#at least some

[idiosyncraticrednebula]

I can't begin to tell you how much this pisses me off to no avail.

[micechicken]

"I love this fictional character so much I wanna make them watch their best friend die"

[muwitch]

The Fool and Strength for the romance ask?

maker bless you for sending these tarot romance asks i owe you my life once again! Finally you will know some of the lore (tm) of these guys! because lord knows when and if i am going to have it in writing! <8D

The Fool: Describe the first meeting between Rook and their love interest. What was Rook thinking at that moment? Was it an instant attraction?

There was most certainly nothing instant. 

Not only because I do think a certain in-normal-life-imperial-chantry person to be very very tough and slow when it comes to feelings, which is partially supported by his writer, but also very guarded in general. This man has to simmer and sit on it for a while for it to even dawn on him, believe me.

The requested meeting was far from epic or anything action and it happened in the first Shadow Dragon base, lovingly called the Pit, buried deep into Minrathous’ Undercity. Both Luc and Ashur were, so to say, rookies by that time, and I take  a necessary pause to explain.

[Legends and urban myths aren’t just crafted in a day. Figures like The Viper didn’t just establish themselves overnight, nor do I feel Ashur - a person already segregated from the others in real life by birth and station - just came and proclaimed himself to be a founder or a leader. In my mind he feels competent in what he does, but humble enough, which means at the roots of Shadow Dragons, where everything was trial and error, he probably started from the lowest “ranks” so to say. And he was a lot more on par with just ordinary people, despite the magic, than now, where he is, in fact, treated differently as one of the leaders and, simultaneously, as a symbol.]

Luc was doing some anonymous heists independent from Shadow Dragons by that time: he didn’t officially support Lucerni due lots of complications, but he was acquainted with Dorian (rather than Mae). And they coincidentally figured around Luc could be doing some good with more purpose, as part of the team. On the terms of strict anonymity he agreed and that was his first “introduction” to the group. 

Or, more likely, he just waltzed himself into the base, slipping past the security wards; kept everyone on their toes with “Well, there were few skewed sigils. Maybe watch for it next time” agenda - he was 8 years younger and an absolute menace. 

Of course it provoked a verbal reaction of understandably being wary of masked strangers in a secret hideout. Which was rich, coming from another masked stranger in a secret hideout. And that was probably the first line of dialogue exchanged and thought that crossed his mind. For real, he was just “some guy”! One Luc never met before! Then said figure was regarded with more thought - and attention - few things caught Luc’s eyes, sure. But it was more of a casual mental note than a great revelation - and a lot of their later interactions followed the same pattern.

Not to mention the “call me Viper” and “Mongoose, charmed” kind of exchange that was the most hilarious coincidence ever and prompted quite a pause. It was hilarious “don’t worry, I don’t bite” and dramatic sigh in retaliation; both remember that moment with both fondness and a special kind of shame you have when you look back at certain things. But sure.

Two masked guys with animal nicknames just chilling in the opposite corner of the council room because they are not like that.

Strength: Who makes the first move? How is it received? Is this reflective of their relationship dynamic in general?

This is an ACTUAL trick question too, mostly because there was a series of mircromoves and there wasn’t a move-move in a classical sense? So we’re gonna try to answer from the other way around: most of their early relationship dynamic was reliant on Lucius being the one to drive things forward, but mostly because he just had experience in that. He’s better - not by a far margin but it still counts - tuned with his emotions regarding affection, he’s the classic “falls faster” type. Not to mention he had tried things out before and his own desires - or the fact that he’s attracted to a guy - are not a shocker. Yes, it complicates things a lot, yet it’s not something to flagellate himself for. For Ashur it’s far worse in comparison, and it was so blatantly obvious, that Lucius had the decency and the romance in him to just…not press the issue in the way he probably could’ve.

He was doing some…poking around, so to speak, slowly but surely finding the boundaries that he was willingly or unwillingly allowed into, worming his way into personal space, building interaction. Yes it was a show of interest, sure, but in a sense - all complications counted - he was waiting for Ashur to show consent to those careful advances, or, at least reciprocate the interest.

(And the guy in question had a whole personality crisis because of that, believe me. Denial was strong .)

The “Move”, however, was there, sort of, and it wasn’t as grand and as romantic as it could’ve been, probably, with no great confessions. Both Viper and Mongoose often shared food on the rooftops of Minrathous - because nobody watches them which is also a lie - on the specific higher spot Luc once introduced Ashur to. Just their regular way of discussing another operation, reflecting on the previous gist in the city, while munching on some grilled meat: back to back, trusting each other to honor the privacy of being maskless and vulnerable. 

It was never a problem before, but at some point it was blatantly obvious, by the pause in the conversation, that Lucius was looking over his shoulder. He was, for a while already, but never pressing too long and turning back, satisfied with the unmuffled sound of Ashur’s voice - clear, so alike of a chantry brother, with a certain calm lilt that always washed over; it was just never that obvious before.

There was no question asked - just the different, expectant silence - Ashur had to take that leap of faith himself: what’s scarier than allowing yourself to be seen?

And then it must’ve felt right, because he did what felt natural. Turned around.

