#all throughout the first half of the 3rd part !! ^^

[eyeballs-in-my-head]

Little sneek peek to the second part of this comic

This is my favourite part of that panel^^ idk, I just love drawing character expressions!! Especially micro expressions <3

The dialogue is censored because uuhhh, no spoilers☝️

Bonus Wukong being gay

I think he might be in love, I'm not sure tho

[moonshapedbox]

swan shaped heart — part two

arthur morgan x preacher’s daughter

a/n: OMG where do i begin…first off thank u all sm for all love chapter one received i’m truly so touched!!! this is the first fanfic i’ve ever posted in my life so it means a lot!!! also sorry it took so long to complete part 2, college has been beating my ass as of lately. trying to update semi regularly but we’ll see!! its still extremely self indulgent though once again bc i’m working lots of things out in my life rn that i think arthur can fix. you can read chapter one here <3

tags: lots of fluff and romantic tension :D hint of age gap, kissing, no smut but fairly suggestive, arthur is kind of mischievous, angsty in some parts if u squint, religious themes throughout obviously, no use of y/n (I wrote in 3rd person hehe), no blasphemy bc i’m religious <3 reader is in her twenties. read at ur own risk.

wc: 5.9k

part two – peaches

“You still coming to the picnic?”

Her words reverberated in his ears like tinnitus. He arrived back at his lodging to grab a few things he forgot, throwing and shoving items into his saddlebags. Was he going to the picnic? That’s all she had to say? He looked up at the sky again, the sun barely cracking up the pale blue sky, humidity in the air from the previous day's rain was suffocating.

Truly, he hadn’t decided yet if he was going to change his mind about it all. It was no mistake, the preacher’s daughter stirred up things in him he hadn’t felt for years. It was foolish to attend, he kept reminding himself of that. He needed to get back to camp, there was his own folks to take care of and business to attend to. Dutch was probably in the middle of some half baked scheme that he concocted to have Arthur lead in, John and Abigail were most likely arguing and needed a mediator, and there was the other women, Hosea, and little Jack.

So was he going to the picnic? It was something he would have to ponder on his way back to camp.

For the preacher’s daughter, things were shifting. Big changes and waves of emotion had shaped her irrevocably since that morning. She sat in the pews, front row like always, but for once she wasn’t really listening to her father’s sermon. She wouldn’t nod along to what he was saying, or open her Bible to turn to the verse and chapter he referred to. Instead, her eyes found a place to gaze over and bore a hole into it with her vision, mind wandering off to Arthur. The only times she was brought back was by her mother, who would gently yet lovingly tap her on the knee, to get her attention, silently gesturing to listen to her father. She would continue her days like normal, but completely enamored by Arthur, what he said, what he did–or lack thereof.

A couple of days later– the annual town picnic had finally reared its vague and complicated head. Typically, the picnic was always an event that she had always been enamored with. She looked forward to it every spring– her hand would be the first to raise when asked about volunteers or who should be in charge of planning the event, but now; the idea of going made uneasiness twist in her stomach. The thought of Arthur being there is all that mattered to her, although with their awkward and incomplete farewell, she didn’t know where she stood in his eyes.

The picnic was a lively affair, with almost the whole town participating in the activities. The crowd gathered outside the church where it was being held, enjoying the food and each other’s company. The warm spring breeze picked up the light atmosphere and covered everyone’s spirits with joy. There was music and dancing and lots of laughter. While the preacher’s daughter was usually the one to be in the crowd, socializing with fellow townsfolk– she found herself dismayed, as she sat on the steps of the church, knees pressed to her chest and a weary look staining her face.

“You gonna eat something dear?” her father’s voice broke her out of her trance, “Your mama made that chicken salad you like.” She sees him getting closer and shakes her head, “I’m not very hungry Papa.” she lays her head on her knees. The preacher walks up to her and observes his daughter, before sighing and sitting next to her. “Want to tell me what’s going on? You barely spoke a word all day, hardly participated on Sunday..”

She sighs and hesitates to say anything before continuing, “Remember how I told you Mr. Morgan stopped by the house the other morning? He found my necklace.”

“Yes, it was kind of him,” Her father blinks and nods, “Is this somehow relevant as to why you've been such a sourpuss lately?”

She opened her mouth but then stopped before she could start her sentence. She realized that if she were to tell him exactly what happened—it meant that she would have to tell him everything that took place in the kitchen that morning—the touching, the lewd remarks, and worst of all— she had her innocent and dainty fingers in some strange man’s mouth. This would most certainly kill her father, so she finds a way around it.

“Well, I feel like I might have offended him and I feel bad about it…that’s all.” she explains, it technically wasn’t a lie, a small pang of relief hitting her chest.

“What could you have possibly said that could offend him, dear?” her father asks, sincere in his words, genuinely wanting to make his daughter feel better. For her, this was the tricky part, trying to find the words without saying anything at all, “I told him he needed to leave…because I had things to do that day.”

Technically a lie, technically the truth. It was a moral dilemma she’d contemplate later.

“Aw, is that it?” he gives her a sympathetic smile, “Oh don’t even fret about it I’m sure he’s alright. Honestly, it says more about him if he took offense to a sweet ol’ thing like you.” He lovingly pinches her cheek and plants a kiss on top of her head, before rising to his feet, “You’ve always had a problem being in your own head too much sweetheart.” She nods in agreement, wanting the conversation to end, “I guess so. Thank you papa.”

A voice calls out to her father, interrupting their conversation. He looks over to the source of where the voice came from. He pats her on the back before walking off to greet more of his congregation that decided to stop by. Maybe her father was right, perhaps she was in her head too much. Of course, her father did not have the context like she did, but this false sense of reassurance passed the time well.

She continues to think about what Arthur said.

“Ever think about a man lovin’ on you baby?”

She is now. Arthur planted the seeds of desire in her, and the roots that grew traveled up her veins and made her heart race. She couldn’t get him out of her head no matter how hard she tried. She looks to the farthest distance she can, wondering what he was doing right now– what he was wearing and what path he was travelling. Far out, she notices a brown figure moving at a rapid pace, her eyes narrow. It’s just a horse– a beautiful one at that; a deep chestnut brown. Her gaze softened as it got closer in view, she noticed the horse had a splash of white on its nose– with a man mounted on top.

Her head lifts from her lap, was that him? It couldn’t be–or it could. She squints a bit harder, waiting for the man to come closer. She leans forward in her lap, eventually standing on the steps. She could recognize that gambler’s hat from anywhere.

It was him, Arthur had come back.

“Mr. Morgan!” she runs to him and looks up at him on his horse, “You made it.” she smiles. He gets off his horse and secures it, “Of course. Why would I not be here? You invited me.” he responds flatly, not caring to make eye contact with her.

She looks down and back up again, “I know but that was before…” she reads his face, pausing an explanation to feel out if he knew what she was implying, “Listen, Mr. Morgan, about the other morning, I–”

“No need darlin’,” he puts his hand out before dropping it to his side, “I understand,” He puts his weight on one hip. “I was planning on headin’ back, and I–uh made it halfway, then I got to thinkin’…” he pauses while scanning her features for a moment, “And I came off a little strong. I realize that now. Didn’t mean to frighten you if I did.” he looks down at his boots, still caked with mud from the rainstorm days ago.

She gingerly touched his hand, “All is forgiven, Mr. Morgan.” He looks up at her under the brim of his hat, and she swears she can see a hint of a smile and a smudge of red grace on his cheek.

So can her horrified father, who had been watching the interaction between the potential lovebirds from a distance the whole time. A worrisome dread sunk in him as he decided to make his presence known. He hurries toward them before calling out,

“Mr. Morgan! That you, son?”

Arthur whips his head back around, “Father! —uh reverend—shit”

“Wrong denomination son” he chuckles, loosening his tie. “I also would appreciate you to refrain from using profanity around my daughter. She’s a impressionable young lady y’know”

“Of course. Sorry, sir.” Arthur flashed a sheepish grin, before realizing he hadn’t shook the preacher’s hand yet. Out of respect he extends his hand, and they lock into a strong handshake. A pang of guilt hit Arthur, here he was shaking the man of the Lord’s hand when not even two days ago he was all over this man’s only daughter, in his own kitchen nonetheless.

“I invited Mr. Morgan to the picnic, figured he might want to visit a little more before he leaves.” she explains, innocently swaying her hips, giving her skirt a little movement as she rocked side to side.

“I can see that dear,” The preacher smiles at his daughter before shoving his hands into his pockets and trying to make friendly conversation. Anything to try and keep Arthur from sweeping his daughter off her feet, “So, how’s that cattle ranch of yours, son?”

Cattle ranch? Oh right, that was the story he pitched the town initially. It was the perfect small lie given the circumstance. The cattle rancher to save the town from cattle thieves, you couldn’t write a better story. “Just fine. Hard work. You know how it is. Cattle can be…temperamental.”

Stupid stupid stupid. He was bombing this and he knew it was over the second the words left his mouth. He grimaced in his mind at the interaction.

“Right,” the preacher drawls the word, trying to detect any honesty in Arthur’s claim, “Well regardless of your business, we’re glad you could join us,” he says, tone friendly but his words having an edge to them.

She smiles, “We got plenty of food why don’t we eat–”

“I thought you weren’t hungry?” her father whips his head to look at her.

She flashes a half smile, “Well I am now, ‘sides I don’t want to be rude and not eat in front of our guest, papa.”

Her father looked between two, he knew exactly what was happening and he didn’t like it one bit. He had no reason to be distrustful of Arthur, after all he did save his town from that reckless gang, but something wasn’t right. Although, to save his beloved daughter from embarrassment, he decided to play along– for now.

The eating and socializing made time fly by, Arthur enjoyed the peaceful and innocent fun with everyone, it made him forget about all his stress and worries for a couple of hours. He smiled along to a song played on a mandolin, he listened to her fill him in on all the local happenings that occurred while he was away, she clung onto his bicep as he won a couple games of dominoes against the shopkeeper, and before either of them knew it– the sun was starting to set. Arthur sat next to her at the picnic table, enjoying the sounds of soft conversations in the distance, but mostly he enjoyed her company. He exhaled deeply and looked over at her, “Let’s take a quick stroll, whaddya say?” She looked back at him, “That sounds lovely, but the sun is setting…I don’t know…”

“And?” He stands up and stretches up as tall as he can, she looks over his huge, broad frame growing taller as he pulls upward, her heart skips a beat at the sight of his muscles moving under his shirt as he shifts around. “You’ll be safe with me, let’s go girl.” he motions with his head and grabs his satchel. His sudden firm tone made her pulse quicken, not fully understanding why she liked it as much as she did.

Eventually, she and Arthur wander off into the path into a nearby trail, enough daylight to see where they were going as well as the beauty of the mountainous region, she looks up at him, his face concentrated on where they were headed.

“So where you takin’ me?” she asks.

“Nowhere in particular, unless you got somethin’ in mind,” he responds as he adjusts the weight of his satchel. She thinks for a moment and a bright smile spreads across her face, “I got an idea, there’s a lake nearby, it’s so beautiful. You’ll love it I promise.”

“Okay, the lake it is then,” he nods. Despite not speaking a word to each other, she smiled to herself that she was finally getting to spend more time with him like she always dreamed of. “Whatcha smilin’ ‘bout?” Arthur’s voice broke the prolonged silence. She shook her head, “Nothin’. Just having fun that’s all.” Arthur smiles back at her, “That reminds me, I almost forgot somethin’,” he stops in his tracks and she follows his lead.

“I know you’re supposed to bring somethin’ for a picnic and I didn’t know what to bring but–,” he reaches into his messenger bag and pulls out a can, “hope you like it.”

She grins with playful confusion, “A can of….” she tries to examine the can further, the text on the label rubbed off almost completely, “...peaches?” She walks slowly alongside him, still looking down at the can.

He nods, “You like peaches, hon?” strolling in tandem alongside her.

“Yeah, I like ‘em even better in pies though,” she responds.

“Peach pie?” He raises a brow, “I ain’t ever had that before…apple, yes. But peach? That’s a new one.”

“Oh I gotta make you one then. They’re real easy.” she says before letting a beat of silence encompass them.

She exhales an airy chuckle, “Reminds me of the time when Papa took me to a preacher’s convention in Saint Denis – well more like I begged him to take me– but anyway while I was there I had a peach pie with ice cream. Ice cream of all things, can you believe it?” she grins brightly, “They call it peach a la mode, isn’t that brilliant? Makes me feel sophisticated” she rambles, her hands gesticulating for emphasis.

He scoffs, “So that’s what rich folks are eatin’ huh? They can’t be ok with pie itself they gotta go add ice cream on it too.” he muttered, gesturing broadly as they strolled down the path together. She laughs loudly, “You’re a silly man Mr. Morgan… Ain’t seen a person upset with ice cream before.” He shook his head, he wasn’t trying to make her laugh, but it was like a symphony to his ears.

“Was it good?” His question broke the beat of silence.

“Hm?”

“The peach el mood?” he motions.

She bursts out laughing again, “A la mode? Definitely, it was divine.”

There it was again–he smiles lovingly at the sound of her laugh.

“You might have to make that for me too,” he grins and shoves his hands in his pockets.

The sound of both them walking down to the lake absorbed any beat of silence that could have been there. The crunching of gravel beneath their feet and sound of birds chirping accompanied their walk. Arthur picked up rocks he thought were compelling enough to shove into his jacket pocket. He picks up another rock and fidgets with it, and glances over at her for a second, eyes trailing down to her slightly exposed sternum which cradled that heavenly swan pendant necklace.

“You like swans, huh?” he inquired, throwing the rock like a skipping stone. “Why swans? And not like– I don't know a dove or somethin’.”

“A dove? That’s awfully cliche don’t you think?” she smirks. They finally make it to the lake. Seeing a big tree log that somehow found itself at the base of the lake, they both take a seat there. Arthur shrugs at her previous comment and adjusts next to her.

“I just like ‘em that’s all. Y’know it’s said that swans represent beauty, grace, wisdom. I think it’s a good symbol to look upon. It’s always been quite reassuring to me.” she places the can of peaches she had been holding down onto the ground.

