#and 1 fully colored picture in a week

[bf-rally]

Vivien

About Vivien

Age: 31(???)

Height: Above Average

Personality: SUAVE but not looking for anything serious

Likes: Socializing and Clothing

Dislikes: Hot weather

Short Bio:

A stylish man you met at a halloween party. At the time, it looked like he was in costume for the party, but turns out his daily fashion isn't so far off.

------

Hii, im making a cute guy collector website and looking for people who may be interested in joining the site in its super early days!

Sign up form

Testing is just using he site when you feel like and giving feedback on any issues you have

Okay thats it thanks :]

[lumoth]

Okaeri Domestic BKDK Week Day 4 Prompt - Cooking! "You're doing it all wrong!" Moth

[fatcatlittlebox]

I cannot tell you how profound it was to me that Charlie confirmed this week in interviews that his understanding of Sauron is that he is NOT this great, omniscent mastermind. I had written metas before that this was how Sauron was being depicted in ROP but to have it supported by the actor was still a little surprising because that has been debated for awhile. Furthermore, Charlie has said now several times that when he plays Sauron playing another persona, whether Halbrand or Annatar, he believes that Sauron is fully invested and reinvented as these people. He 100% believes. And I think that is such a provocative idea. I am totally dumbfounded by it. Because how do you go from this:

To this.

How hauntingly tragic his "Halbrand" era was. It was the closest thing to peace he had found in thousands of years and he got to that place by doing something so uncharacteristic. He took a chance. This Maia, who is obsessed with control and order...he gambled. And won. Until he lost. Why and how the hell did he think pretending to be a mortal king, offering to bind himself to his sworn rival, allying himself with Light would possibly succeed? He had to know it was a near impossible feat. The path he had taken before was probably charted with logical, measured decisions and weighed with statistical probabilities. But not this one. It wasn't hubris or arrogant ambition. It was hope. He believed and that belief was sparked and buoyed by Galadriel.

This is why this shot right here is so symbolic and poetic of this period in his life. Look at Halbrand here. As so many times before where it concerns Galadriel, he looks unsure. Vulnerable. Look at how he holds the pouch and how he stares at it. It's as if his fate rests inside. This is a crossroads. Then he throws it on the table like dice or a coin toss. He seems to have made up his mind. Probably because he had estimated and concluded that following Galadriel was probably not going to work. But then, at the last moment he changes course.

The fact that the camera stays on the pouch for several beats emphasizes that 1) this is a pivotal moment 2) it was impulsive. Sauron had already left and then came back. (12 seconds-- I counted). Just like the raft on the Sundering Seas, he came back for Galadriel. He makes a bold choice. Again! One not even the gods would have expected. He takes a chance. A monumental one.

It's exhilarating, especially now that we have a bigger picture of the actual choice he's making. It's so hopeful. So audacious. So human. So NOT Sauron. And in letting himself fully embody and inhabit the life of a low man, he's never been more connected to Middle Earth, never been more real in this world. The stakes mean something different. He's tactile, emotional, reactive. His actions and relationships have more gravity. His footsteps and words have weight. He's not a puppetmaster. He's alive in the world, an ocean of color.

Contrast that with his Annatar phase. As Charlie portrays him, he is completely detached. Floundering. There's a vacancy to his presence.

As I said before, I think Sauron left apart of himself in Halbrand. It's almost as if the piece of him that was human, that grounded him, was severed. And in doing so, Annatar glides through the world as if in a dream and he were made of ice and shadow. Look at his manner and how he moves. He's imposing but almost inert. His expression is dazed and distracted. His heart is somewhere else. With someone else. Or maybe it's because he actually isn't there. It gives an added layer of meaning to Adar's supposed "message" to Annatar -- "Where is he?" Because why is he so clearly disengaged? Where does his mind wander off to constantly?

Again, I'm left pondering how do you get to that, from this?

I'm left shaken at Charlie's performance. He is truly an amazing, gifted actor. There is a reason he plays such a stark contrast between season 1 and season 2. To go from that simmering volcanic intensity to such an emotional void. It's like watching the collapse of a star. I get the sense that there is a rich backstory there that the audience is not privy to. Not yet.

[ghostofhyuck]

NCT Dream and things in your shared apartment that makes sense.

Mark Lee ; subtle spiderman decorations.

It was a silly fandom joke but Mark took it seriously like lol okay spidermark we see you. So it makes sense that your shared apartment with him has some subtle spiderman decorations. And it's not like you two thought about it, it just happened that when you two go shopping and saw something spiderman-related, you two would buy it impulsively. There's a lego spiderman both in your apartment keys. A small spiderman figurine lay silently on the corner of bedside table. Or maybe there's a "I love Spiderman" magnet on your fridge too. Either way, it's cute and reminds you of your boyfriend so much. 

Huang Renjun ; touches of your favorite color.

When you two first bought the shared apartment, you and Renjun discussed about the overall design of the flat, especially the color combination. Making sure that you two can come in terms, your apartment felt like a light spring because of the color combination. You two made it worked and it feels like home for the two of you! Also, you two are very meticulous with the design, like it took you guys a week to fully designed the whole apartment but it was worth it because it turned out so beautiful! <3

Lee Jeno ; everything comes in pairs!

Like. Literally. Everything. Is a pair. That's why the Dreamies would complain why you two only have two sets of plates and utensils, and Jeno would shrug, it's not like you two need more lol. The first thing you'll see is two pairs of home slippers, and key holder only has two hook. There's one long couch that only fits two people, and in the bathroom, there's a pair of toothbrush rest idly on the holder! But it's a cute way to show that the apartment is owned by a couple who's very minimal and tranquil with their life. <3

Lee Donghyuck ; mismatched decorations

I feel like the overall aesthetic of your shared apartment with Haechan is kinda chaotic but the more you stare at it, the more you think that hey, it's not that bad at all. Like it's fine that your collection of sonny angels is right next to Haechan's pc set-up. Or how a lego figurine of a sportscar is line-up on top of a cabinet and then, there's this cute miffy lamp next to it. Everything's just mismatched but it's your shared apartment, and no one seems to bat an eye at the confusing aesthetic of the apartment. 

Na Jaemin ; photobooks as coffee table center

Okay mr. narcissism, it's no surprise that you have a set of photobooks on top of your coffee table. It probably contains: (1) pictures of you two on a vacation together, (2) portraits of the people he love the most, or (3) portraits of Dreamies! He swells in pride whenever there are guests and they would look into the photobook and just admire the portraits that he captured. Plus, it's placed in your shared apartment! He was just happy that his three kids hasn't chew the photobook yet, (and hopefully not!)

Zhong Chenle ; scattered bitten objects

It's not like your apartment's messy, but Daegal is such a hyper dog despite being your princess. She just loves to play and even though her teething phase is finished, she still lovesssss carrying objects to bite. You'll just go home to your apartment and find that Daegal had reached the throw pillow and now it's on the floor, ripped open with a few cottons on the floor and you couldn't be angry with her because she has her puppy eyes waiting for you. <3 Plus, you know how your boyfriend tolerates Daegal's biting habits lol. 

Park Jisung ; a bed full of plushies

OH. Your bed with Jisung is just full of plushies and that's because you're obsessed with plushies and couldn't sleep without cuddling one. (Jisung would complain that you should just cuddle him instead.) He only have a few plushies there but you tend to just fill the bed that when morning comes, some of the plushies were already on the floor. You would pick them up and apologize for pushing them off the floor while your boyfriend just stares at you. But at the same time, he doesn't mind because it's like you two have a big family whenever he goes home and sees the pile of plushies on the bed. 

[wandascrush]

Lonely Rider

Pairing: Cowboy!Natasha Romanoff x f!reader

Warnings: husband mentioned, loneliness, boredom, blood, gunshot wound, old western type of sexism

Summary: Set in the early 1900’s, another boring day on the ranch brings an unexpected surprise- a wounded rider straight to your front door

Part 1 of this new series!

It was dawn, and the sun was already heating up your bedroom. The sound of the dog panting beside you pulled you from a restless sleep. You were hot, sticky, and miserable—alone on the ranch with another day of the same old chores ahead: sweeping. Tending the horses. Walking the acres. Sewing. Preserving food. Hanging laundry in the sun. Writing long letters to Mother, Father, and Lacey that you knew might take weeks to reach them.

That was how the hours passed—slow and quiet and aching with repetition. And oh, how they got lonely.

There were only so many times you could run around with the dog before boredom set in again. You were young, newly married, full of breath and want—and yet your husband was nowhere to be found. Off herding cattle down south, gone for at least four months, maybe longer.

You stepped outside with a tin cup of lukewarm coffee and your boots half-laced, the dog padding faithfully behind you. The familiar creak of the wooden door quietly closing behind you filled you with some comfort. The sun was higher now, casting long streaks of gold over the dry grass. Dust clung to everything—your hem, your hands, the valley of your breasts, the skin behind your neck where sweat had already started to gather. Sigh.

The grass in front of you stretched endlessly, sun-kissed and flowing with the wind. You decided to walk anyway, already knowing where it would lead. But at least it felt like you were going somewhere. The dog ran around, chasing his own tail before barking at a squirrel and flopping himself down on the grass. For the first time in days, you smiled.

God, you envied your husband. Out there somewhere, chasing cattle across hills and dry riverbeds. Sleeping under open skies. Living like a man in a storybook. You tried to picture him—wide-brimmed hat, calloused hands, silent and steady—but the image barely stirred anything in you. You often felt guilty, feeling so little for the man you were sworn to. You didn’t miss him. Not really.

Not the way his voice went flat when you spoke too long at dinner. Not the way his eyes never really saw you, just glanced over you like you were another part of the land—something useful, something owed. Not the way he took whatever he wanted from you, whenever. Was that love? You hoped not. Because when you looked at him you felt…so little.

There was too much blood in your veins, too much thrill waiting under your skin to just be a wife. A good one at that. You were certain of it. You looked up at the sky before falling backward, flopping yourself on the tall grass with a thud.

You were just about to turn back for a thrilling night of boiling potatoes- when the dogs ears perked up.

And so did yours.

In the distance, you could hear the thud of hoofs on the dirt as a dust cloud rose on the trail. You shaded your eyes with your hand, the sun bringing tears to your eyes.

Huh. Riders didn’t come by often, not without notice by letter at least. And especially not out here where the land stretched long and private.

You squinted, making out the color of a figure beautiful black horse, a figure on top, holding onto the reins loosely. They appeared through the dust, the rider still too fuzzy to fully make out.

A cowboy, you thought, how interestin’. That itch beneath your skin stirred. Maybe trouble. Maybe just a thirsty rider. You didn’t know, but wasn’t anything better than this?

And then—closer.

The rider yanked the reins hard, and the horse stumbled to a stop just yards from your gate. You stepped back, startled.

Then the bigger shock came: It wasn’t a man.

The hat came off with a rush of wind, revealing a mess of braided red hair stuck to a sweat-slicked face. A beautiful face at that. She looked down at you, breathless, wild-eyed—and then she swayed.

“Shit,” the woman whispered—so softly you only caught it by the shape of her full lips.

She tumbled out of the saddle like a rag doll, landing in the dirt with a thud that turned your stomach.

You picked up the hem of your dress and ran over.

She was bleeding. Her shirt was soaked, side torn up like she’d been shot clean through. Dirt clung to her palms as she tried pushing herself up.

