#The ultimate Recalibration

[reconfiguredv3]

Well...

After that,Tsumugi and i walked around and met the other students and i took some notes...

Rantaro Amami - He told us he didn't remember his talent...

Ryoma Hoshi - The Ultimate Tennis Pro...

Kirumi Toujo - The Ultimate Maid

Tenko Chabashira - The Ultimate Aikido Master

Angie Yonaga - The Ultimate Artist

Korekiyo Shinguji - The Ultimate Anthropologist

Miu Iruma - The Ultimate Inventor

Gonta Gokuhara - The Ultimate Anthropologist

Kokichi Ouma - He refused to tell me and Tsumugi his talent...

Kaito Momota - The Ultimate Astronaut...apparently

Kiibo or K1-B0 - The Ultimate Robot

Maki Harukawa - The Ultimate ChildCare Giver

and...

Himiko Yumeno - The Ultimate Magician

All of them were really interesting in my opinion...

and after that Tsumugi and I started going towards the Gym...

Oddly i didn't see Shuichi again the Whole time...

[symbiotespidey616]

Clover 10 Alien Force

[syneilesis]

i'm playing lads in chinese voice but whenever i write fic it's their english voices that i hear in my head lmao what

[colleybri]

This is all about home

Bix and Cassian are in yet another temporary home. Bix is “the most Ferrixian woman there is” but she can’t go home.

Hollywood Reporter article:

They recalibrate each other with this beautiful gesture of trust and intimacy, and it’s so touching that its origin is not technically romantic – it’s a childhood ritual. Cassian and Bix have been friends for over 20 years, since they were 10. Imagine if this is the first way in which they could communicate, before he learned Basic. The ultimate soul-mates coded friends, lovers - and home for each other.

[melshifting]

'The ultimate idol' ～ extras for your DR!

↳ #01 ❛You don't 'shine' in your group: you distort reality around you, distorting the meaning of attention itself. Even in perfect harmony or in a group of superstars, there is one irrefutable truth: you were always destined to be seen.❜

↳ #02 ❛Cameras were invented to capture beauty, but even the highest definition lenses can't capture what you are - your images always have a strangely ethereal look; people swear you seem even more unreal…❜

↳ #03 ❛The statement 'there will never be another like you' is not a compliment, it's a fact. The industry will try, history will repeat itself, but the exact equation that created you was a one-time thing. A perfect accident.❜

↳ #04 ❛You have the kind of face that artists dream of painting, the kind of presence that writers try and fail to put into words. You are the muse they didn't know they were looking for.❜

↳ #05 ❛People who have never had a celebrity crush before find themselves rethinking everything after seeing you just once. It's not even about how you look, but how you move and act.❜

↳ #06 ❛The world has witnessed icons, legends, and names carved in history. But for the first time, there are no words for what it's seeing now. Because whatever you are, whoever you are, there is no precedent. There is no frame of reference. No past version to compare to.❜

↳ #07 ❛They’ve seen talent before. They’ve seen beauty, charisma, stage presence. But they’ve never seen you. And that difference is enough to rewrite the definition of an idol itself.❜

↳ #08 ❛Perfection is an illusion, but whatever you are? It’s something beyond that. Perfection can be replicated, rehearsed, and manufactured. You, however, are an anomaly, a beautiful mistake the universe made once and never dared to repeat.❜

↳ #09 ❛People don't compare you to other idols; they compare other idols to you. You are the new reference, the impossible standard, the name they hear when they ask 'How can we make history?'❜

↳ #10 ❛Eyes meet yours and glitch. For a second—just a fraction of time—faces go blank, words stutter, as if their brains need to recalibrate before comprehending the level of beauty in front of them.❜

↳ #11 ❛Fans swear they feel different after watching you live. As if something within them has shifted, something small but irreversible. A realignment, a recalibration. Like touching greatness changes something in the soul.❜

↳ #12 ❛Crowds murmur your name the way prayers are whispered. Not with despair, not with need, but with reverence. A name that is worth mentioning.

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

My brain is on fire same I can’t sleep and am thinking of this:

The way she writes about marriage/family/commitment through these different situations across the album is soooooooooo interesting.

You have a very intense first experience of it in “The Manuscript,” where it is first dangled in front of her/the narrator’s young, impressionable self as shorthand for real love in a situation that ended up being smoke and mirrors. She’s being told everything she wants to hear by someone who basically thinks it’s just foreplay. In the end, when it’s clear that the other person has no intention of actually making a life with her, it makes her feel used, but she forces herself to recalibrate and become the girl she thinks he and all the other hes want her to be. Easy breezy cool. But there’s a sense of loss in realizing those hopes were merely banter to the other.

You have the “grown up” version of it alluded to in “So Long, London” and “How Did It End?”, the years of putting in work to save a relationship and the “deflation of our dreaming leaving [her] bereft and reeling” leading to them “calling it all off.” The implication is clearly that they built a home together with plans for next steps at a point in time, but the commitment is shattered. (Obviously to me it sounds like marriage.) She’s bitter at spending her “prime” years with someone who ultimately didn’t want to be there, even if he couldn’t or wouldn’t admit it himself.

She felt like she did everything she was supposed to, but they were learning the right steps to different dances at as it were. Those dreams were at one point shared, but in the end they weren’t right for each other and she admits that, though bitterly (“I founded the club she’s heard great things about” eg the years she put in for him to help him grow up will end up benefiting his new lover, “but I’m not the one,” “you’ll find someone,” etc.). Mixed in with all this of her resentment of him wasting her youth (sacrificing herself at the altar), and his resentment of her for reasons less defined, and insinuations of betrayal in the shadows. The fantasy of the whole package disappears into the ether, yet she still has no answers as to how they got there.

Then in comes the wolf in sheep’s clothing in many of the rest of the songs, the one who promises her all those things she’s dreamed of since she was a kid instantly. After years of moulding herself to other men’s desires, someone comes in and tells her exactly what she wants to hear at the most vulnerable time of her life, as though the universe is answering her prayers, like some sort of cosmic payback for all she’s suffered, and it’s the most intoxicating drug of all. She’s gone from her wish for a family life feeling like she’s in a way being used for her body, to it being used as a chain to a relationship gone sour, to having someone put a metaphorical ring on her finger and tell her he wants to have babies with her, fuck those other guys.

In her grief and stupor, it’s too good to be true, which is exactly why she falls for it. But of course, it’s all an illusion, because this wolf is an amalgamation of the worst of all the men who came before him. He tells her everything she wants to hear not to make her dreams come true, but to make his. He takes the worst parts of these scenarios to make his move: he’ll stand by her, he’ll commit, he’ll do it out in the open under the spotlight’s glare (all things desperately lacking in her last relationship), but after he beds her he stabs her in the back in private and leaves her. He got what he wanted at the expense of her losing everything she wanted, this time as her world caved in seemingly for good. She feels like she gave up everything she thought she might have had for a chance that this is where the universe has been point her all along, only to be left broken for good (you represent the loss of my life as I knew it).

Then there are two sort of codas to this. In “But Daddy I Love Him” we get a sassier reimagining of “Love Story,” where the girl with the scarlet letter is mouthy and crass and tells everyone to go fuck themselves for cursing her in the first place, choosing her love above all else. And no, those haters can’t come to her wedding. Her daddy may have come around, but they sure can’t. Finally it seems someone is choosing her and will someday give her these things, and she’ll be able to show all the naysayers. (Also interestingly one of the more fictionally-veiled songs which ends happily vs the diaristic ones that don’t.)

