#you’re just SHAPES in the narrative

[jellyskink]

New York Isn't Weird Enough (PG3)

Ford DESPERATELY needs to be re-socialized. Even before canon divergence, he was around, at most, one other human for years. It’s only gotten worse since

[torments-my-obelisk]

DSOD is such a funny movie. Kaiba comes on screen in his giant fucking space station molded into his company logo and I just laughed. He’s so dramatic. He misses his rival and is so obsessed with getting some closure for once in his goddamn life that he spent well over a billion dollars to excavate a cursed puzzle and build a space elevator to the afterlife but the minute anyone says anything about ‘hey maybe that’s a little unhealthy’ he’s snapping and snarling and telling them to fuck off. Except the cube guy. He’s has a duel disk and is also full of unprocessed grief so he can stay. Yugi Moto looks them dead in the eye and says “first of all, I’m only here because you both blackmailed me. Secondly, fuck you both for that, by the way. Thirdly, I’m gonna kick your ass”. Card games ensue, meanwhile Yugi tries his absolute best to show Kaiba the pharaoh is gone and maybe he needs to spend some time reflecting on his emotions and yes the invitation is still open to talk about Him BUT THEN THE NARRATIVE PROVED KAIBA RIGHT?!! AND THE PHARAOH COMES BACK AND YUGI HAS TO LOOK KAIBA IN THE EYE AND TELL HIM THAT HES SORRY FOR DOUBTING HIM?? WHAT. What Kaiba takes from all this is that a) his horrid coping mechanisms work after all, b) if he just fucks around enough and spends all his money he really can be king of the world and c) the best option is definitely to finish that space elevator and fucking. Go to the afterlife I guess. To duel his “hated rival” or whatever. Fuck off

[sunbunnyyy]

lan xichen is not a perfect human being. he is an older brother who is Going Through Some Shit by the end of the novel. did he always make good choices?? no!! have you????

[seaglassdinosaur]

The way Percy talks about himself in the show though, having ADHD and dyslexia, saying he knows that something is wrong with his brain, it’s heartbreaking.

Because stepping aside from the magic and monsters, this is a kid who’s internalized the ableist messages and bullying that’s been directed at him. He believes that having ADHD and dyslexia means that something is broken in his head. Not that his experience is natural, another one of the many different ways that people go through the world, but that his difficulties mean his brain is broken, and by extension, he is innately wrong.

It’s this out loud recognition of the struggling quiet part of someone with a learning disability, who can’t figure out what is going on with themself. They don’t know why they are the way they are, they don’t know how to manage it, and they certainly haven’t accepted it as a part of them, trying to fit into the expectations of a neurotypical society. All they know is that according to everyone else, they’re ‘wrong’. So they must just be ‘wrong’.

[leafiion]

god I love men. Specifically taka. Taka I know you’re single just one chance PLEASE !!!

[crossbackpoke-check]

i’m not sure if you’ve heard yet but nico’s tattoo is all of his family members’ astrological signs smushed together which is so… i’m obsessed

NO I HAD NOT HEARD!!!!! (partially because tumblr decided i was not to see people’s asks??)

oh my god. oh my god. that is so unbelievably. actually i take it back it is incredibly believable and i love that for him

[literaryvein-reblogs]

How to Write a Character

For creative writing to have as deep an impact as possible, you need to give the reader strong characters they can relate to on a personal level.

By borrowing from tried-and-true character archetypes and giving them your personal spin, you can create heroes, villains, and sidekicks that will affect your readers as if they were real people they knew.

Come up with a backstory

Crafting a backstory can help you flesh out an interesting character profile.

“When I’m dealing with characters,” says legal thriller author David Baldacci, “and I’m trying to explain somebody's situation and motivations, you have to look into their past, because [the] past always drives motivations.”

Ask what experiences your character had in elementary school or high school that shaped who they are today. Your character’s backstory can greatly inform your plot.

Develop a character arc

A character must evolve throughout a story.

“The character has to change,” insists crime fiction writer Walter Mosley. “The character doesn’t have to become better. The character doesn’t have to become good. It could be the opposite. He could start good and become bad. He could start off hopeful and end up a pessimist. But he has to be impacted by this world that we’re reading about.”

Plan out your storyline based on your character's goals and how achieving or not achieving them will change them as people. This sort of template can help anchor your narrative.

Do research

If you plan to set your story in a specific locale or period, do enough research to make your characters seem true to life and believable.

“What does it mean, for instance, in the Tudor era to be a male person?” asks Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale. “What does it mean to be a female person? What do those things mean when they’re at different social levels?”

Empathize with your characters

No matter what the type of character you’re developing, try to find some reason you and your reader can relate to their internal conflict.

“You’re living with these people every single day for months at a time—in some cases, years at a time,” says acclaimed children’s author Judy Blume. “You had better feel for them. So, for me, yes, I have great empathy for them.”

When people can empathize with characters, they’re more likely to find them compelling.

Experiment with different approaches

If you usually write characters from a particular point of view (or POV), change things up to challenge yourself.

“Write about someone entirely through the eyes of their friends and family,” suggests journalist Malcolm Gladwell. “So do a profile of someone where you deliberately never talk to the person that you’re profiling.”

There are plenty of ways to craft compelling character descriptions—free yourself up to try new alternatives.

Give your characters flaws

To craft believable characters, you need to give them flaws.

“One, it makes the characters human, just by default, because everybody recognizes that we all have flaws and mistakes,” David says. “But two, it gives you plot elements and plot opportunities because somebody makes a mistake. Why? Because they’re flawed.”

Learn from real people

Pay attention to real people’s mannerisms, personality traits, body language, and physical appearances.

Do research, and be respectful, when you want to write characters with backgrounds that you are not familiar with. Become familiar with different people's cultures, sexual orientations etc.

Talking to people about their experiences will help form your character’s personality.

Let your characters surprise you

Character development can proceed down a host of different avenues.

“Spend a lot of time with your characters and getting to know them,” Judy suggests. “And the way that you get to know them can be different from the way I get to know them. But my way is: They don’t come alive until I write about them, until I put them down on paper.”

As you write, your character’s motivation or perspective might change from what you originally planned.

Play characters off each other

Ask yourself how a secondary character’s personality might thwart the main character’s motivation.

“One of the best ways, as I said, to develop a character is to put that character in relationship to another person,” Walter says. “So as they talk, as they fight, as they work together, we find out more about who they are and what they are.”

The character’s close friends, adversaries, and acquaintances might all have different effects on their behavior.

Take an organic approach

Over the course of the story, be ready for your characters to surprise you as much as the people you know in real life might, too.

Your characters may take on a life of their own.

Avoid static characters by letting yours have their own lives and personalities. Let their stories take you where they lead.

Writing Notes & References

[esotericalchemist]

𝐒𝐮𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 - 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 •°❀

Masterlist - YouTube (subliminals)

The Sun sign in astrology reveals the heart of your being, representing your soul's journey toward fulfilling its higher purpose. It shines light on your core essence, the inner vitality that fuels your ambitions, creativity, and self-expression. Beyond its connection to identity, the Sun reflects your deepest desires and the path you are meant to take to grow and evolve. It guides you through life’s trials, illuminating the lessons you are here to learn and the ways you can radiate your unique brilliance into the world. Understanding your Sun sign allows you to uncover your spiritual mission, aligning your personal will with the cosmic forces that shape your destiny.

𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Aries isn't just about ambition or leadership—it's about initiation and the soul’s need to express its true nature. Aries is where the Sun is exalted, which means it’s in its most powerful state. This placement brings the energy of dynamism and an unyielding drive toward self-expression. But the deeper meaning here is not just about being assertive; it's about discovering your divine mission and stepping into your karmic role without hesitation. In Aries, you are tasked with forging your path as a warrior of the soul, shedding layers of inauthenticity and embracing your primal, unrefined willpower. This is the place where you learn to be unapologetically you, breaking through fears of inadequacy and embracing the raw power of your self-expression.

Through the Houses:

First House: You embody the pure essence of Aries. The fire of the Sun pushes you to develop a strong sense of identity. It's about defining who you are, independent of external influences. Leadership isn't just a skill; it's your inherent nature. The lesson here is to embrace your individuality without over-identifying with ego.

Second House: Your drive for self-worth and material security is strong, but the deeper lesson is to find inner value beyond possessions. This placement pushes you to understand that your resources are a reflection of your inner strength. Material growth comes when you align with your soul's purpose.

Third House: Communication becomes a battlefield. You push boundaries in how you speak, learn, and share knowledge. Your words carry authority, and your thoughts are pioneering. You’re not just here to exchange ideas, but to lead conversations that matter, reshaping the narrative of your life.

Fourth House: The Sun in Aries here shines a light on your ancestral karma and home life. The challenge is to break free from old family patterns that inhibit your growth. You are meant to create a home that reflects your unique vision, rather than conforming to tradition. It’s about owning your emotional independence.

Fifth House: This placement makes you a pioneer in creative expression and romance. Your creativity is bold and unrestrained, often ahead of its time. You're called to embrace your inner child and take risks in artistic endeavors, breaking societal norms in how you express love, joy, and pleasure.

Sixth House: You are a relentless worker, but the deeper lesson here is to balance your fiery drive with self-care. This placement teaches you that overwork without purpose drains vitality. Your true challenge is to find meaningful work that aligns with your karmic duty, not just physical survival.

Seventh House: Relationships become a mirror for your personal growth. The Sun in Aries pushes you to assert yourself, but also to learn compromise and collaboration. You may dominate your partnerships, but the higher lesson is to cultivate equal relationships where both partners can express their individuality.

Eighth House: Transformation is your life theme here. You are constantly reborn, often through crises or deep, personal change. The Sun in Aries in this house wants you to face your fears and emerge stronger. You are meant to become a spiritual warrior, unafraid to dive into the unknown to find your true power.

Ninth House: You are a trailblazer in philosophy, religion, and higher knowledge. The Sun here makes you question traditional beliefs and carve out your own spiritual or philosophical path. The deeper lesson is to lead others toward truth by first discovering it for yourself. You may challenge orthodox teachings and create new ways of thinking.

Tenth House: Career becomes a stage for your personal mission. The Sun in Aries pushes you to the forefront of your professional life, making you a leader or a trailblazer in your field. But it’s not just about success—this placement calls for you to make a lasting impact on the world, using your career as a vehicle for your soul’s purpose.

Eleventh House: The Sun in Aries makes you a leader within your social groups or communities. Your individuality shines through your friendships and collective endeavors. You may feel the urge to revolutionize group dynamics or societal structures. The higher lesson here is to use your influence for the collective good, without losing your sense of self.

Twelfth House: Here, the Sun in Aries guides you through the subconscious realm. It’s a spiritual warrior placement, where you must face hidden fears, dissolve the ego, and engage in deep soul work. Your true power comes when you learn to surrender control and let your spiritual self lead the way. The lesson is about finding strength in vulnerability and transformation.

𝐓𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Taurus is about grounding and solidifying the energy that Aries initiated. Taurus is a fixed earth sign, ruled by Venus, and when the Sun is placed here, its fiery energy is tempered by the desire for stability, security, and material comfort. However, at a deeper level, the Sun in Taurus is about finding self-worth beyond physical possessions. It’s a journey of learning to cultivate inner peace, resilience, and an appreciation for the beauty and value of life itself. Taurus is often misunderstood as merely a sign focused on indulgence, but the Sun here is about mastering the art of building a life of quality—emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It represents the quest for long-term fulfillment and sustainability.

Through the Houses:

First House: The Sun in Taurus makes you exude a calm, grounded presence. You seek stability in life and tend to build a strong sense of self through physical or material accomplishments. The deeper lesson here is learning that your identity isn’t just about what you own or how you appear but stems from inner security and self-worth.

Second House: Your sense of value and security is closely tied to material wealth and possessions. The Sun here amplifies your need for financial security, but it also challenges you to find value in non-material things—like self-love and inner peace. You must learn that true wealth is internal.

Third House: You are a steady and persistent communicator. You prefer to take a practical and methodical approach to learning and sharing knowledge. The deeper calling of the Sun here is to express your thoughts with both clarity and creativity, balancing practicality with an appreciation for beauty in words.

Fourth House: Your sense of emotional security is linked to a stable home environment. You seek to create a sanctuary where you feel safe and grounded. However, the Sun in Taurus in this house challenges you to cultivate emotional stability from within, rather than relying solely on external factors like family or property.

Fifth House: Creativity and pleasure are approached in a sensual, steady way. You find joy in indulging in life’s simple pleasures, and your creative endeavors often reflect beauty and harmony. The Sun here pushes you to explore the deeper value in your creative expression—are you creating for enjoyment, or are you channeling your higher self through your art?

Sixth House: You have a strong work ethic and are diligent in your daily routines. The Sun in Taurus here highlights your need for stability in health and work life. The deeper lesson is about finding balance between work and self-care, ensuring that your routines are nurturing and sustainable, not just a means to an end.

Seventh House: Relationships for you are about security and stability. You seek partnerships that provide a sense of grounding. However, the Sun here asks you to ensure that your need for comfort doesn’t lead to possessiveness or stagnation in relationships. The lesson is to find harmony between comfort and growth.

Eighth House: You are deeply tied to the material world, even in matters of transformation and loss. The Sun in Taurus here forces you to face issues of control and security, particularly around shared resources or intimacy. The challenge is to embrace change without clinging to material or emotional safety nets.

Ninth House: Your approach to spirituality and higher learning is rooted in practical wisdom. You seek truth in tangible experiences rather than abstract philosophies. The Sun here challenges you to broaden your horizons and find a deeper, more expansive meaning in life that transcends material reality.

Tenth House: You strive for success and recognition in a steady, persistent manner. The Sun in Taurus here makes you a reliable and determined leader, but the deeper lesson is to ensure that your career aligns with your inner values. True success comes when your professional life is a reflection of your personal worth.

Eleventh House: Your social circles and long-term goals are focused on building stability and security. The Sun in Taurus here calls you to bring beauty and practicality to your community and social causes. However, it also challenges you to not limit your dreams to the material world—there is a higher purpose to be found in your connections.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Taurus in the twelfth house draws you into the realm of subconscious desires for comfort and stability. You may have a hidden yearning for peace and security, but the Sun here teaches you to let go of attachments and find inner stability through spiritual surrender. The lesson is about releasing the need for control and finding serenity within.

