#because that's done and ready to go

[edmunderson]

previews of two more belaloallure tops and ribbon pants :)

[bittsandpieces]

seven minutes in heaven but that's how long each person at the party gets to spend inside my cunt

[sualne]

more about the AU!

(timeline)

[demaparbat-hp]

Want to know what I believe? It's right here

Dig a little deeper and it's crystal clear

.

(WIP)

[screechingfromthevoid]

You know what I love about the kiss? How fucking joyful it was. It was so light and so happy and so freeing.

The confession was so heavy and came at the last possible moment. Dorian was in his lower register, careful and eloquent. Orym had folded in on himself, shy and quiet. They have the weight of the world in their shoulders and they just needed a moment alone together. To say I love you. To let the other know. It all hinged on the moment before there was no going back.

But this. The kiss. It was after laughter and wedding planning and appreciating little things like lavender honey. Everyone was smiling. Everyone was feeling good. For whatever reason it didn't feel hopeless then. In that moment futures existed. Tomorrows existed. And Orym had one. Orym had a future and a tomorrow in Dorian.

Orym was so moved by all the happiness in the air that he confidently took Dorian by the hand to bring him out to the hall, told, then asked, him he was going to kiss him. All of Orym's fears melt away for ten whole seconds. Dorian stuttered and fumbled his words and kissed him back.

It was so cute. It was so joyous.

You know what it reminds me of? The stolen century. After Lup and Barry fall in love over years and years and they play this beautiful duet together. They lock eyes and smile at each other and steal away, running up the valley, away from it all. That moment of holding each other and just keep on not letting go.

The unrelenting giddiness of it all. The excitement. The glee. The promise of future. Wanting a future. Especially if it's together.

[stromblessed]

henry and hans and kcd's coming-of-age themes turn into an absolutely compelling gordian knot if you insert one trope in particular, one you'll see in historical fiction and epic fantasy every so often, and one i heard a few times in my fundamentalist religious upbringing:

that homosexual attachment is a sign of immaturity

henry and hans both have some growing up to do throughout the games. henry was coddled by his parents, hans' adolescence seems perpetual. they - hans in particular - use and discard women as they please, risk their own dishonor in a dozen ways, are naive about politics, can pick and choose tenets of chivalry when it's convenient with little self-awareness, and most strongly highlighted in the narrative: they want to live a life of adventure free of real responsibility

that last one in particular isn't all bad, it's just painfully innocent, and a painful misunderstanding on hans' part especially, who is only just beginning to see how not free he truly is. but it's also, for me at least, a big part of what drives the romanticizing of hans and henry's relationship, a big part of how arthuriana can be inserted into their narrative, and an excellent tool for yearning

the trope i mentioned can basically be a way of saying: sure you, a boy, want to kiss boys. that's all well and good. but that's not real love and it's not a serious relationship because in this society, you can't take that into adulthood. when a boy becomes a man, he marries a woman, has children, takes up real responsibilities, and leaves behind childish things. and those homosexual feelings are childish because if you commit yourself to them, it will never lead to maturity - wife, kids, contribution to society, godliness, the aptitude to resist temptation. recall that in kcd's medieval period in catholicism, active suffering (be it mild or severe) without giving in is what makes you saintly

for girls and women, rinse and repeat but for all the implications that come with being female instead of male re: expectations and responsibility

a major story thread binding henry and hans together is how they free each other. hans, through his adventurous nature and his privilege, and often with his recklessness, launches henry from a life of serfdom and servitude into one of renown, heroism, and exploration. (this isn't a part of canon due to the timeline of storytelling, but i like to think that if everyone was serious about henry being hans' right hand, henry would also have been given a noble's education rather than him needing to figure it all out himself to support game mechanics) henry gets the more literal role by physically saving hans again and again, but also by being hans' one real friend and support in the world as far as we can tell. they make each other's stories more interesting and more fun. we actively want them to have that life of adventure and freedom together

