#i know apple has replay but it's not the same...

[cuntylestat]

seriously contemplating moving from spotify to apple music because the former doesn't work properly in my car but missing out on the yearly tradition of spotify wrapped is a thought too hard to bear

[firefly--bright]

re : the world.

jean kirstein x reader, modern au.

summary ; sasha introduced the two of you as complete opposites, two different worlds. but you'd disagree, especially since it feels like jean creates a new world just for you. warnings ; a little too self indulgent? aka reader likes peach flavoured stuff. also mentions of drinking, nothing graphic. a/n ; erm! haha. sorry for my absence again. i promise im still writing d2d and blooming hearts. pls be patient with me you guys r saints. thank you. enjoy this as i run away. hc reqs are still open hmu babes i lowkey want d2d to blow up a little. like okbambi. throwaway thought. continue reading. thx taglist ; @holding-infinity-and-a-book , @mrsnobodynobody , @hopeless-anti-romantic-again , @jeanscremebrulee , @berrijam , @happxme , @cherrypieyourface , @imgayandshesanime , @moonmalice , @kivernova , @potaho3frog , @xakilicious , @katestrophes , @gojo-ana , @ppushable, @candleohappiness , @zombiefiedskeivy , @1ovede1uxe , @sevriizy

masterlist is in pinned post! ✿ enter my taglist! ✿ headcanon requests are open! ✿

Jean has this habit.

Its not well concealed - hell, you're sure he doesnt even realise it himself, a muscle memory that seems to replay against his tendons, condensing him down to his action. You dont realise it at first either, but patterns have a tendency of making themselves apparent, especially since its about him.

The scene plays out something like this - kitchen lights are warm and shining, clinging onto the apples of your downtrodden cheeks, unheard and tired problems that weigh down your organs now find themselves boring down on your skin, a more physical proof of your labour. The week - scratch that, the month - had been rough. There's a cup of coffee against the palms of your hands, the tips of your nails a little blue from the cold you had just endured outside. Inside, its warm, your friends sit huddled around the coffee table that holds an unnecessarily important game of monopoly. The community chest cards were more than half gone, and Sasha sat with her back resting against the foot of the couch, tongue poking out of her lips thoughtfully, subconsciously. Your eyes blink blearily, steam from your coffee doing the exact opposite of it’s entirety, and Jean mixes just a splash of creamer into his own cup - just how he liked it. 

His eyes have been passing glances across your body, slumped with your back against the marble of the kitchen counter, picking up on something you refuse to be seen putting down. He clears his throat - an opening for a potential conversation, a test to see if you’ll take the bait and turn to him - and when you do, because of course you will, there's a victory that lifts his shoulders and puffs up his chest, muscle memory, tendons tightening. 

But youre so tired. He can see it in your eyes and under them, so when he asks his question, he does it so in the least gentle way possible. So he’ll get you to talk, because he knows that cornering you might be the only way he can get a real answer that lays unfiltered, beating still as it slips out of your mouth. 

“What is it this time?” he asks. His voice covers any unhindered iciness that his statement might hold, making it warm and curious instead of cold and blunt. Or maybe that's just how you see it. Maybe he’s a well meaning asshole who you’re accustomed to, whose language you’ve come to know well. Alphabets memorized.

You sigh. You wonder if your sigh itself could be an alphabet, if he understands all the frustrations underneath it. Your tongue can't conjure up anything else for a brief while, and for the same brief while, jean looks at you. Wholly, fully, more than you’ll ever be, though his eyes scatter themselves across your body. Your nose, your lips, your hair, your clothes, a slight sense of disarray but comfort nonetheless because the disarray meant that you had lived in it long enough and that you trusted your clothes and your hair and your nose and your lips more than enough to be here right now.

“Yknow.” you say, unsure of whether or not its a start of a statement or the end of an unsaid one. You decide to let it linger, staring into your cup until you find the words to say something important, clambering to find meaning that your voice somehow always inherently lacks. Theres a lump in your throat that’s small enough for you to ignore it, and then you begin speaking again, “i don't feel like im… enough for this.” you say. You're aware that it's unimportant, words lacking meaning. They always have, especially now.

“For what?” his voice asks, and you wish his reflection could share the same space as yours in the cup, make his space yours, but he doesn't. Instead, his shoulder presses against yours, which you suppose is better. An anchor, you think to yourself, even though he doesn't realize it. 

“All of it. Like, somehow… i keep trying, right? To be a good student, to be friendly and kind and just… try - like being good at work and at talking and all of it. But i’m not, even though sometimes i think im finally, finally making some progress, it all just comes crashing down on me and i feel so…dumb about it. Like im incompetent. Like all roles are too important for me to get them.”

It doesn't feel like the world is off your shoulders. You wonder why everyone always told you to talk about your feelings; claiming it’ll make the burden lighter. But the process of doing that would include giving it to someone else who’s less likely to have had a bad day and making their day worse by association. It felt like a math formula, another thing you were inherently struggling with.

No, the world feels all too real, all too heavy, all too present and pressing against your shoulders, the hurt seeping to the ends of your collarbones.   

“Incompetent.” he says. Its not a reply, neither is it a question. Like he knows exactly what you mean and is contemplating on it. Considering it. Then he shrugs. Sighs through his next statement to make it sound less like a confession of admiration, “you're not incompetent.” 

A pause. You don't believe him, and he knows it. And before he begins his strategy of building you up; he does it. 

Turns his back to everything else. Stands in front of you so he can be the only thing in your eyesight, his back to your friends, to the rest of the world as he makes his attempts to lessen the weight of yours. And surely - and you know he knows it, realises it just as you do - you lift your head up, eyes directed to his, your face pointing to your world, directly to him. In that action, you match each other perfectly well, even if Sasha introduced the two of you to each other as complete opposites. You wouldn't necessarily agree with her, especially not now, when both of you create your own world so easily, with the least amount of the hesitation that easily comes to the two of you.

He speaks quietly. Almost under his breath, as if they're truths that are heavier than his words, “you're not. When you talk, its clear that you're passionate, knowledgeable. Even if you don't realise it. Somehow you convince people to believe in you everytime you speak. It's one of the things i like about you. You-” he weaves his hand into his hair halfway through; an action he only commits to when he’s passionate about the topic he's speaking about, “you could make an atheist believe in god. Maybe because you have bits of truth hidden in there, whatever it is, but you're fully lying if you think you're incompetent. Or dumb. You’re not. You're good. Fucking brilliant.” he says, scoffing as if its a universal fact that youre unknowing of. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, the earth is round, and jean believes youre ‘fucking brilliant’. 

You blink. Before the gears in your heavy machinery of a brain can move, he says, “i know you wont believe it, so let me do the believing for you. Depend on me a little, yeah?” he asks, like it's a plea. And honestly, you give in, without hesitation. 

His back faces the world and there’s a resolution in your eyes as you face your own world, smiling gently.

The next time is one you can particularly take note of. 

You're at some party that eren was throwing - pre halloween, everyone in costume, the song from the speaker so loud that the ground beneath your shoes was shaking, etching a reminder of tonight on it - a typical college-like event. Everyone was having a bubbling and tipsy conversation amongst themselves, connie and eren arguing over the music that they put on, sasha fawning over mikasa who could be seen blushing lightly even under the flashing lights, reiner with his arm around someone you knew from class - and admittedly set him up with - as you try not to let a proud smile set over your lips at the fact. You had a bet with Marco, another inside conversation that had been had all the way to the party; you bet on reiner finally “getting some” tonight, and marco betted on him not. Which, he clarified, was not because he didn't believe in the guy, but because reiner had a way of… being awkward when he was tipsy. Fifty solid dollars over this. You weren't going to lose.

Your head bopped to the argued-over music, scanning the crowd for jean, who claimed he was going to find you a drink you’d actually enjoy sipping on through the night. He knew you well enough, so you’d allowed him to, posing it to him as a challenge that he took with a cocky smile and a self-assured confidence that you were tempted to break.

You weren't going to break it. Of course not. Not unless he won. 

Bert asks you about your plans after the party. You tell him that you’d probably go home with the girls - unless they find their own plans for the night, which, you hope they do - and ask him the same, and he tells you he’ll go home with reiner, unless the obvious were to happen. You shout at him above the music about your bet with Marco because you know your voice wouldn't be carried to his ears otherwise, and he smiles and says - rather wisely, despite his slightly slurred speech - that you’d probably win. You tell him that if Marco were listening you’d flex about it. He laughs a little before someone from his class waves him over and you're left to your own devices again, scanning the crowd for a familiar head of soft hair that you imagine far too much running your fingers through.

And you find it. Shoulder the crowd, holding two glasses of his concoction, heading straight towards you, making sure not to spill even a single drop. You applaud his persistence, and he reaches you with the same smile he left you with, eyes sparkling and soft around the edges, looking at you like the world’s been tuned out, handing you your cup.

“Peach sparkling…spirit.” he says, not having had a single thought about naming the drink, but nodding once in satisfaction after it slips out of his mouth. You nod back, impressed, and look down at the ice floating in it. “Ice so your iron deficiency has something to chew on.” he completes with a laugh, one that you playfully punch him for as if your insides dont melt at the fact that the drink is more of a symbol, really, of how much he really knows you. peach , your favourite flavour, to dilute the wretched taste of alcohol. The coolness to keep you awake, and the ice floating at the top just as he said, because you liked chewing on it.

And as if just that much wasnt enough, he does it again.

Back to the world, he faces you completely, now closer than ever. Chest to chest, not because there were people unknowingly pressing your back from both sides, but because you'd be that close by choice either way. He traps you, but youre a willing accomplice, guilty of the same crime, and you create your own worlds with none of the hesitance that you both so frequently carry with everyone else as if this is the easiest thing youd ever do. As if its always been easy.

