#I've never written a chase/tailing scene before

[mahou-furbies]

Now caught up with Mermaid Melody Aqua

When this originally started my involvement was mostly about gawking at Lukia's design and I only read a couple chapters before dropping off, but now I'm caught up. Aannnddd how do I put this... it's hard to gauge how critical I can be since this is clearly aimed at a younger audience, and also romance stories aimed at tween girls are already such a punching bag, but... this is the first time I'm considering if I should give a mal rating of 1/10 to a manga. I've read other Nakayoshi series and for the most part have been able to find something like or at least end with a wishy-washy "I'm not in the target audience but I guess it's okay for what it is" sentiment, but this one just has so many issues, in addition to a myriad of stuff that personally pisses me off.

The story is about the original series' heroine's teenage daughter Lukia, who, as anyone who knows anything at all about this manga, looks exactly like her mother for no reason. The ocean is in danger again and Lukia has to marry this one merman to prevent a catastrophe, but she is in love with a human boy, who doesn't know about her mermaid identity and is into both her human and mermaid personas separately and struggles to choose. There are also some magical girl battles. So not that unusual of a shoujo premise.

I tried to think of what my biggest issue with the manga is, but it turned out to be difficult since there are so many to choose from. For starters, I can't think of anything I like about Lukia. Obviously for someone who is into fun anime designs her look is an immediate 0/10 for being an exact copy of an existing character, but it also makes the story harder to follow at times when it's difficult to tell if a character is supposed to be Lukia or her mother. But even apart from the character design she's just so bland, and doesn't have much other passions than lusting after a boy and doing the plot, and even with the plot she's just sort of passively stumbling through. Like in the part where she's being pushed to be with her fiancé and she just limply goes along, and overall it feels as if she spends like 95% of the story looking flustered.

The boys are pretty generic shoujo love interests, and in general in control of the situation while the heroine blushes and follows. They also have little else going on outside chasing Lukia, and get into arguments with each other over who gets her while she feebly stands on the side (her opinion is irrelevant).

However despite the people in the main love triangle being extremely unlikable to me, somehow I'd say that the returning MMPPP cast draws the shortest straw in terms of characterisation. The former heroine Luchia has two roles; either she is the butt of the joke as an embarrassing mum, or an obstacle to Lukia's romance who pushes the arranged marriage, and both are depressing when you consider how she was originally a typical magical girl heroine. More often than not Luchia and her friends are more often than not written like immature teenagers, and at their lowest swoon over how attractive Lukia's fiancé is (all the while the readers are shown how unhappy Lukia is about having to marry some rando).

Lukia spends majority of the series thinking about men, and she doesn't really get proper friendships to balance that out. At the beginning the series does introduce a new mermaid as a friend to her, but they quickly fade into being just an accessory to Lukia. It feels like when the series wants to have a "the heroine is doing fun stuff with her girlfriends!" scene, it just has Lukia hang out with her mum and her mum's friends (who never grew up), which is kind of cringe.

Then there's the fanservice aspect; this is a shoujo series but it sure likes to have Lukia wear tops that show off her sizable rack and skirts short enough to show her butt cheeks. In one scene Lukia is just flat out naked so the main guy can walk in on her. And the mermaid tails have been drawn to display the curves of their legs, which to me creates a kind of grotesque effect when it looks like their feet have been cut off from the ankles.

Then finally some complaints about the overall storytelling, it's just so clunky. Like Luchia reveals that Lukia is a mermaid and already engaged, and Lukia runs off in anger. Next page she is introduced to the mascot and has some banter with him, and two pages later it's already the next day and we're at school. You would think that Luchia would at least try to talk a bit more about how her daughter's life is about to take a huge turn, but apparently nothing that was important enough to show to the reader happened during this time. In general there are a lot of moments where transitioning from one scene to another, or even from panel to panel, is noticeably clumsy. Characters also feel like they act just however the scene needs them to.

I am aware that there are plenty of women and girls who are into this kind of love stories where a big strong man shows up to swoop the blank slate heroine off her feet (just think about the popularity of Twilight and 50 Shades), and I would imagine that Mermaid Melody Aqua is aimed at 12-year-old girls who want a "sexy" romance with hot boys totally devoted to the viewpoint character. But I've never been there so I can't relate, and if I had to think "well someone else probably likes this" every time I think of writing a review I could never criticise anything. So let's just close with the sentiment that with the laziest character design imaginable, wet rag of a heroine, super conservative gender roles in the romance, inconsistent and dull characters, undignified portrayal of original series heroines, unappealing fanservice and overall weak writing this is a good contender for my least favourite manga ever. The story isn't over but it's hard to see how it could crawl out of this hole.

[mysticgirl84]

Impossible. A scene I've written after the HBP Hospital chapter, when Tonks lays it out for Lupin.

I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Impossible

Lupin leaves the hospital room, closely followed by Tonks. 

“It doesn’t  matter what anyone else says” Tonks said “I’m not stupid enough to be with someone who is pressured into it.”

“Look, You just…you still don’t get it” Lupin said sadly

“When will you stop making choices for me? When will you trust me to make my own choices? Maybe we won’t work, maybe you're right..though not because you are a werewolf but because you treat me like I’m too young, inexperienced…you have no respect for me or the fact I can make my own choices.” She was angrily “Let me show you one more thing, then it’s up to you.”

She said, stopping him in his tracks and dragging him into an empty classroom. 

Lupin stopped to look at her and watched with interest, wondering how she was going to prove anything. Before he knew it, he watched Tonks’s body change, fall onto all fours and grow fur. Within a minute a beautiful, grey and white husky stood staring at him.  A pair of eyes, one blue and one brown, stared back at him hopefully. She tilted her head, looking at him alert. He took a moment to reach out to her, hand out to stroke her before pausing, as if remembering who she is. Her head met his hand half way, and he gently stroked her head. Tonks nuzzled into his hand and he felt his resolve weakening. 

“Tonks, amazing as that is, it doesn’t change anything…” He said trying to be strong but feeling touched that she had learnt this skill. He wondered briefly if it was easy for her to learn with her existing abilities.  

He watched her lower tail, her head bowed and her eyes dropped. The look of heartbreak on her face, with puppy dog eyes gazed back at him. It tugged at his heart strings but he had to be strong though she was making it very hard. 

She slowly morphed into Tonks and stood staring at him, her expression determined. 

