously—next time, let’s not roll a 1."

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#RedForEd rides again in LA

I'm on a 20+ city book tour for my new novel PICKS AND SHOVELS. Catch me in CHICAGO with PETER SAGAL on WEDNESDAY (Apr 2), and in BLOOMINGTON on FRIDAY (Apr 4). More tour dates here.

The LA Teachers' Union is going on strike.

Fuck.

Yes.

The last time the LA teachers struck was in the midst of the 2019 #RedForEd wave, which kicked off during the last Trump presidency. All across the country, teachers walked out – even in states where they were legally prohibited from doing so. These strikes were hugely successful, because communities across the nation rallied around their teachers, and the teachers returned the favor, making community justice part of their goals.

This was true across America, but it was especially true in Los Angeles, where the teachers were militant, united, relentless, and brilliant. The story of the 2019 LA Teachers' Strike is recounted in Jane McAlevey's essential 2021 book A Collective Bargain, which recounts her history as a union organizer on multiple successful unionization drives and strikes, including that fateful teachers' strike:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/23/a-collective-bargain/

McAlevey learned her tactics from a lineage of organizers who predated the legalization of unions and the National Labor Relations Act. Accordingly, her organizing method didn't rely on bosses obeying the law, or governments sticking up for workers. She fought for victories that were won by pure worker power. The 2019 LA teachers' strike is a fantastic example, a literal textbook case about rallying support from the entire shop – including affiliated workers, like bus-drivers – and then broadening that massive support by bringing in related trades (the LA charter school teachers walked out with their public school comrades), and the community.

The LA teachers' community organizing was incredible. They worked with community groups to understand what LA families really needed, and made those families' demands into union demands. The LA teachers' demands included:

in-school social workers;

parks and green-spaces in or near every LA public school; and

a total ban on ICE agents shaking down parents at the school gates.

Environmental justice, immigration justice, racial justice – these issues were every bit as important to the LA teachers in 2019 as wages, working conditions and vacation pay. And. They. WON.

Not only did the LA teachers win everything they struck for, they built an enduring community organization that ran a massive get out of the vote effort for the 2020 elections and flipped two seats for Democrats, securing Biden's Congressional majority.

So now the teachers are walking out again, and while their demands include wage increases (the greedinflation crisis wiped out many of the gains won in the 2019 strike – though imagine how much worse things would be without those gains!), the demands also include a slate of bold, no-fucks-given, material measures to fight back agains the Trump administration and its fascism:

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-26/l-a-teachers-union-pursues-salary-hike-progressive-goals-amid-trump-agenda

This time around, the LA teachers are demanding:

"targeted investment in the recruitment and retention of BIPOC, multilingual and immigrant educators and service providers" – that's right, the DEI stuff that makes Trump's incipient aneurysm throb visibly in his temple (keep throbbing, li'l guy, I believe in you!).

"support for, defense and expansion of the school district’s Black Student Achievement Plan and Ethnic Studies" – the same programs that make wrestling faildaughter Linda McMahon get the fantods.

“strengthened policies to support LGBTQIA+ students, educators and staff” – take that, Elon.

"increased support for immigrant students and families, with and without documentation, including support for newcomers" – up yours, Stephen Miller, you pencilneck Hitler wannabe.

Where'd all these demands come from? 665 meetings that solicited input from "students, parents and other community members." In other words, these are our demands – the demands of Angelenos.

Trump is a scab. Musk is a scab. They hate unions. They've put the National Labor Relations Board into a coma, illegally firing a board member so that the board no longer has a quorum and can no longer take most actions. But the tactics the LA teachers used to organize their victory under the last Trump regime didn't rely on the NLRB – it relied on worker power. That power is only stronger today. The NLRB exists because workers built power when unions were illegal. Killing the NLRB doesn't kill worker power. Worker power comes from workers, not the government:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/29/which-side-are-you-on-2/#strike-three-yer-out

Now that Trump has canceled labor laws, all bets are off. Trump is illegally breaking the contracts of federal workers, as a prelude to eliminating unions nationwide. As Hamilton Nolan writes, this is the time to take a stand:

It is unreasonable to run around demanding a general strike every time a single union gets in a hard fight. It is not unreasonable to demand a general strike when the very existence of unions is under direct attack by a government that cares nothing about us, and does not respect our contracts, and is attempting to throw in the trash the union contracts covering hundreds of thousands of our fellow union members, as a step towards doing the same thing to millions more of our fellow union members. This is the bombing of Pearl Harbor, against the labor movement. Will we say, “We are filing a lawsuit against this illegal bombing, and we will keep you all updated as it progresses?” Will we say, “Pearl Harbor is way out in Hawaii. I’m glad those bombs didn’t fall where I live.” These are the terms that the union world needs to be thinking in, right now. This is not an exaggeration. If we do not go to war, the husk of American unions that emerges at the end of the Trump administration will be, probably, about half as big as it was when the Trump administration started, and immeasurably weaker. That is not an acceptable outcome if you believe that increasing organized labor’s strength is the key to saving this country, which it is.

https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/they-are-going-to-take-everything

McAlevey – who died in 2024 – agreed with Nolan. She wrote vibrantly about how union organizing, and the solidarity it nurtures, was the key to a revitalized democracy and a nation that truly takes care of its people, rather than lining them up in billionaires' feedlots.

I gotta go. I'm on my way to a Tesla protest. Maybe you could find one near you to join, too:

https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/teslatakedown

But if I don't see you at this one, I'll see you on the picket line – with the LA teachers, the federal workers, and everyone else who's taking a stand against this scab presidency.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/03/29/jane-mcalevey/#trump-is-a-scab

[jyotishdiaries]

If Ashwini is considered as a sideway nakshatra but indicates popularity and renowness as a result of beauty, relateability, and niceness , can we say its on the brink of becoming an upward nakshatra? Can we say Jyeshta is close to becoming a downward nakshatra?

This is such a cool question! So nuanced in the best way. 

For other readers - What does it mean for a nakshatra to be "upward," "downward," or "sideways"?

In Vedic astrology, each nakshatra has a directional nature which helps us understand how its energy expresses:

Upward-facing nakshatras are expansive, aspirational, forward-moving. Think ambition, growth, evolution.

Downward-facing nakshatras are introspective, secretive, intense, or focused on endings/transformation.

Side-facing nakshatras are about harmony, worldly affairs, sensuality, or relational navigation.

Ashwini and Jyeshtha both fall under side-facing, but they represent very different evolutionary points. So your question is sharp. What happens when their expression starts drifting?

Is Ashwini “becoming” upward-facing?

Ashwini’s core themes are healing, speed, and divine impulse. It is a Ketu-ruled nakshatra, but being the first nakshatra, it has this fiery initiation quality that always running ahead of the curve.

Its energy is raw, intuitive, and fast-moving. In today’s context, Ashwini natives are often seen as charismatic, energetic, and even attractive as the kind of people who draw attention effortlessly through freshness and instinct. They're doers and disruptors. Not always grounded, but often liked.

That “likability” (beauty, relatability, light energy) may make it feel like an upward nakshatra. But evolutionarily, Ashwini is still grappling with impulse vs. discipline, initiation vs. follow-through.

It may act upward-facing in modern social terms, but spiritually, it’s still learning how to harness its spark with purpose which is a very sideways theme.

Is Jyeshtha “becoming” downward-facing?

Jyeshtha is already on the edge of being downward-facing in many ways.

It’s the elder nakshatra. With rulership from Indra (king of the gods), there’s maturity, control, and authority but also pride, suspicion, and isolation.

Jyeshtha has a built-in existential heaviness. These natives often carry a deep inner burden of “I must protect, prove, or preserve.”

Their journey is deeply karmic and they don’t seek the spotlight for fun; they’re usually pushed into it, and then misunderstood within it.

So yes, Jyeshtha can feel downward-facing energetically because it’s dealing with layers of internal reckoning. There's a lot of shakti around protection and power… but that also creates karmic heat.

Loved researching this. I think both their core evolutionary lessons remain true to their nakshatra nature. What do you say?

[suzukiblu]

WIP excerpt for @definitelynotaminion; Clark panic-adopts his teenage clones. Yes, including the supervillain one. (( chrono || non-chrono ))

“I know. But you didn’t meet them because I introduced you to them,” Superman says, sounding–strange, somehow. Bothered, almost. Match has gone so far past not understanding this man that he might just give up on the idea entirely, and frankly the fact he hasn’t yet is beginning to look like a waste of mental resources. 

Thirteen just keeps looking uncomfortable, either way. Upset, maybe, but not in the way Match is used to seeing him upset. Normally Thirteen’s angry, when Match sees him. Normally Match is making Thirteen angry when he sees him. The expression the other’s wearing right now reminds him more of the first time they’d met than that, though. The first time they’d met, and the things that Thirteen had said to him, and the things Thirteen had said to Spence and the directors because of him. 

( or–FOR him, maybe. )

Those things had all been absolutely clueless and incredibly stupid and straight-up naive and a total waste of everyone in the conversation’s time on top of that, and Match never thinks about a single one of them. 

He knows better. 

“I mean, I know that? Like, obviously I know that. But I don’t get what it’s got to do with all this shit, man,” Thirteen says, gesturing expansively but directionlessly around them and looking increasingly frustrated. Match isn’t sure why the idiot’s still this close to him, if not actually outright behind him anymore. At this point it’s more like he’s just next to him. He supposes that makes it easier for Superman to give them their orders simultaneously, though he has a hard time believing Thirteen would’ve thought to do something even remotely practical. 

. . . though Superman doesn’t give Thirteen orders, really. At least, he never did when he was talking to Match and didn’t know the difference. He didn’t talk to him all that much, though, so it’s not like Match can really say it’s a particularly large sample size he’s basing that observation off. 

Though probably percentage-wise it is, considering. 

“Because you should have,” Superman says. “I should have brought you here a long time ago, in fact.” 