Your hands hovered over her body, unsure where to touch. “Oh my,” you whispered, panic crawling into your throat. “Stay awake, c’mon—hey—”

She looked at you, really looked at you, and for a second something flickered there. Recognition? Relief?

And then her green eyes rolled back.

Her body went limp in your arms.

So much for a boring evening of boiling potatoes.

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

New Beginnings | Yandere Animal Town

You'll want to read Only Human Series | Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

The smell of a hearty meal brings a warmth greater than the heavy comforter you're curled up in–-a ray of light from the open curtains beaming on your face. Your body started to rise before you fully registered that someone had to be the cause of such a heavenly scent and you were pretty sure you’d taken back all the keys from your former roommate. Slipping into your slippers and wrapping a robe around yourself you made your way down the creaky steps of your late grandmother's home. Running your fingers over the aged wooden walls, tracing the frames of the art and pictures that were still hung. It brought back memories of her entering your life, your original apprehension, and the slow realization that you loved her just as much as your grandfather. Smiling at the frame you had hung just before the staircase. 

"Morning Poppop, Mam! I made it another year without burning the place down...please wish me well."

The words spilled out earnestly devoid of the filters preparing in your head. Seeing as you had revoked Eudora's key a week earlier after the incident with your bedroom your whole being was readying to scold whoever had found themselves in your home.

"Happy New Years, Hun! Decided to start the year with a good meal. Pull up a chair and take yer time; I will warn you though you'll be having company in a few. I tried to stop them but you know how these nosy neighbors of ours tend to be."

The motherly canine hounded on about each of their pleas; all of it all too familiar. letting her voice fade into the background you tried to remind yourself that this was reality. The space connecting the kitchen room was spotless. Wooden floors glisten and windows let in clear rays of light without a speck of dirt to darken it. Your couch known for its crotchety, dusty presence was abnormally bright for its beige color, and when you pressed a finger into the cushion it plumped up as you pulled away. As if its stuffing wasn't devoured by mites. The carpet and curtains shared the same treatment, smelling of lemon cleaning products. At the center of your transformed living room were the other two canines wagging their tails happily.

"So do you like it (Y/n)?"

The small voice of Titan woke you up. Memories of when you first met the pup all teary-eyed and worried for his mother. It was a stark reminder as to why the years to come would likely never be quiet again.

" How did you guys get in? You didn't break my other door did you?" 

The child giggled before rocketing himself into your thigh. Despite this being a regular occurrence you still doubled over to nurse the bruised spot; leaving your neck perfectly exposed to tiny, grabby arms. The little hybrid hung onto you waiting for the rest of your body to accept his impromptu hug. 

"Didn't have to this time with that new mini-door I finished installing for ya!" 

Tank cheered from the floor behind the couch, popping up to reveal his typical attire of worn and tattered overalls hanging off his bulging pecks. Its single good strap hanging on for dear life over his tanned chest which was puffed up with pride as he watched you examine only his his and his brother's work.

" Thanks you guys...oh uh Happy New Year."

The family returned the saying before ushering you to your seat to eat. All of them seemed more than certain you wouldn't be alone much longer. With one sip of orange juice and three bites into your toast, you no longer were. Mama Tiffany had the decency not to groan exasperated at the knocking on the door. While you knew dog hybrids had more intense senses than humans and likely told them who exactly was at the door, you had the impression it didn't matter who it was. Just that they were interrupting a quiet New Year's Day with you.

"Darling I've brought the champagne. Since we missed each other New Years Eve i say we drink it now and finish the bottle before lunch!"

It was Eudora the cow-woman you helped get back on her feet (hooves?) rocking her usual cow-print designer brand jumpsuit with champagne wrapped in her hand and two caps of wine bottles sticking out of her matching bag.

"AHEM."

In an instant Tank and Tiffany were behind you. Arms crossed and sporting a sneer, one hidden well and one not, Eudora was forced to realize she wasn't your only visitor. 

"Fine. I'll share but I'm not going to like it."

Tiffany hummed," Sorry dear but while a child is about we all can't be...under the influence."

Shrugging you had to agree. Titan for as independent and rambunctious of a child he was still one and it was in bad taste to be indulging with him so close by.

"Sorry, Dor maybe another time."

The cow-woman whined latching onto you to fake-cry into your chest. Being sure to nuzzle indulgently.

"Every time I come over you’re surrounded by that brat! How ever will we get to be alone?!"

Her dramatic plea made Tank roll his eyes, slipping around her to grab the neck of a wine bottle from her purse. Immediately jumping away she chased after the scampering dog hybrid as best as she could in her speckled pumps. Tank and Titan were snickering as they weaved around passing the bottle between the two as she struggled, slipping onto the newly shined wooden floor.

"Give that back you have no idea, how important that is!"

Above her head, Tank dangled the bottle mockingly as he chuckled.

"Oh, I don't?"

"Noo! You don't! A farmer dog would never understand the kind of luxuries I earned to get--"

"You mean you earned by selling this milk" Titan had mysteriously slid the bag off her arm rummaging through it to pull out a jar of milk with a label on top which he so dutifully began to read,"(Y/n)'s spe-speshul milk?"

Eudora blushed, gasping in horror abandoning the laughing Tank to snatch the jar from Titan's hand. Cradling it to her chest she glared at the dog boy hoping he'd shiver and tuck that tail of his. Alas he didn't. He was smiling devilishly at the cow-woman, who was too distracted by him to stop Mama Tiffany from snatching the jar from her manicured hands.

"Hm good readin' Titan," her boy proudly wags his tail. Eudora dives for the jar but misses on account of the mother canine easily dodging her and heading straight for the kitchen her victorious smile seen by only Eudora , "Anyway if you made this for (Y/n) I might as well use it to make some more french toast. What d'ya say Hon?"

"Wait—"

"Sounds good to me!"

"H-hold on!"

"Great I'll get started on 'em right away," she popped the lid open giving it a good sniff before recoiling something fierce. Tank shivered and fought the urge to gag as he picked up the scent. Titan retched and ran into your side doing his best to shove his wet little nose as deep as he could into your skin. Eudora was appalled watching Tiffany dump her creation down the sink, turning to her with a sorrowful hostile look she sighed.

"Ah that's too bad seems like this batch is spoilt. Betta check the rest of the batch if you plan to take that to market."

Eudora looked furious as though Tiffany had curdled it herself. On a warpath, she stomps over with her painted finger stabbing it into Tiffany’s chest. From where you were standing you couldn’t tell exactly but you were certain her face was contorted with an unbecoming snarl. On instinct Tank and Titan stood alert ears pinned back and the faint grumble of a growl in their throats. 

It would be best to diffuse this. Separate them both before Tiffany lost that already twitching smile and Eudora did something with her pointed finger.  Thankfully someone else has knocked on the door. 

“Ack-! Tiffany could you maybe get the door for me I’m still in my PJs?”

“Sure thing, Hun be quick now.”

She shoved Eudora out the way, shouting that ‘she was comin’’ to whoever was at the door. You had your guesses but you figured whoever it was you better be properly dressed. In your absence the guests congregated with whispers spat through their teeth. Tank was the first to speak.

“You’re disgusting, cow.”

She stuck a specific finger in his direction, that had him hurriedly cover his younger brother’s eyes. Much to Titan’s unhappiness he could hear the air whipping with some other unspoken gestures of hatred. A shame he only saw the one. 

Tiffany opened the door with a smile on her face, her nails barely chipping at the latest coat of paint on the door. At the very least this nuisance wasn’t as…troublesome. 

“Stein. A real surprise. Didn’t know you were invited to celebrate the New Year.”

The librarian snake-hybrid shuffled his feet as his hands wobbled, making an irritating clacking of the platter he brought. Tiffany shut her eyes. Couldn’t wish to scratch his hands off if she couldn’t see him.  Stein’s tail was at attention curling and twisting behind him with the nerves he was still battling. He had originally felt encouraged not only by his newly found meditation breathing but because his…group of devvotees had assured him.

“Great Stein they’ll be so happy you’re there!” They said and they promised,” Excalibur will certainly compliment you for your new scales.”

Which was what he had predicted would happen especially since he’d practiced the scenario so many times in his head. But how could this be if the one he wanted needed+ wasn’t answering the door?! Still he wasn’t too discouraged…he could tell there was someone moving upstairs; the thermal signature reminiscent of his one and only human.

“W-w-well we’d been s-speaking about plans and they said I could–”

“I’m not accusing, (Y/n)’s a real sweetheart to those decent enough.”

“I–yes they are!”

Stein happily followed Tiffany inside, unsurprised at seeing her children and the peeved cow woman. It was already confirmed by many of his devotees that they were incredibly adamant about guarding you. Of course their theories ranged from their own obsessions to their secret plots to control the world with (Y/n) as their tool. It really was absurd but Stein would never complain for he had so many slashed tires to thank them for. Those ‘little gifts’ were incredibly nice when he had extra time to speak with them.

“Hey Stein! Happy you’re here! And look at that, do you think the new shed goes nicely?”

He nodded returning the hug. The seconds spent in (Y/n)’s arms felt all so incredibly right for Stein. The small amounts of contact through clothes regrettably brought a heat he wasn’t expecting, a heat felt a sliver of when he was with them.

“Uh, are you hibernating?”

The small voice calling out to him and the silence calling for an answer. He hurriedly straightened himself out but he still couldn’t get his arms or his tail to fully un-intertwine from the human. Still he made the effort of tilting his head hovering just above his human (Y/n)’s shoulder.

“Excuse me?”

Titan sighed like children did. In the whiney strangely annoyed way they did. He’d like to have a clutch with you.

“Y’know! Are’ya fallin’ asleep on ‘em or what?”

Stein laughed joylessly. He wasn’t the best at speaking but the pinched brow of the little dog hybrid said this wasn’t an innocent question but a tempered reaction from an annoyed predator. Stein would have no way of knowing but minutes before Titan had done the best work that he could to scent his favorite human. He knew his puppy dog face and his irresistible charisma could get him so far with all these adults coming over he had to make his mark….and yet when his human returned it was gone. 

“No little one I’m just–,” Stein let himself release the human only up to their hands keeping his fingers in between their own. The only reason he could get his tail to naturally release was because he wanted to see his human’s smiling face. Stein internally swooned but settled for a warm smile,” Happy to see my friend and kindred spirit.”

Your heart warmed at the thought—’ kindred spirit.’ Half a year ago it would have been bizarre to know anyone was willing to give this human in a hybrid-only town a chance. A feeling of gratitude washes over, making your cheeks warm and your heart full. 

Here. These were your people, your friends, and despite their odd violent, creepy, invasive behavior they cared about you and are likely the reason you wouldn’t be alone from now on. 

“Happy New Year you guys! Let’s make this one count!”

Titan howled in agreement, while Tank and Tiffany cheered! Eudora let her pout cease…for long enough to crack open the champagne. With a successful poignant pop, the wooden peg shot faster than you could catch. However, there was something fast, a black shadow that whipped across Stein’s face. But looking at the hybrid’s tail it was swaying casually below him; the only thing different was the slight curl at its end almost like it was holding something—-

“(Yyyy/nnnn)!!!! The cow is making me drink this horrible adult juice.”

“NO! I’M NOT! Tiffany come get your pup before I skewer him!”