𝐆𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Gemini is about intellectual curiosity and versatility. Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, intellect, and adaptability. When the Sun is placed here, its energy manifests through a need to express, learn, and connect. However, the deeper meaning of the Sun in Gemini goes beyond just being a social butterfly or a quick thinker. It represents the journey of understanding duality—balancing opposites, integrating knowledge from different sources, and using mental agility to make sense of the world. The Sun in Gemini pushes you to explore life’s complexities while seeking out the truth in the midst of diversity. It’s a placement that challenges you to connect the dots between seemingly unrelated ideas, becoming a channel for higher wisdom through your sharp intellect.

Through the Houses:

First House: You are the embodiment of mental agility and quick wit. Your identity is tied to your ability to communicate and adapt to your environment. The deeper lesson is to not scatter your energy in too many directions but to use your intellect with focus and intention, becoming a master of communication.

Second House: Your approach to financial security is highly mental. You may generate income through communication, writing, or intellectual pursuits. The Sun here teaches you that true value lies in knowledge and ideas, not just material wealth. You are called to recognize your intellectual assets as a source of self-worth.

Third House: This is the natural placement for Gemini, amplifying your curiosity and need for connection. You thrive in environments where you can exchange ideas and gather information. The deeper lesson is to cultivate depth in your interactions—don’t just skim the surface; explore topics with more focus and intention.

Fourth House: Your home life may be intellectualized, with a focus on mental stimulation within the family. The Sun in Gemini here challenges you to create emotional security not just through conversation but through understanding the emotional needs of yourself and others. The goal is to bridge the mind and the heart.

Fifth House: Your creativity is channeled through intellectual pursuits, whether through writing, teaching, or other forms of communication. The Sun in Gemini in this house urges you to infuse playfulness into your creative expressions but also challenges you to find meaning and purpose in your creative endeavors.

Sixth House: You bring versatility and adaptability to your work and daily routines. The Sun here makes you a problem solver, someone who can juggle multiple tasks. The deeper lesson is about using your intellect for service—how can you contribute your knowledge and skills to help others or improve your environment?

Seventh House: In relationships, you seek mental stimulation and communication. You are drawn to partners who engage your mind. The Sun in Gemini here challenges you to balance intellectual connection with emotional intimacy, ensuring that relationships aren’t just about conversation but also deeper understanding.

Eighth House: You approach transformation and the unknown with curiosity. You may intellectualize emotional or taboo topics, using your mind to explore hidden truths. The Sun in this house calls you to dive deeper into psychological and spiritual realms, using your intellect as a tool for profound inner growth.

Ninth House: Your quest for higher knowledge is diverse and eclectic. You are drawn to many different philosophies, and the Sun here urges you to integrate these ideas into a cohesive worldview. The deeper lesson is to find your own truth within the multitude of perspectives you encounter.

Tenth House: Your career may involve communication, teaching, or intellectual work. The Sun in Gemini here makes you a versatile and adaptable leader, but the deeper lesson is to find a path that aligns with your soul’s higher purpose, not just your intellectual curiosity. True success comes from a balance of mind and heart.

Eleventh House: Your social connections are based on shared ideas and intellectual pursuits. The Sun here makes you a networker, someone who thrives in groups where knowledge is exchanged. The challenge is to bring meaningful change to your social circles or communities by using your intellect for the greater good.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Gemini in the twelfth house guides you to explore the subconscious mind and hidden realms of thought. You are called to use your intellect to uncover hidden truths and spiritual wisdom. The deeper lesson is to surrender the ego and find clarity in the silence of the mind, bridging intellect with intuition.

𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Cancer represents a deep emotional intelligence and a strong connection to the nurturing qualities of the self. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, and when the Sun is placed here, it brings forth an energy of protection, care, and emotional depth. However, the deeper significance of the Sun in Cancer goes beyond just being emotional or sensitive—it is about understanding the sacred role of emotions in life’s journey and how they fuel your sense of purpose. This placement highlights the soul's need to connect with its roots, its emotional foundation, and to foster a sense of inner security. The Sun in Cancer often pushes you to explore the balance between caring for others and protecting your own inner world, teaching you that true strength comes from emotional resilience and a deep connection to your heart's desires.

Through the Houses:

First House: You project an emotionally grounded and nurturing persona. The Sun in Cancer here makes you deeply sensitive to your environment, but the deeper lesson is to protect your energy and build emotional boundaries that allow you to flourish without absorbing too much from others.

Second House: Your sense of security is rooted in emotional stability, and you may seek financial security through nurturing professions or caregiving. The Sun here challenges you to understand that wealth is not just about material resources but also about emotional fulfillment and building a strong foundation for the soul.

Third House: Communication is colored by emotion, and you have a natural ability to connect with others on an empathetic level. The Sun in Cancer here pushes you to speak from the heart, but it also encourages you to learn how to manage your emotions when engaging in dialogue. You are called to balance intuition with logic in your speech.

Fourth House: This is the most natural house for the Sun in Cancer, as it highlights your deep connection to home, family, and roots. The deeper lesson here is to find emotional security within yourself, rather than depending on external environments or family dynamics. You are meant to create a sanctuary of inner peace.

Fifth House: Your creativity and self-expression are deeply emotional, and you find joy in nurturing others or engaging in artistic endeavors that come from the heart. The Sun here teaches you to embrace your inner child and express your emotions freely, using creativity as a way to heal and connect with others.

Sixth House: You approach work and service with emotional dedication, often taking on roles where you can care for others or offer support. The deeper lesson here is about balancing your emotional energy with self-care, ensuring that you do not deplete yourself while trying to nurture others in your daily routines.

Seventh House: Relationships become the focus of your emotional energy, and you are deeply invested in partnerships that provide emotional security. The Sun in Cancer here challenges you to ensure that your relationships are balanced, teaching you to nurture others while also receiving care and emotional support in return.

Eighth House: You are emotionally drawn to transformation and the mysteries of life. The Sun in Cancer in this house highlights your need for emotional intimacy and depth in shared resources or spiritual pursuits. The challenge is to learn emotional detachment when necessary, embracing change as a form of emotional growth.

Ninth House: Your search for higher knowledge and spirituality is deeply emotional, and you may be drawn to spiritual paths that emphasize nurturing or protection. The Sun here pushes you to expand your emotional awareness through philosophical or spiritual teachings, finding emotional fulfillment in your quest for truth.

Tenth House: Your career and public life are driven by a need to care for or nurture others. The Sun in Cancer here may push you toward roles where you can emotionally connect with the world. The deeper lesson is to ensure that your career aligns with your emotional needs, finding purpose in your professional life by nurturing both yourself and others.

Eleventh House: You are emotionally connected to your social circles and long-term goals, seeking groups that provide a sense of family or emotional security. The Sun in Cancer here challenges you to nurture your friendships while also pursuing your personal dreams, balancing emotional fulfillment with collective growth.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Cancer in the twelfth house draws you into the realm of the subconscious and hidden emotions. You may be highly attuned to the emotional undercurrents of life, and the Sun here challenges you to release emotional attachments that no longer serve you. The deeper lesson is about finding emotional freedom through spiritual surrender.

𝐋𝐞𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Leo is a powerful placement as the Sun rules Leo, making this position one of the most natural expressions of solar energy. Leo is the sign of leadership, creativity, and self-expression, but the deeper meaning of the Sun in Leo is about embodying your divine purpose with authenticity and grace. The Sun in Leo isn't just about seeking attention or fame; it's about stepping into your role as a creator, someone who shines their inner light unapologetically, inspiring others through personal example. It is a karmic call to own your personal power, but with the wisdom that true leadership comes from the heart, not from ego-driven motives. The Sun in Leo teaches you that your greatest power comes from knowing yourself and sharing your gifts generously with the world.

Through the Houses:

First House: You radiate confidence and have a natural magnetism that draws others to you. The Sun in Leo in the first house challenges you to be a leader by example, to step into your authentic self without arrogance. You are called to develop self-awareness and embody the light of your higher self.

Second House: You find value and security in your self-worth, often seeking to express your personal power through material or financial success. The Sun in Leo here teaches you to recognize that true wealth comes from within, and your greatest asset is your ability to shine your light in ways that bring lasting value.

Third House: Communication and learning are avenues where you can express your creativity and leadership. You have a natural flair for speaking or teaching, but the deeper lesson here is to ensure that your voice uplifts and inspires, rather than dominating conversations. You are meant to communicate with heart.

Fourth House: Your sense of emotional security is tied to being recognized and appreciated in your home or family life. The Sun in Leo here asks you to create a warm and loving environment where your inner light can flourish. The lesson is to shine your light without seeking validation, finding emotional security from within.

Fifth House: This is a natural placement for the Sun, enhancing your creative abilities and self-expression. You are called to lead through your artistic talents, romantic endeavors, or relationship with children. The deeper lesson is to cultivate joy and passion, not for external approval, but for the pure joy of creation.

Sixth House: Your approach to work and service is filled with pride and dedication. The Sun in Leo here challenges you to balance your need for recognition with humility, ensuring that your work serves a higher purpose. You are called to lead through example, bringing your heart into your daily routines and service to others.

Seventh House: Relationships are a stage for your self-expression, and you seek partners who reflect your creative or leadership qualities. The Sun in Leo in this house teaches you to balance your needs for recognition with the needs of your partner, creating a dynamic where both individuals shine together, rather than competing for the spotlight.

Eighth House: You have a powerful presence when it comes to transformation and shared resources. The Sun in Leo here pushes you to embrace personal power in matters of intimacy, spirituality, and deep emotional connections. The lesson is to use your transformative power wisely, ensuring that it is aligned with your higher self, rather than ego.

Ninth House: Your search for higher knowledge and truth is expressed through leadership and creative exploration. The Sun in Leo in the ninth house urges you to lead in philosophical, spiritual, or academic matters. The deeper calling is to inspire others through your journey, sharing your insights in a way that uplifts and enlightens.

Tenth House: Your career and public life are places where your leadership shines brightest. The Sun in Leo in the tenth house makes you a natural authority figure, but the deeper lesson is to ensure that your success is aligned with your soul's purpose. You are called to be a leader who inspires through genuine integrity and heart-centered ambition.

Eleventh House: You are a leader within your social circles or community, often playing a central role in group endeavors. The Sun in Leo here asks you to use your influence to uplift the collective, ensuring that your personal goals align with the greater good. The lesson is to shine brightly without overshadowing the contributions of others.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Leo in the twelfth house draws your creative energy into the spiritual and subconscious realms. You are called to express your inner light in subtle or hidden ways, often working behind the scenes. The deeper lesson is about finding your true self through spiritual surrender, shining brightly even in solitude or silence.

𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Virgo brings a focus on precision, service, and mastery of detail. Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the planet of intellect, but the deeper significance of the Sun in Virgo lies in its need for refinement and perfection. This placement isn’t just about being analytical or critical; it’s about learning to align your actions with a higher purpose through meticulous care and dedication. The Sun in Virgo asks you to develop discernment and serve with humility, but it also challenges you to recognize the value of imperfection. It’s a call to use your sharp mind and detailed approach to improve systems, whether internal or external, in a way that honors the divine order of the universe. In essence, the Sun in Virgo is about integrating spiritual awareness into the mundane, finding the sacred in the everyday.

Through the Houses:

First House: You approach life with a sense of duty and a desire to improve yourself and your environment. The Sun in Virgo in the first house makes you highly self-aware and critical, but the deeper lesson is to use this energy for self-improvement rather than self-judgment. You are called to embody humility and service in your personal expression.

Second House: You bring a practical and analytical approach to finances and self-worth. The Sun here challenges you to recognize that your true value lies not just in what you possess but in your ability to serve others and improve systems. Your lesson is to find security through competence and purpose, not just material wealth.

Third House: Communication and learning are approached with precision and attention to detail. The Sun in Virgo in this house asks you to use your intellect to solve problems and refine your ideas. The deeper calling is to use your words to heal or improve the lives of others, combining knowledge with compassion.

Fourth House: Your emotional foundation is rooted in a desire for order and stability at home. The Sun in Virgo here pushes you to create a nurturing environment that promotes health and well-being. The lesson is to avoid perfectionism in your personal life, instead focusing on cultivating emotional security through small, meaningful improvements.

Fifth House: Creativity and self-expression are approached with a meticulous eye for detail. The Sun in Virgo in this house challenges you to take pride in your creative work but also to let go of the need for perfection. You are called to embrace joy in the process of creation rather than focusing solely on the outcome.

Sixth House: This is a natural placement for the Sun in Virgo, emphasizing service, health, and daily routines. You are driven to improve yourself and others through work or health-related activities. The deeper lesson is to balance service with self-care, ensuring that you are not sacrificing your well-being for the sake of perfection.

Seventh House: Relationships for you are about service and mutual improvement. The Sun in Virgo here challenges you to offer support and care to your partner without becoming overly critical or nitpicky. The deeper calling is to create harmonious relationships that are based on mutual growth and understanding, with a focus on refinement, not criticism.

Eighth House: You approach transformation and shared resources with an analytical and practical mindset. The Sun in Virgo in the eighth house asks you to be discerning in matters of intimacy and trust, but the deeper lesson is to surrender control and trust the process of transformation, using your intellect to navigate life’s mysteries.

Ninth House: Your pursuit of higher knowledge and spirituality is grounded in practical wisdom. The Sun in Virgo here encourages you to study philosophy or spirituality with an analytical eye, but it also challenges you to integrate what you learn into your daily life. The deeper lesson is to find divine order in both grand and mundane aspects of life.

Tenth House: Your career and public life are driven by a desire for excellence and service. The Sun in Virgo in this house makes you a diligent and responsible leader, but the deeper challenge is to ensure that your pursuit of perfection does not lead to burnout. You are called to lead by example, improving systems for the greater good without becoming overly self-critical.

Eleventh House: Your social circles and long-term goals are approached with a desire for improvement and practicality. The Sun in Virgo here asks you to refine your social impact, focusing on causes that benefit others. The deeper lesson is to avoid over-analyzing group dynamics and instead focus on how you can contribute meaningfully to collective goals.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Virgo in the twelfth house draws your attention to the need for inner purification and spiritual service. You may feel a strong urge to improve yourself on a subconscious level, but the deeper lesson is about letting go of perfectionism and embracing the imperfections of the soul. Your calling is to serve through humility and spiritual dedication, recognizing the divine in the smallest details of life.

𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Libra is in its debilitation, meaning it is in a sign where it struggles to express its natural energy. Libra, ruled by Venus, is about balance, harmony, and relationships, whereas the Sun represents individuality, ego, and personal power. The deeper significance of the Sun in Libra lies in the journey of learning to balance personal will with the needs and desires of others. This placement is not just about compromise or diplomacy—it’s about understanding the dance between self and other, and how true power is found through collaboration, fairness, and mutual respect. The Sun in Libra challenges you to cultivate your individuality without overshadowing others, teaching you the importance of shared success and the value of harmonious relationships.