“Fine! It doesn’t matter that it took me the better part of 18 months, it's still not good enough to prove that I can be safe. Maybe you're right Remus” She held up her hands in surrender “ I do deserve someone whole, someone who cares about me, who lets me make my own choices and listens to me. Someone who doesn’t wrap me in cotton wool or thinks of me as being incapable of understanding my feelings. I deserve to be loved and be happy! I don’t deserve to be chasing a man around who is too bloody stubborn to follow his heart and will not allow himself to feel. I deserve a man who is brave enough to take a chance with me. We could all be dead tomorrow, we need to love for today. I’m not blind, you think you are trying to protect me but let's be honest, you have only been hurting me and I’ve let you. I don't deserve that. Goodbye Remus, I will see you at Professor Dumbledore’s funeral” She said, turning her back, leaving the classroom, head held high and strides determined without a stumble. 

Lupin watched her walk away. He’d finally got what he wanted. She’d stop pursuing him. She was planning on moving on. So why wasn’t he happy with the choice? She’d be safe with someone else. She’d be loved and cherished and respected and safe. She’d get everything she deserves and more. He’d give anything to protect her and give her the happiness she deserved. He’d held out, however a voice in his head, sounding like Sirius popped up

“You stupid man Remus, she loves you. She never loved me despite what you might have thought. She’s my cousin for goodness sake. It was always you. I never thought you’d be the one to hurt her. I had more faith in you. .”

“It’s better this way” He spoke the Sirius in his head 

“Is it though, Remus?” A soft gentle voice took over, he recognised the voice of Lily “You deserve to be loved Remus. Don't throw it away. Chase after her. James chased me and look what happened. We got married. Had a beautiful son. You can have that too, if you let yourself.” 

“It's a once a month problem Moony, it doesn't define you. She loves all of you” Another voice sounding suspiciously like James “Why are you letting her go.”

“She's too young…” Remus answered

“Please, age is just a number….lots of people have large age differences.” Sirius answered

“I’m too poor…” 

“Money doesn’t matter to her. James could have been as poor as a churchmouse and I’d still have married him” Lily Answered

“I’m too dangerous….”

“She’s an auror Mooney. Every day she goes out to work, she’s in danger. Everyone is in danger, we know the times we are living in. She is safer with you, you are safer with her” James answered

“Look mate, she learned to be an animagus for you. It took her 18 months. She did it all for you. How can that not prove how much she loves you? She wants you and only you.” Sirius continued to speak.

Remus took a moment to try and tune out his friends, but the thoughts kept creeping in. He’s thoughts blending with the advice his friends would have given him. He didn’t think it was possible. How could anyone love him, all of him for who he was. A dangerous, poor, old, broken down werewolf who’d never loved anybody like he’d loved Tonks. Loved Tonks. He did love Tonks, or Dora as his mind supplied a more informal name and he was proving that by keeping her safe. That’s what people do to keep loved ones safe, if they are hurting them isn’t it? Remus had never really been in love, though he’d read about in books and watched James and Lily. He’d witnessed first hand that while The Weasleys didn’t have much, Molly and Arthur loved each other unconditionally and they hated to be apart.

 As he sat down and glanced around the room, he remembered a conversation with Dumbledore in this room about his condition. Dumbledore was dead. Was that even possible, he thought, allowing his mind to continue its wandering. He never thought Dumbledore would die part way through the war. Killed by Snape. A man he trusted, who in Lupin’s mind was inferior to Dumbledore. Mind you his mind continued to think, if Dumbledore, a powerful wizard could be beaten by Snape then anything was possible. All bets were off. Tonks was right, they could all die tomorrow. She’d learned to transform herself into an animal just for him. If that was possible, then maybe, just maybe Tonks loving him for who he was was possible. He stood up suddenly, knocking the chair over. He looked at the door, before calling on his patronus to find Tonks. He knew it was a long shot, he knew he’d possibly blown his chance but maybe she would listen. Maybe he would try again and maybe what he felt was impossible, is suddenly possible. 

[littlelightbolt]

Finding Prowl - a JazzProwl + baby Blue Mer AU

Never really written stuff before but this idea was stuck on me so I've put it out in bullet point form.

I'm looking for mabye someone to give me more ideas on this one, cause I only have certain scenes in my mind.

This is very much a setting-the-scene chapter, I have 2 more written-ish coming.

If anyone interested please message me.

Chapter 1: The capture.

Open on the wild kelp forest, sunny waters where the light filters the sands in rays of colour.

A group of otters are foraging the deeps for clams

One particular one has got their haul in their pouch. Content.

A shrill cry echoes through the waters

The otters scatter, from within the Kelp a higher pitched keen sounds back

A juvenile orca mer floats through the green curtains.

They seem to be having fun, doing spins and zooming with the tidal movements. They take care to not get too close to the shore.

With a flip if their tail they depart off to deeper waters to reunite with what seems to be returning hunting party and mum successful and full from a good hunt.

With a shell clutched close, the young one meets with mum. Showing off the pretty find as they get their fill nursing.

Mother holds the close, the water was warm, the waves calming the sun bright.

It will forever be ingrained in the young ones mind.

The moment shifts as a new noise arrives

Loud and noisy it cuts out all other sound of life, it grows louder and in their direction.

The pod around him grows tense, the young one cautiously curious not knowing why the sound was bad

In a flash the matriarch let's out a shrill command and the pod scatters

Mum and the little take off staying close together. The little one tries their hardest to keep up, wild with fear bled off their mother. She urges them to the kelp forest. Once within they would be safe.

But, whatever was chasing them seemed faster yet. A sharp shadow blocked out the sun above them. The baby whines with fear . The mother urges them to dive.

A horrid sound rocks the water, disorienting the poor baby and mother. They become immobile. The young one literally quaking in pain and fear scents the water around them.

A splat, something enters the waters, the young one see a strange mesh of holes surround them. They start to panic struggle but the mesh has entangled him. Their sharp cry is echoed by their mother who still wracked with pain tries to come to their rescue, clawing the material to no avail. The ropes were too thick to cut through in time.

The young one pulled a pull upwards, their thrashing increased 3 fold.

With a wail, they are plucked from the warm water of his home to the brittle cold air of New Zealand.

He looks on in horror as his mother disappear from his sight , hidden by the white hard surfaces of the beast he was on.

As soon as he was flat on the hard surface, strange bipedal creatures went down on him, putting wet furry things on their flank and yelling over them in harsh tones. The smell of long dead fish greets him.

The wails of his mother can still be heard overboard and he shrieks for ever help.

The boat rocks sideways as they see their mothers hands grasps the walls to reach him.

