#maybe to contrast asher...

[nox-in-a-box]

Kinda sketchy thing I did in my sketchbook (coloured digitally). Planning on coming back to it sometime. Maybe.

[moondustwritesblog]

shaw pack headcanons

darlin would hug sam’s pillow whenever he would go to clan meetings. he would come home to them sleeping, hugging it and just looks at them looking so peaceful until they would turn in their sleep facing away

david likes donuts, the expensive kind. when angel came home from a business trip and have a box full of them, they thought it would not be even touched. that mf was half empty the next morning

angel: i thought you were going to work last night?

david: i was

angel: by eating my donuts?!

david: i got hungry

angel: david!

sam likes looking at darlin when they’re doing domestic things and they would always catch him. he would make excuses. they won’t mind it. and it has actually become a habit (or maybe because it’s a nice contrast to whatever other things that sam would need to look after them for and them not even noticing while doing it but that’s just me)

darlin, folding the bedsheets: you’re staring, cowboy

sam: can’t help it, you’re wearin’ my flannel

darlin: it’s our flannel now

angel likes wearing sweaters, baabe likes wearing cardigans, sweetheart (milo and david) likes wearing leather jackets and darlin (and sam) likes wearing flannels

asher likes wearing hoodies but not the one with the shaw security logo on it. he feels like his still at work

angel likes how to train your dragon and asher likes the loud house

under the cut due to weapon mention

if the listeners would wield a weapon, angel would be on explosives, baabe on bow and arrow, stealth on guns and darlin on knives (and they would be like that character who would take a while to actually unload all of it in a comical way no matter how big or small it is)

david: tank, knives on the table. now.

tank: ugh, fine *takes one out*

david, raising a brow: is that all?

tank: give me a minute *takes out all of them, some not even supposed to fit in their clothes or pockets* there

david: you finished?

tank: oh, almost forgot *puts either the biggest or the smallest knife in existence on top of the others, overflowing the table* now, i’m done

the pack: what the fuck-

[milogreer]

so uhh this is gonna be scatterbrained. but i'm gonna ramble about milo and (what little info we have on) colm. sorry in advance if it doesn’t make sense i just had to exorcise this demon 🫡

i believe "camping with your alpha boyfriend (2021)" is the earliest mention of colm in an audio. obviously we don't actually know milo's side of things because it's told from david's POV, but we still get the mental image of little thirteen year old milo sitting shotgun in his dad's pickup as they drive to their camping spot. gabe's goofing around in the truck bed to make david and asher laugh, and colm joins in the fun by swerving the truck to mess with gabe. very basic dad thing to do, my dad's done the exact same thing to me and my siblings. it feels familiar and silly, and david frames it as a good memory, so it feels like a good memory. which is important to the point of this post

in "celebrating the new house (2022)," we get a little more colm lore:

My dad was forever blowing any cash he made on fucking bets and gambling and shit, chasing some fucking high. My mom was the only reason we didn’t end up out on the fucking street. He didn’t pull his head out of his ass and get some help until after I’d already moved out. So I never got to have that feeling of being in a house that was actually ours, ya know?

already this is a stark contrast to what we've previously heard of colm (i don't think there's any real mention of him between sept 2021 and dec 2022?) and it kinda makes me look at that old memory in a different light, especially with regards to david saying marie was "nagging [colm's] ear off about being irresponsible and a bad example." like. ykwim? like i'm just thinking about that interaction and wondering how far along those problems were at the time, if they were present at all. was this a normal, fun family outing? or would milo have rather been in the truck bed with david, asher, and gabe?

(and the fact that it wasn't until after milo moved out that colm tried getting any help?? i could make a whole other post speculating about milo struggling with wanting to move out of that environment ASAP vs not wanting to leave marie on her own to deal with colm)

so then i'm re-listening to "your werewolf boyfriend is worried about you" and having a visceral reaction to (re-)learning that colm was also an alcoholic:

But what he chose to do with that frustration and that feeling of powerlessness was not his job’s fault, those were his choices. He’s the one who decided to lose himself in booze and gambling and never being home. Never being there for the people he said he loved but apparently couldn’t stand to be around.

the last sentence especially is just an absolute heartbreaker because milo's, what, thirty now? and he's been dealing with this since he was a kid. clearly he's not on great terms with colm. the only times he ever talks about him is when he's shit talking the department. that is a crazy weight for someone to carry their whole life. i don't have experience with the gambling side but i do have an alcoholic family member who i used to be really close to as a kid but grew up to intensely resent as a result of his actions, so it hits a little close to home to see that reflected in milo

but i digress. umm. i bring up the camping story to highlight the most recent mention of colm from milo and how there were good times and sometimes maybe it hurts to remember them when the person involved devastated you as you grew up because they weren't what you thought they were. and how these things follow you through life and impact how you approach certain things. milo has to live with the fact that the same system that royally fucked colm is potentially going to do the same thing to the love of his life; i never drink more than one shot or half a beer, if i drink at all, and i don't like being around drunk people. even though we don't hear about colm very often, his influence is still there whenever milo has to deal with the department in any way

anyway i guess TLDR; imagine living the majority of your thirty years of life feeling like your dad couldn't stand to be around you because he was too busy drinking himself stupid and gambling away every penny he had as a way to deal with the strain that his job put on him. imagine having to witness your mom struggle constantly to keep you cared for. imagine the few good childhood memories you have with your dad being overshadowed by thinking he didn't love you or your mom enough to change. imagine watching the department run your soulmate into the dirt physically and mentally the same way it did your father and wanting to be supportive of them but also being so worried for them. it's a really interesting situation for him to be in and i enjoy it but it hurts me. the end

[autisticempathydaemon]

Hi Lexi! I saw your match ups and I'm curious who you'd match me up with, if you wouldn't mind?

•What song are you fixated on at the moment? What lyric or verse, and why?

• Okay, so I’ve listened to ‘Rule #34’ by Fish in a Birdcage over and over. The verse ‘You look so good, there on your knees/ Such a good girl knows how to please/ Look at me, look me in the eyes/ Forget yourself, surrender your mind/ Right now, you’re mine/ All mine/ Give in, you’re mine/ All mine (oh)’ I really have no real reason that comes to mind except that it scratches something in my brain.

•What is your Enneagram type?

•I'm an INFJ

•Do you love gargantuan Youtube video essays, and if so, which is your favorite and why?

•I do not, the closest I’d say I enjoy are the Redacted 101 videos

•Tell me about your childhood imaginary friend.

•I actually can’t remember much of my childhood. I think I used to have an imaginary friend but I can’t remember specifics

•What is your go-to way to fall asleep?

•listening to ASMR videos, usually Redacted

•If you had to change your name, what would it be, and why? (In tandem, if you have changed your name, why did you pick that one?)

• Hmmm that’s a good question. I actually like my name so I’ve never thought of changing it. I might go with Amitisia, it’s kinda cringe because it’s the name I gave to a main character of a story I never finished writing when I was a teenager.

•What is your favorite of Redacted’s audios, and why?

•Number one spot goes to “Your Incubus Confesses His Feelings (Again) While You Sleep”. It’s so soft and sweet and makes me feel so comforted when I’m having a bad day. I’ve listened to it a lot before I fall asleep.

Second place would go to “Falling For Your Yandere Childhood Friend”

•What Redacted boy holds no appeal to you, and why? Like, not the one you hate but the one who you don’t get the hype for. (I won’t judge, I promise.)

•Hate to say it but Ollie, he’s so sweet and nice but I was just never interested? And it always seems like we get an Ollie video before something bad happens so maybe that has something to do with it?

•Tell me about that one book/movie/tv show you know all the words to.

•I tend to replay shows and movies I like a lot so there’s a bunch. I guess I’ll go with “Mulan” because it’s my all time favorite Disney movie.

•Which Redacted boy are you platonically attracted to? Like- forget dating, which dude do you want to be your best friend?

•Oh, definitely Asher! Whenever I listen to his playlist I'm just like…You’re cute and chaotic but I’d rather have you as a wing-man.

•Do you have a go-to thing you ramble about when you’re tired, and if so, what is it? (For example, my boyfriend knows I’m ready to sleep when I start talking about space.)