“Superboy hasn’t even existed for ‘a long time’,” Match says in exasperation, which is probably stupid to say, but–it’s irritating. That’s all. Superman just keeps saying total fucking nonsense combinations of words in vague approximations of logical statements and expecting them to understand what he means, and it’s not–if it’s a test, it’s not one with clear parameters or useful metrics. It’s not objective. 

Match hates the tests that aren’t objective. 

“I mean, he’s got a point,” Thirteen mutters under his breath, glancing away uncomfortably and folding his arms. Match is almost more annoyed that the idiot is agreeing with him than anything else, or would be if Superman wasn’t just constantly saying such absolute bullshit that the man’s just fucking up the curve beyond all reason. 

And he does, in fact, have a point. 

“I . . . that’s–true, yes,” Superman says slowly. “But has it felt like a long time to you?”

[dindjarindiaries]

You reblogged that starter list and before I even saw your message, this one SCREAMED Din to me:

❛ if i could be a different person, i promise you, i would be.

character: Din Djarin (The Mandalorian)

prompt: "If I could be a different person, I promise you, I would be."

main masterlist • prompt masterlist

You looked up at the expanse of stars overhead and let out a soft breath. The slight sting of the night's chilled air nipped at your nose, but the way it filtered through your lungs felt relieving. This was the open air; it was much more freeing than the ship you had started to feel trapped within.

It was that ship's boarding ramp you were sitting on, and as you took a quick glance over your shoulder, you saw its owner watching you from within the cargo hold with a worried tilt to his silver helmet. Having been caught in the act, his armored chest rose and fell in a breath as he started to walk towards you. Your gaze returned to the sky above as you sensed his approach.

"I thought you were charting another course," you said as Din took his place alongside you. "We can't spend too much time here."

Din shrugged in your periphery. "An extra rotation won't hurt."

Your head snapped towards him as your lips parted in disbelief. "A rotation?"

Din's visor was stuck on the stars, but after a moment of you staring, he returned your disbelieving glance. "What?"

You chuckled and shook your head, returning your attention to the night sky. You closed your eyes as your heart began to beat more rapidly. The question you wanted to ask screamed within your mind, but it came out as a mere whisper. "Why?"

There was a pause before Din responded. "Why what?"

You reopened your eyes and kept them on the stars. Looking at Din would make you lose your resolve. "Why are you bending your rules?"

When Din remained silent for a long moment, you quickly glanced over at him. His visor was fixed on his gloved hands as he picked the orange-colored material on his fingertips. "We can afford the time, for now." When he continued, his modulated voice was even lower than before. "And you're happy here."

You furrowed your brow at him. "I'm happy regardless."

Din gave his helmet a brief tilt. "Sure. But..." he paused, as if musing upon something, "not like you are on planets like this one."

You didn't know what to say to that. The sweet inhale of the crisp air you took was enough to prove his words true. As you continued to stare somewhat dumbfounded at Din, he added more.

"You don't like being on the ship."

You instantly shook your head and willed the words to come, but they wouldn't. Your throat had closed up around your wildly beating heart as the truths you tied to each atrium and ventricle came closer and closer to freeing themselves.

Din took your silence as a much more disappointing reality. Even his modulator couldn't hide his hurt. "You don't like being with me."

"No." You couldn't have gotten the word out faster if you'd tried. "That's not true."

"It's okay. I understand." Din's arm rested upon his propped-up knee as he looked at the stars yet again. You watched his visor reflect them with fond admiration. "My lifestyle isn't meant to keep people around for long." He nodded, as if he was still convincing himself of such a truth. "I've grown used to it."

His words, a genuine and honest reflection of himself, shattered your heart enough to let the shards escape through the barrier your throat had attempted to create. Each beautiful truth began to spill out in a stained glass mosaic of the image you had crafted over the past few months. "Yet I'm still here."

That caught Din's attention. His visor found your gaze as you pieced your art together.

"I've felt trapped, yes, but not by you or your ship." You exhaled and watched your hand as you set it on the metal of the ramp beside you. It was just inches from Din's own. "It's a feeling. One that consumes me, really. And while it's centered on you, it's not because of you that I feel so trapped. That's only because I know the truth. I know your guard has to stay up."

You huffed and shook your head at yourself.

"It sounds ridiculous to say out loud, honestly, but... you deserve to know." The corners of your mouth pulled up in a sad smile. "Even if there's nothing you can do about it."

Din's visor never left you as he sat in the heavy silence that followed. Eventually, his visor lowered, his focus moving to his gloved hand as it closed the distance to your own. Only part of his hand covered yours on the boarding ramp as he spoke in the most beautifully honest tone you had ever heard from him. "If I could be a different person, I promise you, I would be."

You shook your head, your gaze also fixed on your hands as you did so. "If you were any different, you wouldn't be the person I've grown such feelings for."

You were delicate in the way you laced your fingers through his, allowing him to pull away at any point if he so wished. He made no such move, instead letting his armored chest rise and fall in a careful breath as your hands became fully entwined. After a few more quiet moments, he spoke up once again. "I can learn."

You looked back up at his visor and hoped your expression wasn't betraying your strong glimmer of hope. Din offered a determined nod.

"I will learn."

Your smile couldn't be stopped as you looked upon him much more favorably than you ever had the stars. "Yeah?"

Din nodded once more, resting your entwined hands on his armored thigh. "Yeah."

[acupofinkedblood]

Medkit x reader [An Arrow To The Knee]

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

How has he became such a fool?

They say that love has this blessing that drive you mad. Medkit used to think that it’s such an exaggerated vision of those lovesick idiots that have nothing better to do, but now he can definitely be certain that he had become one of the said fools the very moment he fell for you. Sometimes Medkit can only curse his heart for not just turn into rock or something, because him and love? It’s not the prettiest combination, at least he thought so

But then you slowly make your way into his life. Since when did he start to realize that he was yearning for your company each time you part ways with him then bid him a smiling ‘See you soon’? Medkit doesn’t know. There isn’t any logical expansion for love, what a pity. That little feeling of a bunch of butterflies doing backflips inside his stomach whenever he is near you is so frustrating, yet it’s you. He can’t push you away

Or he did a few times, but you’re just too stubborn to even accept that mere defeat

The moment the confession finally lifts up the unspoken tension weighs in his heart, Medkit feels like he is finally able to breathe under the light of his true feelings around you. Sure, it takes time. A lots of time and patience for him to warm up to your presence as someone close to his life. Because he is like a cat rescued by you, and they need quite a while to adapt, no? Rest assured, now that the two of you belong together, there is nothing else to worry about

Mekdit used to state that he was afraid of commitment because he couldn’t foresee what the future had to offer, whether it’s a melancholic tragedy or the fulfilling happy ending he had been chasing after. And you are a part of that little play he takes up on the stage as well — Or in another word, a play of his life — which means he doesn’t know what role will fate gives you in the future. All those years, he has relied solely on his sense of survival to make his decision. He just doesn’t want to lose it all again

He trusts his intuition, he really does. Yet somehow when the matter involves you, he can’t help but going back and forth. One wrong decision and this action will have consequences on both of your lives. Hell, he is even on the run right now, who knows how long will he be able to keep himself out of that death sentence of Blackrock’s government and the endless madness of the Cult? He loves you, and he only wants what is best for the two of you

When he first got into this relationship with you, he was a bit uneasy. He has actually mentally braced himself if anything happens, but to his surprise, you shower him with affection of his preference, he feels like his heart is beating again lively. He feels loved around you, and he loves you. There is this specific idea that keeps bugging him from times to times after years of being together with you. Will that be too sudden? Or what if it isn’t what you want? Medkit is still as ever, prefers to figure things by himself to not bother anyone else. However, as time flies, he can finally understand what to do. For once, let him gamble his life on his own as he throws the given script given by fate away

He is already the leas actor of his life, might as well starts to become the co-director of his choices at this point

“Careful,” he coos, holding onto your hand while you close your eyes, “Don’t trip on your feet, take it easy”

“My, a surprise for me? I can feel the slight salty breeze, dare I might say it’s the beach?”

“Lucky that you even remember my words when I urged you to take a coat”

Your chuckle eases the bubbling worries deep inside his chest. Yes, he did take you to the beach in the crack of dawn, but the sun isn’t coming out just yet. Lucky for you that demon doesn’t necessarily need to sleep, or else you will probably sleepwalk your way here with him. It sounds clearer now, the steady waves hit the shore rhythmically. As the wind kisses your face, you can even smell the sea water in the chilly night. It feels peaceful, but a bit cold of course. Thankfully Medkit insists that you should bring a coat along. Your boyfriend is always such a worrisome guy, but you still love that about him

“We’re here. C’mon, open up your eyes”

The sun gently perks up from the sea the very moment you do as he told. The golden rays caress your face, blesses you with the dawn of a new day. Its reflection is almost glistening on the surface of the sea, the sight is almost surreal. While you are still in awe of the serene landscape, Medkit still keeps his hands in the pockets of his coat, occasionally fidgeting with the object inside it anxiously. But he can’t really back off now, can he? Medkit takes a deep breath, rehearsing his own lines which he had to write it over and over again until reaching the perfect conclusion

He calls out your name, watches you carefully as you look over to him. You can tell that his expression has softened greatly

“I have something important that I want to tell you”

“Tell me then,” you smile, “Is there something on your mind?”

“All those times you have stayed by my side, I have to admit that I have grown soft. Years have passed, and I just want you to know that you mean a lots to me. The thought of the future can be scary, but when I imagine you standing at the end of the tunnel, my heart can’t help it but feels…calm. And even if I’m afraid of going forward, at least I know that I can rely on you to keep me on my toes. And I, truly, want you to accompany me on this path of the future”

Before you can process his words properly, Medkit gets down on one knee as he finally pull the thing that he keeps fidgeting with inside his pocket: A velvet box - a typical choice to store a ring inside. Wait, hold on—

“I want to stay by your side, to grow old with you and to live for a tomorrow worth dying for. Not just to survive anymore, I want to live. And I wish to spend my life with you until my last breath. I promise that I will take care of you with all I have got, so…,” the box is opened, revealing the sleeping beauty of a golden ring lying inside, “Will you marry me?”