A glint of a weird shiny barrel winks from the grasp of one of the bipedals however. The little one watches in confused horror as it is pointed at their mother.

She sees it too late.

BANG!

The little one silences. The mother is quiet. There is red leaking onto the floor, it reaches the little one as the ship continues to rock. It smells like warm blood, it coats some of their side.

Mother is silent, stock still almost. Her face locked in a scary gaze. She rocks and slides unsteadily, and falls back into the ocean.

The cry of the seagulls just got louder. The bipedals began to bark again at one another!

“The fuzz is on their way! Let’s move out!

With the the familiar sound of a motor hits the shocked babies ears faintly as the shudders of the boat lock them into their fate.

They get moved to a little water pen, only as wide as the length of their body. They couldn’t move at all.

It was there the little one cold, hungry and scared cried itself to sleep. Praying their mother would come and save them.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next Chapter

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond! Scripting: Prime Encounter

This scene was co-written with @mcgamejolter. The scene is also based on this animation by DedGrafic.

During Cosmic Discoveries, OMT!Tails was thrown into the Prime Sonic universe by Lost Memory Sonic and knocked out from the impact. A few moments later, Sonic Prime/Modern Sonic showed up, seeing the alternate version of his best bud lying on the floor.

Modern Sonic: Huh? What's up with the blue shoes? Yo, Tails!

As he knelt down to have a closer look, another portal opened behind him, prompting him to leap out of the way as LM!Sonic showed up.

LM!Sonic: Urgh... You could've just stayed out of my business, Prower, and you managed to screw up even THAT.

He held OMT!Tails up by his ankle.

LM!Sonic: You should never have become the hero of your world. You're a mistake, child.

OMT!Tails (in a daze): Uh... Mom, I don't wanna go to school today... I've got a headache...

LM!Sonic: You're an abomination, a danger to others AND to yourself.

On cue, Sonic Prime sped right through him, moving OMT!Tails to a safe position before going back to confront his alternate self.

Sonic Prime: Hey, man. If you're part of Eggman's new army of creepy eyes, you'd better hit the hay if you know what's-!

LM!Sonic promptly bashed him out of the way.

LM!Sonic: SILENCE!

Once Sonic Prime impacted with a tree, his hands were quickly restrained via energy spheres.

LM!Sonic: To think you're the "Prime" version of myself. Disgusting... You once fragmented this reality, creating wars between dimensions and threatening thousands of lives. There's not much difference between you and this two-tailed freak; you're both ticking time bombs that could wreak havoc on reality.

Sonic Prime: Oh, brother. I found someone even grumpier than Shadow. Hey, what's up with you beefing about the whole Shatterverse incident that happened a while ago?!

Shadow Prime arrived on the scene.

Shadow Prime: Well, to be fair, he's right.

Sonic Prime: Hey, wow!

Shadow Prime (to LM!Sonic): However, that still doesn't justify why you've come here. So I suggest you leave now!

LM!Sonic glared at Shadow Prime hatefully, seeing ANY Shadow being his big berserk button.

LM!Sonic: Get out of my way! That sorry excuse of a sidekick is coming with me!

Shadow Prime: So it's the kid you want, huh?

Sonic Prime: Hey, now. I don't want another Nine situation, so I hope you're not thinking about giving Tails to red eyes over there-!

Right then and there, Shadow Prime charged at LM!Sonic as they engaged in combat.

Sonic Prime (genuinely surprised): Huh. I'm... I'm actually surprised.

As the fight went on, OMT!Tails wearily woke up, noticing Sonic Prime restrained.

OMT!Tails: Oh? Hang on! I'll get you down from there.

He disabled the spheres, letting Sonic come back down to terra-firma.

Sonic Prime: Thanks, dude! So... alternate universes... Tell me about it.

OMT!Tails: You know, I remember seeing you a few months back. Weren't you being chased by that robot that wanted the Paradox Prism?

Sonic Prime: Metal X? Yeah, that would be me.

OMT!Tails gasped in awe, his thoughts ultimately confirmed.

OMT!Tails: So you ARE Prime Sonic!

Sonic Prime: The one and only! Fastest thing alive with no-one to serve except the wind that flows free! What more can I ask for than the freedom to go wherever I want! Well... Except, it's clean-up duty again. Someone's gotta fix the mess Baldy McNosehair did.

OMT!Tails: Heh, figures. So, will Shadow be alright trying to fight off that psychopath on his own?

Sonic Prime: Shadow? Oh, please! He's fought a giant lizard and an alien god trying to destroy humanity. What else could some edgy-looking version of myself possibly do?

OMT!Tails: I mean, there's all sorts of variations of you out there, several of which have got this huge Society aiming to keep the wider multiverse safe!

Sonic Prime: So I've heard. I gotta admit, it's really weird seeing hedgehogs that look like me but with different-coloured fur across those multiversal stretches. Speaking of that... is it me, or was that a version of Nine I saw the other day?

OMT!Tails: It sure was!

Sonic Prime: So, where do you plan to go from here? Besides obviously running from that psycho.

OMT!Tails: Well, I've still got some more work to be doing with my own multiversal team once I get moving again.

On cue, LM!Sonic was kicked close to the two.

LM!Sonic: H-How is he so strong...?! This isn't fair! He should've fallen by now!

And fittingly, Shadow Prime kicked him right in the face.

Shadow Prime: Leave now, freak, unless you want me to kick your ass a second time.

Sonic Prime: (to Shadow) Nice work, Shadow! (to OMT!Tails) See? Told ya he could beat him no problem!

OMT!Tails: Heh, sweet!

LM!Sonic got up, frustrated.

LM!Sonic: You weren't even giving it your all! Urgh, Maria would be so ashamed of-.

OMT!Tails: Woah woah woah WOAH! Haven't you even researched the golden rule related to Shadows?

LM!Sonic: Enlighten me, "genius".

OMT!Tails: Do. NOT. Mention. Maria. Out loud. When Shadow is in proximity!

Shadow Prime cracked his knuckles, not at all chuffed with this version of Sonic speaking foul of Maria.

Shadow Prime: So unless you're looking for a death wish, leave our world... and never come back!

LM!Sonic: Fine, then! (to OMT!Tails) But this isn't over, fox! I'll get you yet!

LM!Sonic made his retreat through another portal.

Sonic Prime: Aaaand we'll never see him again.

Shadow Prime: You'd better get back to wherever you came from, Tails. We're not looking to get involved in whatever situation this is.

OMT!Tails: Yeah, that's a good call.

OMT!Tails prepared to leave.