You tip your glass to his, and he clinks the rim of his cup to yours, lifting it to his lips with the same smile, now softer, gentler, because he knows only you're looking, because he knows he’d let you. 

The drink tastes divine. The completeness of knowing you, fully, wholly, without hesitation, the peach mixing with whatever cheap vodka he could find, knowing just how strong to make it so you wouldn't scrunch your nose at it’s burn but rather enjoy it, knowing you'd nurse the same drink for the rest of the night, close to your chest as it would vibrate not to the sound of the music but to the sound of your quietly beating heart because out of everyone, jean made it. 

Despite the drink's coolness, enough to freeze your fingertips, your insides felt. They felt, every organ - your lungs, your heart, your liver, your kidneys - felt, conscious and whole, flipped inside out and alive. 

Your back to the world, you and jean creating your own. 

Habits have a funny way of catching on, jean noticed, as you made a knowing decision to turn your own back to the world that you knew to be so large and unknown, opting for the warm one that jean hoped to preserve for you.

He notices, too. The first time you do it, its september. Your boots scruff up against the harsh of the pavemented sidewalk, orange and red leaves under your feet, with a cup of coffee in your hand, the one that he happily paid for like it was muscle memory. There could be silence between you, sure, because he knows that even that would be pleasant. But there isnt, and hes glad nonetheless, bringing his cup close to his lips, knowing that yours have touched the same rim to get a taste, hoping it would cover up the small smile that creeped onto his face, threatening to stay against his cheeks for you to notice, because of course you would. 

You finish the end of your sentence. Something about autumn, he knows, and your shoulders are brushing his as they perpetually are, coat against his, and he swears a world is created because of it, the lint of your fabric almost like magic when it presses against his, even if brief, because it cant be anything short of it with the way he’s feeling. Comfortable, whole, significant. He licks his lips, cleaning off the residue of the coffee and tasting the lingering of your lips indirectly on his like a revered devotee, a saint waiting for sacrifice, and says something probably insignificant. About the rain? He’s not sure. And then it turns into, “one time, connie - i think in middle school? Like back when i first met the guy - had his mouth wide open under the sky so he could get a full gulp of direct fucking rainwater in his mouth because we’d just learnt about… the water cycle. I think.” he says, and you laugh.

And then it happens. You do it, and he takes notice, because of course he does, of course, because its you. Turning on your heel, your back facing the world, as you fall into step, still beside him, walking backwards just so you could face him. For a moment he’s concerned - youre not the most synchronised person in the world, he once watched you stub your toe fully on purpose while trying to prove a point of how you’re not that navigationally challenged - but he shakes the thought out of his head as a slew of others fill it instead. You trust him. Enough to be a slight nuisance, enough to know if there was anything blocking your path that your back was facing so you wouldnt stumble, enough to know that he’d find this enjoyable rather than annoying. And then another larger, overwhelming thought.

You noticed. You noticed him doing that to you - turning his back to everything else, willingly, wholly, so you knew his attention was pinned on you and you only - and wanted to repay the insignificant favour.

And then he continues. As if nothing had occurred, as if a world just hadnt opened up and swallowed him up, organs flipping inside out. “And then when i made fun of him, the fucker went out there again, waited for the rainwater to fill his mouth up fully, and spit all of it on me.” he said, your laughter continuing to bubble and pour out of your lips and onto his, infectious as he thought it was, your shoulders shaking, no longer pressed against his, but he felt it anyway. Straight to his heart, his hand aching to cover it because his hesitance was carved onto his bones, but his choice to let it beat for you overwhelmed his tendons. 

He wondered if you knew. If you somehow, in your own way, knew that he’d always hold out for you as a knowing choice. That he’d went out to buy that peach drink for you to mix into the cheap vodka that eren had on his kitchen counter. If you knew that he’d never known what the right words to say were until you taught him a whole new dictionary, a vocabulary he’d somehow been blind to. Hes fluent now, he thinks, because he knows you fully, wholly. A world created and burnt into places, because both your backwere against the world you both knew.

Because jean saw you as his. And he knew - a new vocabulary - that you saw him as yours.

Back to the world, chest to a new one, your steps sync together, smiles the same on your lips as they were on his.

[feirceangel]

Imagine | Protect (Luffy)

Imagine guarding Luffy’s hat.

Warnings: hurt/comfort

Word Count: 1,224

(Not my gif)

There is something you are one hundred percent certain of. In a life plagued with precariousness and anxiety, there is one truth you can always cling to.

And that is the fact that your captain, Monkey D. Luffy, always has your back.

No matter what situation you find yourself in, he never fails to brighten your day with a smile and defeat whatever foe you're facing.

Whether you're homesick, bored, or literally having your life threatened, he's always right by your side.

He guards each of his crew with a vigour that only he can. His warm smile brighter than a thousand suns as he celebrates yet another victory.

There is another thing you're certain of.

That your captain has one treasure more precious than any of his other objects.

His straw hat.

Given to him by the infamous Red-Haired Shanks, Luffy values that hat above all else.

Even at the cost of his own safety.

There's been countless times where you've watched in horror as Luffy was struck but managed to keep one hand firmly atop his hat.

It never got easier seeing him battle men quadruple his size and strength. Your stomach would clench with worry and you'd do your best to help battle the other opponents, but you always felt so helpless.

Watching him take on such intense foes made you feel proud of him and also concerned for his well being.

Although now that you've been sailing as a Straw Hat Crew member for months, you've come to realize that your captain can take on anything.

His hat, less so.

So, here you sit, quietly mending his hat as Luffy gapes at your handiwork.

"Awesome!" He grins, face alight with joy, "You're good at this, Y/n!"

"I'm just glad you're okay," you confess, carefully stitching away.

It's no secret how you feel about Luffy: everyone on the crew knows about your crush. And you have confidence that Luffy feels the same way.

It's in the little things he does. Always finding an excuse to hug you, explore new islands with you, and even share his food with you. And he never shares his food with anyone else.

So, it's safe to say he at least likes you.

He laughs, "You need to stop worrying so much!"

"You need to stop getting beat up!" You fire back, finishing your stitch. "Seriously, I'm starting to think you like pain."

He laughs, "I don't! But I got him in the end, Y/n! That's all that matters."

You sigh and motion for him to bow his head. He does and you gently set his hat back in its rightful place.

He grins up at you, "Thanks, Y/n! Let's go see if Sanji's done making supper!"

Luffy snatches your hand in his as soon as you drop your needle into your sewing kit. He drags you into the kitchen, using his devil fruit power to snatch up an apple.

"Sanji," he mumbles around a mouthful of fruit, "When's food gonna be ready? I'm hungry."

"Not yet," the cook shakes his head. "I need thirty more minutes."

Luffy groans loudly, leaning his head on your shoulder, "That's too long!"

"You have to wait!"

Luffy scrunches his nose in annoyance before dragging you outside again. Once there, he shoves the apple near your mouth, "Have a bite!"

You're surprised he hasn't eaten it all already. Opening your mouth, you take a large bite of the tangy goodness, humming your approval.

"Thanks," you start to mumble but he stops you mid sentence by leaning in and pressing his lips to yours.

A furious heat flushes your face at his abrupt actions.

"W-what was that for?"

He grins and swipes his tongue over his mouth, "You had juice on your lips."

You're floored, unable to respond as the kiss replays in your head. Meanwhile, he's already walking away with a giddy giggle.

~

You watch with bated breath as Luffy's hat goes flying.

He's fighting a particularly strong foe, having to use all his focus on the battle.

Without a second thought, you race after his treasure, determined to keep it safe for him. He's always doing so much for you, so you want to return the favour.

The other Straw Hats are occupied, no one noticing as you slip away to chase after the stray hat. A strong wind has blown it quite the distance, and you find it stuck on a tree branch.

You grab it, turning on your heel to trudge back to the main fight. But there's a problem.

A large group of marines stand in front of you, each one wearing a menacing grin.

"Look who we have here," the supposed leader comments, stepping forwards.

You instinctively hide Luffy's hat behind your back, grinning back ferociously.

"Gentlemen, what are you doing so far from the real fight?"

"Could ask you the same," he sneers. "What's that behind your back? Is it the infamous Straw Hat Luffy's straw hat?"

Your grip on the straw tightens.

"You're in charge of safeguarding it huh? Is that all you're good for?"

They laugh amongst themselves.

"I wonder if they'd kick you out if you failed the one task they gave you," he steps forward again.

"Over my dead body," you hiss, taking out your weapon after securing the hat to your belt. "If this hat is destroyed, then I have no reason to go on."

Before they can make the first move, you've taken down two of them, angered at their words and fuelled with the desire to protect Luffy's treasure.

The fight goes on too long.

Outnumbered, you take hits that knock you down and leave you bloodied and bruised. Maybe even with a few broken bones.

By now, you're on the ground, clutching the hat in your bloodied hands as a torrent of kicks fall on your back.

You took down well over half the marines but the few remaining are mad as hell and taking it out on you.

You barely register the outraged cry of your captain as he shouts, "Gum-Gum Gatling!"

The kicks stop as your attackers go flying, landing with dull thuds. They don’t get back up again.

Luffy is quick to rush to your side, “Y/n! Are you alright?!”

“Luffy,” you manage a small smile, shakily handing him his hat. “I protected your treasure.”

He doesn’t smile, in fact he looks angry.

“Idiot! You’re my treasure,” he shouts, gripping onto your shoulders, “And now you’re hurt!”

Confused, you stare up into his eyes, “But you love this hat.”

“But I love you more,” he shakes you again before screaming for Chopper to come and assess the damage done to you.

After you’re back on the ship, nicely bandaged and safe in bed, Luffy approaches you again. He seems less energetic than normal, dragging his feet as he comes to the bed.

“Thank you for protecting my hat. I’m sorry I didn’t protect you.”

“Luffy,” you gently clasp his hand, “You’ve always protected me.”