“Ah (Y/n) I–I noticed you were looking at my t-tail and I just th-thought I’d offer if you’d like to touc–”

“Shut it, worm. (Y/n) I wanted to remind you about some of the new piping I fixed for you. Just a minor fix but I can personally show you now.”

“Oh, Hon he did such a good job~ You two should check it out! But not before you give Mama’s pies a taste!”

This Year would not be quiet, not with these guys around and with many more to come. 

____________________________________________________

Sneak Peak:

Knock Knock

“More people? So soon?”

The question wasn’t for anyone in particular but you were already walking away from the squabbling hybrids at your dining table. Looking discreetly over your shoulder to see Titan successfully nip at Stein’s tail and nearly avoid its constricting, you worked hard to hold your laughter. Depending on your latest guest they might not take lightly to your troublesome attendees. Swinging the door open you realized your assessment was spot on…at least for one of your new arrivals.

“Morning (Y/n).”

“Mr. Mayor! G-glad to see you!”

You really wish you’d looked at yourself in the mirror again.

“I didn’t realize so many others were invited to this function.”

“Sorry if I was misleading, you don’t have to join if you don’t–”

“No please (Y/n). I deal with the citizens of this town every day. This will be no different.”

“Then uh welcome,” you move to the side allowing the pristine presence to grace your newly renovated living room. Watching the slight twitch of his nose you wrestled with the same feelings of anxiety when you do see it. The tell was either one of annoyance or great excitement, you could only hope it was the latter,” we were all just about to play a board game if you’d like to join.”

The mayor gave a smile over his shoulder before he claimed a seat at the table. With no time to follow up, you focused on inviting the rest of your guests.

“Look at you rolling out the red carpet for that sucker!”

“Before the both of us, the working class really is overlooked.”

You shook your head at the duo before entering the hugs their arms were already opened for. Of course, this wasn’t as simple as giving a one-armed hug to both of them at the same time. They demanded a full hug to each of them by wrenching you in their direction when you thought the hug was over. How pleasant.

“Duke, Sher welcome we haven’t started yet so we can deal you in.”

Sher smiled, his little tail likely wiggling with pride as he let himself in.

“Good you really shouldn’t have even started the New Year without me but as long as you let me win I’ll forgive you.”

You opened your mouth to correct him now, if only to avoid a tantrum later but Duke stopped you with a hand to your shoulder. With a blush he had you come closer so he could whisper–it must have something to do with eggs.

“I did bring the years first eggs with me but I didn’t want to draw attention by bringing it to the door.”

“That’s fine Duke! I’ll make an excuse so I can grab them.”

“M-maybe you should include me so that I can help it’s a lot.”

“Wow, if it’s that much you’re giving to me you must’ve had a real good New Years Party.”

Duke’s blush deepened and his dark eyes trailed away from your face; it made you wonder what exactly was so embarrassing about his ‘party’ by himself. You tried to ask only for him to shake his head again, more of his face taking on the redness originally on his cheeks. Worried he might pass out you let him stumble into your home and nervously wave at the rest of the group. With a satisfied clap of your hands and a look down the road, you were pretty sure that was it for guests willing to spend their precious New Year with the only human in town. That is until the skirting sound of rubber burning on the roads carved through the rural area with an engine obnoxiously humming the loudest it could have arrived. Unlike your friends, it had stopped on the road instead of parking on the filled driveway. Outstepped the source of too much of your grief with being harassed for simply existing—Margarine. 

Stepping out of her iconic reddish-orange car was the fox hybrid responsible for your continuously outcasted status. So naturally you were far from pleased. Nonetheless, she stepped out smiling cruelly with her camera in hand. 

“Don’t cry ape-breath, I’m just getting the first shot of the human for the new year. The papers are going to love this.”

You were going to retort, thinking about setting a hose on her or something, until you felt the presence of one of your guests at your back. One of your freakishly tall guests with his intimidatingly large pointed smile. 

“Hi there, Margory. Do we have a problem here?”

It felt good to see her scramble, waving nervously as she returned to her car. Struggling for a little while to start it, when she finally got it she sped off. Thankfully saving her other nasty remarks for later, when your house wasn’t filled with six different people who would actively tear her in half.

“Thanks Sykes!”

“No problem, I only hope you remember this kind act of mine if I ever need some extra cards in this game of ours.”

Shaking your head you closed the door and let him pull you back to a bustling table filled with all the new friends you’d made. A group who truly didn’t mind that you were the only human.

Taglist: @midnight-nightmares@xrenka@candlesworlds-blog@00hellohello00@lem-hhn@kawaii-cakes@ceramic-raven@lilyalone@asleepysouluniverse @mel-vaz @sxftiebee @staarflowerr @horror-lover-69 @stanfordswifey @butratherbutrather @24-7aroundtheclockanxious @li-ravings @librarymouses @cooldonbutt @whoreforeverythingspice

First post of the year and it's hopefully holding everyone over for this series. Thanks everyone for the response to this one. I don't know what this year holds but I've got big ideas. Thanks to everyone here and Happy New Year! 🖤🖤🖤🖤

[missbutterworthless]

[i’m not a violent dog. i don’t know why i bite.]

The lead singer of BOTB’s Season 4 projected underdogs, Arlo Beck of Penny Arcade, declined further comment in regards to the threatening of a member of the media when questioned about former band mate and fellow competitor, Seven Lawless of Soft Violence.

Further Info Under the Cut!

TW for mentions of addiction 🫶

Introducing Arlo Beck, lead singer of Penny Arcade, a pop punk band of humble origins known most for their musically delivered political commentary and their revenge anthems (it is of particular note that such anthems were not common in the Lawless Era, with the band leaning far more heavily into charged love songs. Which could mean nothing.)

Fun Facts!

Beck is an Aquarius!

According to an insider source, beyond singing, Beck is quite capable with the ocarina.

Beck is known to juggle at any and every opportunity, regardless of who may or may not be watching. (He is apparently rather talented as well.)

Beck is known for accessorizing with heart motifs, noted by a previous local publication to be a nod to fellow bandmate Rowan Hart.

Beck often carries a bottle of quick dry black polish for ‘manicure emergencies’. He is known to have addressed such emergencies while on stage after chipping a nail during a performance.

Beck is often cited as the source for Penny Arcade’s ‘gimmick’ of collecting loose change in collection bins during a dedicated song at every performance. The change is then matched and donated to queer and at risk youth. Beck remains firm that every member of Penny Arcade, past and present, is equally responsible.

Picture Easter Eggs and more Fun Facts!

Arlo is wearing a WWOD? bracelet in the pic! The band got together to make bracelets with Orion’s most recent catchphrase while waiting for filming to start. Arlo made his particularly fruity. He also made a keychain version for Orion.

The time on Arlo’s phone is a nod to MCx7. Seven is, well, 7. And Arlo is 1 & 2 because his initials are the first and second letters of the alphabet. Hence, 7:12.

Arlo’s initial tattoo utilizes the S in SD as an infinity symbol. He acknowledges it is cringy. And poetically tragic.

Not shown is his tongue piercing, which Orion chewed him out for getting because his tongue was swollen and his speech slurred for nearly two weeks!

As stated above, he likes to wear motifs of his band members! Because he is a doofus! Most common because it’s his daily accessories is a heart motif for Rowan, but he also has jellyfish pendants and vampire bite chokers for Iris and different color bee pins for Devyn depending on their hair color! Jazzy is represented in the case he carries his juggling equipment in, which he takes literally everywhere after she bought him one for his birthday years ago. He is currently racking his brain for what to do for August!

43 of the 57 missed calls on his phone were from Orion. He knows because Orion’s ringtone is I Don’t Dance from High School Musical 2.

He is heavily addicted to nicotine (to Orion’s chagrin) and became a functioning (for now) alcoholic after The Fight™️. Prior, he imbibed during social functions but never alone and never when he had plans. Up until the audition, he never partook in other substances but caved into peer pressure. Despite his snark and notorius RBF, he is a chronic people pleaser.

The eyebrow slit is a scar from slicing his eyebrow open in Lucy’s diner after crashing head first into the dish station and shattering a plate. With his face. The scar is almost entirely faded but he can no longer grow hair there. He’s actually really insecure about it and has considered getting the spot microbladed.

That’s all for now folks! I mostly wanted to share my art :) I adore @infamous-if and have been playing with Arlo as my MC since Day 1! He finally fully clicked in my head and after days of attempting to find a face claim or craft him in the sims I decided to crack open Ye Olde iPad and do it myself!

Please feel free to share any fun facts about your own Infamous OCs! Regretfully my friends stay firmly opposed to interactive fiction so I am starved for fellow Infamous fans

[baejl]

#1 fan

twice 10th member au

jade surprises MiSaMo during their promotion

masterlist 👽 requests are open feedback is awalys important to me!

“Do I look good?” Jade asked the staff, laughing only by seeing herself in the mirror. 

Fully dressed in the MiSaMo merch, Jade looked like a truly MiSaMo maniac. The managers even managed to get her a headband with the unit’s name written in a rose gold style. 

It was MiSaMo’s concert at the Japan Dome and, being one of their producers - a request that came from the girls themselves - she was able to watch, closely, her members working their best to make it possible while also preparing for TWICE’s comebacks. 

Mina asked Jade a few weeks ago if she could go and watch the concert, but she wanted to surprise them, so she told Sana that ‘maybe, I don’t know’, and she had never seen Mina so sad like that day. Jade didn’t even tell the other members about this surprise, so nothing could go wrong.  

The plan was simple: she’d dress as a fan and ‘invade’ the stage, trying to take pictures with the girls and even make them sign a board the staff had prepared. Luckily, they hadn’t seen her with her new hair color yet, so that should work perfectly with the mask on her face. 

Ironically enough, she had booked a room in the same hotel as the girls, just to make it even funnier. 

“I think they’d freak out.” Jade’s manager said, also laughing.

“Poor Sana…” another staff member chuckled . “She’s going to be so scared.” 

From backstage, Jade could listen to the whole concert and, to prevent the girls from catching her during the outfit changes, she’d hide in the equipaments room. Luckily, it was almost time to put her plane to action. 

After taking some pictures to roast the girls later, ‘Baby I’m Good’ was coming to the end and she headed to the wings of the stage, her heart racing with anticipation. Holding the board written ‘MiSaMo Marry Me’, she waited for their manager's signal. 

As the girls composed themselves to start the encore, the manager gave her a quick nod, signaling it was time. Jade held up the board and slipped onto the stage, running and screaming, like many fans she had seen doing. 

The crowd erupted into confused murmurs and scattered cheers as people began to notice the figure moving toward the trio.

“MINA! SANA! MOMO!” Jade screamed, running down the stage.

Momo was the first to spot the ‘fan’. Her jaw dropped, and she froze mid-step, her mic lowering slightly, as she looked around confused. Sana turned next, her eyes widening in disbelief. Mina, ever the composed one, blinked in surprise. 

“Please, sign this to me!” Jade said in japanese, even handing them a pen. 

Momo froze, trying to understand what was happening while Jade hugged her multiple time, doing the same to Sana and Mina. 

“Wait!” Mina said, getting closer to Jade, looking her straight in the eyes. “Jade-ssi?” 

“No way!” Sana groaned, her nervous smile turning into a surprise one. 

Jade took her mask off, revealing her face to the entire dome. The crowd’s confusion turned into deafening cheers as they realized who it was. The three girls shouted in union, hugging Jade as she laughed out loud. 