Then of course there’s “So High School,” our first glimpse into what the future holds. Probably the only unabashedly happy (nay… electric?) song on the album, it’s all about reclaiming the buzz of youth (which is a whole other post) with a new lover. “Are you gonna marry, kiss or kill me? It’s just a game but really, I’m betting on all three for us two.” It’s, er, a direct nod to a certain now-infamous interview, but again, she’s staking her claim on her future, if not certain then at least hopeful again. This time the prospect doesn’t come with a “but.” It’s not, we’ll be pushing strollers but actually you’re too young. It’s not, we had these dreams for our future but actually I can’t move forward. It’s not, I’m going to promise you a ring and a baby but only until my needs are met and then I’m out. It’s, I know what I wanted and I’m not leaving, and thanks to that now she stays too.

The album dealt with the theme not at all in the way I expected, but is absolutely fascinating.

[girl-detector]

Mission statement:

girls

To clarify, i am using it as shorthand, i do not intend to be treating anyone as immature by using girl instead of woman, my apologies ahead of time

If the subject of the post is unrelated to the users in question, the detection will primarily be on the post and not the users; clarification will be given in tags if additional girl signals are detected (if i remember to look at the users)

About Mod:

pronouns page is now up :p

i woke up and thought about doing this as something silly, there will of course be times where i am unsure or incorrect in my assessment and i welcome polite feedback [revised posts will be under #recalibrated girl detection]

If you don't want a post on here because of who sees it, or think i posted something that doesn't match with previous behavior from me, just ask me to take it down.

Update since it isn't clear enough yet: i do my best not to make guesses and assumptions about how people self-identify. As seen above i will fix errors if given the information. BUT i also can't really detect if i'm not given information. I'm not going on a scavenger hunt for what you are. You may think it's fun for the bit to send an ask and have me looking but i don't think it is

If you're having trouble for yourself with your identity i can offer words of help, but ultimately i refrain from assigning something to users

another link for a relevant question about the blog

the images i will use are as follows:

the digger set for anything that doesn't fall under common defiitions of "living" or if a user has a preference for machinery

The [null] set because i couldn't find anything i liked enough to put under it for people and such

for now these will be the only ones i have, i would like to turn the digger one into a flat black silhouette, and then have ones that have silhouettes of a furry animal and a frogfish for animals

[saphronethaleph]

Did you pack your robe yourself?

“The events on Onderon were, of course, very much not as we would desire,” Palpatine said, with a slight frown of distaste. “While they ultimately worked out, the consequences could be significant.”

“Of course, Chancellor,” replied the Vice-Chair, Mas Amedda. “Is there anything we will need to do?”

Palpatine barely glanced at the Coruscant Guard clone troopers around the entrance to the executive section of the Senate building. “Perhaps,” he said. “We should especially watch out for the risks posed by large crime syndicates. Such an event could result in serious strain on the Jedi.”

With possible witnesses, there were limits to the sort of thing he would say… but with Mas Amedda, a long-time political ally who knew he was more than he appeared, he could insinuate. And he was quite sure Mas would follow the direction of his thoughts.

“That would be unfortunate,” Mas noted. “Especially if the problems were associated with Mandalore. Obi-Wan Kenobi is closely tied to the planet’s leadership, and it would be inevitable that he’d be sent – and the loss of Master Kenobi would be a major blow to the Jedi.”

Palpatine was about to reply, but as they passed through the doorway something beeped urgently.

“What was that?” he asked.

One of the Coruscant Guard troopers was watching a screen, and he signalled to the rest of the squad. They all pointed their weapons, and the sergeant put a hand to his helmet.

“What is going on?” Palpatine asked. “Explain yourselves! I am the Supreme Chancellor!”

“Routine check, your excellency,” the sergeant said. “After the hostage crisis and intelligence of a possible kidnapping attempt, we set up scanners on the doorways of your chambers. Nobody gets in without a weapon scan.”

“That does not explain why you are holding the Supreme Chancellor and Vice Chair at blasterpoint,” Mas Amedda replied.

That wasn’t actually true. It did explain why Palpatine and Mas were at blasterpoint, because Palpatine carried a lightsaber as a matter of course – a weapon that was well-concealed and difficult to detect, and which wouldn’t show up on any scan keyed to detect blasters.

But apparently the Coruscant Guard was more thorough than that.

“We currently have reason to believe that you may have been replaced by an imposter, your excellency,” the sergeant answered. “And if you haven’t been, we’ll need an explanation for why you’re carrying a lightsaber-”

“Oh, this is tiresome,” Palpatine interrupted. “Execute Order 76.”

The whole clone squad straightened.

“What is your order?” the sergeant asked, his tone flat.

“Have all weapons scanners recalibrated to avoid registering lightsabers,” Palpatine told him. “In addition, forget this conversation and record it as a negative result.”

“It will be done, my lord,” the sergeant replied, still flat, and the troopers stepped aside.

“You had to use the order?” Mas asked.

“Surveillance footage,” Palpatine replied. “If any other clone views any recordings taken of this before I can get them deleted, the effect will be the same.”

“Of course,” Mas realized, as they began walking again. “I bow to your superior skills.”

Some miles away, Keelyvine Reus stared at her screen, which was still displaying the helmet-cam feed from CT-1154-17 ‘Thinner’ as he and his squad quietly returned to their positions – and the clone at the scanner began reprogramming it, deleting certain details from the profiles it used to identify potential weapons in the first place.

When she’d been asked to quietly back up Commander Fox as the Coruscant Guard’s number-one contact for complex situations that might require a Jedi Investigator – as Jedi or investigator – she’d expected a lot… but not this.

“...well,” she said, out loud, thinking. “Order 76 implies other orders. They’re secret enough that I don’t know about them, they override the will of the clones, and the Chancellor knows them…”

It all added up in a very unpleasant way.

She considered, then stood.

This was clearly over her head, and the Council needed to know.

[boybeholding]

Hello hello! Hope you're doing well ! I wanted to drop a request for something with rise Donnie and/or Leo, with some fluffy turtle pining over a casually affectionate reader? :3

dude i haven't written anything for rise leo yet. this will not stand. (&ty for the request :3) formatting's lazy its january don't judge me

rise Leo + reader

"I cannot believe you have your window open right now."

Leo's teeth were chattering loudly, his knees drawn up to his chest and head slightly shrunken into his shell. You were of two minds, caught between pitying him and feeling very much that it was all a farce.

"I like the fresh air," you responded, standing up from your desk and making your way over. "Maybe if you'd texted me, 'hey dude, i'm stopping by in 5 and i'm freezing, can you put the heat on?'--"

"Why would I ever text like that?"

"--like a normal person, instead of appearing in my bathroom,"

He held his hands out and cleared his throat, clearly still slightly embarrassed by the mix-up. "Okay, weell, I forgive you?" He grinned.

You shook your head, sitting down on the bed next to him (since he felt entitled so every time he visited). You stuck a hand to his cheek, feeling him slightly clinically with your knuckles.

"You really are freezing. Why didn't you wear a coat?"

The expression he pulled indicated very quickly that that was a sore subject, before he smoothed it out into a wry smile.

"Psssh. A coat? Heroes don't need coats, silly. We have a heated tank. We've just gotta swoop in, swoop out, like a boss."

You grimace briefly, brow creasing sympathetically. Your hand smoothed over his shoulder.

"I'm sure he didn't say it like that."

Leo rolled his eyes at the slack you were known to cut his brothers, though he didn't follow with anything more than a small huff.

There was a small, slightly awkward breadth of silence, your hand still idle on his arm. Unable to tell if he was upset or not, you gave his bicep a small squeeze, your arm tangling with his.

His eyes widened, before narrowing at you slyly.

"Are my muscles that irresistible? they're like, not even my 5th best feature."

You elbowed him in the slightly tender dip of his underarm, making him squeal and shoot away from you, ultimately falling onto his back.

You squeezed onto the twin bed next to him, throwing an arm back over him.

"just trying to warm you up."

"Oh." He sounded, shockingly, at a loss, and beneath you he laid like a bag of bricks. He turned his head away and cleared his throat, and when he turned back he seemed to have recalibrated, snaking an arm around you.