OMT!Tails: Oh, yeah. Before I go, if it at least helps you feel a little better, Shadow, there's always at least one universe where she's alright. Well, see you both around!

OMT!Tails left, Shadow Prime being left to process Tails's words.

Shadow Prime: You know... I prefer him over Nine any day.

Sonic Prime: Oh, come on! Nine wasn't that bad either!

The two began running off.

Shadow Prime: Yeah, but at least this Tails didn't try to kill us.

Sonic Prime: Uuurgh! You're never gonna live that down, are you?

Shadow Prime: Nope.

Sonic Prime: You know what? I shouldn't have asked.

[thelostgirl21]

Alright, I might need your help / input on this one...

As some of you know, at some point over the summer, I'd noticed that:

a) Jaskier's LGBTQ+ wiki page was empty (a page had been made, but without any content yet),

b) that Radovid's page wasn't there,

c) that Radskier didn't have any page on the shipping wiki, either;

d) and that the Netflix versions of the characters of Radovid and Vespula were both missing from The Witcher's wiki, also.

Thus, I took the liberty to start filling those pages, doing my best to interpret and make sense of all the information I'd gathered throughout interviews, news articles, etc.

And, as I've explained here, I made one massive mistake of interpretation, that I then attempted to fix by rephrasing things in that manner:

I gave the moderator the explanation in yellow (i.e. the one at the bottom), and they reverted it back exactly to the way it was.

Therefore, I've now, at the very least, attempted to remove one paragraph, and given them the other explanation in yellow (the one at the top), hoping it would at the very least be kept off the wiki.

Because this is the huge mistake I made I was talking about, that was utterly and completely wrong:

Hopefully, they'll keep that paragraph off the page. It if comes back, just know that I no longer agree, at all, with what I'd previously written (yeah, I'll probably never let myself live that one down).

Where I need some input, is to see if you have some ideas on how Jaskier's sapiosexuality might have been supported by the show's narrative, to have it recognized as a valid sexual orientation for the character on the wiki?

Okay, first of all, I probably should say that the moderator appears to have a very strict "to be accepted on the LGBTQ+ wiki, a sexuality must both be shown on screen (through either text or queer subtext), and identified as such by someone working on the show," policy.

At least, that's how I've interpreted it, based on the answers they've given to other people's questions on their wall.

For example, an actor could not be officially claiming that a character is bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, or polysexual if there's been no evidence, in the show (or the movie, videogame, etc.) that they have the potential to have sex with more than a single gender.

Therefore, I was able to get pansexuality accepted as part of Jaskier's sexual identity in the table, because Vespula tells Jaskier: "I’ve cursed you for chasing tails of every kind. Men, women, dwarves, elves, polymorphous…  […] But never have I ever seen you have a crush,” and there was an article stating that Jaskier was a panromantic or pansexual character.

And they've accepted sapioromantism for similar reasons, likely because "crush" is a-spec slang for romantic attraction.

For your personal information, the main ones I personally know and remember are:

Romantic attraction = crush.

Platonic attraction = squish.

Alterous attraction = mesh.

Sensual attraction = lush.

Sexual attraction = smush.

Aesthetic attraction = swish.

So, the whole scene is layered with heavy aromantic subtext, making the claim from Joey Batey that they'd built something very special for their audience - a sapioromantic and sapiosexual connection - be something very tangible on the show.

As someone that watched season 3 having already read that article before, and being overexcited to discover how they'd handled showing the character as being a sapioromantic on screen, I felt like Batey and the writers fully delivered on their promise, and wrote the queer scenes with a queer audience in mind.

But the moderator has refused to accept "panromantic" under Jaskier's romantic identity.

And my guess is that, by having Vespula tell Jaskier that she's never ever seen him have a crush before, then the show only lists the different people that Jaskier has been with sexually.

Reading into the a-spec subtext, we are more or less told that what Jaskier is experiencing for Radovid is a crush (romantic attraction), seemingly based on the way that Jaskier appears to be fascinated by and connecting with Radovid's intelligence and insightfulness (sapio).

Jaskier insists that he doesn't have crushes (aro), thus implying that either it's never happened before, or he's never fully been aware of it happening before.

So, I'm guessing they are saying "Well, the show has failed to show us that he's been romantically involved with people regardless of gender, since they only explicitly identified a single crush that Jaskier has been experiencing on the show, and it's with Radovid (a man).

There's no suggestion, in the narrative itself, that Jaskier could find himself experiencing a crush regardless of a partner gender. We've only seen him crushing on a man."

Therefore the moderator only considers sapioromantic as being a romantic orientation that's been named and that is being backed by the show's narrative, but not panromantic.

At least, that's my theory as to why "panromantic" keeps being refused whenever I've tried putting it in the table, regardless of what Joey Batey himself said in interviews.

Did I ask them why they were refusing panromantic? Yes, I did. But they didn't answer. So, I am left with trying to understand why they've accepted sapioromantic and pansexual, but refused sapiosexual and panromantic, based on the answers that they've provided to other people that appeared to be facing similar issues I had.

Which bring us to the whole "sapiosexual" fiasco.

Sadly, I can't demonstrate that Jaskier is sapiosexual based on the show's narrative alone.

He's seen as being instantly interested in having sex with people's he's just met, and as constantly craving sexual contact to the point where it gets him into trouble.

Hence why even I managed to missed it. I've been so used to read into character behavior as proof of attraction that I totally fell headfirst into that trap!

To the point where, at some point, I was literally thinking that maybe the words that Joey Batey used were

"[We] ensured that these romances are told truthfully — and sensitively and carefully, without resorting to stereotypes… Hopefully we’ve created something that is special, a sapioromantic and sexual [connection] that is as flawed as any other relationship in this show.”

And it was reported as "sapioromantic" and "sapiosexual" by the person writing the article, rather than sapioromantic and sexual (because no official source had confirmed the pairing would be a same gender one back then, and therefore Joey wouldn't have been able to label any gendered aspect of the queer relationship with Radovid yet when the article came out).

But sexual activity can be enjoyed with people for reasons that have nothing to do with finding a partner sexually attractive, and it's not something that can easily be shown on screen, even through the use of asexual subtext.

Unless Jaskier suddenly launches into some kind of educational presentation on what asexuality is, the different types of physical attraction asexual typically experience (aesthetic, sensual...), the different types of asexuals (sex-favorable, sex-neutral, sex-repulsed...) and how each of them might choose to express their sexuality, "canon sapiosexuality" is virtually impossible to clearly represent on screen!