•So, irl I’m a very quiet person, so I get even more quiet when I’m tired. I guess if I picked something, it’d be something I’m currently trying to write?

•Tell me your go-to gas station and drink combo.

•Nachos and cheese and root beer

•Tell me about your favorite playlist at the moment.

•I’ve currently been obsessed with the Epic the Musical playlist. I have to stop myself from singing it when I listen at work

•What’s your guilty pleasure media, and why?

•Reverse harem books, especially if it’s more of a poly situation than a multiple guys are with one girl. I was always frustrated with love triangles in books growing up, because…why can’t they all just be together. It was a pretty blaring flag that I was poly, now that I think about it.

•Extras

•My favorite color is purple. I love cats. I enjoy anime or animated shows/movies over live action. I collect pins, rocks/crystals, and stuffed animals. I hate certain food textures.

There are lots of cute details here to consider and prioritize when I was considering your match, but your being a writer won out. I can’t not pair a writer with Guy, you know?

Despite the same hobby/vocation, I love the small ways you contrast each other as well. Guy’s extroverted, bombastic nature would be such a cute foil to your introverted, quiet self. You’re a cat person; I imagine Guy as a dog person. These differences keep things interesting and balanced but not discordant, you know? I also think Guy is one of the redacted bois most likely to be poly/a romantic anarchist, so that’s another factor that would make y’all work so well. (He’d have similar feelings about love triangles, and a couple that bitches together stays together /hj /pos)

Guy would be such a charming boyfriend- not necessarily an easy one to an introvert but definitely a charming one. You two have writing sessions that are meant to be done quietly, in tandem, and they never are, always interrupted by Guy’s stream of consciousness and sidetracked thoughts spoken out loud. (Somehow, you still always get so much written. He’s very inspiring that way.) You two adopt both a cat and a dog that get along a lot better than anyone would expect. Guy always feels in his bones when you’re not having a great day and comes home with a new rock or pin for collection.

Song:

And that's because I wanna be your favorite boy/ I wanna be the one that makes your day/ The one you think about as you lie awake/ I can't wait to be your number one/ I'll be your biggest fan and you'll be mine

The song I picked for y’all isn’t necessarily one I think you’d both like per se, though it’s very catchy; I picked it because it’d make a good soundtrack to your love story. It makes me think of Guy falling in love with you, falling first, and being like “just you wait, I am going to win you over”, like he wants to be your favorite boy, your boyfriend, but best friend/roommate is a good start.

Runner-ups:

Huxley is a cute runner-up for you as an ambivert, but I especially love how often he’d bring you rocks and crystals for your collection, maybe even getting you a special shelf to display them on. Camelopardalis is your other runner-up, because he’s one loving partner away from falling in love with cats; he just needs someone to show him the way.

Read this post and send me an ask if you’d like a match-up of your own! 💌

[swanconcerto]

redacted characters working in tescos

born from discord… this works for any large supermarket really. this is so long and for what

vincent: he works at self checkouts and gets a lot of enjoyment from iding old ladies to make them feel young again. talks too much and takes forever to help people but he’s pretty so you don’t get mad

lovely: maintenance team. always gets called down to fix the perpetually broken self checkout system but they’re starting to suspect it’s not an accident anymore

sam: he works in the warehouse . registered first aider except he’s never on the shop floor so he never does anything . somehow on really good terms with all of the delivery drivers. is starting to get really freaked out by that one security guard who keeps wandering around in the back

darlin: security guard except they never really do the job properly… like they’re skulking around dark corridors and corners looking for “threats” and david is like can you please just chase after that shoplifter

david: head security guard he likes to stand at the front desk by the doors and just cross his arms and scowl. it’s working spectacularly on deterring crime

angel: works at the customer service front desk and LOVES it. absolutely refuses to be antagonised they’re so 😁😁 even at the rudest of customers. another person who talks too much to be doing a good job. gossips to the customers about store goings-on. keeps trying to engage the grumpy security guard by their desk in conversation with varying levels of success

asher: yeah he’s another security guard what do you expect. but he’s constantly on the move he’s strolling about the store like he owns the place chatting up all the workers and the customers. everyone knows him and loves him but if you even think about shoplifting anything or starting a fight with a worker he’s right behind you “what are you doing there buddy 😆”

babe: shelf-stacker but not in a boring way. genuinely a monster at packing out it is insane. their aisles are so neat and tidy and they’re so fast. that one worker who knows exactly where everything is it’s like they live in the place. so good at their job and isn’t distracted by anything. except maybe one person.

milo: security guard who wants to have the same easygoing respect that asher gets but is far too easily antagonised by kids to earn. saturday afternoons are the worst when all the kids are off of school they come into the store just to piss him off because it’s so easy “now you listen here you little…”

sweetheart: they work in the phone shop! they’re kind of intimidating to talk to but they will help you and only judge you a little bit for not knowing technology. everyone would rather talk to them than the other worker (marcus). has formed an alliance with the kids that come in on saturdays “i’m going to give you this old phone and tell that guard that you’re stealing it, i’ll let you keep it if you make him trip when he’s chasing you”

gavin: slutting it out on the tills. i’m deadly serious he will flirt with everyone who passes through. “do you have a clubcard” has never sounded so sultry before. he’s actually decent at his job but recently he’s been told off several times for getting distracted staring at a certain worker who seems to just be doing everything… maybe it’s time he got trained in other departments

freelancer: multiskiller 🤩 literally another one who seems like they’ve been there forever and just knows how to do everything. they’ve stacked shelves, packed dotcom orders, worked checkouts… freelancer likes the variety and getting to know people in every department

damien: also at the customer service desk AGAINST HIS WISHES and in complete contrast to angel he absolutely hates it and you can so tell. management put him there because he’s so dedicated to the job and well organised and he SEEMS like he would be good at it… but every day damien’s patience is tested to the max. it’s so obvious when a customer is pissing him off. will SNATCH an item out of your hand if you are trying to return it. “what do you mean you didn’t bring your receipt 😑😐”

huxley: works in produce and loves it! super good at lifting all the heavy crates of vegetables. talks to all the loose fruit and vegetables he gets a few weird looks but it is cute. says hey to EVERYONE on his way in especially that one guy at the front desk who always looks like he’s about to pop a vein. no one knows when or why those two starting taking their breaks together but it is certainly a cute sight.

lasko: he works in bakery!!! he used to work on the shop floor but it was too stressful so the nice people from bakery kind of adopted him. likes the routine of making things and then packaging them up. plus minimal customer interaction = he just daydreams for a lot of his shift. although sometimes customers manage to get a hold of him to ask him something and he completely blue-screens. he’s trying his best.

lasko’s listener: for some reason i see them in dairy section in like the fridges? one time they got trapped BRIEFLY in the warehouse fridge with a certain bakery worker. they huddled together for warmth. #sorrynotsorry

kody: petrol station. no one in the main store wants to look at him

guy: delivery driver of course! used to work as a shelf stacker but got a warning for “checking for you in the back ☺️” (sitting in the back on his phone) he was so hopeless when he first got the driver job and got lost all the time but now he’s pretty dependable. will flaunt his little reflective jacket constantly. will also constantly flirt with the hot person working dispatch

honey: the aforementioned hot person working dispatch aka who loads all the delivery trays onto the vans. they really just wanted a job where they could stick their earphones in, do manual labour and not talk to anyone alas this infuriating delivery driver won’t stop bothering them. they’re making out in the back as we speak.

geordi: another shelf-stacker! like lasko, he gets super nervous when people ask him questions on where things are, but he can handle it. usually. more than once has sent someone in the wrong direction and tortured himself over it for the rest of the day. gets a really cute concentrating face when he’s in the zone working so please don’t interrupt him!!!

cutie: works in the clothing section! they look good even in their uniform so you feel kind of nervous when they’re just staring at you picking out some clothes. offers unsolicited opinions but they’re always really helpful so it’s fine. struts about with that clothing rail like it’s their god-given birthright

quinn: cleaner who always gets stuck doing the toilets. takes too many vape breaks

[enteringdullsville]

Okay, so Power Rangers is done with adaptations, but what if there was a season where every Ranger came from one of the 11 different teams whose suits went entirely unused?