and hans cements that longing by bringing lancelot and galehaut into the romantic plotline. lancelot and galehaut had that life together, and their myth is permitted and loved by kcd's medieval world because it operates within this lowercase-"r" romantic realm of loyalty, devotion, fantasy, courtly love, and friendship. even today, a capital-"r" Romantic interpretation of their story would be considered just that: an interpretation. the masses would have considered lancelot and galehaut to be the pinnacle of platonic - utter love and devotion while still being, for lack of a better word in this analysis, "mature"

i actually thought it was viciously clever of the kcd writers to include an arthurian myth in hansry's romance because of the meta of it all. a platonic interpretation of lancelot and galehaut is the mainstream. a platonic interpretation of henry and hans is (WAS) the mainstream. even in the game, henry can respond to hans' story very innocently, as though the capital-"r" Romantic undertones have flown straight over his head, such that hans has to gently guide henry toward the conclusion. i'm not even fully convinced that hans himself sees lancelot and galehaut as fully capital-"r" Romantic - i AM convinced that he heard about their life of devotion and freedom and adventure together and that whenever it was that he saw henry and put two and two together, he felt a longing so strong that it 180'd his character development

and their kiss hits like the most satisfying lightning strike ever because. you mean to tell me that's not mature?

hans is crying at the thought of henry's death, and then again at the almost-reality of his rejection. hans' voice breaks for the first time EVER in game. it's the most serious and solemn we've ever seen him, even the most desperate. it's the craziest, most delicious whiplash from every time we've seen him and his cockiness with a woman. henry experiences the full spectrum of human emotion in 2 minutes. it is by far the most serious and, in my opinion, most heartfelt love scene he can have in both games. it is absolutely the most risky romance for henry, too. and afterward, hans and henry are both all in - even though we know that hans' intentions to skirt or cancel the wedding will come to naught. they are committed

they've grown into their manhood together and made each other better people. because we see behind the closed door that henry locks, we see that their romance is just an extension of that character growth. whereas our trope would say that their growth is stunted. it's never stated outright because it shouldn't be and doesn't need to be, but the masterclass of growth and emotion in the hansry plotline stands as its own proof of the fallacy of that "homosexuality is immature" viewpoint, as well as all viewpoints that romantic relationships are cheaper or less pure than, say, masculine friendships. the only difference between platonic and romantic hansry is hans' willingness to act on his feelings, as many have pointed out before

and so i cannot even tell you how fast all the breath left my body when hanush IMMEDIATELY slams reality home with the wedding conversation. henry and hans' silent exchange. hans' immaturity has been a thorn in hanush's side for the entire story. and now he's going to strongarm hans into that mainstream view of maturity. the very thing that hans wanted all along - now keeping him from henry, the actual real physical manifestation of all the love, devotion, freedom, and recognition that hans has ever REALLY wanted. the irony is so delicious because hanush doesn't know about hans' homosexual feelings - but the theme is there, the trope is there, hovering, and haunting, and so masterfully and absolutely disproved so very recently, and so the player can only sit there, crushed and grasping for any hope

so yeah. the tangle of homosexuality being perceived as immature, vs. hans and henry showing real immaturity throughout the first game especially as they fumble through heterosexual dalliances and chivalry and politics, vs. hans and henry's gay love for each other being the most mature love they've ever experienced, vs. the platonic ideal of masculine friendship not actually being that different from true romantic devotion, vs. mainstream societal expectations of family and masculine leadership being neither much of a choice nor true freedom, vs. henry and hans' friendship and love being a real representation of a life of adventure and daring that would in fact hold them back from their society and challenge what society has led them to believe they should want out of adulthood (henry: settling down and all that comes with it, hans: power, recognition, his birthright)

[casualavocados]

#he doesn't want to fight with you ai di, he wants to Kiss🙄💘🥺

Nat Chen as CHEN YI KISEKI: DEAR TO ME (2023)

[pumpk-n]

you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the boys who gave you gender envy in junior high

[kingkatsuki]

Yeah short skirts and crop tops are sexy— but there’s just something about a man that finds you so attractive wearing clothes that shouldn’t be considered typically sexual. Like baggy sweats or his old, worn shirt.