Through the Houses:

First House: You are naturally diplomatic and focused on creating harmony in your surroundings. However, the Sun in Libra in the first house challenges you to develop a stronger sense of self while maintaining your desire for balance. The deeper lesson is to find inner equilibrium between your personal identity and your role in relationships.

Second House: Your approach to wealth and security is linked to partnerships and fairness. The Sun in Libra here asks you to balance personal gain with ethical and fair practices. The deeper calling is to understand that true value lies not only in material wealth but also in the quality of your relationships and how you treat others.

Third House: Communication for you is focused on fairness and diplomacy. The Sun in Libra in this house challenges you to assert your voice without losing sight of harmony. The lesson is to learn how to speak your truth while fostering mutual understanding, making sure your intellectual pursuits benefit both yourself and those around you.

Fourth House: You seek emotional security through balance and fairness in your home life. The Sun in Libra here urges you to create a peaceful and harmonious family environment, but the deeper lesson is to ensure that your emotional needs are not sacrificed in the pursuit of external harmony. Finding balance between giving and receiving is key.

Fifth House: Creativity and self-expression are linked to beauty, balance, and refinement. The Sun in Libra in this house calls you to express yourself in ways that inspire harmony and peace. The deeper challenge is to embrace your individuality in your creative endeavors without overly relying on the approval of others.

Sixth House: Your approach to work and service is grounded in a desire to create harmony and fairness in your environment. The Sun in Libra here challenges you to maintain balance in your work relationships and daily routines, ensuring that you are not overextending yourself in the name of harmony. The deeper lesson is to serve in a way that honors both yourself and others.

Seventh House: This is a natural placement for the Sun in Libra, emphasizing the importance of partnerships. You are deeply invested in creating balanced and harmonious relationships, but the challenge is to avoid losing yourself in the process. The lesson is to find equal partnerships where both individuals can shine, rather than sacrificing your individuality for the sake of peace.

Eighth House: You approach transformation and shared resources with a focus on balance and fairness. The Sun in Libra in this house urges you to navigate deep emotional or financial matters with diplomacy and grace. The deeper lesson is to learn how to assert your own needs and boundaries while maintaining harmony in these intense areas of life.

Ninth House: Your search for higher knowledge and truth is guided by principles of fairness and justice. The Sun in Libra here calls you to explore philosophies and belief systems that emphasize balance and harmony. The deeper challenge is to remain true to your personal beliefs while respecting the perspectives of others, finding common ground in your spiritual journey.

Tenth House: In your career and public life, you strive to create balance and fairness. The Sun in Libra in the tenth house makes you a natural diplomat or mediator in professional settings, but the deeper lesson is to assert your leadership in a way that honors both your individual goals and the collective good. True success comes from fostering cooperation and mutual respect.

Eleventh House: Your social circles and long-term goals are centered around creating harmony within groups. The Sun in Libra here challenges you to take a leadership role in social causes or communities, promoting fairness and equality. The deeper lesson is to ensure that your personal aspirations align with the greater good, finding a balance between self-interest and collective progress.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Libra in the twelfth house draws your focus inward, emphasizing the need to balance your inner world. You may feel a strong urge to create peace and harmony within yourself, but the deeper lesson is about releasing attachments to external validation. This placement encourages you to find balance through spiritual surrender, letting go of the need for approval and finding harmony within.

��𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐢𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Scorpio brings intensity, depth, and transformation. Scorpio is ruled by Mars and Ketu (as well as Pluto in modern Astrology), and when the Sun is placed here, its fiery energy is channeled into the mysterious, hidden, and transformational aspects of life. The deeper significance of the Sun in Scorpio lies in its ability to face the darkness within, using challenges and crises as tools for personal and spiritual growth. This is a placement that demands inner strength, emotional resilience, and the courage to embrace the unknown. The Sun in Scorpio pushes you to go beyond superficiality, compelling you to dive deep into the core of your being, where true power lies. It’s a journey of self-discovery and empowerment through transformation and shedding old layers of identity.

Through the Houses:

First House: You exude intensity and magnetic presence. The Sun in Scorpio in the first house makes you fiercely self-aware, with a powerful need to understand yourself and your deeper motivations. The lesson here is to balance your desire for control with the need for personal transformation, using your intense willpower for self-mastery rather than domination.

Second House: Your approach to security and wealth is rooted in emotional and psychological depth. The Sun in Scorpio here challenges you to transform your relationship with material resources, recognizing that true worth comes from within. The deeper calling is to release attachments to possessions and instead cultivate inner value and resilience.

Third House: Communication for you is intense and profound. The Sun in Scorpio in this house urges you to explore hidden truths and express yourself with emotional depth. The deeper lesson is to learn how to channel your intensity in a constructive way, using your words to empower others and uncover the truth, without becoming overly secretive or manipulative.

Fourth House: Your emotional security is tied to transformation and deep psychological insight. The Sun in Scorpio here challenges you to confront old family patterns or emotional wounds. The deeper lesson is to create a foundation of inner strength, where emotional depth is a source of power rather than vulnerability.

Fifth House: Creativity and self-expression are intense and transformative. The Sun in Scorpio in this house calls you to express your passion through creative endeavors or romantic pursuits that challenge you to grow and evolve. The deeper challenge is to embrace vulnerability in your self-expression, allowing your inner power to shine through without fear.

Sixth House: You approach work and service with intensity and determination. The Sun in Scorpio in the sixth house challenges you to transform your daily routines and health habits, using discipline and willpower. The deeper lesson is to serve others in a way that is both empowering and transformative, ensuring that your efforts lead to growth and healing.

Seventh House: Relationships are deeply transformative for you. The Sun in Scorpio in this house makes you seek intense emotional connections, but the challenge is to balance power dynamics within partnerships. The deeper calling is to engage in relationships that foster mutual growth and transformation, where both individuals are empowered rather than controlled.

Eighth House: This is a natural placement for the Sun, amplifying your connection to transformation, shared resources, and deep psychological insight. The Sun in Scorpio here challenges you to embrace change and personal transformation, using crises or challenges as catalysts for growth. The lesson is to find empowerment through surrender, accepting the cycles of death and rebirth in life.

Ninth House: Your search for higher knowledge and spirituality is marked by intensity and a desire for deep transformation. The Sun in Scorpio here pushes you to explore esoteric or hidden wisdom, seeking truth beyond the surface. The deeper challenge is to integrate this knowledge into your life in a way that fosters personal evolution and spiritual empowerment.

Tenth House: Your career and public life are marked by a need for control, power, and transformation. The Sun in Scorpio in the tenth house challenges you to find a career path that allows you to harness your intensity and emotional depth. The lesson here is to lead through personal transformation, inspiring others through your ability to face challenges and rise stronger.

Eleventh House: You seek intense and transformative connections within your social circles. The Sun in Scorpio here challenges you to lead groups or communities through times of change or crisis, using your emotional insight to guide others. The deeper lesson is to ensure that your long-term goals align with your need for personal transformation and collective growth.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Scorpio in the twelfth house draws your attention to the subconscious, spiritual transformation, and hidden aspects of life. You are called to explore the depths of your inner world, facing fears and psychological shadows. The deeper lesson is to embrace spiritual surrender, allowing yourself to undergo profound transformation on a soul level, finding power in letting go.

𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Sagittarius represents the quest for higher knowledge, truth, and spiritual exploration. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of wisdom and expansion, and when the Sun is placed here, it brings a thirst for adventure, philosophical insight, and meaning. The deeper significance of the Sun in Sagittarius is about embracing the journey of life as a path to enlightenment. It’s not just about seeking truth for the sake of knowledge but using that truth to grow spiritually and to uplift others. The Sun in Sagittarius urges you to live with a sense of purpose, finding freedom through wisdom and the courage to pursue your ideals. It is a call to align your actions with your higher principles, expanding not only your mind but your soul.

Through the Houses:

First House: You embody the spirit of adventure and philosophical inquiry. The Sun in Sagittarius in the first house challenges you to lead with wisdom and optimism, inspiring others through your pursuit of truth. The deeper lesson is to embrace life as a journey, using your personal experiences as opportunities for spiritual growth and self-discovery.

Second House: Your approach to wealth and security is influenced by your higher ideals and philosophical values. The Sun in Sagittarius here challenges you to see material resources as a tool for expanding your understanding of the world. The deeper lesson is to cultivate a sense of inner abundance, recognizing that true wealth lies in your wisdom and integrity.

Third House: Communication and learning are driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to share your insights with others. The Sun in Sagittarius in this house pushes you to explore different perspectives and expand your intellectual horizons. The lesson is to use your words and ideas to inspire others, sharing wisdom that uplifts and enlightens.

Fourth House: Your emotional foundation is rooted in a sense of freedom and higher purpose. The Sun in Sagittarius here challenges you to create a home environment that supports your spiritual growth and exploration. The deeper lesson is to balance your need for adventure with the importance of emotional security, finding home within yourself.

Fifth House: Creativity and self-expression are deeply linked to your pursuit of truth and spiritual ideals. The Sun in Sagittarius in this house urges you to express yourself through teaching, art, or creative endeavors that reflect your philosophical insights. The deeper calling is to share your joy and wisdom with others, inspiring them to seek higher meaning in life.

Sixth House: You approach work and service with a sense of purpose and dedication to a higher ideal. The Sun in Sagittarius in the sixth house challenges you to find meaning in your daily routines, using your work as a vehicle for spiritual and personal growth. The deeper lesson is to align your service with your higher principles, ensuring that your efforts contribute to the greater good.

Seventh House: Relationships are a source of growth and expansion for you. The Sun in Sagittarius here calls you to seek partnerships that support your intellectual and spiritual journey. The challenge is to maintain your sense of freedom and individuality while fostering meaningful connections. The deeper lesson is to create relationships based on shared ideals and mutual growth.

Eighth House: You are drawn to the mysteries of life and transformation, approaching these themes with a philosophical mindset. The Sun in Sagittarius in this house challenges you to explore the deeper truths behind life, death, and rebirth. The lesson is to use transformation as a tool for spiritual growth, seeking wisdom through life’s profound changes.

Ninth House: This is a natural placement for the Sun, amplifying your connection to higher knowledge, spirituality, and truth-seeking. The Sun in Sagittarius in the ninth house makes you a natural teacher, philosopher, or spiritual guide. The deeper calling is to share your wisdom with others, using your insights to inspire and uplift those around you.

Tenth House: Your career and public life are driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on the world. The Sun in Sagittarius in the tenth house challenges you to align your professional path with your higher ideals, seeking success through contribution to a greater cause. The lesson is to lead with integrity, using your career as a platform for spreading wisdom and positivity.

Eleventh House: Your social circles and long-term goals are influenced by your ideals and desire for expansion. The Sun in Sagittarius here urges you to contribute to causes that promote growth, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment within the collective. The deeper lesson is to align your personal aspirations with the greater good, ensuring that your influence leads to positive change.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Sagittarius in the twelfth house draws your focus to spiritual exploration and inner wisdom. You are called to seek truth through introspection and spiritual practices that transcend the material world. The deeper lesson is about finding freedom and enlightenment through surrender, letting go of worldly attachments to embrace your soul’s higher purpose.

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Capricorn is about discipline, responsibility, and long-term goals. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of structure, karma, and time, and when the Sun is placed here, it brings a focus on ambition, duty, and mastery of material reality. However, the deeper significance of the Sun in Capricorn lies in learning to balance worldly success with inner integrity. It’s not just about climbing the social or professional ladder—it’s about doing so in a way that reflects your core values and contributes to something greater than yourself. The Sun in Capricorn urges you to take responsibility for your path, harnessing your inner strength and resilience to build a legacy that lasts. This placement teaches the soul to endure challenges with patience, knowing that true success comes through steady effort and commitment to higher ideals.

Through the Houses:

First House: You carry yourself with a sense of responsibility and seriousness. The Sun in Capricorn in the first house makes you goal-oriented and focused on long-term achievements. The deeper lesson is to balance your ambition with self-compassion, ensuring that your drive for success doesn’t come at the cost of your inner peace and well-being.

Second House: Your approach to wealth and security is practical and grounded. The Sun in Capricorn here challenges you to build financial stability through hard work and careful planning. The deeper calling is to understand that true security comes not only from material wealth but also from a solid foundation of values and self-discipline.

Third House: Communication and learning are approached with a structured and methodical mindset. The Sun in Capricorn in this house pushes you to express yourself with authority and clarity. The deeper lesson is to use your words and intellect to create something lasting, ensuring that your ideas contribute to the practical and long-term improvement of your environment.

Fourth House: Your sense of emotional security is rooted in structure and stability at home. The Sun in Capricorn here challenges you to create a solid foundation for yourself and your family, but the deeper lesson is to recognize that true emotional security comes from inner stability, not just external order or material success.

Fifth House: Creativity and self-expression are approached with discipline and a desire to produce something of lasting value. The Sun in Capricorn in this house encourages you to take a serious approach to your creative projects, but the deeper lesson is to find joy in the process, allowing your inner child to flourish even within structure.

Sixth House: You bring a strong sense of duty and responsibility to your work and service. The Sun in Capricorn in the sixth house challenges you to approach your daily routines with discipline, ensuring that your work contributes to your long-term goals. The deeper lesson is to balance hard work with self-care, ensuring that your dedication to service doesn’t lead to burnout.

Seventh House: Relationships for you are about commitment and long-term stability. The Sun in Capricorn in this house challenges you to approach partnerships with maturity and responsibility. The deeper calling is to create relationships that are built on mutual respect and shared goals, ensuring that both partners grow together over time.

Eighth House: You approach transformation and shared resources with caution and a desire for control. The Sun in Capricorn in this house challenges you to face deep psychological or financial issues with discipline and perseverance. The deeper lesson is to embrace change as a necessary part of life, using transformation as a tool for personal and spiritual growth.

Ninth House: Your pursuit of higher knowledge and truth is grounded in practicality and long-term vision. The Sun in Capricorn here pushes you to seek wisdom that can be applied in tangible ways, ensuring that your philosophical or spiritual pursuits lead to lasting success. The deeper lesson is to find balance between practicality and the pursuit of higher ideals.

Tenth House: This is a natural placement for the Sun, amplifying your ambition and desire for public recognition. The Sun in Capricorn in the tenth house makes you a natural leader, but the deeper challenge is to ensure that your success aligns with your inner values. You are called to lead with integrity, building a legacy that reflects your highest principles.