Your brain stops functioning for a good moment there. Is this a dream? You aren’t sleepwalking, right? Your hands tremble slightly with joy as you acknowledge this is reality, that oh so bright smile can be helped but appear on your face. You feel like crying, but that overwhelming satisfaction of happiness is conflicted with it. What a reaction you are having at the moment, he thinks. Before Medkit knows it, you already flung yourself into him with your arms around his body. He almost falls backwards into the sand in surprise there, mind you. But he can’t bring himself to be annoyed at that fact, not when you are this overjoyed

All those time you thought you will be the one that purpose to him first, guess that he really catches you by surprise in the best way possible, huh?

“Yes! A hundred times yes,” you exclaim, “I will and I do, how can I not?”

That answer does more than just satisfy him. That simple word feels like an elixir to put all his worries at bay, especially with you in his embrace like this. One hand holding the ring box, the other wrapping around your waist to pull you closer. Medkit let out of a relaxed sigh as he takes in your senses. The shore is all for the two of you, so there is no one around to judge or anything. But even if they do, you simply don’t give a damn

“I love you too,” he murmurs, “Forever”

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Note: I bought this super cute bracelet that matches the one that I wear before and it’s just so so adorable（＾Ｏ＾）

[applenicoshifts]

: ̗̀➛ MY JJK CURSED TECHNIQUE

I'm going to elaborate more on it, i'd appreciate any kind of interaction since this means a lot to me!!! In my JJK dr, (it's based off 2006), I'm friends with Suguru, Satoru and Shoko (yes, I'm the only one who's name doesn't start with an S... #leftout) To be able to shine, my CT has to be STRONG and FIRE. That's 'cause we all know Gojo and his infinity. Well, I got something similar. Here goes the explanation:

Description: The "Eternal Frost" technique is a powerful and complex ability that manipulates the concept of absolute zero and infinite cold. This technique creates a barrier of frost that functions similarly to Gojo's Infinity, utilizing the principles of thermodynamics and quantum mechanics to create an impenetrable defense and devastating offensive capabilities.

Abilities:

Absolute Zero Barrier: The sorcerer generates a barrier around themselves or a designated area that mimics the properties of absolute zero. Any attack or object that comes into contact with this barrier is slowed to a near halt as its kinetic energy is absorbed and dissipated. This creates a zone where nothing can penetrate or harm the sorcerer within the barrier.

Frost Decay: By extending the reach of the Absolute Zero Barrier, the sorcerer can cause anything within a certain radius to gradually freeze. This freezing effect slows down movements, reduces reaction times, and can eventually immobilize enemies completely, encasing them in ice.

Quantum Frost Field: The sorcerer can create a field of intense cold that operates on quantum principles, causing particles within the field to lose energy rapidly. This field can be expanded or contracted at will, allowing for both wide-area control and focused attacks. Enemies caught in the field experience severe energy loss, slowing them down and weakening their abilities.

Cryogenic Rejection: The sorcerer can release a burst of concentrated cold energy that repels everything away from them. This cryogenic pulse creates a shockwave of freezing air that can push back enemies and projectiles, causing frostbite and severe cold damage upon impact.

Zero Point Compression: An offensive ability where the sorcerer condenses cold energy into a single point and releases it as a devastating blast. This blast freezes everything in its path instantaneously, turning targets into brittle ice statues that shatter with minimal force.

Infinite Frost Domain: The sorcerer's Domain Expansion, "Infinite Frost Domain," creates a space where the laws of thermodynamics are under their control. Within this domain, the sorcerer can manipulate the temperature and kinetic energy of everything, creating a landscape of perpetual ice and frost. Enemies trapped inside are subjected to the extreme cold, which saps their strength and slows their movements to a crawl.

Weaknesses:

The effectiveness of the Eternal Frost technique requires precise control and a deep understanding of the principles of cold and energy. Any lapse in concentration can weaken the barriers and fields.

The technique consumes a significant amount of cursed energy, making it challenging to maintain for extended periods, especially during prolonged battles. (NOT FOR ME THOUGH HAHA)

Fire-based or high-energy attacks can counter the cold abilities, disrupting the fields and potentially harming the sorcerer.

While the Absolute Zero Barrier is impenetrable, it also isolates the sorcerer from their surroundings, making it difficult to interact with allies or move quickly. That last point isn't too true on my hand...It does make me go slower, but not to a noticeable point if the barrier is really small. The bigger it is, the harder it is to move fast though! Now, that's all I've got about my CT. If you got any questions I'm free to answer I love this

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Ok so we get this

and this

And I proceed to spiral about colour theory and costume theory and end up writing and expansion to this post I made about Buck in yellow ochre!!! Sorry y'all, you know what that means - my unhinged colour theory and costume meta's are Back!!!

Lets start by revisiting all of Bucks previous yellow ochre wearing shenanigans!

3x06 the yellow ochre sweater he wears when he gets sent home by Bobby - this does after we see Buck and Eddie making up with each other - a moment when we see Buck learning more about himself and growing (read becoming less self-centred and understanding the concept of being part of a team and recognising that he needs to be better about stepping in with Eddie!)

4x02 - Yellow ochre jumper - first in a video chat with Maddie, Chim and Albert, but then more importantly, when he is in his therapy session with dr Copeland - the whole ‘I hide my true feelings from others’ moment - yet another moment of Buck recognising something about himself. I think this is the most key scene in Bucks yellow ochre wearing - more on that in a bit.

4x03 Bucks yellow ochre t-shirt - a t-shirt that matches the shade of the jumper from above, and a moment when Buck confesses to Maddie that he’s in therapy - about being sad and lonely and wanting to be ‘finer’ 

4x04 - the yellow knit sweater from 3x06 is back (yes it is the same sweater) and this is when Buck has his entire life upended and he finds out about Daniel (kicking us into Buck begins)

4x11 - Buck talks to Maddie and Josh about Sue’s hit and run, then talks to Taylor about Sue. This one is a much brighter yellow than the ochres we’ve seen up to now, but I’m including it because I think its relevant to Bucks arc here (also because it connects into the next time we see Buck wearing yellow - the will scene) the concept of being hit with information that leads to Bucks growth and the nature of most hit and runs not being solved, the perpetrator never being caught and therefore not getting closure on something (this is super relevant I promise!)

Then we have 4x14 and two yellow ochre tops - the first is the sweater, this one is trending more towards orange brown, but its still in the ochre wheelhouse! this oe is all about communication - mostly at Buck - Taylor telling him how stupid he was for climbing the crane, receiving a phonemail from Ana to tell him Eddie is awake, facilitating communication between Eddie and Chris and then Buck communication himself - thinking it would’ve been better if he had been shot. Directly communicating to the audience (as much as Eddie) the inner monologue of Bucks own opinion of the point of his existence.

Then we get the beloved will scene and Buck wearing a yellow ochre shirt, still lighter than the other yellow ochre we’d seen up to this point, with the exception of the previous one which is brighter still. again this is mostly about people communicating at Buck rather than him being the communicator - much like with the previous Jumper. It somewhat plays into the concept of Buck being a passive part of his life rather than actively living it - Kinda hard to explain at this point without the context of the costumes from s5&6. I also want to point out Taylor is in that dark green again here - in the scene when Buck opens the door to the Diaz house.

5x03 gives us Buck in that same shade of yellow ochre (bear in mind we haven’t seen him in any other colour between the will reveal and this scene (beyond uniform!) and here we have Buck pushing Eddie and communicating without actually giving much of himself away - yes he uses himself as an example, but he doesn’t actually open up about himself all that much (this is important - its not the time for that and it provides space for Buck to continue his internal monologue about his self worth) after this he goes home to his loft and we get him communication to a Taylor who isn’t actually present in the space - a symbolic scene that shows that he gets just as much from her absence as her presence (a play on the idea that Buck can communicate better with her when she isn’t actually present compared with when she is - its a juxtaposition of the scene from earlier when they were in bed together and she didn’t listen to anything he was saying, or his wants/needs)

5x04 a scene at the Buckley-Han apartment where Buck isn’t communicating with Chim - Chim is very much communication with Buck about his despair over Maddie leaving - Buck obviously knows where Maddie is at this point, but he diocesan’t take the opportunity to communicate effectively with Chim. so This is yet another example of Buck failing to communicate, while some one around him is clearly communicating and this scene has the addition of secrecy thrown into the mix.

Then we have 5x14 - this one is a bit less obvious - its the yellow ochre and black plaid jacket - its an outlier in that its not solid yellow ochre, but it is again a scene where we get communication - this time BUck is actually the one to do some communicating, but like pretty much always, we don’t get him pushing too much and we see him continuing to deflect from making things about himself - he’s desperate to talk about the shooting and its impact on him, but Eddie resists and Buck backs off. the check here is a nice addition because it shows the concept of cross purposes, but also there is less yellow than in other outfits - the black seems to be ‘devouring’ the yellow - almost like a play on the idea that this was Bucks one big chance to communicate, but he doesn’t take it.

That is the last time we see Buck wearing yellow ochre until the end of season 6 - 6x15 and his date with Natalia to be precise! we’re back to that same shade of yellow ochre and once again we have Buck communicating - but its very much playing into what Natalia what to hear. I don’t doubt that BUck wants to talk about his death and resurrection, but we don’t actually see the conversation beyond the superficial overtures Buck makes. This plays into the suggestion that its about him trying to impress Natalia rather than actually about what Buck needs or wants to say. Its once again Buck communicating without actually communicating. something Eddie picks up on in the later graveyard scene and tries to provide the space for him to open up - which Buck doesn’t take.

The theme continues with the the next Buck/Natalia date in 6x17 - yellow ochre once again, this time an open shirt - again its that same shade, and we see a continuation of the Buck communicate via deflection technique he employs - this scene, like his previous date with Natalia, is more about her and the writers showing us her hang ups/ insecurities than it is about Bucks - beyond showing us that they aren’t actually all that compatible - its kind of framed in the same way as his previous relationships (especially Taylor) - Buck playing into what he thinks someone wants him to be rather than being who he actually is. 

