#but i have improved without realizing. how satisfying

[clumxy]

Redrew old art from 2022!!

[cluescorner]

The most important thing about a Megatron ship is that it cannot end well.

[glowettee]

🦢 you don't need more tips, you need to trust yourself

hey lovelies!! mindy here, back with another "no aesthetics post". so i've been thinking about this a lot lately (like, literally in the middle of the night when i should be sleeping but my brain won't shut up??) and i realized something that honestly changed everything for me. we're all obsessed with consuming advice, tips, strategies… but at some point we need to ask: is all this "help" actually helping?

i used to be that girl with 27 self-help books on her nightstand, 14 productivity podcasts in my queue, and approximately 10000 saved posts about "how to live your best life." i was drowning in good advice. and yet? i wasn't actually doing anything with it all.

here's the uncomfortable truth that i personally learned: collecting self-help is often just another form of procrastination. we trick ourselves into thinking we're making progress because we're "learning," but we're actually just avoiding the scary part, taking action when we don't feel ready.

✧ when you know it's become a problem:

you feel like you need to read "just one more" article before starting

you have notebooks filled with advice you've never implemented

you follow dozens of gurus but haven't committed to any single approach

you constantly switch systems hoping to find the "perfect" one

you know what to do but still feel paralyzed

you use phrases like "once i learn enough about x, then i'll start"

you feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice but keep seeking more

the most painful realization? all this consumption is actually making you less confident. every new piece of advice makes you question your instincts more. every contradicting tip makes you doubt your judgment. every perfect "before and after" makes you wonder what's wrong with you.

✧ why we get stuck in the advice loop:

consuming feels safe. implementing feels risky. reading about someone else's success story gives us the emotional satisfaction of achievement without any of the messy work or potential failure. it's like emotional junk food, momentarily satisfying but ultimately empty.

plus, there's something so alluring about the promise that the next book, the next course, the next system will finally be THE ONE that changes everything. we become collectors of solutions rather than solvers of problems.

✧ how to break free (ironic, i know… more advice):

declare an information fast. seriously. no new self-help for at least 30 days. it will feel uncomfortable, like an itch you can't scratch. that's how you know you need it.

pick ONE system or approach you've already learned and commit to it fully. not perfectly, just consistently. the magic isn't in finding the perfect system, it's in the consistent application of any decent one.

start before you feel ready. that knot in your stomach when you think about taking action? that's your growth edge. the discomfort isn't a sign to seek more knowledge, it's the signal that you're about to grow.

recognize that implementation creates wisdom that consumption never will. you'll learn more from a week of messy action than a year of perfect theory.

identify your "consumption triggers" do you reach for advice when you're afraid? uncertain? compare yourself to others? notice the emotional patterns.

create an "already know" document. write down everything you already know about your goal. you'll be shocked at how much wisdom you already possess.

trust that you are the expert on your own life. external advice can inform you, but it can never know the nuances of your specific situation like you do.

the truth is, you already know enough. you've probably known enough for a while now. the answers you're seeking outside yourself are usually already within you, buried under layers of doubt and other people's opinions.

what if the most radical act of self-improvement isn't finding new advice, but trusting the wisdom you already have? what if you already have everything you need?

so this is my gentle nudge to put down the self-help, close the tabs, unfollow the gurus (yes, even me if you need to), and start the messy, imperfect process of actually living instead of just learning about living.

because honestly, the world doesn't need more people who know all the right theories. it needs people brave enough to take imperfect action on what they already know.

xoxo, mindy 🤍

p.s. if you're wondering "but how will i know what to do without guidance?", that's exactly the point. you won't know for certain. and that uncertainty is where the real growth happens. trust yourself anyway.

[ko-existing]

Running in Circles, Searching for What?

Readers often describe feeling trapped in a loop: searching, chasing, doing more to get somewhere. Hoping for progress, proof, or an improvement that justifies all the effort. But here’s the real question:

Has it brought you anywhere?

Take a moment. How long have you been seeking? Months? Years? Have you "found" anything, or is it just more seeking, more questions, more frustration? You run in circles, chasing shadows, hoping the next practice, insight, or realization will be "it."

It’s not wrong to feel this way, but consider this: the very act of searching implies you think there’s something missing—something you lack that needs to be attained. But what if the assumption itself is flawed? What if the one seeking is the very illusion you’re trying to unpack?

Let’s step back and look at the nature of a "dream".

When "you" seem to "dream" at night, no matter what the "dream" looks like—whether it’s exciting, terrifying, or mundane—"who/what" is always "present"? Who is there in every "dream"? And how do you even know it’s a "dream"? You can feel sensations arising, hear the sounds, and even "think" within the "dream". Sounds familiar, no?

Now look deeper: where is the dream coming from? What gives it its apparent existence? When the dream ends, where does it go? And in those moments of so-called deep sleep, when you say, "I didn’t dream at all," how do you know that gap was even there? What remains?

In every dream, there’s an undeniable Knowing—a "presence" that holds it all, isn't there? The dream is fleeting, but the Knowing of it isn’t. It’s there whether the dream is "vivid", "faint", or "absent" altogether. And that same knowing is "present" now, reading these words, isn't it? You don't have to use any thoughts to notice.

So.. what are you really searching for? The next “aha” moment? A tangible shift? Something to confirm, “Yes, now I’ve got it”? But who would "get it"?

All there is, is this—this effortless "awareness" in which everything arises and disappears.

All seeking starts to dissolve when you see that what you’re looking for isn’t "out there." It’s the same presence that’s already aware of the seeking, the frustration, and the loop itself. Just like in a dream, you’re chasing answers without realizing you’re the space in which the entire dream unfolds.

Here’s the thing: I can tell you this over and over again, and I can write endless words about it, but at the end of the day, you have to see it. Nothing I say or anyone else says will make it clearer to you than seeing it directly.

Think of it like this: imagine I tell you about the taste of a "Tsampa" (tibetan foodstuff). Let me try to describe it—Tsampa has a simple, earthy taste—kind of nutty and a little smoky because it’s made from roasted barley. It’s pretty dry on its own, but when you mix it with butter tea (bo cha) or milk (or water), it turns into a creamy porrdige that’s super satisfying.

Do you now know how it tastes based off of this short description? No matter how much anyone tries to describe it, you wouldn’t really know what it’s like until you actually try it yourself. You might feel like you “get it,” but until you actually taste Tsampa (-Porridge) for yourself, it’s all just words. The actual direct experience is yours to have, and words will never compare to it.

It’s the same here. Look at the loop you feel stuck in. Look at the dreamlike nature of every experience. Look at what’s behind the looking itself. And notice: the seeking, the searching, and even the apparent struggle—what is all of it arising in?

The dream at night is your perfect clue. Who’s been there in every dream, in every scene, in every story in and out of it? Who’s the constant presence beneath it all? If you truly see that, will there be any questions left?

[save-the-villainous-cat]

"Are you sure you're okay?"

The hero couldn't only hear the villain's heartbeat increase, they could also feel it. Sense it.

Most of the time, the hero managed perfectly to incorporate this (very unfortunate) condition of theirs into their normal life. It wasn't much of a burden and immortality, although they hadn't had it for long, turned out to be quite interesting.

"Yup," the hero said. But the hunger was probably the worst part about it.

The first few weeks, the hero had taken rather embarrassing measures and slaughtered farm animals outside of the city. Although it was enough blood to satisfy them, it turned out that being a vampire wasn't primarily about the blood.

It was about the power. When their prey struggled, the hero's mood improved considerably and not only that, they also didn't need to feed on something alive for quite a while after a pleasing kill. It was about the struggle, about the fight.

About sinking their fangs into soft, warm flesh. It was about survival.

"You are drooling all over my wrist." The villain did not act like it but the hero knew they were scared. Their heart was raging and their pupils were blown up, almost like they feared the hero would attack them any second now.

But, of course not. The hero could control themselves perfectly. After all, they were supposed to serve the people of the city.

The hero was a specialist when it came to figuring out how to change. When the farm animals had started to become unappetizing, the hero switched to blood donations - which was surprisingly even worse - and suffered ever since.

But they prevailed.

It was part of the deal, they supposed. Vampires suffered just like people did and they couldn't betray the trust the people had put in them.

"A little greedy, aren't ya?" the villain asked and when the hero looked at them, they realized their lips were already on the villain's wrist. Their own fingers dug into the villain's forearm and they had, in fact, slavered all over their enemy's wrist.

Slowly, they parted from the villain's arm and ultimately, let go of it. It wasn't even embarrassing. The hero had accepted that they weren't quite "normal" anymore and that was fine.

Supposedly, their thoughts had carried them away. In general, the hero tried to minimize contact with people but the villain was kind of...unavoidable. And with the hunger? With the villain always being this close? What was the hero supposed to do?

"You didn't listen to me in the slightest, huh?"

The hero stared at them, almost dumbfounded. They couldn't tell when their brain had shut off, all they knew was that they had been injured pretty badly. The villain had found them. They had passed out. And now, they were in the villain's apartment.