Those plain, boring outfits that aren’t planned and are just thrown together for comfort and practicality that have his dick throbbing for you as he imagines bending you over the nearest surface.

[sharkaroni]

Happy birthday to The Plum Calendar!!!

I can't believe it's already been a year since I posted chapter one. I really thought it was gonna bomb completely, but it picked up and you guys were so incredibly sweet and supportive and still continue to be, even though I haven't written anything in a while.

I figured, to celebrate, I'd post an old deleted scene from chapter 8. watch out, jealousy fans!

(This was supposed to go at the end of the scene where Reigen talks to Buddy on the last day. I'll put the end of that scene in for clarity, but the deleted scene starts at "Hey.")

”Buddy, it doesn’t matter to me if he loves me,” Reigen said, and it felt like a confession. ”If I’m headed for a broken heart, which I guess I am, then that’s what it is. I’ll be getting him home, though. I owe him that much.”

”You mean you know?” Buddy breathed, ”You would willingly suffer all this for a man you know doesn’t love you?”

”I guess I would. I am.”

”Reigen,” Buddy sighed, placing his hands gently on Reigen’s waist, ”That is pitiful.”

Yeah. Felt that way.

”Hey.”

God, as if Reigen’s morning wasn’t already shitty enough. 

Now, there wasn’t even a chance of him getting to covertly stuff this deeply jarring little heart to heart into the cavity of his chest and leaving it there. Because Serizawa was coming down the corridor with new blue robes and a complicated expression on his face.

”Serizawa—”

”Serizawa-dono,” Buddy interrupted, not taking his hands off of Reigen. ”Good morning. Reigen-sama and I were just having a private conversation.”

While he didn’t stop smiling (did he ever stop smiling?), Buddy stiffened as Serizawa approached. Serizawa looked unhappy. He shouldn’t look unhappy. Reigen had left his rooms less than 15 minutes ago, and everything had been fine, then.

”I can see that.” Serizawa didn’t even acknowledge it, just firmly grabbed Buddy’s pale wrist, and summarily removed his shitty ghost hands from Reigen’s waist. ”Anything we can help you with this morning, pal?”

Frankly, Reigen felt a bit ridiculous. Like the heroine in some cheap romance where she couldn’t speak for herself. 

But he also couldn’t really fight something very smug and appreciative from bubbling up to the surface, when Serizawa stood close, and put his hand on the small of Reigen’s back in a way some might describe as protective. Possessive, even. Serizawa was glaring. Since when did Serizawa glare?

”Not at all, Serizawa-dono,” Buddy said. ”Enjoy your breakfast.” 

He turned, and moved to leave.

”Hold on,” Serizawa said. ”Is that Reigen’s tie?”

Stopping in his tracks, Buddy looked back at Serizawa and held the stained scrap of fabric tighter.

”It is. Last night, he left it in my keeping.”

”Well, I appreciate you returning it.”

Serizawa held out his hand for it. Reigen wracked his brain, but it was hard to think of another time Serizawa had been this assertive. Well, Reigen supposed Buddy was a ghost. And Serizawa did make his living melting those into spectral slime.

”Oh,” Buddy smiled, ”Reigen-sama left it to me as a gift.”

Serizawa turned to Reigen, unimpressed look on his face. ”Did you?”

”I spilled sauce on it and left it next to my plate.”

”Right. Glad that’s cleared up.” He gestured a little more insistently with his still stretched out hand.

Buddy handed it over.

”Great.” Serizawa’s polite smile didn’t really reach his eyes. ”See you around.”

”Reigen-sama, if you wish to finish our conversation at any point—”

”He’s good.”

Reigen wasn’t used to being spoken for. Generally, he spoke too much himself. But something about Serizawa’s short tone made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

Buddy dipped his head in a fake little bow, and finally left them alone.