“I can’t believe it!” Momo said in korean. “You fooled us!” 

In the meantime, a staff member headed Jade a mic. 

“Security was so bad, I couldn’t resist.” Jade joked. 

Sana, unable to contain her excitement, hugged Jade once again. “What are you doing here? You didn’t tell us! And this hair?!” 

“I didn’t tell anyone, actually.” Jade explained. 

The trio laughed. Of course, she didn’t. 

As the cheering subsided, Momo grabbed a mic, her voice still tinged with laughter.

“Guys, you probably know this already, but Jade isn’t just our fellow TWICE member, she’s also one of the producers of this unit.” she told the fans that went insane once again. “She worked so hard on the songs you’re hearing tonight, and we couldn’t have done it without her.” 

“Ya,” Jade said, taking the headband off. “this isn’t for me, though. I came to surprise you.” 

The fans laughed. Sana chimed in, her eyes sparkling. 

“That’s right, ONCE! She poured her heart into every note, beat, and made sure everything was perfect. Jade-yah,” she looked at Jade, who shook her head, as a sign for Sana to stop. “thank you for believing in us and helping us create something so special.” 

Mina got closer as well, rubbing Jade’s back. 

“Producing for your own members isn’t easy, but Jade has been making it with so much care and love. We’re so lucky to have her, not just as a producer but as a friend. Let’s all give her a huge round of applause!” 

The audience didn’t hesitate, their cheers reaching deafening levels as Jade stood awkwardly, scratching the back of her head but clearly moved by the gesture.

As the atmosphere shifted from emotional to celebratory, Sana grabbed Jade’s hand. “You’re not getting off that easy,” she said with a grin. “You’re performing the next song with us!”

Jade’s eyes widened in mock horror. “I didn’t sign up for this!”

But there was no escaping it. Before she knew it, Momo and Mina had dragged her into position as the opening notes of New Look played. The choreography was second nature to Jade, who had been involved in its creation, and despite her initial protests, she quickly fell into step with the girls.

The sight of Jade dancing alongside MiSaMo sent the crowd into a frenzy. Fans chanted her name, waving their lightsticks even harder as the four women shared the stage in a joyous, impromptu performance.

But, the second the song was over, Jade hugged the girls, quickly running off the stage before they made her do anything else, making the fans cheer and laugh at the same time. 

The moment she got backstage, she high-fived the managers. 

“Mission accomplished.” 

[metalnchains]

Ghost meets a Ghost 2

(Divider credit https://www.tumblr.com/strangergraphics) Simon gets a house, reader gets a 6'4" headache. Part 1

Simon returned to the base with an extra pep in his step. The house hadn’t been objectively very impressive. It was still an empty shell like his flat but it had felt lighter. Even empty,  the house looked like it had been lived in. The walls were painted in different colors, not just muddied white. There were faded spots where a frame had hung on the walls, and there was a burned ring on the kitchen counter where someone had placed a hot pot or pan. It was broken in the right ways. The basement had clearly seen some less than happy times, but being from the 1890’s what can you expect? He was looking forward to his little vacation spot. For his shorter leaves his flat would be enough to crash at, but having a place fully his own, with more than four dingy windows was thrilling. He was already thinking about wall colors, and whether he’d risk plushy carpet or rugs when Price had walked into the common room. “You went through with it then?” His captain rumbled. He gave a grunt for an answer. He’d told Price that he was going to view it, and had contacted him after the tour. To say John had been surprised was an understatement. When Simon had sent him a message about finding a new place to spend his leave he’d expected simply a new city, or small countryside town. Somewhere quiet, where Simon could go and breathe for once. Halfway across the globe was completely unexpected. However, his lieutenant had spoken about the house with more excitement and life than Price had heard from him in a long time. Like Simon was looking forward to leave for once, instead of fighting it tooth and nail. Price signed off on Simon’s four week leave request not even an hour later.

Three weeks later Simon Riley stood outside his farmhouse with a few bins of essentials and a suitcase. He’d only brought cleaning supplies, an air mattress, and disposable cutlery for this round. He’d need time to fully furnish the house after all. The house had come with nothing inside besides a kitchen table and chairs, and a cabinet upstairs. The table was solid wood and was well made and sturdy. He’d been surprised that no one had claimed them when the state had taken the property. Though being as big as the table was would have made it difficult to remove it. He pushed the table to the far wall and set up his staging ground for a deep clean. The realtors had hired someone to come in and dust while the home had been on the market, but after the sale went through it’d seen no other hands at work. The walls would need to be wiped clean of a few cobwebs, and eventually the carpet would need to be replaced, but for right now it was perfect. He started in the living room. After the walls were wiped clean, he’d polished the wood of the mantle piece, dusted the ornate oil lanterns above it, and started to wipe out the built-in cabinets in the far corner. As he was working in the cabinets his hand brushed against a paper in the very back. Pulling it out he found he’d discovered a few forgotten photos from the previous owners of the house. The first was of a couple, clearly taken in the 90s. He’d grinned a little at the women’s perfectly poofed, and permed hair.They were sitting in front of a Christmas tree with a giant boxy, wooden cased television in the background. They reminded him a bit of the photos he remembered being on his mother’s mantle. The second photo made him chuckle. It was of a child. They were bundled in a jacket, and jeans, sitting on a slanted roof next to a goat and grinning widely. They couldn’t have been any older than five or six years old. He recognized the building the roof was attached to as the out building in the back of the house. It looked much better in the present year. It had clearly been given a face lift with new siding and gutters since this picture had been taken. The roof the kid was sitting on no longer existed at all, and a concrete patio was in its place. Simon set the photos onto the top of the mantle to continue his cleaning. In his hustling and bustling from the kitchen to the living room he didn’t notice the photo of the child flutter to the ground until he was packing up to move to another room. He gave a moment's pause while he looked at it, and then back to where he’d set the other photo. He wasn’t over here. He’d not bumped into the mantle, nor passed by it. How did it fall? He picked it up, and set it back with the other. Suddenly he felt the familiar feeling of eyes on his back and out of the corner of his eye he spotted a dark movement on the wall behind him. Whipping his head around , and standing to his full height…he spotted nothing amiss. He was alone, and there were no tree branches or bushes that could have made a moving shadow on the wall. He glanced up towards the doorframe to the other room briefly before lumbering into the kitchen and making himself lunch. He made a promise to himself to pick up a couple of cheap frames for the photos. It felt wrong to throw out the former occupants

Fuck this man with something sharp and rusty.

You knew he’d bought the property, you’d been right behind the realtor when she tested the newly made keys scowling. But you hadn’t heard his car pull up, or the door opening. You’d been innocently hovering in stasis in your room where your bed had been when the screech of furniture legs woken you up. You’d rushed down the stairs only to come up short before you slammed into the English man’s chest walking through the front door. While you were totally fine with passing through a living being, the living were usually less than pleased to feel like they’d had their breath frozen. You watched him amble into the kitchen where you spotted the source of your rude awakening. He’d shoved your dining table into the corner of the room. He had a few boxes and bins with him this time, and you watched as he began setting up an air mattress in the space where the table had been.

It wasn’t until he stood up again you’d noticed he wasn’t wearing his mask this time. Holy shit, you thought you’d had it bad when you were conked over the head with a bat. He looked like he’d been tortured. Like actually tortured. His face was nearly bisected with a gnarly scar going from one side of his jaw, over the bridge of his crooked nose, and almost to his hairline on the other side of his forehead. His lip had permanent scowl with a piece of upper lip clipped cleanly off. And he looked tired as hell. The pale skin under his eyes was purplish and puffy, like he hadn’t slept right in weeks. His right ear had a small piece sliced neatly off of the outer shell. His dirty blond hair was cut short and neat, not quite a buzz cut, but not much longer either. He was not handsome. But there was something alluring to just how dangerous he looked. Like some kind of henchman, or enforcer from a tv series. You snorted as you imagined how many people probably fluttered their eyelashes at him trying to be the ones to change the rough man for the better.

You watched as he bent down to grab his supplies and followed him into the living room. You were quietly pleased to see that he hadn’t brought in any renovating supplies with him. You weren’t quite ready to see your mother’s paint preferences leave just yet. You watched as he wiped the walls down first. You sat on the steps to watch as he scrubbed at the stains on the ceiling. You couldn’t help but giggle at the quiet curses coming from him. Your mom had never been able to get them off either. He polished the mantle quickly and efficiently, and paid special attention to the lanterns mounted on the wall. 

You saw him pick something out of the cabinets. Photos, two of them. Your breath caught in your throat when he’d grabbed them. You had no idea they were in there. You stood at his side as he examined them. You recognized the first as your parents' second christmas being married and living in the house. You hadn’t even been a glimmer in their eyes yet. You wrinkled your nose. God you looked like you dad. The second photo made you smile. You’d loved “helping” to raise the goats when you were little. You’d been so little back then. You were pleasantly surprised when the man had gently set the photos down on the mantle. You’d fully expected him to pitch them into the trash bag he’d brought in here with him. When he went back to the cabinets you’d stepped up the mantle and tried to hold one of the pictures. As per usual you failed and only managed to make it flutter and fall like a gust of wind came through. Not being able to touch and hold anything fully was by far the most frustrating part of being dead. You’d gotten better over the years, but you’d only managed to knock on walls or blow air at people so far. There were only so many opportunities to practice after all. There was only one time you’d managed to manifest yourself to be seen, that realtor had nearly fallen over himself trying to get out of the back door. Served him right for suggesting that the property would be worth more if the house was dozed. You’d gone so far as to follow him to his car and knock on the window as he flailed about trying to get the keys into the ignition.  You’d retreated to the door to watch the man finish cleaning. Admittedly his broad back was nice to look at, especially when he stood at his full height to dust off the top shelf in the cabinet. You watched as he noticed your picture on the ground, and as he gently placed it back next to your parents.

You’d flinched back a bit when his head had whipped around with precision and a glare directly where you were standing. God he was quick. Wait. What?? How did he know to look over here? You hadn’t even tried to get his attention at all yet. He seemed really preceptive now that you thought about it. He had looked at you twice during his tour.

He turned and walked into the kitchen, and you heard him open the cooler he’d brought in with him.

Maybe you ought to test just how perceptive he was sooner rather than later.

[I'm having a lot of fun writing this. This is very self indulgent. If you need clarification on anything send an ask my way, im not always very good at explaining this clearly in text]

[irisintheafterglow]

ten things, twenty-seven dresses

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ now playing: elton john - "bennie and the jets"

summary: ten things you learn about itoshi sae, an ex-footballer turned cynical commitments-column writer.

♡ part of NOW PLAYING…IRIS' ROM-COM SPECIAL ♡

wc: 2.5k

cw/tags: written with fem!reader in mind but no gendered pronouns for reader, journalist!sae, swearing, sae is an angsty bitch, lil bit of angst and then tooth-rottingly fluffy

note: the first installment for my birthday rom com special and arguably one of my favorite romcoms of all time (all the ones on the list are up there, but 27 dresses has a v v special place in my heart). hope you like it!

likes, reblogs, and replies are appreciated!

“Let’s do a little exercise since you’re terrible at telling people no.”

“I’m not bad at telling people no,” you argue, swishing your drink around in your glass. “I just…don’t do it often.”

“But what about when it hurts you?” You shrug and he stares you with a blank expression, waiting. 