Eleventh House: Your social circles and long-term goals are focused on achieving practical results and contributing to society in meaningful ways. The Sun in Capricorn in this house challenges you to use your influence to create lasting change within your community. The deeper lesson is to ensure that your personal ambitions align with the collective good, balancing individual success with social responsibility.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Capricorn in the twelfth house draws your focus inward, emphasizing the need for spiritual discipline and inner work. You are called to explore the deeper aspects of your subconscious and face your karmic responsibilities with patience and perseverance. The deeper lesson is about finding spiritual freedom through structure, using discipline to transcend material limitations and align with your soul’s higher purpose.

𝐀𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Aquarius brings a focus on innovation, individuality, and collective consciousness. Aquarius is ruled by Saturn and co-ruled by Rahu (as well as Uranus in modern Astrology), which gives this sign a unique blend of traditional and unconventional energy. The deeper significance of the Sun in Aquarius is about balancing personal identity with the greater good. It’s not just about standing out or being different—it’s about using your individuality to serve a higher purpose. The Sun in Aquarius urges you to embrace your role as a visionary, someone who can look beyond the present and see the potential for progress and transformation in society. This placement teaches the soul to rise above ego-based desires and contribute to the collective evolution, while maintaining authenticity and freedom.

Through the Houses:

First House: You carry yourself with a strong sense of individuality and a desire to be different from the norm. The Sun in Aquarius in the first house challenges you to use your unique perspective for the betterment of society. The deeper lesson is to balance your personal identity with a sense of responsibility toward the collective, becoming a leader who inspires change.

Second House: Your approach to wealth and security is unconventional, and you may seek to build financial stability through innovative means. The Sun in Aquarius here challenges you to redefine traditional ideas of wealth, focusing on how your resources can benefit the collective. The deeper lesson is to find value in originality and to use your talents to create something lasting for society.

Third House: Communication and learning for you are driven by a desire for new ideas and progressive thinking. The Sun in Aquarius in this house pushes you to challenge conventional wisdom and explore different ways of thinking. The lesson here is to use your voice to inspire others toward innovation and change, ensuring that your ideas contribute to the greater good.

Fourth House: Your sense of emotional security is linked to freedom and unconventional family dynamics. The Sun in Aquarius in the fourth house challenges you to create a home environment that allows for individuality and growth. The deeper lesson is to balance your need for independence with emotional connection, ensuring that your sense of home is both grounding and liberating.

Fifth House: Creativity and self-expression are infused with innovation and a desire to challenge norms. The Sun in Aquarius in this house calls you to express yourself in ways that are unique and ahead of your time. The deeper challenge is to use your creative gifts to inspire progress, not just for personal fulfillment but for the advancement of society.

Sixth House: You approach work and service with an unconventional mindset, often seeking to improve systems or innovate in your routines. The Sun in Aquarius in the sixth house challenges you to use your work as a vehicle for societal progress, ensuring that your efforts benefit the collective. The deeper lesson is to balance your desire for change with practicality, ensuring that your innovations have lasting value.

Seventh House: Relationships for you are about equality, freedom, and mutual respect. The Sun in Aquarius in this house challenges you to build partnerships that honor individuality and personal growth. The deeper lesson is to create relationships where both partners can contribute to the greater good, using the relationship as a platform for collective evolution.

Eighth House: You approach transformation and shared resources with a progressive and detached mindset. The Sun in Aquarius in the eighth house challenges you to explore deep psychological or financial issues with an innovative approach. The lesson is to embrace change as a form of personal and collective growth, using transformation to break free from old patterns and evolve.

Ninth House: Your search for higher knowledge and spirituality is unconventional and often ahead of its time. The Sun in Aquarius in this house pushes you to explore new philosophies, spiritual systems, or cultural ideas that challenge the status quo. The deeper calling is to use your knowledge to inspire others to think beyond traditional boundaries, contributing to the collective consciousness.

Tenth House: Your career and public life are driven by a desire to innovate and challenge traditional systems. The Sun in Aquarius in the tenth house makes you a natural leader in fields that require vision and forward thinking. The deeper lesson is to align your career with the greater good, ensuring that your contributions have a lasting impact on society.

Eleventh House: This is a natural placement for the Sun, amplifying your connection to social causes and long-term goals that benefit humanity. The Sun in Aquarius in the eleventh house challenges you to lead within your social circles, using your influence to bring about change and progress. The deeper lesson is to balance your personal aspirations with the collective good, ensuring that your efforts contribute to a better future.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Aquarius in the twelfth house draws your focus inward, emphasizing the need for spiritual liberation and detachment from ego. You are called to explore the hidden aspects of yourself and society, seeking to break free from limiting beliefs or patterns. The deeper lesson is to find freedom through spiritual surrender, using your individuality as a tool for collective healing and awakening.

𝐏𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐧

The Sun in Pisces represents spiritual insight, compassion, and the dissolution of the ego. Pisces is ruled by Jupiter and co-ruled by Neptune in modern astrology, which gives this sign a deeply intuitive, creative, and mystical energy. The deeper significance of the Sun in Pisces lies in its ability to transcend the material world and connect with the divine. It’s not just about being sensitive or imaginative—this placement is about the soul’s journey toward unity, empathy, and universal love. The Sun in Pisces encourages you to release attachments to ego-based desires and embrace the fluid, ever-changing nature of life. This is a call to live with compassion, allowing your inner light to guide others toward healing and spiritual awakening.

Through the Houses:

First House: You embody the Piscean qualities of empathy, intuition, and spiritual depth. The Sun in Pisces in the first house challenges you to lead with compassion and sensitivity, but the deeper lesson is to develop a strong inner sense of self without being overwhelmed by the emotions of others. You are called to express your spiritual nature while maintaining personal boundaries.

Second House: Your approach to wealth and security is influenced by a desire to connect with something greater than material possessions. The Sun in Pisces here challenges you to redefine your values, focusing on spiritual and emotional wealth rather than material accumulation. The deeper lesson is to cultivate a sense of security that comes from inner peace and trust in the flow of life.

Third House: Communication and learning are infused with intuition and imagination. The Sun in Pisces in this house pushes you to express yourself creatively, often through storytelling or spiritual insight. The deeper calling is to use your voice to inspire and uplift others, sharing wisdom that transcends logic and touches the heart.

Fourth House: Your emotional foundation is rooted in spirituality and compassion. The Sun in Pisces in the fourth house challenges you to create a home environment that nurtures your soul and allows for spiritual growth. The lesson is to find emotional security through inner peace and connection to the divine, rather than relying solely on external stability.

Fifth House: Creativity and self-expression are deeply intuitive and imaginative. The Sun in Pisces in this house urges you to express yourself through artistic or spiritual channels, embracing your inner world. The deeper challenge is to let go of perfectionism and allow your creative energy to flow freely, trusting in the process rather than focusing on the outcome.

Sixth House: You approach work and service with compassion and a desire to help others. The Sun in Pisces in the sixth house challenges you to find meaning in your daily routines by aligning them with your spiritual values. The deeper lesson is to balance your desire to serve with self-care, ensuring that your work contributes to both your own well-being and that of others.

Seventh House: Relationships are approached with empathy, compassion, and spiritual understanding. The Sun in Pisces in this house challenges you to create partnerships that are based on mutual emotional and spiritual growth. The deeper lesson is to balance your need for connection with your inner spiritual journey, ensuring that relationships support your higher purpose.

Eighth House: You are drawn to the mysteries of life, and your approach to transformation is deeply spiritual. The Sun in Pisces in the eighth house challenges you to embrace change and transformation as part of your spiritual evolution. The lesson is to release attachments to control and trust in the process of life, allowing yourself to surrender to deeper truths and emotional healing.

Ninth House: Your search for higher knowledge and truth is infused with a spiritual and intuitive approach. The Sun in Pisces here pushes you to explore different spiritual philosophies and to seek meaning beyond the material world. The deeper calling is to integrate these insights into your life and share them with others, using your wisdom to inspire and guide.

Tenth House: Your career and public life are guided by your desire to contribute to something greater than yourself. The Sun in Pisces in the tenth house challenges you to align your professional life with your spiritual purpose, using your career as a platform for compassion, healing, and creativity. The deeper lesson is to lead with humility and empathy, creating a legacy that reflects your spiritual values.

Eleventh House: Your social circles and long-term goals are influenced by your vision for a compassionate and connected world. The Sun in Pisces here challenges you to contribute to causes that uplift humanity and promote healing. The deeper lesson is to align your personal dreams with the collective good, ensuring that your influence brings positive change and spiritual progress to your community.

Twelfth House: The Sun in Pisces in the twelfth house draws your focus inward, emphasizing the need for spiritual reflection, healing, and connection to the divine. You are called to explore the hidden realms of your subconscious, surrendering to the flow of life. The deeper lesson is about finding peace in solitude, using your spiritual insights to guide yourself and others toward enlightenment and inner peace.

Masterlist - YouTube (subliminals)

[chososcamgirl]

(SHE’S) JUST A PHASE CHAPTER SIXTEEN: maybe a phase?

masterlist

“Didn’t expect this many people to show up,” Megumi mumbled to the pink-haired boy beside him.

“I like it! It’s like our very own cult!” Yuji exclaimed; his eyes sparkling as he licked his lips in anticipation.

The raven rolled his eyes at the remark. He wasn’t wrong though. With the turnout of the event, you could start a small religion. 

Fans gathered in eager clusters; their faces lit with anticipation as they waited for their moment with the band. Laughter echoed around him, a stark contrast to the knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. Megumi felt like a marionette, expertly performing his role while his heart remained tethered to unspoken thoughts.

“Megumi, can you finish the heart?” 

He suppresses a mental groan at yet another familiar request, but he obliges, nonetheless. 

That definitely must have been the hundredth one. With a practised smile, he lifts his hand, expertly completing the heart shape as the girl beams through the screen. The phone obscures her face, leaving him with only a sense of her enthusiasm.

Around him, the atmosphere of the fan meet-and-greet buzzes with energy. His bandmates are in their element, laughing and joking with fans, their easy conviviality filling the air with warmth. They engage with their admirers, sharing stories and creating moments that spark joy, their carefree spirits a stark contrast to his mood - enjoying themselves. 

Having fun.

As he stands there, a twinge of envy bubbles beneath the surface. Here he is, moping over a girl who seems not to want anything to do with him. Well, anything but his dick. While everyone else is immersed in genuine interaction, he can’t shake the feeling of being sidelined and lost in his thoughts while the world around him pulses with life and laughter.

why would i care?

His heart panging as he replayed the text message he had received days ago, each word lingering like a haunting refrain. Was it wrong to feel this way? To sense that everything he had shared was merely a facade, a carefully crafted performance for someone who never truly saw him. 

He couldn’t shake the unsettling realization that he felt like nothing more than a fleeting moment in her life—a one-night stand disguised as something deeper. The weight of this realization pressed down on him, an oppressive reminder that his emotions felt tossed aside as if he were just an afterthought in a narrative that didn’t include him. 

The feeling of being used gnawed at him, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Every time he revisited that moment, a tight knot formed in his stomach, an ache that echoed his longing for something genuine. He craved a connection that resonated beyond the surface and spoke to his heart and soul rather than just his body. As the days passed, that yearning only deepened, leaving him in a cycle of doubt and self-reflection, questioning what it truly meant to be seen and valued.

Whatever. Fuck Yn. She can go fuck herself. I don’t fucking need her. Fuck her. Fuck her. Fuck her. Fuck her. Fuck-

“Oh my god! I’m such a huge fan!” The enthusiastic voice sliced through his thoughts, yanking him back to the chaotic reality of the event.

He quickly summoned his best faux smile, a mask he had perfected through countless encounters.

“Hey! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it,” he replied, glancing down at the array of items sliding his way to autograph—each one a reminder of the crushing expectations he felt.

The fan leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I just have one question for you.”

“Shoot,” he said, keeping his voice steady, though a flicker of tension danced beneath the surface.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

He chuckled at the unexpected question, shaking his head. “I do not.”

“Then who’s that girl you’re always with?” she asked, tilting her head curiously.

“Dunno who you’re talking about,” he said, trying to keep his composure as he continues signing.

“Yes, you do!” she insisted, her voice rising with excitement as she grips the edge of the table.

As she continued to speculate about this so-called girlfriend, Megumi felt something inside him unravel. Maybe it was the sting of her silence in their last conversation, the way she had left him on read, leaving him feeling a little shattered. Or perhaps it was the sheer exhaustion of the endless meet-and-greet, where each interaction felt like a rehearsed line in a play he no longer wished to perform. The walls felt as if they were closing in, the air thick with unspoken feelings and unresolved questions.

Something snapped.

“She’s not my girlfriend, she’s just some random bitch who sluts herself out and calls it fun.”

The words escaped him before he could rein them in.

A heavy silence settles between them; the fan was stunned into stillness by his choice of words — and profanity. His eyes dropped to the phone in her hands, and dread washed over him as he realises she was recording.

Fuck.

extras!

• hey siri play she’s just a phase by puma blue

• cue the megumi fumble arc

• megumi crash out video: 2 minutes long

• poor gojo had a heart attack when he got that pop bae notification (he hates dealing with the press)

• he put on notifs ever since they posted a pic of him and suguru walking out of a hotel together hand in hand LMFAO

• yn was standing in one spot just furiously tapping at her phone and panda asked if she was playing fruit ninja

• he got sent to his room after that

• nobara saw the video first (mainly bc she was on twitter at the time. who’s surprised?)

• told yn to brace herself and showed her it

• yn made 7 hate accounts during the uber to sukuna’s

• that girl mad as hell😂😂🤣🤦‍♀️

• i hope they don’t hook up!!

• side eye dog meme

taglist: @shokosbunny @luvvmae @satoryaa @prozacprinc3ss @essjujutsu @therealsatorugojo @yeehawslap @gojodickbig @dawnisatotalqueen @j2upiters @nappingnai @lalalasillybilly3000 @totallytatum @3cst4syy @lysaray @saltypuffin1040 @aozui @noodles-icetea @makeshiftproject @kurtcobaingirlie @kokoiinuts @dashingaurries @slvttycorpse @cuupidsss @mochroialainn @tenjikusstuff4 @ichcocat @laughingfcx @sugurubabe @allthestarsarecloserrrrrrr @tyigerz @yoyo-yui @megoomies @yizmiu @jasminasblog22 @marst4rz @guitarstringed-scars @kalulakunundrum @lovefrominaya @beepbopzlorp @itsdragonius @meguemii @chilichopsticks @starantulas @1l-ynn @sluttkuna @rcveriees @solaqes @starrysho @sukunaspillow @evry1luvssm

*if i can't tag you please change your tag settings otherwise i will remove you from the list!