“Ah, so it’s your lucky charm?” he grinned.

She waves him off, “Oh Mr. Morgan, I don’t believe in luck,” she looks out into the lake, “To tell you the truth, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to see a swan in the wild. I’m holdin’ out for hope I’ll get see one.”

“You will someday, I’m sure.” He looked over at her peaceful demeanor, his heart felt so warm just by being in her presence. The realization that all he wanted was to be with her overcame him. As it came, a familiar thick and oily guilt suddenly swallowed him upon the thought that he hadn't been exactly truthful with her. Quite frankly, he was a liar– lied about what he did for a living, lied about the true nature of his arrival 4 years ago, the lies started to collapse on his throat. If he was even to consider a life with her in it, he had to tell her everything– there was no cattle ranch, the only money he had technically didn’t belong to him, he was originally going to rob her town– that he is an outlaw.

He wanted to make this work, he lost so much in his life already that he knew she was an opportunity of genuine love and care. Surely enough, someone so loving and forgiving like her would be able to handle his baggage, right? If not, he was willing to put it all on the line anyway. He rubs his jaw and exhales a breath before speaking.

“Look darlin’, there’s something I need to tell you–”

“--You gotta girl ain’t you?” she interrupts flatly.

He exhales a laugh, “No, I ain’t got a girl. Not for a long time at least,” taken aback by her boldness, he continues to chuckle to himself.

“Why are you laughin’? It’s not that much of an odd assumption to make. You’re handsome and smart and you got that big cattle ranch so it’s not crazy to assume gals wouldn’t be all over you–”

“You think I’m handsome?” he whipped his head to look at her, his cheeks warmed at the compliment, trying to hide the surprise in his voice as he never truly felt comfortable or confident with himself.

“Stop it, you know what I meant,” she blushes, “I’m just sayin’ you’re a catch, that’s all.” He continues to smile at her bashful ramblings, shaking his head at her behavior. A sense of mischief creeps up in his mind, and he couldn’t help but entertain it, “Anyways, why ain’t you married yet? I’d figure some young buck would come sniffin’ ‘round after you as soon as you got to marryin’ age.” he asks, watching her put a hand over her face.

“Very classy Mr. Morgan, you’re a real gentleman,” she groans, resting her head in her hand, “I don’t know. I don’t like any of the men at my church. They’re…stupid.”

“How so? Despite the obvious,” he inquires.

She exhales and tries to think of the words to articulate how she feels, “It seems they want me barefoot and pregnant and that life–” she pauses, “I don’t believe that’s what God intended for me. It’s not my path." She picked up a stick and started tracing patterns on the dirt.

“What’s your path then?” His heart softens at the conviction in her tone.

She hesitates for a moment, scared that he would judge her for passions. He nods at her, “You know you can tell me anythin’ darlin’” he says softly, wanting to know what was in that beautiful mind of hers.

She exhales again, “If I may be so bold– I want to preach,” the tension leaving her body after she confessed, “and I want real love– but I don’t know if I’m the marryin’ kind… I think if I met the right man, I’d marry. But only a man that would let me be free…I don’t think I’ll ever find that Mr. Morgan.”

I could be that. If you allowed me to. He thought to himself, but he was not brave enough to voice it. Instead, he gives her a sympathetic smile.

“Ah.” he said softly, before crossing his shin over his thigh.

“You don’t think I can do it huh?” she murmurs, kicking her feet mindlessly against the stump of the tree. His brows furrowed at her accusation, “No I do, I think you can. Hell I met a lot gals who fight for stuff like that,” he gesticulates, “I could picture you doin’ it.” he smiles.

She suddenly remembers what he said at breakfast the other morning: “If I was guaranteed you’d be the one preachin’ then maybe I’d start goin’ to church.”

She grins to herself at the thought, “Hey, if I preach does that means you’ll start comin’ to church.”

Arthur scoffs playfully, “Is that so? Who said anythin’ ‘bout that?”

“You said it yourself at breakfast!” she lets out an airy chuckle.

Arthur shakes his head before leaning in closer to her, “Well…that ain't what I meant by that, so we’re just gon’ have to see. Aren’t we?” he smirks. She looks over his face, blush reddening her ears. The moment was so perfect, he wanted to bask in its tranquility. The opportunity to tell her the truth about his livelihood was fleeting and before he knew it, it was gone. He couldn’t get it back and he hoped that soon he could find another opening. An opening that was perfect and would hurt her the least.

She breaks her gaze and looks down at the can of peaches beside her, “Well, I don’t know about you but I could go for a little sweet.” She leans over to pick up the can. He gazes her over body while she wasn’t looking, staring at the soft curves of her body and before stealing a prolonged glance of her rear, “Yep–somethin’ sweet would be real good right about now,” he hums, trying to hide the growl in the back of his throat. She sits back up again and hands him the can of peaches for him to open. The act of him stabbing the top with his knife and prying it open made her feel warm. He passes the can back to her, letting her have the first bite. She scoops a piece up and crams it into her mouth before the juice drips on her dress.

“Mmph, really good!” she exclaims while still chewing, “Where did you get these–” his hand cuts off her sentence as he wipes away a small droplet of juice from the corner of her mouth. She stops immediately, gazing back at him. A pang of excitement reverberates in the pit of her stomach. It was biscuits and gravy on Sunday all over again.

He smiles softly back at her without a second thought, before taking a piece of the fruit out for himself. She watches him eat the slice of peach, briefly sucking the excess juice off his fingers. So messy and desperate–something about watching him eat like a feral animal sparked a need in her so deep that she abruptly whips her head away just to attempt to hide it.

Although, these were not new feelings she was having: not before he filled her imagination with salacious ideas, not before he lovingly stroked her chin or accompanied her to the picnic– it started just before breakfast on Sunday morning, with her finger in his mouth. Although Arthur was no fool–oh the contrary, he could hone in on this like a falcon. The memory of her fingers in his mouth would plague him at all times. He decides it was ultimately time to break the tension.

“Honey you can’t tell me that having your fingers in my mouth ain’t done something to you. You haven’t been able to look at me the same since,” a growl in his voice reverberates in him, trying to keep his urges in line.

“What?” she swallows thickly. “I-I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.”

“Yes you do. Don’t be coy.” He places the can next to him and turns his body toward her, “I know that’s how you was raised– to be ashamed of it. But you can’t go denyin’ these feelings forever.”

“It’s not like that…I’m not ashamed. I-I’m not.” she stammers. Arthur frowns, he can see right through her walls.

“Then why’re you always shakin’ like a damn near leaf whenever I get ‘round you?” he questions.

“I don’t know.” She murmurs, her shoulders going limp in defeat. He gazes back at her wilted expression before reaching out and gently cradling her hand, “Y’know darlin...people lovin’ on each other, ain’t nothin’ wrong with that,” softly tracing patterns on the back of her palm, “It’s beautiful, really.” She gazes up into his eyes, her heart rate picking up at the sight of him being so close to her. He scans her face before glancing down at her slightly parted lips.

“Mr. Morgan?” she whispers.

“Mhm?”

“Are you gonna kiss me?”

“Do you want me to, baby?” He whispers back.

She stares up into his eyes and nods ever so softly. A genuine and loving smile spreads across his face. He inhales gently, before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. As he gently cups her jaw in his right hand, he leans down, and before he realizes, she instinctively turns her head away. “I’m scared” her voice barely above a murmur, “ain’t never done this before.”

He couldn’t deny that the idea of being her first kiss made his pulse quicken, and as guilty as he felt, he also couldn’t deny her naivety turned him on beyond belief. Of course, part of him also felt bad for being her first kiss. He thought to himself that she deserved a better man, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted this just as bad as she did.

“Well what do you know ‘bout it?” He strokes her hair gently.

“Nothin’ much…just what I've read in those dime store romance novels.” she murmurs, somewhat embarrassed at her inexperience. He tenderly strokes her cheek with his thumb, “Shh it’s okay sweetheart. Just relax and let me lead– can you do that for me?” he whispers lovingly.

She nods and instinctively closes her eyes, he tilts her head up and leans in to press a warm and tender kiss on her lips– even softer than he ever imagined them to be. He kisses her again, and again, before pausing and gazing lovingly into her eyes. He wishes he could live in this moment forever, “You okay so far?” He murmurs against her lips, softly nodding at her, she nods back. The mix of her orange and vanilla perfume catching in the slightly smoky and chill dusk air is intoxicating to him.

He leans back down he kisses her again, but this one was different. It was longer and deeper than the one from before, he deepened the kiss even further for a moment, working his fingers through her hair. Both of their heartbeats rise in tandem, she leans against his chest and places a hand on his thick thigh, trying to find balance against him. Something that could be acquainted with electricity pulses in her stomach, never truly realizing a sensation could feel so good. His tongue grazes her lip and she softly gasps at the feeling. Surely the taste of his lips would sear into her mouth for eternity, smoky and something that was attributed to only him. His lips still sweetened from the nectar of the peaches they consumed together, now all she wanted was to consume him.

He pulls away and rests his forehead against hers, panting softly. “Arthur,” she exhales gently, her breath fanning his neck. The ease of his first name leaving her tongue made goosebumps rise on the back of his neck and arms. His hands still tangled in her hair, making their way down to rest on her shoulders, “My sweet babydoll, so so perfect.” he whispers.

He plants a soft yet firm kiss on her cheek and back to her lips again. She sinks into his arms. She feels so safe yet, a sensation akin to lead creeps in and weighs her soul, an anchor of remorse that makes her stomach drop. Without second thought, she pulls away from the kiss and cries. Fear spikes in Arthur’s chest at the sight of tears rolling off her supple cheeks, “Oh no no no baby, what happened? Did I do something wrong?” he panics, terrified he hurt her or crossed a boundary he wasn’t aware of.

It truly wasn’t anything he did, she really didn’t know why she was crying. Truthfully, she was overwhelmed with feelings and emotions that she didn’t know how or what to do with. The way he gently cared for comfort and boundaries touched her beyond words or actions, she never felt so loved by another man before. Was this love that she was feeling? She didn’t know what to make of it all– and it scared the hell out of her.

“No…I don’t think so…W-we shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry,” her lip continues to quiver and tears roll down and drop into her lap. His heart twists in chest at her words, his mouth partly open from bewilderment, “Stop it. You don’t mean that,” he murmurs, “Tell me what’s going on darlin’.”

She cries again and the sight chisels away at his heart, “I-I don’t know…you did nothin wrong. I just ain’t ever felt like this before,” she reaches up to fidget with her swan pendant necklace once more. He knew exactly what was going on. She was touch starved-- it was years of pent up and repressed romantic desire that was finally boiling over– for the first time in her life, she was finally starting to learn how to love romantically.

He gives her another sympathetic smile and pulls her into his big arms, “S’okay angel, ain’t no shame in what we did,” he breathes. “It’s all new, I got it. We’ll go slower.” After a moment, she stops crying and pulls away, feeling a bit embarrassed. He can see the crimson spread across her cheeks, “I’m sorry Arthur. I don’t know what came over me.” 

He shakes his head and strokes her hair, “Don’t worry ‘bout it baby, I was just scared I did somethin’ wrong,” he pauses, “or you didn’t like it.” Her eyes widen in realization, “Oh, no not at all! I liked it a lot…maybe too much.” she softly responds, her words carry an edge of caution.

“Yeah?” he smiles, tongue darting out just enough to wet his bottom lip. She nods in return, whispering a ‘thank you’ before giving him small kiss on the cheek to reinforce it.

She looks up at the sky, the sun finally tucking itself behind the mountain, “We need to get back to the picnic now. My parents are probably waitin’ for me,” she stands and fixes her dress.

Arthur nods and rises to his feet. “I’ll walk you back, hm?”

She nods and waits for him, "Arthur?"

He perks up at his name as he starts to walk with her, she looks down at her feet, "Once again, I'm really sorry I cried.” she replies softly, feeling humiliated by her reaction, "I really do like your company."

“No need to apologize, I got you girl," his big hand cradles the small of her back as they walk back to the church together, " 'Sides, we got plenty time to practice anyway. Get you more comfortable." He grins. She smiles at the thought, deciding to fill the silence again with small talk.

“Wasn’t the lake beautiful?” she asks.

“Y’know I couldn’t see it too well. Got distracted by somethin’ else.” he smiles to himself.

The sun had set by the time they got back, the picnic had been over for a while now, and there was no one in the church. So Arthur decided to walk her back to her house. He didn’t realize that they were gone for that long– his stomach dropped when they finally arrived at her home, seeing the preacher, sitting on his porch whilst rocking back and forth in his rocking chair. He and Arthur share a look, before he springs up at the sight of the two. He makes his way down the porch steps.

“Papa we–”

“Get in the house young lady.” he ordered firmly yet calmly.

“Papa please don’t be mad we were just walking around and–”

“I’m not…mad...just do what I say and go inside.”

She looks up at Arthur and nods before scurrying away, mouthing a goodbye to him as her boots clunked against the porch steps. Arthur’s blood pressure rises as he tries to de-escalate the situation, “I ain’t mean no harm sir– we really was just walkin’ and talkin’.”

The preacher shook his head in disapproval, “Y’know, I’m really disappointed in you son. See, I gave you the benefit of the doubt that you had pure intentions here– especially with my only daughter around, but I guess I was a fool.” Arthur glares under the brim of his gambler’s hat, narrowing his eyes at the preacher, “What you mean by that exactly?”

“Don’t play dumb, boy…I see the way you been lookin’ at her.” he says with an accusatory tone. Arthur cocks his head to the side, “And what way is that?” he responds, feigning innocence.

The preacher shakes his head and breathes a humorless chuckle in disbelief of Arthur’s pretend innocence, “--Like a dog licking its chops for a bite of somethin’ he shouldn’t have.”

Ah. Of course…

Arthur exhales a chuckle, “Well sir– If I was, I would have already taken a bite by now, if that’s what you’re implyin’.” he smirks and pats him on the shoulder twice, before walking off. The statement makes the preacher’s blood boil, “I ain’t stupid! I been your age before! You stay away from her, you hear me boy?!” he calls out to Arthur.