“She’s my sister. Just because she wants me to plan a wedding in three weeks doesn’t mean I can refuse her. It’s literally my side-hustle,” you say weakly and can feel how ridiculous it sounds. He huffs an exhale through his nose and looks at you squarely. 

“Give me fifty dollars.” Your nose scrunches in distaste.

“No.”

“C’mon, just fifty dollars.” You start to grin a little bit.

“No!”

“It’s really not that much,” he proposes and you shake your head enthusiastically.

“Nope!”

“There you go,” he commends you with an approving smirk that would still look like a blank face to anyone else. He reaches across you casually. “Can I have your drink?”

“Sure, go ahead–Wait!” He bursts out laughing and you cover your face in your hands, defeated. “That wasn’t fair!”

“It’s alright. It’s something you need to work on. When the time’s right, I think you’ll be able to refuse.”

“How can you be so sure?” He shrugs and leaves you wondering what he means.

Things you have learned about Itoshi Sae:

#1: He’s a writer. #2: He’s great at getting on your nerves. #3: He’s covering your sister’s engagement and was the author of all the columns about weddings you loved reading. #4: He was the worst thing that happened to you since your sister falling in love with your boss (the boss who you were also in love with).

Things Itoshi Sae has learned about you: 

#1: Your handwriting is horrendous, worse than any long-time doctor’s. #2: You put a heinous amount of stickers all over your planner, which you’d left in a taxi after a slipup at his cousin’s wedding nearly gave you a concussion.   #3: You’d been a bridesmaid at 27 weddings, ensuring the event was picture-perfect. When you showed him the dresses stuffed into your closet, every time he thought a dress was ugly, the next was so much worse. #4: You were completely delusional.

“So, you don’t believe in any of the stuff you write?” 

“Not a word.” His lips form the shape of an overexaggerated ‘duh’ at the end of his sentence. Jerk.

“You…You can’t be serious,” you sputter, mouth fully agape and the handheld scanner gun forgotten in your hand. “Are you a romantic pretending to be a cynic, or are you actually a cynic that’s amazing at writing romantic crap?” 

“I’m not sure what you mean by either,” he states, the scanner registering a hideously hot pink napkinholder to your sister’s wedding list with a beep! “Though the second one–the romantic crap–sounds more accurate. Hey, take a look at this monstrosity.” Sae nods toward a rooster-shaped umbrella holder, the painted eyes mirroring your expression of shock. “For the groom’s numerous umbrellas,” he continues. Without another sarcastic word, he scans the barcode and moves on to find the next item.

“How can you be so cynical about love but write so beautifully about weddings?” You mindlessly scan a stack of porcelain bowls and three different colored Dutch ovens.

“Why would she need three different versions of that?” He responds with his own question and you don’t hide your frown. Though you’d only been forced to know him for less than a month, Itoshi Sae’s arrogance and standoffish nature was enough to have your blood boiling with every interaction. Ex-football star turned journalist, my ass, you often thought to yourself. There’s no way anyone would put themselves through the suffering that is having you as a teammate. 

“To you, those are just pots,” you inform him through gritted teeth. The high-pitched beep! of each item you scan becomes nothing more than white nois; too bad Sae’s voice couldn’t be the same. “But to her, that’s the pot we’ll be cooking our mother’s roast in for holiday dinner.” He fixes his intense blue eyes on you skeptically and you shrink away slightly. “Fine. I’ll be the one cooking it, but that’s not the point!”

“That’s the whole point,” he drawls boredly. “All this crap is stuff the billion-dollar wedding industry wants to force brides into buying, saying that they need it to have a happy marriage. In reality, did you know most divorced couples–”

“I don’t care about all that, I care about the wedding day,” you cut in before he can worsen your already irritable mood.

“Sure, and that’s why you insist on taking every responsibility so that you don’t have to focus on how lonely you are.” If looks could kill, you’d be celebrating a funeral along with your sister’s wedding. One last scan and Sae decides to take a break, settling into a nearby sofa with a loud floral print. “You know what I think?” 

“Oh, do enlighten me.”

“I don’t think you want marriage,” he states, his words striking you on your temple like the butt of a dagger. “I think you just want a wedding.” You briefly meet his eyes and find them scrutinizing you as your patience hits its boiling point. He meets your unsaid challenge and doubles down on his observation. “You like to experience other people’s happiest days because you’re not sure if you’ll ever have one for yourself. But you don’t have time to think about all that, since you’re too involved with everyone else.”

“I really wonder what sad, childhood trauma made you like this,” you seethe. “What, did you have your own fancy wedding only to get left brokenhearted at the altar?”

“Bingo.”

Your attention snaps to him, wondering if you’d imagined him confirming your poor-intentioned accusation. The withering of his otherwise impenetrable confidence doesn’t make you feel as happy as it should. You don’t ask for an elaboration, but he absorbs your silence and gives you one anyway.

“With my younger brother, no less.” He laughs mirthlessly, raising his eyebrows once in ironic amusement. “Why’d you think I left football and took the first job that hired me? If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s tell people what they want to hear. PR-shit.” 

“Sae, I’m sorry. Really.” Your cheeks burn in shame and you wait to be told to go to hell. When it doesn’t come, you try to patch up the wound you knew you tore open, saying, “It was just a guess.”

“It was a pretty damn good guess,” he sighs and guilt pangs in your chest. “You know, for being completely oblivious of your own self, you read other people pretty well.” The sentiment doesn’t make you feel better in the slightest, and his face falls more with a single long exhale. You do the only thing you can think of to make him feel better, feeding into what was irking you moments earlier.

“Wanna find the ugliest stuff and register my sister for it?” He tilts his head and looks at you curiously before the ghost of a smile appears on his mouth.

“Let’s do it.”

—

NEW MESSAGE: Hey. It’s Sae. I told my boss not to publish the article and I’m so sorry. Give me a call back.

NEW MESSAGE: Hey, it’s me. Give me a call when you can. I didn’t mean for this to happen.

NEW MESSAGE: Gonna try calling your sister. Please talk to me. I’m sorry. 

#5: He wasn’t a bad kisser.

#6: He wasn’t bad at the things…beyond kissing…

#7: He used you. Itoshi Sae used you.

Your forehead had been pounding since that morning, attributed partly to a hangover (you still didn’t know the correct words to “Bennie and the Jets,” which you’d belted on top of a bar) and partly that Sae completely humiliated you to advance his career goals. You should have seen this coming; he was shady to begin with. Stealing a page from your planner and taking pictures of every single bridesmaid dress you still kept for sentimental purposes? It was only a matter of time before he betrayed your trust, not to mention use you in the same newspaper section that you loved so much. You’d eat up the column if you weren’t the subject, ready to laugh at the person who was a perpetual bridesmaid and never a bride. If you were angry, however, your sister’s ears were blowing steam like a boiling kettle and her ego was on the brink of exploding. 

“Bridezilla. He called me a Bridezilla! How fucking dare he?” She paces across shining hardwood floors in front of you, fuming back and forth as you continue to stare blankly into space. “And you! You let him write all those things about me!” You say her name futilely, and she shakes her head. “No. No, I can’t deal with you right now. You were always too trusting,” she groaned. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault,” she reasons after a moment and you can’t tell if she’s trying to convince you or herself. She glances at the clock on the wall and rushes to slide on her shoes. “I’m getting my dress fitted, so you should go now if you wanna come. Try not to fucking embarass me while we’re out.” 

Things you learned about your sister as a bride:

#1: Despite her protests, she was the definition of a “Bridezilla.” #2: She was willing to lie to your boss (who you were still in love with…in theory) and change her whole identity to seem like the perfect girl.  #3: She had no qualms about cutting up your late-mother’s dress. The wedding dress you wanted to wear. The dress from your parents’ perfect day that she was too young to remember.  #4: When you found out that she’d cut up the dress beyond recognition, she was just a bitch who broke your heart and cut up your mother’s wedding dress. 

Things that your younger sister, the bride, learned about you:

#1: You had a lot more pictures of her during her wild college years than she thought you did. #2: You were capable of revenge.  #3: You were willing to ruin her engagement and expose her lies at her rehearsal dinner in front of her closest friends and family. #4: You spent so much time taking care of her that you’d forgotten how to take care of yourself. Things you had learned about Itoshi Sae: #8: He was willing to buy you a new phone so you didn’t need to keep using a paper planner. #9: He was the first person to understand that you needed to be taken care of.

—

“You know, I really appreciate you telling me about your sister’s ingenuity,” your boss comments as you help him clean up in his office a few nights after you took down your sister and made up with her the next day. 

“Of course, I couldn’t not tell you,” you say, your heart still sore from the constant stress of the previous few days. 

“That’s what I love about you,” he smiles at you, murmuring your name softly. “You never say no.” He looks at you fondly and something clicks in the back of your mind. It’s something you need to work on. When the time’s right, I think you’ll be able to refuse. You’re quiet enough for him to notice. “Did I say something wrong?”

“I…” You begin, steeling your nerves as your boss stops to listen. “I quit.” He blinks once, then twice, before your declaration registers in his head. 

“Sorry?”

“I quit! I’m done,” you say as your words start to gain steam. “I was only supposed to stay here for a year. I stayed at this job because I loved you.” He comes to stand close enough that you can count the colors in his eyes. They’re dull. They’re nothing like Sae’s that shimmer like the sea on a clear summer day. They aren’t blue as the waves behind a perfect beach wedding. They aren’t Sae’s.

“Do you still feel that way?”

Things that you learn about your boss:

#1: He wasn’t as good of a kisser as Sae. #2: You didn’t love him anymore, and you had a kiss equivalent to a handshake to prove it. 

You’d waited years for the opportunity to finally kiss your boss, but realized that it was meaningless and the only kiss worth having was with the asshole writer covering a wedding across the city, on a boat (cute for the happy couple, but very unlucky for you). After forcing your poor taxi driver to go faster than the legal limit and leaping from the dock to the departing boat, you shove your way through wedding guests to look for broad shoulders and a pink head of hair.

“Oh my!” You bump into a mountain of tulle and lace and realize that you’re face-to-face with the bride, whose face lights up with recognition. “You’re the bridesmaid! The one who helped all those weddings!” 

“Yes, I am,” you confirm sheepishly, an idea sparking to life. “Can I…Can I ask a favor?” The excited bride gladly quiets her band and taps the head of the microphone, effectively grabbing the attention of every passenger onboard. With a nod, she hands you the mic and you’re standing in front of a crowd of strangers. 

“Go ahead!” She whispers from behind you. You clear your throat.

“I’m…I’m looking for an Itoshi Sae,” you begin carefully, beads of sweat running down the sides of your face. You spot him in the crowd, scowling and unhappy as ever, and chuckle. “There you are.” To your surprise, Sae doesn’t look angry; he looks sad, like he was as brokenhearted as you. No time like the present to make a fool of myself, you decide without another moment’s hesitation. 

“I’ve been waiting my entire life for the right guy to come along. When you came along, you were nothing like who I expected. You’re grumpy, and cynical, and cold…” One inhale, one exhale. It was just you and him. “And there’s a very likely chance that I’m falling in love with you.” Gasps of surprise murmur through the audience and you awkwardly hand the mic back to the bride, stiffly parting the crowd to stand in front of him at a respectful distance. “Sae, I just really…um…” He considers you before the warmest smirk appears on his face.

You hate it and love it simultaneously.