Without hesitation, the hero looked down their body and lifted their shirt. Instead of the open and bleeding wound, there was a fresh scar on their abdomen, quite painful but not as bad as before.

That probably explained the hero's demonic hunger - they needed energy. Lots of it.

"Not really."

"I suggested..." The villain stared at their wrist full of saliva and rubbed it on the hero's shirt dry. Before the hero could say anything, the villain put a hand on their thigh and squeezed gently. They leaned over. "...that you might be in better hands if you joined me."

"Pff." The villain's heart was going crazy by now and the hero was impressed they were hiding it so well. Fear was a horrible feeling but ultimately, that was exactly what the hero found so satisfactory. "What's this? Seducing me to the dark side? What a pathetic attempt."

The hero raised their index finger, as if to lecture the villain.

"I have sworn to protect-"

"-every citizen of this city with all the power and mightiness I can offer, blah blah blah. I know," the villain said. "But have you considered that we might be..." The villain's hand crawled up the hero's thigh and the hero's eyes widened. "...more powerful together?"

"I am not interested in power," the hero said.

"Hm," the villain answered. They touched the hero's cheek gently and it became quite impossible to ignore the villain's heartbeat. Especially when their wrist was this close to their head. The villain smirked. "Is there nothing I can offer you?"

The hero stared into the villain's eyes and didn't dare to look away, not even when the villain shifted their hand so their wrist brushed the hero's lips.

"There is absolutely nothing...?" The hero could feel the blood pumping through the villain's veins against their lips. Images of the villain begging and moaning shot into the hero's head. Them turning, them somehow enjoying it when the hero let their kisses turn into bites.

Salvation came in many ways and the hero supposed they had been wrong.

It wasn't about fear. It wasn't about seeing someone or something struggle. It was about deliverance.

Deliverance from life. Deliverance from…other things.

It was torture either way and it slowly dawned on the hero that for the second time, they had been wrong. The villain was probably not afraid of them.

Christ, the hero wanted to bite. They wanted to break skin and taste blood.

They could have been gentle. They could have been really gentle for the villain.

"Well..." The villain pulled away their wrist and tilted their head, leaving the hero with a black hole in their stomach and a tendency for extreme violence they tried to hold back. "You know where to find me, in case you change your mind."

They smiled a sweet smile but the hero considered them to be a special kind of demon at the moment. Straight from hell, straight to torture them.

The hero gave back a pained smile, clearly moments away from snapping. But not even that hindered the villain from kicking them out of their apartment promptly.

[floridecuts]

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Epilogue

And here's finally the loooong last part of this comic project! It's a weird feeling to finally reach the end, after all these months. But I'm especially proud of how these pages turned out! ^.^ They somehow look so much better compared to all the others! As I already mentioned this is a collaboration with my friend MoonflowerSong. Actually, it is thanks to her that this part even exists, as she was the one to got me into this shipping with her wonderful Yashita Fanfictions! She helped me immensely with this part when I was struggling (I'm better at dramatic stuff than fluff tbh ^^'). So, while the art was done by me, the whole script behind this part is her work, apart from some tiny adjustments/additions. So I want to thank her one more time for that, and give another shoutout for her works! I'm gonna put a link to her AO3 profile at the bottom, go check her works out if you're interested, they're super sweet! Also again, and sadly for the last time, I want to express my gratitude to everyone reading, liking and/or reblogging this project, especially the ones who left comments!! I don't think I would have come this far without the motivational boost from you, as usually my motivation to work on longer project drains very quickly. So, thank you so much for joining and supporting me on this ride! <3 <3 I am glad that there is some people who enjoyed this random story idea! Though, this will not be my last post for Death Mark for sure! I will draw more art for this fandom, just no comic anytime soon, I need a break after this one. xD

Sooo, after all this rambling, about this part: Yashiki and Mashita have finally become a couple, hooray!! I think the comic explains it all, but to be sure here's a quick summary: Yashiki has had feelings for Mashita for a while, but wasn't aware of them. Though, when he was under the Departed's curse, locked inside his own thoughts in some kind of semi-conscious state, he had a lot of time to think about himself and his life. After he started sensing the emotions of his friends around him when they visited him in the hospital - especially Mashita's - Yashiki became aware of these feelings and finally figured out their meaning, while also realizing how similar they felt to what he picked up from Mashita. After yashiki woke from the coma and was recovered enough, he felt the need to talk about it with Mashita as soon as possible. After all this time he had spent thinking about how to confess to him, Yashiki wanted to get these words out before he'd loose his confidence.

In the end, neither of them realized they had been watched the whole time by two nosy teenagers. Keeping the change in their relationship a secret will be impossible now, as I'm sure the news will spread quickly among the Mark Bearers. xD I actually had planned to give Daimon a last appearance here, catching the girls spying and shooing them off. But this part already got longer than anticipated and this actually seemed to be a good point to end it on, so I left it there.

Thank you again for reading! Hope you all have a nice week! I will be back, probably next weekend, with new Death Mark art.

Thanks for taking a look! :)

Link: MoonflowerSong on AO3

[Personal thoughts/review on this project: I am amazed how much drawing this comic has helped me improve my art skills in several fields! It might not be visible for some, but I clearly feel the change. I can really recommend to give it a try, especially artists who are struggling to improve! Not only does it keep you in a drawing routine, but it also forces you to go out of your comfort zone for some poses or perspectives you want to depict. And lastly it is also very fun and satisfying to get a story idea onto paper and see the results! ^^]

[inmyglowupera]

Mindset shift #2: Plateaus are part of the process and key to the success of longterm weight loss.

Plateaus are not roadblocks—they’re milestones. They show that your body is adjusting to the progress you’ve made so far. Instead of seeing them as failures, view it as a reward for your hard work. As your body giving you a break so you can recharge and reevaluate.

Why Are Plateaus Important to Your Weight Loss Journey?

When you lose weight, your body needs time to recalibrate:

• Metabolism: Plateaus prevent metabolic adaptation, where your body slows down calorie-burning to preserve energy.

• Hormonal Balance: Hormones like leptin (which regulates hunger) and cortisol (stress hormone) stabilize during plateaus, reducing stress on your body.

• Muscle Preservation: Slower weight loss during plateaus gives your body a chance to retain muscle mass.

What to Do During a Plateau:

1) Don’t Rush to Make Changes: Give your body time to adjust to recent weight loss before altering your diet or exercise routine. Sometimes, patience is the key to moving forward.

2) Focus on Restorative Acts: Prioritize sleep management and stress management, as both play a critical role in weight loss. Poor sleep and chronic stress can disrupt hormones like cortisol, which can hinder progress.

3) Celebrate Non-Scale Victories: Progress isn’t just about the number on the scale. Look for improvements in strength, stamina, mood, energy levels, or how your clothes fit.

4) Reflect and Reassess:

Use this time to observe your journey without judgment. Ask yourself:

• What has been working so far?

• What feels difficult, and how can I make it easier or more sustainable?

• Have I become too restrictive or too lenient?

• Are my diet and exercise routines still aligned with my goals and needs?

Plateaus are a chance to adjust and refine your habits to better suit your lifestyle.

5) Consider Upcycling Calories:

Upcycling calories involves alternating higher and lower calorie days to prevent your metabolism from adapting too much. For instance:

• Increase your calorie intake slightly on one day with nutrient-dense foods like healthy fats or complex carbs.

• Return to your usual calorie range on the following days.

This strategy can help reset your metabolism and push past a plateau.

6) Reassess Your Workouts:

Once you feel ready to adjust, start by varying your exercise routine:

• Incorporate new movements or activities to challenge different muscle groups.

• Ensure your workouts include strength training, which boosts metabolism.

• Avoid overtraining—intense workouts with insufficient recovery can increase cortisol, working against your weight loss goals.

7) Review Your Diet: Plateaus are a good time to take a closer look at your eating habits with curiosity and without judgment. Ask yourself:

• Are you eating enough proteins and fibres to help you feel full and well nourished? Did you eat enough healthy fats to ensure proper satiety?

• Are you eating more calorie-dense foods than you realize, such as cooking oils, granola, nuts, nut butters, cheese, or avocado?

• Be careful of low calorie foods. These items are often ultra-processed with artificial sweeteners. Sugar substitute can negatively impact your gut microbiome and insuline response—paradoxically causing you to gain weight. Focus on fresh whole foods and bake your own little treats, even of they are higher in calories they will be more satisfying.

• Have recent stressors, celebrations, holidays, or vacations led to more indulgences than usual?

• Are you underestimating portion sizes or the amount of food you’re eating?

If you feel comfortable and it won’t negatively impact your mental health, consider tracking your food intake for a couple of weeks. Focus on accuracy by weighing your food rather than using cups or spoons, especially for non-liquid items. Be gentle and non-judgemental. The goal is to understand not punish.

If tracking feels too overwhelming, focus instead on visual portion control (e.g., smaller plates, filling half your plate with veggies, or limiting high-calorie extras like dressings).