He whips his head around and saunters back to the preacher, “Y’know your lil girl ain’t gonna be yours forever. She’s a beautiful young woman and men are lookin’ at her different now,” he leans in closer, “Now you got a decision to make. ‘Cause one of these days some man is gon’ come along for her, and I can bet you anythin’ he’s gon’ be worse than me,” there’s an edge to Arthur’s voice that alerts the preacher, but he would never give Arthur the satisfaction of seeing him buckle. He stares blankly back at him.

Arthur nods slowly, “You can think about that when you say your prayers tonight,” he turns to walk away, looking to the right of him to catch a glimpse of her bedroom window, hoping to see her one last time. He chuckles to himself, before calling back to her father.

“'Night, preacher man.”

thank u for reading thus far !!! once again thank u for all the support it means the world. taglist is currently open so lemme know if u wanna be added <3

taglist 🏷️ @dilf-luvr-4evr @joelsprettyprincess @i-will-give-you-love @necktattooed

[fabuloustrash05]

I had someone try to argue with me when I said that I think Bulma is a powerful character in Dragon Ball. They tried to argue and say she’s not a fighter, has weak chi, etc. so therefore she’s not powerful. And I was just thinking; are they not aware that power comes in many different forms?

Power isn’t just based by one’s strength, it can also be determined by the person’s intelligence/knowledge, mastery in certain skills, influence, wealth, social status/ranking, connections, position in politics, etc. and Bulma has many of these characteristics:

Bulma is INFLUENTIAL

She is apart of a very influential family, the Capsule Corporation family! She’s the heiress of her father’s business, a business that creates a device that can shrink any object into small capsules. A device we see EVERYONE in the series use.

Not to mention her own existence influencing the story. If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have Dragon Ball. She’s the one who built the dragon radar, she’s the one who found Goku and convinced him to join her on her adventure. Without her, Goku wouldn’t have left his house and met characters like Roshi, Krillin and his own wife, Chichi.

And of course, her influence on Vegeta. Bulma played a big part in Vegeta’s character development in DBZ, with him starting as a villainous irredeemable planet destroyer, and turning him into a hero/protector of earth and a loving husband/father. She took one good look at him, thought “I can fix him” AND DID. Her influence and even love for him made him a better person.

I can go on and on about how big of a role Bulma plays in Vegeta’s arc but I assume yall already know the story. 

Bulma is RICH

First off, look how freaking huge her house is! Capsule Corp is a multi milllion (possibly billion) dollar company. 

She’s so rich she has used her own money to fulfill her friends wishes that it got Shenron himself sweating. When promised prize money for everyone if they win the Tournament of Power, it was Bulma that provided the cash to anyone who wants it.

For her birthday party she took everyone her own cruise ship and hosted a Bingo game where the prizes consisted of: a brand new car, a jet, a giant diamond and a literal castle.

AND THOSE WERE JUST 2ND AND 3RD PLACE PRIZES!!!

Bulma has CONNECTIONS

She has frequent lunches with Whis who’s a literal Angel, made Beerus the God of Destruction her FREE babysitter and she’s close friends with Jaco the Galactic Patrolmen thanks to her sister, Tights.

And not to mention the that she’s married to the Vegeta the Saiyan Prince, giving her a royal status, and is also childhood friends with Goku, another Saiyan. And her two children are also Half Saiyans!

Bulma is SMART

I’m just going to go over a list of things she’s invented/done throughout the series:

- The Dragon Radar and the Super Dragon Radar

- A device that can make herself shrink and grow at her own will

- She fixed Radtiz’s scouter, and even rewired it to be in a non alien language so she can properly read it

- Helped her dad rebuild the Namekien space ship that got her, Krillin and Gohan to Namek

- An translator for Ginyu when he was trapped in a Namekian frog body (an animal that she did not know the biology of mind you)

- Helped her dad fix Android 16’s damages

- Saiyan armor, she was able to find a way to perfectly duplicate the material that Saiyans/the Frieza force use. Reminder that all armor Vegeta wears from Android saga and onward was made by her.

- A freaking Time Machine!! (Yes I know that was her future self who built it but it still says so much as to what Bulma is capable of creating)

In conclusion, Bulma may not be a fighter like the others, but she has so many other qualities that make her powerful. She’s strong willed character, a helpful ally to Goku and friends, and an important member of the team thanks to her influence, connections, wealth and intelligence.

Bulma is POWERFUL because of who she is and what she does!

[81pastrys]

Mini Bwoah

Part 8 / 10

Summary— Ocon does the impossible pulling second on the grid behind her and she weighs out the pros and cons

Warnings— team principle reprimand ; crofty commentating

A/N— how will the race go?

Series List

Divider @bernardsbendystraws

Before I know it, it’s quali. The first two went well, then Q3 was a nightmare and a half. 5 of us fight for fastest lap, it’s the last lap around and I finish on top . The other 4 were hundredths and tenths away. The cars go back in the garage, and I get my pole position trophy.

“Pole position, how does it feel?”

“Bwoah, like I’m quick.” I giggle at my own answer. “The car felt good today.”

“Thank you, our pole sitter everyone!”

Applause goes throughout the stands and I go to the garage. I change and fix my hair. Lewis walks up to me, not mad almost panicky.

“You and Ocon are in the front.” He whispered. He’s facing away from the cameras, almost blocking me from moving. “You beat his time by +.001s.”

My eyes widen super quick and I look up at him. “What?” I ask. “He’s never-“

“It’s a worldwide mystery, please don’t fight him on track.” He continued. “If he fights, his car will fail.”

“Okay.” I say.

I go to change and then call my dad. He scolds me for the interaction that was filmed. Then his anxiety with me and Ocon front row sets in and he starts apologizing and freaking out for me.

“ISI, I’ll be fine.” I say. “Nothing will happen.”

“Better now, or they’ll be recording me beating his face into cement.” He said. I laugh.

“He’s in a tractor isi, he’s got no chance staying top 5.”

It’s his turn to laugh. We end the call shortly after and Toto calls me out the garage. He pulls me into a private room. He starts by sighing heavily.

“If you get into another altercation with Ocon, we will have to discuss your contract Räikkönnen.”

“But-!” I exasperate, but he holds his hand in front of me to stop me.

“I love having you on this team. But if you keep lowering our public image, I cannot support you.” He sighed again. “I know Ocon is an ass, everyone does, but you have to control yourself and what you say.”

“Okay..” I say, like a sad puppy. “Did you see how he was acting though? Surely you agree more with me?”

“Oh I see how idiotic he is, always have, but you are better than giving him the reaction he wants.”

I sigh. He hugs me and we go back out. The cameras zoom in on us exiting and croft is commentating. “Uh oh, Mercedes meeting.”

All I could repeat in my head was ‘don’t react’ over and over again. I look at the conference times and realize there’s one now for quali. I rush out into the paddock, running. I get there and sit in the middle.

“Ocon, best time this season! Really impressive.” One reporter said.

“Yeah, we brought upgrades and I have a lot of motivation to push the front row.” He chuckled on the last part.

“Räikkönnen, 3rd pole position for your career, how’s it feel?”

“Well, I plan on winning so easier starting from the front.” I say. The conference goes on, mostly them praising Ocons impossible achievement of 2nd.

Race race race

@il0vereadingstuff @angelluv16 @pandabiiissh @anayaverse @kallanfiona @itznotsophia @justaf1girl

[imaginespazzi]

NIVI!! Give us your postgame thoughts on Ole Miss!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING MY LOVIES! I am thankful for that fact that I found a stream that worked last night and got to watch this game even though that 3rd quarter took years off of my life.

AZZI. FUDD. I don't think I can even begin to explain in words just how proud I am of her. Everyone has been saying that it's only a matter of time before Azzi starts to contribute (not that she didn't contribute in the Oregon State game) but Azzi didn't just contribute last night; was definitely the biggest (not the only of course) reason we won. It was a one-possession game and momentum was without a doubt on Ole Miss's side and Azzi said fuck all of that and gave UConn an 8-pt cushion all by herself. And what won't reflect on the box-score is that her scoring those points did two things: it deflated Ole Miss and it energized UConn. She was just so good offensively and defensively; just an all-around performance and I'm just so incredibly proud. And you know what the best part is? Those 3s ain't even falling yet.

Casual 29 points for the NPOY, no biggie just Paige doing Paige things except you know MY Paige doesn't normally get 5 turnovers...jk jk because honestly she only should have had 3 (still "high" for her standard but also that's what Ole Miss hangs their hat on). That 1st half and that 4th quarter were just things of beauty. That's what you need your leader to do, set the tone and then finish things off. AND SHE FINALLY GOT SOME FTS!!

Sarah looked really good in the first half and then when Ole Miss got going, she looked a little shaken in the second half, emphasis on the little shaken because it was only really in terms of scoring, she was still doing all the little things. I've seen some discourse and I personally don't want Sarah to stop taking 3s because it's not like she takes bad ones and I think they're gonna fall and we need them to fall and they're not gonna fall if she stops taking them.

JANA!! She had some clutch has hell rebounds and some much-needed shots. I thought she had a really good game and a near double-double. She just looked really energized out there and I think she's only going to get better.

Ice had a up and down game. She definitely did a couple of things that frustrated me but also made some solid plays. I would have definitely liked a couple more points and a couple more rebounds but I think the hustle, that's been prevalent the last few games, is still there.

Ash needed more shots which is partially on her but also I feel like she was getting plays ran for AND her teammates weren't doing the best job of finding her. It feels like the aggression, particularly on offense, of the first two games had dwindled a little bit and she's in a bit of a slump. Also two of Paige's 5 turnovers, probably belong to her because girl what was you doing?

We definitely need more point production from KC but I thought she had a very stabilizing presence last night and did a pretty good job running the offense in the 4th.

KK hadn't made me want to scream at her for driving into traffic and getting blocked like clockwork in a couple of games and so of course OF COURSE she had to do it last night. But I do think she matched Ole Miss's energy well and I liked that one drive she had. She needs to look to score like that more.

Which brings me back to that KC-KK discourse, I still think the KK-Paige-Azzi-Sarah-Jana/Ice lineup is our strongest but I also did really like the KC-Paige-Azzi-Sarah-Jana that we used to end the game and was I believe the prominent lineup throughout the 2nd half. So I think my general opinion is that it doesn't matter who starts because ultimately it's gonna be a opponent-driven decision and it's good to have that option.

I love Paige and Azzi and I love that they had good games but I'm ngl, looking at that box score and seeing so many people with only 2 pts did not please me at all.

Blowing leads is becoming a recurring thing and as much as I think it's good character building for this team right now because as Geno says you learn more from overcoming the Ole Miss run than if you had stretched it 30, it is a little concerning that it's a bit of a pattern. And again this is only their 5th game and it was their first true test and also ofc only their 3rd having Azzi so I'm not necessarily super worried, but it is something I'mma keep my eye on.

But overall I'm just really proud of this team. They got punched in the 3rd and they punched back and I'm hoping to see a lot more punching in the upcoming games.

[cadybear420]

Happy Wedding Day to Aiden and Evie!!!!

It's June 20, 2025! AKA, the official date of Aiden and Evie's wedding! So I've decided to revamp my original Aidevie Wedding Headcanons post! Comes with edits and a few dialogue snippets!

Original Questionairres Here and Here. I've combined them into this one big list.

Tags for those who may be interested:

@lover-also-fighter-also | @choicesmc | @our-own-private-paradise |

@loreofyore | @rjschoicesstuff | @aria-ashryver |

@zhoumeyourlove | @dutifullynuttywitch | @storyofmychoices |

@peonyblossom | @rosesnink | @aces-and-angels |

@pansexy-choices-the-sequal | @hssprimefan | @aallotarenunelma |

@lilyoffandoms |

How long were they together before they got engaged?

They got engaged on May 21, 2022– so they'd known each other for about 5 years, and had been girlfriend-boyfriend for about 4 and a half years. By this time, Evie had finished her second year of Uni and Aiden had finished his 3rd year of Uni. Despite them dating in high school and maybe going to different universities (I'm still figuring out where Evie goes to for Uni), they've had a very strong relationship all throughout.

Who first brought up the option of marriage? Was it an easy topic?

Evie I think was the first to bring it up. A few months into their relationship, they mostly just casually tossed the idea around a few times, as well as the idea of living with each other. Sort of like "imagine if we got married one day", or "I'd love to live with you in the future". Evie has fantasized about it more, so she was the first to think of talking about it. It wasn't necessarily difficult, but it was something they both wanted to be absolutely sure about and not rushing too fast into.

Evie had long since made it clear she wanted to be the one to propose, should they ever get married... but the two had also agreed that, prior to any proposal no matter who proposes, they would talk about it together if either of them felt sure of having a marriage. That way, no one would feel like they're being put on the spot by the other's proposal.

By at least late February 2022, Evie was starting to feel more sure of actually marrying Aiden, and by mid April, she initiated the conversation with him. And both were sure they were ready for it.

Who proposed and how? Was it grand and public? Discreet and private? Was it expected?

Evie proposed, obviously. She's always fantasized about proposing to a hypothetical future husband and always imagined it going perfectly. It's what makes her feel special personally, not to mention it's very gender euphoric.

Again, even early on into their casual marriage talks, Evie had made it very clear that she wanted to be the one to propose... though she'd often worry she was coming off as picky. Not to mention how she knows how Aiden sometimes worries he's not doing enough for her.

But they have sometimes coordinated who would do homecoming proposals and promposals– after Aiden had asked Evie to homecoming and prom as per the OG HSS timeline, Evie did express wanting to ask Aiden, and so he did agree that Evie would get to do the asks next year (during the HSS:CA timeline). They split it in Evie's senior year– Evie would ask Aiden to homecoming, Aiden would ask Evie to prom.

So, it probably wouldn't be as big a deal for Evie to insist that she propose. But she still can be unsure of herself about stuff like that.

I imagine a younger Aiden had always pictured himself being the one to propose, if he were ever to get married. Part of him still wanted to be the one to propose marriage and in general planning something big and special and important for Evie, but he does also understand how much it means to Evie to propose to him.