His eyes are wet with tears, “But-“

“I couldn’t ask for a better captain,” you reiterate, pulling him closer. “You’re all I could hope for.”

“Really?”

“Honest,” you smile, “Now come here.”

You drag him into your arms, wincing slightly. He is cautious of your injuries, gently returning your hug.

“Thank you.”

[psychocitywrites]

Hard Truths - V

Summary: Rafe Cameron has everything a man would want. Now he’s looking to settle down. He thinks he’s found the one that checks all the boxes, except she’s not you.

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5

The sun was already setting, with orange and pink hues diffusing the once blue sky. Soon, the city would only light up with fluorescent streetlamps and buildings illuminating with people staying late to finish their work.

Rafe would be one of those people. He had been in the office for hours now, making up for coming in later than he usually would. He even skipped out on his lunch just so he could finish by tonight.

His mind was replaying the encounter he had with his father when he finally showed up, Ward had been pissed when he saw Rafe but held it in long enough until they were behind closed doors.

Apparently, Ward had brought in an investor to the company without letting him know, and he was surprised to find that Rafe hadn’t shown up yet. Rafe tried to defend himself, saying that he was helping out a friend.

A friend. Even now, it felt weird to say that since he still wasn’t sure what you were to him.

However, to Ward, it was just another excuse for Rafe to skip out on his responsibilities. Apparently, he had missed an important investor’s meeting and got chewed out by his father.

It was ironic to Rafe. Ward had left the company for him to lead, yet his father would come in from time to time to berate him in front of everybody in the office like he was some loser who only got the position due to his last name.

“When I made you a part of this company, I expected to leave it to someone I could trust. Someone who can carry on the Cameron legacy. If Sarah were here, she’d never make me look this bad in front of everybody.”

The golden child and the apple of Ward’s eye had gotten pregnant and married young, leaving Rafe to deal with leading the company, but Ward still held her in high regard. “If only you turned out more like her.” Ward muttered under his breath. Even if Rafe had become the top businessman of the century, Ward would still somehow compare him to Sarah.

Rafe clenched his jaw, tired to hearing the same old bullshit spew from Ward again. “Are you done? If so, I’m getting back to work.” He was already getting up, not really bothering to stay for much longer.

“Rose is cleaning up the place. Come get your stuff. We’ve put your things in a box. If you don’t want them, I’ll toss it out by the end of the month”

It was a threat, and Rafe knew his father would do it. Rose had been wanting to get rid of Rafe’s things after he had moved out years ago, but he’d come by to visit Wheezie from time to time and kept some of his items in his old room until she went to college out of state.

Ward didn’t stay too long after that and left, leaving Rafe in a state of restlessness.

Knock, knock, knock. Topper sheepishly stuck his head through the doorway. “Hey man, you good? The whole office kinda heard what happened today.”

“I’m peachy, what do you think?” Rafe said sarcastically. “What do you want?”

“You still hittin’ it up with Heather? I’m serious about Ruthie wanting a double date. She’s bustin’ my ass to get you to agree to it too.”

Heather. Shit.

He has put his phone on DND after Ward had left. He forgot about her completely after leaving you alone. He checked his phone and he saw that he had a couple new messages from Heather.

Heather: Rafe! The flowers are beautiful and the chocolates were wonderful Heather: You've made my day with them Heather: I'm sorry I wasn't there to get them irl, so maybe we should meet up?

Perfect. He responded, typing quickly.

Rafe: Sounds good;) Lemme know when and where

Five minutes after he sent that, Heather responded.

Heather: Surprise me :)

“Yeah it’s still on with Heather, and no. Me and Ruthie in a room together ain’t happening. I can't stand her yapping.”

Topper groaned. “Ugh, you’re givin’ me blue balls man.” Rafe narrowed his eyes and Topper took the hint. “Okay, looks like you got everything here in order. Imma take my leave now chief.” He saluted on his way out.     

Once Rafe was alone in his office, he sat down on his chair rubbing both of his eyes. Heather's request gave him an excuse to contact you again.

He thought about what had happened earlier and he felt a fuzzy feeling grow in his chest. It must be worry, he thought, but then his stomach grumbled. He’d remembered his missed lunch and glanced at his watch. It read 8:15. He sighed, already feeling the day wear him down.

He was going to send a text to check up on you, but had beat him to the punch. His phone vibrated with message from you.

y/n: Thank you for today. I’m really glad you helped me today. Let me know if you need anything, i'll try and help

The same fuzzy feeling came back but more intensified, and it made Rafe feel a little uncomfortable.

You’d probably had gotten off work now and texted. He debated on if it was appropriate to ask, but he sent a text anyway.

Rafe: Are you feeling ok? Want me to come over?

Three dots immediately showed up on his phone, then disappeared, then reappeared.

y/n: I'm okay now, you don't have to worry about me

For some reason, he still felt worried. He saw you have to deal with an ass like Kyle, and also saw how you'd been pretty shaken when he last saw you, so before he even knew it, his feet led him out the door and staight to his car. He first made a stop to a Mexican restaurant and ordered enough for two people to go.

He'd memorized you address from the day before and just drove his way there. He knew he should have sent a another text to make sure you were actually at home, but when he parked his car in your drive way and knocked at your door, you had answered, looking wildly confused as to why he was at your door step.

He held up the two bags and a cup holder with drinks. "Is it too late for dinner?"

---

You'd been surprised to see Rafe twice on the same day, and even more so when it was at your house.

You'd been trying to keep your distance with Rafe, knowing that developing unrequited feelings for him would spell out disaster for you, but when he offered you takeout that smelled absolutely amazing, you reluctantly invited him in.

"Is this because you felt bad for me this morning?"

"Nah, I was just in the area."

A complete lie. You knew that wasn’t true. You were pretty sure he lived in the city, but didn’t push it.

You weren't prepared to have any guests over. You had worn a casual outfit, just a t-shirt and sweats, and your hair was still damp from taking a shower. Rafe had also smelled the faint scent of your shampoo when you welcomed him.

When he stepped in, he saw various frames of photos littering the wall. Some had you with what he assumed was your siblings since they shared similar features to you. Some with your parents and others of a black cat that actually appeared right on the table as he set down the food.

It seemed curious as to what Rafe had bought and was carefully sniffing around the bags as if it was inspecting the food itself.

“Shadow! No.” You said sternly. “Paws off the table.” You shoo’d him away. “He knows better than to be in the table. He just doesn’t care for the most part.”

Shadow then appeared by Rafe's feet, sniffing him, trying to gage if he like Rafe or not. He decided that Rafe was worthy of his attention, so he plopped himself down in front of Rafe, wanting Rafe to pet him.

Rafe smiled that its antics. “Cute cat.”

You carefully picked Shadow up and meowed in protest. You didn;t want him to accidentally eat any food off the table, so you put him in your room just to be safe.

When you came back to the dinning room, Rafe had already cleaned and set everything up for the the two of you.

"So what's inside?" You asked.

"Tacos." You raised an eyebrow and he raised both his hands as if to defend himself. "Hey, I'm not all steak and potatoes, I know some pretty good eats here and there. Plus, I could tell you didn't love the last restaurant we went to, so I'm here to redeem myself."

"I didn't hate the place." You mumbled.

"Just the price tag." Rafe countered.

You didn't argue, instead you took a bite of the taco and immediately moaned. Rafe had been watching intently and he loosened up when he saw your reaction, and then began to eat his after you.

"I was actually starved. This was perfect." You said as you finished the last bite. You were now just sipping the drink Rafe had bought.

"Same. I actually haven't eaten anything all day."

"Rafe!" You stared at him wide-eyed, your caring instincts kicking in. "What happened?"

"It's nothing. Just had a lot to finish at work. That's all." He didn't want to bring up Ward.

"Was it because of me?" You casted your eyes down, and Rafe instanly felt like a weight had been buried in his chest.

"No! Absolutely not. Kyle Richardson is an asshole, and he needed to be brought down to reality. I wouldn't have done anything different. He would have been dealt with sooner or later."

Rafe sighed. "It's just hard sometimes with the expectations I get from others." You didn't push but grabbed his hand, just like he did earlier in the day. Rafe found himself really liking the warmth emanating off your hands.

"I actually have to thank you for today." You looked up at him. “Your suggestions about what to get Heather. It worked, and now she wants me to surprise her for a date," He made air quotes with his hands. You had let go of him by then. "I have no clue if she wants to go somewhere lowkey or something more high end."

You stared at his face and then cleared your throat. "That's...great." You tried to sound happy for him. "Um, Miss Hayworth likes to dine at exclusive places. The place you payed for last time would be perfect."

Rafe made a mental note of that. "Yeah, got it. Thanks."

An awkward silence engulfed the two of you, until you couldn;t hold in a yawn. "Um, I think I'm gonna get ready for bed soon. I know I've already said this, but thank you for today." You gave him a small smile.

"I think I've overstayed my welcome. I'll take my leave now." He shuffled up from the dining seat table. He grabbed the wrappers and napkins, cleaning up the tiny mess you and him made during his short visit. "I'll text you later, yeah?"

"Yeah. Take care Rafe. Drive back safely." You walked him to your entrance and watched him enter his car before closing the door completely.

You'd felt like you were in a movie, and instead of being the main character, you were just an individual watching two leads slowly fall in love with each other. A bystander. You sighed and walked to your bedroom and let Shadow strut out and rub himself on you.

You then watched as he placed himself down in front of you and tilt his head, as if he was asking what had happened while he in the other room.

"Oh, Shadow. You're still the number one guy in my heart." You said jokingly, but he seemed to like that answer as he launched himself right into your arms. Your day had been a bit of a rollercoaster, so you were going to let yourself sleep it off before resetting for the next day.

However, as you laid in bed, you tried not to think of Rafe, but that was harder said than done. The way he handled Kyle stayed behind to care for you had set the butterflies in motion inside your stomach. Then the recent visit to bring dinner had made him wedge into your mind subconsciously.