[felassan]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard info compilation Post 3

[Part 1] [Part 2] Post is under a cut due to length.

There is a lot of information coming out right now about DA:TV from many different sources. This post is just an effort to compile as much as I can in one place, in case that helps anyone. Sources for where the information came from have been included. Where I am linking to a social media user’s post, the person is either a dev, a Dragon Age community council member or other person who has had a sneak peek at and played the game. nb, this post is more of a ‘info that came out in snippets from articles and social media posts’ collection rather than a 'regurgitating the information on the official website or writing out what happened in the trailer/gameplay reveal’ post. The post is broken down into headings on various topics. A few points are repeated under multiple headings where relevant. Where I am speculating without a source, I have clearly demarcated this. if you notice any mistakes in this post, please tell me.

Character Creation

All armor and clothing options will scale and mesh to any body type [source]

The character creator has lots of sliders for body parts and overall shape, none of which are tied to the voice or pronouns (she/her, he/him, or they/them) that you choose [source]

"Epler took special care to show off the extensive curly and textured hair options in the game, including several versions of braids and locs, noting that increasing these options in particular was very important to the team" [source]

You can change your character’s physical appearance at any time during the game, but not their class or backstory [source]

"Each individual class has some variability, too; even the mage class has some up-close-and-personal attacks, since a mage player character could still conceivably have an assassin backstory and would therefore need to have some attacks to accommodate that sort of career path" [source]

" "We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about skin tone,” Corinne said. The character we made, a Black elf, seemed to glow in the bluish light of a nighttime scene, and under bright sunlight, I could see the richness of his color. Corinne: "We want to make sure that skin tone is reflected authentically" " [source]

" “We have dozens and dozens of hair types,” she said. “And they’re fully affected by physics.” The quality and variety of choices I saw delighted me. The rows of bouncy, luxurious-looking hair of all curl types and textures (and yes, the annoyingly ubiquitous “Killmonger cut” was among the options, what can you do?) brought the biggest smile to my face in the hour I spent with Busche and The Veilguard." [source]

Story and lore

NPCs will remember when you chuck a shopkeeper through a plate-glass window [source]

" The game’s story sees Solas intact a plot that will result in the deaths of thousands. When his justification that “people die, it’s what they do,” falls on deaf ears, you and your merry band of misfits have to stop him " [source]

" “Early in the demo and in the trailer, you’re in a part of the world you’ve never been in – Tevinter,” Epler tells me. “Tevinter is known for being a place of high magic; visually, it’s different. Obviously in Origins you’re in Ferelden, which was grubby, muddy, and very visually different and distinct. That said, it’s the first hour of the game, so we’re only seeing the prologue. As you go deeper, you’ll find that the game can be just as bloody and just as grim as Dragon Age Origins, 2, and Inquisition. For us, it’s that feeling of contrast. You get moments of higher fantasy magic coming back to the world through Solas’ ritual, but also things get pretty grim, and things get pretty dark in some spaces for sure.” " [source]

"Snappy dialogue" [source]

The game is really about each of the companions [source]

Narrative narrative narrative! [source]

The Shadow Dragons are an underground resistance that engages in guerrilla warfare against the corrupt mage rulers of the Tevinter Imperium [source]

"Varric has created the group called the Veilguards, recruiting a veritable group of weirdos to pursue Solas, who’s carved a path through the magical empire of Tevinter" [source]

"There’s intrigue to the game’s tale already, with Varric hoping he can convince Solas to stop his plan of tearing open the Veil: a wish by the dwarf to save a dear friend. There’s a fascinating relationship that's already being set up, Varric and Solas as opposing narrative forces, with your character, Rook, pulled between them" [source]

"There’s extra context to flesh out dialogue, with short descriptions that help give a vague idea of how things play out. The example we were shown was Rook trying to take down a gang leader inside a bar. We could choose to defuse the situation with either words or weapons, but the catch is you don’t know how effective those approaches will be" [source]

" Busche explained that the team wanted to give players a game where locations were imbued with just as much personality as the characters. “That meant making contrast from the areas that are dark and decaying to the areas that are illuminated with magic,” Busche said " [source]

" “This is a part of the world where magic has been embraced,” Busche said. “It is a society of mages and magic in this world is inherently colorful. So whether we’re seeing them use magic for everyday purposes like signage or using them as spells, that color really comes through.” " [source]

We will visit the Necropolis of Nevarra [source]

Gameplay, presentation, performance etc

There are dozens of abilities and spells [source]

The game has an easy mode [source]

There is a setting where your character can't die in battle [source]

"The Rogue class in our demo had a bow with recharging arrows for ranged attacks, and dual blades that could unleash a furious flurry of instantaneous blows" [source]

[☕ found this post or blog interesting or useful? my ko-fi is here if you feel inclined. thank you 🙏]

[moetartart]

:*Trigger Warning for Abuse:** An analysis of the nuanced depiction of abuse dynamics in *Baldur's Gate 3*. Please skip if you’re uncomfortable with this topic or you hate long rants <3

**Cazador at the Head of the Table, and His Forced Family, with Astarion as the Scapegoat**

Cazador is one of the best-written abusers in fiction, and Astarion is one of the best depictions of a non perfect survivor. Showcasing how abusers systematically break down their victims in a way that is thoughtful and non-voyeuristic, and how this may effect the victim after.

Astarion often receives criticism for his behavior. Much if it valid. I don’t seek to excuse his actions or speak about him as if he were a real person, But to break down this amazingly written narrative and how his experiences shape his character and a depiction of a non perfect victim. It's great to see actions having consequences in the story and being the driving force in chatecter development and I think it was handled very respectfully

One of the most compelling aspects of Astarion's story is the depiction of the "scapegoat" abuse tactic. Where a caregiver selects one child as the primary target of ridicule and abuse. Astarion says, "He took a special pleasure in my pain. He said my screams sounded sweetest." Often, the scapegoat is the child who most reminds the abuser of themselves when they were most vulnerable, or has similarities to the abuser of the parent or even someone they witnessed being abused when they were a child. The abuser uses this child to demonstrate the consequences of disobedience, and as a way of bonding the other children against the scapegoat, often by forcing the other children to engage in abuse themselves. The parent will inflict the trauma they were exposed to when they were most vulnerable on their child in a twisted way to re-gain their own power and autonomy buy projecting it onto someone elses. Acting out scenarios where they felt weak but now they are the one with all the power.

Cazador's tactics of infantilization are particularly gut-wrenching. He calls Astarion a "stupid little boy" and forces him to call him "father," undermining his belief in his ability to make adult decisions on his own while simultaneously also forcing him into adult work and physical abuse. A way to break down his self esteem and take away his autonomy. This adds another level to Cazador's twisted, intimate abuse.

It's evident when you ask if Astarion called Cazador "master" in the bedroom, and he reacts negatively. It is also implied in the dialogue, "One final thrust... and I'll be rid of you..." as Astarion stands over Cazador, ready to stab him with a phalic symbol and Cazador in a submissive position.

In a Shadowheart playthrough, we see how Astarion seeks someone to follow because he doesn’t know how to think for himself. Auntie Ethel remarks that he misses his chains, and he admits he doesn't know how to make his own decisions. In Astarion's dream, you learn one of Cazador's rules is that Astarion must stay by his side unless told otherwise. We also see that Cazador regularly dined with Astarion, serving him putrid rats. He says "I have spent two centuries with You, and that should be punishment enough," which is quite an intimate insult. In non of these are the other spawn mentioned. He also mentions his sarcasm and jokes, something you wouldn't really think Cazador would permit. This suggesting an intense, twisted co-dependency. A lot of time spent alone together. As what? His child? His slave? His lover? It's sickening. Cazador seemed to want to fill every potential key roll in Astarions life. This is actually pretty common in adults relationships.

The extent of physical abuse is further revealed when Astarion sees the mad doctor in the House of Healing and remarks, "he's just like Cazador." The narrator says, "If you're late, he will flay you... again," and Astarion states, "Sometimes he would have us submit to torture. Other times he would have us torture ourselves."

So, why does Cazador do all this? Beyond sadistic pleasure and rituals off higher power, I believe it's driven by a fear of abandonment. His goal is to strip Astarion of any autonomy so he would return even if freed. When speaking to Cazador alone, he's convinced Astarion will come back because he cannot think for himself. Cazador wants to be the center of Astarion's life, and truly believes he is. A narcissist needing to see himself reflected in others, he required Astarion by his side to validate his awful existence. If Astarion leaves, Cazador feels he's losing an extension of himself. That Astarion is his and his alone to kill.

I also believe he genuinely wants to play house. That he wants a picture perfect family. We don't know much about Cazador before the game, only that he was from a vampire family. That his niece refused to partake. It's quite clear he felt like he was missing something in his family. We know his master committed acts of cruelty far beyond what he did to his own spawn, impaling him for ten years and draining his friend Infront of him. Surly a year of solitude is like being sent to your bedroom without supper compared to that? By Cazadors logic, he's far kinder than he was ever treated. He's been kinder and more loving than his own family. His children should be grateful that he protected them from what he went through. He believes his children are spoiled and if anything he has been to soft. After all, he gave thim his families birth right far above their station, eternal life. He gave them a family that will never abandon them. What more could they want?

And if course, we as plays see this cycle continues with AA, who says he will be a far kinder master he'd never make his dear lover eat rats. They wouldn't be his child, more a pampered pet. Compared to how Astarion was treated, what more could they want?

And how very true to live that an abuser will preach about how much worse they had things and how lucky their victims are. How soft they must be to complain.

This gives us a clear picture of Astarion at the start: someone with a fragile sense of self, preferring to see others tortured rather than be the one in the chair, and looking for someone to follow. He'll fake a smile to keep them around. While this doesn't excuse his cruelty, it explains it; Astarion is free for less than a day when you meet him. There are no perfect victims, and unlearning brainwashing takes time. Reducing Astarion to "evil" or "good" overlooks the complexity of a character who could become either an abuser or a liberator.

What I appreciate most is that Astarion's past doesn't vanish when Cazador dies; he still carries the scars, but in a positive playthrough, there is hope. Astarion has the chance to do better, starts making his own choices, and sometimes gets it wrong.

Crucially, the abuse is never voyeuristic. It is always shown from the survivor's perspective, focusing on its effects on their lives. It's always clear when a player choice disrespects his growth and autonomy. Cazador and Astarion are never framed to titillate or as a mind of grousome special to the viewer, unlike in shows like *13 Reasons Why* or Ramsey Bolton in *Game of Thrones*. The game handles the topic with a lot of care. Infact the only time we see Cazador in person is when we have the chance to stop him. We never see Astarion subjected to something we can alter in some way.

Also, we do hear of Astarions bravery in trying to defy his master and save people. Unfortunately as in the game and real life, people don't always have a choice. Still, in a good ending Astarion can choose to try and help others who have been hurt and use what he has learned to make real change.

The reasons why Cazador is the way he is are another rant entirely. But while I hate him as a person, I adore him as an antagonist. How can a character be written to be pathetic and terrifying at once?

**TL;DR:** *Baldur's Gate 3* presents a complex, nuanced abuse narrative, executed beautifully. Many people overlook or disregard Astarion as an excellent depiction of survival in my opinion.

[gallusrostromegalus]

Just wanted to say I’m enjoying all of the world building and snippets from AEIWAM - it’s clear how much fun you’re having and how much though you put into it. I’ve started rereading bleach because of that, though I always wind up stopping after the rescue rukia arc 😅. Maybe I’ll make it past that this time.

Eh, I gave up after My Blorbo was killed off in deeply narratively unsatisfying fashion, so you're not alone. Anyway, have some More AEIWAM Worldbulding Nonsense:

---

The Kuchiki-Yamada-11th Division Fucktangle

-

It started with Chigiri Shijima.

The first captain of the 4th Division, part of the original Dirty Dozen Yamamoto hired off of Death Row to fight the first Quincy Invasion, was an unassuming and chronically fatigued looking woman* with a profound sense of curiosity about the limits of The Flesh:

(from Kubo's sketches of the original 13) *Chigiri might be male in canon. I don't care

She became fast friends with the young Yachiru Unohana, who shared her fascination with the limits of the flesh, though from the opposite direction. Chigiri was the first person to show Unohana how to channel her Reiatsu to prefrom Kaido, and let her sit in on /Hold people's ribcages open during /do some of the surgical cuts for Chigiri's Field Surgery sessions, much to the horror of everyone else involved.

After the War, when the Captains had to shape up from a gang of mercenaries into a real governmental organization, Chigiri met and eventually married a Similarly-Sadistically-Curious young Dentist named Fumihiro Yamada. Longtime friend and frequent visitor to the hospital Unohana attended the 100-day ceremony of their first and subsequent six children, the start of a grand tradition- Unohana, under one name or another, has been present at the Okuizome of every Yamada born for the last millennium, and delivered most of them for the last 800-odd years.

The Yamadas are one of the most prolific Shinigami families, producing more Shinigami by percentage than any other clan, and have served in all divisions of the court Guard. Eighth Division Fifth Seat Suichi Yamada is the current highest ranked Yamada, but there have been four Captains Yamada. There's also a Seated Yamada in the third divison, and another in the 12th (though there's a popular rumor that 15th Seat Tosako Yamada isn't part of the 12th so much as a Spy to keep the 4th abreast of any important developments in medical science, rather than deal with Mayuri directly).

It is little wonder then that, despite the lack of noble standing, the Yamadas are one of the most highly regarded families in the Seireitei, and even less of a wonder that, every time the gene pool starts to get a little shallow, that the Noble Houses start looking at the latest generation for potential spouses.

The Kuchiki Clan in particular has intermarried heavily with the Yamadas, to the point that Byakuya Kuchiki is actually fourth-cousins to the infamous Former Fourth Division Lieutenant and Current Head of the Private Central Medical Institute in the Noble Quarter, Seinosuke Yamada:

(Description: A cool and handsome if somewhat menacing Wizard)

...and his less-famous younger brother, current 4th Division 7th seat Hanataro Yamada.

(Description: the most bully-able looking dweeb you've ever seen)

Due to the way the Kuchikis keep marrying daughters they won't legitimize for some goddamn reason to Yamada Sons, there's an argument to be made that the Kuchiki Clan is a Branch Clan of the Yamadas...