To have any hope of being represented by characters in the field of TV, movie, and videogame entertainment, some sexualities have little to no choice but to rely almost exclusively on what the actors and the writers (or other people involved in the creation of the narrative) of the show are saying their intention was for the character.

I understand the whole concept behind the "death of the author", I do.

I'm 100% fine with people claiming that Poe Dameron being romantically attracted towards Finn is canon based on the queer subtext the actor used in his acting and him saying that he was playing a romance despite the studios disagreeing with that interpretation.

Why? Because the performance was queer coded, the studio knew it, they still released it, and if you queer-bait your audience, you better believe they have every right to claim a character as theirs.

But in the context where we're talking about the intent of the writers and the actor of portraying such a little known and represented romantic and sexual orientation that is part of the aromantic and asexual spectrum, I'm extremely saddened at the thought of people going "Well, we'll just ignore that the character was ever intended to be sapioromantic or sapiosexual, and only give validity to what's explicitly shown on screen!"

Look Lucifer has been seen as being sexually involved with people of any gender identity on the show, but he's never once announced "I'm a bisexual devil!"

It's the actors and the writers that confirmed it.

On the show, we can only interpret his behavior as being compatible with the label bisexuality. But his sexuality was still only explicitly named off screen.

Same with Kaidan Alenko in the videogame Mass Effect, and I *think* Magnus Bane in Shadowhunters.

We interpret bisexual behavior as proof enough of bisexuality, and trust the writers and the actors' words.

But what is "sapioromantic behavior" or "sapiosexual behavior". How can one objectively differentiate it from alloromantic and allosexual behavior, by solely showing it.

If we don't require onscreen bisexual representation to use the label to trust that the people working on the show are using the right label...

...why is it so important to have people say "I'm sapioromantic" or "I'm sapiosexual" before it can be considered canon.

Jaskier was labelled as sharing a sapioromantic and sapiosexual relationship with Radovid off screen. And the show's narrative is 100% compatible with real life sapioromantic and sapiosexual behavior.

So, I personally find it extremely unfair for us to be expected to go one step further, by explicitly finding ways to prove that Jaskier can only be sexually attracted towards people that he establishes an intellectual connection with on screen through the show's narrative itself.

It also makes "allosexuality" the default sexuality, where everyone having sex with a partner can be assumed to be sexually attracted to them unless they find a way to explicitly prove otherwise.

And it requires that the representation of the characters on the asexual spectrum be explicit to the point of needing to name the label, when we virtually never require any gay, bisexual, or even pansexual (has Deadpool ever explicitly stated he was pansexual without breaking the fourth wall? I'd have to check!) to explicitly state their label, just be shown as having sex with more than a single gender identity.

i.e. Engaging in a behavior that is compatible with their sexual orientation.

Jaskier's behavior is compatible with a sapiosexual orientation.

So yes, the idea that you must both have people working on the show naming the character's sexuality, and that it must be explicitly shown on top of it in the show's narrative, rings a bit problematic to me in the context of harder to demonstrate sexualities.

When you're tackling representation for rarer and more specific sexualities, I believe you should trust the writers and actors reporting what the intended labels for the character are, and only require that the narrative doesn't contradict it, not explicitly proves it.

Any bisexual behavior seen on screen can be used as proof of either bisexuality, pansexuality, or omnisexuality (or in some case polysexuality) as soon as someone officially working on the show names the character's sexuality.

It's extremely easily identifiable and simple to show (and even there, some idiots will try to say that anything non-monosexual doesn't exist).

But there's no such thing as widely recognized and easily identifiable "asexual behavior" per say.

And the difference between a queerplatonic relationship and a romantic relationship, for example, can be so subtle that they will present on screen as being exactly the same.

So, asking for explicit representation, and having it 100% confirmed on screen, is a bit much.

Jaskier never explicitly told Vespula: "I am confused over my feelings for Radovid, because I don't think I've ever experienced that type of specific attraction before. This is different. The way I feel about Radovid is different."

And Vespula didn't then say to him: "That's because I think you are romantically attracted to him."

And Jaskier didn't then answer: "What?! But I don't get romantically attracted to people! I love them platonically or alterously! I desire them sexually! I have world ending, heart wrenching affairs! I do enjoy getting involved in romances for the excitement it provides, the love, and the kinship I share with all my partners, but I don't desire my lovers romantically! I have also finally found my chosen family - a family that I share with my very best friend in the whole wide world and the second most important person in my life (since Joey said the first was Ciri)! I thought I was 100% aromantic until today! Why would I suddenly experience romantic attraction NOW, when I finally have the family I've been looking for, and it turns out they are what pleases me?"

Vespula didn't then answer: "Well, you were specifically swooning over Radovid's intelligence and insightfulness, so maybe you're sapioromantic?"

Instead, we've got Jaskier swooning over how intelligent and insightful Radovid is, while saying "the problem is different, the solution must be different, and Radovid... is different", seemingly confused and intrigued by what he's going through emotionally.

Vespula saying "You like him."

Jaskier thinking that she's talking about his feelings for Geralt, and clarifying that they are of a platonic nature.

Followed by her specifying that she was referring to Radovid, and that, despite Jaskier having been sexually involved with a bunch of different people before, never has she ever seen him have a "crush" (aro/ace slang for "romantic attraction") on any of them.

Then, Jaskier's reaction being to deny that "crushes" (again aro/ace slang for "romantic attraction") are something that he experiences and has the known capacity for, while insisting that he only has world ending, heart-wrenching affairs!

It's aromantic subtext. And yes, I'm happy and feel we're lucky that the queer subtext has been recognized as being enough to back up Joey Batey's claims that the character was sapioromantic.

My problem, is that asexual subtext is even much, much harder to portray and describe.

I would not expect Vespula to tell Jaskier "I've seen you lush and swish over so many men, women, dwarves, etc., before; but I think it's the first time I've ever seen you smush after someone!"

Expecting queer people to pick on the differences between a crush and squish? Reasonable. If you tell them "look for the sapioromantic representation" while watching the show by telling them before hand in an article, they'll go in paying attention to it and they'll likely see it.

But trying to differentiate between someone wanting to have sex with a partner because they find them aesthetically and sensually attractive, and they can enjoy sex for the sex itself without being sexually attracted to them (for example)...

...and someone wanting to have sex with a partner because they are feeling specifically sexually attracted to them?

Good luck!