Serizawa waited until Buddy had disappeared behind a corner, and then cleared his throat. ”Sorry I couldn’t fit the word ’mitts’ in there.”

Right.

Last night, Reigen had told him outright to play jealous. And Serizawa, as he was wont to do, had delivered.

Still. Serizawa kept his hand on Reigen’s back.

”I think you got your point across.”

There was a beat, as Serizawa seemed to look around for whatever it was he wanted to say.

”So, uh,” he settled on. ”What was all that about? You look a little…”

Reigen took a step back. Buddy was gone. There was no need for Serizawa to keep holding him like he mattered.

”Nothing. He was just being a dick about the tie.”

”Ah,” Serizawa said, with a tone like he knew it wasn’t just the tie he was being a dick about. ”Good thing I intervened, then.”

He held out the tie to Reigen. It was scrunched up. The stain was really bad.

”Yeah,” Reigen said, taking it. ”…How much of that did you hear, exactly?”

”Uh, none of it. He was standing very close to you. Not exactly broadcasting to the whole garden. Why, did I interrupt something?”

Reigen rolled his eyes. ”Shut up. What are you doing out here anyway? Not much of a point of me going on ahead if you leave right after me, is there?”

”I was called for breakfast. You weren’t?”

”She sends me breakfast in my room.”

”Oh. Do you want to come anyway? Show her the, uh, new strategy?”

It made strategic sense. It made a lot of strategic sense. Really, Reigen would be an idiot to pass up an opportunity like that. Worse, he’d be a hypocrite, to have told Serizawa off for wasting a chance to play up their couple act, and then turn around and do the exact same thing himself. 

But the idea of sitting next to Serizawa, having him look at Reigen, touch his lower back or the nape of his neck, say something sweet without seeming to think…it made him sick. Reigen felt more and more like he wasn’t getting out of this the same as he’d gone in.

”I think it’d be in my own personal best interest if we let Kamehime cool off for a while before she sees me again.”

”Right.”

”But find me when you’re done? We should go over what you’re gonna say tonight.”

”Of course. I’ll eat quick.”

”Don’t choke.”

Serizawa smiled as he left, and Reigen went back to his empty room.

Hope you liked it!

In the end, I just couldn't justify keeping this in. I wanted Reigen dejected, insecure and isolated in the next scene (and the lead up to Serizawa's confession) and it just felt like too much tonal yoyo-ing. Also, I wanted the tie to be gone for the final scene in the epilogue (you know the one).

Anyway, if you were one of the original readers of plum calendar, i love you and i had so much fun getting to know you. peace and love on planet earth!!!!

[ricky-mortis]

A portrait of Sir John Herschel because I‘m normal about Pulp Musicals

[moeblob]

MerMay ft my wind deity OC Ananza (because I drew the water deity last year and then didn't draw any other Mermadeities)

Her tail inspired by the lionfish type spikes (also possibly because of some being turkeyfish and turkey = bird and she's wind which makes more sense than lion = cat for ... not wind) but it's just loosely inspired. Since Ananza isn't actually a hostile deity and really wants freedom and calmness above all I decided four spikes is plenty to get the point across.

And! Her tail has the slightly seaweed resemblance with the green fins.

Thank you.

[forgettable-au]

The comic is coming back this week! WOHOO

Start of chapter 2!! Yayy!

[isca-rambles]

Tim putting little boots in Lucy's locker because she's technically a rookie TO (temporary or not) so he can call her boot again. that's it. thank you for coming to my ted talk.

[rubenesque-as-fuck]

Anyway I keep tearing up a little because today he told me that he thinks that my body is perfect as it is 🥹 and it didn't feel like he was pandering or patronizing me, it just felt earnest and sweet

[blackbearmagic]

My new museum job sent out the schedule for next week.

For my first two days, I'm down to shadow a specific part in one of their biggest tours. ("Biggest" in the sense of staff involvement, length, and popularity.) On my third day, I'm down as doing the part with someone watching me. On my fourth day, it's just me.

Ground, running, hit it, got it.