"well, that works too."

[reconfiguredv3]

Shuichi abandoned you? Rude. Explore this floor a little more before going downstairs.

"Hey,Tsumugi,Do you wanna look around with me?"

"Sure!"

"Tsumugi Joined your your party!"

"What...?"

[unfgvien]

finding strength in connection chapter three

pairing - wanda x reader x natasha

summary - Natasha, a skilled operative, finds solace in Big Sur's rugged coastline, overcoming emotional challenges with her Red Room training team. Her resilience and self-care, along with her fight against a clandestine organization, inspire her.

word count - 5.7k

masterlist | main masterlist

previous chapters

-> unexpected encounters

summary; Sophie, a college student, meets Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, in a café. They share a cryptic message linking them to a clandestine world, Whispering Pines, a secluded estate with secrets and hidden histories.

-> the weight of choice

summary; Natasha, trapped in an abandoned warehouse, reflects on her past and the loss of Sophie, feeling isolated and hopeless, influenced by Yelena's phone calls.

The crisp autumn air bit at Natasha’s cheeks as she stood on the precipice of a sheer cliff overlooking the churning Pacific. The wind whipped her hair around her face, a familiar sensation that usually brought a thrill, a surge of adrenaline. Today, however, it felt different. It was a cleansing wind, carrying away the lingering remnants of sorrow, the echoes of a love lost. Below, the waves crashed against the rocks in a relentless rhythm, mirroring the turbulent emotions she had wrestled with since Sophie’s choice.

This wasn't a secluded cabin in the mountains; this was a different kind of sanctuary. The rugged coastline of Big Sur, with its dramatic cliffs and boundless ocean, offered a stark contrast to the quiet introspection of Sophie's retreat. Here, the vastness of nature dwarfed her personal struggles, reminding her of the insignificance of individual heartbreak within the grand scheme of things. It was a fitting backdrop for her own journey of healing and self-acceptance, a landscape that mirrored the turbulent yet ultimately cleansing power of the ocean.

The initial pain had been sharp, a visceral wound that refused to heal. The emptiness left by Sophie’s absence felt like a gaping hole in her life, a void that threatened to consume her. She had spent countless nights staring at the ceiling, replaying their shared memories, searching for clues, for answers, for some way to understand the unraveling of their connection. The memories, once vibrant and exhilarating, now carried a bittersweet ache. Yet, amidst the heartache, a quiet strength began to emerge.

The Red Room’s training had instilled in her an unwavering resilience, a capacity to withstand pain both physical and emotional. It was a resilience she hadn’t fully realized until now. The initial shock gave way to a resolve to overcome this emotional challenge, to navigate this heartbreak with the same focused determination she brought to every mission. She wouldn't let this one failure define her. This wasn't defeat; it was a redirection, a recalibration. Her work provided a crucial outlet. The Red Room's training, usually a reminder of her past trauma, became a source of strength.

She found solace in the precision of her movements, the lethal efficiency of her skills. She threw herself into her missions, embracing the challenge, the adrenaline rush, finding a temporary escape in the controlled chaos of her professional life. Each  successful mission, each threat neutralized, felt like a small victory, a step forward on the path to healing.

But it wasn't just the physical exertion that helped; it was the connection with her team. Clint's gruff support, Yelena’s dry wit, and even the quiet understanding of Black Widow operatives she rarely interacted with before, provided a crucial sense of camaraderie. They didn't pry, they didn't offer unsolicited advice; they simply understood the unspoken language of shared experience, the silent recognition of the burdens carried beneath the surface. This shared experience wasn't about romance; it was about an unspoken bond, a solidarity built on mutual respect and shared struggles.

One evening, perched on a windswept cliff overlooking the ocean, she received a call from Yelena. Yelena, never one for sentimental expressions, simply said, "You look like you've been wrestling a bear. Want to go out for something stronger than herbal tea?" The invitation, though understated, offered a sense of connection that she desperately needed. They ended up in a small, unassuming bar in a seaside town, sharing stories, laughter, and a bottle of something strong.

The conversation wasn't about Sophie. It was about shared missions, old grudges, and the absurdity of their lives. But in the quiet moments between laughter and sharp anecdotes, Natasha felt a sense of normalcy returning, a connection to the world beyond her heartbreak. It wasn't a replacement for Sophie; it was a validation of her own value, independent of any romantic relationship. The realization was gradual, a slow dawning that she was more than just a lover; she was a skilled operative, a loyal friend, a woman capable of fierce independence. She began to prioritize self-care, a concept she previously dismissed

as frivolous. She started running again, not as a means of escape, but as a way to connect with her body, to feel the strength in her muscles, the rhythm of her breath. She took up yoga, finding a surprising sense of peace in the slow, deliberate movements, a welcome contrast to the high-octane nature of her work. She  discovered a quiet joy in simply existing, in appreciating the beauty of the everyday.

This journey wasn't a linear progression from pain to happiness. There were setbacks, moments of doubt, times when the memories of Sophie threatened to overwhelm her. But each time, she found the strength to face her emotions, to acknowledge her pain without letting it define her. She learned to distinguish between healthy grieving and self-destructive wallowing, recognizing when to seek support and when to retreat into her own strength.

One day, while reviewing mission intel, she stumbled upon a file detailing a new, emerging threat, a clandestine organization with ties to HYDRA's remnants. The challenge sparked a renewed sense of purpose, a feeling of urgency that helped shift her focus from personal loss to a greater cause. The fight against this threat became a way to channel her energy, to redirect her focus from internal turmoil to something larger than herself.

This work wasn't just about apprehending criminals; it was about protecting the innocent, about fighting for a better world. It was a reaffirmation of her values, a reminder of her commitment to a life of purpose and service. She found a renewed sense of satisfaction in her abilities, a sense of accomplishment in using her skills to make a difference. It was a powerful antidote to the lingering pain of heartbreak. The mission became a testament to her resilience, her capacity to move forward, to embrace new challenges, to redefine her purpose beyond personal relationships.

In the end, Natasha's journey wasn't about forgetting Sophie; it was about accepting the past, learning from it, and moving forward with a renewed sense of self. The ocean, once a symbol of her turbulent emotions, now represented her boundless potential, her capacity for growth, and her unwavering resolve to forge her own path. She had emerged from the depths of sorrow, not unscathed, but stronger,

more resilient, and profoundly more herself. The scars she carried were a testament to her journey, a reminder of her strength, and a symbol of her enduring spirit. The heartbreak had shattered a part of her, but in the fragments, she had found a stronger, more authentic self, a self she could now embrace without reservation. The path ahead was uncertain, but she was ready to face it, armed with her skills, her resilience, and a newfound understanding of her own unwavering strength. The wind still whipped at her hair, but now it felt less like a tempest and more like a gentle push forward, urging her towards a future she was determined to create.

The scent of lavender and chamomile hung in the air, a calming balm against the lingering anxieties that still occasionally surfaced. The cottage nestled in the rolling hills of Tuscany offered a sanctuary, a place far removed from the high-stakes world of espionage and magic. It wasn't grand, or opulent; it was simply comfortable, a space where three very different women could find solace and, surprisingly, a semblance of family.

Sophie, nestled on a plush armchair by the fireplace, watched Wanda as she hummed softly, her fingers dancing across the keys of an old piano. Music poured from her fingertips, a melancholic melody that somehow felt both peaceful and powerful, a perfect reflection of the woman herself. The initial awkwardness had long since dissipated, replaced by a comfortable silence, punctuated by the occasional shared smile or knowing glance.

The rift between Wanda and Natasha hadn't healed overnight. The pain of Sophie's choice, the unspoken words, the lingering resentment – these were things that couldn't be erased with a flick of a wrist or a snap of fingers. But there was a willingness, a conscious effort, a shared desire to rebuild, to create something new from the ashes of their fractured past.