[batterycows]

Ochako’s Confession: A Togachako Analysis

I don't usually write down or post analysis, but if I didn't put this down somewhere I was at risk of grabbing a stranger off the street and asking whether they knew about the doomed toxic yuri in hit manga series My Hero Academia.

Now, I think it was expected to some degree that Uraraka would have some big cathartic confession where she finally embraced her feelings for Izuku. And while she did admit her feeelings, the moment wasn't... that

And honestly, why would it be? In the end, Uraraka had no reason to confess her feelings. She didn't suffer from hiding them, on the contrary. Her crush was beginning to hinder her performance as a Hero, and all bottling them up did was help her improve. Sure, suppression is bad and all but ultimately, Uraraka seemed better off pushing her feelings aside. Especially when compared to Toga, who literally broke under the pressure of her hidden feelings. There was nothing pushing Uraraka to confess other than the vague sentiment that “suppressing your feelings is Bad.”

Yet, the importance of being open about your feelings is repeatedly emphasized during Toga's and Uraraka's arcs. It's what drove Toga to villainy, and something she tried to bond with Uraraka over. Something they shared. So the setup for a confession is there, but no satisfying resolution.

That's cause Izuku is a red herring.

Indeed, being honest about her feelings was vital for Uraraka, but it had nothing to with Izuku. Because the feelings Uraraka was suppressing all along, the ones that she needed to let out, were her feelings for Toga.

The envy she felt during their first meeting, how lovely she found Toga's smile. How much it troubled Uraraka when it was replaced with tears. Girl likes boy is as conventional as it gets. But a Hero sympathizing for a Villain in a society that dehumanizes them? Now that makes Uraraka kind of weird. And she knows it, that these thoughts go against everything she knows about society, about her role as a Hero. So she tried pushing all that away.

But she can't run from her feelings forever. And in the end, it's those feelings that allow Uraraka to save the day. Her arc deals with humanization. She wonders "who saves Heroes" until she's wondering "who saves Villains?" and finds that in this case, the answer is each other.

How did Uraraka and Toga save each other? By imitating each other, by being like someone they love.

Uraraka envied Toga's unapologetic openness, so she took a page from her book and told her everything she had been hiding and mulling over since they met. She stopped pushing Toga away and finally answered every one-sided conversation they've had. They're chatting about love, and Uraraka is finally responding.

A girl's feelings can change the world, and Uraraka being honest about her feelings is what allowed her to reach Toga's heart and save her. This is how Uraraka became a Hero.

Toga also saved Uraraka by imitating her. In a very literal sense by Transforming into Uraraka (being "cute" like Uraraka) but I think also in the way she used her Quirk. Until now, Toga believed the only way for her to live freely was through violence. When her Quirk awakened, Toga used Zero Gravity to kill. But now, she's imitating Uraraka on a deeper level. Uraraka who said her Quirk isn't made to hurt people, so Toga used her own Quirk to save Uraraka. For the first time, she realized she could love and be loved without violence.

Uraraka and Toga's confrontation was the long awaited end of a conversation. Nearly a year before Toga had tried to bond with Uraraka, asked her whether she liked someone, whether she wanted to be like them? Uraraka finally confessed: Yes, I want to be like you.

[kikyoupdates]

Love Bite ⭑˚🩸⭑ 𝑎 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡

yandere!vampires x f!reader

yandere, reverse harem, original characters, vampire!ocs x fem!reader

Desperate for money to pay off your debts, you sign up for a program that allows you to sell your blood to vampires. At first, everything is fine, and you’re finally able to make ends meet. But they soon begin craving more than just your blood.

previous | story masterlist | next

“You look like you’ve been having a fun night,” Johnny remarks. As always, he’s got a sadistic glint in his eye. “I didn’t realize you had so much time to spare fooling around with men. I was under the impression that you were busy working to pay me back.”

Your throat clenches uncomfortably. God, why is this happening? Even taking into account your drunken blackout, you’d actually been having a good time for a change. Spending time with Elliot is fun. You feel at ease around him. You feel like you can let your guard down and allow yourself to actually breathe.

But nothing is ever allowed to go right in your life, which is why Johnny chose the perfect time to crush your spirits.

“He’s my friend,” you say, trying to keep your voice steady. “I’m just trying to go home and get some sleep. Please.”

Johnny scratches his cheek. “Well, originally, I just happened to be in the area, but now that I’ve stumbled across you like this, I have to admit that it’s left a bad taste in my mouth. If you can afford to drink the night away with your little boy toy, then things must not be as bad as you let on. You must have more than enough time and money to spare. It looks like things have improved for you quite a bit lately, huh? Or maybe you were just lying to me all along about not being able to make your payments on time.”

You can feel your stomach progressively twisting into a knot. He’s as scummy and remorseless as always, not that you’d expect any less of him. Nonetheless, you can’t stand what he’s insinuating. Just because you recently started selling your blood doesn’t mean you’ve been blessed with immeasurable wealth all of a sudden. Money is still tight, even more so considering how much you spent on that hospital visit.

He’s making it sound like you’re living pretty, without so much as a care in the world, when he’s the sole reason for your stress and misery.

“I just wanted to see a friend for a little bit,” you swallow. “I’m still working several jobs, and I haven’t failed to pay you back on time, right? I don’t understand what the issue is. I’m doing everything I can to hold up my end of the deal.”

Johnny narrows his eyes. “The problem is that if you can afford to do shit like this, then you should be paying me back more often, because clearly, you have the means to do it.”

“What?” you gasp. “No! I can barely afford what I’m paying you as is!”

“Oh, really? Then how is it that you’re able to enjoy a night out with this spineless-looking piece of shit, and why do you reek of booze as if you just drank your fill at a bar?”

Tears well up into your eyes. What the actual fuck does he want from you? You so rarely splurge or treat yourself. You so rarely give yourself a break and take a moment to unwind. Are you not allowed to live like everyone else? At least every now and then? Does he want you to be miserable every second of every fucking day?

When your parents signed off on the massive loans they took out all those years ago, they also signed off on your freedom.

“I just think there’s an issue of transparency here,” Johnny glares. “It seems to me like you can afford to pay more than our current agreement, and I don’t appreciate being cheated like this.”

You feel like you’re about to start crying. Everything about this situation is just so goddamn hopeless. Right as you finally started making enough to meet his demands, he starts asking for more. Greedy assholes like him will never be satisfied. They’ll keep pushing you until the day you inevitably break.

Is there even a point anymore? Will you ever be able to live a life that’s entirely your own?

You sniffle, wiping away the tears before they can fall, but just as you’re composing yourself to form a response, someone interjects.

“Excuse me,” Elliot frowns. He steps forward, placing himself in between you and Johnny. “I don’t know the whole situation, but it sounds like you’re shaking [Name] down for money.”

“Shaking her down for money?” Johnny laughs. “Ha! You make me sound like some common thug. She owes me money, dipshit. She’s in a ton of debt, and since her parents skipped town, it’s her responsibility to pay me back.”

Elliot recoils, then searches your expression for an answer. When you opt to shamefully stare at the ground rather than argue otherwise, it tells him everything he needs to know.

“So... how is that fair?” Elliot gapes. “It’s not her fault her parents didn’t make good on their dues. You should have kept better tabs on the people who borrowed money from you. Not to mention that, as far as I know, loan sharking is a crime. You can get in serious trouble for harassing someone like this.”

“[Name] is the next of kin,” Johnny says simply. “And believe me when I say that we tried to track those scumbags down. They got lucky and slipped under our radar. By now, they must be long gone. No way in hell will I ever get my money back. So, [Name] has to foot the bill in their place. And please don’t threaten me, you little fuckface. Try getting the police involved and see what happens. We keep our books clean, and you’ve got no evidence whatsoever. But if you want to get [Name] in even deeper shit, then be my guest. Pull the trigger.”

Elliot scowls. It’s probably the first time you’ve ever seen him look openly upset before, and while you appreciate that he’s getting so passionate on your behalf, Johnny isn’t someone he should be making an enemy out of.

“I’ll get the money,” you mumble brokenly. “I’ll pay you now, earlier than usual. If I do that, will you leave? I promise I’m being honest when I say I’m doing everything I can to keep up with this debt. I’m not taking it lightly, and I don’t have excess cash laying around. I just... for one night, I just wanted to spend time with a friend and forget my worries. That’s all.”

“Yeah, well, you should’ve picked up another shift instead of fucking around,” Johnny snaps. “Learn to be more responsible, for fuck’s sake. It’s no wonder you’ve been doing such a shit job of paying me back. Now, hurry up and get me my money, you dumb bitch.”

You flinch a bit, although it’s certainly no worse than what he’s called you in the past. In any case, the only way to get rid of him is to give him the money and hope that he doesn’t stir up any more of a fuss. Things will be tight for a little while, and you’ll probably have to skip more meals than usual thanks to how abrupt this all was, but there’s nothing else you can do.

Visibly dejected, you turn and trudge towards your apartment to retrieve Johnny’s fee.