This concept is something we see in pretty much all of the previous scenes where Buck is wearing Yellow ochre, this desire to be what people need him to be rather than who he actually is. there are a couple of exceptions - the first time we see Buck in yellow ochre is probably the only instance where we see Buck being somewhat honest with himself - there is an element of him playing the role he needs to to win back Eddies friendship, but I think its coming from a genuine place and is born out of a real desire to be better - he really did learn his lesson. The fact that the next time we see the yellow ochre used is in his therapy session scene where he literally states that he hides his true feelings from others is a big giant yellow ochre flag waving around telling us that when we see Buck in yellow ochre he will be playing into that idea - and that’s then how it transpires in every subsequent scene where he is in yellow ochre.

Which brings me to this new still

no one can tell me there isn’t an air of conflict about that scene - the dark cool tone of the image suggests a coolness to the room - that idea of the cold shoulder or the temperature dropping when there is conflict between two people. their body language is also adding to that vibe - Chris turned in on himself, not sat with Buck, the space between them.

Whatever this scene transpires being about, based on what we've seen with Buck wearing yellow ochre, we can assume its going to continue to play into this idea of Buck not being fully truthful with people and fitting into the role he thinks people want him to pay rather than being true to himself.

I do want to add to this theory by looking at Christophers shirt as well. The grey/ yellow combination is a bit reminiscent of Breaking point (the episode that really is the gift that keeps on giving) becasue we get Chris in grey and Eddie in tan - that is yellowish toned whilst not actually being yellow

There isn't a good screenshot of them together, but the placing of Chris and Buck in the new one has echoes of Eddie and Chris in that scene (one that is interestingly enough playing into the idea of changing family dynamics, but also the moment before and the one that happens afterwards at Bucks loft, directly placing Buck into a parental role (as an aside the idea of Buck being a miracle worker plays into the theme of Eddie looking for magic, just saying!))

Anyone want to play a game of whose shirt does this look like??!!!

Oh you do! well what if I leave these two pictures just here...

yes, yes that is a Chris sized version of that shirt - you know the one Buck was wearing when he and Taylor talked about complicated family dynamics and about telling 'other peoples stories because I hate telling my own' you know that scene about playing a part and not being yourself around people you're supposedly close to! Yes That scene - or how about the scene which happens to be the last time we saw Buck in Chris's bedroom, where Buck talks to Eddie about complicated family dynamics, about needing to have the right outfit on for the occasion, the scene where they talk about retirement, oil and Buck is playing with a dinosaur! yeah see where I'm going with this! Chris wearing a grey shirt that similar to Bucks is Paralleling those scenes - so playing into the idea of history or of thing being outdated and needing to change, of dressing for the occasion (an allegory for playing a role - to fit in to whatever environment you're in rather than being your true self) and most importantly of complicated family dynamics - suggesting that there may have been some change in the dyamics - perhaps this will play into the will (also colour paralleling the will scene as Buck is in yellow ochre and the breaking point scene with Eddie in a yellowish colour and Chris in grey) and perhaps Chris discovering Buck would be his guardian in the event Eddie isn't around. I mean we'll have to wait and see for the actual context, but I will eat my hat if the season 7 scene isn't playing into Buckley-Diaz family dynamics in some way!

Back to this still

I keep flip flopping on if its Buck or Bobby, but right now the lack of grey hair is making me lean towards it being Buck.

This is a still of the back of Bucks head from his coma dream for comparison (blurry as hell as he's not in focus but it looks enought like the same shape of hairline and of Olivers ear for me to feel like its more Buck than Bobby!

I think the shirt is what is throwing me off though because its just so not a typical Buck shirt (excepting coma dream Bucks!).

I've gone back through my notes and I just can't find any examples of Buck wearing this kind of patterning or shirt before, the closest we get is that hideous shirt he is wearing at the hospital after Kameron has given birth

The only thing I can do is scream into the void about check theory because check does't bode well for people - they always end up in the middle of the drama (see my check theory posts linked on my pinned post for more) and while they come out the other side (99% of the time) Buck in check for that scene in 6x18 pretty much doomed his relationship with Natalia (its specific to her and not C&K's baby as Buck wasn't wearing it when he delivered it!) and as that shirt in the still is very un Buck like, has not only yellow ochre in it, but also its a white base (and we all know buck in white is a bad sign!!) and its check patterned - my theory is that this scene is connected to Natalia in some way - either Buck is not being true to him self in more than one way - that things are going to/have come to a head for their relationship (my kingdom for a reverse of Buck to Eddie about Ana in 5x03!!!) and lead to a pretty big change in some way (fingers crossed for Buck to end it and then finally break down and deal with his trauma!!!)

Some other things about that shirt - I've brightened it up in the picture below - the colour combination - the green blue and yellow ochre are giving me call backs to coma Buck (another reason I think it might be connected to Bucks unresolved trauma around his death and Eddies absense in his dream)

Then there is the burgundy stripe in combination with Eddies hand placement and the fact Eddie is wearing a denim shirt - its very Tsunami call back (even the white plays into this as well as Buck was in white when he saved Chris) -

I'm quite probably clowning hard at this point, but the fact we've got Eddie in denim again (not something he wears all that often) in a scene where he puts his hand on Bucks shoulder in that way and with his Christopher watch so very prominent - we'll I might be feeling a certain way about it.

It would make sense to play into that story arc - after all - the opening of season 7 is very much centred around a big water based disaster - its got to bring up a few things for the two of them. If it is related, Eddies Denim being darker at this point would be a nice play on things - the idea that there is more deepness - more depth to his relationship with Buck than there was in early season 3 (it even calls back to flash back Eddie in 3x16 - he is wearing dark denim when him and Shannon fight and Chris wakes up)

Ok thats enough rambling from me! Hopefully i have made a tiny bit of sense! of to go back to screaming in the void now!!

tagging a few people who might be interested! @extasiswings @copyninjabuckley @oneawkwardcookie @spotsandsocks @mandzuking17 @xxfiction-is-my-realityxx @theladyyavilee @mistmarauder

[amourrs]

Some sick!reader + Ellie headcanons I've been thinking about for you Ani <3

• You aren't too sure if it's a coincidence or Ellie is really just That girlfriend, but when you're feeling unwell, all her plans get cancelled out of the blue for her to lay on the bed next to you on her phone quietly glancing towards you from time to time to make sure you're happily enjoying the drink she fixed for you.

• She also goes above and beyond to distract you from the pain,- physical or mental; and probably talks to you to a point where you have to attack her with kisses all over her face for her to stop infodumping for a second and just enjoy the show y'all are watching

• Back rubs.. belly rubs.. arm caresses.. temple kisses.. small pecks.. knuckle kisses.. and boob holding for comfort??? Ellie-

• If you start to feel better by the evening, she tells you not to frown about the missed date and hand crafts a blanket fort "Girls night" as she likes to ironically call it and laugh about it(I'm a sucker for Ellie being traditionally girly dont look at me) She basically makes you watch old movies, does your hair and lets you paint her nails.

you don’t understand how happy this ask made me like omg. 18+ only due to suggestive content under the cut! expansion below (also featuring a couple of sneaky ai audios right at the end…) cw for vomit.

this is so cute i’m gonna cry you just understand all my daydreams!!! she’s so gf i love her… btw it’s canon that cups of watery, kind of awful tea ABOUND in your household when you’re sick and you don’t have the heart to tell ellie they’re bad. she’s looking at you and prompting you with her eyes to take a sip and you have to conceal your wince as you do it. “it’s good tea, right? dunno if i left the teabag in for long enough… google said two minutes. was that right? it’s good, right???” you wait for her to stop but she just keeps rambling and you feel so bad for her that you just have to nod along and swallow down the tea 😭😭

the infodumping… god, the infodumping. you’re just trying to focus on a show through your thumping headache as ellie drones “honestly, i think taissa did do it to allie on purpose, even if she doesn’t realise it-” until it gets to the point where you thwack her with a pillow and she pouts at you before pecking your forehead with her lips and snuggling down next to you.

also i see your boob holding and raise you tit sucking… because yes you’re sick but, well, ellie���s still ellie, and so of course she still wants to do horny things. she’d spring it on you right as you’re waking up from your mid morning nap, eyes all soft as she looks down at you all curled up in the little cosy nest of blankets she meticulously arranged for you.

“hey baby. you just wake up? i can make you another cup of tea if you want,” ellie offers happily. she must see the slightly apprehensive look on your face because her eyebrow crooks up as she continues: “or, well… i was thinking… what if i, like, sucked your tits? just a little? think it might help ease some of the aching… after all, my mouth is kinda magical, if i do say so myself.” you’re unable to contain your splutter at the terrible joke. ellie grins and keeps pushing it. “in fact, this might be a miracle cure!” she says with all the drama of someone announcing they discovered a new planet in the solar system. “you might never get sick again!” comes her next line, hands gesticulating wildly in the air as your chest begins shaking with unbridled giggles.

a fake depressive look turns your girlfriend’s lips down as she dramatically sweeps a hand across her forehead. “okay, maybe that’s a bit far… stop laughing at me. you’re gonna make yourself throw up again,” she teases, except you both seem to realise at the same moment that her last statement was probably true. your eyes lock as ellie dives for the sick bucket and you do in fact puke, her calloused hands holding back your hair from your face <3

as for girl’s night- i feel like she would probably make you a little mocktail because even though you’re not well enough to be drinking, cranberry juice is really good for you and lemonade is almost one of your five a day if you really think about it… and “mint’s basically a vegetable. like, it’s green enough, right?” when you’re forced to take the opposing side on the is-mint-really-a-vegetable debate she acts like you’ve just hit her with a hammer and insists on calling jesse to settle the matter.

“ok, i need your help with a super important decision,” ellie says, a stern expression on her face. the way her eyebrows are wrinkled in the middle looks extra cute, you think, and lean forward to kiss her. instead you’re met with a hand to the sternum and an angry glare. “damn. okay, important decision,” you agree, eyes lifting to hers in curiosity. your girlfriend sucks in a deep breath and you brace yourself… “should i paint my toenails green or pink?” ellie asks innocently. you feel like thumping her- why do i ever take her seriously?? you think, heart slowing back to its normal pace as you throw her a dirty side eye.