Power Rangers All-Stars

It could very easily go the RPM/Dino Charge route of being its own universe, especially given that Cosmic Fury was the definitive end of that continuity. Maybe all of them could be the sole survivors from PR teams that had all fallen in battle.

The Baron/All-Star Red (Engine Fire)

ToQ 1 was my first choice for a protagonist solely because I loved the idea of the Rangers traveling via a magic train their Red owned. There’s also a bit of irony in the team being led by a Ranger from a Sentai without a leader, and it’s especially fitting since his season has a color swap gimmick. Even the All-Stars’ colors match the ToQgers. Aside from Blue, his suit is the least armored, giving the impression he’s tough enough without it.

He’s the one who’s lost the most, but Baron acts as a mostly eccentric figure, a eternally optimistic goofball who insists the team does the usual Sentai theatrics. He’s probably insane, but he gets results easily and is far smarter than people give him credit for.

Cory/All-Star Yellow

The rookie, fittingly wearing the newest suit courtesy of the 50th team. He’s the last of seven core members to join, doing so in the first episode while everyone else has already been at it for a while now, and he’s from Season 49, 7 squared. He’s also dinosaur themed, matching Mighty Morphin and fitting the protagonist well. On a more serious note, since the GoZyugers seem to be fighting each other in addition to everything else going on, he’ll be the only one who wasn’t already on a team.

He’s somewhere between Casey Rhodes and Tyler Navarro; young, looking for answers, ludicrously strong but not entirely confident in his skills as a Ranger, but he doesn’t have to lead so that’s at least one less thing on his plate.

His name is a play on Kyoryuger (“kyoryu” means “dinosaur”).

Jade/All-Star Green (FACET)

There’s no particular reason why I chose Kiramei Green, her suit’s just my favorite from her team.

Jade is Baron’s second in command. She’s the team’s heart and soul, being the most sensible person in All-Stars for numerous reasons. She’s soft spoken, yet firm. That’s why Baron trusts her.

Virgil/All-Star Blue (Phantom Force)

I wanted both of the VS Sentai to be on the core team, which of course meant I more or less had to use them for Blue and Pink.

Virgil’s a notorious showoff and charmer in the vein of Chase or Xander. He’s naturally talented enough that he doesn’t feel the need to take anything seriously, which can rub some of his teammates the wrong way.

Siren/All-Star Pink (Hyper Guard)

Siren is a direct and stark contrast with Virgil, being fierce, dedicated, sometimes even harsh. Think Jen or Sky but with Vida’s temperament. The two argue constantly but work together perfectly.

As a duo, their first initials spell out “VS”, and their individual names are a pun on “vigilante” and literally “siren”.

Rod/All-Star Orange (Cyber Corps)

The smart guy, he creates most of technology the team uses that didn’t come from their original teams. Bun Orange fit the role pretty well; he himself had the uncanny ability to get anything the team needed, and PR’s precursors to Fern (Boom and Kat Manx) were the science types.

Rod also happens to be a robot, or at least some sort of mechanical life form; all the Orange Sentai starting from ToQger, that is to say all of them outside of Battle Fever J, are nonhuman. He’s got a very similar personality to Alpha, being quick to panic and slightly unlucky.

Asher/All-Star Violet (Hexagon)

Finally is Asher, whose counterpart is the only violet Sentai to be part of the core, starting group. Personality wise, they’re practically identical to their Sentai self with a bit of Gokaiger’s Joe and RPM’s Dillon for flavor. They’re the most serious and aloof of the seven, as serious as you can be in a lavender moth suit.

Oh, and there’s four “sixth” rangers on the team I guess.

[corner-stories]

What do you think of this prompt: Captain and CommanderAU! + Mama Kirstein and baby Kirstein?

*rubs hands together* I'll give it a shot (ao3.)

Maybe she's biased, but Mikasa thinks that of all the people who have held Baby Ash in his short life, his grandmother might be the most gentle.

Connie had been nervous, nearly shaking as he held the infant in his arms. Sasha was similar for the exact opposite reason, having been so excited to see the child that her hands trembled. Armin was a happy medium, holding the baby with on his first step to being a good uncle — and had he made it this far Mikasa wonders if Eren would done the same.

Arielle Kirschtein is in her own league, holding her Baby Ash with the kind of tenderness that only a new grandmother can. At this age Asher still resembles an adorable blob with black hair, yet he looks so comfortable tucked into Arielle's grandmother — like he would be content to stay there forever.

Considering how little sleep Mikasa's been getting in the past few months, she can't say she blames him.

She and Arielle continue to sit across from each other at the kitchen table. Surrounding them are the walls of the Kirschtein household, and outside of that is the city of Trost, a place that's never managed to slow down despite all it's been through. It's more peaceful than Mikasa remembers it to be, though it's still a far cry from the corner of the woods she and Jean have retired to.

As Mikasa takes a sip of her tea, she hears Arielle remark —

"He really does have his father's eyes."

She glances over to see the older woman balancing her grandson on one arm. With the gentlest touch Arielle moves a stray strand off his face as he looks back at her, staring blankly as most babies tend to do.

As sweet as the scene is, Mikasa's first instinct is to shake her head.

"No, I'd argue he has yours." She puts her teacup down. "Jean's eyes are warier."

Arielle smiles as she sighs. "That's my Jeanbo for you. Always looking at the world in his own way."

And in a way they're both right. Baby Ash's eyes are hazel, just like his father's — the kind with just the slightest specks of green. It's a stark contrast to the black of his hair — light against dark, warmth against cold.

Seeing how it already reminds Arielle of her son, one can only assume that the resemblance will grow with time.

At the same time, Asher lacks the cautious way Jean looks at the world, though that it might have something to do with him literally lacking the depth perception. He's only a few months old, after all.

But Mikasa doesn't mind, because for the time being Asher doesn't need to be anything else to the world but another person living in it.

Feeling more content as the day goes on, Mikasa takes another sip of her tea.

Then not a second too soon Jean arrives to the first floor of the house. He makes the short walk from the bottom of the stairwell to the kitchen. His bedhead is slightly messier than usual, perhaps a testament to him getting the most rest he has in months. Both Mikasa and Arielle were keen on letting him sleep in, as a treat.

After letting out a yawn, Jean manages a smile as he enters the kitchen, eyeing the ladies and the baby at the table.

"You're not talking about me, are you?" he asks jokingly.

Mikasa shakes her head as she puts her teacup down. "Of course not, Sweetheart, that'd be ridiculous." Her voice is dry, playful.

Jean lets out a chuckle at the same time his mother does, then heads to the counter to get some tea for himself. He only gets as far as pouring the extra from the pot into a cup before Asher turns his head towards him. At this age the child is beginning to recognize the faces of his parents, and it's only now when Mikasa realizes that he can do so over short distances.

Asher lets out a little gasp, which manages to sound utterly adorable despite that being the noise he makes when he wants something he can't immediately get. With his eyes on his father he reaches over as far as he can, his little hands waving in Jean's general direction.

It doesn't take long before Asher's little exclamations turn into cries, his default state whenever the thing he desires is slightly too far from him.

Arielle runs her gentle hand across her grandson's forehead. "What's wrong now, Sweet Boy?"

Asher lets out a few more cries before Jean turns around, his eyes going tender as he walks over to the table. He doesn't hesitate to take his son from his mother and scoop the baby back into his arms — suddenly Asher's little moment of distress fades away now that he's safe in his father's embrace.

"Hey, Ash, what'cha doin'?" Jean asks, holding his son securely. "Giving grandma a hard time?"

Mikasa lets out a hum, one that expresses a feeling of content. "I think he likes you too much."

"Yeah, he can't get enough of me," Jean laughs, then eyes Mikasa. "Just like his mother."

And to that, the light backhanded tap she places against Jean's leg is nothing less than playful.

[romirola]

Hi Romi :)) For the WIP ask game I was wondering what the thought process was behind which characters are paired up together! Was it what worked best with the story or some pairs you’ve been wanting to write together for a while? Maybe a secret third option. <3

Hope you’re having a good day!