But you don’t make it very far.

“What did you just call her?” Elliot glowers. His eyes are wider than you’ve ever seen them, and he even clenches his jaw, causing one of his veins to throb visibly.

Johnny blinks, unamused. “You got a problem with how I talk to my bitch? Shut your mouth and stay out of it. You know, you’re really starting to piss me off, meddling in business that you’ve got nothing to do with.”

“Take it back,” Elliot warns. “Not only are you harassing [Name] and shaking her down for money, but you’re disrespecting her too?”

“Whoa, what the fuck? Did you just try to tell me what to do?” Johnny half-chuckles, but it’s clear from the cold look in his eyes that he’s quickly losing his patience. “I’m not joking around. You’d better back up before I punch you in the throat.”

The tension between them is unmistakable, and at the rate things are going, it’s only a matter of time before this gets really bad.

Frantic, you try to protest, “I’m getting the money right now—”

“Go ahead,” Elliot deadpans. “Hit me. See what happens.”

You would’ve never expected him to be capable of such frigid hostility. Of course, you understand he’s only doing this for your sake, and as far as he knows, standing up for you is the right thing to do, but what he fails to realize is that angering Johnny will only make things a million times worse for you in the end. It’ll make him act out with a vengeance and seek out new ways to destroy you.

Elliot needs to stop provoking him. The thought alone is worth its weight in gold. You appreciate that he cares enough to try and protect you.

But he seriously needs to stop. Like, right now. Or rather, he should have stopped a long time ago.

“Fine,” Johnny glares. “Just remember you asked for this.”

Ah.

It’s already too late.

Johnny lunges at Elliot, eyes wide and manic, and you swear you hear the sound of the air pressure as he drives his fist ahead at full force.

Johnny is a loan shark, but he’s basically just a glorified gangster. You’ve seen him beat the shit out of more people than you can even count, and a lot of the times, he did it just to send a message. Just so that you would know exactly what will happen if you ever fuck him over.

That’s why you can’t bear to watch. You squeeze your eyes shut on instinct, terrified of seeing yet another one of your friends have their face bashed in. The stress of the situation has gotten to you, and in this moment, you’ve actually forgotten a very crucial detail.

One of them is a human, and the other is a vampire.

Johnny doesn’t stand a fucking chance.

The sound you were waiting for—the sound of Johnny’s fist colliding forcefully with Elliot’s face—never comes. Instead, you hear something akin to a strangled gasp, and when you hesitantly open your eyes, you realize that Johnny is standing stiff as a statue, with a look of utter disbelief.

Elliot caught Johnny’s wrist long before his punch could hit its mark.

“Okay,” Elliot says, visibly unimpressed. “Is that it? You’re so weak I almost feel sorry for you. To think that you said all those horrible things, but when it comes down to it, you don’t even have the strength to back it up.”

Elliot grips down on Johnny’s wrist, and you watch as the latter winces from pain. He eventually kicks away from Elliot in a desperate attempt to put some distance between them, and once he’s free, Johnny cradles his wrist, which is now an angry red shade and appears to be throbbing uncontrollably.

“Fucker,” Johnny spits. “I see your fangs now. Looks like you’re one of those goddamn freaks. Those disgusting vampires.”

“Regardless of what I am, I’m still less disgusting than you,” Elliot glares. “You’re a pathetic man who preys on the weak and harasses women. I don’t know how you can sleep at night. I feel sorry for you.”

“I sleep comfortably, in a big-ass house, thanks for asking.”

Elliot’s expression darkens. He steps forward again, and even though he never struck you as the type to get violent, based on the way his fists are repeatedly clenching and unclenching, you can tell he’s itching to beat the ever-loving shit out of Johnny.

A vampire like Elliot can easily pull it off. He can give Johnny a rude awakening, lay him out in the dirt and make him beg for mercy. Based on how easily Kai pummeled Caleb, you already know that the average person can’t do a damn thing when faced with overwhelming power.

But just because he can doesn’t mean he should. If Elliot beats the crap out of Johnny now, then what happens next? Johnny won’t hesitate to punish you in his stead. He’ll send his goons after you to figure out your exact schedule, and you get the sense they’re already keeping a lot of tabs on you. It won’t be difficult for them to find an opportunity when you’re all alone and vulnerable. Elliot can’t possibly be by your side every moment of the day. Even if he tries to protect you for a period of time, eventually, they will make you pay the price.

You know how this story ends, and unfortunately, there’s nothing Elliot can do to fix the root of the problem—AKA your debt.

Unless, of course, he kills Johnny.

A shiver rips down your spine at the thought. It pains you to admit, but you’ve entertained the notion more times than you can even count. Time and time again, you’ve imagined what your life would be like if Johnny bit the dust. If he stopped breathing and finally gave you the space to breathe instead.

If Elliot kills Johnny, perhaps all your problems might really be solved.

Unfortunately, you know that isn’t an option. Not only is murder wrong, but you doubt that someone as kind-hearted as Elliot would ever resort to such extremes. It’s only a fantasy. A dream that will never come true.

But this is reality. And unless you want your life to get a million times worse, you need to stop Elliot before things get completely out of hand.

“It’s fine,” you reassure, grabbing Elliot’s arm and pulling him back. You strain a smile, despite how shaken up you are. “Please don’t. It’ll only make the situation even worse for me. I’m just going to run inside and grab his money.”

Elliot’s brows droop. “But I can’t keep letting him do this to you. He needs to—”

“Stop. Please. I’m begging you,” you breathe. “This can’t be fixed with just a beating. Whatever you do to him will come back and bite me in the ass later. I’m just going to keep paying him back, as best I can. Don’t make him any more upset. You might be strong enough to deal with any threats, but I’m not. Like you said, I’m weak, and there’s only so much that weaklings like me can do to survive.”

“Listen to the pretty girl,” Johnny muses. He’s finally gotten his wrist to stop shaking, although you’re quite certain it’ll swell up later. “Since I’m such a nice guy, I’ll forgive you for this instance of disrespect and I won’t make [Name]’s life any more difficult. But only if you kneel down and apologize to me, of course.”

Elliot doesn’t say anything, but once again, you can see the way his jaw clenches.

“What is it?” Johnny sneers. “You’re a proud little guy, huh? Does your ego prevent you from admitting you fucked up? I guess you really don’t care what happens to [Name].”

Another pause, and you’re afraid that Elliot might actually hit him this time, but mercifully, your worst fears don’t come to pass.

“No,” Elliot mutters. “It’s fine. I’ll apologize, if that’s what it takes. I’ll apologize, so don’t do anything to hurt her.”

It must bring him immense shame, but he gets down on his knees and prostrates himself before Johnny, just as the latter prescribed. You watch as the sneer on Johnny’s face gets wider, and feeling emboldened by having regained his authority, he stomps down on the back of Elliot’s head, forcing his face to kiss the ground.

“Asshole,” Johnny mutters. “You and your kind make me sick to my goddamn stomach. It won’t be long before this city goes to shit. I don’t know what people are thinking, letting monsters like you inside our walls. If you ask me, you all deserve to be burned alive.”

Johnny stomps on Elliot’s head one last time, then, in the utmost act of disrespect, spits on him and lets out an unhinged laugh.

“Look at that,” he muses. “Vampires are supposed to be so tough, but I’ve just gone ahead and made this one my bitch. Ah, life is funny. Anyways, we’ve wasted enough time. [Name], go get me my money before I really lose my shit.”

You grimace as you avert your gaze. The fact that Elliot is having to endure this abuse because of you makes you feel immeasurably guilty, and you know you’re completely helpless to do a damn thing about it.

All you can do—all you can ever do—is give Johnny exactly what he wants.

You rush in and out of the apartment, returning with the amount that you owe him. As always, Johnny takes a moment to rifle through the bills and make sure everything is accounted for. Presumably satisfied, he pockets the money and turns back towards Elliot.

“Hey, bloodsucker,” he says. “You can stand up now. Take a look at this.”

Elliot lifts his head and collects himself, but whatever momentary composure he feels is quickly overwritten when he watches, with a look of horror, as Johnny shamelessly gropes your ass.

“Always nice to cop a feel,” Johnny muses. “See you later, cutie. And from now on, I expect you to give me more money, since you’re apparently living large now.” Then he walks off, the dark night sky covering him like a veil.

Elliot’s shoulders are trembling now, and it’s actually a miracle that he held himself back after what he just saw. He can handle having his head kicked into the dirt or being told that he’s disgusting just for existing as a vampire. He can handle virtually any form of abuse, so long as it’s directed his way.

What he can't handle is having to watch you be abused as well.

To this day, you’re the only human who’s ever treated him so kindly. He hasn’t been in the city for very long, but even so, the treatment has been abysmal to say the least. If he’d known it would be like this, he probably wouldn’t have ever moved here in the first place.

But ever since he’s met you, he’s actually had something to look forward to. He finally feels accepted for who he is. You’re an amazing person, free of prejudice, and you deserve only the best in life.