Rafe was making it difficult for you to move on from your unrequited feelings, even if he was doing it unknowingly.

You sighed and tried to keep your eyes shut. You began using your back up plan of counting sheep to make yourself sleepy and slowly but surely, you had fallen into a deep slumber, dreaming of the person your were trying to forget.

Taglist: @lolabunnyworldss @drunkinthemiddleoftheday @toomanywhitelies @wuluhwuhmaster @maybankslover @ivy-34

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

Hello, I hope your having a nice day, can I request Yandere 1st Years + Grim (Platonic) with a Komi Reader? (From Komi can’t Communicate)

Reader’s known for being incredibly beautiful, intelligent, athletic and elegant in everything she does, however she has crippling Social Anxiety and ends up scaring everyone away with her ‘mean/scary’ look so everyone tends to avoid her (When it’s actually herself that’s nervous since she doesn’t know what to say)

Except for Ace, Deuce and Grim after they spent time with Reader in the mine, they discovered her anxiety she wrote it out so now they’re mostly the ones who do the talking for her and try to help her reach her goal of making 100 Friends in NRC, even though they both think that’s a ‘weird/bad goal’ because this IS NRC

Reader loves cats, so she spoils Grim and Lucius (The latter likes laying in her lap and even follows her around) with pets, treats and affection and helping her friends with studying since she gets perfect marks

How would they react to hearing Reader’s voice for the first time? Not to mention have Reader tell write out that she made a friend all by herself who visits her dorm at night and does nightly walks (You know who it is)

Komi-San Reader | Yandere Twisted Wonderland

You’re quiet and intimidating but not because others find you scary. The exact opposite, they’re obsessed. You’re athletic, you’re smart, you’re beautiful, you’re kind, and the list goes on. Without so much as opening your mouth, the school is at its hands and knees all for you. Little do they know about your silent struggle, not like your dearest first-year friends. More than anyone they know how hard you work and if their hearts could overfill with love for you it already has.  So imagine your stalkers' friends; reaction to you’re never heard before voice:

Ace Trappola

“Aw man, (Y/n) I can’t begin to explain how much of a pain he is! With his moodiness, we’re not going to win the game.”

“...”

“Don’t say that, I am great but not that great.”

“...Y-you c-can d-do it!” 

He plays 10x better 

All while running on his excitement and embarrassment

“Whoa, Ace! W-were you holding out on us!”

Everyone is floored that he’s suddenly just doing so well

He’s keeping your quiet cheers to himself 

Replaying it in his head

He will teasingly ask you for a recording even when you cutely shake your head

“Oi oi don’t get all shy now, you were doing so well!”

He does circle back having already written down the names of those who turned their heads

If they’re so inclined to hear your voice in a roaring crowd 

Then they should be alright with their ears no longer working 

He’s being merciful when he does just this

And if you mention any mysterious friends, he’d no doubt try to follow up on that same treatment

Deuce Spade

“M-maybe being an honor student was too high of a goal.”

You shake your head

“Ahh I appreciate it, (Y/n) but if I’m going to flunk again I’ll be in trouble. Both with Riddle and my mom, I just can’t measure up. ”

“You…are a good student.”

He blushes 

“G-g-g-g-good j-job (Y/n)!”

He knows how much this is taking for you to try 

But he just can’t keep it together 

He’s among the first to hear your precious voice

He has to be the only one

He doesn’t know what this feeling is but he doesn’t want to share

It especially rubs him the wrong way when you mention a mysterious friend 

He decides to wait it out

See who this new friend he’s going to gut he has to meet

Epel Felmier

“Grrrr I can’t stand it! Why can’t I be taken seriously? I just hate my face!”

“...”

“Don’t hafta lie ta me, (Y/n)! I know I’m not handsome.”

“...I….th-th-”

“Huh?” 

“I think you’re handsome.”

“Aw shucks, (Y/n)!”

He definitely wasn’t was expecting that

You’re just the sweetest as he predicted

He already keeps the notebook you’ve lost+ gone through with your written words

And the apple cores he lovingly retrieves from Ramshackle’s trash no doubt cultivating whatever ends up growing from them

He avoids the impulse to tear his book open at the mention of a new friend 

Well I hope they like a poison-apple

Jack Howl 

“I have a magift practice later on…are you still going to come?”

You nod your head

“T-thank you, I’d appreciate your support from the stands.”

When he says that he doesn’t expect you to actually whisper anything out

“G-go Jack!”

His keen ears pick it up and suddenly he’s breezing through obstacles like never before

And of course, he did his mate practically cheered him on

It makes it much earlier to replay that encouragement when he’s fighting for your honor his ownership of you

No doubt Savvannclaw is filled with your admirers

But some are a little too bold

So leave it to your mate to take action first

And while he’s at it he might as well guard your home more intensely

Sebek Zigvolt

“WHAT A MARVEL HUMAN! YOU’VE TAMED ALL THE FERAL FELINES ON CAMPUS!” 

“...”

“WELL FOR A HUMAN IT IS DECENT WORK! PERHAPS YOU DO HAVE–”

“C-can you please be quiet?”

“...?....!..Y-you think y-you, a mere human, can tell me what to do?!” 

Yes you can, having the loud half-fae go down two whole octaves was a feat

And he keeps replaying the moment in his head specifically the way your lips moved

Burning hot all over he’s not really listening to anyone for the next week month

But once he’s broken out of it he’s determined to repeat the miracle

And it seems it works best if your alone?

Then he’ll be sure to chase off the gaggle of scum+ admirers who you claim to be friends with

And he thinks nothing of a midnight friend…that is if you’re alone with them than that’s completely unacceptable

Grim

“Henchhuman! Everyone is soooo mean! Why doesn’t anyone like me? I know I’m so cool and maybe that’s why–”

“I like you.”

“Well of course you w–W-wait did you speak? T-t to me! Whoopee, I’m going to tell everyone the great Grim is who you spoke to first!” 

He runs off to do just that 

Bragging to anyone who would listen

He has to dodge a lot of assassination hits that day

But it gives him the content whenever that icky feeling comes up sometimes

And as for your ‘Hornton’ friend he’s seen him and next time he comes around he’ll boast all about his greatness and how you spoke to him

[child0feden]

OH MY DARLING

peter steele x reader x ( platonic! ) oc daughter

♡ general headcanons for peter as a girl dad!

୨୧ the most adorable request ever, love it and i hope you love this anon! i gave the daughter a name but it isn’t a major thing at all so you could imagine to be something else and the walking dead game brainrot is kind of heavy lol, sweetpea is just such a cute nickname so i ripped it <3

♡ requested by anon | view my metal masterlist here

reading music recommendations: ecstasy by crooked still - apple by cibo matto

♡ i feel like your daughter would be a carbon copy of peter!

୨୧ she has his deep green eye colour, his raven black hair and so on! she probably only inherited very small features from you but peter says he sees them very clearly in her

♡ the only thing she didn’t get from him is his height and build… i mean obviously, because she’s just a baby and all but even still, she’s super small, even for a child

୨୧ she’s the shortest in her daycare and just has the most adorable little features on her face!

♡ her tiny little button nose is your and peters favourite, both of you always place kisses on her nose, ever since she was a newborn

୨୧ maybe it’s just because i’ve been replaying the walking dead and just adore clementine so much but i can see you guys naming your daughter clementine! it’s just such a cute name

♡ peter would sing “ oh my darling clementine ” to her all the time when she woke up crying as a newborn and it just kind of stuck as she grew up

୨୧ whenever she has a bad dream as a toddler and needs help getting back to sleep, he’ll kneel next to her bed and stroke her hair whilst quietly singing the song in his deep voice as you watch lovingly from the doorway

♡ when he’s not singing her to sleep, he’s telling her a custom fairytale!

୨୧ he used to read ones from books for her but she never liked them too much, she’s super creative and original like her father, so she always thought they were just kind of boring and always the same

♡ so now, peter makes his own up as he goes! usually fairytales about vampires and other gothic things but she loves them

୨୧ she’s a total daddy’s girl! the second she was placed in his arms after being born, you could see they would share something special

♡ as a newborn, she’d cry for so long until peter took her into his arms! she would calm down a little with you but she would only fully stop crying when you handed her over to her papa and he rocked her tiny body in his big arms whilst he softly shushed her and leaned his head down to give her eskimo kisses

“ you’re okay, sweetpea… nothings wrong, see? papa’s got you, you’re okay… it’s okay ” ( her crying draws to a stop almost immediately as your mouth drops open in shock, peter simply throwing you a cheeky wink before cooing down at his little girl and giving her his finger to hold )

୨୧ whenever peter holds her in his arms, she almost doesn’t look real! ever since she was a baby, she looks more like a little porcelain doll rather than a real child due to their major difference in size and build

♡ but it’s so so so cute! he loves holding her because she’s just lighter than a feather to him

୨୧ she especially loves being placed on his shoulders because she says it makes her feel like a princess riding a big horse or tamed dragon

♡ taking her to type o negative concerts is always a trip! people backstage will immediately know who she’s related to the second they lay eyes on her, connecting her to the frontman within a split second due to how much she resembles peter

୨୧ you’ll often stand to the side of the stage, backstage and protected, your daughter held on your hip with soundproof headphones placed over her small and sensitive ears and yet she’ll still softly bob her head to the extremely muffled music making it through

♡ peter will usually dedicate a song to her, often her favourite one or one he wrote for her, and blow a kiss to the both of you as she catches it in her small hand and excitedly waves to him with a cheeky smile on her face

୨୧ speaking of a song he wrote for her, he absolutely has at least one song wrote about and for her!