“Get over here,” he hums. He tilts his head slightly, waiting for you to accept his request. After a moment, you gladly close the distance, letting his arms wrap safely around your waist and kissing him like it was your own wedding day. “I love you,” he murmurs against your lips.

—

Things you learned about Itoshi Sae, a year later:

#10: He was happy to have 27 bridesmaids at your wedding, donning the dresses you wore for their special days and finally experiencing the happiest day of your life.

if you enjoy my writing and would like to support me, you can buy me a coffee on my ko-fi! you can also check out my full masterlist here :)

[seacret-tarot]

🌙✨Moon-Day - General energy reading for the week (April 14 - 20) ✨🌙

Pick a Pile - Tarot and Oracle Reading

1 2

3 4

Hello everyone~ I've got another general check-in for the coming week! I'll be using the Shadowscapes Tarot and the Prism Oracle, because I feel colorful for this one. Please choose whatever picture you feel most drawn to.

Hope you enjoy your reading and thanks for stopping by!

[Disclaimer: Please use your own judgement when making any decisions based on a tarot reading. Magick and readings are meant to supplement, not replace professional advice. Since this is a general reading, only take what resonates with you – and at the end of the day, we all have free will and the power to shape our lives.]

Pile 1

cards: king of wands; surrender (light gray)

The King of Wands in this deck is quite literally glowing - a brightly shining presence that uses the light from within (in the form of ethereal lions) to pursue their goals. As the ruler of Wands (governing in particular creative ideas and passions, but also willpower and intuition), you might feel called upon this week to put some plans into action you've been thinking on for a while. Combined with the card of Surrender, to me it looks like there might be a project you finally decide to delve deeper into, going with the flow of your creativity and work. If you don't see yourself in the King of Wands, but someone else in your life fitting the description, I wonder if you might feel resistance to their "aura" and like you have to give in to their ideas and - possibly - demands.

Pile 2

cards: 7 of wands; mystery (warm purple)

The 7 of Wands usually speaks about wanting (or having) to fiercely protect something - in the case of this card it is a mother fox shielding her cubs from a badger. Since we're in the realm of ideas, willpower and creative pursuits, I think the Mystery in the Oracle card could symbolize your "fox babies". The society we currently live in has a tendency to weigh down on us with its incessant material and practical demands, so the childlike wonder we still might conjure in more favorable circumstances often gets undermined, dismissed and ignored. The message here is to make sure that despite what the world throws at you, you don't lose that spark and guard your creations and awe.

Pile 3

cards: the devil (15); balance (grass green)

The Devil in Tarot often speaks of addiction, feeling trapped, bad influences and deception; in classic depictions it is also juxtaposing the Lovers card (6 vs. 1+5=6) and in its imagery mirrors the Lovers, previously free but now chained down in a dark environment. In this deck, the trapped person is alone, whilst the Devil figure dances upon the enclosure, weaving webs around a small heart. The thing is, though, that it looks like the trapped person can easily reach the key to unchain themselves with; they're just not looking, too afraid of whatever the Devil above is doing. You might have given your vices and unfavorable habits too much leeway recently or convinced yourself that you're too powerless to act anyway, which is why there's a call to return to balance. The Balance card depicts two sides of a whole, which just have to be puzzled together accordingly again, before one side tips over.

Pile 4

cards: 3 of swords; reflection (pale blue)

The 3 of Swords is one of the most recognizable and clear messages in Tarot, speaking of heartbreak, sorrow and a sense of loss. In conjunction with the Reflection card, I don't necessarily think the events triggering those feelings are going to happen, but already have happened, and now it might be time to allow yourself to sit with them and reflect upon them. Maybe you tried to (or had to) rush through things before you could fully internalize and work through your experience, and now you might have a moment to truly look at it with some distance and hindsight. Alternatively, I wonder if the "reflection" you're experiencing is quite literally in another person's story, such as in a movie, book, song, game etc. and allowing you some outlet that way.

[ivystoryweaver]

3 Times Jake Lockley Tried to Kill You and 1 Time He Saved Your Life

Part 2 of 5: Gun

previous || Miniseries Masterlist || Main Masterlist || next

Pairing: Jake Lockley x f!reader

Summary: Jake creates a second chance to get the job done

Or: Will you get a new toy to play with?

Word Count: 1.8k

Content: Read all series warnings on the miniseries masterlist! nsfw, mdni, more below the cut

Part 2: Power imbalance, kidnapping, violence, language, stalking, very extremely dirty gun play, danger, masturbation, not beta'd

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

A week passed before you left your penthouse.

Jake’s boss was not a patient man, but Jake convinced him that you were unreachable for a few days, and that he was on it. He sent new surveillance pictures to calm the man down, assuring him he would take care of the problem.

He wanted to wait longer. You were hurt, after all. No way you’d completely recovered from a stab wound, but you seemed determined to get back to your life. Of course, why did he care if you were fully recovered or still hurting if he was only looking for another opportunity to kill you?

Unfortunately, your inept bodyguards Dumb and Dumber added a third. So…Dumb and Dumber and Dumbest?

He only made things worse for himself for letting you live, but you got under his skin, plain and simple.

Another week passed before he could get you alone again, and it took practically 24/7 stalking to find his moment.

So…he had definitely descended into creep behavior.

Time to get this over with.

He found you in the park again, walking instead of jogging this time. Maybe your side still hurt.

The Dummies lingered close by, but Jake could handle a challenge.

He walked right by you with a nonchalant stroll, and pushed a gun into your (not wounded) side, ushering you into his car before your idiot bodyguards could react.

Despite your fantasies about this man over the past two weeks, terror flooded your body as he steered with one hand and held you at gunpoint with his other.

His clean shaven face momentarily distracted you - perhaps his first intelligent decision. He should at least try to hide from your father, and even a slight alteration to his appearance could prove helpful. His strong, sharp jawline and pliable lips made him seem simultaneously more approachable and somehow deadlier.

“Got your present,” he smoothly intoned. The corner of his mouth curled. “Brought you a new one to play with.”

“Okay. Okay,” you gasped, holding out your hands defensively. “If you’re trying to scare me, it’s working, all right? Just…do what you’re gonna do. You're scaring the shit out of me.”

Jake tutted, but kept his eyes on the road. “You really have a death wish, don’t you, Princesa?”

“Don’t call me that,” you spat. “My father calls me that. His princess.”

Probably not a great idea to bring up your father to the man who wanted revenge against him.

Jake held his tongue, driving in silence for another few minutes. Finally he pulled the car into a parking garage and drove down the bottom level, below street level, before turning off the engine and looking over at you.

“How are you feeling?” He asked you with a certain tenderness in his coffee colored eyes, as if he actually might care.

“What? Why the fuck do you care how I’m feeling?” You snapped. “You have a gun in my face and you stabbed me. I feel like shit. Like - terrified, impatient shit, thank you very much.”

“There it is,” he appreciatively chuckled. “I didn’t think one little stab wound would turn you into a damsel.”

“You’re a fucking idiot,” you clapped back, feigning courage. “Shooting someone is a hard crime to cover up. But I’m sure you know that because you look like the kind of asshole who does my father’s dirty work. You really want me splattered all over the inside of this piece of shit you call a car?”

Jake shoved the barrel of his gun right between your eyes. “You’re calling my car a piece of shit? That’s reason enough to pull the trigger, muñeca. We don’t all have daddy’s blood money to buy us toys.”

Despite your feistiness, a loaded gun between your eyes did give you pause. Your lips trembled as Jake dragged the gun down your nose to your mouth.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he murmured, tracing the fullness of your parted, panting lips with his weapon. “Shame I have to kill you.”

If someone paid you a billion dollars, you would never be able to puzzle out why you did it: but your tongue darted out to lick the barrel of his gun.

Jake locked eyes with you as you swirled your tongue around the cool metal. “You know how to use one of these, baby?” He purred, pushing the gun into your mouth.

You nodded slightly, body trembling as you wrapped your lips around the barrel, accepting it all the way to the back of your throat until you gagged.

Jake groaned, easing the gun back toward your lips, almost completely removing it from your mouth before fucking it back into your wet, waiting cavern. You started to bob your head, sucking the weapon like a cock, eyes locked on his as he shoved it over and over again…

…to the back of your throat, gagging you, to the front of your lips until drool spilled out the corners of your mouth.

“Good girl,” he rasped, finally removing the offending metal from you completely.

Your lust-soaked panties didn’t prevent you from collapsing in a small measure of relief after your wild but dangerous display. He could have blown your head off, even by accident, and still probably intended to.

“You didn’t answer me,” he chided, using the gun’s barrel to lift your chin back up, forcing you to look at him. “I can see you know how to use that pretty mouth, but do you know how to use this?”

Shaking your head quickly, you wanted to scream as he condescendingly chuckled. “Of course not. You are a princess. Here.” Shoving the thing into your trembling fingers, he made sure to turn on the safety. He reached for your opposite hand, correctly positioning your grip in his gloved hands.

“Two hands, like this,” he instructed. “No action movie bullshit.”

His eyebrows shot up, waiting for you to respond. You slowly nodded.

“It’s loaded, but - " Positioning your finger by the safety, he showed you how to use it correctly. “Safety first. Don’t ever take the safety off unless you have a plan to get rid of a body.”

“Why?” You gasped, your hands dipping under the weight of the weapon as he finally removed his own. “How do you know I won’t shoot you?”

And he smiled. “I don’t.”

“I will,” you huffed, shoving the gun into his chest. “I’ll do it.”

Jake wet his lips, his eyes darkening as he cocked his head to the side. “Take it. You need a new toy to play with tonight, when you’re thinking about me.”

“You asshole - "

“You started this,” he lowly growled, “by sending me that knife instead of giving it to daddy.” His voice dropped an octave as he leaned in, his breath ghosting your lips. “I bet you shove this gun in your pussy the way you let me shove it into your mouth,” he taunted, slowly reaching up to put his hand over yours before pushing the gun down between your legs.

You whimpered, thinking this was it. He was about to shoot you right now.

“Safety’s on, baby,” he leaned in and breathed on your ear, pushing the gun lower until it rested over your panties.

“You’re wet right now, aren’t you?” He taunted, slowly rubbing the gun back and forth.

“Dammit, I knew you were a pervert,” you whispered, unable to muster a convincing amount of guile.

Jake immediately removed his hands, holding them up as if surrendering. “I’m never going to touch you like that until you ask me to.”

“I’ll fucking kill you first,” You growled, shoving the gun back into his chest.

He easily disarmed you, pointing the gun right at your head. “Get out.”

Shit. Shit, this was it. “I-if those are my last words, I can do better.”

He actually laughed. “Get the fuck out.”

He waited until you opened the car door before deftly removing the magazine and tossing the pieces out behind you. “Keep it. Someone’s trying to kill you.”

Reaching over to close the door, he peeled out of the parking garage, leaving you there alone. And armed. Sort of.

“Asshole!” You screamed after him.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

You dreaded your bodyguards questioning where you went and why you suddenly had possession of a weapon. But when they finally got your call, you decided to turn the tables, letting them know that if your father found out you were missing today, on their watch, he would use the gun in your hand to put holes in the backs of their heads.

They left you alone.

You were reeling by the time you got back to your penthouse, but inevitably, nighttime came.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” The smooth velvet of his voice echoed in your head. “Good girl…I bet you shove it in your pussy…”

You weren’t about to shove a loaded gun anywhere in your body, so you left the magazine out and took off all your clothes, sliding under the sheets.