So, why is it that you have to suffer like this?

“I’m so sorry, Elliot.” Fat tears roll down your cheeks, despite your best efforts to keep them at bay. “I-I’m sorry you had to go through something like that because of me. I feel like... I feel like all I ever do is drag people down. I’m a shit magnet. I make everyone around me miserable.”

You start crying, and Elliot feels his heart slowly break.

This is all that bastard Johnny’s fault. Not only that, but the fault of your shitty parents too. It’s no wonder you got so upset when he asked about your family earlier. They left one hell of a mess for you to deal with in their place. He can’t understand how genuinely despicable some people can be.

“There’s no need to apologize,” he reassures. He hesitates for a moment, wondering if you’re comfortable, before eventually pulling you into his arms. When you cling to him rather than push him away, Elliot’s cheeks redden, and he holds you as gently as he can manage. “I just wish I could have done more,” he mumbles. “I’m sorry for trying to start a fight with him. You’re right that I might have just caused you more problems in the long run. I shouldn’t have acted so impulsively, but... I couldn’t stand to just keep watching. I had no idea you were dealing with something so horrible. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be.”

You keep sobbing, burying your face into his shoulder. “I-I just don’t know what to do. I was barely able to keep up with his demands as is, and he just keeps asking for more and more. I’m already on the verge of breaking. How much more do I need to push myself before I finally start to see some results? How much more until... this nightmare is finally over?”

Elliot doesn’t know what to say. All he can do is keep holding you, offering you at least the slightest bit of reassurance.

Fearfully, he decides to ask, “How much money do you owe?”

You pull back for a moment and look at him with tear-filled eyes. Then, you whisper the amount, and even though he tries to hide it, his expression betrays his bewilderment.

That much money? All this time, you’ve been trying to pay back such a ridiculous sum?

It’s too much for one person to bear. It’s too much for a young woman living alone, with no family, no education or credentials, to possibly pay back without killing herself in the process.

He suddenly resents the world even more than he did before. Such a fucked-up situation shouldn’t even be real, and yet, it is.

“I’ve been doing everything I can,” you whimper. “I even started selling my blood not long ago, just so I could make ends meet.”

Selling... blood?

Elliot swallows without realizing it. “When you say selling blood, you mean...”

“Oh.” You blink, and all of a sudden, it looks like you’ve realized something. “Yeah. I never mentioned this before, but I signed up for a program where I can take on vampires as clients and sell my blood to them. Obviously, there’s only so much blood I can give, and only so often, otherwise my body wouldn’t be able to handle it, but that’s what I’ve been doing on the side, and honestly, it’s the only reason I’ve been able to pay Johnny back recently.”

Elliot’s heard of the program you’re referring to. It’s supposed to be quite expensive, far more expensive than the government-mandated blood packs that he’s been buying until now. But from what he’s heard, it’s a program that allows you to drink blood directly from the source, which, for a vampire, has always been the ideal.

But he never signed up for it, because quite frankly, he didn’t think he would be able to deal with the scathing, fearful looks people would give him. It’s bad enough when the average person discovers he’s a vampire. He can only imagine how terrified some poor human would look if he was going to drink their blood, regardless of whether or not they signed a contract to do it.

But now he discovers that you’ve been doing this all along. Perhaps that’s why you’re not afraid of vampires, like everyone else. You’ve already experienced what is likely the most frightening outcome of being in contact with one.

And that also means... that vampires have been drinking your blood.

Vampires other than him.

“Um, this might sound kind of weird,” you frown, rubbing at your damp eyes. The sound of your voice quickly snaps Elliot out of his daze, and he collects himself enough to smile.

“What’s weird?” he asks.

“I mean, what I’m about to suggest. I don’t want it to make you uncomfortable or anything. Just, after Johnny showed up and everything, I’ve been thinking.” You purse your lips, clearly hesitant, but eventually, you let out a sigh. “Feel free to turn me down if I’m getting ahead of myself, but would you be willing... to drink my blood? I mean, is that something you would want? I’m not sure how you’ve been getting blood until now, but I was just wondering if—”

“Yes,” Elliot blurts. He doesn’t even need to hear the rest of your question. “You need money, right? I was actually going to offer to give you some, but this way, you won’t need to feel guilty about taking it, because I’ll also be getting something in return.”

Your eyes widen. “Is it really okay? Since we’re friends and all, I worry that it might make our relationship a bit awkward. I-I mean, I’m fine with it, but I wouldn’t want to put you out. I just wanted to leave it as a suggestion in case it was something you were interested in...”

Elliot is definitely interested. He’s really, really interested. And he wouldn’t feel comfortable doing this with anyone other than you.

Above all else... he has to admit that he’s curious. Ever since the moment you first spoke to him, with that kind smile of yours, he’s been wondering.

Wondering what your blood would taste like.

A blush spreads across his cheeks. He feels guilty entertaining these kinds of thoughts, but he’s a vampire, and he can’t help what he wants. Besides, this way, he can help support you, even if it’s only a little. Both of you can profit from this arrangement. There are no disadvantages to either side.

“I want to do it,” Elliot nods. “If I can help you, at least to some extent, it’s already worth it. How do I sign up for that program and get matched with you? Am I able to request you by name?”

You pause to frown. “Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not sure if it would work. They seem pretty stingy about confidentiality and keeping both the client and donor’s information private. Since we already know each other beforehand, they might not agree to put us together. And I think my contract states that I can’t solicit clients without obtaining them directly through the program. Probably so that friends like us can’t use it to our benefit.”

“...oh.”

Elliot’s shoulders slump. What a shame. He was hoping to help you out a bit, while also sating his curiosity and finally getting a taste of your blood. But if those are the rules, then he supposes there’s nothing he can do to—

“How about you just pay me directly?”

The sudden question makes him blink. “Pay you directly?” he reiterates. “As in...”

“Forget going through the company. You can drink my blood, and just pay me after the fact.”

Technically, that was the agreement you once had with Felix, but Elliot is different. He isn’t the type to lose control and push you too far. You were blackout drunk tonight, as vulnerable as you could possibly be, and he took care of you rather than taking advantage of the moment.

Yeah. Elliot isn’t like Felix. That much you’re certain of.

“I trust you, Elliot,” you say, offering him a smile. “You’ve already done so much for me, and watching you stand up to Johnny solidified what I already knew. If this is really something that you’re interested in, I feel comfortable moving forward, even without the program’s involvement.”

Elliot doesn’t know what to say. The fact that you believe in him to this extent... quite frankly, it’s almost enough to move him to tears.

He will never mistreat you. He will never give you a reason to doubt him or his intentions.

You won’t regret letting him into your life.

More chapters are available on Quotev and Wattpad!

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🩸 main masterlist! ♡ character appearances

[krowlovesinazuma]

Alright I ask for headcanons yet again Except this time for once I'm not insane How would Chiori react to the reader preferring their own clothes over Teyvat's? (Judging from the overall complexity of Genshin Impact's outfits, I can deduce that our modern-day clothing probably feels a lot more comfy)

Read this prologue for context!

Scenario: Reaction to Reader's casual dress style

Characters: Chiori

For starters, Chiori is an incredibly forward person on purpose, no matter who she's dealing with, no matter how powerful or all mighty they might be, and even though you may be special in a different way, it's no difference to her.

When she sees your clothes for the first time, her mind takes a moment to properly process it. She hadn't actually imagined what you looked like before, but an otherworldly fashion style wasn't in her mind! She'll definitely rope you into checking out your outfit sooner than later.

With this check though, she's quick to realize that your outfit, made of a simple t-shirt and jacket, is made with comfortability and casual vibes in mind. Just to make sure, she'll ask plenty of questions! Mostly out of curiosity.

As soon as she confirms this theory, she'll get started on measuring you up, and making a new outfit of her own! She understands now that you prefer comfortability over style, but that doesn't mean she'll let you walk away without something of hers on.

She'll probably make a few prototype sets to understand what you find comfortable in clothes, as she was very much specialized in fancier, high status clothing making! It's a challenge she very much welcomes, no matter how much you may protest her attempts.

In the end though, she is primarily doing this for you, to help you feel more at home in this weird place. She knows the effects that clothing can have not only in onlookers, but one's sense of self, and she's here to help out with that.

Once you sound satisfied, and select which of her prototypes you liked best, she'll make a set only for you, making sure to stop progress on her other orders until this one is finished. It'll be a secret endeavor, as she knows the value in keeping your name hidden.

That'll be far from it, however. Don't be surprised if you get gifts from her every now and then with more sets of comfortable, yet fashionable clothing! Making sure to put in an Inazuman flare for you to fit in best, every piece was original and unique.

Whenever you feel the urge to thank her, she simply cuts it short and continues on. In fact, since this is her way of thanking you, she can't help but take it as something endearing, how you failed to see how much you've already done for her.

She hasn't forgotten the kindness and happiness that you showed her when you still controlled the game world from outside, and this is just her returning a due favor. You definitely notice the difference when interacting with the others, as they feel more at ease with your more familiar clothes. Perhaps she was right about your previous clothes being a problem...