♡ he probably wrote it when she was a newborn, during one of the many early nights where he had been awoken by her high pitched cries and went to comfort her whilst making sure you got your well deserved rest

୨୧ he wrote it on a notepad whilst sitting in a chair in her nursery after putting her back to sleep, looking up from the notepad every couple of minutes to admire his baby girl as she slept peacefully in her crib

♡ yeah, his perfect little girl was the most deserving of a song in her name

୨୧ he’ll always make sure that the backstage staff have juice boxes and snacks for her too! it’s the thing at the very top of the list for essentials that the band will need for a show

♡ peter will absolutely let your daughter colour in his tattoos if she wanted to!

୨୧ you’ll probably be cuddled up on the couch watching a movie or something and she’ll come running up to you two with a box of coloured markers, speaking in a rushed and excited tone whilst climbing up onto the couch, with a lot of help from her papa

♡ both you and peter give a laugh at how excited she is before peter gently ruffles her hair, letting her take his arm onto her lap and start colouring, admiring her with a loving look in his eyes

“ hm? oh! ‘s looking good, sweetpea! wow, look at that, you’ve stayed in the lines so well! ” ( she really hasn’t but it’s his baby girl, she can do no wrong )

୨୧ to be honest, he’d probably get a tattoo of one of her drawings!

♡ he’d give her a piece of paper and tell her to draw something cool and pretty before giving a piece to you too, asking you to write your name and get her to write her own when she’s done with her drawing

୨୧ within the week, peter has a messy dragon doodle and your and her name tattooed on his body, her name being a mere cute little chicken scrawl

♡ your daughter loves trying to scare her papa, always creeping up behind him whilst he writes some lyrics on a notepad or jumping out from behind a curtain as he walks by

୨୧ but of course, it never actually scares peter… he heard her tiny shoes tapping against the floor as she crept up behind him and her muffled giggles as she tried to hide them behind her hand

♡ and of course, he saw her outline behind the curtain and her fluffy socked feet were completely uncovered

୨୧ but he makes sure she doesn’t know that, he always puts on a spooked face and an over exaggerated gasp before kneeling down slightly and taking her into his arms as she giggles up a storm, proclaiming how she got him

“ you sure did get me, sweetpea! how didn’t i hear you, huh? you must’ve been floating like a ghost! my little ghost, hm? ” ( is lying really all that bad if it makes his baby girl show him that bright, beautiful little smile? )

♡ peter will always let her play with his hair!

୨୧ she wants to decorate it with an assortment of “ girly ” clips? go for it! he has no problem with it at all, he’ll sit on the floor in front of the couch whilst she sits on it behind him, so that there isn’t a major difference in height

♡ you and your daughter both love making his hair “ pretty ” and peter just loves seeing a smile on both of your faces, you’ll help her pick the prettiest clips and share beaming smiles with peter <3

[nymphaura777]

POV: You Can’t Visualize & That’s Okay

Okay, so imagine a red apple—oh wait, you can’t? Same, bestie. While everyone else is out here summoning entire cinematic universes in their heads, our brains are just…vibing in the void. If you’ve ever felt like your imagination button is broken, welcome to the aphantasia club. No, you’re not alone. No, you’re not weird. Your brain is just built different (and honestly, kinda iconic for that).

The Daily Struggles of an Aphant:

We may not get to see mental pictures, but we do get to experience these classic moments:

Guided meditations? A scam. “Picture a peaceful forest.” Ma’am, all I see is darkness and confusion.

Reading books? I love reading, but every character has the same blurry, default NPC face. I am simply trusting the author that they look the way they said.

Daydreaming? More like thought-processing with vibes only. People get lost in vivid fantasies, and we’re just…thinking.

Trying to manifest? I see absolutely nothing, but I believe in it, and sometimes that’s enough. Manifestation powered by pure faith.

But Hey, We Have Our Own Magic yk that?

Aphantasia isn’t a flaw; it’s just a different way of thinking. And honestly? It comes with some serious perks.

Overthinking? We don’t know her. We remember things, but we don’t have to see them play out in excruciating detail. Intrusive thoughts? We keep those in text format, not IMAX.

Scary movies don’t haunt us. Everyone else is losing sleep over a horror film, and we’re chilling like, “Can’t be scared of what I can’t picture.”

Our memories are less cringe-inducing. That embarrassing thing you did years ago? You remember it, but at least you don’t have to replay it.

Fast learners. We process ideas quickly without getting stuck in a mental slideshow. Straight to the point, no distractions.

Your Brain Is Beautiful, Even If It’s Not a Movie Theater, trust me cause wtf do you mean I'm not like others?

The world makes it seem like visualization is the only way to imagine, but that’s not true. You can be creative, artistic, and imaginative without seeing pictures in your head. You do think deeply. You do experience emotions just as strongly. Your thoughts are just as rich, even if they don’t come with a visual component.

So if you’re an aphant, give your brain some love. You’re not broken, you’re just wired uniquely—and that’s kinda magical. Your imagination is still real, even if you can’t see it. And honestly? You’re still an absolute icon.

[mapsthewanderer]

Maps rambles - Caleb’s myth - episode 1

My first two cents on the matter to the void aka “How I lost my mind over a fictional man’s myth card”

🎨 The color palette

Let me just start with this because I’m an unapologetic art freak—how orange and purple as a color combo is actually insane (in the best way)? From Itten’s color theory perspective, they’re both secondary colors, which means they don’t naturally “belong” together… and yet when you pair them? Instant drama. High contrast. Visual tension.

It’s literally the Caleb energy palette.

This part is important because it ties into something I go into more detail about later in the spoiler section.

Bonus: when you mix orange and purple, you get this lovely burnt sienna. You can literally see those warm, moody notes in the artwork for the event banner. All dramatic like a walking sunset with feelings. Peak aesthetic. Peak emotional damage. 10/10 color story.

I’m over here channeling my inner Raf, whispering “it’s so beautiful”. My high school days were good days

🚨MYTH SPOILERS AHEAD 🚨

🏃‍♂️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️The first escape

The first thing you see together? Summer.

And not just the season—the whole feeling of it. Sunlight you can almost taste.

Caleb means “faithful,” which, sure, fits now that you know Caleb. But that’s not really what you picked in that moment, you choose Xia Yizhou (夏以昼). Which means summer. You chose it because you felt warmth. Brightness. You felt his name.

(Also, he probably said summer in the actual Chinese version—and that’s why you ended up choosing it. But ahhh, I just love rambling about the impeccable attention to details that we have been served.)

And okay—this is a tiny nod to my own fanfics—but I’ve always imagined Caleb loves his name in this almost eerie way. It’s special to him. Sacred, even. That’s why I snuck those moments into chapters 4 and 8 of The Maze. He wants you to say it. Say his name. Say it again. And again and again and again. (Okay but I might have a BDSM fic marinating in my drafts where he makes you say his name like… a gazillion times. For reasons.)

🫰The pinky promise

Don’t even get me started—I need to go back and replay Borrowed Promise because those two dorks are pining me so hard.

🙉 The face cupping

You saw that, right? The way hands cradled his face? The same way we saw it happen in Hidden Waves. Don’t play with me.

👨‍🍳 The cooking/tasting

I’m not okay. The tasting. The way he makes you experience every flavor—sweet, salty, bitter. How Infold has woven this into his character in the current timeline? Eternal. Awe. He’s still making you feel, sense. Teaching you how to savor everything good.

Let me just remind us all of that one café interaction. Where he says he wants to try apple juice in his coffee. Like—what even is that? Who does that? And then we can actually answer him, dead serious, “try adding a squeeze of lemon.”

No wonder! Caleb has literally taught you everything you know about taste in this myth—and he just keeps doing it in the current timeline like it’s his full-time job. Caleb’s out here crafting a five-course sensation education in the name of love. Sir.

🪁 The paper folding

Caleb’s gift in the café—a paper plane. Like. Come on. We are out here folding origami for eternity at this point. That’s it. That’s the whole love language. Silent, delicate passion disguised as craft. I’m going to scream.

🏠The loneliness and home

Watching him through the mirror. Hearing him speak when he thinks no one’s listening. “Goodnight, my one and only,” he says. Every. Single. Night. I thought Infold would stop stabbing me in the heart after that. Nope.

Then there’s the loneliness vs being home thing. Being home together. Finding home together. Home being together with Caleb. Caleb being home together with you. He’s your home, and you are his.

Another nod to one of my own fics—Drenched Homecoming (yes, I’m referencing myself like the madwoman I am). But seriously, these two have their own definition of what “home” means, and it’s so gosh darn cute and freakish I might combust.

It. Does. Not. End. Why are they like this? They’re literally not meant to fit (like the color palette)—and yet they do. So perfectly it hurts.

🍎The gege trope

I don’t speak Chinese and my Japanese is a mess, but after obsessing over Caleb for the past 65ish days straight, I have to say this:

If they used “gege” in Chinese or “oniisan” in Japanese, then that one line—“What does the word friend mean to you?”—just hits different.

It’s not about the actual definitions of gege or oniisan. It’s about your own meaning of “friend/brother”. One word you’ve assigned to Caleb after he stated that he was your “friend/brother”. The word “friend/brother” becomes sacred—not because of language, but because of him. Aka the attributes you assign Caleb.

💥 The ending

I’m just gonna drop this here.

I analyzed one of Caleb’s tattoo’s from the Tomorrow’s Catch 22 banner. I found some interesting stuff about the B12 bomb (an apocalyptic event but with the potential for rebirth) and B12 in alchemical traditions (key to spiritual or physical transformation). Seer confirmed.

❓The big question

Is Caleb remembering all of this? And like Sylus (but in his own quiet way), is he trying to help you remember too? His name. The face-touching. The paper plane. The amusement park. Feeling your pain in another timeline. Never being apart.

Infold has gifted us the most delicious easter egg and you better believe I’m cracking that thing open before actual Easter.

On that note: Can we please please please get a Nightly Rendezvous rerun, but this time with Caleb added? I’m begging. I need a robe slightly slipping off his shoulder in low lighting, preferably on the surface of a moon.