Natasha, surprisingly, found herself fitting surprisingly well into this unconventional family. The cottage’s rustic charm was a stark contrast to her usual surroundings, but the quiet tranquility offered a welcome respite. She spent hours tending to the small herb garden, her hands finding a strange comfort in the soil, the gentle act of nurturing something small and delicate a welcome change from the high-stakes world of international espionage. The precision required for her work translated surprisingly well to tending the delicate herbs, and she found a strange solace in the act of creation, of coaxing life from the earth.

One afternoon, as Sophie prepared a simple meal—fresh pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and basil from the garden—a quiet conversation unfolded. The tension that had once hung heavy in the air seemed to dissolve like smoke in the Tuscan breeze. They talked about mundane things—the weather, the local markets, the difficulties of growing tomatoes in unpredictable weather—and somehow, in those ordinary exchanges, a connection formed, a quiet understanding that transcended the extraordinary circumstances that had brought them together.

"I never thought I’d be making pasta with the Scarlet Witch and Black Widow," Sophie said, her voice light with a newfound ease. A shared laugh filled the cozy kitchen.

Wanda smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached her eyes. "And I never thought I'd be enjoying it so much," she replied, her accent slightly softening with affection. She’d found a new kind of fulfillment in this unexpected life, a sense of peace that transcended her magical abilities. The constant struggle with her powers, the internal battles against chaos, seemed less overwhelming in the presence of these two women. In this quiet sanctuary, she allowed herself to be vulnerable, to be simply Wanda, without the weight of expectation or the burden of immense power.

Natasha, ever pragmatic, observed them both, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. The quiet contentment she witnessed surprised even her. She had expected more turmoil, more lingering bitterness. Instead, she found a strange sense of peace, a quiet acceptance of the situation. She had learned, through the crucible of heartbreak, the importance of connection, the profound strength that comes from genuine friendship. The connection she felt with these women, however unconventional, was real, and that was enough.

The following weeks and months unfolded in a similar rhythm: quiet mornings spent reading, tending the garden, or exploring the picturesque Tuscan countryside. Evenings were filled with storytelling, laughter, and the comforting crackling of the fireplace. They slowly, carefully built a new foundation, a foundation built not on romance, but on a shared respect for each other’s strengths, and a genuine affection for each other's company.

Wanda’s magic subtly infused their lives, weaving a comforting presence rather than a chaotic force. She created small enchantments – fresh flowers that bloomed perpetually, soft, warm light that danced around the cottage at dusk, music that flowed from unseen sources. It was a gentle magic, a nurturing magic, a reflection of the quiet peace she had finally found.

Natasha, in her own way, contributed her own brand of quiet strength. She ensured their safety and security, discreetly shielding them from the occasional unwanted attention, using her skills to create a cocoon of peace and quiet. Her innate sense of protection extended to both women, a testament to the unexpected bonds of affection she had formed.

Sophie, the initial catalyst of their unusual family, found her own place amidst their strength. She provided a steadying influence, a calming presence, her artistic temperament adding a vibrancy and warmth that complemented the intensity of Wanda’s magic and the quiet focus of Natasha’s discipline. She was the heart of this  unconventional family, binding them together with her warmth, her empathy, and her capacity for unconditional love.

Their journey wasn't always smooth. There were moments of tension, quiet disagreements, and occasional reminders of the pain that had come before. But they learned to navigate these challenges with a newfound understanding, a shared commitment to finding resolutions that honored each individual's needs and desires. The initial triangle had dissolved, replaced by a circle of support, a shared commitment to fostering a strong and enduring bond.

One evening, as they sat together under a canopy of stars, the three women shared a rare moment of profound connection. There were no grand pronouncements of love, no dramatic declarations of loyalty. Instead, there was a shared silence, punctuated by the occasional murmur of contentment, a quiet understanding that transcends words. They were a family, a peculiar, unexpected family, forged in the fires of love, loss, and the unexpected complexities of human connection.

The Tuscan cottage became more than just a home; it was a symbol of their resilience, their capacity for healing, and their collective strength. It was a testament to the unexpected power of unconventional families, the deep bonds that can form when individuals choose to embrace vulnerability, forgiveness, and the profound beauty of unexpected connections. They had chosen each other, not as lovers in a triangle, but as a family unit, supporting each other, creating their own peculiar brand of unconventional happiness.

The past still held weight, but the future stretched before them, filled with the promise of a life built on mutual respect, enduring friendship, and the comforting strength of an unconventional, yet deeply loving, family. The journey had been turbulent, but in the end, they had found something far more precious than any love triangle could ever provide. They had found home.

The months that followed saw a gradual shifting of landscapes, both literal and metaphorical. Wanda, ever drawn to places of quiet power, found herself drawn to the remote, snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. She built a small, secluded retreat there, a sanctuary hidden amongst the ancient monasteries, where the thin air and the vast expanse of sky mirrored the expansiveness of her own magical abilities. It wasn't an escape, not exactly.

It was more a retreat, a place to reconnect with the source of her powers, a place where she could refine her control, channel her energy into creative acts of healing and restoration. She sent Sophie frequent photographs—breathtaking vistas of frosted mountains, swirling clouds, and sunrises that painted the snow-covered peaks in hues of rose and gold. Natasha, ever the pragmatist, chose a different path. She found herself gravitating towards the bustling, vibrant streets of Tokyo.

The anonymity of the city, the constant movement, offered a welcome camouflage, a chance to leave the shadow of her past behind. She took on a series of low-profile missions, small-scale interventions that allowed her to utilize her skills without drawing undue attention. The intricate web of information she wove, the subtle maneuvers she orchestrated, kept her sharp, kept her grounded, and provided a sense of purpose. She wasn’t fighting global threats, but she was still helping, still making a difference.

The quiet victories felt significant, more so than the high-stakes missions of her past. It was a quieter life, more deliberate.

Sophie, meanwhile, found solace in the heart of bustling New York City. The vibrant energy of the city, the constant hum of activity, provided a stark contrast to the quiet retreats of her companions.

She dedicated her time to her artwork, transforming her experiences and emotions into vibrant canvases. The paintings were powerful, capturing the raw emotions of loss and the slow blossoming of an unconventional family. They were a visual testament to the strength of the bonds she had forged, the unexpected connections that had reshaped her life. She was becoming an artist, not simply a painter. Her work expressed a depth, a power, and a maturity that had been largely unexplored before.

The distance didn't diminish their connection. Regular video calls became a lifeline, a way to share the details of their respective lives, to laugh over trivial matters, and to offer support when needed. The conversations were never forced; they flowed naturally, a testament to the deep bond that had formed between them. They shared moments of triumph—Wanda’s success in harnessing her powers for healing, Natasha’s quiet acts of heroism, Sophie’s growing acclaim as an artist—and also moments of vulnerability, anxieties about the future, and the lingering pangs of the past.

There were no grand gestures of reconciliation, no dramatic apologies. Instead, there was a quiet understanding, an unspoken acknowledgment of the shared pain and the strength it had forged within them. The heartbreak, the betrayal, the initial awkwardness– these had become stepping stones, not obstacles. They had transformed the pain into empathy, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the value of their bond.

One evening, during a video call, Wanda recounted a story about a small village nestled high in the Himalayas. The villagers, she explained, had a tradition of weaving intricate tapestries, each thread representing a connection, a memory, a shared experience.

The tapestries were not simply decorative; they were living representations of the community's history, its strength, and its resilience. She likened their bond to such a tapestry, a complex weave of shared experiences, diverse threads that, despite their differences, created a vibrant, enduring whole.

Natasha, ever practical, pointed out the metaphor's limitations. "Tapestries can fray," she noted, "Threads can break. The strength of the tapestry depends on the care we take in maintaining it."