“Take it. You need a new toy to play with tonight, when you’re thinking about me..”

You dragged the barrel of the gun across your hard nipples, just the way you played with the knife. The simple memory of his voice had you soaked already.

“I fucking hate you,” you whispered into the dark, somehow wishing he could hear you as you plunged the gun’s barrel into your dripping cunt.

“Oh fuck…” The metal wasn’t as forgiving as one of your toys, but your pussy clenched and quivered just the same, knowing he predicted you would fuck yourself with his weapon - that he hoped you would.

With two fingers, you circled your clit, wishing you could pant his name as you writhed and fucked down harder, but…

you still didn’t know him.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

Jake waited a few days, wondering if you’d send the gun back to him, covered in your juices, but maybe you’d wised up. If you had any sense at all, you’d give it to the police, but he was certain you wouldn’t.

His employer was growing impatient.

And even Jake didn’t understand why he was dragging his feet...except that seeing you sent a thrill jolting through him he couldn't understand.

But time to get this shit done or it would be him at the bottom of the river. The fire in your voice as you snapped back at him like a wounded animal...the memory of the rise and fall of your breasts as you pretended not be afraid of him - the misplaced desire in you to be brave, even though no one in your life cared enough to teach you basic self-defense or how to handle a firearm... You were not the victim here. Your family made victims. He couldn't be your savior.

It was you or him.

So no more games.

next

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

Jake Lockley-Centric stories

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[toseesoclearly]

The WSQK Bunker Map Wall: What Does It All Mean?

[image redacted bc of copyright strikes :( ]

hi no surprise here, I am obsessed with the map wall from last week’s leaks, let’s talk about it!

This post contains spoilers from all ST5 content and leaks so far, pls leave now if you’re avoiding any part of that.

first off, the fact that they gave us all the clues…

We can see tape and scissors are on the table of this shot of everyone in the WSQK bunker from the BTS video, along with a container with a green cap (of pins?). that plastic blue bin is also helpful to anchor us whenever it shows up in a shot.

[image redacted bc of copyright strikes :( ]

Note, a) the overall table spread places this in the WSQK bunker officially and b) the bags hanging out there also put Will & Jonathan in this scene. I think it’s likely the full group is here at this point, meeting sometime in mid/late 5.01.

So, the map wall itself! They are projecting a grid onto a map of Hawkins, and the grid's columns are labeled by letter. it's a safe guess that the rows are labeled by number, a not atypical convention in certain kinds of maps and, of course, spreadsheets. 

The color coding in the cells seems likely to be indicating the concentration of something in a given zone, since many of the cells on the right are lighter, and on the left there's some stronger yellow, orange, and more intense almost pink/red. Basically like conditional formatting on a spreadsheet, and inventing projector spreadsheets in 1987 would be a classic Nancy move tbh. 

So, the group is systematically tracking a phenomenon across town. What could it be? Upside Down activity of some kind is a likely candidate. 

Jonathan, Nancy, and Steve take a drive maybe after this in a WSQK van when it’s outfitted with the antenna. Another relevant big open Q: What exactly is the function of the antenna? Boosting radio signals is an option, esp since they put it on Steve’s car before that group’s expedition to the Upside Down in 5.04 - but I think the fact that they’re using it before now, in tandem with this new evidence they’re tracking something, has me leaning toward: the antenna detects Upside Down activity of some kind, maybe strong or abnormal electromagnetic radiation.

Lucas and Mike are also both wearing military gear. If this is 5.01 (it's at least not later than 5.02 based on Nancy's outfit), what are they doing suited up for a mission so early? I’m not sure if their task is related to what’s going on with the map wall or not, and unfortunately unlike the teens I don’t think we have enough info to do anything more than fully guess right now. (I am also mostly guessing for the teens, but I’m grateful for pieces that are even that little bit closer to coming together…)

This makes our vague and incomplete picture of the movements of the groups in Night 1:

Jonathan, Nancy, and Steve leave in the WSQK van, which based on the discussion above may be a shift in a patrol system (just a disclaimer, this is the highest potential bad data point on this list, since we don’t have visual confirmation of this entire group together here, just set rumors),

Lucas and Mike are off in mission mode together (also feeling like a task assigned as part of the full group’s strategy),

Will is being sketchy by himself, at school on his spooky tree adventure, and

Karen and Holly are at home, enjoying some chill time and then being attacked (and you’d think Ted should probably be there too but truly who knows???)

So: this leaves Dustin, Robin, Joyce, Hopper, and El as our remaining fully unaccounted for parties. (And Murray and Erica, but I think they’re more likely just living their lives.) 

They may end up as part of the above groups, or may be doing their own thing(s). Probably at least some subset stays at WSQK, especially if Hopper, El, and/or Joyce are indeed living there.

But like everyone else who we know is out and about on Night 1, they all probably get pulled into something that prevents them from changing their clothes the next morning - and actually get stuck wearing these clothes what’s looking like pretty late into the next day or even the day after until they finally change in episode 3.

(Hopper is maybe the exception, I can’t place his first outfit change but it feels out of sync with everyone else - and El is the exception in the other direction since she’s stuck in her training get-up maybe through 5.06 or later).

Tunnel Time

[image redacted bc of copyright strikes :( ]

But the still not the only asset the leak contained related to the map wall - there was also this (wonderfully, very high res) version of the Hawkins map wall, collage squares and all, overlaid with the s2 tunnel system. I would say this is a strong indicator that s5 will include a version of the map wall with that same overlay.

We’ve known the tunnels will be back for a while now based on various BTS glimpses and crew allusions to s2’s importance. But very exciting confirmation! 

If the still with El, Nancy, Lucas, and Mike in front of the map wall and grid is in the first couple eps, it’s possible the tunnel projection happens later. In fact, I think that’s likely - “The Crawl” being the first episode title gives it a special weight. I do subscribe to the theory that has been commonly speculated for the 10,000 years that the title of 5.01 has been one of the only pieces of information we’ve had about s5 that “The Crawl” is a plan (that Mike probably comes up with) where the tunnels are used to move around Hawkins a la a DnD dungeon crawl. But because of the likely timeline for when they actually use the tunnels throughout the season, it makes sense to me that the plan is concocted but not necessarily enacted during the first episode (and also there may be some double or more meaning going on).

I still don’t totally understand what their goal with the plan is if they come up with it in episode 1. But maybe it’s as simple as they’ve been aware the military is up to some funny business and are seeking a way to access their downtown base.

The other WSQK big group meeting we’ve seen so far we can now likely place later in the season, when Nancy is in her candy striper dress and Hopper and El are either not present or out of frame. (We know Nancy returns to WSQK in candy striper attire, with Steve and Jonathan both still wearing their first outfits in ep 3 based on this BTS photo.)

So, is this when they’ve switched to projecting an overlay of the tunnels map? Will and Joyce make sense as the presenters, as the S2 Tunnel Map cartographer and its #1 assembler. 

A relevant additional question: Where does the tunnel map projection come from? Either Will is keyed in enough to the Hive Mind* again that he can produce this at the appropriate scale (which you would think everyone would find pretty alarming but I know they’ve got a lot going on, plus that might not be the worst of his extremely haunted behavior atp), or they get a copy of Will’s s2 map from somewhere. So unless there was some documentation by the Party in s2 before they cleaned up the Byers’ home, that would probably involve a trip to the Lab…

*I also don’t have a great read on the supernatural mechanics of this, are the tunnels themselves still something the Hive Mind is experiencing now memories of or did the Mind Flayer leave that behind in s2, how much of this dynamic does the Party even understand (we know they - ahem Mike - have a tendency to be overconfident about their level of UD-related expertise)??? but yes feel free to fact check me on any aspect of this.

Anyways, some tunnel observations of interest to me, and maybe also you:

[image redacted bc of copyright strikes :( ]

Tunnel that crosses under the library, probably the access point to the military barracks where Robin, Mike, and the kids are in Maya’s leaked script. I think this also indicates this map is not full-on nonsense, since it seems like this matches a season plot point. 

The chunk taken out of the library rectangle on the map seems to correspond to where the building collapsed at the end of s4. Weird thing to show up on a street map if they’re not thinking about post-s4 lockdown Hawkins specifically. On that note, the shaded area is probably the downtown district, but might indicate the new military base? Though I don’t think the perimeter matches for the second option.

[image redacted bc of copyright strikes :( ]

Tunnel under the hospital, we know a fair amount of action goes down there

[image redacted bc of copyright strikes :( ]

Major tunnel convergence under the Middle School, ominous

[image redacted bc of copyright strikes :( ]

Elementary school also looking very tunnel accessible

Appendix: Yes the map contains errors, but I think we can still take it seriously

Look: there is some weirdness on the map. While it contains lots of familiar place names, a few key landmarks or street names you'd expect are missing, or show up oddly. No Maple Street (that I’ve been able to find) nor Hawkins National Lab. Cornwallis is there but feels off, terminating in the middle of town and never intersecting with a Kerley. And the tunnels don’t go out to Lovers Lake, which of course is how Bob identified that Will’s s2 drawings were a map at all.

Basically, based on what is there and rendered according to a logic that matches what we’ve seen on screen (and more importantly what we’re expecting to see), I think the production design team prioritized cohering with a few specific s5 location-based plot points (with a little bit of s4). We’ll see what happens, it’s possible there is something more reality bending going on, but that seems like the simplest explanation at this point to me. That also makes the Hawkins National Lab’s exclusion - the biggest thing I was hung up on - even make in-universe sense, considering it’s been closed for three years. So, with that in mind, I do think they did an impressive job generating something that passes muster even if you’re like, how do you not include Mirkwood or Maple come on…

Also, if I am correct about the above, the landmarks they did label and we haven’t seen in the show yet might be worth thinking about… 

so, yes, lots of observations without too many answers or clear theories. as to Q: What Does It [the WSQK Map Wall] All Mean?, the real truth is A: We do not presently have the information to know. however, that does not keep us from theorizing and I would love to hear what others think! I believe this is a real key to unlocking the season's overarching plot.

[bvckbiter]

Class ID picture time for the Alabaster Multiverse! 😁😁😁 It's Halloween, so it's his week, I fear. Inspired by drk's own DTIYS's hehe. go check them out!

this is just the first part, because there are so many alabaster variants by many amazing, talented artists that i wanna show some love to! i definitely have more on the way huehuehue. that being said, i do have a few criteria for including them in my dtiys:

Al is fully colored (not b&w or sketch)

not under harsh/dramatic lighting

not chibi!! i sadly don't do chibi that well haha

not wildly offensive or a racial caricature/stereotype... i havent seen any, but with this fandom it never hurts to be careful 💀

as i said, i already have more on the way, but if you wanna send in your own, or other's pieces that you think i may not have seen, or just want to personally see redrawn, feel free to send them into my inbox as long as they meet the above criteria and are the original links. no pinterest reposts PLEASE.

below the cut are the original pieces:

@aroaceleovaldez - 1

@percexe - 2

@drksanctuary - 3

@sunshines-child - 4

[lefarte]

I wanna know how funger boys will be like as a father :3 (if they are even there and not for the milk)

This is a long one but a good one

(I did not do the funger 1 cast because we basically already know what they’d be like as fathers but I can do that in a seperate one)

Daan

I think he would cry when the child is born.