That was the first time both saw each other maskless; the moment when wonder of imagination, fueling both of their expectations, and reality finally met. The hunger to know and recognise something that was concealed and the freedom to be - in a sense - in your own skin, even for a short while.

As in received: Luc was holding it in, so the first thing he blurted out was “that’s not how I imagined your nose”; “you imagined my nose?” - “Name one person on the base who didn’t first, second - can you blame me?” - “I didn't think you had birthmarks on your cheeks”. It was an exploration and intimacy of gaze - and gaze only at that point - but it was a start.

[crewdlydrawn]

statistically speaking, SOME of those words are in the bible

[adhderall]

do women like dickless manlets if they have a pretty face

[fella-lovin-fella]

okay guys im gonna be really really brave now

[green-eyes-and-orange-ties]

Sunday Mornings ☀️

Thought process a little convoluted on this one- I was thinking if the effects of Sebastian's touch take 24hrs to wear off, then Angelo would always need 24hrs before going into work on Monday. But he would still be able to feel things Sunday, just not Seb.....

"We should get- " Angelo was interrupted by Sebastian's noises of protest.

"Hmm?" Angelo sounded as though he was thinking on it, when really he'd already conceded. "Make your case, Fen." Angelo felt Sebastian's cheeks flush at the mock formality, and allowed himself a small smile.

"I ... I don't want too."

"Okay then." Not an argument that many could use against Angelo, but then Sebastian wasn't just anyone. He felt Sebastian's smile against his bare chest as Sebastian gleefully pretended to wriggle further into the covers, against Angelo. That's not fair.

Sebastian sighed and his entire body relaxed. Angelo felt himself stop. Stop breathing, stop moving, his heart stopped (or at least in the moment it felt like it). 

This was his favourite. Sebastian half asleep in the morning. It took most all of Angelo's concentration to keep his breaths regular. How could I ever get used to this? The young man's weight fully surrendered. Every slightest adjustment and twitch felt together.

"Ange?"

"Yes?"

Breathing again, he swirled Sebastian's hair. It gave the impression of lazy and absent minded, it was anything but. Angelo watched each strand flick round, watched how the warm light gave it colours that weren't there. He tried to feel each individual hair as it passed between if fingers, tried to memorize the sensation for when-

"Do you have to go to work tomorrow?"

"Unfortunately." Every Sunday the same.

"Sunday's are the worse." Sebastian burrowed further under the covers again as if that would stop the inevitable. Angelo felt all of it. Unfair.

Sunday's were the worst.

For all the hope and warmth that Sunday's started with, the 24hr 'SF Detox' (as Sebastian called it) of having to spend the day apart together was the cruelest of life's gimmicks to date. Feeling everything except for Sebastian was worse than feeling nothing at all.

The sun was warm but inconsistent and all too often fleeting. The rain was novel at first but the brain has a funny way with associations. Apollo and Zeus were close, soft warm fur. Games with them were definitely easier when their teeth didn't hurt though. He didn't mind Sebastian's teeth. Angelo's flushed at the thought alone.

He had to have his 'augments' at work though. Soon he'd have to wait til next weekend to feel Sebastian's weight against him again. Weeks were long and slow now. Angelo spent them in pointless meeting after pointless meeting, all of which could have been emailed. He watched time eek by at a mockingly slow pace, all the while wanting to crawl out of this skin he couldn't even feel.

Of all the sensations he missed owing to his 'augmentations'; Sebastian Fen was the one that he missed most.

[semperintrepida]

This is the worst timeline. (x)

[ladybugboots]

distant past

[kochei0]

I turn to Ares.

Thanks to Tyler Miles Lockett who allowed me to draw inspiration from his ARES piece for page 2! Look at his etsy page it's SICK

⚔️ If you want to read some queer retelling of arturian legends have a look at my webtoon

[marfian]

So act 3 huh

[lazylittledragon]

some domestic shadowlachs <33

[batcavescolony]

Katniss is such an unreliable narrator. She says "Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of District 12 as a place that cares about me" girl you deliver strawberries to the Mayor, you hunt and trade for the district, when you fell at Prim being chosen someone caught you, when you went to Prim people parted for you, when you volunteered EVERYONE stopped. Idk how to tell you but I think you're a pillar of the community.

[finalbiohazard]

The gag t-shirts got too personal

[otaku553]

Turning around an idea in my head recently :)

Lost Shepherd (Time Travel) AU

In which Truthless Recluse doesn’t experience rebirth and awakening upon shattering his soul jam, but the explosion of his and Shadow Milk Cookie’s combined power in a twisted space where all time coexists as one sends him back in time to his childhood.

When Pure Vanilla Cookie searches for his lost sheep, he finds a lost shepherd to take home as well.

[astriiformes]

Really says something about the dire state of offerings for men interested in sewing their own clothes that even searching things like "interesting men's clothing patterns" brings up articles with links to four or five whole websites that primarily offer admittedly nice but practically identical patterns for making button-ups and work pants and maybe a varsity/bomber jacket if you're lucky.

(Branching out into historical costuming for everyday wear is like your one shot at variation, and even then, the ratio of men's to women's patterns on every website is frustrating to say the least.)

Patternmakers as a trans man I am begging you. Give me a little more to work with here.