"How would you say that set is compared to the last? Yes, these are important questions. This has been quite the enjoyable riddle, but I can only improve with feedback, and you're my only target audience. Don't worry about rushing it, just think deeply and answer me in detail, for the sake of a better set next time."

[candyskiez]

thinks about teru again. he’s so funny and tragic to me. like. ok so he got targeted by a psychic terrorist organization that sent adults to try and kidnap him at a young age. and he rationalizes it by going “i am the Protagonist this is happening because i am the Main Character” and then lives his life by that idea bc it’s that or face the fact that he’s nothing, that he’s an average person and all these things happened to him for no reason. and then he meets mob and wants to befriend him, has questions he wants to ask- here is someone who might finally understand him. and then bc teru is thinking like a Main Character i think he goes “ok so if i defeat him then we’re friends otherwise we’re rivals” bc he’s still going off of tropes and cliches. and then shigeo fucking curbstomps him and he goes “oh ok i get it im not the main character 👍 KAGEYAMA’s the main character. so i must be The Rival Character then” but it’s just a way he can act as a friend without breaking the tropes he uses to rationalize his trauma

YEAH YOU GET IT! YOU UNDERSTAND! He's so horribly lonely but also literally everything about his mindset is directly standing in the way of giving him any connection. He holds people to such high standards that they're always going to disappoint him, so he spends time with none of them. He craves constant approval and affection but none of it is enough to satisfy the need for actual connection. So he just goes through shallow relationship after shallow relationship going Yep. This is great. I am happy. And I genuinely think he doesn't realize he's NOT happy because like. When you're in a shitty situation for your entire life you don't necessarily realize things can be Better. So Teru is not captured by claw when other people are, and he can do things that other people can't, so his situation is better than most! Nevermind the fact hey maybe there shouldn't be Claw. Maybe people shouldn't be attacking random kids. Maybe this is all insane. He's just like. Wow I'm so strong and smart for evading claw, because the idea that he just was Lucky would be terrifying and take away his entire sense of safety. He needs to be the smartest toughest guy that Has Ever Existed™ because if he's not, then suddenly he could get captured or die at any moment. And that's suddenly way less haha my life is so cool! The denial juice is strong here.

Literally everything about his introduction episodes is so damn telling. He tells the body improvement club everyone always underestimates him. But he conveniently leaves out how this makes him feel, or if he's offended. We see him lose his shit when Mob says he isn't able to hurt him, so clearly he's far more affected by it than he wants to admit. But he can't be upset by it. It's an Advantage in this Battle he's in. No one takes him seriously, and that means he can get away with more shit, and that means it's easier to beat them in battle! Nevermind the fact that he works his ass off, he is not upset at all, because that would be ridiculous. It's an Advantage. He wraps literally everything in his life that hurts him up in a bow of "Actually, this is good." He cannot admit that anything about him or his life is bad. He cannot admit that he isn't perfect, or that his life isn't just a fun challenge, or that he maybe misses his parents a little bit. He like...just fully submerges himself in the idea of being a character so he doesn't have to realize how easily he could die or have his life ruined. If his parents stop sending him money, he's fucked. If claw beats him, he's fucked. He doesn't have actual connections with people, because he views them too lowly to let them in at all, and he is fucking himself over so hard with it. He needs this to not be terrifying. And he also needs to be in the right, I think. I mean, he treats all of the fights at school like a game. It feeds his ego and it means he's safe. People can't touch him and it feels good to take out his anger (he's just angry that they disrespect him, he has nothing else whatsoever to have unresolved anger about, he is completely fine and is just enjoying being able to wipe that smug smile off that assholes face. He is so okay and well adjusted!) He's just. A mess of weird ass coping mechanisms. If he isn't right, which he definitely is!, suddenly he isn't the main character, suddenly he's not just Doing Whatever, suddenly he's just another asshole. Y'know. Do I make sense. He needs to be right because if he's not right it goes from a fun game to he was just an asshole for no reason and he didn't actually gain anything at all.

God. I need to rewatch EP five, because it's insane and also tells you so much about Teru, I'm sure it's even better on a rewatch. I need to rewatch this show soon or I'll die. But like. God. He takes the idea of the only other natural esper his age he's ever met being different than him SO personally. Because he's right. He is doing everything exactly the way he is supposed to. Clearly this guy is an idiot and weak. That's why he's afraid to fight him. Clearly. He can't comprehend that maybe Mob just straight up doesn't want to hurt him. Mob thinks he's better than him. Mob needs to be taken down a peg. And then he can't hurt Mob. Then he can't break his fucking barrier. Hes fought espers before. He knows how to fight espers. He is perfectly capable of it. He has literally everything he needs to beat him and for the first time he very suddenly Can't. And this person is so different and is treating him like he's having a temper tantrum and isn't following his rules that he's formed his entire life around. Can I interest you in autistic Teru. Can I please interest you in the fact Teru has autism. Please ma'am I just want a minute of your time.

I also feel like. The fact he Needed to idolize Mob is very telling. Mob defeated him so CLEARLY he's so powerful and perfect and amazing. He still can't let go of Being Amazing, of the idea he can't fail for no good reason. He needs Mob to be special or else he means nothing. Or else he's worthless. He needs to mean something. His entire identity is hinged around Mob now which. No pressure. He needs Mob to be perfect or else he's worth Nothing. So he puts him on a huge pedestal so he doesn't have to do any reflecting and now he can have the added bonus of a friend and it's Fine! It is totally fine. He is not affected by the fact he almost killed a man on accident. He is not affected by the fact he may have severely injured several people. He is not affected by the fact Mob could've killed him. He is not affected by the fact he was wrong. None of this affects him at all. He is So Fine.

And then he switched the narrative around to haha I was the one who needed to be taken down a peg. This is fine. My world view is not in shambles. I don't need to reassess anything. Everything that happened to me is still cool and fine and I still matter because I'm in the main characters life. So it's fine. He goes from nothing matters except Me to nothing matters except Kageyama, but at first he's done absolutely zero reconfiguring.

Also like. He romanticized that fight so much. Can we please talk about that. God. Hi. This fucking kid. Someone please like. Get him a therapist and maybe a Capri Sun.

I'm too tired to write more right now and think I should probably go ahead and post but like. Yeah. God. This show. Teru makes way too much damn sense. I want to shake him. What is his problem (just spent several paragraphs analyzing his problem.)

[marie-snape]

"Shhh"

Severus Snape x professor!slytherin!reader

Chapter 1, part 2

Previous part: here

Word counter: 1k

Warnings: -

Movie/book: Philosopher/Sorcerer’s stone

================================

You were drinking coffee in the staff room after the school day, when Pomona Sprout opened the door and said "Did you hear that Harry Potter is the new Gryffindor’s seeker?!" then she took her stuff and left the room.

You were confused. First-years don’t play quidditch.

"Wait, WHAT- "

"Do you have any hearing problems? She said that mr. Potter is the new Gryffindor’s seeker." said a low man’s voice.

When you turned to where the voice came from, you saw professor Snape sitting in an armchair and reading a book. How i couldn’t notice him sitting here all this time?, you thought.

"I heard it. I am questioning the fact that they allowed a first-year to the team."

"Certainly, it is another act of Gryffindor captain’s incompetence."

"Or perhaps their past seeker was so bad that any first-year who never got to fly on a broomstick would play better"

Snape was definitely satisfied with your words. Before you there weren’t many teachers to mock Gryffindor with him.

"They say he got the “talent” from his father."

"Oh, i think i knew him. James Potter, wasn’t he?"

"yes." Severus’s face expression turned into a tense one.

"Pitiful that one. I think he spent every moment of his school life on bullying Slytherins."

"He definitely did." he was more pleased with the mention of James in that way.

The next day, you were in Dumbledore’s office, suggesting what you could do to increase the Stone’s protection.

"Is the Mirror of Erised still in the property of Hogwarts? I could put a spell on it so if someone wants the stone but does not intends to use it, it will be given to them. And if someone wants to use it, it won’t."

"Yes, it is. Very ingenious, Y/N. I need to check something, but i’ll send you an owl when we’ll need you. Thank you for your help."

You left Dumbledore’s office, when you accidentally bumped into Severus and fell on the floor. As he watched you trying to get up, he said:

"A truly entertaining spectacle."

Then Snape gave you his hand and helped you.

"Thank you, but it was possible to do without mockery."

"I do not think so." He smirked and continued walking to his class.

Over time, your relationship with Severus has improved. Almost to a friendship. He even allowed you to call him Severus.

It was Halloween. The Great Hall was decorated and you had themed meals. You sat next to Severus and Hagrid, talking with the half-giant when professor Quirrell ran in screaming "T-TROLL IN THE DUNGEON! T-T-TROLL IN THE D-DUNGEON!"

Dumbledore told teachers to go with him to stop the troll, when Severus was going somewhere.

"I think the dungeons are that way."