Alright, time for a walk with my dog. What a day. If you feel like diving into the chaos that is Caleb’s myth broken down by yours truly, don’t be shy. I fully welcome any and all discussion. I’ll replay it tomorrow for sure, then finish the The Bear AU pilot yaay

I remain,

Maps 🫶🏻

[starmocha]

When he finally has MC, when he creates this miracle with her, he gets told he might lose it all in just one go. I can see him breaking down every time his baby does something cute like grab his finger. The guilt only lessens when MC tells him that he's an amazing dad, that they were all hurting that time but he needs to forgive himself. Eventually he does, like, maybe 40%? But those words will haunt him forever. Crying over that silly fishie has become a habit of mine now lol

WELL, I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE MY HABIT, ANON 😭😭😭 TAKE THIS FISHIE AWAY I'M ALREADY CRYING BECAUSE OF MY APPLE, SNOOKUMS, AND BIG CA-CAWK. /lh

OK but 🥺 after the baby is safely born, after MC is also safe and recovering, he's in the hospital room as she rests and he just stares at the newborn peacefully sleeping in the hospital bassinet, and he is completely guilt-ridden and keeping his distance. He feels so much shame as he replays that awful memory in his head, and inside, it's killing him that he had even dared to utter such words about his child, this innocent little baby sleeping. He wonders if the baby had heard him say those words. It's possible, right? Babies can hear everything while in the womb, he remembers learning about that.

The more he starts to reflect, he starts breaking down, and even though he tries to stop his crying so neither of the two people he loves would wake, MC hears him. Immediately, she starts to worry and he stops her from getting up. She had been through enough during labor, he doesn't want her to exert herself for his sake. But as he gently pushes her back down in bed, he buries his face into her shoulder and just sobs while apologizing over and over again. He even wouldn't blame if the baby rejects him since he had done the same earlier, and when MC hears these words, it breaks her heart, so she just wraps her arms around him and comforts him and reassures him that nothing like that would happen. The baby loves him, just like she knows he truly loves the baby too.

[lituscrism]

I love The Knight (Reverse: 1999) which means that I will be thinking angst about them.

So far, these are the things that I've thought about;

- Oder is supposed to be Alde, who is Oliver's sister and the fianceé of Roland. Considering that Oder died, I feel like he must've been just a tad bit heartbroken lol... Which is funny because in the epic it's reversed... OMG REVERSE 199—

- He's a spirit now, and he's dead. There must be some sort of delay from his death to his 'ressurection'. Imagine if he woke up, wondering where everyone went, having memories of the war, then realizing that he is merely a spirit, or atleast knowing that everyone he knows and loves; families and friends, are all dead. 1200 years is a long time.

- He said that's it's been a "while" that he celebrated the Knight Comic Festival, which is set on his birthday. I feel like he'd be replaying the memories of the Festival in his head during his birthday, perhaps talking to the plants and making up stories about the nature around him. I thought it'll be cool if Druvis III heard The Knight's stories via plants but wasnt really able to pin-point where he is(?). I'm sure they havent met but it'll be cute if they met and Druvis realizes idk it's not canon lol

- The fact that he calls himself as "Someone" and not "I/my/mine" gives me the thought that he doesn't think that his name is worthy enough to even refer to as himself. Sure he'll talk about Roland but he wouldn't explicitly say that HE is Roland. Though at the same time its like he has accepted it since his Monologue says that he'll just start anew and acknowledges that his past will be forgotten. Imagine being the only person that knows your beloved comrades....

- I wouldn't say he's depressed, but he's WAYY too casual about the things that happened, which means that he has already moved on, but hey, he misses them sometimes (or maybe always). In his times of solitude, he'd probably think about how things would be if he didn't die, if Oder didn't die, or just some minor changes in his life.

- Since he's a person of piety, I feel like he'd imagine his friends and family just waiting for him in the afterlife. Perhaps since he's just a spirit now, he'd never see them again. Though like I said, he probably moved on from it, and now that he knows APPLe, Vertin, An-an Lee and the others, he cares about them and wishes not to leave their side so soon. He's loyal to Timekeeper as well too, so that's a plus! We love healthy-minded characters here.

- Usually I think of the character's Insight 2 as something that's canon in their story, whether it will happen in the future, current or in the past. So to see The Knight's Insight 2, where he's bowing infront of an angel, and based by his anecdote and his past, I'm thinking that perhaps he recieved some sort of enlightenment, I mean he has Durandal, and from what I know, the one issuing the "Tap of the sword" uses their *own* sword, and not the sword of the knight (CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG PLS). But then it could also just be the angel giving him a "knighted" ceremony again as a Spirit now that he's uh, dead. He still has value as a knight, and he will faithfully do his duty. I'm so happy that he doesn't resent it and actually takes pride in it.

- Since he's a spirit now, and spirits doesn't really, necessarily eat/drink, he would probably find it filling to just see the team having fun, enjoying snacks and having drinks. Perhaps he'd sometimes think what it would be like to eat/drink again, but in all honesty he'd probably just be happy that he now has someone to talk to.

That's all I have rn...

Additional (Unrelated):

- Him and Dikke would act like parents while APPLe is the cool uncle, sorry I just like to think that Regulus and Matilda would be close...oh and Sotheby too! Sotheby would def be talking to Dikke as a second opinion! Yasss found family

- For some reason I'd think he wanted to be a father at some point but chose to dedicate himself as a knight, and now just 1.2k years later he's..acting upon it to idk, Oliver and An-an?

- APPLe is the first one he connected with deeply after a very long time. But then I fear that APPLe will die at some point and the friends/family-dying thing repeats again :(. And even if APPLe lives he would be devastated about Regulus and the others passing away.

[the-travelling-witch]

[ @floraldresvi this was meant to be a ~three paragraph ask… for reasons i’ve moved it somewhere i can add a cut ^^;]

i know there’s another ask of mine queued in your inbox somewhere and i don’t wanna overwhelm you or anything. however, seeing you mention my baizhu’s red eyeliner hc makes me want to commit more blorbo terrorism

Imagine Baivi Stardew Valley AU: you’re the young farmer who recently settled in on your grandpa’s abandoned farm to escape the draining corporate life in the big city and Baizhu is the local doctor taking care of his foster child, Qiqi.

It takes some time for the two of you to run into each other, both busy with your respective jobs. You’ve heard other villagers mention the doctor before but every time you want to drop by, he’s off on a house visit or picking up his daughter. Baizhu has been meaning to ask the new farmer to come in for a standard check up since he heard of their arrival, but something else has always taken precedence.

One beautiful day, you’re out on your farm, moving branches and stones out of the way to make room for a barn before tending to your crops. As you are about to start plucking some weeds, there’s a shy tug on your sleeve, two big purple eyes staring up at you. The girl introduces herself as Qiqi and asks what you’re doing, watching curiously and squatting down next to you as you explain to her that you’re removing weeds and caring for your plants. To your surprise, she already seems quite knowledgeable on herbs and medicinal plants.

When Baizhu frantically makes his way over to the previously uninhabited plot of land after asking around if anyone had seen Qiqi, he halts in his tracks. The farm has transformed quite heavily since he’d last seen it. Sure, it is still rough around the edges and years of neglect are still clearly visible, but it’s obvious that someone has been taking great care in restoring it. And in the midst of it all he sees his daughter with a young woman smiling down at the child as she hefts a watering can over the tiny seedlings sprouting in the soft soil. Something warm curls around his heart at the sight just as you raise your head to meet his eyes, your smile returning just as sunny as before.

“You must be Qiqi’s father, I assume,” you say extending a hand to him after quickly wiping it on your gardening apron.

“Ah yes, I am her legal guardian. The name’s Baizhu, I’m the doctor of this town,” he replies, returning your greeting. If your hands happen to linger a little longer than usual, neither of you seem to mind. “Thank you for taking care of Qiqi, I hope it didn’t keep you from your work.”

“Oh not at all, she was a big help! I was wondering where she had learned so much about pruning plants but it makes sense now,” you laugh, trying to tear your eyes away from Baizhu’s beautiful amber ones. A little flustered, you offer him your name. “I’ve been wanting to introduce myself before but you seem to be rather busy yourself. Though I’m happy we finally get to meet.”

“I could say the same thing about you,” the doctor chuckles, adjusting his wired glasses. “Perhaps we could arrange a time that suits both of us, so I can invite you over for tea? It’s the least I can do for looking after Qiqi.”

“It really was no trouble at all,” you insist again. There’s warmth on your cheeks as you fiddle with a strand of your hair that came loose. “But I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better, so I’d still like to take you up on that offer.”

“Splendid, I’m looking forward to it as well.”

The conversation still replays in your head as you get into bed that night, a date circled in red on your calendar. You know it’s impossible but you feel like there’s still residual heat tingling across your palm where it touched Baizhu’s. Maybe deciding to move to this remote town had been your best idea in years after all…

yes the junimo appearance on your blog is partly responsible for this, the green apple looking guy gave me ideas :3c

[yasperapologist]

Turn Back Time: Chapter 15 (The Afterparty timeloop fic)

Yasper and Aniq get kicked out of the reunion, and Yasper decides it's time for a little treat.

Whew, it's been a while since I posted a chapter. I think this is a fun one.

Walt/Yasper crumbs? I like sprinkling in little Walt/Yasper crumbs. There is a bit in Zoe's episode where Yasper and Aniq are desperately searching for an iPhone charger, then this exchange happens:

Yasper gets to ham it up for a crowd! I think this is the first time since Two Shots/Yeah Sure, Whatever/Three Dots that Yasper has had a creative outlet... Unless you count the increasingly elaborate ways he attempted to destroy Xavier's belongings (the good old, Aniq-is-mad-at-me Property Damage Era.)