The only way I could *perhaps* see how the sapiosexual attraction between Jaskier and Radovid might have been shown by the writers and the actors on the show, would be by comparing the way that Jaskier seems usually quite playful, casual, and fully in control of his body's responses whenever he's talking about sex, interacting with others in a sexually charged context, and talking about how he might be into certain things sexually.

When he was saying that he wasn't not, not into it while looking at Senchai sharing his own appearance, it was said with an almost detached (if a bit freaked out) sense of fascination and curiosity, I think.

Otherwise, he's often seen enjoying himself and being appreciative of other people's beauty, and curious about all the things they could be sexually doing together. Sex with a wide variety of people is amazing, and he regrets nothing!

It's very loving, and affectionate, too.

But it's true that he's not necessarily intensely vibrating with need or desire for his partner in those moment.

And then, there's the way he's physically and emotionally responding to Radovid in this scene...

So that could, perhaps, subjectively show a difference between "enjoying sex with someone you love" and "being sexually attracted to a partner".

With what triggered Jaskier's sudden need to "pounce" on Radovid to kiss him and potentially initiate the sexual activity being the way Radovid's brain works, and how he chose to express his feelings for Jaskier by learning his song (sort of connecting with Jaskier using his own language).

But it's so, so, so, so extremely subjective... that I'm really not sure how I can build a case for it!

And besides, even when you do feel sexually attracted to a partner, you're not constantly sexually attracted or aroused by them. It comes and goes. Sometimes you are in that more playful and detached mood. At least, I think...

I mean, my allosexual partner is much easier to get in that very aroused, very sexually receptive mood than I am, if I'm being honest.

But if he's being a complete geek about something I'll eventually get there. At the most unpractical and inopportune moments, too.

So asexuality is very complex and there's no way to clearly show it, just basically state it.

So, if any of you have any clue on how I could make a solid case for it, and get it approved on the wiki (because I do believe that sapiosexual representation matters), I'm all ears!

And look, I'm not blaming the moderator, either. That's not the point of that post.

Am I frustrated? Yes.

But I understand the need for a clear system to accept or refuse submissions, and I'm guessing that, with the number of pages they must go through and analyze every day, at some point, some nuances get lost; and they, too, miss that maybe applying the same rules for every single sexual and romantic identities, without analyzing how it puts some identities at a clear disadvantage given the complexities of translating attraction into easily identifiable behavior, is asking a lot.

We're all doing the best we can with the knowledge and abilities that we have.

But yeah, what a mess still...

[louiegitsham10]

Hit a Wall, Hit it Hard -- Blog 2 For Engaged Citizenship

I began a blog post earlier this week because I couldn't seem to break through a scene I was writing for this project. I was doing everything to avoid writing it. Eating, scrolling, I even ran a ten-k, all so I wouldn't have to face that teasing cursor, that mocking blank page.

I couldn't even finish that blog post. But today, I broke the wall. It wasn't really a smash, I didn't wrecking ball through, unfortunately. It was more of an Andy-Dufresne-chisel. I tricked myself into getting everything set up, getting the doc loaded up, getting my laptop in, cooking a chilli con carne, making a coffee, drinking a coffee, making another one, going to the toilet, and then I sat there with that document -- by then it was six o'clock -- and I just didn't let myself leave.

I could scroll, I could look out the window, the bargain was that I didn't have to write a thing, I could do nothing, as long as I did nothing in that chair, with that laptop whirring in front of me.

It's not really a nervousness in that situation. It's really nothing to be complaining about. It's sort of a niggling, or something, where whatever idea I have in my head can only stay as good as I think it is while it's in my head. Once I start writing, once I make it real, and not an idea, it's normal. It can no longer be my magnum opus. It can no longer challenge Proust or Camus or John Fowles or Meiko Kawakami or whomever. When it's real you have to read it and pick it apart and admit, really -- it's the admitting that sucks -- that you need to work harder, and might not be exactly where you want to be.

But I stood up to it, and I stood up to it with a sentence, and the sentence was: Shuffling steel toes and lopsided hardhats wait outside the container.

And then I left it for about fifteen minutes and then pushed out another line and another and I managed to make it all the way through the scene. And after that, even through its eleven o'clock now, I made it all the way through this blog as well.

So I've managed to conquer this scene which will be the opening scene of the book. After this is a scene that leads to the climax of the first story, the one about The Manager, before a flashback, which I've already written. It's all going well so far. Some bits of writing that are my favourite from today are, this little bit of characterisation of the worker called Idris:

He’s spat his stem out, and replaced it with a quarter-burned cigarette. That was one of Idris’ things. He was always smoking, even when he was chainsawing or wedging or in the forwarder, he had a perpetual cigarette dangling from his gums, but you could never catch him lighting it. “It’s only two past,” Sharleen says. 

“For him, that’s late.”

“I’ve never noticed.”

And another thing I was happy with was the first description of The Manager and Tommy, his bulldog:

The Manager looks at him and him only, while standing atop the pulpit of those metal stairs, the door closed behind. Stares in his full suit and farmer’s cap, his red tie and his cowboy belt. His boat shoes and his sockless feet jammed inside. This ugly, cultural mosaic watches with something stumpy standing tight to his naked heel. Folds upon folds of brown and white pudge and a coiled tail behind it. Its blue-grey cataracts stare out at nothing and a tear of drool hangs perpetually from the corner of its mouth flap. The Manager’s bulldog, Tommy.

So, we built up through this scene to the next scene which is going to be the felling of what they call The Great Oak. This scene is meant to illustrate that even when deforestation is done sustainably, you can't just replant something as grand as an oak that existed before the Magna Carta or Marcus Aurelius.

This scene will then lead into a rescue of a fox which will, in turn, lead to an allusion to The Manager's "inclination" towards animals. This will then lead to a nighttime scene where The Manager discovers and chases Treespikers but before he catches them, we will flash back to a scene introducing the 'spikers.

Stay tuned! :)

[melancholydreamers]

Are there any modern or old songs that you wish Santana and Brittany had covered individually or as a duet?

Oh that’s a tough question, there just are sm good songs I think that they could do. This might be long cuz I’m gonna add parts of the lyrics that make sense :)

As a duet, I would loved to see “Lay All Your Love on Me” by Abba. If you’ve seen Mamma Mia, then the scene for that is perfect for Brittana. It’s very fun and playful

Lay All Your Love on Me :

“I wasn't jealous before we met

Now every woman I see is a potential threat

And I'm possessive, it isn't nice

You've heard me saying that smoking was my only vice”

…

“It was like shooting a sitting duck

A little small talk, a smile, and baby I was stuck”

There are also tons of Taylor Swift songs for them “Invisible String” and “Paper Rings” especially

Invisible String :

“Something wrapped all of my past mistakes in barbed wire

Chains around my demons, wool to brave the seasons

One single thread of gold tied me to you”

Paper rings :

“I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings

Uh huh, that's right

You're the one I want

I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this

Uh huh

Darling, you're the one I want”

I would have loved to see Britney do “Circus” and “Seek Amy” by Britney Spears. She definitely should’ve gotten more solos after britney/brittany or most of the songs in that ep.