"And i think that someone should go check if the Stone is safe."

"I’ll go then, you should go after the troll."

"No, you should go after the troll."

Minerva came up to you. "You two idiots, there’s a troll in the castle!"

Snape went to the third floor, you went with others to find the troll.

After you saw that three young gryffindors fought the creature, Severus joined you. You noticed Snape's leg which had a large cut on it. Snape noticed and covered it up.

"You alright?"

Minerva then talked loudly, not allowing Severus to say anything, probably because she didn’t hear you and was talking to the students.

"5 points will be taken from Gryffindor for your serious lack of judgment. As for you two gentlemen I just hope you realize how fortunate you are. Not many students could take on a full grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale. 5 points...will be awarded to each of you. For sheer dumb luck."

Severus then talked "I consider that taking away only five points from mrs. Granger isn’t quite right. It may escaped your notice, but mr. Potter and mr. Weasley were acting unwise too. Also, I can’t remember that house points can be given for “sheer dumb luck”. I’ll take them from Gryffindor, so we won’t have problems later."

Then he came back to where he stood, next to you. You smiled and whispered: "That’s how you win the House Cup."

"I don’t really care about the House Cup. Winning it just keeps my students motivated."

"Really?” You smirked. "Not even a bit of proudness for your house?"

Severus rolled his eyes.

When the teachers were finally allowed to go, you and Snape headed to the dungeon.

You came up to the door to your chambers. Severus was about to go to his, but you stopped him.

"Not so quick."

"What?"

"There’s a thing that a certain three-headed dog left on your leg."

"Why would you care?"

"Because, you know, some nasty Gryffindor students could notice it and think-."

He interrupted you. "I will repeat my question. Why would you care?"

"Uhm, maybe because i care of my friends?"

Severus stared at you for a bit. "How did you call me?"

"A friend."

"Why?"

"Tell me then, how i should have called you? “Man with whom we talk shit about students every day in the staff room?”?"

"Alright. I think i will allow you to call me this."

You answered sarcastic. "Thank you, my lord." then bowed jokingly.

"This one would be better." he smirked.

Severus was sitting on your sofa in the living room, with a rolled-up trouser leg so you could see the injury. You were looking for something on your bookshelves.

"Why would you have so many books if the school has a library?"

You mocked him. "Why would you care?"

"Right. I got that it’s annoying. Instead I will say “it is none of your fucking business”."

You laughed. You read something from a book and went to your bedroom. There you have a shelf with potion ingredients. Snape knew it, he stole from you few Ashwinder eggs for his lesson when he brought you drunk and asleep there.

You poured phoenix tears over his injury, and casted "Vulnera Sanentur". Then you took out of your bag a white plaster.

"To hide the trace." "Alright, now get out." you stayed with a serious expression for a moment, then laughed.

"You behave like a muggle nurse that hates her job."

"Shush!"

"Thank you, by the way." Severus left.

================================

Masterpost

If i made any writing mistakes, please let me know in the comments section.

Also sorry for this one being too short.

Would appreciate if you follow me 💚

With love (for Snape), M.S.

[showsandstuff]

Ways to make a Dale Dimmadome redemption work:

Hi! So, as a self proclaimed Dale Dimmadome redemption truther, I wanted to make this post explaining why a redemption is, in my opinion, very much possible. (I am not nearly as confident about this as I am pretending to be)

Buckle up, this'll be a long one folks!

First, why do I think a Dale redemption could happen? Let's go through it:

It's still a kids show. I find the conclusion to the story that Dale will never love his son a bit grim for a show for children. You could of course make it work by using the found family trope with Peri instead, plus there are plenty of kids shows that have used the evil father of secondary character/antagonist trope, without the father getting a redemption but I do think a Dale redemption is the most satisfying conclusion for this show.

Even Remy Buxaplentys parents started caring for Remy at some point, so I got hope. Though to be fair, they were incredibly one note.

His past with Vicky makes him a bit more sympathetic. Knowing what he went through in his childhood, it makes sense he probably wouldn't know what a child needs. I'm just saying it means there's room for improvement

He emotionally neglects Dev, but his physical needs are met. Which is something, right? Like Yay... And all...

We don't know if Dale doesn't love Dev. I think there's a possibility that he does care but just doesn't know it because he's taken his child for granted. That's not an excuse of course, but it would make a redemption more plausibel. If Dale genuinely does not love Dev whatsoever, I'll give up on my redemption hope.

How could they pull it off, if at all?

Assuming that Dale does love Dev, deep deeeep down, and just doesn't realize it because he's so focused on his company, the best way to show this is through a choice.

Dev doing things that benefit the company has never helped their relationship, Dale just gets happy because Money and it doesn't make him appreciate his son more, Dev just becomes someone useful to him.

But if Dev causes Dale to lose money, that's a good start to see what Dale truly prioritizes deep down.

Dale choosing Dev over his company is what I need if they decide to redeem him. I need Dale in one way or another show us that he truly cares. Maybe have Dale spend so much money to find and save Dev, that his company goes bankrott? Or have his company explodes and Dale's main concern could be Devs wellbeing. Or Dev goes behind his father's back and intentionally hurts the company, but instead of lashing out at Dev, Dale reflects on himself.

Now... That's all incredibly out of character for Dale and I would hate for an unearned redemption. I'd need there to be a lot of build up to that moment, some foreshadowing that hints at Dale not feeling entirely indifferent about Dev. Small moments, nothing too grand. Maybe he'd be worried if he finds out that he had left Dev with Vicky at one Point, and that could be the catalyst to show us that he isn't as awful as we were shown previously.

And after we had enough of those moments and already have a feel that Dale isn't all uncaring, we get to the grand moment where Dale shows us through his actions that in truth, he cares far more about his kid than his cash. It would feel earned and not be out of nowhere then.

Now before yall call me delusional, I know that this is extremely unrealistic and I'm just setting myself up if these are my expectations. Good thing they aren't. I do expect Dev to have something equivalent of his father's love at the end of the show, but that's it.

Here are some examples of what I actually believe would happen:

Hazel and Dev become friends (again) but this time their friendship is explored more. Maybe Dev also befriends Hazel's friends and finds fulfillment through that. (although I think that'll happen regardless and would be unsatisfying if that was all we got)

Involving Peri in this mess and giving him a character arc of his own would work as well. He realizes that Dev doesn't need a Fairy to be happy because, as Cosmo said in the finale, what Dev truly wants isn't something he can get through wishes. Dev, being super rich, is already used to getting "stuff", but love isn't stuff. So Peri basically becoming a parental figure for Dev, which is what he is supposed to be as a godparent anyway, could work. Besides, Peri already solidified himself in this role in the finale when he told Dev that he cared about him. It was a heartwarming moment. We all loved it so ofc we would want more of that.

Anything involving Irep, another Fairy or even Timmy. Dev needs someone that cares for him. My top three go to characters are obviously Peri, Hazel and Dale, but they're not the only ones that could fulfill that role. We just need to wait and see what the writers do.

So yea, a Dale redemption is my first pick for a season 2 finale (or technically my first pick is a hint at a Dale redemption in the s2 finale and the actual redemption happens way later because slow burn) but I do understand that it's pretty unlikely and would be very much satisfied with Peri becoming his godparent with Emphasis on parent, or even the power of friendship with Hazel, though that'd be harder to execute without it feeling cheap (I got faith in the writers)

So this was very long. And I am going to sleep now. Thanks for reading.

[cepheustarot]

What awaits you in November?

Attention! This reading is for entertainment purposes only. This tarot reading does not give a 100% guarantee that all the described situations will occur. You build your own life and destiny.

Pick a pile. Choose one or more pictures. Trust your intuition.

Pile 1: As I see it, here you will become the one who will be at the center of a dispute between two people. you will feel like you are beietwen two fires, because it will be difficult to support the someone alone person, these two people are your close people and each of them is right in his own way.  but as I see it, here you generally forget about the situation and say, it's not my business, two adults and mature people are quarreling, so they can come to a compromise without my participation. But another one will decide to put two people in their place and say, stop arguing! don't you have anything else to do? or something like that, in general, your words will help resolve this conflict or at least minimize disputes. The second event is due to the fact that you are finishing a long and hard work, perhaps someone has been diligently preparing for the upcoming exams. you finally go on vacation or go on vacation, give yourself the opportunity to relax, and you will be alone with yourself. The third event promises a new period or a new stage in your life, you will start doing something new for you or go to another university, find a new job that is generally different from the one you worked at before. Moreover, you will like these changes, you will be satisfied with the new in your life, you will have a passion, an interest in everything that you will start doing.