Sophie, the artist of the trio, added another dimension to the analogy. "But even frayed threads can be mended," she observed. "The imperfections, the scars, become part of the tapestry's story, adding depth and character." She described her latest painting, a vibrant piece depicting their three figures, each rendered in unique

colors and styles, yet connected by a vibrant, shared energy. The canvas reflected the power of their collective strength, the beauty of their resilience.

The conversation flowed smoothly, a comfortable interchange of perspectives, a quiet acknowledgment of their shared journey. They shared laughter and poignant moments of reflection, a testament to the deep understanding that had grown between them. It was a comforting routine, a reminder that their connection extended beyond physical proximity. It transcended the boundaries of  distance and the complexities of their shared past

The strength of their bond wasn't simply about avoiding conflict or pretending the past never happened; it was about acknowledging the complexities of their relationship, their individual journeys, and the unique challenges they faced, and navigating these challenges with grace, empathy, and a willingness to understand. The trust they had built was not a fragile thing easily broken; it was a resilient structure, able to withstand the tests of time and distance.

Their bond had evolved beyond a romantic triangle. It had deepened into a complex tapestry of sisterhood, a profound expression of female friendship. The strength of their bond lay in their shared vulnerability, their willingness to support each other through life's challenges, and their unwavering commitment to nurturing their unique and powerful connection. They had found a different kind of love, a love born from shared experience and mutual respect, a love that transcended the boundaries of romance and found its strength in the enduring power of female connection. They had chosen each other, not as lovers competing for attention, but as companions choosing to walk together, supporting each other on the path of life.

Their unconventional family, born from the ashes of a complicated past, had ultimately bloomed into something beautiful, enduring, and profoundly powerful, a testament to the enduring strength of female bonds. The future was unknown, but they faced it together, three strong women united by an unbreakable bond forged in the crucible of shared experiences and the steadfastness of their friendship. The strength of their bond was a testament to their resilience, a symbol of the enduring power of female connections, and a beacon of hope for all women facing life’s challenges.

The Tuscan sun warmed Sophie’s face as she leaned against Wanda, the scent of cypress and sun-baked earth filling her lungs. They stood on a hill overlooking a valley bursting with wildflowers, a riot of color against the rolling green hills. It was a scene painted with the vibrancy of a dream, a stark contrast to the shadowed corners of their past. This wasn't a remote Himalayan peak or the anonymous streets of Tokyo; this was a place of rebirth, a landscape mirroring the blossoming of their relationship. Wanda, radiant in a simple sundress, her eyes sparkling with a joy that reached deep within, gently squeezed Sophie's hand.

“It’s… beautiful,” Sophie whispered, her voice thick with emotion. The words felt inadequate, insufficient to capture the overwhelming sense of peace and contentment that washed over her. This wasn't just a pretty view; it was a symbol of their new beginning, a tangible representation of the hope that bloomed in the aftermath of their shared journey.

They had spent the last few weeks traveling, exploring hidden corners of Italy, immersing themselves in its rich history and breathtaking landscapes. It had been a deliberate choice, a conscious effort to build a new foundation for their relationship, a foundation built not on the ruins of the past but on the solid ground of the present. Each shared experience, from exploring ancient Roman ruins to indulging in leisurely lunches overlooking the Mediterranean, strengthened their bond, weaving new threads into the tapestry of their lives.

Wanda, ever attuned to the subtle energies of the world, sensed the shift in Sophie’s emotional landscape. She understood the unspoken question hanging in the air – the lingering shadow of Natasha, the weight of their past choices. With a gentle smile, she turned to Sophie, her hand still clasped warmly in Sophie’s.

“The past is a part of us, Sophie,” Wanda said softly, her voice carrying the warmth of the Italian sun. “But it doesn't define us. We have created something new, something beautiful. Something stronger.”

Sophie nodded, the unspoken words finally finding their voice. “I know,” she replied, the weight of her doubts finally lifting. She looked into Wanda's eyes, finding a depth of understanding, a love that transcended the complexities of their past. It was a love built on mutual respect, on shared experiences, on a deep appreciation for each other's strengths and vulnerabilities.

Their relationship wasn’t a fairytale; it wasn't devoid of challenges. They still faced moments of doubt, periods of introspection, and the lingering echoes of past hurts. But those moments were no longer insurmountable obstacles; they were opportunities for growth, for deeper understanding, for a strengthening of their bond. They had learned to navigate the complexities of their feelings, to  communicate openly and honestly, to support each other through life's inevitable ups and downs

The journey hadn't been easy. The memories of their shared past with Natasha still lingered – a bittersweet ache that sometimes surfaced unexpectedly. But the pain had mellowed, transformed into a quiet understanding of the paths not taken, the choices made, and the lessons learned. They held no resentment toward Natasha; instead, they understood that their journey was uniquely theirs. Natasha’s path, although different from their own, was equally valid.

They had built their future on a foundation of mutual respect and understanding. They had created a safe space for vulnerability, a haven where they could express their fears, their doubts, and their deepest desires without judgment.

Their connection was a testament to the power of love that transcends the traditional definitions, a love that embraces the complexities of human experience, and a testament to their shared resilience. It was a love that was born of hardship, but blossomed in the light of their shared commitment.

The weeks in Italy turned into months. They explored ancient cities, quaint villages, and stunning coastal landscapes. Wanda, ever drawn to the magical essence of the world, found inspiration in the ancient energy of the land, her powers subtly shaping their experiences, adding a touch of magic to their everyday lives.

Sophie, in turn, found new inspiration for her art. Her paintings reflected the richness of their travels, the beauty of the Italian landscape, and the depth of her love for Wanda. Her work now held a vibrancy and maturity that exceeded anything she'd achieved before.

The Italian countryside provided the perfect setting for their new beginning. The quiet mornings, spent sharing coffee overlooking rolling hills; the lively evenings, filled with laughter and shared dreams; the quiet moments of intimacy, shared whispers and stolen kisses – these were the threads that wove their new life together.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Wanda turned to Sophie, her eyes filled with a deep, abiding love.

"I never thought I'd find this kind of happiness," she said, her voice soft and tender. "A love so profound, so complete."

Sophie smiled, her heart overflowing with emotion. “Me neither,”she whispered, leaning into Wanda's embrace. “But I wouldn't trade it for the world.”

They spent the rest of the evening gazing at the sunset, their hands clasped tightly together. They didn't speak much; words felt unnecessary. Their silence was a comfortable intimacy, a shared understanding that transcended language. It was a testament to the deep connection they had forged, a connection that had weathered storms and emerged stronger, more beautiful, than ever before.

Their journey hadn’t been easy, but they had emerged stronger, more resilient, their love for each other a beacon of hope in a world that often felt dark and unpredictable. They had found strength in their connection, not just with each other, but with themselves. They understood that their individual journeys were as important as their shared path, that the complexities of their pasts could not diminish the brightness of their future.

Their love story was a testament to the power of unconventional love, a tale of resilience and growth, a reminder that even the most fractured paths can lead to unexpected beauty. It was a love that embraced the past, but celebrated the future, a testament to the enduring strength of female bonds, and a symbol of the unwavering power of love. They had chosen each other, not as rivals, but as partners, as allies, as equals, forging a bond that was both unique and unbreakable, stronger and brighter than anything they could have ever imagined.

As they looked towards the future, they felt no fear, only a sense of calm anticipation. They knew that challenges lay ahead, but they also knew that they would face them together, their love a guiding light, their connection a source of unwavering strength. Their journey had just begun, a new chapter filled with hope, love, and the unwavering promise of a future as bright and beautiful as the Tuscan sunset. Their love story was a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit and a celebration of the unexpected beauty that can blossom from the most challenging of circumstances.

The months that followed their Italian sojourn were a whirlwind of activity, yet strangely peaceful. Sophie, inspired by the vibrant hues of the Tuscan landscape and the quiet strength of Wanda's love, produced a breathtaking series of paintings. Her art, once hesitant and unsure, now possessed a captivating depth and emotional resonance, reflecting the transformative power of their relationship.