Aniq not being a fan of Ned: In Episode 8, Aniq ends up in a place that is pretty forgiving of his classmates' faults. ("You know, back in high school, I thought you were all selfish, judgmental people. But… we all have more in common than I thought. Even Brett. Even Xavier. We all need each other.") But I think after seeing those faults replayed in the exact same way, over and over again, he's starting to get a little sick of some of them. (For some reason, Aniq is hung up on people taking accountability for their actions.... Can't put my finger on why...)

Speaking of which, it's not explicitly mentioned, but there is some underlying tension in this chapter between "Yasper would rather come up with a distraction than confront his Xavier-related baggage" and "Yasper has justifiable concerns about how hard Aniq is pushing himself." (Two things can be true.)

Green Apple Books is a real store in San Francisco! It is an institution. I hope I was able to capture some of the magic of it.

I think there are few places Aniq enjoys more than a quiet bookstore he can disappear into for hours. His HP starts replenishing as soon as he sets foot in there.

The Name of the Rose is soooo fucking dense. I am Aniq in this picture. It inspired one of my favorite video games, Pentiment, and it is a great mystery, but I have not finished it. Yet.

Angels in America, by contrast, is one that just completely sucks you in. If you haven't read it yet, go read it (& if you haven't heard of Roy Cohn, look him up first). It is a revelatory experience.

I don't think it's ever explicitly stated whether Xavier had security at the afterparty. Brett imagines getting into a fight with a security guy, but I'm pretty that was just one of the caterers. I just like the image of Xavier watching Yasper and Aniq hijack his speech and being like, "Guards, stop these men!"

nooooo Aniq don't bring back Spooky Dookies you're so sexy ahahaha

“It’s like that thing from Econ class, with the graph.” / “Diminishing marginal returns?” Aniq has been friends with Yasper for fifteen years. Aniq is pretty good at translating his incoherent mouth noises.

The idea of Yasper trying to spoil Aniq with Aniq!treats like water and an early bedtime and a good book... Yasper would tuck Aniq in himself, if he thought he could get away with it. They are extremely different, but they know exactly what the other person needs, and I am so soft for them.... T.T

[cookiesandbiscuits]

Now Playing: Falling In Love

[Lucifer – Strange]

Pairing: Lucifer x GN!Reader

Genre: Fluff, pining

Summary: You were a strange one, and that baffled him. Yet at the same time, he can't help but be enamored with you.

A/N: The first installment of Now Playing: Falling in Love series starting with the eldest demon brother and the love of my life hehe... (No favoritism were intended okay?)

The song I chose for this fic is "Dear" by Ben&Ben

The first time I heard this song, he came to mind. I don't know why but I just thought of him. It does suit him though in my opinion.

And yes, this is part of my Soft Lucifer agenda, and yes, this is a rewriting of that lesson chapter where MC made the pact with Lucifer. I felt that something was missing from it. And this is the result :D (I am squealing as I write this lmao). And yes, he asks for your consent this time because consent is sexy.

Anyways, I hope you guys would enjoy reading this! &lt;3

Now Playing: Falling in Love playlist

MASTERLIST

"Only the two of us can understand

The sureness of our love

I promise you that I will hold your hand

No matter what may come

Within the beautiful and captivating

Strangeness of our love

I found a sense of peace and clarity

That I had once dreamed of

My dear."

"I have a question."

He sighed. You've been asking a lot of questions lately. Ever the curious one.

"I had a feeling you would still ask even if I told you no, so just go ahead and ask."

"I've been curious about this for a while now, but how did you fall in love with me? And when?"

The sound of writing halted. Yet another strange question.

"Where do you get these questions, I wonder?"

"Well, I've thought about it, and... you've never really shown interest in me before. So I was surprised that you accepted my impromptu confession that time."

Your alarm interrupted your explanation.

"...Guess I have to go now. Can't let Luke wait for me," you said as you left a peck on his cheek. "Don't overwork yourself when I'm gone, 'kay?"

"You should go now, lest you want to be late for your appointment with the chihuahua."

"Luke would complain nonstop if he heard you call him that," you spoke as you open the office door.

"Yes, I can imagine that. But it's not like I'm lying."

You shook your head. "I'll be going now. See you later, Lucifer."

"Yes. Do enjoy your time outside with Luke."

He watched as the door to his office closed once more. Moments after he resumed his halted paperwork, his mind replayed your question.

"When, huh?"

He wonders.

.

.

.

He found you strange. You were teleported from the human world to the Devildom, yet the glimmer in your eyes was unmistakable. You actually found your predicament interesting, like a kid seeing a brand new toy on sale.

A bushy-tailed fool amongst demons that has the ability and will kill you without batting an eye. He mused. Would you be able to survive your year in this realm?

To his surprise, you had adapted well to your new environment. Sure, Mammon and his younger brothers had something to do with it, but it was still an incredible feat for a human with no experience with supernatural stuff before the exchange program.

However, he was also suspicious of how you seemed to enchant his younger brothers so much so that they were willing to tie themselves down with a pact.

So he observed you.

But the more he watched from afar, the more he found himself falling for your charms.

It was ridiculous for him to fall for a human, he thought. And it was more ridiculous to fall for a human so stubborn as a mule.

He tried to reason with himself. It was stupid. It was...

But demons were creatures unable to resist temptation for long. And so, like Newton's apple, he fell. He fell for the human who had caused him several headaches. He fell for those fiery eyes that showed no fear in front of him. He fell for your personality which he once found oh-so annoying. He fell for your smile. He fell for your kindness and warmth. He fell for your strength and determination. He fell for your strangeness. He fell for you.

How strange indeed.

.

.

.

Several months had passed. The sparks you had ignited in his heart have now become a raging flame. Yet he couldn't bring himself to confess to you. Not when he treated you coarsely before.

He wants to make it up to you.

And so, he began to show his affection in little ways. He helped you with your homework. He helped you with your tasks. He gave you little tokens that reminded him of you as a gift. And it made you smile, and his heart fluttered at the sight of it.

But he wondered. If he told you what he felt, would you accept it?

The uncertainty tortured him. Especially when he knew that he had rivals who also yearned for your heart.

He wished that he had answers.

And answers, he received.

When you confessed in the spur of the moment, he felt his heart leap from his chest. He didn't care if you meant it or not.

"I- I, too, feel the same. I love you, MC. With all my heart."

Ah, he had finally said it.

Tender obsidian and ruby eyes met yours as he cups your face.

"...May I kiss you?"

You nodded slowly in reply.

And with that, the distance between you was closed. Your lips were like what he imagined and more. Soft, sweet, and warm.

And at that moment, he felt pure tranquility and adoration well up within him.

He does not know how or when he fell in love with you. But he does know that he would give anything just to have even a sliver of your time and affection.

You were strange, and that baffled him. Yet that same strangeness had brought him immeasurable bliss he never knew he could have.

[newmusickarl]

Albums of the Year 2024: Honourable Mentions

2024 – what a year for music hey?!

We had The Last Dinner Party in Spring, a well-documented BRAT Summer, a Fontaines Fall and, finally, The Cure for the Winter. We also had a couple of big reunions: the Gallagher brothers delighting everyone by reuniting Oasis, nu-metal icons Linkin Park returning with a new vocalist and then, just last month, indie darlings The Maccabees announcing some live shows for 2025. Both the Electronic and Country music genres seemed to have a particularly great year, while artists dissecting toxic relationships also seemed to be a thematic favourite over the last 12 months. We also had plenty of memorable moments and some incredible festival performances but, above all else, we had some bloody great new music.

You’ll be pleased to know that while this blog took a backseat to some other hobbies and ventures in 2024, my listening habits certainly didn’t slow down. My Apple Music Replay tells me I’ve listened to 587 albums from 983 different artists, 4,758 songs and a whopping 35,886 minutes of music. Just like previous years, I’ve whittled this mass of new music down to my favourite Albums, EPs and Songs of the Year – starting as always with the albums.

From my own (more accurate) tally that I keep every year, I’ve actually listened to 220 Albums in 2024, with that 220 then broken down into my Top 50 Albums of the Year, my 50 unranked honourable mentions and then sadly 120 albums that didn’t make the final cut. As ever, the top albums come from a multitude of genres: pop, rock, indie, hip-hop, R&B, country, electronica, shoegaze, punk, post-punk - it’s all here! So, although there is a good chance you won’t enjoy everything on this list, hopefully there is at least something for everyone.

For those who are following my annual countdown for the first time, I have a basic criterion that has treated me well over the last decade when collating my final Album of the Year list. Generally, I’ve favoured the records that:

Had the biggest impact on me

Was a landmark culturally or within the wider music world

Showed ambition or had something unique to offer

I played the most during the year

Ultimately produced my favourite front-to-back listening experience

So, before the Top 50 countdown officially begins with the albums that finished 50-41, I wanted to just shout out the albums that I thoroughly enjoyed this year but ultimately just missed out on the Top 50 spots. This includes some fantastic debuts (Been Stellar, Dolores Forever, Fat Dog, Sprints), some surprise returns to form (The Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, The Libertines), some late career highlights (Gruff Rhys, Maxïmo Park, James, Los Campesinos!) and plenty of the year’s biggest and most acclaimed projects (Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kamasi Washington, Waxahatchee).

So, officially kicking off year-end season, here are my 50 Honourable Mentions for 2024 in alphabetical order (by artist):

Arab Strap - I'm totally fine with it 👍 don't give a fuck anymore 👍

Been Stellar - Scream From New York, NY

Beyoncé – COWBOY CARTER

Bill Ryder Jones - Iechyd Da

Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

Bring Me The Horizon - POST HUMAN: NeX GEn

Caribou – Honey

Cassandra Jenkins - My Light, My Destroyer

Chelsea Wolfe - She Reaches Out To, She Reaches Out To She

Daudi Matsiko - The King of Misery

DEADLETTER - Hysterical Strength

Dolores Forever - It's Nothing

Du Blonde - Sniff More Gritty

Fat Dog - WOOF.