In the end, it's not all that important to him to be the one to propose. Plus, it didn't take long for him to grow onto the idea of being treated to a big special spoiling proposal. Even ignoring their Who Gets To Do The Hoco And Prom Asks talks, he does know he should let himself be treated and spoiled more.

As for how the proposal went down... Evie had been rotating this proposing-to-Aiden fantasy in her head like a rotisserie chimken for years, but it was only by late February/early March that year is when she was settling on a distinct idea of how she'd like to propose to him.

But even though her plan had become more strongly developed, when it was time for the actual proposal... she started screaming internally and began agonizing over everything.

While they made sure no one would be put on the spot to agree to say yes, they both still wanted some element of surprise to it. Like, Aiden knew Evie might propose to him, he just didn't know when. So there was already a lot of agonizing there on Evie's part.

See, she wanted to treat him to something big and special leading up to the proposal, but it couldn't be too big that it'd be painfully obvious what it was leading to and thus ruin the element of surprise. Like, oh wow, the two of you have officially decided on marriage, and you're going all out in spoiling the fuck out of Aiden on a day that isn't a particular special event? I just wondeeeerrrr what it could be abooouuuuut.

Evie also agonized a lot over which kind of engagement ring to get Aiden. She wanted one that sort of made him feel special, but was still within his tastes. She knew he probably wasn't gonna be upset and that she did know him well enough to choose something he'd like, but part of her also really wanted the proposal to be perfect y'know?

On May 21, 2022, Evie proposed to Aiden. She found a way to keep it simple but big. So she just took Aiden on a very extensive date that day. A day full of swimming, go-karting, and dancing. Then she took him back to her house, only to find that she– or at least their friends– had decorated the shit out of her house (Evie's choice of decorations, of course).

Then she led him to her backyard, giving a speech about her love for him... before dropping down on one knee and opening up a purple velvet ring box. Aiden said yes before she even had a chance to actually pop the question.

"Aiden Zhou, will you–" "Yes, Evie, yes yes YES!!!" He freezes, his face turning deep red. "Oh... sorry, um..." "It's okay, My King!" "Um... you can continue if you want..." "Are you sure? I mean, I'm not upset that you–" "Yeah, but I know how much you wanted to say it." "That's true, heh. Well then... Aiden Zhou, will you marry me?" "Yes, yes, a thousand times YES!"

Show us their engagement and/or wedding rings!

The engagement ring!

Dazzling diamond, unique, stylish– but still sleek and simple and not too clunky. Exactly what Aiden likes.

The Wedding Rings!

Think the style/design of the top image (sans the engraving on the heart), with the purple stripe+pattern in the bottom left image on the outside, and the music engravings of the bottom right image on the inside.

The musical notes engravings would be directly from one of the songs Aiden has composed for Evie.

Bonus: a series of other ideas I considered for their wedding bands! Was hard to decide which one, but ultimately I think they both wanted something with a cute design that was unique to them, but also relatively simple and not too clunky.

Truth be told, I'm not sure who wears which ring. Evie likes the left one because it's technically the more "masculine" one, but she also likes the right one because it has the gem in it and she likes that shit. The left one is also the one with the hole, which does make it suited for Aiden. I think judging by how the rings are designed, they are adjustable and so they each take turns with who wears which ring, swapping every month. I'm also gonna pretend their ring sizes aren't much different anyways.

Who were the first people to find out about the engagement? How did they react?

Pretty much all of their friends, since they helped with the decorations for Evie's proposal.

We all know Emma, Ezra, and especially Myra just absolutely lost their shit when they found out. Everyone was very proud and excited for them, but especially those three.

Scott also knew prior to the proposal. Evie was so excited, there's no way she wouldn't tell her Dad about it. He's equally excited, but also of course can't help himself with Dad Puns.

Aiden's parents would have of course known that they were technically making wedding plans, but they don't learn about the official engagement until after Evie's proposal, when he tells them excitedly.

How long was the engagement?

Evie and Aiden waited 3 years after their engagement before officially getting married. Seeing as they were both still in Uni, they wanted to take their time with planning the wedding. Plus, they're both pretty cautious and did wanna give it a few more years to think about it more deeply.

After Evie graduated, they had a lot more time and were able to fully plan their wedding within the following year.

Did they plan the wedding by themselves, with help, or with a professional planner? Who did most of the planning?

Both had pretty equal parts in the planning. Though I'd probably say Evie chose most of the decorations, but Aiden did vibe with nearly all of her choices so yeah. They did also have a few friends and family to give them guidance.

Was the planning and time up til the wedding stressful?

Evie sometimes did agonize over it, wanting a perfect dream role-reversed wedding. But for the most part, they were taking it relatively easy.

Wedding Party? Who are the maids of honor and/or best men? Why and how were they chosen?

Evie's bridal party consists of:

Emma, who is her Best Woman

Caleb

Cher Lee (my HSS:CA MC)

Bear Lee (my HSS:CA MC's twin)

Frank

Julian

Jade

Sakura

and possibly others.

Aiden's groom party consists of:

Myra, who is his Maid of Honor

Adelaide (my ROD MC who is also Aiden's cousin)

Ezra

Cameron

Michael

Ajay

Maria

Skye

Nishan

and possibly others.

Emma and Myra are Evie's and Aiden's closest bestest friends, respectively.

Emma generally prefers dresses, but she knows she can rock a suit and enjoys wearing suits every now and then. She was more than happy to wear one as Evie's Best Woman.

Myra wanted to go a bit all-out for Aiden's wedding, but did have to be careful not to upstage the groom. But let's be real, given the look he picked for himself, it's near impossible for anyone to upstage him.

Big Wedding or Small? Was there any drama whatsoever regarding the guest list?

Somewhere in between? The venue is fairly expensive, but the guests only consist of family and friends (a lot of the friends being those that they knew at Berry).

There wasn't really any drama with the guest list.

Show us a mood/stimboard of their wedding's general aesthetic/colors/theme?

Both Evie and Aiden want a nice balance between "simple, light-hearted, and whimsical" and "upscale, luxurious, and grand", so they decide on the former aesthetic for the ceremony, the latter aesthetic for the indoor area of the reception, and a mix of both for the outdoor area of the reception.

They definitely wanted some cherry blossom(-esque) decorations, because it's one of their favorite flowers. Cherry blossoms are awesome.

The leafy purple and succulent flowers + stray flowers for table decorations were because they both love the color purple, and because it did add a touch of summery chill relaxation vibes. Also, it matches the genderqueer flag. Pure Coincidence, I assure you. I picked those in like 2023, before I became more familiar with genderqueer as an umbrella term.

The candles are also Bergamot-scented and free party favors for guests to keep. Aiden and Evie made sure to save a stash for themselves as well.

I imagine there may also be some sunflowers. And rosies. So many pretty flowers aaagahhahahaga I want all the pretty flowers and so does Evie.

Tell me about the cake!

Red Velvet cake with chocolate chips inside, covered with an appropriate layer of basic vanilla frosting. Topped with a little ceramic bride-and-groom topper of them.

What about the flowers/bouquet?

Aiden's Bouquet (left) and Evie's Bouquet (right).

Evie has a bit of a fixation for pretty flowers, so they decided on both of them carrying a bouquet. Also whoop-dee-fuckin-woohoo surprise surprise, Evie's bouquet is genderqueer flag colored too. Also a Pure Coincidence, I picked these in 2023.

Aiden wanted genderqueer colored flowers too, but the two of them did want to add some summery-lookin flowers into the mix. It is a Summer wedding. They did also want each bouquet to match the other's outfit.

Do they get married through court? Church? Third secret option?

Either court or secret third option. They want it to technically be officially legalized, but also not so fussy.

When do they get married? Night or day? Any specific reason for either?

Probably they'd want it to take place over mid-late afternoon and/or early-mid evening. I'd think they'd want a bit of daytime and a bit of nighttime, but also still have enough nighttime to consummate their marriage hehe

Where was the Wedding?

The wedding was in the ballroom of a grand beachside hotel in upper Cedar Cove, I do not have a name for it yet lol. Evie gets excited about hotels, especially beachside hotels, so yeah.

Do either of them play music while walking down the aisle (if they do at all)? If yes, show us their song.

They definitely wanted music for when Aiden's walking down the aisle (and when officiating the marriage), preferably something that was the right balance of grand and ethereal.

I feel like they'd go with "Worthy" (Bmblb pt. 2) by Casey Lee Williams ft. Ariyel, from the RWBY V9 soundtrack. They both find it a beautiful song, a great combination of grand and ethereal, and these lyrics in particular are VERY fitting for them and their relationship:

And now I know I'm worthy of you (Oh, can't you see, you could be with me) With еvery smile you told me (I am your dream)"I love you" See me for everything I am You don't run away No matter the mistakes I made It's here, you'll stay And now I know I'm worthy of you (Oh, can't you see, you could be with me) With every smile you told me (I am your dream)"I love you"

Show us their outfits!

Edits by me, Art by @rjschoicesstuff! Please go give that art some love hehe <3 <3 <3

Evie of course went with a suit. Masc velvet suit hell yeah. Evie is obsessed with velvet textures.

Aiden by this point has become very comfortable wearing a dress. But he had a hard time deciding between whether his wedding outfit should be a suit or a dress, because he does like both for different reasons. At one point he even considered a hybrid of the two, eg. a blazer and tie over a dress, a suit that had a skirt-like appendage (think of f!Sam's wedding outfit from TNA 3), or some sort of jumpsuit.

He did end up deciding on a dress because a pants suit isn't exactly practical for the garter toss they wanted to do. He wanted a mix between elegant and sexy for his dress, and decided to forgo a blazer and tie too because he preferred the dress as it is.

In general, Aiden wanted to look and feel like an absolute ethereal special beautiful sexy GODDESS on his wedding day. Because let's be real, he is an absolute ethereal special beautiful sexy GODDESS, and he absolutely DESERVES to feel like one.

Bonus because why the hell not: My old designs for them. I liked them at first but eventually I just wasn't vibing with the hairstyles; Evie's looked too neat and corporate and did not go with those glasses, and Aiden's looked too blocky. Also the belt on Evie's suit is pretty, but I think she'd quickly start to find it too clunky. Also Aiden's skirt looked too thick and clunky in the original and it looks much better in RJ's art.

Bonus 2 because why the hell not: an older design for Aiden's wedding dress. I initially didn't like how the liquify tool made the dress come out, but revisiting it now... it's actually pretty decent to me. I may hold onto it for a different event.

Bonus 3 because why not: even older, more prototype Aidevie wedding designs, from 2021. My editing skills were very beginner level at the time. A friend of mine did the recoloring for Evie's outfit. I do still kinda like the idea of Aiden having a flower crown veil, not sure I can see Evie wearing a veil tho.

Do they follow any familiar, cultural, and/or religious traditions at any point of the wedding? Which traditions were important to them? Which ones did they skip?

They kept a lot of basic conventional wedding traditions, but with many of the gender-based ones they had, they'd have the roles reversed.

Aiden is the one walking down the aisle while Evie is the one waiting at the altar.

Both of them are carrying a bouquet, but only Aiden is doing a bouquet toss. Evie is holding onto hers.

Evie is the one tossing Aiden's garter.

Evie is the one bridal-carrying Aiden out of the venue and into their new home. Their first dance was a role-reversal of traditional waltz/ballroom as well (as is all their waltz/ballroom dances).

Evie and Aiden would also incorporate a few traditions from their own cultures, but role-reverse those too as fitting. Eg. IIRC there's a tradition in Chinese culture where the bride's new shoes can't touch the ground until she gets to their new home, so naturally Evie and Aiden would do a reversal of this and carry Aiden to make sure his shoes didn't touch the ground until their new home. Also there may be some sort of dragon-phoenix symbolism incorporated somewhere somehow, where Evie's the dragon and Aiden's the phoenix– though this one is also partly because that's what fits them best, and not just for the sake of role reveresal.

Who was the ringbearer?

Aiden's cat, Meowzart.

Evie's cat Daisy would have joined too, but she hates large crowds. Meowzart is a little more coordinated. But Daisy would still get to wear this little top hat (along with Meowzart wearing the veil)

Who married them?

A Professional Wedding Officiant, probably.

Show us their vows. Did either of them tear up at them?

Aiden, unsure how to properly word his vows, decided to compose a violin song. He has his Maid of Honor bring his violin along and hand it to him when it's time to say vows. He follows his composition with a short speech:

"This particular song was, of course, inspired by you, Evie. My future wife, and my best muse. Specifically, it was inpired by your confidence. Your confidence in me. Even when I would screw up, or had my less favorable moments... you could challenge me, but you never closed the door on me. You never thought lesser of me for... not always understanding you. Or when I would try to communicate through song, when my words just felt wrong. "Which is why I've composed this song for you today. Even now, words don't always come to me so easily, and these vows are no exception... but you've helped me accept that part of myself. You've helped me accept a lot about myself better. And better understand what are the real problems, and what aren't. And understand that those that are real problems... are manageable with you. "The moment I realized for sure that I loved you was when you told me, seven years ago, after my first promposal to you... that because music was important to me, my using it to express my feelings towards you was like me saying you were important to me. And it's vastly changed my perspective. "I love you, Evie Ayana. And I promise to maintain this all for you. To maintain my confidence and love for you just as you have for me. To work through our difficulties together. To always value the influence you have had and still have in my life, and to be– to continue to be– a fantastic person and now husband to you. You are important to me, you deserve only the best. And I want to continue to be that for you."

Evie also has a lot of trouble with wording her vows at first, but then has an easier time when she learns that employing narrative can be a common and pretty significant feature of wedding vows. So she decides to base hers around the story of when they first confessed their love to each other at prom.