Circus :

“I feel the adrenaline moving through my veins

Spotlight on me and I'm ready to break

I'm like a performer, the dance floor is my stage

Better be ready, hope that you feel the same”

Seek Amy :

“Love me, hate me, say what you want about me

But all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy” (it’s supposed to sound like F U C K me lol)

I could also see Britt singing “I Think I’m in Love with You” by Jessica Simpson. She has a similar vibe to younger Britney Spears, so it’ll work well with Britt.

I Think I’m in Love with You :

“ Boy (girl) I think that I'm in love with you

I've been doin' silly things when it comes to you

I think I'm in love

Boy (girl) I think I'm in love with you

I've been tellin' all my friends what I feel for you”

And last for Britt, a duet w/ Blaine. ME! By Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie. They literally both have the same sound and vibe as Taylor and Brendon. It’s perfect.

ME! :

“But one of these things is not like the others

Like a rainbow with all of the colors

Baby doll, when it comes to a lover

I promise that you'll never find another like Me”

For Santana, I feel like she would sound good singing anything, so it was difficult to chose the right ones. I love her ballads/ more slower songs, like “Landslide” and “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac. So I think she would sound good singing “Has Anyone Written Anything for You” by Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac). She would ofc sing this to Britt.

Has Anyone Written Anything for You :

“Has anyone ever written anything for you?

And in your darkest sorrow

Did you ever hear me sing?

Listen to me now

You know I'd rather be alone

Than be without you

Don't you know?”

I can see her singing “Gorgeous” by Taylor Swift to Britt as well.

“Ocean blue eyes looking in mine

I feel like I might sink and drown and die”

…

“You're so gorgeous

I can't say anything to your face

'Cause look at your face

And I'm so furious

At you for making me feel this way

But, what can I say?

You're gorgeous”

Okay last Taylor Swift song lol, “I Know Places” (she would sing this for early s3 Brittana, before/during her coming out)

I Know Places :

“Something happens when everybody finds out”

…

“They are the hunters, we are the foxes

And we run

Baby, I know places we won't be found and

They'll be chasing their tails trying to track us down

'Cause I, I know places we can hide”

Honorable mentions, “Delicate” and “Lover”

“This ain't for the best

My reputation's never been worse, so

You must like me for me

Yeah, I want you”

And lastly, “Us” by James Bay.

“Sometimes I'm beaten

Sometimes I'm broken”

…

“Can we make it better?

'Cause I'm losing hope”

Tell me how to be in this world

Tell me how to breathe in and feel no hurt

Tell me how ‘cause I believe in something

I believe in us”

Done!! Lol sorry this was so long, but maybe give these songs a listen if you don’t already know them! And lmk what you think!!

[atombombbagel]

Could you do a little bit, only if you want to about fem sole interacting with little kids/infants being really good/maternal and all the companions, romanced please, plus maxson reacting please? And I do have to say it's wonderful reading your work! Think I've read everything you've written here!

The feeeeels. Also,thank you so much! I’m glad you are enjoying my work xD <3

Cait: Cait leanedback on the wall with her arms crossed, looking around when she spotted Sole,rocking a small baby in her arms, using her fingers to gently coo the babbling bubba.She never thought she’d find herself smiling at the sight of it, because she’dnever been a child-loving person, or maybe she was, and she’d tried so hard topush the thought out of her head. Thanks to her parents.

She watched in awe as Sole leaned in and pecked the baby���shead, lingering as they took in his scent (the new baby smell). Her heart sunkinto the bottom of her chest as she remembered that Sole told her she waslooking for her own child and she really felt for her at that moment. Solewould have been a great parent to Shaun and she would help in anyway she couldto reunite them, not only for Shaun and Sole but for her younger self, wholonged for a mum who actually loved her.

Curie: Curie couldn’thelp but watch Sole with a smile plastered on her face as Sole kneeled downnext to a child, who was interested in petting Dogmeat. Sole stroked Dogmeatfirst to reassure the child, who’d probably never seen a dog before, let alonepetted one. The child giggled as Dogmeat waged his tail at the love and attentionhe was receiving, and Curie laughed from across the way. Sole looked over herway with a smile on her face as she beckoned her over.

Curie walked over, her heart fluttering when she watched thechild reach over and give Sole a hug, Sole wrapping her arms around the smallerchild. She didn’t have much experience with children being locked up in Vault81 for eighty three years but watching Sole made her realise that she wanted afamily and if she wasn’t good at being a parent, Sole could teach her how.

Danse: Sole wasbabysitting one of the settler’s toddlers as they worked, tending to the cropsin the greenhouse. The toddler was sat happily between Sole’s legs as Sole helda book in her hands. She was leaning down talking sweetly to the child as sheflicked through the pages of the book. The child looked up at Sole, repeatingher words as they pointed to the pictures on the pages.

Danse watched silently as he sat opposite Sole, drinkingfrom a bottle of Nuka Cola. Brotherhood was his life and that’s all he everthought until he met Sole, and as he watched her teach the child to read hefelt a pang in his chest. He wanted one. Not just any one, one with Sole, whowas so loving and maternal. He put his drink down and moved so he was sitting nextto Sole, he leaned over her shoulder, resting his chin on it as he listened in.He could see himself like this with his own little ones, now all he had to dowas convince Sole.

Deacon: He’dalways had a soft spot for kids since he was one himself, during his time in theUniversity Point Deathclaws. He thought his dream of having kids would havebeen fulfilled when he met Barbra, but it hadn’t. But now, as he watched Soleplaying tag with a small child, maybe he could finally have that family he’d alwaysso desperately wanted. He laughed as Sole pretended to be disappointed when thechild ‘tagged’ them, switching roles as they slowly chased the child, deliberatelyfailing to catch them.

His heart pounded in his chest at the thought of Solecarrying his baby, the thought of his child padding into his room and climbingin between himself and Sole as they found solace by sleeping between them.