He would drop smoking for the baby, you wouldn’t even notice until suddenly all the cigarettes in the house are gone. He doesn’t want his kid to grow up seeing him smoke, nor drink for that matter.

I think he’d worry a lot about being like his parents, so he’d overcompensate by hovering around the baby 24/7. You’d hardly get any chances to change the baby yourself because the moment he hears a cry he literally jumps out of his seat and goes RUNNING.

For the first few years he’d be very overprotective of both you and the baby. Especially the first few weeks, where he would not even leave the house. The only way to convince him to go outside would be together, while taking the baby in a stroller. And he wouldn’t want to walk far… what if the baby gets tired…

Money is no issue. He’s been living off the Eihner’s inheritance for quite a while. While he’d still have to go back to work eventually (he wants to save most of that money for the kids) I believe he would be a full time dad for at least 4 years.

He sometimes lets his baby wear his eyepatch.

Levi

Well, he doesn’t exactly have great sex ed, and times were different back then, so…. Becoming a teen father is entirely in the picture here.

He’d be terrified. He’s an addict, he has no job, he’s homeless, there’s not a penny to his name. He can’t support a family. But it’s not like he can just drop the kid at an orphanage, especially knowing everything that happens there.

I think the first thing he would do is try to find work. Sell everything that he has, sell his army uniform, sell his gun, hell he’ll even steal if he needs to. It’s one thing if he lives in poverty, but he can’t let his kid go hungry.

He’d have to work long hours suffering from withdrawal. But at least you can rest easy knowing that he’ll never go back to drugs. He doesn’t want his baby to even know that he used to be a soldier or anything that happened in his past.

He’s really fond of the baby. He has a quiet way of showing it, but he speaks to the child very softly, holds their little hand and watches over them when they sleep.

A nice thing about Levi as a dad is that he sleeps and moves so lightly that if the baby ever cries at night he can get out of bed to check on them without you ever waking up from your sleep.

“It’s so nice that our baby always sleeps through the night!” “Yeah…. 😐”

He would struggle as a father, he would not be the perfect dad, but he would try his hardest and would definitely not leave.

O’saa

He is so proud of the baby all the time even when they’re doing absolutely nothing. Like, bragging to everyone about how he has the smartest baby of all time when they’re just sitting there chilling and playing with toys.

After the birth he would want to host a celebration, to let the baby meet their family back from Abyssonia and your family as well. (Maybe a week or so after the birth as to not overwhelm you.)

His parents would spoil the baby (and you!) rotten with gifts. You’d have to beg them not to spend their whole salary on toys for them. I think Osaa would be a little embarassed as well.

One thing about Osaa as a dad is that he doesn’t do ‘baby talk’. He talks to the baby straight out of the womb as if it’s a fully grown human being, having full conversations with them.

“Gagaga….” “I see 🤔” “bababa ga ba” “and then what 🤨?”

So when the baby learns to speak they talk JUST like him. They don’t babble they go “Hello. May I have the juice.”

If the kid has long hair he’d braid it in very intricate styles, with beads of their favorite colors and everything. And he’d dress them up in unreasonably expensive clothes for a toddler. Like, why does the 3 year old need 200$ shoes…..

Overall, he’d be a little strict as a father, but a good father nonetheless.

Tanaka

When the baby is born, he sees how tiny they are and tears up on the spot. He makes a sacred vow there at the hospital to dedicate his whole life to making his baby smile.

He wants to spoil his kid and give them everything his father never gave him growing up. So that means he’s a complete sucker. Every toy the baby wants, they get. They want ice cream? They’re getting ice cream. They want to play at the park? Well, now you have to put your shoes on, because you’re going to the park.

He doesn’t let the baby meet their grandparents on his side.

He would only have about a month and a half of parental leave. On the first day he has to go back to work he hugs the baby goodbye and sends the baby into a crying fit, only for him to come back in like 4 hours because he took the absolute smallest amount of work he could take.

He spends at least an hour every day teaching the baby Japanese, so now you have a baby that speaks a language that you (probably) don’t understand. Now the kid is saying stuff like “キャンディーが欲しい” and every single time you have to explain that you don’t understand that before they start crying.

Group hugs every time he gets home from work!

Marcoh

The baby’s whole hand could barely fit around his pinky finger…

He’s always afraid that the baby will be scared of him so he speaks so quietly and gently around them. So as a result the baby has a soft voice when they talk. I think they’re also a naturally quiet baby just like he was as a kid, they don’t throw tantrums or scream.

You have to convince him, no, the baby’s not scared of you, it’s literally YOUR kid.

He tells the baby stories of his home in Vatican City and the memories he and his sister shared together. He gets a little quiet when the kid asks if they can visit someday.

It’s been nearly 20 years since his parents died. He doesn’t grieve them anymore, but sometimes he prays and wishes they could give him advice on how to be as good of parents as they were. He wishes the baby could meet them, but he can’t even visit their graves.

Also, his sister is going to hang around. Your kid and her kid are going to be raised close to each other. Keeping his family close is important to Marcoh so you’re going to have to deal with Christmas celebrations, thanksgiving, etcetera.

When the kid gets old enough to go to kindergarten Marcoh will want to teach them a bit of self-defense, just to be safe. It’s a good way for them to bond, and it’s funny seeing the tiny kid beating on a huge punching bag.

Henryk

Sobs when the baby is born, he can’t even pretend he’s not. He never wants to let go once he holds them.

The baby lives a good, cozy life in a small house in the countryside of Rondon. They’re not gonna be rich, but they’re gonna be comfortable all their life and have a happy family.

He doesn’t like his kid to sleep alone, he’s putting the crib as close to the bed as possible so he can keep an eye out while he sleeps.

The baby’s grandma is going to be very active in their lives. It’s good for you two, it puts a lot of pressure off for if you ever need someone to babysit, and the baby loves her too.

Yes, of course, the baby will learn how to cook. It’s only natural that they’ll see him working in the kitchen and want to ‘help’. Of course he keeps them away from hot stoves and knives, usually he just holds them up on his chest and allows them to stir a pot or something while he supervises.

I can imagine him trying to encourage them to play outside by playing tag or some kind of ball game and totally getting his ass kicked. Like not even “I let them win because they’re a kid”, totally destroyed. Embarassingly so. Next time they’re doing something indoors like coloring books.

Your house is gonna be right next to his restaraunt, so when he goes back to work, your kid is gonna be that kid doing math homework on one of the restaraunt tables.

Pav

I’m going to be honest with yall. Pre-Kaiser injury, he’s leaving for milk and not coming back.

He does not want the kid to grow up with a father like him, who’s a Bremen soldier, a drunkard, a smoker and a womanizer. He has shit to do, he could die literally at any time, and he’d be a horrible father. They’ll be happier without him. So he’ll leave you with some money for the trouble and walk out.

Post Kaiser injury, he’s more… somber. He can’t remember having ever held a baby. Having his own feels strange. The kid will grow up to resent him when they learn his past, and that’s hard to bear.

He will just ask you directly, “Do you really want me to raise this kid?” And if you say yes he’ll stay. You did save him after all. He could at least do one decent thing for your sake.

Money will be an issue. After he was mortally wounded, holding a steady job will be difficult. And it’s not like he has any family to support him. For a few months until he recovers you’d probably be living off what he made as a lieutant plus him doing some odd jobs, which is not exactly great, but keeps you afloat.

As inexperienced as he is, he’s pretty overprotective, especially during the younger years. He’s constantly holding the baby like someone is going to take them from him. The only other person who’s allowed to hold the baby is you and whoever you hand them to. And when you hand them to somebody, he stands upright with his hands behind his back like he’s on guard duty. (He gets embarassed if you mention it.)

Like even if some poor old woman tries to pinch the babies cheek at the supermarket he straight up growls, you have to make him stop.

He’s physically affectionate, he likes to play fight with the kid (he lets them win to make them feel stronger), poke them and ruffle their hair. He also likes the whole family to sleep in one bed to preserve warmth, that’s how he was raised.

Bonus, the kid knows how to say “fuck” and “shit” by 2 years old.

August

August is already a father, and he’s a little old to be getting you pregnant. So, yeah.

Caligura

He leaves you. And not only does he leave you no child support, he STEALS your money. Negative child support.

[cupcakeslushie]

Hi there, I love your stuff, I hope you don't mind but I wanted to do an ask the artist

Where are you from?

What's your favorite color?

How long have you been creating art for?

What drives you to make art?

What is your favorite piece of artwork of yours?

What is your favorite fan artwork that was done for you?

What character of yours is your favorite?

If you could go to any fictional world which one would it be?

Do you consider what will please your audience or do you just do your own thing?

What made you want to start your AU?

1. American! Southern girl, specifically.

2. You’d think it would be green with how it’s been my hair color for three years, and I’ve made it my signature on here, but it’s actually yellow! Like the really saturated, sunny kind! 💛

3. Oh lord. Um, since like 1st or 2nd grade.

4. I never really thought about it. I think I’m just a visual person. So if I have an idea, I need to get it on paper to really see it. I’m the same with movies, especially adaptations. I could never picture characters by reading them in books very well, but seeing them in movies I’m like, “oh okay, now I see what they were going for!” It’s also just fun. It’s my own story-telling method.

5. Fav piece of anything I’ve ever made would be one of my stained glass pieces, like my lemon one, that took me three weeks, and was one of my first bigger pieces. Digitally it would probably be my most recent dtiys cause I just don’t like looking at my older stuff.

6. Noooo!! I have so many, especially recently, that I’ve been gifted! I can’t choose just one!!! Seriously! I love everything I’ve ever been sent! I will say, I’ve been gifted a few fan fictions by now, that have had me like, mind blown—just because writing is such a thing that I’ve always admired and never really been able to fully grasp. If you’ve sent me art, it’s more than likely been my phone or iPad wallpaper, and if you’ve sent me fanfiction, I’ve probably read it no less than five times, and will continue to go back to it.

7. I mean, it’s Donnie. It’s pretty clearly Donnie. I try and be fair and love all the boys equally, but I’m not gonna lie, you all know it. It’s obvious. Just know, I’ll never ignore the others story wise 😜. But Donnie gets the most of my attention and my evil creative plots 😈.

8. Any world ever? Probably Fullmetal Alchemist—if I could actually be an alchemist. I mean, like come on—how cool is that? And like, yeah, you’ve got Father and the homucuous running around, but for the most part, the world is pretty chill and has the coolest rules.

9. The main chunks of my stories are really just what I want to see, but sometimes I can hear a suggestion and think about changing the trajectory of things. I’m always open to ideas, especially if I’m stumped on how it should go. I even change my opinions on the things I’ve established myself, I’m very open to changing a story if a better idea comes to me. I don’t think I’ve ever been like, scared to tell something because I think someone wouldn’t like it. If they don’t, that’s fine, not everything is for everyone, and some things only click with a few people. If I really want to tell a story, then I’m going to tell it.

10. It’s really so funny, because at the time, I was working on this short, post-movie aftermath comic about Leo learning to find a healthy middle ground between being the silly guy and a serious leader. But I was having trouble with the next part, so I decided to watch Arcane and doodle. I posted that little concept sheet, and it feels like…within days my inbox was full with people wanting to know more, and the more I answered, the more I was like, wait I wanna actually explore this. Tbh pretty much all my AUs have started this way. With just an idea jotted down, and then turning into something I couldn’t stop developing.