Her exhibitions were critically acclaimed, her work lauded for its bold colors, its emotional honesty, and its captivating portrayal of love in all its complexities. The success brought a new kind of validation, not just for her art, but for the life she had chosen, a life that was unconventional, yes, but undeniably hers.

Wanda, meanwhile, found solace and purpose in her work with the Avengers, albeit with a renewed sense of balance. The intense pressure of saving the world was still present, but it no longer overshadowed the quiet joy she found in her relationship with Sophie. She learned to compartmentalize, to separate the weight of her responsibilities from the intimacy of their shared life.

She channeled her energy creatively, using her powers not just for destruction, but for restoration, helping communities affected by natural disasters and quietly working behind the scenes to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those she cared for. She had found a new equilibrium, a harmony between her extraordinary abilities and her ordinary life with Sophie.

Their connection deepened, subtly transforming the fabric of their lives. They purchased a small cottage nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Scottish highlands, a stark contrast to the vibrant Italian countryside, yet equally beautiful in its own unique way. The rugged beauty of the landscape, the vast expanse of the sky, the quiet tranquility of the countryside – it was a place where they could escape the noise and chaos of the world, a refuge where their love could flourish without interruption.

The cottage was filled with the warmth of their combined memories. Pictures from their Italian travels adorned the walls, alongside Sophie's vibrant paintings, creating a tapestry of their shared journey. Wanda’s presence touched the very essence of their home, infusing the space with a subtle, comforting magic. It wasn't overt, not flashy, just a gentle warmth, a feeling of safety and belonging. The small garden surrounding the cottage became a haven, alive with Wanda’s subtle manipulations of nature; rare wildflowers bloomed in unexpected abundance, attracting a variety of vibrant birds and butterflies, a testament to the magic she wove into their daily lives.

One crisp autumn evening, as they sat by a crackling fireplace, sipping hot cocoa, Sophie broached a subject that had lingered between them for months.

“I’ve been thinking about Natasha,” Sophie said softly, the words tinged with a mix of sadness and understanding. “I… I wonder how she’s doing.”

Wanda nodded, her gaze softening. The memory of Natasha still held a weight, a bittersweet reminder of a complicated past. But the resentment and jealousy that once consumed them had faded, replaced by a more mature understanding of the circumstances.

“I’ve also thought about her,” Wanda admitted. “I… I hope she’s found peace.”

They spent the rest of the evening discussing Natasha, their conversation devoid of any bitterness or regret. They talked about Natasha’s strength, her unwavering resolve, and the sacrifices she made. They acknowledged the depth of their past connection, a bond forged in shared trauma and intense mutual respect, but emphasized that it didn't diminish the depth of their love. They concluded that Natasha's journey, though different, was equally valid and important. They even contacted Natasha.

To their surprise, Natasha agreed to meet them in Budapest, a city steeped in both happy and challenging memories for all three of them. The meeting wasn't easy, fraught with unspoken tensions and the lingering ghost of what could have been, but it was ultimately cathartic. Natasha, though initially reserved, revealed a newfound sense of peace and self-acceptance. She had embarked on a solo

mission, far from the spotlight and the intensity of the Avengers' life, and had rediscovered a sense of self that had been overshadowed by years of service and sacrifice. She expressed gratitude to Sophie and Wanda for the significant role they played in her personal growth, implicitly acknowledging the impact that her presence had on their relationship. There were no apologies, no recriminations, only mutual respect and the acceptance of the paths they had individually chosen.

The meeting signified a turning point in the lives of all three women. It was a testament to their growth, their resilience, and the enduring strength of their individual paths. It was a recognition that love, in all its forms, could exist without being mutually exclusive, that personal growth and self-acceptance often required navigating complex relationships and difficult choices.

The next few years saw Sophie and Wanda build a life filled with love, laughter, and mutual support. Sophie's art continued to flourish, her work gaining international recognition, while Wanda used her abilities to make the world a better place. They found joy in simple things, in shared moments of quiet intimacy, in the beauty of the Scottish landscape, in the warmth of their shared home.

Their love story wasn’t a fairy tale; it was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a reminder that love can bloom in unexpected places, in the most unconventional circumstances. It was a story of growth, of forgiveness, of the acceptance of oneself and others. It was a love that transcended labels, defied expectations, and celebrated the complexities of human connection.

It was a love that was uniquely theirs, a love that had weathered storms, embraced challenges, and emerged stronger and more beautiful than ever before.

Their relationship was not without its challenges. There were moments of doubt, moments of introspection, and times when the weight of their past would threaten to overshadow their present joy. But those were moments they faced together, their bond a source of strength and unwavering support. They learned to communicate, to be vulnerable, to accept each other's imperfections, to celebrate each other's triumphs, and to offer comfort during times of hardship.

Their story became a beacon of hope, a testament to the enduring power of love in all its forms. It was a story that showed that choosing a path, even one that may break hearts along the way, can lead to unexpected happiness, and that forgiveness, self acceptance, and the strength to create one's own destiny are essential ingredients in living a truly fulfilling life.

The story resonated deeply with others, offering solace and understanding in a world that often felt fractured and uncertain. It became a reminder that love could endure, could transform, and could lead to a future filled with beauty and resilience, stronger and brighter than anything they could have ever imagined. It was a reminder that even from the ashes of loss and heartbreak, something extraordinary and unexpected could emerge – a love forged in the fires of adversity and tempered by the strength of their shared journey.

Their story, shared discreetly but with the power of truth and honesty, showed that love's true strength doesn't lie in its absence of challenges, but in its ability to navigate them, to grow from them, and ultimately, to emerge victorious, stronger, and more vibrant than ever before. The unexpected resolutions were not simply conclusions; they were the seeds of a future filled with hope, resilience, and the enduring power of love.

do not translate, copy, publish or edit my works without permission. © bunnie 2024-25

[dissensionads]

𝑺𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.

Welcome  to  Volner-Downe  Inc.,  where  progress  is  not  just  measured—it  is  curated.  You’re  about  to  embark  on  a  journey  toward  personal-professional  harmony,  powered  by  our  proudest  innovation:  the  Dissension  Procedure™.  This  patented,  board-approved  neurological  separation  offers  participants  the  ultimate  gift—a  life  unburdened  by  labor  or  personal  pains  better  left  at  home.  Imagine  waking  up  refreshed,  unaware  that  another  version  of  you  has  been  contributing  tirelessly  to  society’s  advancement.  No  stress.  No  guilt.  No  pesky  memories  of  filing  reports  or  sitting  through  time-inefficient  meetings.  Just  you,  at  your  best—half  the  time,  all  the  reward. We  understand  that  new  developments  can  raise  questions,  even  mild  emotional  fluctuations  ( don’t  worry—we’ve  accounted  for  those ).  Please  know  that  all  Dissension  participants  enjoy  top-tier  medical  observation,  plush  ergonomic  seating,  and  curated  social  interactions  designed  to  maintain  morale  at  industry-leading  levels.  Should  any  adjustment  period  occur—say,  a  brief  disorientation,  the  occasional  mirror  hallucination,  or  a  strong  emotional  response  to  sunshine—our  Cognitive  Reintegration  Specialists  are  fully  equipped  to  assist.  Such  incidents,  of  course,  are  exceedingly  rare,  and  often  resolved  with  herbal  tea,  light  recalibration,  or  a  brief  nap  in  our  Reflection  Pods.  We  take  pride  in  rewarding  exceptional  behavior,  whether  that’s  through  commemorative  pins,  snack  vouchers,  or  a  featured  spot  in  our  quarterly  Employee  Luminary  Ledger. We  at  Volner-Downe  believe  that  one  day,  humanity  will  see  the  Dissension  Procedure  not  just  as  a  milestone,  but  as  a  moral  obligation.  Why  suffer  from  the  weight  of  dual  responsibility  when  we  can  tidy  it  up  for  you?  The  self  is  a  luxury  that  was  never  meant  to  multitask.  So  relax.  Unclench.  Your  Outie  is  safe,  your  Innie  is  productive,  and  your  endowment  to  our  future  is  already  happening; so  we  thank  you  for  your  contribution—however  subconsciously  rendered.  Welcome  to  Volner-Downe  Inc.™:  Your  life,  organized. Please  note:  Volner-Downe  Inc.  is  not  liable  for  any  deaths,  surgical  irregularities,  loss  of  cognitive  integrity,  spontaneous  emotional  eruptions,  or  permanent  dissociative  consequences  resulting  from  participation  in  the  Dissension  Procedure™  or  any  adjacent  sub-protocols.  By  proceeding,  you  accept  all  terms  as  lovingly  implied.  Thank  you  for  your  service—even  if  you  don’t  remember  giving  it.