Sole poked Deacon in the chest and he looked up at her in surpriseas she’d snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Tag,” she said with a laugh, running away as she waited forDeacon to chase her, which he did, he always would.  

Gage: Gage saw childrenas a weakness, something your enemies could take advantage of and in some cases,he wasn’t wrong about that. But, he started to change his mind when he witnessedSole carefully wiping the blood off of a small boy’s knee. He’d fallen over andscraped his leg whilst playing and Sole had seen him do it.

“Be strong for me,” Sole said as she carefully wrapped a smallbandage around the child’s leg. The boy sniffled, wiping his nose with the backof his hand, “there all done,” Sole said with a smile, she pulled a CottonCandy Bite out of the box she kept in her cupboard, handing it to the boy. Hegiggled taking it.

“Thanks miss,” he said, running off to show his mother. Gagehad seen the whole thing and it did something to him, something he couldn’t explain.Wait, was that, feelings? Oh god.

Hancock: He’drealised many years too late that he wanted a baby, he’d only come to therealisation as he watched Sole fuss over a couple’s new baby, no, after shespoke so highly of Shaun and about being a parent. And even though her missingchild was still out there, she stayed strong, not faltering as the couple askedher to watch their child. She sat on the couch, the baby lying on her knees ashe covered her face with her hands.

“Peek-a-boo!” she said in a baby voice, beaming as the babybabbled and giggled. Hancock found himself smiling at the sight, Sole urged himto sit beside her, but he was afraid of scaring the baby with his less thanideal looks, but Sole assured him it would be fine.

He sat beside Sole and leaned over, he was afraid when thebaby stopped laughing and looked at him, tilting its curious little head.

“Uh, peek-a-boo?” he said in a husky voice. A smile wasbrought to his face when the baby burst out laughing. He may have been toolate, but there were other ways they could have kids.

MacCready:MacCready’s ears perked up when he heard the soft laughter of his son, Duncan,echo through the house. He went to investigate, finding Sole’s fingers gentlydancing at the small boy’s sides as she tickled him. A smile grew on his faceas he watched the woman he loved get on so well with his son, something he wasafraid wouldn’t happen when the two had first met.

“Daddy help!” he called playfully, erupting into another fitof laughter when Sole ticked under his arms. MacCready dived into the room,picking up Duncan and holding him up in his arms, “She’s coming to get usDaddy, runnn!” MacCready darted through the house with the smaller boy in hisarms, the two of them laughing loudly as Sole chased them, “get her daddy,” Duncancalled as MacCready put him down, his dad grabbing Sole instead.

“Nooo!” Sole whined as MacCready pinned her down, ticklingher sides.

“We’ve got you now,” Duncan said sitting on Sole’s stomach,he tickled under her neck, before giving up and laying down on her chest, “I’mtired now,” he said sleepily, closing his eyes. MacCready laid down on theground next to Sole, looking over at her. He’d never been more in love with herthan he was at this moment.

Maxson: Arthur Maxsonwas standing in front of the Signal Interceptor talking with Proctor Ingram,they were in deep discussion about their huge mission ahead and then he noticedher. A smile pinched at the cornersof his cheeks as he watched her, her head tilted back as a sweet and delicatelaugh escaped her lips as she laughed at something funny the squire had said. She was talking to one of the young squires, she wasadjusting his coat before she leant down and showed the child how to tie theirshoelaces.

Scenes of what he saw as his future life with Sole and theirchild flashed in bursts across his mind, and he found himself grinning from earto ear. He wanted Sole to find Shaun and when she did, she could come back andbe with him and they could be a family. He wanted nothing more than that.

Nick: Nick smiledsadly at Sole who was leaning over a crib with a sleeping baby inside it. She wasgently brushing her fingers over the soft baby’s cheek, lulling it with hertouch. Nick couldn’t help but feel sad for Sole as he knew their baby, Shaun,was still out there without his mother and she was without her son. He movedcloser to Sole, squeezing her shoulder with his hand.

“We’ll find him,” he said reassuringly, and Sole smiled backup at him before turning and looking back at the baby. He wondered if Sole waslike this with Shaun when he was born, he was sure that they were.

“I know,” Nick sat down next to her, leaning over the criband smiling at the sleeping baby, he’d could see how good Sole was, and he’dhelp her find Shaun, if it was the last thing he’d ever do.

Piper: “aaandwhat’s his name?” Sole pried out of Nat, who had been confiding in Sole about aboy. She would have asked Piper about it, but she didn’t want to be teased byher older sister.

“Gavin, but I don’t know if he likes me back,” Nat leanedback on the sofa as she sipped on a bottle of Nuka-Cola Cherry. Sole wrappedher arm around the younger girl’s shoulder as she listened to her spill hersecrets in confidence. Neither Nat or Sole heard or saw Piper sitting on thestairs listening to them talk. She wasn’t mad, she thought it was sweet thatNat was confident enough to trust Sole like that. Sole looked over finallyspotting Piper and she smiled at her, receiving a smile back.

She could see Sole being a great parent and that made herheart beat quicker in her chest just thinking about it. Although they couldn’t physicallyhave children together, they’d find a way, because deep down they both wantedit but that was a discussion for a later date.

Preston: Preston stoodin the doorway as Sole kneeled down on the ground in front of the girl, Erin,on the bed. She was tearful, and Sole tried to console her, telling hereverything would be alright. It didn’t take long for Preston and Sole to find Erin’scat and return him to her. She jumped up and wrapped her arms around Sole’swaist, to which Sole leaned over and loosely hugged her back, which made Prestonsmile.

“Thank you, thank you,” she repeated, “here,” the girl helda few bottlecaps in her hand and Sole shook her head as she closed the girlshand.

“you keep your caps Kid,” she ruffled the girl’s hair, “What?”Sole said as she turned and notice Preston staring at her.

“You’re so adorable, you know that?” he said with a heart-warmingsmile stretched across his face, Sole reciprocated the smile, patting Preston’schest as they passed him by. He couldn’t wait to have kids with Sole, if theywanted to of course.

(There was another reactsimilar to this, but I accidentally deleted it when I was looking at it, sorryabout that, I’m an idiot like that xD)

[abigailshade]

Strange Introductions || Hatter & Jasmine

It was a dark, pleasantly warm night, that Jasmine would have been enjoying, if not for the uneasy feeling that someone was following her. She'd slipped beyond the palace walls without any trouble before, but she wondered if her father might've started to catch on to her adventurous tendencies. Maybe one of the royal guards was on her tail? "Hello?" she called, somewhat apprehensively. "Is somebody there?"