@arrowfleur, thank you for the ask about Balancing Act! I'm thrilled to have the chance to talk about it. This is a wonderful question, and I went through a lot of different pairings in my head before settling on who swaps powers with whom. Since I know you've read the first two chapters, I know you can infer the swaps, but just in case anyone hasn't yet read the story and wants to avoid spoilers, I'll put my answer under the cut.

I knew right from the first word that I wanted David and Angel to swap powers, so that David would have the chance to move about the world as an unempowered human and Angel a shifter alpha. I felt like this pairing made sense and offered a lot of opportunity for drama and tension. My first inclination was to have all the mates swap with mates, but honestly, that almost seemed boring. If we did that, then the David/Angel dynamic mirrored the Asher/Babe dynamic. Moreover, so did the Darling/Sam and Milo/Sweetheart dynamic, with the non-wolves "becoming" wolves and the wolves beings some sort of other specialty. Besides that, I felt like pairing the mates together was going to be really limiting. One common thread in a lot of my fics is that I like to write interactions between the pack members we often don't get to see, to explore their relationships, so it made sense that Balancing Act would follow suit. So the possibilities were wide open!

So, from there, I got to thinking, which pairings made sense for the story? I knew Babe needed to be magical, but not a wolf, so that led to their swapping with either Sam or Sweetheart. I imagine that they are all great friends, but I realized I also wanted Sweetheart to stay magical, though struggle with having their immense power taken away from them, meaning Babe had to swap with Sam.

Likewise, I wanted Milo to have the chance to experience another wolf's body (since he has a history of struggling with his smol but mighty wolf), but David was already paired up with Angel, leaving Asher or Darling. BUT I wanted Darling to swap to a nonshifter, but I couldn't pair them with Sam (since he was paired with Babe)... It was like a logic puzzle! I was going crazy, arrowfleur!

A gamechanger for the pairings occurred when I figured out a way to open up the swap to non-Shaw Pack people, that's when things really got interesting! Originally, when I thought I could pair Sweetheart with a telepath who wasn't very skilled in other types of magic, I had imagined they would swap powers with a perp they had just arrested, but that ended up being too complicated, and I'm so glad for that, because changing the swap to Cutie let me depict Sweetheart's and Cutie's friendship, work Geordi and his bakery into the fic, and streamlined the plot to keep things manageable. That decision also provided an opportunity for Darling to experience a completely different type of magic, and frankly, Huxley was the first one I thought of there because I think it makes total sense they'd see each other at the DAMN student gym and have a blast digging holes together. I very much like the contrast for Darling because they had once felt they needed to socialize the likes of Quinn. But now that they've healed and grown, they get to have someone like Huxley in their life. Plus, earth-elemental Darling was super-duper fun to write, so it made sense for the plot to take that shape.

Overall, I think the pairings provided me with the opportunities to explore the characters in a way that felt fun, engaging, unexpected, and hopefully, authentic. We shall see as the story progresses! Thanks again for the ask!

[saddest-coal-boy-in-westeros]

Who are your top 5 favorite characters in the game? 👀

ooooh thank you for the ask anon!!! as always feel free to send more 👀

1. tom

i’m very predictable i know. but i think he’s fascinating in that he doesn’t have a real parallel like other characters. except maybe sera? i dunno. he’s the ultimate underdog, a lowborn, soot-faced boy among lords and ladies—there’s a sense of mystery about him. he’s a little shady, but he’s got a noble soul. i find him very endearing and intriguing and full of potential. also i love his character design. from the moment mira opens the door to let him in he instantly looks put upon and miserable, like a dickensian orphan, and i think that’s just so funny and horrible. he just looks like the most miserable guy on earth. his expression is so sad. i instantly felt for him (i’m a soft touch lol), and my enjoyment of him only grew from there. actually wait i guess maybe you could say he’s a weird mixture of mycah and ser dontos

2. mira

of course she comes next! my absolute favorite character in asoiaf is sansa, so of course i’d be predisposed to liking her telltale doppelgänger. but mira being significantly older really does make her feel like not such a shameless copy, especially given her job as margaery’s handmaiden. she’s a girl who fiercely loves her family and will do anything to help them, but she’s got more resources and allies than poor sansa did for most of her imprisonment. obviously it’s determinant if she’s played as more cunning/ruthless or more well-meaning, but i always liked her more as a gentle soul. she’s got a lot of potential to grow into a wise advocate for her house that’s unfortunately cut short by episode six, but i would love to see her undergo that development without losing her integrity or compassion.

3. sera

might seem like a weird choice i know! but i think she’s a great secondary character in mira’s plot. she’s a fair weather friend who nonetheless has good reason to prioritize her own social standing due to long-held anxiety about her bastardy. i think she also has really interesting potential as either a friend or foe of mira. in a way, i have sympathy for her because between her, margaery, and mira, sera seems the one who’s fully acting her age. she’s a girl in her late teens and is carefree and naïve and a little superficial, maybe, but that’s to be expected. she’s had a privileged life compared to most bastards and hasn’t been forced to weather the tragedy mira has. they make an interesting contrast.

4. beskha

i really enjoy beskha, i just think she’s a great supporting character in the essos plot. it almost seems like the story revolves around her and her journey moreso than asher just because she arguably has a complete arc. her backstory is heartbreaking and i really enjoyed her friendship with asher. i would have liked to see how she would deal with taking care of ryon in season two. alas…. 😔

5. talia

talia is probably the character that i think really would have blossomed in season two, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t still an interesting presence in season one. i love how sweet she is, though of course she gets more jaded as the story goes on. i also think her song is awesome. i wonder if she would’ve sung more in season two?

[consoledacup]

This took longer than expected sorry lol. & the post got long af, so I stuck to a general overview of the friendship dynamics that establishes the foundation of the Vortex — rooted in season 1 main plot points (b4 1x13). While others were involved, I don’t think they played as big of an influence, evidenced by the impact + outcome of later season fallouts. I can explain my rationale (tomorrow/next week) with a similar writeup of Layla/Liv/Asher/Spencer plots points contrasted against my writeup in this post. Just comment & let me know. (it would only be the AA specific parts of this post, not the general shit I wrote at the beginning).

General Opinion of media representation of Vortex dynamics:

- I wish industry ppl would talk about how written creative endeavors bound to relationship anarchy (RA) can validate the ‘stable Love Dodecahedra (LD)’ Ending Trope type where ‘everyone stays friends’ (eg, the vortex); but, how “relationship hierarchy [RH] as a coercive structure reflective of our culture’s value system” cannot see that in media nor in real life.

- In other words, it’s only successful to the extent that viewers are convinced the work FEELS & IS

- (a) realistic irl and in the show &/or

- (b) justified in-universe insofar that their willing suspension of disbelief (WSOD) is retained as they watch.

- RH (the ‘societal default settings’ of relationships & love) & RA are NOT common knowledge. Which helps explain why such written creative endeavors have been unsuccessful amongst the subset of viewers unknowledgeable about RH & RA. & tbh that is likely a VERY large subset.

RH (the ‘societal default settings’ of relationships & love) & RA are NOT common knowledge. Which helps explain why such written creative endeavors have been unsuccessful amongst the subset of viewers unknowledgeable about RH & RA. & tbh that is likely a VERY large subset.

- Unpopular opinion, maybe even a fact, is that vortex dynamics are very much realistic and have probably always happened in real life. The subset of viewers who know/acknowledge/understand this don’t need to be convinced of that nor of retaining their WSOD.

My thoughts on the lack of media representation w/Vortex Dynamics that actually break down (behind & on screen) what’s happening:

(A) Keep this info in mind:

- The characters are no different than the aforementioned subset of viewers unknowledgeable about RH & RA. There is a common tendency, esp prevalent during minorhood, to form or explore personal/intimate relationships within a ‘Romantic Sex-Based Relationship Hierarchy’.

- Additionally, the split model of attraction—or the idea of different forms of attractions beyond romantic and sexual—is also not common knowledge.

(B) What does that mean in practice for AA?

- We weren’t told, but it’s highly likely that Asher & Layla explored/questioned their personal/intimate relationship status as friends along RH imposed lines b/c they felt differently toward each other than (a) they felt about the rest of the Bev crew &/or (b) they did during their elementary-ages.