Pile 2: You were in suspense for a long time, you didn't know what to do and how to move, because everything somehow returned to the same thing or to what you started with. The pressure from the outside has led you to an apathetic state, you have withdrawn to yourself and have already lost hope of solving the problem, but this month you will have the opportunity to break the vicious circle and take the next step, move on to another stage. Moreover, as soon as you do this, everything will get better in your life, relationships with people, finances will increase, your condition will improve, there will be a lot of time for what you wanted to realize for a long time, but could not for certain reasons.The next event promises you new acquaintances! Or you will be among people, maybe you will meet with your friends or relatives, or spend time in a big company and it will definitely leave a pleasant memory for you! You can also be in the center of attention, people will approach you to get acquainted. It can also mean that if you are blogging or developing in social networks in social networks, then people will notice you, subscribe to you, put likes and everything like that. For those who work as a freelancer, this is also a good event, since new customers, buyers will come to you and a new stream of people will bring you good money. Also, at the end of the month, you can expect a spontaneous trip, or you can move to a new apartment, a new house, change your place of residence, you can change your place of work or change something in your appearance, here the key word is spontaneity. But be careful and attentive, because some changes may not work out as you planned or as you wanted and you may face not very good consequences, so still think carefully about your spontaneous idea before proceeding to execution.

Pile 3: The 1st event is connected with your meeting with a partner or future love! If you have been single for a while, then here you will have the opportunity to meet your love. To describe a person briefly, he is quite mature, hardworking, reliable, responsible, generous, he may be the same age as you or a little older than you. If you are already in a romantic relationship, then this month you will spend a lot of time with your love, you will feel very good and comfortable together, the person will show you all his love and attention, in general, there is a warm and harmonious period in your relationship. If you are in a quarrel or a difficult situation with your lover, then here you will successfully find a compromise and a solution to your problem! The second event is due to the fact that you refuse to communicate with a person from your environment, it can be either your friend, acquaintance, or someone from relatives. But! if you refuse, you will soon meet another person who will become your good friend or at least a good interlocutor, you will feel that he understands you, supports you and you can share with him everything that worries your soul and thoughts. You can also reach a compromise with a person with whom you have a difficult situation, he will make concessions to you and change his attitude towards you for the better, for example, he will become more attentive to you and your feelings. The next event is related to your plans and goals, perhaps you have just started implementing recently and the process is difficult for you, there are a lot of failures on your way or something does not work out for a long time. In this case, you need to take a break and postpone the case, spend time with your loved ones or alone to dispel your thoughts and look at the problem from the other side or simply relax. In any case, you have enough strength and resources to pass all the obstacles, so don't worry too much! Believe that you will succeed.

Thank you for reading! I will be glad of any feedback <3

[thelonelyshore-if]

What is something the RO's would like to change about themselves the most?

And, would they be actually happier if they were able to change it? Or would they grow to miss it?

Ough Nonnie incredible question. Answers under the cut!

Beck:

She would do anything to be 'brave enough to leave'. She doesn't realize that there's something very real keeping her from leaving. She just always changes her mind at the last moment

If she left, it would obviously not go great for her. But if she did manage to leave, I don't think it would fix all of her problems the way she wants it to. She'd be much happier in some aspects...but she's someone who will always be a little restless.

Croft:

They have always, their entire life, wanted to be special. To be something more. They're somebody who will never be fully satisfied with their lot in life--they never feel like they've justified their existence to themself. If they could change anything, they would be exactly what they want to be.

If they got it? Hm. It wouldn't be what they wanted, not really. They need to figure out that sometimes what you have is enough.

Jay:

They wish they could do more. Help more people, save more lives. They're endlessly frustrated by their own limitations. When they need to stop, even just to rest, it feels like a personal failure. So they'd want to change their own limits.

If they could somehow change it, they'd be much worse off. Jay would hate to admit it, but their lifestyle is already wildly unhealthy. Doing more would just make it all the worse.

Perri:

Oh, they would absolutely get rid of their anxiety. It would be a toss-up between that and their insomnia, but I think they'd go for the anxiety in the end. They want to be able to talk to people without feeling like they're about to die.

And it would be great for them if they could actually manage it somehow! They'd be more confident, more comfortable. It would vastly improve their day to day.

Ravi:

Easy. He'd get rid of his scars. His memories. His grief, his emotions. He doesn’t want any of it. Ravi would throw away his memories of his ex in a heartbeat. He wants to just move on, to drop it all and become someone new. But how can he, when he's being haunted by memory?

And of course he'd miss it. He wouldn't know he missed it, but it would be like somebody cut out a piece of him. Ravi isn't at a point where he remembers that there was good, too, wrapped up in all that grief.

Yasmin:

I think she'd change her hesitancy when it comes to a new relationship. She's somebody who is so sure of herself, 99% of the time. And she pretends she just isn't interested in romance...but the truth is she's scared. And she hates that. She would love to be able to just charge into something new without having the risk of loss dangling over her head.

And nah, she wouldn't miss it. As reluctant as she is to move on, it will be good for her in the end.

[random-non-shower-thoughts]

Write with your heart, edit with your inner critic and ears

My last two post have been more from the heart, but I think more people need actual editing advice like I have talked about in a previous thought post. Like I said there, plenty of teachers and professors have no issues talking about writing and formulating and drafting works. I only know of one professor over all my years of writing that I can recall with 99% certainty that taught us useful tips for editing.

And I will say that like writing, there's no one size fits all, because nobody writes the same as anyone else--or even themselves as they hone and improve their skills. A lot should be based on what vibe you want to create and what is needed for the work/chapter/draft you are focusing on.

But if nothing else, there's three things you want to focus on:

Spelling and punctuation as fitting for the message you want to convey

Formatting to make it readable and to improve the message

And most importantly: READING THE WORK ALOUD BEFORE PUBLISHING

The last one is what I don't see talked about enough, and was reminded by a community post recommended for me (I will never follow them, they're impossible to share and most seem like a waste of time), so I decided to expand on it in a more shareable format.

(Note: I believe that doing this with your own voice or text to speech are equally helpful. Sometimes you want to go at your own pace and use voices. Maybe you have to have another voice to notice things. Both work to reach the same goal of polishing your writing!)

I am going start by saying that there's times when you can tell a piece could have used an extra pass by how it reads. There's often weird turn of phrases and spelling that is not obtrusive but makes you pause (and I will be the first to say I want readers to tell me if they catch these for whatever reason, even the less error prone machine still lets flecks of misspellings and pebbles of forgotten commas). The missing period that makes two sentences become a long run-on sentence that technically makes sense.

The editing is on the surface sufficient, but missing a last pass that could buff out a final draft and have you read it later when more experienced with pride. And without asking why you forgot something so obvious, or why you worded it that way. (I love looking at outstanding line from old works, I often laugh at how even my spicy stuff can have a raw scene outside of the bedroom).

One of the best ways I found, after formatting and spellchecking and double-checking the right words are used, is to give it a final read out loud! Yes, I can understand that you might ask why it has to be out loud when you already went over it so many times, and the editing software and you not say it's fine. And that's exactly why. Things that a computer might say is good might not be the right wording for the story. You might have changed something to get the sentence to make sense but it ruined the actual mood, or you added something that is out of character. An extra adjective you thought worked didn't actually fit and you forgot to hit delete. There's so many times I have changed something because I wasn't satisfied with the flow and just didn't backspace enough during a much earlier draft and it slipped through till the final pass while I read it aloud.

Or--and this is a big one for me--reading it out loud made me realize that it won't work at all. Not due to anything technical or because the section makes no sense. Just something about having it spoken out loud awakens my inner critic to an issue I didn't notice until now. A whole paragraph might finally show it can be cut and make a transition easier. A sentence might be deleted because it was more distracting fluff and I see it should be deleted (no matter how nice it worked in my head). Or if not gone, it was in the wrong spot. Now I have to read it out loud, word by word, I can paste a section in a better place and change the whole flow.

I've seen people talk about how they use text to speech to see if something goes on for too long and know when to stop by how it starts to distort it's voice to keep going. You can do the same too.

By reading aloud, you'll at last understand the readers' plight of flowery purple prose by struggling to catch your breath. Suffer while the TTS malfunctions from you using too many adjectives about the MC in the mirror. See if maybe you can change that comma or em dash into a period or semicolon. Play with different voices and see if that fanfic about your favorite character sounds OOC or you are really that good at getting inside their head. See how the words fit as you get a fresh perspective, watching them fall into place like puzzle pieces while observing how each flows like a poetic melody.

It is all experience for when you write that next chapter or work. Sure, it's not as intense as typing it all out, but it's not like you're not learning from it. Editing is writing too; what you master here can translate to better writing next time, and a cleaner first draft in the future. (Like I've said before, you'll never have a perfect first draft, but you can write a clean first draft to make it easier for yourself.)

Just remember, writing is supposed to be as good as you are today, and never a suffering contest. Not every aspect of it will be exciting but do not force yourself to make it more difficult than you can handle. If I am miserable, I am not creative, and this is true for so many; and if anyone tells you that makes someone a fake/poser/imposter, ignore them. If they like being sad to write a depressed and angsty character, that is their method alone. Editing does not have to be a slog, but it should be something you put effort in to so the final product is something you are proud of.

Listen to the fun writing voice when you are outlining and writing, and unleash the inner critic when you edit. Both are there for a reason.