“wait, actually… that yellow looks kind of cool-” you cut her off with a thump to the head with your pillow. “OW!” comes her pained response, your lips tilting up into a smug smile as ellie shoots you a look of pure betrayal. “ok… OK!” THUMP! “i get it! no yellow…” the pillow lifts again as if to drive your point home for a final time and… THUMP! “ow! fuck! wait, why is your pillow so fucking solid?”

+ as promised, the ai audios… as i mentioned on my blog before, my bot isn’t anywhere near perfect yet so please excuse if these happen to sound a little funky!

[smoked-salmon-official]

intro

First off: I am a MINOR. I am not 18 and I expect to be treated as such. Meaning, tag your NSFW stuff and don't involve me!

This includes requests. Ones that make me uncomfortable will be deleted and you will be blocked, for both our comforts.

TRANSFORMERS ART REQUESTS OPEN. Commissions are closed, trades and collabs open to mutuals only.

This will not deter the bots but no donation asks. I am a little kid with no money to spare.

Hey everyone! My name is Kaz and I use it/xe/they pronouns. You may know me as the creator of Victory AU, the guy who draws robots, or the Tarn, Megatron, and Starscream simp.

We are a system. Others may come and post here from time to time. They have their own tags. As a whole, please refer to us using the name and pronouns above.

You can also call me Salmon, or any other variation on my username. I really like Transformers and that is mainly what I post and reblog.

This is my sona, AKA the whimsical creature. The whimsical creature uses it/its pronouns and will sometimes wander into your inbox.

I have my struggles with mental health, so there will occasionally be disturbing and potentially triggering content posted or reblogged. All will be tagged appropriately.

In a similar vein, sometimes I make suggestive jokes or rb slightly suggestive art. All is tagged.

Please do not message me unless we are mutuals. Please do not tag me in tag games. Please do not bring up or ask me about politics. Lastly, please do not interact if you are an nsfw or mdni blog. Doing so will result in a soft block and then a full block.

This blog is neutral ground for all discourse - political, fandom, etc. I have no wish to bring any of that here. Be respectful to EVERYONE and keep your discourse elsewhere.

I understand that some people rb or post 18+ stuff, and you are still welcome to follow or interact with me. I draw my personal line that, if you are uncomfortable with me interacting with you, the opposite is true as well.

I draw robots, yes, and requests are open. Trinket box items for characters and ships are available too.

Sideblogs:

@pregatron-polls : a poll bracket I'm running about... well, it's exactly what it sounds like... just a little fun thing to make up for megatron being disqualified from the other tournament.

@yet-another-png-blog : my png blog, requests open!

@lemon-shark-36 : my study blog, currently inactive for the summer!

Blog navigation under the cut

#victory oc - my primary OC, a megop fankid.

#victory au - the somewhat expansive and developed universe Victory lives in (masterpost)

#tarmac oc - a secondary oc and a tarnma fankid who also lives in victory au

#vaporwave oc - a skybound megasound fankid who lives in an AU called #devotion au

#sundown oc - a less developed megop fankid who also lives in victory au

#solenoid oc - a red alert x jetfire fankid who is less developed but i sometimes talk about

#baby birds au - an AU about the aerialbots, jet twins, and sunstorm trying to navigate a post war world

#kaz's chinese or more recently #中文 - my posts in chinese

#kaz talks - my non-reblog posts

#my stuff - cake's posts

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#finalsposting - when i lose my mind over exams!

#the whimsical creature - in character posts about the whimsical creature who likes to have fun and frolic in the fields

[emilykaldwen]

Okay okay but Myra and Gwayne Little Mermaid AU 👀

I wanted to make a graphic for this but you get words instead.

“Where on earth did she come from?”

Alicent’s voice was hushed, ladylike, her cherubic countenance pleasant even as her brow furrowed, large eyes narrowed and filled with confusion. Gwayne rubbed the back of his neck and followed his sister’s gaze.

The nymph found in the surf was clothed properly now in a spare gown of Alicent’s, the stone gray gown covering her from neck to the floor, the flame red lining and undergown were bright splashes of color against the maid’s pallid skin. Unruly dark curls were a cloud about her round face, and her eyes dark, darting around without a moment’s pause.

“Some kind of shipwreck, I’d wager,” Gwayne murmured. The pain on her face from her initial attempts to walk had faded now that she’d found a spot on the overstuffed window seat of the solar, the expanse of Oldtown vast and far below them here in the High Tower. A shipwreck was the only explanation, but none had reported seeing any such thing.

“Fishmonger’s daughter?” Alicent theorized.

“Mayhap, but she’s well fed. No skinny elbows.” And Alicent’s gown strained against the generous curves of her chest, even with the lacing.

“On fish.” Gwayne rolled his eyes and met his sister’s eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. We should have clothed her and taken her to Septa Wyverna’s house. I would have done so, you know I would have. She would not have been neglected.”

“Are you insinuating that I am not caring and dilligent?”

Alicent’s eyes narrowed up at him, mouth pursed and she looked so like their mother in the moment, long buried in the crypts that it choked Gwayne, pressing hard into the bruises between his ribs. “Are you only keeping here to warm your bed, Gwayne? To take advantage of her need?”

His cheeks burned and Gwayne straightened at his younger sister’s accusation. His nostrils flared and he looked back over his shoulder at the maid once more. She’d settled now to peer out the lead lined window, finger tips curling against the glass, a look of wonder across her face. Silent as the grave, yet she was anything but dead. Comely? Yes. Strange? Most certainly. A nymph, a sea witch, some otherworldly thing found among the driftwood and the jagged rocks of the bay that early morn, who’d clung to him as a savior, mindless of her nakedness with seaweed woven in her curls. He would take her most certainly if she were willing, feeling her cleve into him as a wave breaking against the shore, but Alicent’s accusation that it was the only reason he’d brought her here, clothed her, fed her, stung.

“Have the servants bring up more fresh bread and some of that fish stew,” he snapped, mindful to keep his voice low. Alicent’s nostrils flared and she vanished behind the tapestry that covered the door into the hall.

The maid’s eyes reminded him of the black stone that build the High Tower – ancient and endless, from some otherworld older than Valyria if the maester’s stories were true. They rested upon him, hooks around his limbs, a snare that brought him closer but he wasn’t unwilling. “It is just the two of us now,” he told her, smiling gently at her as she looked around. “Alicent has gone to have more food sent up. Has the tea helped?” He gestured to his throat. She’d been unable to speak when he’d found her, and she’d been silent since their arrival. Maester Helgvar had made something medicinal and he eyed the tepid cup, the blue and white porcelain still mostly full and untouched.

She did not speak. She did not open her mouth and instead looked down at her hands twisted in her gown, something that Gwayne did not understand but felt all the same. He knelt before her and reached for her clawed fingers, wrapping them in his own.

“You are safe here, and under my protection, my lady,” he told her, gentle as he could manage, every courtly politeness, every bit of earnest truth he could muster. Beneath the sweet gardenia soap, Gwayne could still smell the sea. Salt and earthy seaweed, of wet rock and sand. Impossible and yet true all the same.

Dark eyes watched him, held him, the fish speared at the end of her hook. She was silent as the grave, as still as the sea on a windless night. The hand that she touched against his cheek was cold as ocean spray, barely there, touching against the freckles his mother gave him.

“What do you mean you found a girl washed upon the shore?” boomed Otto Hightower’s voice, the heavy door crashing open from the other end of the room. The maid yelped, the only sound he’d heard from her as she jerked back from touching him, Gwayne shooting up to his feet as he felt her shift and hide behind him at the loudness of his father storming into the solar, hair windswept and eyes blazing.

[fsfghgee]

Hello, I would like to ask you question about Kuai Liang in Mk1, Do you think of him as bad person? If yes, please tell me why?

Hi! I don't think Kuai Liang is a bad person, but he's no better than Bi-Han either. And I say this based on facts, on situations shown in the game (and other situations that will happen soon), not just on my personal opinion.

1st. He's a hypocrite and a liar

How can he demand something from her, that she should trust him blindly (since he hadn't even given an explanation for his departure), when he never trusted her in the first place? He's a hypocrite. And whoever makes excuses for him about this is either lying or didn't play the story mode, because besides Bi-Han being out cold, Tomas says that before they left the Lin Kuei, they asked them for help:

When they took Bi-Han to the Lin Kuei and asked for help in the battle, why didn't he already explain everything to Cyrax? Because he didn't want to. So, he has no right to demand blind trust from her when he didn't even trust her to begin with, even though they clearly have a past (whether romantic or not, they have a history).

2nd. He is vengeful

Contrary to what many people have assumed about his desire to find Bi-Han, he doesn't want to find him because he fears for Bi-Han's life if he is found by Li Mei or whatever, what he really wants is to get revenge on Bi-Han for letting their father die. That's all he wants. He doesn't care about his brother. And this will become even clearer when the story mode expansion is available:

Saying that his brother deserves to die and refusing to help save him is something a vengeful person would do. A good person wouldn't do that.

"Ah, but Bi-Han let their father die and their father was a good man…"

Bi-Han was a good brother to Kuai Liang…

and yet he is willing to let him die. How does that make Kuai Liang a better person than Bi-Han? When we don't even know why Bi-Han hates his father so much, we know why Kuai Liang hates his brother. And Kuai Liang's fans can say whatever they want, but all this hatred and desire for revenge is not something a good person would have. And let's not forget that he will be about to kill a person (cough cough, Cyrax) he has known for a long time who was deceived and was already subdued, all because HE IS a vengeful person.

3rd. He is selfish

Bi-Han may be self-centered, but Kuai Liang is a selfish man with people-pleasing disorder no matter how you look at it.