"I remember, about seven years ago, when you first told me you loved me at our first prom. I was... elated, flattered, so, so excited, that you loved me just as I loved you. But at the same time, I was also... a little terrified. Terrified... that that love could end. Terrified that I'd end up doing something to hurt you, and destroy that love. There had even been a few disagreements before that, where I... was worried I'd hurt you, or that I'd overstepped. As well a few times where I was upset with you, where I felt you did something that you shouldn't have. "And yet, you said you love me anyway. And I said I love you as well. But what did that mean? That we were never going to disagree or be upset with each other ever again? "No. If we thought like that... well, where would we draw the line on what constitutes... a lack of love? Do we just never challenge each other ever in order to have real love for each other? Do we end things just because one of us so much as doesn't understand something the same way? "Even though disagreements were not (and still are not) commonplace for us, it was (and is) still evident that... they are inevitable in good, strong relationships. In even the best relationships So why did I still say 'I love you', even with my fear that it could be ruined, that it'd almost been ruined before, that our love was not real? Because in a way, sunconsciously, I figured... there may be a few reasons here and there that I might get upset with you. But there are a thousand more reasons for me to love you. And maybe that's what makes it real. "Perhaps, when we said 'I love you' to each other, we implicitly made an understanding. An understanding... that we probably wouldn't just be unwaveringly enamored with each other for eternity, but understanding to... accept... that imperfections and rocks and bumps... will be inevitable in our relationship. Understanding that you and I are people who can and will figure out how to work through those rocks and bumps in the appropriate manner, however it may be. Understanding that we... trust each other, but also can't be afraid to challenge each other when it matters. Understanding that not only would we have a lot of positives in their relationship, but also that any negatives in out relationships would be things we can and will do our best to work around. "By that point, I had known you well enough that I could decide... yes, Aiden Zhou, you are someone with whom I can manage the rocks and bumps with. You are just such an amazing person, and my life has only improved with you in it. I value you. I trust you. I love you. And after seven more years, I've gotten to know you even more, and my opinion holds even stronger because of that. "Within those following seven years that have passed since then, I've come to realize that that is the understanding we have of each other. Not just in our love declarations... but in almost every relationship milestone we've had. Every time we've come back together after either of us screws something up. Every time we say 'I love you' to each other. It's that understanding that keeps us going, that has always kept us going. "And today, our marriage... is simply an extension, a larger-step continuation, of that understanding. "Aiden Zhou... I love you. And I promise you that I mean everything that comes with it."

Did they tear up at each other's vows... do I even need to answer that? You know they both did.

Did anyone oppose the marriage? Did they speak then, or did they just forever hold their peace?

If anyone did oppose, we wouldn't know if they did or who they were. They forever held their peace, as they damn well should!

What was the ceremony/reception like? Any highlights?

After the ceremony, the reception went as follows:

First is their first dance as newlyweds. Aiden composed and recorded the song for it and kept it a surprise until now. Evie absolutely loses her shit over it.

Next is dinner and cake. Aiden and Evie fed each other the cake. No smashing it in each other's faces because that's messy and annoying however Aiden had a different kind of cake he was gonna smash into Evie's face, and they saved the wedding topper statue as a decorative commemorative ornament.

Next is toasts and roasts. Michael roasted the absolute fuck out of the newlyweds. Scott gave a very pun-infused speech. Emma read out some prose she wrote for them. Ezra and Myra performed a ballad they made for them. Glen and Bridget gave a very emotionally charged (in a positive way) speech about how far they've come since the Isa incident and how proud they were of their son. And possibly many more that I can't think of right now.

After that is the bouquet and garter tosses. Michael caught the bouquet (Evie was reluctant to let him keep those pretty summery orange flowers). Maria caught the garter (Aiden was reluctant to let her keep that lovely sexy accessory, even though he did keep a backup for their wedding night). Evie also almost tried to pull the garter off Aiden's leg with her teeth, until she remembered that both of them had family members there.

Last, is the actual party. Aiden and Evie made sure to have a variety of activities set up such as dancing, video games, karaoke, crafts, etc. A very exciting and vibrant night for everyone.

What about something that was uniquely ‘them’?

Their blend of aesthetics to have something vibrant and grand and exiting but not overwhelming. The insane variety of flowers. Their vows. And also how very shamelessly deliberately GNC their wedding was.

What’s their favorite memory of the day?

They can't really choose just one memory. Aiden is particularly fond of the songs he composed, though.

Did anyone pass out from a food/alcohol coma?

I don't think so, no.

Not food related, though, but Aiden will certainly be very stuffed by the end of the night :DDD

Do they have a honeymoon? Where to? How soon after?

First they spent one week in a suite of their wedding venue hotel. It's a very lovely hotel, plus they wanted a week to just go straight to their room and chill before heading out on a plane. There was a fair amount of sexy time and jacuzzi extortion, especially on the wedding night itself, but most of it was them relaxing and cuddling in bed, watching favorite movies, etc.

Next, they spent a week in a beachy/summery resort in Las Vegas. They wanted at least one part of the honeymoon to have full summer getaway vibes. 50% of their vacation was spent going swimming in the hotel pools, and the other 50% was very intense sexy time + extortion of the shower and jacuzzi.

They spent the final week in London, England, in the same hotel that they stayed at for the Spotlite trip in HSS:CA 3. Partly because they both like it there and partly because of the memory of going to Spotlite that was very important to them. This part of the honeymoon is lower on the sexy time, somewhat higher on the chill/relax time, with a lot of exploring of the city.

Do they renew their vows? Remarry, even?

I think they might do vow renewal on major milestone anniversaries (10 years, 25 years, 50 years, etc).

If the couple could describe their wedding in a sentence, how would they?

Grand, whimscal, ethereal, and shamelessly genderqueer as fuck.

If you could describe their wedding in a sentence, how would you?

Grand, whimscal, ethereal, and shamelessly genderqueer as fuck.

[kittycatred]

watching your process with making the ghost live is honestly kinda amazing-

AWWHWH THANK YOU SO MUCH ???? (sorry im using this as an excuse to ramble now about my story stuff for this blog :3)

ive been half worried that its too obvious im making it up as i go or that i dont have anything planned for it, and i actually nearly held off on this arc for a bit longer

cause around the beginning of this blog, right around when i started the minecraft saga is when i had the idea of "ooh red's been possessed twice in canon, i should make them possessed again on the blog !!"

and fun fact: after the cave saga, i half debated on keeping red in minecraft longer, and finding a portal that then took them back to monster school, and i half debated on would herobrine possess them again ?? but i was super unsure so i had red go home, and because that saga i just wanted it to end at that point lmaoo

and ive had the idea, until yesterday with the rain in red's room i was trying to think of a way to make it go away without just "oh it randomly went away" just cause i like to be silly with stuff if i can think of it !! then i thought "ooh this would be a perfect setup for the possession stuff !!!"

and i was trying to figure out what could possess red, i considered herobrine but like i said ooc in tags a bit ago he's semi canonically redeemed, or atleast not an active threat from helping with fighting king and being a teacher at monster school and i had no idea how to spin that around (and...i dont know how id roleplay herobrine too LMAO)

i considered minecraft mobs, not any specific ones, but because of the cave arc red wouldnt be going in minecraft alone for awhile and it wouldnt make sense for a random mob to show up so that wasnt done

so then i thought....hmmm what if i make a ghost character ??? no plans, just a ghost stick figure, that possesses red, except in contrast to how red types and red's personality, ill make them kinda like a polar opposite to red ??

that was my ONLYYYY BASIS

and like red i can be impulsive so i went with it

annnd....wanna know another secret ?? :3

these posts ( 1 2 3 4 ) WERE ALL IMPROVED. ENITRELY.

all i knew was "okay red's gonna meet the ghost, and gain enough trust with it to sleep and then the ghost will possess him"

literally after i drew one thing, i had no plan i just kept trying to base off "hmm what can i do heree ??" and same with the dialogue (that im too scared to reread because i made all that at midnight and i glanced and saw one grammar mistake but i dont wanna remake those posts or edit themmm sooo </3)

but it wasnt until the 3rd post where i had the idea of ghostie pointing out red's insecurities as to why theyd make the deal in the first place, because in the post of red talking about being a cat in response to cho's ask, they were a little vulnerable at the end and were all "i hated it because i was coddled !! not cause i hate the attention but i want to be capable of myself !!" sorta thing until they switched topics instantly thats another idea i wanted, of diving deep into red's insecurities but i didnt wanna repeat of "reds all nighter crashout" as to seeing red's thoughts so i decided to mash those concepts together :3

another scrapped idea i had, was building off of red's whole "floaty hands and anon things ?? im either crazy or these are ghosts !!" and i nearly had "ghostie" talk to red at first in the form of asks, since you can send asks to yourself, but i felt like that would get confusing that its a character im playing and not an actual anon

and building off of that idea aside from the anon asks part, i almost had ghostie try to "befriend" red at first, and then red would open up to them throughout the night and then theyd offer the "i can help with that!!" then possess them the next morning

buuut im really glad that my direction with making ghostie a character is going well !!! because it is entirely improved from the second i start typing LMAO

which, i do improv alot for red !! given it is a roleplay blog alongside askblog, but i am just super glad im not fumbling too bad with improving and ENTIREEE CHARACTER as i go :'D

this is. a very huge ramble my bad.

but as you can tell i think ALOT about this blog, and even though it is quite literally in character for red anyways, once i finish one story/arc thing i always try to come up with the next thing, even if it means improving as i go like if i didnt go with this arc, the other plan i had was involving the monster school students, i 100% want to have red interact with them sometime still, i just 1) dunno how to draw them easy enough to redraw alot and 2) i dunno how to roleplay as them YET. but im so glad i finally got to do the possession arc AND also have red face their insecurities, because the thing about red, or how i write them here, is they will be avoidant as EVER in expressing sappy deep emotions, but in the way of "everythingggg is fineee wooo!!!" sorta thing or brushing them off, thats why for me to deep dive into red's thoughts i had to have them pull an all nighter last time /silly

quite honestly 80% of this blog is me looking at past little things here and stringing them together like one of those conspiracy bulletin boards, but its so fun to just improv build off of prior things, which i was SUUPER hesitant on at the start of this blog but now its just super fun for me !!! literally ill go around thinking of how to incorporate as much as i can to tie everything together on this blog, the only thing i havent been able to do that with is the ruben's lead bodysuit saga a LOOONG while back but ill probably come up with something or how to end that, since rocketcorp isnt so much of a threat anymore ?? for now atleast. but ill figure that out sometime

OKAY ILL ACTUALLY END THE RAMBLE HERE THOUGH sorry i just. think alot. BUT IM SO GLAD YOU LIKE HOW IM IMPROVING GHOST !! :3

[bythestedeside]

In honour of Venom: The Last Dance, here is a piece I made after the trailer came out and I became (rightly) obsessed with Venom horse. JUST LOOK AT HIMMMMMM

2 pics bc slightly different editing making it look better in one place or the other 🖤 🖤 🖤

A few thoughts about tld below the cut if that's Ur thing:

Last chance for no spoilers but Hiiiiiii if you're here these are in no particular order 😘🥰👄🫦👅🧠

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.

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I LOVE THAT THEY USED DON'T STOP ME NOW BY QUEEN for the first half of this scene I'm fully in love with everything about that

ALLL THE VENOM ANIMALS the fish and the frog in the movie proper and all the ones in the credits I'm obsessedddddddd!!

HOW HAS IT ONLY BEEN A YEAR MOVIE TILE THAT THEY'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER WTF

I love that family in the movie I hope they're okay after all that and I hc that Eddie got/gets a hold of them at some point and tells them he's okay and about Venom --or-- Venom comes back to Eddie via that tube from Mexico and Eddie and Venom get to be part of the family

I'm kinda sad we didn't get Anne and Dan but like I should've expected since they hadn't been talked about in the run up to the movie but I love that Mrs.Chan got to have that sparkling shining moment before shot hit the fan

Did Mrs.Chen give them chocolate or meat or potatoes or whatever his diet is now,I hope so, I don't think Eddie's eaten since, well last movie really unless he gets sustenance from the heads they eat???

All the shoe changes and the way there were only like 3 main outfit changes for Eddie going throughout

I WILL MISS U FOREVER VENOM I HOPE THIS IS REALLY A FOR NOW GOODBYE

I'm ride or die for Martin,Nova Moon,Echo, and Leaf I love y'all I love your VAN IT'S PRETTY beeee my bffls pls can I be the 3rd child

Singing Bowie and Eddie was so embarrassed lol

Leaf giving Eddie chocolate awwww Venom was so happy about it later

Eddie telling Leaf aliens weren't real and Vee supporting him saying that awwwww then having to tell him they're real and Vee introducing himself this is so wholesome

Eddie u looked so pretty in the van with the fireworks reflecting in the window

Martin got the full F Bomb this movie but Eddie has some close calls

I don't fully get the codex stuff tbh I don't know all the lore

Do all these symbiotes have comic equivalents I wanna know y'all's names Ur all coolllllll

I'm ded bc of all the family talk this is how Dylan and Sleeper can still win, I kinda thought that could've maybe happened when that guy was at Eddie's hospital bedside

He went to nyc and saw Lady Liberty FOR VENOM 😭😭😭

Ok that's all can think of for now love u and I loved this movie too byeeeee

[t0ta1n3cromanc3r239]

Hate You, Love Him

A Duck Life fanfic written by myself and @captain-blue027, detailing some of Scott and Oli’s emotional turmoil throughout Duck Life.

Hate You, Love Him (Duck Life) (2414 words) by Captain_Blue, T0ta1N3cromanc3r239 Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: duck life, Life Series | 3rd Life SMP Series, Empires SMP, Minecraft (Video Game) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Scott Major | Smajor1995 & Oli | TheOrionSound, Scott Major | Smajor1995/Oli | TheOrionSound, can be read as romantic or platonic - Relationship Characters: Scott Major | Smajor1995, Oli | TheOrionSound, Jimmy | Solidarity Additional Tags: CHARACTERS NOT CONTENT CREATORS, Not Beat Read, Duck Life - Freeform, Elf Scott Major | Smajor1995, Bard Oli | TheOrionSound, human oli | theorionsound, Oli | TheOrionSound Needs a Hug, Scott Major | Smajor1995-centric, POV Scott Major | Smajor1995, POV Oli | TheOrionSound, can be read as romantic or platonic, Character Death, Canary Jimmy | Solidarity, Jimmy | Solidarity's Canary Curse, Cuddling & Snuggling Series: Part 5 of Captain_Blue collaborates, Part 1 of N3cro’s Co-Created Works Summary: “Welcome to Duck Life, the 6 ½ installment of the Life Series, where we have three lives. When you have all three lives, your name is green, and you’re a duck. Ducks have the goal to cause chaos as much as possible. Once you lose your first life, your name turns yellow, and you become a duckling. Ducklings are smaller than normal, about a block and a half tall, and have the goal to maintain peace unless attacked. Finally, when you have one life left, your name turns red. Red lives are known as geese, and have the intent to cause as much chaos and conflict as possible. Geese are two and a half blocks tall. This one’s going to be wild, so let’s jump in.” -♡- Scott and Oli both have two goals in mind. 1: Keep Jimmy alive at all costs. 2: Kill the other at all costs. It's a little hard when you have been chasing each other over the sever, pulling Jimmy away from tnt traps and running from others. Exhausting, even. or, Scott and Oil snuggle, a Duck Life fic.