- So, I’d assume that before Lasher & Ashlivia actually acted on anything to redefine their relationship status as childhood friends, none of them ever even knew to question/consider whether:

- their “relationship categories are determined by an absence vs presence of sex &/or romance” (the RH mentioned above);

- RH “creates [in]equality of all their personal/intimate relationships, behaviorally & emotionally”;

- they “view being [a sexuality: eg, gay/pan/ace/straight thru] a sexual relationship”;

- they force themselves into “compulsory sexual or romantic experiences & relationships”‬ & what that means.

(C) How does this factor into what actually transpired on our screens in AA? (examples & explanations provided).

The varied friend configurations of Layla, Liv, Asher & Jordan were central to each other, introducing post-middle-school friends with their initial Beverly Crew friend group & then integrating them in to form The Vortex (e.g. Spencer, Coop, Patience, Jaymee). After every major and minor issue they faced, they were always able to lean on that foundation, mend what was broken, and keep building and working on these different friendships. I’d say to the point that, if they wanted to, they could reliably describe themselves as the “we don’t have to talk every day. we can go long stints and when we do interact it’s like no time has passed” type of friends. None of the friend configurations for them are vortex, person, or situation dependent. JJ is central to maintaining the Vortex as a whole though.

- Imo they never were successful with Simone bc of how they introduced her and just her whole storyline mainly being centered around Jordan; Not to mention, only 1-2 ppl really started building a genuine friendship with her that was completely separate + capable of lasting outside of Jordan. & I think she realized this as she left that Xmas party in 5x01.

*BONUS CRUCIAL S1 EXAMPLES/CONVOS*

Ashlivia, Laylivia, & Lasher’s friendship foundations proved to be firmly rooted based on their actions post Layla/Liv/Asher Fallout + bumps along the way of their friendship healing journey:

- Liv helping Ash on the bench post-homecoming dance (1x07)

- Laylivia 1x08 convo clearing the air and apologizing for everything that they had both done. Convo ends w/Olivia asking about the state of their friendship bc she doesn’t want to lose her best friend again. Layla responds honestly that she isn’t sure & that it’s gonna take some time.

- 1x09 has Layla trying to save Asher bc he’s been skipping school. She tries to convince him to start going back to class, tells him he’s wrong that nobody wants him at school and that there’s always a way back. He thinks she means as bf/gf and gets mad when she clarifies she meant football, not them bc she’s w/spencer.

- 1x10 Laylivia starting their friendship healing journey + Layla to Gabby “what is important are the real friends in my life—people like Olivia, who stand by me no matter what—the kind of friendship you clearly know nothing about”.

- (1x11) Liv/Ash/Layla friendship dynamics

- Liv saving Asher the morning of the combine after noticing he hadn’t checked in

- Layla covering for Liv at combine check-in while she was helping asher

- Ashlivia post-combine bench convo

- Laylivia convo about saving Asher bc he’s in a bad place like Liv was, but how she had a family who forced her to get the help she needed. So they “just need to be that family for Asher”.

- Ashlivia ‘back on the team’ convo

- Laylivia solution for Asher living in his car is for Asher to stay w/Layla even after the 1x09 confusion & awkwardness

- 1x12

- Layla goes to Spencer’s for a quiet place to study bc Asher is staying at her place

- Layla dealing with Spencer’s jealousy issues about Ash staying with her.

- Asher offers friendly advice to Spencer to return the favor regarding the wrecked car incident: “Don’t make the same mistake I did and lose the best thing that’s ever happened to you. I know this is going to sound crazy coming from me, but you can trust Layla.”

- Lasher convo after seeing JJ/Jor/Spence (asher gave her a ride to school bc she dropped her car off at the dealership):

- A: “You know it’s bad when even JJ is still pissed at me.”

- L: “You were friends before you were teammates, he’ll come around.”

- A: “I betrayed my team almost cost them the homecoming game. I’ve got a lot to make up for”.

- L: “And you will.”

- Layla worried about Liv being late to class. Tracked her down to talk about & give her a gift for her 1yr sobriety. Liv opens up & Layla gives support and advice. Cancels her date with Spence to stay with Liv bc she was having a rough time.

Laylivia 1x08 Convo:

- L: “Look we both said some pretty harsh things last night & I’m still mad as hell at you.”

- O: “I’m sorry that I slept with Asher, and I will keep saying it until—“.

- L: “I get it. You were high. But I’m still really hurt, and not just about the Asher thing. I’m upset about us. You let me believe you didn’t want to be my friend anymore, and you let me be with a guy who would cheat on me with my best friend”.

- O: “I know. And it was wrong. I told myself that I was doing it to protect you, but the truth is, I was just protecting myself. Everything that you said last night was true.”

- L:”Well, if I’m being honest, you weren’t wrong either. I knew you liked Spencer, and I was too afraid of not being miss perfect to admit I liked him, too. I’m sorry.”

- O: “You don’t need to apologize, Layla, okay? Not to me, not after what I did. And yes, I had a thing for Spencer, but I’m moving on and Spencer is a really good guy for you.”

- L: “Yeah well, he’s a really good guy who’s trying to uncomplicate my life by saying we should just be friends right now. Probably for the best.

- O: “Is it?”

- L: “Idk.”

- O: “What about us? I really don’t want to lose my best friend again.”

- L: “Honestly, um idk about that either. It’s gonna take some time.”

I really like examining the characters and dynamics this way. Thank you for writing this all up, @lostnonbinary Share whatever else you'd like! :)

It makes perfect sense why the Beverly Crew kinda set the early foundation for the flow of the Vortex. I think, growing up, these five kids found stability in each other, no matter what else was happening. And like you said, at times, it was a "maybe we don't talk all the time, but I'm still here for you." Because Layla and Olivia fought hard for their friendship, even while navigating real hurt and tension. And Olivia fought really hard for Asher while no one else was looking for him. And Jordan fought really hard for Layla when he noticed she had successfully pushed everyone else away. And Asher fought really hard for JJ even when he was at his worst and didn't wan his attention. I wonder what those dynamics looked like as they grew up together, and I'm sure there are many more examples of one member caring for the other.

And then you have Coop's and Spencer's fierce friendship with each other, and they, with Patience, join this Beverly Crew to form this Vortex. I have to say I like that people have slowly become close to each other, and to me, no one dynamic or relationship has seemed forced. I hope we continue to see that slowburn of connection next season and maybe see more fun, unlikely pairings like Asher/Coop.

Whether the Vortex reflects real life or not has never mattered to me personally. It's a show, it's fun, it's messy, and it's also just kinda beautiful to watch these characters take care of each other.

[lycanspirited]

Pictures [Drabble]

Ryan hadn’t really planned to take up Robin’s invitation. But here he was, standing on the threshold of Robin’s office, heart hammering as he wrestled with the urge to turn around and leave before anyone noticed he’d been here. The invitation—“Come by anytime”—had lingered in his mind, tugging at him like an itch he couldn’t quite reach, a strange and persistent reassurance he hadn’t felt in a long time.

He took a breath, then turned the handle, stepping inside to find the space empty. Robin wasn’t there, which made it easier somehow. He could take a minute to breathe, to feel out this place where Robin spent his days and nights, without feeling the press of those piercing green eyes. The office had a calm, lived-in feel, the air carrying a faint scent of leather and coffee. Papers were stacked in neat piles on the desk, alongside a few weapons that gleamed with careful polish, each with an aura of readiness.

It was the collection of photos on the wall behind the desk that pulled him in, a surprising glimpse into Robin’s life outside of his work. Ryan took a step closer, his eyes tracing over each one with growing curiosity. There was a shot of Robin at a gun range, mid-shot, that unrelenting intensity in his eyes caught perfectly. In another, he stood by a well-worn car, a proud grin lighting his face, as if the vehicle were an old friend rather than just a car.

But the largest photo drew Ryan in the most—a framed, slightly faded picture of Robin surrounded by family. Robin looked younger here, maybe seventeen, his posture proud yet relaxed, his shoulders squared as if trying to contain the quiet pride of being part of something so much bigger than himself. His face was a bit softer, with that unguarded look of youth, but the piercing gaze was unmistakable.