All his attachment to traditions and his father's words are not a moral compass, they are just traits of dependence. He can't let his father go and understand that Bi-Han is the new leader by birthright, so he insists on trying to embarrass him by talking about what his father would supposedly want or what his father would do during the story mode and intros. He wants Bi-Han to be like his father. He refuses to see that Bi-Han is Bi-Han until his sandcastle crumbles at the Ying Fortress. He is not humble, he is dependent, a true people-pleaser. He was a people-pleaser to his father and now he is one to Liu Kang. He does not invite former gangsters like Kenshi and Takeda, a demon like Ashrah to be Shirai Ryu because he embraces diversity and differences, he simply needs numbers to rival his brother's clan, the Lin Kuei.

He only thinks about what he wants (to be what his father was), not what is best for the clan. Bi-Han's ambition for the clan, for their future, is not a bad thing or evil, their god himself recognizes this:

But even before Bi-Han abandoned the defense of Earthrealm, he insisted on condemning his brother's desire to make the Lin Kuei evolve:

Why?

Because he is selfish. He never cared about his brother or the Lin Kuei, he only cared about continuing to please his father even after dead and that's all that matters to him to this day, only now, he does it with Liu Kang.

And does that make him a bad person? No, I don't think so (he has his qualities, just like Bi-Han has his). But he's far from being a better person than Bi-Han as only his fans will claim he is.

[toreii]

Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Review

Let me just preface this post by saying I’m still on the fence about sharing my thoughts. Like many, I am highly disappointed with the direction this DLC went. I would have never imagined this was in store for me last year during the summer when I first watched the Lin Kuei trailer. Khaos Reigns provoked two days of awful headaches followed by days of disillusion. Yes, NRS played me for a fool (thank god I did not purchase this). I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and it came to bite me in the ass. If I had a physical copy of the game, I’d chuck it in the trash. I’m finding it difficult to proceed forward which is hard because I like to see things through even if it sucks. All I can do is protect my vision of Bi-Han and staying true to the old lore as I try and move on.

That being said, to address my take on this expansion:

To begin, the elephant in the freaking room--Sektor and Cyrax.

I am a Lin Kuei fan overall. Not a big fan of him in general, but there has been appreciation for him and Cyrax throughout the years. When I learned that both were going to be genderbent, I had a little bit of misgivings suddenly changing things drastically. But, again, I gave NRS the benefit of the doubt. Since this is a new era, I was on board with it until the rumors started circulating about both being love interests for the brothers. I was like "That makes no sense whatsoever." To me, the Lin Kuei has always been like a brotherhood. In no given time, has there ever been any indication of personal relationships outside of camaraderie. For example, Cyrax and Smoke being vehemently upset over Bi-Han's death in MK9, and not just Kuai Liang.

The argument can be constantly made that this is a new timeline, and it's Liu Kang's creation over and over. But, when you have that man (Dominic) constantly saying the timelines are canon, but not really. But, still are. It's incredibly hard to take anything seriously right now especially with the constant flip flopping that man does for the sake of the current script. Which is another point, but back to the bastardization of our two Lin Kuei girls.

I wanted to believe in a strong, female Sektor, who has her own ideals which we can all clearly see. Like her past iterations, she lives, breathes, and bleeds Lin Kuei. I wanted to see a Sektor who slowly, but surely descended into her own madness of corruption as she pursued her goals for the Cyber Initiative. Sektor has always been known for his technological genius, and she would be no different. To see her potential constantly get staunched for her adulation and obsession for Bi-Han was hard to witness. I can understand that this may be a flaw for her, but it is a very shitty flaw. Because this one trait absolutely negates everything she stands for. I can see that both she and Bi-Han use each other to a certain extent where it seems fit. I know her horrible romance is the center of focus right now, but if you listen to her intros with Bi-Han, it seems to be all business between them. There is barely any indication that their relationship goes beyond the realm of the clan and into a personal tryst. Sektor calls it love, but it's not quite there. I mean, there's love for the grandmaster, but the love that seems to be implied between the two is not quite there. At least, in my view.

I don't know about Sektor yet, but I already deduced that Bi-Han isn't someone who's desperate to correct anyone on the spot. He doesn't have to. He doesn't owe anyone an explanation, so of course he runs with whatever people say about him. He's unbothered by anyone's opinions of him. When Kuai Liang told Cyrax the truth about Bi-Han letting their father die, Bi-Han could have stepped in at any given moment and contradicted Kuai Liang. Instead, he chose to own every word Kuai said. I've had this feeling since the end of the base campaign that Kuai Liang simply took pieces of what Bi-Han said, and spun them to fit his own narrative. (Killing your father and letting him die because of an accident are two completely different things.)

Anyways, going back to Sektor, that scene where Bi-Han's mind was being restored seems to be the only shoehorned indication that there is more to them than meets the eye. But, again, it was badly placed, badly presented as well. First of all, Sektor really should not have been there in that room at all. From a storytelling perspective, I'm supposed to believe that both Sektor and Bi-Han have this obsessive romance and codependency between each other in a few seconds of frames, than the brotherhood between Bi-Han, Kuai Liang, and Tomas??? And this was my worst fear for Bi-Han too. I did not want him to be "saved" by romance. I wanted his salvation to come from within himself as he reflected on his poor decisions and the tragedy of his downfall which sadly we were robbed and negated from. If the scene only involved Liu Kang, Bi-Han, and Kuai Liang, it would have been more poignant. There has always been that story between the two brothers. I understand, this is not the same Kuai of two timelines ago. But, why is MK: Onslaught's ScorpKuai a lot more wholesome than our MK1 iteration??? He was absolutely horrified meeting MK11 Noob. He couldn't understand why Bi-Han became Noob (and how). But, Kuai's first instinct in the DLC is to be absolutely pissed and disgusted? "Your new attire suits you. It is as black as your heart." Darling, no. I would have been more pleased seeing Kuai approach the table and have this conflicting expression. The hatred can still be there, but the concern and sorrow for whom was once family to him, and his eldest brother needed to be portrayed. I mean, we sort of got it with the whole coffin scene at the end. But, in that scene, in that moment, that more than Bi-Han reaching for Sektor and touching foreheads with her is a lot more powerful in terms of storytelling. I don't know why NRS is so against these two hashing it out and resolving their issues.

Now to Cyrax...oh my god...

According to Kuai Liang in the main story, Cyrax and Sektor were supposed to be absolutely loyal to Bi-Han and would abet his corruption than follow him. We obviously see that in Sektor, but what the hell happened to Cyrax? It leads me to believe that Dominic and others suddenly decided to change the script. Mind you, I firmly believe that they did so. Sektor and Cyrax being women in this game must've been a decision that came after everything was said and done for the base campaign. I'm a bit skeptical on Bi-Han suddenly turning on Cyrax because I do recall some time ago listening to some leaked audio in which Bi-Han says "Kuai Liang was supposed to give Cyrax back." It made me think "Oh shit. Does Cyrax get held hostage or something?" Like, what the hell happened? And, I'm realizing, are we missing dialogue now? There is so much that does not make sense!!! Why would they turn on her all of a sudden?!

She's supposed to be close to Bi-Han just as much as Sektor. And suddenly, Cyrax is presented as a free thinking individual who abides by her own ideals and tradition. The moment that is threatened, she feels like she can no longer follow Bi-Han and his ambitions. To make it worse, she feels so much remorse with Kuai Liang that she's ready to give up her life in penance to make up for it. It just makes no sense. And to make it worse, she spends the rest of the DLC following Kuai Liang like a little puppy ready to serve her new grandmaster. Why was she even presented as a strong individual when all she wants is Kuai Liang's adoration as well? Not to mention, it was a really gross line to include in the intros where Noob threatens to spill her relationship with Kuai Liang to Harumi. We're seriously cheapening these two women to typical high school romance tropes? Like others have expressed, this is fanfiction levels of madness.

Kuai Liang is all levels of messed up too. I am so sick and tired of him prancing around like he does no wrong, and everyone believes every word he says. Suddenly, he's the self appointed grand hero of the story when you have Liu Kang's champions sitting around and twiddling their thumbs? Why not place faith in them and send them with Kuai to resolve the current threat. I understand Kuai's Shirai Ryu is now the new protectors, but you also have these other people and beings who are preparing themselves as well for these upcoming threats. I hate that they just suddenly bled into the background, and disappeared completely. Somebody needs to not only knock Bi-Han but Kuai Liang as well a few pegs down. He too is not without his own flaws and they need to be addressed. And Liu Kang's line "Trust your wife. Avail yourself of her wisdom." The same thing with Sektor and Bi-Han. Here too. This fucking trope cannot be it. Love cannot only be the thing that saves the day. His anger, his vengeance, is no where near the levels of Hanzo. Hanzo legit had a reason to be like that. Kuai is literally throwing a bitch fit at Bi-Han, and pointing fingers anywhere but himself. Seriously, his anger and disgust against Cyrax was so unwarranted. And every time she was flustered and tried to explain, he barely gave her time to say a word. Always cutting her off, and rejecting her apologies until the end because it is implied Harumi stepped in. And he seems to just completely simmer down a bit in the presence of Noob. Where was the you who tried to take him on earlier in Chaosrealm? Suddenly, you don't feel like butting heads with your brother? Kuai Liang is such a hypocrite, and I'm tired of seeing it.

Liu Kang was also another that just got dragged through the mud. A lot of his words and actions did not make sense. He's content with disposing of Titan Shang Sung and Titan Quan Chi, but he won't let Bi-Han finish off Titan Havik because he isn't sure how he's tied to his timeline, and doesn't want to kill innocent lives? What about the timelines tied to the other two? Liu Kang had no problem ending those. Why is Titan Havik's timeline any different? Bi-Han is right. Why does that timeline matter when the most important one is theirs, Liu Kang's timeline? He tells Raiden and Kung Lao to do their best and pray they make it out alive, when Liu Kang could have better prepared them. Gets his ass handed to him, can't even go save Geras himself. Sends Kuai, Cyrax, and Sektor to Chaosrealm in blindly. And, snaps at Bi-Han for the most part towards the end instead of having a meaningful talk with him. Not just simply telling him "This is what you are meant to do. Defend Earthrealm." Well, geez, why not elaborate on that, Liu Kang? Can't you give Bi-Han a few minutes of your time to air out grievances and come to a consensus?