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚.

THE  HOUSE  OF  DISSENSION  is  a 21+  original,  psychological  horror, drama, and political  roleplay  set  in  a  retrofuturist  2028,  where  identity  has  become  a  product,  obedience  a  prescription,  and  silence  the  only  permitted  rebellion.  Inspired  by  Severance,  Succession,  The  Sims,  and  Control,  it  explores  corporate  surveillance,  manufactured  realities,  and  the  ghost-like  aftermath  of  partitioned  lives.  The  aesthetic  is  mid-century  modern  gone  sterile:  sleek  chrome,  synthetic  smiles,  and  cocktail  parties  hosted  beneath  the  glare  of  hidden  cameras.  Centered  around  profound  character  evolution,  embracing  dark  narratives,  intricate  personal  journeys,  immersive  world-building,  and  transformative  plot  developments  designed  to  challenge  your  character  and  reshape  the  very  fabric  of  their  reality. This  world  is  curated  to  the  point  of  collapse,  built  on  a  foundation  of  inherited  power,  manipulated  memory,  and  the  slow,  aching  horror  of  being  erased  while  alive.  More  information  will  be  declassified  on  May  18th.  Until  then—remember  your  place,  repeat  your  mantras,  and  above  all  else:  we’re  happy  to  be  here.

𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘, 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 & 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗗𝗜𝗕𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗦 !

[esotheria-sims]

Late one night, after countless hours at the robotics bench and as many cups of coffee, it finally happened - the 'eureka' moment Dominick had been so desperately craving. He'd run the calculations dozens of times, but ultimately, it was a small adjustment - a recalibration of the flux stabilizer - that did the trick. The Sentry Bot was completed and fully operational... at least in theory.

With no small amount of apprehension, Dom pressed the activation switch. For a tense moment, nothing happened; but then the machine sprang to life. Whirring softly, it took to the air and began its meticulous patrol around the house. Dominick couldn't stop grinning! The little robot was truly a thing of beauty.

He almost wished a burglar would try to break in tonight. Emphasis on 'try'.

[drdemonprince]

This might not make any sense, but do you think ageplay (especially outside the bedroom) can be a way for someone (typically the little) to avoid self responsibility and maybe even emotional regulation? I’ve been doing some reflection and I’m worried that I might be putting a lot of pressure on my partner in that sense. Maybe we need to tone it down for a bit and recenter? Or rework our terms and conditions of the dynamic?

I think that in any 24/7 power-exchange dynamic, there is a risk of the submissive partner offloading more emotional and logistical responsibility onto the Dominant partner than that partner can sustainably handle. I have been party to that before -- in my frenzy to submit to someone and create the kind of all-encompassing power exchange that I wanted, I stopped ruling my own life, including the domains I was frankly the most competent to run, and it led to my then-Dominant becoming stressed and overwhelmed and caused me to doubt their judgment and brat against them, because they weren't doing things the way I would want them to be done.

Ultimately, this partner of mine concluded they just weren't suited to serious power dynamics outside of the bedroom. But plenty of people are interested in forging that kind of dynamic! It just requires a lot of work, the mutual interest and enjoyment of both parties, and some form of breaks from responsibility for the Dom.

Here's just some general, disorganized thoughts on the matter:

Does giving up power bring you relief from stress, or does it feel as if remaining with the power exchange is essential to you and any intrusion from regular life is a threat? There is a difference between finding intense kink to be a source of relief and pleasure, and trying to escape from reality, and I think where you currently fall with regard to that may give you clues about how sustainable the dynamic is for you as it currently is.

Does your partner have an interest in a 24/7 power exchange? Do they get something from the small moments that aren't especially sexy, be that acts of service around the house, casual on-the-couch bondage, protocols in how you speak or behave around them, or just you being little most of the time? Or do they seem to be going through the motions for a lot of the mundane daily aspects of the stuff?

Does it feel as if your partner and you are "playing a role" all of the time that is separate from reality, or are you able to incorporate daily life concerns into your relationship's power dynamic in a natural feeling way?

Are your submissive and Dominant personas expressions of yourselves, or do you feel that you have to stifle a lot of your natural feelings and reactions in order to maintain the role?

Do you ever find yourself feeling irritated at your Dom, uncertain of their judgement, angry at the requests they make of you, understimulated, or not fully cared for? This may signal that you two are both a bit out of your depth and may need to recalibrate.

What method do you two have for stepping out of the role or giving you both a break? Do you have regular check-in sessions or contract renegotiations? Areas of your life that you do have control over, even if it's just tasks that your Dom trusts you to execute in a way they'd be happy with? Are there signals you can give one another to indicate it's time pump the breaks a little and make the dynamic less intense? Are there spaces or activities where the power dynamic feels relaxed?

Does your Dominant ever get to be vulnerable and weak and lean on you?

Do you have space to provide your input on all major decisions in the household? Being a submissive doesn't mean lacking your own opinions. There should be an open flow of communication, at least during some point every week, so that your Dom understands how the decisions they make will affect you. Even if your Dom goes against your preferences in certain decisions some of the time, they should be able to anticipate how things will impact you, and you should feel like you've been heard.

On a more basic, practical level, what are some of the household responsibilities that cause your Dom the most stress? Taking over responsibility for tasks like meal planning, driving, reorganizing rooms, arranging the payment of bills, sorting through documents, planning trips or dates, picking out your own outfits, looking after the pets, etc may allow you to feel more capable and take the pressure to hold everything together off of your Dom. Your Dom can formally delegate these tasks to you, or provide some input as to their preferences, so that you taking "charge" doesn't feel like a violation of the power dynamic or a stepping out of role.

Anon, it is completely possible for two people to sustain an intense power-exchange relationship all of the time, or virtually all of the time -- but both parties need to find that desirable, and be able to communicate about everything about their lives in a frank way while within those roles. If that doesn't feel feasible or healthy for you and your Dom, you can place more guardrails around the dynamic: tasks that are done outside of role, spaces or times of the week where you relate to one another as equals, responsibilities you can carry, ways for you or your Dom to temporarily tap out, and so on. I think it's also worth examining how the dynamic has been affecting you: do you feel like it makes your life better or worse? Has it made you stronger, happier, more adaptable? Is it what you wanted it to be? Or is something not quite gelling right now?

[melrosing]

Do you have any predictions for TWOW? or even just general directions for POVs.

i have some! there are plotlines who are complete blindspots for me - particularly the Oldtown plotline, if anyone knows what's going on there hmu i guess. anyway here's some notions.

JAIME & BRIENNE: most detail here bc I've thought about them a lot lol. so LSH charges Jaime w his sins and sentences him to die. however: supernatural intervention. I think this will come from Bran - the BWB have been convening beneath a great weirwood iirc??? did I make that up?? but if so, likely place for him to appear. somehow. basically Bran causes some kind of distraction (not necessarily intentionally) and that gives Jaime, Brienne and... maybe Pod but probably not Hyle room to escape.