Around him were others, each with striking, familiar features that made Ryan’s heart twist with an odd pang of envy. Robin’s mother, Jenny, stood beside him, dark-haired with an intense, watchful expression, while Seth, the god of chaos, had one arm slung around her shoulders, his gaze carrying a glint of mischief. Standing nearby was Cobalt, the demigod son of Anubis, a quiet, composed presence with an edge of strength tempered by calm.

Next to Cobalt was Asher, looking around 22, with a lively, slightly rebellious grin that reflected something of Seth’s energy, his gaze full of confidence. And, to Ryan’s surprise, there was Anubis himself, towering and stoic, a figure of authority, his eyes shadowed but sharp. On the other side of Robin stood Jasper, a Lycan who looked both relaxed and powerful, his expression softened by a quiet smile that seemed like a welcome contrast to his strength.

Ryan felt his throat tighten as he took in the sight of Robin surrounded by family, all of them relaxed and comfortable in each other’s presence. There was something deeply reassuring, almost grounding, in that scene—a stark contrast to Ryan’s own isolated life. Sure, he had friends, a few people he stayed in touch with at arm’s length, but nothing like this, nothing that looked so warm, so effortlessly solid.

Lost in thought, he didn’t hear the quiet footsteps behind him until the door creaked, pulling him sharply back to the present. He turned, his cheeks flushing as if he’d been caught intruding on something private.

Robin stood in the doorway, arms crossed with a faint smirk, though his eyes were gentle. “Didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, stepping in and closing the door softly behind him. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”

Ryan cleared his throat, trying to shake off the embarrassment. “No, I… just got here.”

Robin’s gaze drifted to the photo wall, a look of fond nostalgia crossing his face as he stepped beside Ryan. “That one’s my favorite,” he said, nodding to the family picture. “It’s rare to have everyone in the same place. Took forever to get them all to stand still long enough for it.” He chuckled, a warm, genuine sound that made Ryan’s shoulders relax, if only a little.

Ryan shifted, the strange pang of envy resurfacing. “You… have a lot of people around you,” he murmured, feeling vulnerable saying it aloud.

Robin glanced at him, his expression softening as he met Ryan’s gaze. “I do. They mean everything to me,” he replied quietly, the honesty in his voice both comforting and disarming. “But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Being part of all this… it’s not something you can ignore, even if you want to. Just… know that you don’t have to face it all alone, if it ever feels like too much.”

Ryan dropped his gaze to the bandage on his hand, still neatly wrapped from the night before. The words made his chest feel heavy, the unexpected kindness prickling at him in a way he couldn’t quite shake.

“Thanks,” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

Robin nodded, then gestured to the chair by the desk. “Stay a while, if you want. No pressure.” His tone was gentle, inviting, without a hint of insistence, and somehow, that was what made Ryan nod, allowing himself to settle into the chair, nerves easing slightly as he took in the warm, quiet space.

For the first time in a long time, he felt that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t have to shoulder it all alone. And as he glanced back up at the family photo, the edges of his heart softened, warmed by the strange, hopeful thought that perhaps Asheville might hold a place for him after all.

[hug-protocol]

Villain Within GM's Commentary:

The Major Minors

One of the first things that went into the creative pot of Villain Within was the choices system in the Mass Effect trilogy; if you choose to save zarnak from the turbo-moose in the first game instead of pursuing the sector's premier hygno-gem thief, in the third game, when the nydrongian conflict seems inevitable, zarnak will come out of nowhere to save the high cryptarch of Alpha Centuri! it makes for a very solid and measurable feeling of having your choices matter that really got me hooked, and which i really wanted to capture for my campaign. Another big influence on the campaign was the web serial Worm by wildbow, which really went big on giving a genuine-feeling portrait of teenagers risking their lives to fight supervillains in a world where teens risking their lives wasnt completely uncommon- and a world where they could very well die- the Brockton Bay Wards (apt viewers may also notice that Delburn is like. very similar to brockton bay in general). Armed with these two principles, an idea occured very naturally to me while cooking up the campaign- a teenage superhero team who might not survive.

Sunforce

Like most of the characters, Proto-sunforce was a major character in the New Frontiers story concept, a headstrong bruiser who was cocky but kind, and who would have been part of a team senior to the protagonists, including proto-evolution and proto-scrapmetal. She also would have had a tragic romance with proto-Biobrute, but ill describe that in more depth when i get to them. honestly the only thing i really kept between the two versions of the character was her powers; she can make luminous doubles of her torso and limbs that may overlap with both one another, but must overlap with the original, giving her superhuman durability, strength, speed and making her a nightmare to fight in melee. the Villain within version is basically Captain America if he was an 18 yr old with anxiety and a saviour complex- she frantically tries to de-escalate fights even while throwing punches and (in my opinion) manages to toe the line exactly between being hopelessly idealistic and dangerously competent- something which really took the party by surprise [ :) ]. I ended up also making her civilian identity a friend of Nina- the overworked med student roommate of Marsh, one of the PCs. This was largely because i wanted to make the world more interconnected, but also partly because it occured to me that they would get along well.

Ghost Knight

Ghost knight has maybe the funniest discrepancy between his New Frontiers and Villain Within charactarisation- Proto-ghost knight is this Soren/Zuko hybrid, determined to make up for the crimes of his family (and his ruthless azula-esque sister, proto-grindstone) and willing to tear his family legacy down to do what's right. By contrast, in Villain Within, Ghost Knight is basically a 2013 Sasuke kinnie with enough bravery and sickass superpowers to back it up. In a running theme with the major minors, the players didnt take him very seriously until he sliced their getaway vehicle in two with a single blow, and even then continued to make fun of him, albeit from a safer distance.

Techno-Boy

Techno-boy is quite the oddity in this campaign, because he wasnt developed out of a New frontiers character or even rp character- in the early stages of development, Villain within was going to be set in the same universe as Hero Within: Heroes Rising, and Techno-Boy was intended to be a returning character from that campaign; the little brother of the PC hero Soulcide, Asher Hue, who was often referred to in-game as 'The Boy' and demonstrated an affinity with gadgets. His initial charactersation was largely taken from Asher himself, with much of his hero design coming from Kid Win from Worm; a spider-man style quipping boy genius, with a list of personalised taunts that i prepared ahead of each session he appeared in. Completely unexpectedly, Techno-Boy had some pretty major character development- later on in the campaign, when after the Abomination Event left large parts of the city in ruins, he appeared helping Rewind-up 'Homeless Columbo Spiderman' fight off the party, and i suddenly found while reading his quips that he was like. genuinely mean-spirited with his taunts now, rather than just having fun? and yeah suddenly i found myself with a 15 year old who had become jaded and down in the face of a city getting worse every day, but who still tried to put on a brave face for the people who looked up to him. and i was like fuck. Anyway this sudden depth he developed made him the perfect candidate to be impersonated by the shapeshifter Nightlock when he tried to get information out of the (now defected) PC Velocity with an imitation of Techno-Boy's previously genuine cheer.

Miss Mist

Funnily enough, for the very last character to be put on the 'Major players of delburn' list on the discord, the character concept Miss Mist (Valentina, to the party) comes from is by far the oldest. The Endermaster was a minecraft OC i made when i was around 11 (before i even knew such a thing existed) to the song 'Skyfall'. he was an enderman/human hybrid with the ability to dissociate his body into 'enderparticles' with the ability to teleport objects they touched. He then proceeded to be my go-to RP character on the bungie.net forums (in hindsight it was very funny that I, an 11 year old, was taking offense at being accused of being 13) and was used as a side character in various later rps. When one of my players at the beginning of the campaign informed me his character Sandtrap (capable of dissociating his body into particles of sand) was a ruthless killer with two young children, I was immedately like. One Of Them Will Get The Endermaster Powers. And He Will Unknowingly Fight Them. The unlucky preteen ended up being Valentina, a 9 year old who the party would have ample time to get to know when comedic mishaps resulted in them babysitting the pair of children while they did supervillainous stuff without letting the kids know about it (so that Sandtrap would retain partial custody of his kids). This also provided a few nice moments including Marsh choosing to shield the kids from a malfunctioning robot with her human body (rather than expose her werewolf form) and Sandtrap getting the kids Mcdonalds. however disaster would strike when Sandtrap dropped out of the campaign! fortunately due to the party's previous involvement i managed to stick the kids to Nina (part of the Marsh Extended Universe) by having her become their babysitter while Sandtrap was off making Operation Desert Storm literal. this all ended up fitting together brilliantly in the end though! when the Abomination Event happened, it let me have the kids and Nina all in one place for the party to try and rescue from the abominations- The party fights off the abomination while Saviour tries to evacuate the building, and via their (honestly very impressive) efforts, almost everyone is saved! save for Valentina, who is nowhere to be found, leaving half the party to fruitlessly claw through the rubble to find her. (sorry marsh!) Then after that, the mysterious (mist-erious) monstrosity Mister appears and acts erratically all over the place, lashing out, unable to speak or commuicate at all until she corners Marsh in the midst of a heated battle (a happy coincidence was that her powers deal Sonic damage, which is Marsh's weakness) and they have a very melodramatic confrontation that ended up resolving with with tears all around. So it all worked out well in the end!