In fact, until Rukia was adopted into the Kuchiki Clan, if something had happened to Byakuya, Seinosuke was Byakuya's closest living relative in their generation and a reasonable argument could be made that he was the Hier-Apparent.

This, of course, would not do.

The thing is, Hanataro's shy and gentle demeanor is very unusual for a Yamada. The whole clan has a reputation for being Manic Sociopaths with dubious ethics and a tendency towards sadism. They make excellently competent officers, but not exactly 'friendly', like a terrible hybrid of a Border Collie and Cane Corso. Seinosuke himself is known to take great pleasure in bringing back patients that are actively begging for death.

There is a persistent rumor that this infamous disposition is at least partially due to the influence of Captain Unohana, who has been an active member of the Yamada household for the last millennium, presumably so they're very acclimated to her nonsense by the time she starts recruiting the prize ones for the 4th. She's delivered most of them and officiated the marriages of more than a few, and given the woman's patience in cultivating the Seireitei's Most Magnificent Flower and Vegetable Garden, it's suspected she's been cultivating the Yamada line as well.

Seinosuke was her lieutenant before the current Isane Koetetsu, and the bond between them was almost legendary. They would frequently not actually bother to finish sentences around each other, or communicate entirely by gesture because they were so familiar.

---

It was little wonder then, when Seinosuke's little brother also joined the 4th Division, though it wasn't exactly happily received news. People get jealous and see favoritism where there is none- Hanataro had entered the 4th on his own merits, and actually against his brother's recommendation.

Hanataro also had the strange fortune of entering the 4th the same week as the Tragic West 66 Incident in which several captains, lieutenants and nearly all of the 9th division's seated officers were killed by the machinations of (as was believed at the time) former captains Urahara, Shihouin and the head of the Kido Corps.

Three days after that, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Kiganjo was struck down in a duel, and infamous barbarian Kenpachi Zaraki took over the 11th.

... So the day afterwards, when the lower officer in charge of assigning jobs to trainee medics saw that apparently this Zaraki bastard needed a complete medical checkup and every vaccine ever, he thought 'Well, let's see if Little Hanataro really did get in on his own merits. He's A Yamada after all, this should be a piece of cake for him-'

-and sent first-day-on-the-job Hanataro to the famously hostile 11th Division on his own.

---

"Um, Excuse me, Mister- I mean, Captain Zaraki?" Hanataro mumbled peering in the door of the captain's room at the nest of pillows and blankets that might contain his charge.

The 11th was deserted- not really a surprise, given the heavy casualties the 11th had suffered the week before. In fact, all 20 of the surviving members of the 11th were still recovering at the 4th, and Hanataro had wandered around looking for someone for a solid half hour until a little girl with neon pink hair had playfully tackled him to the ground and then, giggling, shown him to the Captain.

"KEEEEEEN-CHAAAAAAAN!!!" Miss Yachiru shouted, leaping into the nest and tackling her adopted guardian with similar glee. "Re-Chan sent one of her guys here for something!"

There was a low rattling noise of irritation that reminded Hanataro eerily of the family's temperamental rooster, but much, much larger. The nest of fabric shifted, arching up into an alarmingly tall shape, Yachiru balancing on top and scolding it for sleeping in so late, he's probably very busy-

A lithe but powerful arm longer than Hanataro was tall suddenly lurched out from the nest and slammed on the floor in front of where he was sitting, swinging the entire torso of 11th division captain Kenpachi Zaraki around and bringing Hanataro eye-to-fearsome-yellow-eye with the giant.

"...the fuck're you?" Zaraki grunted, blinking slowly at Hanataro, not entirely awake yet.

"I- I- I'm-" Hanataro sputtered, struggling to introduce himself when he noticed something peculiar- an extra bit of translucent flesh behind Zaraki's eyelids, sliding sideways across his eye to behind his tear duct- "- I'm sorry, do you have Nictitating Membranes??" Hanataro gaped.

Zaraki glared blankly at him for a moment, before breaking into a slow grin and, very slowly closed the pearly membrane over his eye and opened it again to Hanataro's slack-jawed astonishment.

"WHAT THE FUCK THAT'S SO COOL I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF HUMANS HAVING THOSE DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S GENETIC OR-" Hanataro yelped with excitement, jumping to his feet and grabbing the captain's head and staring at his eye, nose pressed to Zaraki's cheekbone for a moment before abruptly remembering where he was and letting go, dropping into a bow hard enough to audibly bonk his head on the floor. "I'msosorrysirpleaseforgivemeidon'twanttodie-"

He was interrupted by Zaraki's loud cackle of amusement and the sensation of being lifted. Zaraki was sitting- well, had extracted his gangly limbs from his nest and arranged them into a pile mostly in contact with the floor- and picked up Hanataro by the collar of his Shihakusho and set him back up on his feet. His cackle trailed off into amused clicking and he sat back, regarding the tiny medic with a peculiar sense of favor.

"Good catch Mr. Sorry." he teased, Yachiru climbing onto his right shoulder. "Dunno who my father was, but my Mom an' Sisters 're Eagles and they got 'em too."

"...Eagles?" Hanataro blinked, cocking his head sideways with confusion. "Like. Birds?"

"Kami, technically, but yeh." Zaraki shrugged, rolling his neck and stretching, still waking up. "So who're you or am I gonna be calling you Mr. Sorry forever?"

"Ohhh... That- well that doesn't exactly explain things but I think I get how- uh, sorry, I'm- I'm not sorry, I'm Hanataro Yamada from the 4th Division!" He yelped, staggering back on topic. "Captain Unohana said you needed an intake medical exam and vaccinations?"

"Yeah probably." Zaraki shugged, scratching at his neck. "Yachiru too- Tired to get as many of 'em in her as I could afford but you know how it is out in the sticks."

"Hm." Nodded Hanataro, who did not. "Um, well- If you wanted to get started, we might be able to finish up before lunch, you must be busy with a whole division to put back together-"

"Yyyyy... -nah." Zaraki yawned. "Stayed up all last night writin' letters to fill it back up and posted 'em early. No rush until I get summat back."

"Which is probably good- I don't think you've EVER gotten a shot, have you Ken-chan?" Yachiru asked, kicking her feet in the air behind his shoulder.

"...Oh." Hanataro mumbled.

-

"...Has anyone seen Yamada?" Yamada the elder enquired after Yamada the Younger, the late afternoon sun casting golden beams through the windows onto the dispatch desk of the 4th.

The incessant chatter of the nurses, medics, janitorial staff and the dispatch officer came to a sudden and extremely suspicious halt.

"It's just that he promised to meet me at the end of his shift so we could walk home together, and it's not like him to be late." Seinosuke spoke lightly, eyes casually panning over the remarkably guilty-looking faces around him.

"He- he's not back yet?" dispatch officer Hiyako Gendo gulped, eyes suddenly fixed on the clock. "I sent him out like five hours ago..."

"Sent him where?" Seinosuke asked pleasantly and the medics collectively flinched.

"Uh, to the- um-" Officer Gendo sputtered, color draining from his face.

"You haven't misplaced my brother, have you?" Seinosuke smiled with gentle menace.

"No!" Gendo yelped. "I- uh- well- the new captain needed an intake exam-!"

"...Which new captain?" Seinosuke spoke softly, looming over to the dispatch counter. "We have promoted an unprecedented SEVEN new captains this week and I would not want to waste time searching nearly two-thirds of the court guard."

"Eight, actually." one of the nurses squeaked, and Seinosuke's head swiveled to face her like an owl. "Eep! We- um, there's a new captain of the 11th division as of last night, Sir." she stammered.

Seinosuke turned back to the dispatch officer, staring down at him with the burning eyes of a wrathful god.

"Hiyako." he spoke gently, putting a hand on the dispatch officer's shoulder. "We're friends, aren't we?"

"Y- yes? Sir?" Hiyako Gendo gulped.

"Good, good- So you wouldn't do something like, I don't know, send my baby brother into the division with a history of such violent enemity with that only combat certified officers are cleared to enter it?" Seinosuke asked fingers over the pressure points of Gendo's shoulder.

"Um." Gulped Gendo.

"-Perhaps you sent him with a senior officer?" Seinosuke tried. "I can understand wanting to give him an impression of how dangerous this work can be on his first day, to make sure he really does have the guts for the 4th, but that should be done in a fashion where he is only an observer to the example of an experienced officer and not, say, totally alone without telling anyone to go check on him?"

"Well-" Gendo whimpered.

"-Because, Hiyako, and I need to emphasize this-" Seinosuke continued, fingertips digging into Gendo's shoulder. "-That there is no body in the morgue right now, because during his promotion to the office yesterday, the current Captain-Kenpachi bisected a significant amount of the sewer and municipal support systems 200 feet below the 11th whilst rendering the previous Captain-Kenpachi into a fine red paste in a single strike!"

Gendo made a strangled noise of pain.

"So please tell me that my sweet, gentle little brother with the constitution of a bowl of oatmeal is literally anywhere besides the vicinity of that monster, preferably in the company of someone with at least half a functioning braincell?" Seinosuke pleaded, leaning in close and steadily increasing the terrible pressure of his grip.

"ISentHimThereAloneOverFiveHoursAgo!" Gendo shrieked, finally flinching and grabbing at his shoulder.

Seinosuke froze, save to let go of Gendo and let him collapse out of his chair, howling in pain. Slowly, he stood up, pleasantly blank smile on his face, and turned to leave the division.

"Someone please inform Captain Unohana that I have deployed to the 11th to retrieve my brother and if there is so much as a HAIR out of place on him, Zaraki will be the shortest-serving captain in history!" He called out, re-tying his Zanpakuto on his belt before vanishing in a burst of Shun-po.

"-Was that you, Seinosuke?" Unohana called from her office down the hall.

-

"-Well, most venom isn't a single chemical but dozens, if not hundreds of compounds with complex interactions so any samples have to be refined down to the individual components and tested both singularly and with the others which can take ages but it's yielded some incredibly effective drugs so far!" Hanatarou babbled excitedly, drawing a grid on Zaraki's thigh, oblivious to Yachiru putting his hair in pigtails.

"My goodness! We certainly have come a long way from using bee stings on arthritis!" Yumichika laughed. Zaraki's self-appointed third seat lounged against the wall near the door, enthralled by the process. His mothers had been something between field medics and hedge witches out in the far western districts and was keeping pace with Hanataro's enthusiastic infodumping about venomics while he prepared the captain for the next round of vaccinations.

"Not that far- your beestings were one of the earliest things we tested for pharmaceutical application, and it turned out that the entire combination of bioreactive compounds in the amounts found in an individual sting was the most effective dosage! More sanitary to use a needle than an actual bee though. Speaking of-" Hanataro turned to Zaraki. "Are you sure you want to do ALL of these today? Unless you're planning on messing around in the sewers, your chances of catching any of these are extremely low, so we can stagger them."

"If I'm gonna feel like crap tomorrow anyway, might as well feel like crap once and be able to fuck around in the sewers if needed." Zaraki shrugged. "-Why are the doctors in charge of that anyway? You've got better shit to do?"

"Ah, well-" Hanataro sighed, capping the marker and getting the next round of vaccines in order. "-Civic maintenance *used* to be part of the security duties of the 11th but... well, after we lost Kenpachi Tokagero down there, your predecessors... never resumed their duties? So it's kind of fallen to us since, but to be honest, the previous guy wasn't exactly someone I'd trust to maintain the necessary standards..."

"Yeah, no shit." Scoffed newly-appointed lieutenant Ikkaku, who was attempting to sort through the literal heap of paperwork Kiganjo had thrown into the corner instead of filling out.

"No I think the shit is supposed to be in the sewers." Zaraki grinned and Ikkaku responded with a single-finger salute.

"Right- lets try to not bend any more needles, okay?" Hanataro smiled, preparing the first syringe.

"Yeah, yeah-" Zaraki rolled his eyes, but obediently inhaled and exhaled, focusing on the square Hanataro was touching. Reiatsu manipulation didn't come naturally to him and it had taken a couple dozen broken needles to work out a technique that allowed Hanataro to actually stick him.

Hanataro focused, feeling the pressure drop with the hand on Zaraki's thigh, focusing his own energy into the tip of the needle with the other, until the difference flipped and-

"Ssk!"" Zaraki hissed a bit as Hanatarou slammed the needle into his leg with the force of a sword strike, but that's what it took. "Yer gettin better- that one stung a bit!"

"Sorry!" Hanataro squeaked, withdrawing the intact needle and changing it over to the next syringe.

"Keep at it and you might be able to really hurt me in fifty years!" Zaraki laughed, ruffling his hair.

"Okay, next is for Orange Fever- this one is famous for burning after injection but we'll see-" Hanataro started then looked up at the feeling of someone's absolutely furious reiatsu approaching at speed.

"Someone coming? You all put yer heads up like bird dogs." Zaraki chuffed.

"I think someone's come to-" Yumichika started but the door beside him slammed open and they were all greeted with the terrible sight of the most feared man in the fourth, wild-eyed and teeth bared, utterly consumed with rage-

"Hi Seinosuke!" beamed Hanataro, entirely used to what his brother looked like after a long day at work or being woken up suddenly. "What are you doing here?"

-

"Hanataro?" Seinosuke yelped, startled by the entirely peaceful and almost domestic scene before him. Zaraki seemed to be politely interested in the vaccination process, the menace that had been at the lieutenants meeting yesterday was sitting in the middle of the 11th's paperwork with a senbei cracker hanging out of his mouth, and Hanataro was getting pink bows tied into his hair by Miss Kusajishi. The remains of afternoon tea were on the table behind him.

"That's him! Who are you?" a third, effeminate man asked from beside the door with a faint prickle of reiatsu, politely reminding Seinosuke to mind his manners in someone else's house.

"This is my older brother Seinosuke!" Hanataro cheerfully explained, reflexively capping the syringe he was holding. "Not that I'm not glad to see you but- OH NO IT'S ALMOST DINNERTIME!"

"It's fine, it's fine." Seinosuke wheezed with relief. "It's my obligation as the oldest to be a worrywart."

"Tch- No point in worrying for this one." Zaraki teased, poking Hanataro in the shoulder. "-We should all be worried about him! He's only gone and stabbed me thirty-two times and I haven't landed even one blow on him!"

"Sir..." Hanataro groaned at the joke.

"Thirty-two?" Seinosuke blinked.

"Could only afford shots fer the kid, so I need all of 'em." Zaraki shrugged. "Not that I was makin' it easy for 'im."

"Um, yeah..." Hanataro hummed. "There's some technique for giving someone with extreme positive spiritual pressure shots that I don't know, right?"