[sag-dab-sar]

Mesopotamian Equinox Festivals: Akiti/Akitu(m)

𒀉𒆠𒋾

Akiti is the Sumerian word for this festival while Akitu(m) is the Akkadian word. (Link)

⭐️ Note: The Akitu festival was revived by the ethnic Assyrian people during the 20th century to celebrate their New Year starting on April 1st (Info: link)

⭐️ I wrote this so even if you only worship one Mesopotamian God it might be helpful

The source for this post is The Cultic Calendars of the Ancient Near East 1993 by Mark Cohen (Link) Its sprinkled throughout the book but there is also a dedicated chapter starting at page 400.

🌷 History 🍁

The original Akiti festival developed at Ur. They took place within the first and seventh months of the year. Months began on the first visible crescent following the new moon. The Akiti festival would coincide with the month that followed spring and fall equinox meaning the first waxing moon after each equinox. For Ur this was month 1 and month 7.

It would begin at the 1st and go through the 5th (or 7th) of the month in the spring. In the fall it goes through the 1st to the 11th of the month.

It celebrated the triumphant return of Nanna, the city's primary patron God, to the city he claimed and symbolized all the activities he would do as a ruler to put his city in order. The proper preformance of this festival would assure that the God put society in order and establishes a good fate for the city and its inhabitants.

The waxing moon at the beginning of the month had two symbols first the shape of the moon signified the shape of the boat Nanna was returning in, second as the moon fills more and more Nanna is literally physically returning.

The Akiti festival was exported and in many places became associated with the return of their city's God. But when exported the date changed depending on location and sometimes it was incorporated into local festivals.

The ancient festival survived for over 2000 years. The earliest mention being in the middle of the third millennium BCE (3000-2001 BCE) to at least 689 BCE but was apparently also recorded during the Seleucid period which conquered Babylon in 331 BCE.

It was very important to say the least. And it seems during ancient times the underlying premise stayed the same: the triumph of a city or empire's main God and the securing of good fate and blessings for the next half year.

A common aspect was the God (idol) physically dwelling in an "Akiti house" that was usually built outside the city and then the God returning to their temple. The priests would make sure proper normal offerings and rites are preformed at the Akiti house. Both parts included a procession, with the return procession being more opulent.

🌷Today 🍁

So. How on earth does one celebrate this in the 3rd millennium CE?

A few ideas:

🔹 Maintain the oldest, "original", tradition. A celebration of Nanna being triumphant and organizing society.

However, that was very Ur center and didn't necessarily equate with anywhere else in Sumer. The festival was transferred to Nippur, the Sumerian city with the greatest religious significance as the city if Enlil.

🔹Celebrate the Nippur festival because of its Sumerian religious importance

Which took place during the 4th and 12th month breaking it away from any equinox associations. It was then incorporated into pre-existing Nippur festival in Šunumun based on the "Disputation of the Plow and the Hoe (Link)" & Šekinku's celebration of the Barley Harvest. Nippur also has the best calendar to reconstruct from as it survived in later calendars, so some Sumerian polytheist groups stick to this calendar.

🔹Celebrate Another City's festival

Many cities had them, in the book to find others you have to go through each city's calendar in the book.

For example:

--Uruk Festival

Which took place at least during the 8th month to Anu, who is the highest God his name meaning Heaven and the divine marker.

--Badtibara Festival

Took place during the 7th month to Dumuzid in conjunction with "Elūlu celebration"

🔹Celebrate the festival as triumphant of the Gods of Earth rather than any city.

To adapt it to 21st century CE and a globally connected world. This could be An, heaven & sky, as the highest God; Enlil King of the Gods; or Enki as the world order-er, as commissioned by Enlil, in one myth. It probably depends on which time period you take from and whom you consider King or the highest God in relation to all of Earth.

🔹Other personalized form. Hopefully the rest of post helps you figure that out.

🌷 Aspects Of Festival 🍁

🔸Festival meaning itself:

Key ancient aspects:

A high ranking God "returning" (historically to their tutelary city) and establishing order within a city.

Gratitude to the God for their presence, protection, and good will in the past half year.

Securing good prosperity and fate by the proper celebration of that deity for the next half year.

Some modern concepts you might apply:

Return in their "sphere of influence." Enki as fresh water. Nisaba as grain/food. Utu as justice/judicial process / the sun. So on.

Return in a worshiper's life.

Return in a worshiper's home.

Celebration of a God establishing order, prosperity and/or protection.

🔸Timing:

🌒 The date in the lunisolar calendar is fixed by the day directly following the New Moon. Normally this would be when the first waxing crescent is visible to the naked eye but I use a moondial app. Mesopotamian Months To Determine the Date Link

First waxing crescent after the Spring Equinox & First waxing crescent after the Fall Equinox. This aligns with the 1st & 7th month of ancient Ur calendar

4th & 12th month of ancient Nippur calendar.

Spring & Fall equinox — Solar only

1st of the Gregorian month the equinox occurs in. Combines the civic month + equinox idea to the modern Gregorian calendar.

🔸Length of festival:

5-7 days in Spring & 11 days in Fall — Reconstructionist

1-2 days — to allow for two processions.

1 day

🔸Which God:

I've included their primary ancient cities

Nanna, Original festival, Good of Moon | Ur

An, Highest God Heaven | Uruk

Enlil, King of the Gods | Nippur

Enki, Order of Society specifically from the myth "Enki & the World Order (Link)" where Enlil commissions him to do so | Eridu

Inana, Goddess of all fertility on Earth. Many other aspects based on time & location | Uruk

Šamaš, God of the Sun and all Justice | Sippar

Marduk, Babylonian Empire's Akitu festival | Babylonia

Aššur, Assyrian Empire's Akitu festival | Aššur

[City/Empire God], if you reconstruct from a specific different Mesopotamia city or empire. Particularly if the God is exalted as establishing order in the city or empire. For example: Ninisina in Isin, Ninurta in Girsu— but these don't necessarily have historical associated Akitu festivals that are documented.

[God of your choice] while this removes it from its historical foundation it may make the celebration more applicable to your life. If you are a Mesopotamian polytheist or pagan I highly encourage you to pick one of the high Gods of the pantheon. But I thought I'd put this out there— especially for eclectics or non-Mesopotamian polytheists/pagans who want to worship a specific Mesopotamian God (Diĝir) in a symbolically proper way.

Additional Gods:

Gods in that God's retinue

Gods in the main God's family

Gods from the temple the idol was taken from and/or temples involved in the festival of that city (for example in Ur it was celebrated across 3 temples)

None

🔸Offerings:

Offerings based on the ancient lists given specifically for the festival. This might be significantly impossible but instead of slaughtering a sheep or a cow you could replace it with a serving of lamb or beef.

Historically accurate offerings. Can be Sumerian based or local based. (Link.)

Offerings of seasonal themed foods especially those local to your area— spring & fall.

Low Spoon / No Spoon libations (Link)

🌷Ritual & Activities🍁

I have written this to help guide a modern celebration [I don't have the energy to create a revivalist style 5-7 day festival this year. Some can be found elsewhere online by other revivalist/reconstructionist groups]

🌼Ritual

▪️You could attempt to take the ritual instructions we have from other ancient cities that wrote about the Akiti/Akitu festivals. The information is out there but probably hard to find if you aren't an Assyriologist. The book does provide offering lists to temples and other instructions for Akiti festivals spread throughout the book when discussing particular calendars.

▪️Ritual based on basic ideas of ancient purpose:

Finding a spot to place main God's representation away from their shrine/altar. This is the Akiti house.

Procession of main God's representation to that spot from their normal shrine/altar

There was lamentation & signs of grief about the absence of the God while they dwell 'away from their city'. The idol was so important in Mesopotamian practice that its absence could be the literal absence of the God, hence why idols were often stolen during war (Source Link). Thus when the representation is in the Akiti house you may express your sadness at the deity's absence.

Letting the main God's representation dwell there for a time, maybe an hour or overnight or a few days depending on length of festival. Libations and offerings are still given to the God at this location.

Procession back to altar after spending time in the Akiti house. A very joyous experience.

Offerings to the newly arrived deity and any additional deities. Also libations if you want.

Prayer of praise and of gratitude for their arrival.

Prayers of supplication for prosperity and protection.

Music, dance, poetry, hymns, reading a story, presenting art— anything that would entertain the God.

▪️Much shorter version:

Have the God representation on altar.

Take and walk around the room or your home to represent them "leaving."

Pause half way through the walk.

When paused proclaim that you miss the God.

Then walk back returning the representation to the altar

Proclaim your gratitude for the God returning to their altar.

Prayers of gratitude for their protection, their role, their meaning, etc. Prayers of supplication for the next 6 months.

Small offering and/or libation.

▪️Hidden / In the Closet Version:

Not so obvious representation— jar candle, piece of jewelry like a bracelet, small nicknack that won't be questioned.

Keeping that item closed away / packed away purposefully representing Akiti house.

Wear it or keep it out in open the next day to represent the "returning"

Think "[God name] thank you for your presence"

Say an offering prayer/ offering intention in your head before a meal. (Also see low spoon offering post above)

Listen to music, play game, or some other activity "with" the God.

▪️Zero Spoon / No energy Version

Say goodnight to the God one day (Akiti house)

Saying good morning to the God when you wake up next day (The arrival at the city)

Say thank you to them when you take a bite of food or sip of liquid saying "for [God name], thank you for being here" (See Low Spoon Offering post for other possibilities)

🌼Activities:

Create an altar specifically for this festival.

Meal for the festival!

Give a plate to the God in an empty spot on the table or place it before them at their altar. Mesopotamian offerings are eaten afterward.

Doing tasks that help bring order to your life. Clean closet, organize desk, pick up room etc.

Try something new you haven't done before

Any activities to entertain the Gods.

Going out to do fun activities to rejoice in this renewal.

This is a New Year (half year), so anything you might associate with renewal or review.

[aloneinthehellfire]

Chapter Five: Unrequited Lover's Lake (Part One)

The Pariahs That Saved The World [Masterlist]

Word Count: 1.6k

Warnings: mentions of death, vecna's curse, horror flashback (violence)

[A/N: So I've decided to split this chapter in half mostly because I've disappeared lately. I am so sorry I haven't been updating as usual, I have had two rounds of completely different illness (both being types of flu lmao) and I am still recovering but in a much better place than I was! I'll keep everyone updated but as for now, here's the first half of a chapter I promised you guys agessss ago]

Unrequited Lover's Lake (Part One)

“Oh, boom!” Steve suddenly shouts out and Robin watches him push through some bushes, rolling her eyes. “Bada bing, bada boom. There she is, Henderson. Skull Rock.”

“Doesn’t make sense.” Dustin mutters as she and Nancy push through the leaves, looking up at the famous Skull Rock in all of its glory. Robin never really saw the appeal of this place.

“It’s just a dumb rock.” She murmurs out loud and Nancy hums in agreement, looking around.

The leaves rustle again and Robin watches as you and Max step through, sharing a look as she gestures to your face. You quickly turn, raising your hand, and when you turn back, you’re sending a grateful smile and walking away. Robin frowns at the interaction. Were you crying?

“Yeah, yeah. Even with it staring you in the face, you can’t admit it.” Steve boasts, placing his hands on his hips. “You just can’t admit that you’re wrong, you little butthead.”

“I concur.”

You all spin around to where someone had jumped down, a smirk on his face.

“You, Dustin Henderson, are a total butthead.” Eddie announces and the boy goes running to him.

“Jesus, we thought you were a goner.”

“Yeah, me too, man. Me too.” Eddie sighs, patting him on the back. He catches someone else’s eye, pulling away and grinning. “As I live and breathe, Y/n is that you?”

“Couldn’t stay out of trouble just this once?” You chuckle as you share a hug, laughing when he tries to pick you up. “We went to the boathouse, what the hell happened?”

Nothing could really prepare you for what he had to say.

From Jason and his gang finding him, to watching poor Patrick suddenly float out of the water, you all stood around him in silence. You felt the sickening feeling creep up throughout your body until it was stuck in your throat, lurking as a reminder of what you’ve let yourself walk back into.

“Excuse me.” You say to Nancy, brushing against her arm so you could walk away from the group, breathing heavily.

You heard their continued conversations as you leant against a tree, a few steps into the thick expanse of trees, just in their view. Your skin was crawling with goosebumps, your spine shivering under the stress of the situation. You thought you were ready for this, that you could help them and save the people you loved in the process. But you didn’t manage it last time. How was this any different?

July 3rd, 1985

“Nancy…” You shake your head at her as you slowly start walking backwards down the hallway.

“Just stay in position, Y/n.” She hisses at you from behind and you trust her, you really do. But she was foolish to think you were the right person for this.

“I can’t.” You whisper back, tears falling down your face. The lights overhead start to flicker and you grip the metal pole in your hand tighter, praying he doesn’t walk around the corner, that it was all a misunderstanding.

“Just a little longer.” She promises, her soothing voice holding more worth to you than she knows. If only you had seen her face.

Two loud footsteps echo out from around the corner and you hold your breath, waiting for the man to show himself and force every fibre of your body not to run. But it wasn’t him. It was Tom Holloway, Heather’s father, and he was smiling at you.