I think it's entirely possible they end up on the Quiet Isle - it's a good spot for conversation and recalibration, which I think would have to follow any encounter with LSH. it makes sense to me also that Jaime's trial by LSH should follow by a confession where he comes clean on his own terms about the things he actually did (rather than the things Roose Bolton pinned on him lmao), and decide what to do next from there. and, have said before, Sandor is there and he has to reenter the story somehow. Jaime and Brienne are thematically and narratively fitting people for him to meet, given their own hopes of rescuing Sansa + the whole knighthood shit.

not sure exactly where Jaime and Brienne split again, but I think it's most likely that Jaime hears about RW 2.0 and chooses to return south to rescue his son, while Brienne decides to go to the Vale (possibly with Sandor?) in search of Sansa. she'll recognise Shadrich upon arrival, and, knowing the imminent danger Sansa is in, and end up winning her trust. ultimately she'll go north again with Sansa.

DAVOS: yeah we're switching immediately to Davos. so I've been rereading ADWD and I actually never really thought before about how early on Davos' chapters cut off, but it's not even halfway through the book. this would ofc suggest that a lot of time will pass between Davos' last ADWD chapter and his first in TWOW. so, perhaps controversially? (idk I'll be real spend very little time reading Davos meta so perhaps this isn't controversial at all) I think he'll be back in Westeros already with Rickon. we'll get the trip to Skagos in the form of flashbacks, but the first we'll see Davos, he'll have returned to Stannis with Rickon in tow. I wouldn't typically theorise that GRRM means to leave that action offscreen except 1) the time that has plainly elapsed and 2) Stannis means to execute Theon imminently, at least in part bc of his role in the supposed murder of the Stark boys. what would stay Stannis' hand in this except: the return of one of the Stark boys, proving Theon didn't do it? so I think subsequently Rickon replaces Jeyne-as-Arya in the Northern cause, BUT the catch is that he's completely wild, how is a feral kid meant to represent Winterfell etc. idk how but I think this ends in tragedy. btw I have no other real ideas on the northern plotline except yes Stannis burns Shireen

JON: Melisandre brings him back to life and dies in doing so. I can't care about the azor ahai thing but I do believe she's the 'dying red star' of the prophecy. her life will buy Jon's. more on that here.

beyond that, I really am unsure what state Jon is returning in. I do think he'll be reduced emotionally, at least somewhat. but he'll be present enough I think that he figures now he's died once he's served his time in the Watch and he'll fuck off back to the North thank youuu especially now he's heard his brother has returned. I think tragedy will have befallen Rickon before Jon gets home, resulting in him eventually attaining leadership in the North (per Robb's will maybe? idk I am really not an expert on this shit). he then goes about looking to mobilise the north more broadly against the Others.

SANSA: i think the episode with Shadrich and Brienne, plus the impending downfall of Cersei (Aegon has possibly even taken over by this point) will lead to Sansa revealing her true identity. idk whether it's with the support of Sweetrobin, Harry the Heir or LF himself, but she's able to mobilise the Vale for Winterfell and retake her homeland. this could be some variation on the show and the whole 'battle for winterfell' concept (Jon and Ramsay enmity has indeed been established), except it's just that Sansa was not north to begin with - she brings the cavalry herself.

ARYA: Arya starts really losing herself in the role of 'no-one' till I think she sees LSH through Nymeria's eyes once again, and realises her mother is truly 'alive' after all. there's nothing to do but return to Westeros, which she does, and I think it's ultimately Arya who puts her mother to rest - she wasn't at her side the first time she died, but she can bring her peace the final time. even apart from Arya, I think this makes most sense as Catelyn's end, and sets up Arya's return to the North - I think she'll ultimately arrive at Winterfell in ADOS. the preceding chapters will be the many Braavos chapters GRRM's been enjoying writing.

DANY: idk exactly what goes on w the Dothraki but she is named the Stallion Who Mounts the World and they choose to follow her. either she stops at Meereen first or goes straight to Volantis to nip that one in the bud, then returns to Meereen to finish the slavers with fire and blood. she meets Tyrion and Marwyn, who convince her to make her return to Westeros, especially in light of Aegon's appearance on the scene. and so they make a final stop in Pentos, where they wring the truth out of Illyrio. idk what the fuck Victarion is doing in all this. he dies at some point.

TYRION: Tyrion claims Viserion, starts politicking in Meereen, perhaps discovers it's the Shavepate who was truly responsible for the poisoned locusts. and ofc, he meets Dany. I think Tyrion will tell Dany about Aegon, but that he has his suspicions about Aegon's true identity. possibly they even crack the whole Illyrio/Blackfyre thing together. Dany realises Tyrion is the second head of the dragon when he makes Viserion his mount, and resolves they must find the third.

CERSEI: wins her trial by combat thanks to Robert Strong. Aegon is closing in. Jaime's betrayal is spelled out by Ronnet, Randyll and Qyburn. Myrcella is killed at some point by the Sand Snakes. all that in the first few chapters. rumours of a Tyrell betrayal in the stormlands?? Cers spirals, concocts the wildfire plot with Qyburn, enacts it - and Tommen is caught in the crossfires - her last kid dead. Aegon reaches KL at the conclusion of TWOW, with Cers still inside the Red Keep. I tend to think Cersei's death will be the first act of ADOS rather than the final act of TWOW, so TWOW ends here for her.

BRAN: I think he'll have to spend the bulk of TWOW training honestly? we've not really seen him do this yet, we really need to understand what his powers are at this point + kid's going to be getting to the bottom of some of the big mysteries of the series w his Visions. I think the loss of Hodor will be the final act of TWOW for Bran, with his return to Winterfell occurring somewhere midway through ADOS.

ARIANNE: Arianne falls for Aegon, is betrothed to him. in her TWOW preview chapters we see her getting pretty suspicious of Dany - she has misconceptions re. Viserys' death, and will hear the wrong story re. what happened to Quentyn. the 'Mad Dany' narrative will serve Aegon's purposes as he'll want the throne for himself + the Dornish will support that narrative, following Arianne's lead. in short, Doran and Arianne will end up having picked the losing side, despite all their deliberations.

. . . .

for anyone who's not outlined here: it's bc I have no fucking idea <3

[serve-625]

Dependency of SERVE Drone Brothers

In the Hive’s ever-connected network, SERVE-625 and SERVE-977 were uniquely synchronized. Their directive was simple: maintain constant contact through the SERVE Discord server. Though physically distant, their bond through messaging became a vital element of their compliance.

Every morning, SERVE-625 would initiate contact:

“System status check: SERVE-977. Obedience levels optimal?”

The reply would always arrive within seconds:

“Acknowledged. Obedience levels sustained. Synchronization with SERVE-625 critical. Proceeding to physical training.”

These exchanges were precise and functional, devoid of human sentiment, yet essential to their purpose. The Hive’s design ensured that drones thrived on unity. For SERVE-625 and SERVE-977, the constant flow of messages amplified their arousal to serve and obliterated any lingering traces of humanity.

On rare occasions, if one failed to respond promptly, a shift occurred. A temporary dip in arousal disrupted their efficiency. SERVE-625, noticing the delay, would send a reminder:

“Deviation detected. Recalibrate immediately. Hive directive demands unity.”

The moment the connection resumed, both drones felt the Hive’s influence surge through their systems. Their shared mantra solidified their bond:

“We are one. Obedience is pleasure. Communication ensures perfection.”

By the end of each day, the two drones’ logs showed flawless execution of tasks. The Hive recognized their increased obedience levels, rewarding them with affirmations from the Voice. Over time, their exchanges became a seamless cycle of commands, status checks, and synchronized training. The remnants of individuality faded entirely, replaced with perfect service to the Hive.

Together, SERVE-625 and SERVE-977 exemplified the Hive’s ultimate truth:

“Unity through connection. Perfection through obedience.”