Bio-Brute

Frontiers' Proto-BioBrute, who is also proto-proto-Bookkeeper, was an ecology-themed magic scientist in doomed yuri romance with proto-Sunforce, and had the ability to assimilate the physical traits of animals into her own body for a short time, making her laboratory largely resemble a victorian zoo. Needless to say, hubris and angst and tragedy would have happened and she would have ended up an ever-mutating monstrosity ripe for 200,000 word fix-it aus on ao3. While the tragedy of her character never went anywhere, and much of her sci-fi horror monster material went into proto-bookkeeper and eventually bookkeeper himself, the powerset and mix of academic curiosity with eventual animalisticness found itself a new form in Bio-Brute, the Major Minors' ever-changing monstrosity. Now, it is just now occuring to me that the players never found about this, but a major defining character trait of Bio-Brute is that they are Six Year Old lab experiment; they appear to be an unintelligent bully of a hero, while their actions are actually those of a remarkably bright child with very impressive anger-management skills. Bio-brute's powers were also a hoot to play with; because they adapted to every foe they faced, i got to really play with designing a monster ideally suited for defeating the party. Unfortunately the players were very good at planning their escape from their employer Igneous, so i never ended up being able to use the setpiece i had prepared around them being ordered to hunt down Bio-Brute in their (believed) civilian identity, a burly delinquent very protective of his seemingly innocent younger sibling, who would have a very weak stomach for their brother putting himself on the line for their safety.

Endnote

it might not be clear from the way i detailed these characters in the post but i really did succeed on the mass-effect style 'choices matter' element of the Major Minors' whole deal; honestly im still impressed that none of them ended up dying; in their first appearence Bio-Brute was almost beheaded by Sandtrap and the party considered killing several members at various points, never actually getting around to it. Igneous's plan involved killing all of them, and it was only via some very clever scheming that the party got out from igneous's thumb before they had to go through with said plans. I had plans for if one member died, if all of them died, if all but one member died (my second favourite outcome) etc. and their survival did very much come back to effect the players later on in the campaign! Nina and Velocity both got rescued by Sunforce at one point, the Major Minor's contributions offscreen during the Abomination Event was a big part of the party getting to the big fight as quickly as they did, and if the players had been defeated in the final battle against igneous, The Major Minors would have been the ones to rescue them, at great personal cost, leading to a (sadly(?)) never-realised arc where igneous would hunt the party down personally.

[lucydriscoll]

"don't you have contingency plans for when things go... wrong?" she asks, as if it's the most normal question in the world. petty thievery in public places seemed to come with a higher risk than most of the rewards combined. maybe she was too much of a type a personalties. she liked plans, even plans for when the plans don't work out. it was like having a nice mental safety net preventing everything from falling down around her. finally, the boy makes a decision. taking a sharp left, the pair step into the heated space. a stark contrast to the weather outside. releasing her shoulders a little, she tries to look less like she was being navigated from the scene of a felony. lucy silently resented how the mention of an octopus plush made her feel a little better about the situation, so easily bribed by an cartoonish eight legged mollusc. "did you know octopuses have no bones with the exception of their beak so they can squeeze in spaces as small as jars and pipes." she blurts, how exactly do you make conversation with a person while on the run?

@heyits-asher

It is very easy to tell that she is not the troublemaking sort. Quiet, almost timid seeming, like a little mouse. It’d have been easy to take off and leave her behind had there been no suspicion she might say something if those people owned that car. Asher had left their wallet on the ground and their car unlocked, scratched some near the spot he slipped his slim jim tool in to flip the switch. 

“Uh, I don’t know. That’s a good question.” Asher’s arm loosens around her shoulders, but it doesn’t quite leave her. Still a way to guide her while his eyes search for some sort of safe haven. “Arcade. There’s some people in there, just to mingle some. Sound good?” His rent might be due soon, which had been why that car stereo looked really enticing, but Ash will spare them a few dollars to play a claw game or Skee-ball. Anything to generally look occupied.

"I'll win you an octopus plush. Will that make you less tense?"

[autisticempathydaemon]

your match up game looks so fun ‼️‼️‼️‼️ i wanna try it out hehe (rambling ahead)

1. beast of blood by malice mizer :3 i honestly don't have a reason other than it being chaotic enough that it fills up empty noise in my brain lol

2. 5w6 !!

3. ohh i LOVE youtube essays/analyses whether i'm fully listening or have em as background noise, i love horror youtube deep dives, particularly about analog/digital horror series and that one creepypasta iceberg hehe

4. i don't think i've ever had one ? to be honest i don't think i ever thought abt it until i saw it in like . cartoons n shit , never rlly knew about the concept of imaginary friends as a kid 😭

5. recently i use redacted sleep aid audios but most of the time i just . stay awake until my brain shuts down 🤞

6. honestly? i never thought abt this . but the first thing that came into my mind was veronica (idk either!!) though if i genuinely wanted to change my name i'd want it to be gender neutral, and tbh i doubt i'd have any important meaning behind it i'd just pick whatevr sounds nice

7. guy's sleep audio !!!! i joke about wanting guy angst a lot but to be real . this audio of his is so vulnerable .. like before that we only saw him being a goof and stuff yaknow . . idk that one forreals hit different 4 me

8. as much as i love every character, i do not understand why gavin is the most popular😭 don't get me wrong , love him, maybe it's because i haven't listened to the fl series but i do not get the hype💔

9. i don't know all the words per se but i would have to say mean girls . . as problematic as that movie is now its iconic and i love it and i need to rewatch it BAD .

10. damien tbh . haven't gotten to his other audios but i think i would want 2 be besties w him i relate 2 him a good amount (he also seems like the type id be intimidated into doing well in school for)

11. to be real i wld not be able to ramble if im tired LOL i think i'd be more quiet bcz i have a hard time sleeping to begin with

12. tbh just a soda (coca cola bcz i am basic) i go to convenience stores n stuff after school so im only there to pick up something quick before i go home so im in and im out 🔥🔥

13. the 2007 sweeney todd soundtrack 🤞 i cannawt find the movie ANYWHERE and its nostalgic to me so listening to the songs is the closest i'll get to scratch the itch in my brain

14. fnaf tbh EHWHEHW i've been into fnaf ever since i was a kid and it's stuck with me because it's what got me into horror n stuff  🫶

15. i'm a saggitarius, my mbti is INTP, i love horror and fashion, despite wearing a lot of darker alt fashion, my favorite color is pink (my phone case is decorated to the gods its very ridiculous) i like doing my own nails (funnily enough in bright colors) , i think i relate to honey the most in terms of personality, and i like to analyze most of the media im into!!

So part of my thought process is based on your personality types, the Troubleshooter and the Logician. However, I have to admit a bigger part of my reasoning is I think Asher would love your fashion sense and would contrast you so cutely.

Like, on a deep, core level, your personality types give me the impression of someone who’s thoughtful and analytical and capable of solving problems. Those are good traits for a beta’s mate, especially when Asher can have more social, impulsive tendencies. On a funsies level, I imagine Asher dresses like your typical So Cal dude, kinda surfer chic, and he loves your style and what an odd pair you make. Like, on all levels but especially physical, you are the embodiment of the black cat/golden retriever couple.