“Ah, Y/n.” He clicks his neck, smirking, “I knew I’d find you here.”

You shake your head. It wasn’t meant to be him. He was supposed to be dead.

“It’s such a shame no one checked to see if they finished the job.” He laughs, pulling a scalpel you hadn’t even seen protruding from his neck, shrugging when no blood comes rushing out. “Someone should really go check on that poor boy, though. Such a wuss.”

“Nancy.” You try and whisper, but you hear nothing back, only the echo of her retreating footsteps as she rushes to find her boyfriend. You understood, you really did, but you’ve never felt so scared.

“Just the two of us, now.” He clears his throat, walking forward with intent and you hold out the pole. “That won’t do anything.”

“Stay back.” You cry out, noticing how dark the black veins were appearing now. Was Heather like this too? “I’m warning you.”

“Or what? You’ll trick me?” He laughs maniacally, stopping just short of you reaching the end of the hall, the corner just behind you. “Or should I say… us?”

Your eyes widen, but it’s too late. A sharp and searing pain digs into your shoulder and you scream, dropping your only weapon out of shock and jolting forward. You stumble, cradling your shoulder as you spin around on the floor, another pair of soulless eyes staring down at you. A sob leaves your lips.

“Dad?”

“Join us.”

Everything about that day still feels like a nightmare, to the point where you nearly convince yourself none of it was real. Not Tom tricking you, or your father becoming one of those monsters. Especially not Nancy leaving you behind. But that scar etched into your skin reminds you it was all very real. Your dad was dead, Nancy had left you to die, and you were lucky you ever escaped.

You take a deep breath, smoothing your hair away from your face. There wasn’t time for your breakdown right now. Max needed you. The sooner you figured it all out, the sooner this would be over.

Something snaps in the woods behind you and you assume someone has walked over, making you turn with a ready-made lie on your tongue. Except, no one was there.

You weren’t even in the woods anymore.

Robin rubbed her eyes as Steve and Dustin disputed over yet another absurd argument she didn’t fully wrap her head around, watching in amusement as it bounced back and forth between them. This time, Dustin was convinced his compass wasn’t wrong and for once, she was on Steve’s side. It made literally no sense.

“So you’re using faulty equipment.” Steve exasperated. “You’re still wrong!”

“Except it isn’t faulty.” Dustin says and Steve groans, throwing his hands up. “Lucas, do you remember what can affect a compass?”

Lucas ponders for a moment before his eyes widen. “An electromagnetic field.”

“Yep.” Dustin looks at everyone else expectedly and Robin furrows her brows.

“I’m sorry, I must’ve skipped that class.”

“In the presence of a stronger electromagnetic field, the needle will deflect towards that power.” Dustin explains, motioning to the woods with his hand. “So either there’s some super big magnet around here, or…”

“There’s a gate.” Lucas concludes and Robin’s eyes widen.

“But we’re nowhere near the lab.” Nancy says and Dustin nods at her.

“But what if, somehow, there’s another gate? A gate that we don’t know about. It’d have to be smaller. Way less powerful.”

“Snack-size gate.” Robin offers and he clicks his finger at her.

“All I know if that something is causing this disturbance, and the last time we’ve seen anything like it, it was a gate. And I hope it is, because then we’d have a way to Vecna. And a shot at freeing Max from this curse.”

And with that Dustin turns around and starts walking, making Robin bat at Steve’s arm until he took notice too.

“Wha- Oh, where are you going? Hey, hey, hey-” He calls out for attention and Dustin unwillingly stops, looking back at him. “Eddie’s still a wanted man. We can’t just go for a hike in the woods.”

“This little steel capsule might be the key to saving both Max and Eddie. What say you, Eddie the Banished?” Dustin asks and Robin smirks, looking to you to share in her amusement. She blinks. You weren’t there.

She looks around again as Eddie responds, frowning like she might just be going blind.

“Uh, guys?” She tries, but her voice seems distant as she peers around the rock, through the trees, anywhere.

“So Mordor it is.” Eddie finally decides, shrugging when Steve looks at him weird.

“Guys!” She finally raises her voice and they all look at her inquisitively, noting her worried face. “Where’s Y/n?”

“She was just…” Nancy motions over to where you were just stood by the tree. The look on her face made Robin’s stomach plummet. “Y/n?”

Everyone starts looking around, shouting out for you, but they don’t hear any kind of response. Robin and Nancy venture further in, calling your name like you might just walk towards them completely fine. But Robin knew from the pit in her stomach that wasn’t the case. She just can’t believe she didn’t notice you had disappeared.

“Robin!” Nancy suddenly calls and Robin runs over as quickly as she can, careful not to trip up on protruding tree roots as she joins her.

The girl is knelt on the ground, holding a body and for a second her heart stops. It’s you.

And then you blink, looking a little dazed.

“I just saw her collapse.” Nancy says, her voice shaking. “Robin, look.”

She looks to where her friend is pointing and her breath hitches, slowly letting herself sink to the ground as you finally mutter a few words from lips beneath a crimson nosebleed.

“The gate.” You whisper out, trying to sit up and grabbing Robin’s arm when you felt weak. “I know… I know where the gate is.”

Robin meets Nancy’s fearful eye, her blood running cold. She hated to admit it, but all the signs were pointing to one thing and one thing only.

Vecna had cursed you, too.

taglist: @kryztalglear . @dejerw . @officerrrfriendly . @a-simpfortessa-lesbriean . @spacedoutdaydreamer . @endurexxsurvive . @em16cor . @gray-cheese . @chaosofmanyfandoms . @kitdjarin1 . @some-day--some-how @cultish-corner

[usedpidemo]

a tale of two (concert) halves... (storytime!)

I've made it clear over the past few updates that my real life struggles have really backed us into a corner. If the first half of 2024 was on hard difficulty, the second half has so far been on brutal. Personal relationships are falling apart, our physical health has been going through hell, and our finances are struggling to keep up with ever increasing debts. As much as I am a man of faith, I do struggle with maintaining such devout trust on the daily, because I am afraid of the worst.

But even during these tough times, it's comforting to know I won't be left for dead, and I can still find enjoyment in them.

Not gonna lie, I thought I would never attend a concert this year. IVE was coming back after a little over a year, but I didn't have money for it (and is something I still struggle to move on from). ITZY was coming back less than eight months when I saw them, but no Lia, and the ticket selling was insanely early (fuck you Live Nation). The only other girl group I think came here was fromis_9, which I still would love to see, but that was for a festival, so the setlist was extremely limited—and it was during finals week, so that was not gonna happen. There's just been an overall downturn of concerts compared to last year, so whether or not this is a good thing, you decide. (Seriously, no aespa, no (G)I-DLE, no NMIXX, etc.)

However—here comes Red Velvet, one of the holy trinity of 3rd gen girl groups (TwicePinkVelvet), celebrating their 10th anniversary with an Asia tour. By some miracle, I got a stimulus check two months ahead of my birthday, and yet it was still a hard decision, because I wasn't sure if other girl groups would also tour near the end of the year. Looking at what's to come for the last quarter of the year, I highly doubt it and 2025 is sure to be stacked, so it all paid off in retrospect.

It was a completely different experience than the first two outings. For one, it was fucking standing floor over seated, so I knew my body would be put through the torture rack. Second was the unpredictability of where I would end up—thankfully it wasn't first come first serve where I would be forced to camp early (which by the way, concert campers are disgusting and should be arrested). Still, my positioning would depend on my queuing number (which in itself was dependent on when you would buy your ticket, and obviously unless you got into the site as soon as it loaded up, the earlier), and while it wasn't completely shit—it still meant that a majority would get their preferred spot over mines.

Cut to the actual concert day and it was a tale of two halves. The first was the pre-concert, which wasn't all bad at the start—but then there was the queuing before entering the venue. I could have easily waited and taken my sweet time exploring and doing other shit, but I was pressured to queue early out of fear of not getting a good spot. I forgot that since it was queuing numbers, they would rearrange the line anyway, so I never really had a chance lmao. I really shot myself in the foot quite literally by adding an extra two hours standing around.

Everyone in VIP was given a bonus member card, and I didn't end up getting my bias. I tried bartering with other fans, but I absolutely failed. To add insult to injury, everyone else were able to trade and/or get theirs, so that fucking sucks.

It was also the first time I was forced to wear some kind of noise control for my ears. Didn't really have earplugs but Airpods were certainly a nice alternative. Fucking hell—this was the loudest of the three crowds I've ever been a part of, and it doesn't help that the audience would screech and shout out of tune. It was so goddamn annoying. Then you get to the ments/speeches, and they would just fucking bark and make monkey noises while the members were talking, and after performances. I counted a total of 12-14 times this happened throughout, and it never got any better. If the members weren't encouraging the audience, I'd probably have socked someone in the nose out of annoyance at some point.

As for the overall concert itself, I had a blast! I'm not that familiar with Red Velvet's colorful discography, but they performed most of their hits and title tracks (ripperoni Russian Roulette and Chill Kill). Not only that, but the set ran for almost 3 hours (2 hours 50 minutes as they did start like 10 minutes past schedule), and the energy persisted all throughout. Wendy was constantly flaunting her vocals, but Joy. Joy was absolutely fucking insane. Also, the fucking Zimzalabim encore is something everyone needs to experience once in their lifetime.

I wish I could say the pain was all worth it—but of course, life being life, it decides to fuck with me one more fucking time with the middle finger. After the show ended, we were all told to stay in our spots for the send-off event as everyone else were escorted out and the raffle winners from lower seating tiers were pulled in. We waited for 40 minutes, and then the members come out. It should be a cool moment! Except they were led by staff straight to the extended stage for a bit and then they'd get off, completely neglecting the sides, where me and a few others were. They would eventually go around the venue, but by the time we realized what has happening, it was too late—we never got to see them up close properly.

I'll be honest, while I don't feel as bothered thinking about it a few days on, when it happened, it almost ruined the entire experience for me. The organizers/staff had misdirected us and didn't organize properly, so some of us got a lesser experience than those who won the raffle, which is worse for us since we paid more. The send-off treatment here was way—way worse than in Bangkok and Jakarta, and it fucking pisses me off. We can't have shit in this country. I don't blame the girls for it; they were just following instructions and they had a flight to catch shortly after (not to mention they were tired as fuck). Still, the fact I paid so much for that underwhelming send-off experience just reinforces my opinion that hi-touches are simply better. At least everyone gets a fair shot, even if it was very brief. You can't win them all, I guess. I also do believe that it was bound to happen, the first two experiences were near-perfect and flawless in execution, so something had to give to bring me back down to earth.

Nevertheless, even if for just a few hours, it's nice to find some comfort and enjoyment despite the world around me crumbling down. To think that they're 10 years on and still as active as their younger contemporaries in K-pop is astounding. I can see why they're among the most beloved girl groups ever; there's only a handful with equal the talent and discography to match. This was also my first outing with a new camera, and when it was hitting, the shots were fucking hitting.

I really wish Bamboleo was part of the set tho.

[athena-gundampla]

Mobile Suit Gundam: Chronological Watch Order for the Universal Century Timeline

UC 0001

Laplace incident – the Universal Century is declared, and Laplace, the Prime Minister’s residence, is destroyed by terrorists (First few minutes of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010) Episode 1: Day of the Unicorn)

UC 0068

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (2015-2018) Episode 1

UC 0071

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (2015-2018) Episode 2

UC 0074

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (2015-2018) Episode 3 first half

UC 0076

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (2015-2018) Episode 3 second half

UC 0077

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (2015-2018) Episode 4 first half

UC 0078

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (2015-2018) Episode 4 third quarter

UC 0079 (the One Year War):

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (2015-2018) Episode 4 ending, Episode 5 (January 3rd up until January 15th 0079 UC).

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War (2004) Episode 1: Vanishing Serpent of Loum, runs from 4th to 17th January 0079UC.

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (2015-2018) Episode 6 (The Battle of Loum, January 15th-16th 0079; later events in the epilogue scattered throughout the first half of the year).

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front Episodes (2008) Episode 1: Take Out That Angel of Death!, runs from 26th to 27th April 0079UC.

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War (2004) Episode 2: Howls Stained in Dusk, runs from 29th April to 11th May 0079UC.

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front Episodes (2008) Episode 2: Kings of the Jungle, Roll Out!, runs from 21st to 26th July 0079UC.

Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) Episodes 1-15, starts September 18th 0079UC.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island (a movie adaptation of Episode 15), around about late October 0079UC. This is set in the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin timeline, and thus the White Base has already visited Jaburo and all members are officially part of the Earth Federation Forces. The Guntank is replaced by a second Guncannon, Sleggar is present, and Cucuruz Doan's Island is relocated to the Canary Islands rather than Japan, although the event still precedes Operation Odessa.

Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) Episodes 16-25 (up to early November 0079UC)

Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team Episodes 1-11 (October 6th 0079UC up to around 15th November 0079. Starts after 0079 Episode 10 (Garma's death), and finishes sometime after the battle of Odessa during the Zeon Asian Ground Forces retreat)

Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance (2024), runs from November 6th until around about the end of that week, shortly after Operation Odessa and the evacuation of the Zeon Eastern European and Asian Ground Forces. The timeline is a little sketchy as Yuri Kellerne appears in both this and 08th MS Team, but dies in the latter, but the series definitely ends by at most two days after 8th to 9th November and Operation Odessa in Episode 25 of Mobile Suit Gundam (1979).

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front Episodes (2008) Episode 3: Odessa, Storm of Steel!, runs from 8th to 9th November 0079UC, concurrently with Operation Odessa in Episode 25 of Mobile Suit Gundam (1979).

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War (2004) Episode 3: Dance of the Orbital Ghosts, runs from 24th October to 11th November 0079UC.

Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) Episodes 25-35 occur from around November of 0079UC up until the start of December, although there aren't many exact dates for when exactly in the year each episode takes place, although The Battle of Solomon in Episode 35 takes place on 24th December 0079 UC).

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079 (2006) Episode 1: In the Skies of Jaburo I Saw the Sea, happens from 3rd to 7th December 0079UC, sometime after 0079 Episode 30.