And what the hell happened to Titan Havik? Is he dead? Does he still live? Trapped in the void? The Kamidogu were briefly mentioned, and then dropped. They were hyped to be of importance in this DLC. I'm certain they'll make their return eventually if NRS continues the story involving Onaga when the time comes. But, Havik had plans for them as well. And we only see him fusing with the Kamidogu. That final fight with him felt pretty lackluster. Just a regular match like any other.

We are definitely missing script, and scenes. We were supposed to have gotten a whole lot more. Ed Boon said this was their project for the next few years. I suppose they felt compelled not just to omit certain things, but cut out others for future DLCs. This was setup to be more than what we got. The bar absolutely fell short of what the end product was. To charge full price is absolutely heinous. I'm sorry, but I do not have $50 on hand for each DLC that they plan to release. They charged full price for the main game, and now they plan to do so for every little story line that comes after? I can't in good conscious support this kind of marketing. I'm devastated with the story. Like, I could work and make sense and justify every decision made with the main story to a degree. I can't do the same with Khaos Reigns.

I know I was making gifs of Bi-Han last week, but after KR...my heart right now really isn't in MK1. Every time I come across posts and remotely start thinking about it, I get headaches. They are not as bad as they initially were, but this is how horribly this DLC affects me. It keeps giving me headaches. I know I probably regurgitated the same sentiments and ideas as many others have already. But, a friend told me it would be cathartic to do this. So, instead of my journal, I am here expunging these thoughts and emotions. I don't know what my future with the brand will entail, but godspeed NRS. I wish you well on your future endeavors, and that's really saying a lot on my end. I can't even hope anymore. They massacred my heart and left me to die just like papa Lin Kuei (I wish we had a name for him).

[2996-sana]

lost in japan

loosely based on lost in japan by shawn mendes :D

being a soloist in the industry is a bit like riding a rollercoaster of emotions. while it brings creative freedom and a chance to shape your own journey, it comes with its share of loneliness. unlike being in a group, where you share every step of the journey, as a soloist, you navigate the entire process – from making albums, promotions, gigs, to tours and interviews – all by yourself. sure, you have your crew and team, your chosen family, but seeing groups together makes you a bit envious. they get to share the highs and lows, the crazy moments, and the struggles. it's a camaraderie you sometimes wanted.

but being a soloist has its perks. you get to pour your soul into your music, writing and producing most of your songs. music isn't just a job; it's a deeply personal expression. every note and lyric carries a piece of your story, every emotion, and experience that left a mark on your heart.

and then there's the subject of love.

in the vast expanse of the industry, finding love can be a challenge. all eyes are on you, not just in korea but globally, and being an idol only adds to the scrutiny. but that hasn't stopped idols from dating, and who can blame them? when love comes knocking, it's hard to resist.

for you, love arrived unexpectedly in the form of a blind date, set up by mutual connections. specifically, yeri from red velvet, who passed down the idea to nayeon from twice. and believe it or not, love turned out to be a member of the renowned girl group twice.

love felt like magic, and at this moment, love happened to be right beside you on the couch in the recording studio.

"baby, i'm gonna miss you like crazy," sana pouted.

"i know, baby, but it's only gonna be a few weeks, right?" you ask, trying to offer comfort.

"three weeks, yeah, but i hate being away from you," she replies, eyes still a bit teary.

turning to your girlfriend, you put down your guitar and scoot closer to sana. "i understand, baby. if i didn't have schedules lined up for the next few weeks, i'd come with you guys," you say, your voice carrying a tinge of sadness.

sana sighed in defeat and planted a playful kiss on your cheek. "you should write a song about me while i'm away," she teased.

you rolled your eyes. "they're all about you, i don't know what you're on about."

sana giggled, fully aware that it was true. despite this knowledge, hearing every new song you wrote about her never got old and it never failed to make her swoon. your love story held a special place in both your hearts, and having it immortalized in your music felt special. especially since the general public remained oblivious to the fact that the songs were about her or your relationship. it was like a secret world that only the two of you shared, untouched, and safe from the prying eyes of the public.

as much as sana wanted to shout about your love from the rooftops, she found solace in the fact that you both hadn't given anybody the power to take what you had away. having your close circle and family know felt like enough for now.

"i adore you so much, baby. i feel incredibly lucky," sana confessed, locking eyes with you.

"i love you, baby. we're both really lucky," you replied. "are you excited to be home and visit family?"

sana's eyes lit up. "yes! mom and dad wanted to see you, though. but yeah, it's been a while, so i'm excited."

the joy on her face brought warmth to your heart. "i'm excited for you, baby. send me lots of pictures, okay? and don't worry, i'll give you a call when you're together with your parents."

that night, you had to take sana and the rest of twice to the airport. well, technically, you were in the same car they were dropped off in, but you couldn't get off due to the swarm of reporters and fansites. now, that would be a headline.

you gave sana one last kiss and waved goodbye to tzuyu, dahyun, mina, and jihyo, who were sharing the same car.

"be safe, you guys," you said.

"we'll miss you, unnie!" tzuyu exclaimed, and the rest of the girls echoed her sentiment.

"i'll miss you the most, though," sana said sadly.

you reached for her hand and gave it a soft kiss. "i'll see you real soon, baby."

"y/n, you better pay me extra to keep sana from talking everyone's ears off about missing you this whole trip," jihyo joked, earning laughs from the group.

"bank transfer?" you suggested playfully.

"yah!" sana feigned annoyance.

"alright, alright, you guys go. the rest of the girls are already outside."

as the car door closed, you sighed. a busy week awaited you with recording sessions, and on top of that, you didn't have a girlfriend to come home to for the next few weeks. *+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*

a week drifted by, and there you were, sprawled out on the cushy couch in a hotel in taiwan, peering through the grand glass windows that framed the city's glowing lights. the sun descended gracefully, painting the sky with warm hues. you wished sana was there with you. memories flooded in — of quiet evenings cocooned on the couch, watching anime after demanding days, and lively moments in the kitchen, dancing and singing together.

"it's cool. just two more weeks," you mumbled.

suddenly, a soft buzz broke the silence.

m.by__sana tagged you in a post

you tapped the notification, revealing snapshots from a dinner a week past, capturing the comically overcooked steak you had made.

당신은 여전히 최고입니다, 셰프님! ♡´ (you're still the best, chef! ♡´)

a gentle chuckle escaped you.

당신은 미친 듯이 나를 그리워하고 있을 것입니다, you playfully commented. (you must be missing me like crazy)

almost instantly, you got a reply.

당신은 모르고 있어요 (you have no idea)

you released a resigned sigh, well-acquainted with the sacrifices that came with being idols. both of you knew the drill — the inevitable stretches of separation that, despite understanding, never got easier.

you knew sana was currently holed up in her hotel with the other girls, having just gotten off a facetime call with her. it didn't make the distance any more bearable, and resisting the urge to fly over and be with her required more self-control than you cared to admit.

wait…

with a swift move, you grabbed your phone and opened up the voice memo app. "na na na na, do you got plans tonight, baby? something something, lost in your paradise. the only thing i’m thinking ‘bout is you and i, i can’t get you off my mind," you sang, a mix of determination and confusion in your voice as you attempted to untangle the tune in your head. recording the snippets, you couldn't help but hope that this spontaneous burst could turn into something.

as a musician and songwriter, you know that when inspiration hits - seize it and craft it into art. luckily for you, sana was the kind of girl who could fuel a billion songs, and the thought of writing about her never got old.

fueled by the sudden inspiration, you reached for your guitar.

*+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*

"sana, you okay?" mina inquired, concern etching her features as she observed sana lost in thought, brows furrowed.

"she's fine. just being dramatic because y/n hasn't replied," nayeon chuckled, finding the situation amusing.

"you don't get it; she never takes this long to reply, even when we're both busy," sana whined, her frustration evident.

"unnie, isn't she in the middle of preparing for a comeback?" chaeyoung suggested. "maybe she's stuck in a meeting or recording something."

despite chaeyoung's rationality, sana's irritation persisted. she wasn't worried; she was just plain mad that you weren't responding.

the day dragged on with your replies limited to one-word responses, fueling sana's growing annoyance.

"who does she think she is?" sana slammed the door of her and momo's hotel room. "she didn't even pick up when i called her at my parents' house, and she specifically told me to!"

momo racked her brain, knowing sana's penchant for needing attention. she silently cursed you for leaving her with a moody sana.

"sana, it's okay. she'll eventually reply. i'm sure she has her reasons," momo sighed, offering a reassuring smile.

sana, across the room, sprinted to momo, shoving her phone in her friend's face. "what is this, then?"

momo squinted at your instagram story, revealing a tiktok of you and jennie doing a dance. momo silently cursed you again.

"uhh, scheduled post? maybe it's a new challenge," momo suggested, attempting to ease the tension.

sana rolled her eyes and threw her phone on the bed. "i don't care anymore."

"we can go out tonight, satang!" momo encouraged. "you'll get your mind off y/n."

sana shook her head defiantly. "i'm not going out! i'm staying in."

"nope, you can't," momo declared, standing up and joining sana. "you promised, remember?"

sana groaned. "fine, whatever, but i won't like it." *+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*

sana and the group entered mina's cousin's newly opened restaurant, exclusively reserved for the night. despite the collective effort to lighten sana's mood, she remained unusually gloomy, a stark contrast to her typically bubbly self.

"sana, you look ugly when you’re frowning," jeongyeon teased, eliciting laughter from the group. sana responded by sticking her tongue out playfully. just as sana was about to retaliate, their food arrived, and the delightful aroma of the ramen momentarily diverted her attention. she was clearly hungry.

the dinner unfolded with vibrant conversations about their promotions, and even sana couldn't resist breaking into a smile and sharing a few laughs. after finishing her ramen, sana reached for a napkin on the table and discovered something tucked underneath — a small note?

do you have plans tonight?

suddenly, the lights dimmed, causing gasps from everyone. a soft strumming of a guitar filled the air.