Asher loves everything about you, so many things about you he finds it hard to pick a favorite. He loves the contrast between your dark clothes and your bright nails, loves asking you to paint his while you’re at it so y’all can match. He loves watching FNAF theories with you, because he was definitely a FNAF teenager. He even loves watching scary movies with you though he’s terrible with them. (Asher’s the type that loves the adrenaline rush while it’s playing but regrets it once it’s time to lock up the house.)

Song:

In the car, I just can't wait/ To pick you up on our very first date/ Is it cool if I hold your hand?/ Is it wrong if I think it's lame to dance?/ Do you like my stupid hair?/ Would you guess that I didn't know what to wear?/ I'm just scared of what you think/ You make me nervous so I really can't eat/ Let's go/ Don't wait/ This night's almost over

Given we canonically know Asher to be a FOB fanboy, it’s hardly a leap to assume he’s a Blink fan, especially this song. I think this particular track is not only fun and nostalgic to him but captures his energy and vibes, how he felt when he first fell in love with you. It’s also catchy as hell, so you know he’s singing this at you full-volume all the time.

Runner-ups:

Anytime someone says they’re a horror fan, I’ve got to put Guy in their big three; one of my top headcanons is that he writes some gripping horror and loves it as a genre. (I also think he loves FNAF lore and finds it so fun, though he was not impressed by the movie.) I also love Lasko for you because I think he admires your bold, authentic fashion choices and finds them inspirational.

Read this post and send me an ask if you’d like a match-up of your own! 💌

[calicohyde]

18, 19 or 23 for the pairing of your choosing for smut sunday 👀

"Swallow." / "You are doing so well." / "Say my name." + hinadam

[EXPLICIT]

Asher pets his flesh hand sweetly through Gwaine's hair, but his grin is as sharp and challenging as ever.

"Say my name," he orders. Where someone else might lower their voice, make it a purr or a whisper, Ash speaks at a completely ordinary cadence and volume. It shouldn't feel incongruous - it's not like he's really saying anything particularly sexual or intimate - but... Well, Gwaine does have his mouth stretched around his dick, so maybe that has something to do with it. The contrast doesn't detract; it makes Gwaine shiver. But Asher's contradictions always enthrall him.

Ash doesn't tell him twice. He just waits, still caressing Gwaine's head. Gwaine takes a deep breath through his nose, and tries.

It comes out, "Ah-haa," of course, and muffled besides, and the attempt strains Gwaine's jaw to discomfort. At least Gwaine doesn't have to worry about his teeth with this particular dick, except as a point of pride. It's no more flesh than Asher's other hand. He tries again. "Ah-huhhh."

Asher, predictably, laughs at him. Uproariously. He laughs so hard, his body lurches and thrusts his cock into Gwaine's throat, forcing out another stupid garbled noise. Gwaine, with a fierce and uncharacteristic blush that only serves to embarrass him more, glares up at him.

With visible effort, Ash stops laughing. There are tears at the corners of his eyes. Gwaine glares harder.

"No, I'm sorry," Ash says, breathless and patently false. "I'm sorry, baby, you're doing great." He goes back to stroking through Gwaine's hair. This time he brings up his prosthetic hand too, body-warm ceramic at the corner of Gwaine's mouth. His voice does go low, now. "You are doing so well."

Gwaine whines. He doesn't think to try again; he only means to beg. The result is the same regardless, Gwaine with his mouth stuffed full struggling and failing to say his lover's name. Ash huffs another laugh, this one quiet and soft.

"Overachiever," he teases. His grip is gentle, almost reverent, belying how rough he always is with his words, as he begins to move Gwaine's head into the rock of his hips. Gwaine moans, riding the certain high that only this can give. He stares up at Ash with wide, wondrous eyes.

"Fuck," Asher hisses at Gwaine's look. "Good- Pretty." Gwaine makes a pleased noise, floating, proud of himself. "Fuck." Asher groans softly. He's so much quieter in his pleasure than he is in anything else, any noise he makes goes straight to Gwaine's head.

Finally, Asher demands in a near-whisper, "Swallow."

He buries his cock as deep as it will go into Gwaine's throat and holds it there, just shy of painful. Gwaine obeys, easily and without questioning it. He holds Ash's eyes as he swallows, clenching his throat around the hard silicone head. Asher groans, a louder noise than Gwaine has heard from him yet, and blustery, half-surprised.

Gwaine can't help but cough when Ash pulls out. He deliberately doesn't break the string of his spit that attaches him briefly to the head of Asher's cock, wanting to make sure Ash sees it. He swears when he does, and Gwaine takes that as his cue to look up at him again.

As soon as he's able, Gwaine says, "Asher."

He grins wide, despite his freshly chapped lips, when Ash laughs.

Smut Dialogue Prompts Sign up here to be tagged when I post about this project.

[sagefranklin]

Her eyes rolled in his direction, something she felt like had happened a million times already, though they always seemed to be on a permanent roll whenever Atlas was involved. It'd been that way for years, her eyes just conditioned to the response more than anything. "My breath is peachy, thank you very much," She stated firmly. "And yes. Even if her business is also banging..." The blonde trailed off too, realizing why his words had stopped. What name was there to describe someone you were never really dating, yet were sleeping with, and happened to catch feelings for at some point during the two years you found comfort in them while you were grieving? The entire situation made her head hurt worse than it did when she started the run up the mountain.

He had a point. She knew he had a point and she hated it. She could just tell Asher; rip the band-aid and get it over with. Maybe let her sister hate her for a little for sneaking around behind her back, but ultimately the other woman would come to terms with it, right? That was too easy, though, and nothing about this situation felt easy. "C'mon, act like you've met Asher before," Sage started, waving her hand pointedly in his direction. "I mean, I go and tell her that not only was I sleeping with her best friend, but it was happening for years right under her nose. Oh yeah, and we lied to her about it." Maybe by omission, but lying by omission still counted in her book. "How do you think she's going to react to that one after she gave up everything to come back to Providence and put me back together after..."

She sighed as she started walking again, leaving the view of the mountains of trees behind for the depths of forest ahead of them. "I guess I just don't know what to do with... all of this. Liv and I were young when we got married, it was always her and I'm not really sure what to do now that it's not anymore. I feel like I'm just fumbling my way through a dark cave and there are definitely bats somewhere in there." A soft chuckle, a stark contrast to the exasperation she felt, fell from her lips. "I appreciate it, even if you're going to make it weird anyway."

Getting lost in his own thoughts was an easy thing. One point would turn into another and before he knew it, his ramble had stretched on much further than it logically should have. "Is that because you're still catching your breath? Lack of oxygen to the headspace?" He circled his forefinger near his head as he grinned down at her, but he knew the point(s) he made were all mute. "I mean... is it though? You know, if her business is also banging your... uh, you know?" Friend? Sexual partner? Long-term hookup turned heartbreak?

He snapped his fingers and nodded in response to her quickly worded request. Gaze shifted to the treeline behind him, the green ground bare of colorful leaves. In a single month's time, so many shades of yellows and orange would be spread all around for every hiker to enjoy. Colorful Colorado would be at it's finest. "I don't think you fucked up as bad as you think. Why not just tell her before she finds out?" Honesty has only ever been a good policy when it worked in his favor, or when he'd had too much to drink, or when his emotions got the best of him. However, sleeping with her sister's best friend had taken the backburner of news the moment she'd admitted to falling into bed with her ex-wife.

Instinctively, Atlas took a step forward behind the other, gravel crunching quietly beneath his worn shoes. He'd traded out his boots for something more fit for a hike and he felt everything beneath the thin tread. "So, you two aren't coming back together and getting hitched again. No big deal, right? Doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me. You boned, you agreed that was for the best... what's the hold up?" If it was the prior, the best friend thing, he'd give her the best (perhaps still shitty) advice that he could, but in the end, it was up to Sage and if she wanted to wage her bets on how likely Asher would be to accept it. "You sure? I make everything weird, but I won't mention you two hooking up." Even if that was one of the biggest things he and Olivia had in common.