Gundam 0080 War in The Pocket (1989) runs from around December 9th 0079UC up until around 12th to 25th December 0079UC.

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079 (2006) Episode 2: Cross the Path of Light, happens from 28th to 30th December 0079UC.

Final few episodes (around 36/37 until 43) of Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) definitively happen on December 30th and 31st 0079UC, as this is when the Battle of A Bao Qu occurs in canon.

Peace treaty with Zeon signed on 1st January 0080UC.

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079 (2006) Episode 3: Spirits Returning to the Cries of Thunder, happens from 31st December 0079UC until 1st January 0080UC.

UC 0080

Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team Episode 12 (unspecified number of months after the end of the One Year War)

UC 0083

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (1991-1992)

UC 0087

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985-1986)

The Gryps Conflict/Gryps War

UC 0088

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986-1987)

The First Neo-Zeon war

UC 0093

Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988)

The Second Neo-Zeon war

UC 0096

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010-2014)

Laplace incident - occurs from around April 7th 0096UC til May 4th 0096UC

UC 0097

Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (2018)

UC 0100

The Principality of Zeon is officially dissolved and reabsorbed back into the Earth Federation

UC 0105

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (2020)

UC 120

Mobile Suit Gundam F90 (1990)

UC 0123

Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (1991)

UC 149

Zanscare Empire Declared, Zanscare War Commences

UC 0153

Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993-1994)

End of the Zanscare War and all key members of the imperial core

[maguneedsalife]

documenting last night's day 1 dungeon experience for posterity.

this was a first for me

tl;dr i got matched with some of the least competent players ive ever been in a party with and we got down to 8 minutes on the instance clock before we accepted it wasn't happening

(post contains dungeon spoilers under the cut)

(first of all, if any of the people who were in my party are reading this: im not mad at you, and i am not posting this to be mean spirited about the adventure we had. you guys kept a good attitude throughout the hour and a half we were in there and there's a lot to be said for that. but i also hope this was a learning experience for you, from a gameplay perspective.)

queued in for the new dungeon as a white mage. the other people in my party were a pld, sam, and brd. the pld stood around for a while before starting the first pull, then stayed put and didn't go for a double. After 2 single pulls I told him he could go bigger if he wanted, and he replied that he never wants to assume. (very kind of him).

I notice fairly quickly, as we pick up the second set of packs, that something is off. damage is going very, very slowly. I notice the tank seems to be using his single target rotation. I'm not hearing the sounds of bard or samurai aoe moves either. Me and my Holy casts are the only ones hitting multiple enemies.

To reiterate. this is the newest max level dungeon. unless they level skipped, these are presumably not new players.

We get to the first boss. The samurai struggles with the speed of its aoes. The boss summons adds: it's going to charge them up, and we have to kill them before they finish charging. We do not. the ones we miss explode and we wipe. Luckily, now that we've figured out what it wanted us to do, we manage to kill the adds in time and beat the boss on the 2nd try. Onward and upward.

Paladin resumes single pulling. The homies are still not aoe-ing. By this time I've determined that the three of them seem to be friends by the way they banter back and forth. I notice that I have consistently been second in aggro. the samurai has been last. Ian glances over my shoulder and remarks, "Why does that samurai have less health than you?"

the second boss has a mechanic with fast-moving aoes that you have to dodge. every time he does the mechanic again, the aoes get faster. in normal circumstances you'd probably only see it two or three times, maybe not enough to notice the aoes are getting faster. We saw it quite a few times. the aoes got very fast. This boss also has temporary misdirection, which was for sure the cause of our wipe here. we managed to get through on the second try.

between the 2nd and 3rd bosses the bard starts having connection issues and has to restart, so we wait for her to come back. on the way to the final boss the tank has trouble avoiding aoes and dies to mobs, and then i die to mobs after raising him bc im still second in aggro.

eventually we made it to the final boss. "how bad could it be, it's just one bunny?"

we proceeded to wipe to this boss 7 times. part of the issue was that our damage output was so low that the boss was exhausting its earlier mechanics and then looping the ones that were supposed to be its big scary finale - starting around 60% health. it creates an open pit and you're supposed to run around the edges to avoid falling in the hole, dodging various mechanics. we all fell in the hole at least once. anytime i died it was an instant wipe bc there was no way the rest of the party could sustain through the end of the fight by themselves.

the minutes dragged on. we got the "30 minutes left to complete' warning and kept on fighting. we began getting tilted and making more mistakes, wiping on earlier mechanics we'd previously done fine with. our positive "we'll get him this time!" attitude quickly turned into "oh i hate this guy."

with 8 minutes left on the instance clock - nearly an hour and a half of elapsed time since the start of the dungeon - it finally sunk in that despite our best ("best") efforts, this wasn't happening. i bade my comrades farewell and voted to abandon. they accepted. i was free at last. i decided not to blacklist them because they were good sports, and also because to my knowledge blacklisting doesn't prevent you from being matched with the person again, which is the functionality i actually need from it in this instance

anyway after that harrowing experience i recruited ian and some friends to help guarantee i could progress msq. we were in and out of that same dungeon in 20 minutes. watching bosses that my previous group had struggled mightily with go down within a few minutes felt so good

[darkpetal16]

June 26th through July 14th Progress Update

June 26th 2024 - Continued to write and program ch1 for Dancetale. This will be my first game incorporating the use of magic prosthetics.

June 28th 2024 - Continued to write and program ch1 for Dancetale, mostly focused on the different branches of the different prosthetics MC can have, and began researching canes for MCs with a leg prosthetic.

June 29th 2024 - Completed the prologue / ch1 groundwork for prosthetics (right leg, left leg, right arm, left arm and a three-way combination of those variants), along with if MC uses a cane. Currently now drafting / programming Toriel’s house.

June 30th 2024 - Drafted / Programmed the opening sequence for Toriel’s house. The locket makes a return!

July 1st 2024 - DANCETALE Programmed a portion of MC customization. Attached is a snippet of just the clothing customization.

HORRORTALE Drafted more of the lab

July 2nd 2024 - HORRORTALE Worked more on programming the opening scene. Also came up with a different idea for the later half of the lab that I think will be much more interesting, so started outlining that instead.

DANCETALE Worked on a new sequence as part of day 1. Since there’s so much customization, I’m trying to naturally spread out the options throughout the first day so it’s not so overwhelming.

NOTE: Discord voted for a 0 death Toriel encounter in DT

July 3rd 2024 - DANCETALE - Continued drafting & programming for ch1. Worked briefly on Toriel’s dance, but mostly focused on programming the soul variants & writing the backstory for MC with Chara.

July 5th 2024 - DANCETALE - Nearing completion for Ch1’s first programmed draft. Only two scenes left to complete - the dance with Toriel & the first major “Bad Ending”.

July 6th 2024 - DANCETALE - Played around with creating a rhythm game for the boss fight. Attached is what was voted on to use as buttons in the forum.

HORRORTALE - Drafted a very fun scene where a certain ghost meets a certain reaper. >:D

I did briefly open up MAFIAFELL to begin the revisions / corrections needed but then my computer blue screened so I quietly backed everything up when it came back on and moved on lol.

July 7th 2024 - Had two full uninterrupted hours of me time and got to start something I’ve been wanting to do for a hot minute: UNDERFELL update.

Began with updating the ui and themes, and randomized which LI talks to you after your first death. Hope to do more soon!

July 8th 2024 - Almost finished UNDERFELL’s facelift. Made it all the way to the city. I think I’ll be able to upload the updated version tomorrow.

July 09th 2024 - Completed the visual update to UNDERFELL and posted it.

July 10th 2024 - Mostly worked on trying to figure out how to code a few things for DANCETALE. Trying something new and haven’t got it working yet. I also did a little more drafting into ch1 while it stewed in my thoughts.

July 11th 2024 - DANCETALE rhythm boss fight coding. Vid’s in the forum for more details, but it took me a couple days to get it working well enough.

July 14th 2024 - DANCETALE continued drafting & programming Ch1. Only one day left. Also created a brief “how to” on the boss battles / rhythm games. After some play testing I have determined I’ll leave the rhythm games just for boss battles, and use a more typical method for regular encounters. It’ll bog the game down too much for each regular encounter to have its own rhythm game to its own song.

NOTE: Discord currently voting on death loop & soulmate rule in DT.

[bilightningwriter-writing]

How has your WIP and/or OCs changed since its/their creation? What's something you wished you could keep but just wouldn't work? What's stayed consistent throughout all drafts of this WIP/OC?

Thank you so much for the ask! Needed this today. <3

So, since I've been working on Celestia and Melanie's story, this is going to be very long and very rambling because I've been working on this story for over 10 years. Technically. It's changed a lot. And I mean A LOT. Like, I don't know when I started writing this one other than it was in the later half of high school, so I know the idea is definitely over 10 years old. I haven't worked on it constantly in that time, mostly picking it up and putting it down again when the motivation dies. But it's my most returned to project out of all of them and the only one with a "finished" first draft. A draft which I've now been disecting for parts since then and now are vastly different.

With that being said, putting this under a cut because, as I said, it's gonna be Long. (no spoilers, just long) Here we go!

Going to answer this in parts via the questions so I stay relatively on topic, lol

How has your WIP and/or OCs changed since its/their creation?

For starters, it was a Christian straight couple romance (her love interest was named James; An Arthurian story and I picked James). And they were teenagers, not in their mid-twenties. Celestia was in the modern world for the beginning, with her (one) older brother as well as Lance and Gwen. Arthur was dead, though I originally wanted him maybe alive but imprisoned and everyone just thought he was dead. No Morgana or Mordred, for some reason. It was one of his knights that was a betrayer. Gwen was an abusive mom? Tbh, I completely forgot I made her like that and glad the current version is no where close. Celestia didn't know she was King Arthur's daughter, but her whole family did. Honestly, I kind of hate how I originally wrote her. She's kind of bratty. But then was also the stage of me trying not to write a character that was basically me (quiet, introverted, people-pleasing) at the time. Copy-pasted song lyrics for Christian songs, which was probably my only thing keeping her in the modern world instead of scrapping that idea from the beginning.

Now I've got a wlw/sapphic romance with my own made up religion/gods' pantheon/beliefs. Also since the start and now, I've changed Celestia's name, like, three times before going back to Celestia. Her mannerisms have changed to more dynamic rather than 2D and probably closer to my own. She's autistic now, though tbh, reading the original again, she always was but heavily masking. She's now less-masking autistic, to be more accurate.

Instead of being in Camelot, the story starts there but they end up going to and staying over in the capitol for a majority of the story (no modern world in sight). Which kind of is skewy with how the heck they're going to deal with Morgana (who is now the major Big Bad), but I have some ideas, just not sure how they're going to get from point A to point B. Anyway, Arthur is alive and well, married to both Gwen and Lance, and they're married to each other. Celestia also has two older brothers, rather than just one.

And Melanie is her own character with her own pov, rather than just a love interest, as the original story was 1st person Celestia the whole time. Now 3rd person swapping between Melanie and Celestia when the story calls for it (rather than swapping each chapter, which I was doing in one of my last drafts, but it just doesn't work for me like that; this way it changes when it needs to, even if that means mid chapter or even multiple times in a chapter).

Is the fact that this is now a lgbt romance was decided partially out of spite? Yes, yes it was. But also it just fits so much better. In the original story, Celestia is very close to her best friend (who also knows her background which she forgot and is one of the knight's daughters there too) and they had more chemistry than she and the original LI did. So I just got rid of the guy. Sort of. You'll see, lol

What's something you wished you could keep but just wouldn't work?

I really wanted to keep my idea of them having a secret hide-out and helping citizens of the country under the betrayer leader's nose. Like Robin Hood. But it very much doesn't work in the new plot/setting. So it's one of the things I've taken out and put elsewhere (a lot I've realized has gone into Nate+Ally's story without my meaning to do it, very much not on purpose), just like the modern world start transported to different land has gone into Alex in Wonderland. The OG finished draft was a jigsaw puzzle that was put together wrong, so I've been taking it apart to put the pieces where they should be.

I also killed off a character while they were in Celestia's arms, but now that I've read the OG version again, it was very much for *emotional impact* and not for a good reason (basically a situation of: idk what to do with you, might as well get rid of you for the *plot*). I'd love to recreate it and make it properly impactful, but it's another thing that just wouldn't fit in the current plot. That and I just don't like to write character death when I've gotten attached to them. Pretty sure I've got a story where I do have to do this, though, and I'm dreading it, lol.

What's stayed consistent throughout all drafts of this WIP/OC?

That the main MC, no matter her name, is King Arthur's daughter and the heir to Camelot rather than her older brother(s). And that she's the one who has to take care of the threat to the kingdom, usually in killing the one threatening it. Her appearance has changed, too, but characters rarely have a consistent "look" to me until I mess around on games and get a picture that way. Like, maybe it's because I'm autistic, but while I have a very vivid imagination, people in my imaginations are like, vaguely people shaped, but their appearances stay more in word form than in visual form? Idk why, it's just always been that way. I'd guess it's because I read more things than watched them during the formative years of my life.

It's also a girl-power story, somewhat. Like, I don't really know if I would consider it as such anymore, at least from the fact that since the start of creating this story I've gone from believing I'm a cis girl to realizing I'm transmasc agender, but I still have my past upbringing and insights from that. Actually, to word it better, it's still very much a story of becoming more comfortable in your own skin. Celestia with her neurodivergence + sexuality and with Melanie in her figuring out what being a woman means to her (even though she's cis, it's still a journey).

There's probably other things, but I've had to read the OG version in bits and paces because I keep putting my head in my hands over how just... I don't like reading my stuff from high school, basically. I was very repressed and depressed. Not to mention it was just all over the place and scattered (this was before I realized I don't write in order even if I make an honest attempt to write in order; it's better if I come up with scenes, put them on separate papers, then rearrange the papers rather than just going "I want to do this, this, this" and never actually changing the order from the original thought process order).

Anyway, if it weren't for the full copy-pasted songs put into the story, I'd put the full uncut version up on my Ko-fi and/or Patreon. But it also makes me want to sink into the floor, it's so cringey and awkward. So we're just going to keep that in the folder of shame to be dissected in peace.