"You? Ask them to lower it?" Seinosuke stared, beginning to wilt as the adrenaline drained out of him.

"Yeah, I... kinda suck at that." Zaraki grunted, looking away from them, right eye shut despite the left one being scarred. "Might as well keep Stabbin'?"

"What's with your eye?" Seinosuke frowned, veteran of spotting unspoken injuries.

"Oh yeah! Check them out- He's got Nictitaing Membranes!" Hanataro beamed.

"He WHAT?" ---

Four hours after that, the Yamada brothers set out for home, Seinosuke with the beginnings of a fascinating new study on Kami-Induced Occular Mutations and Hanataro with a promotion to 'pocket medic' that he wouldn't find out about until Zaraki abducted him from his rounds for 11th division boot camp some four months later.

--- (Tumblr says this is getting too long and is glitching, More about Byakuya and Seinosuke's Marital Conspiracies later)

[burntheedges]

Pas de Deux Masterlist

Din Djarin x f!reader | 18+ | ~40k words | updates on Wednesdays main masterlist | ao3

summary: When Din Djarin – principal dancer at Concordia Ballet Company and generational talent in the classical style – suddenly left CBC and joined the Nevarro Ballet Theater mid-season, it shocked the ballet world. You never would have guessed that he would change your life, too.

full fic tags/warnings (spoilers!): modern AU, ballet AU, fluff, angst, flirting, dancing, lots of ballet terms (I’ll define things/link videos/etc. -- see below), misunderstandings, character study, romance, pet names (sweetheart, beautiful), lots of tension, later: smut, kissing, grinding, fingering, p-in-v sex, creampie, each chapter will have its own tags, Din lifts reader (see note below about reader)

a/n: welcome to the Din ballet fic!! I started writing this in April and it’s finally finished! I’ll post a new chapter every Wednesday, there are 14 total. There’s some smut coming but it’ll be a while, folks. See my notes below about reader in this fic and ballet in general. Thank you @katareyoudrilling for being the best beta, as always!! This fic is so much better because of you. 🧡 And thank you to @almostfoxglove for reading over it and confirming I didn't forget all my ballet, lol. 🩰

note about reader: in this fic you’re a ballet dancer, first soloist at Nevarro Ballet Theater company. I haven’t mentioned the reader’s body size or shape (or hair) basically at all, even to the point of avoiding clothing (except for costumes), but I understand the image that goes along with ballet – I danced for almost 20 years. Din does lift you many times. Please feel free to picture whatever you want, but I know that this might seem more limited. You also have a best friend named Adrian who is in the company with you. I never specified age, but to make first soloist most would be in at least their early 20s. Din is 27.

Chapter list and notes about ballet under the cut! Comment or reblog to join the tag list. 🥰🩰

Chapter List

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6 - coming Wed 11/20

...

some notes about ballet: I will share links to videos and such as much as possible, but here are some definitions to get us started – principal, (first) soloist, corps de ballet, variation, and class vs. rehearsal:

Principal - this is the highest level a dancer (of any gender) can reach in a company. Dancers are ‘promoted’ through the ranks. Principals usually have exceptional technique and artistry and can perform solos, pas de deux (partnering), headlining and/or the most challenging roles, etc. (e.g., the white (Odette) and black (Odile) swans in Swan Lake, both usually performed by one principal). Sometimes dancers are hired directly in as principals (like Din, in this fic). Smaller companies might have 5-6 principals, while larger ones could have as many as 20. Nevarro is somewhere between medium and large and has around 14 principals, including Din.

First Soloist - not every company has this rank, but it’s in between principal and soloist. Nevarro has 4 but they are counted among the soloists (12-14ish total). Soloists are often understudies for larger parts, and first soloists would do the same. In this fic reader is a first soloist, just promoted at the start of the season.

Soloist - this is sort of a middle level, for dancers who are doing very well and have proven themselves capable of taking on bigger roles. Many ballets have multiple roles, including supporting roles in the narrative, for soloists and principals to showcase many dancers’ talents. A smaller company might have 5-6 soloists, and a larger company might have as many as 20. (Larger companies also do more shows.) Nevarro is somewhere between medium and large and has around 12-14 soloists, including first soloists.

Corps de ballet - this is the lowest/starting level in a company. It’s where most would start from and has the largest number of dancers – these are the dancers who come out on stage in large groups or form the background unnamed roles in narrative scenes (like a party). Reader started in the corps and was promoted to soloist and then first soloist.

Variation - a solo dance, usually a piece from a larger ballet (e.g., the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker). We say ‘variation’ because there are many ballets that have been choreographed differently by multiple people in the ballet world (e.g., there are famous versions of the Nutcracker by Petipa, Gorsky, Balanchine, Nureyev, Baryshnikov… and more). So there can be multiple variations of a solo from a single ballet, and more can be created or altered, etc. But in general the term just means solo.

Class vs. rehearsal - most companies distinguish between ‘class’ and ‘rehearsal’. Class is for the whole company and focused on improving technique. It’s quick and often repetitive and everyone sort of knows what to do. Most people would have ‘their’ spot at the barre and fall into a typical order for going across the floor. After class, most would go into multiple hours of rehearsal, PT, strength training, etc., depending on whether it was a performance day or not. Most companies are rehearsing for more than one performance at a time, so they might have a longer rehearsal for the show coming up this or next weekend, and a shorter one for another performance a bit farther away. But in the days leading up to a show, that show’s rehearsals would probably take over. This can vary by company. On show days, most would have fewer rehearsals with a 1-2 hour break before the call time to get ready.

Season - companies have 'seasons' which just refers to their plan for shows/schedule for the upcoming year. They might refer to like a fall season and a spring season, or the might have a full year schedule with different parts (fall/winter/spring), or they might have only a spring season that runs into early summer. It depends on the company and the size! In this fic Nevarro has a fall season and a spring season, but they tend to think about it as a full year for contracts/etc. They would have 3-4 big shows planned (think Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Onegin, etc.) in each part of the season (so, 3-4 in fall and 3-4 in spring). And then they'd fill in the gaps in the schedule with "mixed programs", which are programs with multiple smaller ballets or pieces that feature a lot of dancers. So a mixed program might have a 20 minute Balanchine ballet, a pas de deux, a full corps piece from a larger ballet, and a piece for like 8 dancers. or something. Mixed programs are often when choreographers-in-residence and on staff get to debut their own work.

[tteokdoroki]

hi my beloved angel could i pls request shinsou + ❛ you keep your hands where they are or i'll tie them up. ❜ :33

☆༉ — HITOSHI SHINSOU: 0-800-HOT GUY-HOTLINE.

line. ❛ you keep your hands where they are or i'll tie them up. ❜

extension. edging kink + fem!reader + nsfw.

things to note. for you my baby!! i hope u like heeem n that i characterised him well!!

it’s not your fault, really. 

usually you’re so obedient and good when it comes to hitoshi — he takes care of your needs as long as you behave and listen to him. with him, you cum as many times as you want, cry as loud as you want and your boyfriend will always make sure that you’re satisfied by the end. you’re spoiled in a sense. but today, shinsou seems keen on undoing that narrative. 

you’ve lost count of how many hours he’s been going at this, fucking just the tip of his girth into you at a painstakingly slow rate — you’ve tried everything, throwing it back on him, your usual whining, even grovelling, but the hero won’t budge. each time, he runs a hand down your spine affectionately and cherishes the way that your whole body shivers at the contact — only whispering a short.

“be patient, angel,” he says in that low, commanding voice of his. “don’t you wanna be good for me?” 

and of course you do, you love hitoshi so much and he treats you so well. it’d only be right for you to trust him, let him abuse your runny little hole with the the fat, achingly hot tip of his dick until he’s the one that’s satisfied. he pushes his hips forward, only just, breaching your gushing walls with hardly any resistance because you’re so wet from being teased but being spoiled all the time breeds bad habits and keeping you on the very edge of cumming like this. 

secretively, you slip one of your hands between your salt-slicked body and the bed sheets hitoshi has you bent over, brushing over your rock hard nipples and the sensitive spots along your pelvis before you’re able to reach your puffy pussy. it’s hard to keep quiet when you’re finally able to graze your the poor, unattended nub tucked between your slick folds — drawing lazy shapes over it just like hitoshi would do for you. you attempt to choke down a delicate whimper, stuffing your teary face into the cotton to muffle the louder sounds that start to escape you. 

“you sound so needy,” hitoshi breathes, placing a large hand on the small of your back to deepen your arch from behind. he rewards you, for sounding so pretty, he really can’t help it either — giving into his habit as he fucks you halfway down to his twitching length, his arousal bleeding rip nestled just inches shy from your gummy g-spot. “being so good ‘n patient, angel. love it when you’re like this. all pliant and desperate for some cock.” 

you wail in reply, writhing and wriggling for more — only to be forced into pleasuring yourself, pinching and rubbing at your clit in tune with shinsou’s shallow thrusts past your rippling entrance. he soothes you, rubbing circles into your hip dips as he whispers little praises like “just a little longer. “you’re doing so well for me sweetheart.” “i can’t wait until i get to fill you up.” 

that is until he feels your sly little hand brush against this muscular inner thigh, while you attempt to get yourself off. one moment, you’re on the verge of finally hitting release, the next, all of that mounting and heavenly pleasure is ripped away from you by hitoshi’s discovery.

“toshi!” you snivel desperately, trying to appeal to his gentler side when he pulls out of you completely — exposing your hot cunt to cool air as you pulse around nothing. “p-please, please ‘m sorry!” 

he sucks his teeth, three fingers coming down harsh on your sopping mound which causes you to jolt forward on the bed in suprise. “oh, I don’t think you are.”  he seethes cruelly, throwing his weight over your trembling body while he licks a wet trail up and behind your ear. “if you were, you wouldn’t be trying to fuck yourself while i’m spoiling you with my cock.” 

okay, so maybe it is your fault. 

shaking your head, you try to wriggle away — your hips running from the sudden and relentless pressure shinsou applies to your greedy clit from behind. “i p-promise! i am, ‘m so sorry. hnngh, ‘toshi ‘m gonna cum! t-too fast!” 

“don’t care.” the purple haired hero grunts, only speeding up. “you wanted to cum so bad? instead of being a good girl and waiting for me?” nipping at your earlobe, shinsou chuckles coyly and smacks a hand down on your pussy again. “now you’re complaining about it being too fast? well too fucking bad. you get what you give, angel.” 

shinsou’s threat should scare you, but it only serves to turn you on even more — clear streams of your arousal painting his thick fingers against your heat like a sugar glaze. 

“d-do it, i dare you.” you manage to bleat out, challenging him. 

the laugh your boyfriend lets out is both cold and amused, overlapped by the squelch of your princess cunt as he replaces what used to be his heavy cock with his fingers inside of you. curling them straight away. 

“challenge accepted, sweetheart.” shinsou grins, pumping in and out of you so fast you hardly realise that you’ve hit your first orgasm until it’s too late — squirting about the place and soaking the sheets. “but this time, you keep your hands where they are or i'll tie them up.”

꒰ end. — all rights reserved © tteokdoroki 2023. do not copy, repost, translate & recommend elsewhere.

[sasheemo]

When we collide

Chapter 8

Read on AO3

Fic masterlist

Chapter Summary: By the lake, after a very tough day, things start to inevitably shift. Playful exchanges give way to unspoken truths and revelations, while you and Agatha begin challenging the expectations that once defined you.

Word Count: 2.5k

An indefinite stretch of time passes in the quiet of the forest, enough for Agatha’s tears to dry, her trembling to subside, and the puffiness around her eyes to ease. You both sit beside the lake’s edge, her hand still in yours, warm, solid.

A quiet reassurance in a world that suddenly feels different, as if the rules have shifted without warning. Neither of you pulls away, as if you’ve silently agreed to hold onto this small moment for just a while longer.

The silence isn’t uncomfortable, but it gives space for thoughts that have been dormant. Thoughts that, over the past two days, have surged to the surface like waves, eroding everything you once believed.

The idea of holding her hand would have seemed ridiculous, maybe even repulsive, if you’d imagined it just a couple of days ago or any day before. But now, sitting here, feeling the gentle press of her skin against yours, you realize how little you actually know about her.

You can’t help but think of the way you’ve always viewed her as an opponent, someone you were supposed to face off against someday. The entire coven expected it, assumed that as the daughters of two of the most powerful witches, you’d inherit the bitterness and ambitions of your mothers. They’d built up an entire narrative around you and Agatha, as if rivalry was etched into your bones. And so, you’d accepted it, allowed their stories to fill in the gaps, to shape the way you thought about her before you even knew her.

How strange, you think, to have hated her without cause, simply because you were told to. You realize, with a pang of guilt, that you’ve never given her a chance. And, looking at her now, you wonder if she’s ever truly hated you either.

With her hand in yours, the absurdity of it all hits you. Hard. 

Here she is, not a rival, not some looming threat, just a girl sitting beside you in the quiet of the forest. A girl who has suffered, who hides her own pain and frustration behind a tough exterior. How much of her sharpness, her defiance, has been carved out of her by the coven’s expectations, by the endless reminders that she is Evanora’s daughter? And how much of your own distance from her has been a shield, a way to avoid the inevitable comparisons, the pressure to be someone you’re not?

The resentment you thought you felt, that you assumed was mutual, feels hollow in the face of this silence.

The rivalry, the supposed hatred… all a farce now. You’ve been characters in a story that wasn’t even yours, bound to roles that you never chose. You wonder what things would have been like if no one had ever told you to hate her. If circumstances had been different, if your lives hadn’t been shaped by the ambitions and fears of others, would you even have disliked each other at all?

You find yourself looking at her, studying the lines of her face, the way her gaze is now fixed somewhere far off, as if she’s lost in her own thoughts.

And in this moment, it’s impossible to hate her.

Agatha’s hand shifts in yours, a subtle movement, almost unconscious, and the gesture draws your attention back to the red burns along her wrist. The sight stirs something fierce in you, a flash of anger that’s quick and unbidden, simmering beneath your skin. The idea of anyone, especially Evanora, leaving these marks on her is somehow infuriating.

It’s as if Agatha senses the shift in you, the unspoken intensity of your thoughts. Her head turns slowly, her gaze meeting yours, and for a moment, something quiet yet charged passes between you. You can see a hint of question in her eyes, but you release her hand before she can say anything.

Without a word, you lean forward, dipping your hand into the cool lake water and letting it pool in your cupped palm. Murmuring words in a language older than any of the trees around you, you allow the magic to flow, a quiet warmth emanating from your hand. You watch as the water shimmers, faintly glowing with energy. Then, carefully, you pour it over Agatha’s wrist, watching the marks fade, the raw, reddened skin smoothing out until there’s no sign of what had hurt her.