Fazerdaze - Soft Power

Four Tet - Three

Geographer - A Mirror Brightly

Goat Girl - Below The Waste

Green Day - Saviors

Gruff Rhys - Sadness Sets Me Free

Hovvdy – Hovvdy

The Howl & The Hum - Same Mistake Twice

Ibibio Sound Machine - Pull The Rope

IDLES - TANGK

Jack White - No Name

James - Yummy

John Grant - The Art of the Lie

Kamasi Washington - Fearless Movement

The Libertines - All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade

Lime Garden - One More Thing

Los Campesinos! - All Hell

Maggie Rogers - Don't Forget Me

Maxïmo Park - Stream of Life

MGMT - Loss of Life

MJ Lenderman - Manning Fireworks

Mount Eerie - Night Palace

NewDad - MADRA

nothing,nowhere - Dark Magic / Hell or Highwater / Miserymaker

Orlando Weeks - LOJA 

Rahim Redcar - HOPECORE

Remi Wolf - Big Ideas

Schoolboy Q - Blue Lips

Sega Bodega - Dennis

Sick Love – Champagne

The Smashing Pumpkins - Aghori Mhori Mei

The Smile – Cutouts

Sprints – Letter to Self

Tycho - Infinite Health

Vince Staples - Dark Times

Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood

So that’s what didn’t quite make it!

Now, join me throughout December as I reveal my Top 50 Albums of the Year, My Favourite EPs of the Year, My Favourite Live Shows of 2024 and My Top 100 Songs of 2024 Playlist.

[teecupangel]

I've been replaying Nobodies and in the middle of the second game I thought "Hey this guy talks like Desmond!" then I thought it would be pretty funny if Desmond became a murder cleaner lol

Nobodies: Murder Cleaner is available for Android, PC (via Steam) and Apple if you want to try it. It’s a point and click game where you play as a member of a secret government organization and your job is to clean up after other members have killed the target.

So we have two option for this idea.

Option 1: Canon ‘Verse where Desmond becomes a Cleaner instead of a Bartender

In this one, the only thing we have to tweak is what Desmond’s history becomes when he left the Farm. Maybe he saw one of the Cleaners doing their job in Rapid City and the Cleaner didn’t want to kill a kid to cover his tracks so he makes Desmond his accomplice, helping him clean it up, all the while teaching him the ‘craft’. After that, Desmond tags along because the Cleaner says that’s the only way he’ll survive and maybe Desmond’s upbringing mess him up enough that he thinks this is okay. That this kind of life is actually better than the life he had back on the Farm. The Cleaner keeps a close eye on him and notices how ‘unique’ Desmond’s upbringing is. He even thinks Desmond has what it takes to actually be one of the ‘messy ones’ but Desmond preferred to clean. It feels… more distant to his life before.

We get our timeskip and Desmond is one of the best cleaners out there. His identity is ironclad because his Cleaner mentor gave him a new one and their organization made it official since they do have a bit of leeway with the government. In exchange, Desmond will be in their service which he doesn’t mind because the organization pays for everything he needs (other than the equipment and items he might actually need when it was time to clean up because having such equipment with him when he gets to the scene would be security guard bait).

At this point, the organization has an idea that Abstergo is very sus and there’s a shadowy organization that does questionable things against Abstergo most of the time. They don’t know the full story though but Desmond believes that his parents’ cult is actually an ecoterrorist group. He keeps it to himself though since he doesn’t want to be anywhere close to them.

With the backing of the organization and his more honed skills and espionage, Desmond is actually more or less a ghost even to Abstergo. They know Desmond Miles exist but they also know that he disappeared nine years ago. Desmond’s government records are all fake data but authenticated by the government itself. Hell, he even has an SSN and tax records. (Your call if he keeps his Desmond Miles name or he changes to like Desmond Miller or full on fake name like Derek Milton or something XD)

If you still want Desmond to be part of the Animus Project or to kickstart the main plot, Desmond gets caught because the organization has traitors and one of them took him while he was cleaning a scene that turned out to be a trap. However, Desmond knows how to play the game and his childhood training only help him become better at his job.

If Vidic kept the same ‘security’ in AC1 (cameras only, no visible guards), Desmond would find a way to kill Vidic and (maybe) Lucy before the guards even get there. Once he gets access to the computer (thanks, Lucy), tampering with the security feed would be easy because he’s done it before as a Cleaner. He’s also used to using items and devices he sees on the ‘scene’ so yeah…

Before the even finishes Altaïr’s memories, he’d most probably already made his escape after cleaning the scene.

And that’s when…

The Bleeding Effect starts…

Option 2: Full Spy AU where every Assassin is messy and Desmond has to clean after them

Okay, this one plays loose with the lore.

In this one, the Brotherhood is a secret organization that has the capital and the influence that a usual Hollywood super spy organization has.

And Desmond is the poor son of a high ranking member of the organization. He was being trained to be an operative but he didn’t want to be an operative like his father.

So… he became a cleaner instead.

In this one, I think it would be fun if Desmond is just some poor cleaner who has to clean up for the messiest of the operatives because he’s one of the best cleaners.

So the setup could be Desmond appearing on the scene and deducing which of his messy ‘regulars’ did this one and he all have nicknames for each of them.

One of them is super good at his job that Desmond just have to take care of the body most of the time. That one he calls “the light of my life” because it means a quick easy job then Desmond can just chill somewhere and see the sights until he’s called again.

Another one is someone who always has to chase their target and dear god, Desmond wants to strangle this operative so badly because Desmond has to clean up multiple places and that includes CCTVs used by the local government for the roads and such. That one he calls ‘the bane of my existence’.

The funny thing?

Both operative are the same person: Altaïr who seesaw between absolutely the best or having a bad day that can only be summed up as “the universe is conspiring against him to get some cardio today”.

Of course, there’s a lot more operatives that Desmond cleans after.

There’s one that liked to actually steal shit and Desmond just usually make that a burglary gone wrong most of the time.

There’s another operative who may or may not have a dog that he uses to rip apart his target and Desmond always prays the scene is somewhere outside so he can just make it look like a wild animal attack and always hate it whenever it happens in an office building or anywhere indoors to be completely honest.

There’s another one that tries to be sneaky but that only makes Desmond’s life harder because he has to make sure to look everywhere just to be sure that the sneaky operative didn’t miss or fuck up somewhere.

In other words, Desmond has a lot of complaints for his regular operatives XD

[moldymeat]

Some thoughts I had while playing Psychonauts 2 for the first time that I wanted to write down somewhere because I cant just keep info dumping to my dad. :]

Spoilers, duh

TL;DR this is my new favorite video game :D

I cringed so much through the whole process of turning Hollis into a gambling addict, I know Raz is just a kid and that they make up afterwards, but its so hard for me to play a video game and the character you play as does something I'd never do.

the music that plays in Hollis' Hotstreak reminds me of something from The Incredibles for some reason. Side note, I ADORE both PN1 and PN2's soundtracks and I do listen to them just as background noise. my favorites are all the circus tracks, Meat Circus, Flea Circus, Aquato Family Caravan

Me first hearing the main bad guys name was Maligula at the beginning of the game: "haha, Maligula kinda sounds like Amygdala, the part of the brain that controls emotions, especially fear! I sure love all the punny names in this game! I'm sure this will have nothing to do with this characters lore!"

In my head video games and film are kind of in separate categories, so hearing Jack Black and Elijah Wood, very prolific film actors voicing characters in this seemingly random video game was kinda jarring. I know now that Jack Black is friends with the creators of PN and has acted in other double fine games, buts its still kinda weird to me. (I still liked them tho)

In the Psi-Kings Sensorium, Helmut says "My Bobby" about Bob and my immediate thought was "something a little fruitys going on here" and then later on they show Bob and Helmuts marriage and stuff and I was like "oh something a LOT fruitys going on here". I think I was just so prepared for any kind of relationship for Bob and Helmut to have to be only subtext that I forgot this game came out in 2021 and they could show gay if they wanted to.

Psi pops are definitely sour grape and green apple flavored and dream fluffs are little condensed balls of cotton candy.

In hindsight, Gristol was totally trying to mail his own body to himself for safe keeping, but also he was the only mail worker so how did he think the package was going to get him? he didn't know he was going to get an intern and its not like he could walk down to the mail room as Truman without blowing his cover. My mans did NOT think this through.

The conversation Raz has with Dion is really sad and stuff, but when you're idling around Dion one of the things he says is "look at me and my psychic goggles!" and I literally laughed out loud when I heard that.

"Hey why do all these lice have little signs lol" "Lucy those were peaceful protesters!" "OH, UH OH."

I really loved Comptons Cookoff! it was way different from all the other regular old platformer levels, and I'm a sucker for timed cooking games. I only wish that you could replay the actual game show part in the collective unconscious.

In Cassie's Collection there are all the little paper fairy tale characters right? Well two of them, Shakespeare and a dragon, are played by the same actors who played Snorpy and Chandlo in bugsnax, so hearing the paper characters talk I was like "hey, I know those guys!"

Its a little pet peeve of mine when a character in any media is supposed to come from a specific country and they don't have that country's accent. Obviously Grulovia isn't a real place, but Nona has a nondescript eastern European accent, so why wouldn't the other Grulovian characters? I guess Augustus could have trained it out of himself or something, but Gristol? As much as I like Elijah Wood as Gristol, he's the gzesarevich and loves his country! there's no way he would train himself out of the grulovian accent. I've heard some other people say Gruman has an accent when Maligula was released but eh, I don't hear it all that much.

While finishing the game I (only!) shed a tear three times, once when Maligula was holding Marona's dead body, once when Raz got his junior Psychonaut badge, and once when the credits starting rolling.

i think Cosmic I and Welcome to my Mind are going to be stuck in my head for weeks.