"all it'd take is one flight,

we'd be in the same time zone."

sana could recognize that voice anywhere. her eyes shifted across the room, finding her girlfriend perched on a high stool with a guitar, singing just for her. sana could barely wrap her head around what was happening. she glanced at the girls, who were all smiling with their phones up.

as you sang, it dawned on sana what the song meant. her eyes widened as she listened.

“do you got plans tonight?

i'm a couple hundred miles from japan, and i

i was thinkin' i could fly to your hotel tonight

'cause i can't get you off my mind.”

you smiled and threw her a wink. sana couldn't help but cover her blushing face with her hands.

“do you got plans tonight, baby?

i was hopin' i could get lost in your paradise (paradise)

the only thing i'm thinkin' 'bout is you and i,

and i can't get you off my mind.”

sana should've probably known you were up to something. you wouldn't have left her hanging like that. but who would've thought you were crazy enough to leave in the middle of your schedules and fly to japan for her?

“let's get lost tonight,

let's get lost tonight,

baby, you and,

i can't seem to get you off my mind.”

the guitar strumming gradually faded, and the girls were howling and clapping. you walked toward sana with a single flower in your hand, wearing a big grin.

"hi," you said, still grinning.

sana got up, playfully shoving you before throwing her arms around you. "you are crazy!"

"crazy in love, apparently," dahyun giggled.

"are you complaining, though?" you laughed, ruffling her hair. then, you whispered in her ear, "if love doesn't make you do crazy things, then are you really doing it right?" *+:｡.｡　　｡.｡:+*

"lost in japan is trending," sana giggled from the couch.

you joined her, tossing a blanket over both of you. "you think they're putting two and two together?" you laughed.

sana laughed, sharing a message from a fan on the bubble app.

"that new song from y/n is definitely about you and i'm taking no arguments."

[project-changeling-zero]

things i wish the sonic franchise brought back or implement.

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Dark Sonic

seriously, i love imagining a fight between Dark Sonic and Eggman inspired by Korra vs. Zaheer ( when she was poisoned ). where he loses the cool attitude, the smile, everything, and goes in with full power, charging himself left and right at Eggman. it'd be even more fascinating to still have Dark Sonic lose. not because of his lack of power, not because of lack of skill, even when blinded by rage, but because of Eggman's ingenuity.

a lot of people, to this day, misinterpret Dark Sonic as a murderous, rampaging monster, but that completely misses the purpose of why he exists to begin with. i believe this is a case of people not exactly knowing where he comes from, or just a lot of fans drawing a murderous Sonic and it took the internet by storm one day, but just in case you don't know:

Dark Sonic is from Sonic X, a TV show that is sort of an expansion on Sonic Adventure 2, adding more lore, character arcs, and overall meaning to the game's original plot. Dark Sonic was revealed in the episode "Teasing Time" in s3, and the reason he appeared is because he discovered his friends ( Cosmo and Chris ) were injured and that one of them ( Chris ) was unconscious.

the whole reason this form exists is Sonic's love for his friends essentially fueling his rage. it's like Darkspine Sonic from SATSR, or has similar formula. Dark Sonic isn't inspired by any bloodlust or desire to kill, but rather by burning anger at seeing his friends be put in harm's way.

Dark Sonic is made from the strong desire to protect his friends.

2. An Actual Arc For Shadow

you guys might be confused, especially if you consider some of my previous posts, but lemme explain.

for a long time, it's never felt like Shadow has actually recovered from his trauma, atone for his actions ( yes, i understand he saved Earth ), or live life really at all. it doesn't help that, to this day, SEGA continues to make Shadow relive the past.

i don't consider the movies to be a part of the problem, as Shadow being introduced to the plot was basically a given, and you can't introduce him in your own take without his general backstory ( unless you're Boom or Prime, i guess ). i believe the movie will be doing taking some creative liberties to his story, as they did so with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and i see no reason that they should stop.

the reason why i have an issue with this is because it's an ongoing issue within the games, specifically. Shadow the Hedgehog ( 2005 ) was a disservice to his setup and the 'first arc' ( considering he's still alive after the fans demanded his return ) to his story.

aside from it just giving 'early 2010s deviantart edge', it's just so...

childishly handled.

for one, you're immediately given a Hero or Dark route, like in SA2, which i feel completely misses the point of SA2's true ending. Shadow has redeemed himself ( or began to ), so to give him complete reign to just become an antagonist all over again defeats the whole purpose of a redemption.

it's like what Prime did with Dread, giving him an already established redemption arc ( sort of ), but then corrupting him again for no real reason other than just because.

another issue i have is Shadow's amnesia and attitude in general within the game. technically speaking, yes, it does make sense for him to suffer memory and // or physical issues from his fall from space, but to completely wipe out every single thing he did just to give him the opportunity to relearn his past, do some fucked up shit, do some less fucked up shit, then throw away everything in the past, Maria and her wish included, is...

amazingly obtuse, for lack of a better word.

again, while it's technically not out of bounds, i feel like giving Shadow complete and total amnesia just disrespects SA2's vision and execution of the story. it's redundant, it's lazy, and overall just really damn frustrating to watch.

Shadow deserves to have a story that allows him to heal from his trauma, discover who he is, and respecting Maria's wish along the way. a lot of people seem to think it's either he forgets about his past ( or buries it ) or full-on dedicates his entire life and doesn't bother picking up a life lesson or two, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Shadow can heal, grow, and change. SEGA just won't let him.

3. The Echidna Tribe & Knuckles' Story

Knuckles is one of my favorite characters in the entire franchise as a whole, but his character and story is sorely dismissed. while Shadow has the issue of repetition, Knuckles suffers from being dropped on the head multiple times and played for a joke ( i think Frontiers is one of the more recent games that didn't do this, but i might be wrong ).

one of the reasons why i love Knuckles is how straightforward, yet reluctant he was about finding out his past. at the end of Sonic Adventure 1, he says something to the extent of:

"maybe i'm better off not knowing the meaning behind all of this. because i feel something terrible will happen if i do."

he is content being ignorant for the sake of his own peace of mind.

but in SA2, he's more or less forced to start facing his fear and learn more about the past. unfortunately, though, we don't actually get to see much after this game, because the tribe is almost entirely forgotten. instead, it's brought up in comics that are more or less canon ( i think ), but not fully aligning with the games. i think it's safe to say the comics are their own canon?

like with Shadow, i would've loved to see an actual conclusion on this arc of Knuckles' story. to see more of the tribe in the past, of their wrongdoings, character moments, more of Tikal or Chaos or the little Chao, and how it all ties together.

but instead, we have lots of media repeatedly insulting Knuckles' intelligence, ignoring his tribe and // or his job entirely ( i guess they forget the Master Emerald is portable? ), and just generally dumbing him down to be a hotheaded moron that apparently doesn't care about being the Guardian!

Knuckles is one of the most relatable characters in this series for me, as there's a lot of things i would rather not know and stay ignorant to, but have to face head on in order to fully move past it and grow to be better.

he was completely isolated on Angel Island for so long, yet people still make fun of him to this day for being manipulated by Eggman in SA1 ( even though he didn't even fully believe Eggman, it was just a precaution, but who cares about the details- ). he's not just a hothead, he's strong, he's kind, he's pretty blunt and, honestly, really fucking adorable, i love this echidna.

look at him, just standing there. i love him.

anyway, Knuckles deserves a proper story surrounding his tribe, his identity as the Guardian of Angel Island, his relationships, and to have a satisfying conclusion. or, at the very least, more games or media in general not dumbing him down to an angry hothead with nothing better to do but to yell and ignore his responsibilities.

3. Sonic

"what're you talking about, ashe? sonic's meant to be a flat character! what could be wrong with him?"

yeah, but after frontiers, i want more mentally ill sonic that needs to be concerned for by his friends, okay, that's all i want-

4. Storybook Era

now, now, i know a lot of people don't like the storybook games because of their shoddy gameplay and all that, but i genuinely love these games, their flaws included.

i do believe satbk has a better story than satsr, but i still have an attachment to the latter game, so suck it.

it'd be really nice to see a storybook game with switch, xbox, ps, or similar controls. as the era has Sonic diving into different worlds, maybe a world like Alice and Wonderland could be an interesting game. several elements to work with, locations turning into creative levels or even hub worlds. this is sort of a long shot dream that will probably never exist, but i wanna see an adventure-style storybook game one day.

i'll probably die before that idea is even considered, but it's a fun thought and that's all that matters at the end of the day.

there's no real big reason as to why these matter or anything, as i don't believe you need a storybook in order to send off the messages these games try to give, but they're just really charming to me and i love to see how this type of game could be implemented into video games today, with all the new engines and whatnot.

5. Teams

oof, okay, um-

there's a few games that have teams in them, and i guess you can count sonic forces as one of those games, so i should be more specific here.

i like SA1's flexibility with the roulette-like system, where you could play as any character you wished, but i also like SA2's team system, where they all had a close-knit role within the story from a similar perspective ( hero vs. dark ).

SA1 served multiple perspectives, all giving you pieces of the same puzzle that you have to figure out as you go. by the final story, all of the characters ( except Big, but idc, i love him ) have their character arcs and it's with their changes that the story is fully complete.

SA2 served the entirety of two perspectives and merged them together for the final story, heroes and villains having to work together to fight off the greater evil at hand.

overall, i want more games having the characters work together, having different details // information or even moral differences ( it depends on which system they go with, though ) on the situation at large, but maybe still having to come together.

whether or not they use official teams, i want the sonic franchise to bring back using other characters as necessary plot points with their own individual arcs.

it may not be needed, per say, as there's still a few games that work and don't have either of these systems, but i really miss the adventure games and wish for more of their elements to be implemented in future games.

6. CHAO!!!

BRING THESE LITTLE CREATURES BACK, GODDAMN, WHY ONLY TWO GAMES?!

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anyway, that's all i can currently think of. i think these would serve either character or charm to the franchise, but maybe you have some other ideas of what the games could give! maybe proper returns of characters, other forgotten stories, or even new ideas!

lemme know what you think.