Agatha’s expression is unreadable as her eyes are fixated on her now-unmarked wrist. “Thank you…” she murmurs, her voice soft, as if gratitude is a foreign language she’s still learning to speak.

And then she stands, the suddenness of her movement leaving you momentarily disoriented. You blink, half-wondering if you’ve done something wrong, until she extends her hand, her fingers open in a silent invitation. Hesitating only for a moment, you take her hand, and she pulls you to your feet with a strength that surprises you.

Now, standing, you find yourselves closer than you expected, close enough to see the shards of ice in her irises and the way her dark hair catches the light.

As she releases your hand, you realize the silence has stretched on too long, and you break it with the first thought that comes to mind. “I… I’m actually glad you didn’t volunteer.” you say, the words slipping out before you can question them.

Her voice casual but carrying a hint of amusement as she replies to you “I didn’t volunteer because, frankly, the whole thing is pointless. They’re just men, a few hunters sticking to their own side of the forest. They’re hardly a threat to anyone here.” She pauses, her lips quirking in a wry smile. “Besides, your mother practically jumped at the chance. I think she would’ve volunteered herself twice over if she could.”

You blink, her words hitting you like a splash of cold water. “She… wh-what?!”

Agatha raises an eyebrow, clearly entertained by your reaction. “Excuse me, but…weren’t you there, too? How did you miss that?” There’s a look in her eyes, a mix of confusion and barely restrained laughter, as if she’s trying to figure out how you could possibly have missed the whole scene unfolding.

You open your mouth, then close it, scrambling for a response. You can’t exactly admit that you were too distracted staring at her to catch a word of what was being said. Her gaze sharpens, clearly noticing how you’re having a hard time coming up with an answer to such a simple question, and her smirk widens. “Aw was someone… daydreaming?” she teases, her tone edged with curiosity.

You scowl, fighting the warmth creeping into your cheeks. “I had other things on my mind.” you say defensively, though you know it sounds weak.

“Other things, huh?” Agatha’s voice is low and teasing, her eyes glinting with amusement. “More important than listening to your own mother announce she was going to lead the group? I’m curious, what could possibly have been more interesting than that?”

You shift uncomfortably, trying to deflect. “I just…didn’t think it was worth paying attention to.”

She laughs softly, shaking her head. “You really are something…”

You don’t reply, but as the humor of the moment fades, a realization settles over you. Strangely, you don’t feel worried about your mother’s departure. In fact, the thought of her leaving for a few days brings a wave of relief, like a weight lifting off your shoulders. With her gone, you’ll be free of her relentless critiques and expectations, free to spend time at home, or in the forest, or however you please.

But almost as quickly, another thought takes root, a darker one. The only reason your mother would jump at something so trivial would be if she had her own agenda, some scheme to satisfy her endless hunger for power. A sense of dread settles over you, sharp and sudden.

“She’s going to kill them, Agatha. She is going to kill the hunters.” you say, your tone grave.

Agatha’s brow furrows slightly. “Why would she even bother?”

“You don’t know my mother.” you reply, glancing away, a bitterness creeping into your voice. “All she thinks about is power. This is just another way for her to prove herself, to show off to the coven.”

Agatha nods, her expression turning thoughtful. “Then I guess that for both of our mothers there’s always some angle, something they’re trying to gain.” She pauses, a flicker of frustration crossing her face.

You nod, sensing the understanding in her words. Even though, it’s still a bit a strange to think that, despite everything, the two of you see things the same way. “Yeah, I’d say so. She’s probably going out there looking for a fight, just to make herself feel strong, taking it out on some weak men.”

As if sensing the tension and wanting to lighten the mood, Agatha’s mouth curves into a grin, and the playfulness returns to her gaze. “Still…” she says, arching an eyebrow “You said you were glad I didn’t volunteer. Should I take that as some kind of compliment?”

You roll your eyes, but there’s no mistaking the faint smile tugging at your lips. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Oh, I think I will.” she replies, her tone casual but carrying a hint of mischief.

“Please.” you huff, “I was just worried about the forest. It could really use a break from your purple.” you add, a teasing yet gentle smile spreading across your lips.

For a second, you worry you’ve pushed the joke too far in light of recent events, a tiny flicker of doubt tugging at you as you wait for her reaction.

But then Agatha gasps, bringing a hand to her chest in a theatrical display of mock outrage, her mouth falling open in exaggerated shock.

You stifle a laugh, rolling your eyes at her display. But as her hand drops and her expression settles, you catch her gaze lingering on you, her eyes glinting with something that looks almost like approval.

“Bold of you.” she murmurs, her voice soft as a faint smile plays at the corner of her mouth.

You feel a strange warmth spreading underneath your skin at her playful and almost challenging expression. There’s a small, unexpected comfort in seeing her slip back into her usual sarcasm, the teasing edge to her words a familiar part of the mask she wears. It’s hard to believe that only moments ago she was the image of pain, raw and exposed, as if the weight of the world had almost crushed her. But here she is, standing again, slipping back into the familiar armor of her wit and resilience. Agatha Harkness, you realize, is so much stronger than her magic.

As you find yourself watching her, a question slips out before you have time to second-guess it. “Agatha, are you… ok?”

The second the words leave your mouth you almost want to slap yourself. 

‘After everything that’s happened today, that’s what you ask?!’ you scold yourself. It truly feels ridiculous, like trying to sum up a storm with a single raindrop.

For a moment, she seems unfazed, as though she might deflect or offer some sarcastic reply. Then, her gaze softens just enough for you to understand. She does’t answer, not verbally at least, the layered question hanging between you.

You decide not to push it. She’s been through more than enough in the past hours, and you’re beginning to see just how much it costs her to share her feelings and let anyone glimpse that vulnerable side of her.

Glancing up at the sky, you realize the evening has begun to settle around you, a breathtaking full moon growing brighter with each passing minute. Time has passed quicker than you realized, and the thought hits you that it must be close to dinnertime. You remember your mother’s instructions to be home in time for supper, an order you promised to obey.

You sigh in disappointment before another thought occurs to you, sitting uneasily in your mind. She’ll have to go home too, back to Evanora. The idea unsettles you, stirring a quiet worry you’re not sure you can ignore.

“Are you heading back soon?” you ask, the question more tentative than you intended. The thought of her returning to that house, to Evanora’s shadow, makes you feel oddly protective, even if you can’t quite voice it.

Agatha’s eyes narrow just slightly, as if she’s read the concern in your expression. She shrugs, her tone lighter than you’d expect. “I suppose so.” she says, but there’s a weight to her words, something lingering beneath the surface that she doesn’t elaborate on.

And suddenly, you wish you could keep her here just a little longer, away from whatever awaits her there.

You think the conversation has ended as the silence stretches, half-expecting Agatha to turn and leave. Yet somehow, neither of you can bring yourselves to move, to turn away, not after everything you’ve just shared. The weight of the whole day seems to settle over you both, rooting you in place.

You clear your throat, trying to summon the resolve to say goodbye. “I should go… my mother’s expecting me.” The words feel heavy, reluctant, and you hate how much you don’t want to leave.

Agatha keeps her gaze steady, her expression composed, as if the idea of parting doesn’t faze her. “Of course. You’d better get going then.” She shrugs lightly, adding a casual wave, “I’ll see you around the village. When it happens.”

There’s a forced ease in her tone, a practiced nonchalance that barely hides what you sense, that she doesn’t want this moment to end any more than you do.

You linger for a heartbeat, searching for something else to say. “If you… if you need anything, you know where to find me.” you offer, your voice softer than you intended. And before she can respond, you turn and walk away, your steps firm as you force yourself to keep moving, needing to get away before you change your mind.

But just as you take those decisive steps to put some distance between you, Agatha’s voice reaches you in a barely audible, almost hesitant whisper. “Thank you for… caring.”

The words stop you dead in your tracks, a chill washing over you as you freeze mid-step. Your pulse quickens and you find yourself torn, suspended in a heartbeat of indecision, caught between the urge to pretend you didn’t hear her and the pull to turn back. You hesitate, breath shallow, feeling her soft voice tug at something deep inside you. 

Finally, giving in, you turn.

And there she is, her gaze already fixed on you.

[vaguely-concerned]

Ever since watching The Wire for the first time, my brain has doggedly kept working away at the Especially the lies of it all, and specifically at how much the structure beneath the different stories Garak tells contributes to the overall meaning of what he’s trying to say. While the contradicting narratives of course expertly obscure the factual circumstances of his getting exiled, using them also allows him to tell aspects and facets of the emotional truth I don’t think he ever could have, if he’d simply told the actual story of what happened. (It’s very Varric-core of him honestly.)

The first story — the ‘oh, you think you know me?’ story — says I have done things that would sicken you if you knew any detail of it. It’s clearly meant to scare Bashir away so he’ll leave him to die shamefully in peace already lol. But it’s also one of his (probably much-needed lbr) little lessons to Julian that are so frequent in the beginning, given while Garak still has some hold on himself — “Don’t be so quick to forgive me if you don’t even know what I’ve done; what would you do if this really were the sum total of what I am?” (And Julian seems to surprise him by going ‘Well, exactly the same thing, because no matter who you are I am a doctor. But I sort of take your point.’)

The second story — the letting the orphans go story — says I have failed to smother my soul in its cradle when it was required of me, and I regret that more than anything I’ve done. To my ears this is the one most shot through with active self-loathing too, which is interesting. He’s officially lost the control he’s been clinging to and it’s about to get ugly. His TL;DR is ‘Sentiment is the greatest weakness of all’, even all the way back here. (Which is the one lesson Julian steadfastly refuses to learn, which I think in turn does some serious rearrangement of Garak’s soul over the course of the show haha. Get uno reversed into the process of loving and being loved without shame asshole.)  This is also where he builds up to admitting to having any sort of need for companionship or closeness at all and — so much worse — that Julian’s role in his life actually has fulfilled some of that need, and he’s DRIPPING with defensive venom over it b/c well I get it Garak vulnerability is scary it can take a person like that. 

(I also feel there’s something honest and forbidden in ‘Suddenly the whole exercise seemed utterly meaningless’. I suspect ‘actually… why the fuck are we even doing this???’ is not a welcome sentiment in an Obsidian Order water cooler environment, no matter what you’re saying it about lmao. The very first seeds of him deconstructing the things he’s been taught about Cardassia and his work might be hinted at here, though they of course take a looong time to come to any real fruition.)   

The third story — the ‘Elim was my best friend’ story — says hey, remember that thing you said once, about how sometimes, you have to be loyal to yourself before you can be loyal to anything else? Well. guess what. I couldn’t even be that lmao. It also furthers that thread of being divided from yourself, split, that having ‘Elim’ as a separate person around in all versions of the story brings in. He’s in control of himself again, but he essentially hands his life and soul over to Julian to decide what should be done with them. 

I’ve done horrible things and it finally caught up with me, I’m getting what I deserve → I let sentiment master me and the fact that I’m too weak to do what’s needed of me shames me more than the evil I’ve done → I fucked up. I betrayed myself and everything I held to, all for nothing, and I have no one to blame for it but myself. But it’s very nice that you’re here anyway, Doctor. (Wow. I didn’t realize quite how isolated and lonely that last one was before right now. The way Tain has shaped him really has just… locked him completely into himself, huh.) We can also see a movement through from a completely professional context in the first story, to an intensely interpersonal and internal context in the last one — even his fake stories spiral in towards intimacy, which I think is what he longs for here even if he can’t quite like. Touch that without the stories as a buffer yet, it’s clearly like touching a hot stove for him to interact with it too directly. 

And you know what I find incredibly interesting the whole way through? Even on his deathbed, where he’s dying from the thing Tain had put in his head, he’s protecting Tain. He puts all the blame for where he is on himself (‘My future was limitless, until I threw it away’), even if he has to employ a strange twisty logic where he’s split himself into two to do it. Don’t get me wrong, Garak has done horrific things all on his own haha, but it’s notable that he almost isolates Tain from that. ‘Tain was the Obsidian Order. Not even the Central Command dared challenge him. And I was his right hand.’ Tain in Garak’s stories is this infallible implacable weirdly distant figure, even now. Indeed, as will make a lot of sense with the revelations further down the line, more than anything it seems the gaze of an abused child desperate for recognition looking up at an idealized (if not in any way nurturing) parent.‘He was retired at that point; he couldn't protect me’, Garak says, as if what he’d need protection from in the first place isn’t Tain himself lmao, as if Tain had no active part in any of this. He never lets blame touch Tain at all. At this stage he would rather consider himself a broken flawed tool than accept that the hands that have wrought and wielded him have ever had any fault in them. AND in the middle of it all, with plausible deniability, on death’s door and knocking meekly to be let in before he must finish the mortifying ordeal of being known and test the even more daunting possibility of being loved, Garak at the same time manages to drop the breadcrumb trail of clues to make it possible for Julian to find Tain if he so chooses and gets in the ‘sons of Tain’ thing too for future dramatic irony purposes. Truly he is the Michelangelo of lying. Every falsehood a multifaceted masterpiece. Elim ‘achieving a state of intertextuality in real life is possible if you work hard and believe in yourself’ Garak. I love him so much. 

I think all of this is why “I forgive you. For whatever it is you did,” works so well, because it too works on a structural level. It’s such a deceptively multilayered response — it has the syntax of a joke, in a way, and it is kind of funny even under the circumstances, but delivered with such earnest warmth and fondness. It’s both recognition and acceptance (forgiveness!). It’s saying ‘I finally understand enough of what you’re trying to tell me beneath and through all that, in whatever way you’re capable of, I see you’ and ‘my answer hasn’t changed (bitch)’. The forgiveness Julian offers here is complete — on principle, and out of personal feeling and empathy (only one of which Garak deigns to respond to during the second story, where he calls it ‘smug Federation sympathy’, placing it more completely on the principle side than it probably is. ‘Dude you’re my friend please don’t just lie down and die in a completely avoidable way on me, who else is going to not only tolerate but actually gleefully enjoy me being annoying as fuck over lunch’ seems to be the subtext that’s a lot harder to acknowledge and invite in for both of them. And yet Tain seems perfectly clear on the fact that Julian is Garak’s friend, which, y’know. Must be fun living with the knowledge that Tain has eyes everywhere looming over you every day haha guess you’d just have to tune that out.) 

Most of all — ’Don’t give up on me now, Doctor’... and he didn’t! He didn’t. Augh. Ow.