#posts are probably going to be a bit slow

[fedoraspooky]

Sorry I'm thinking about old webbed sites again, but I was just havin a conversation on Bluesky about how the way social media is set up to force artists to churn shit out so fast just to be seen that we don't even slow down enough to really look at what other people are making, and just...

I think the way deviantART was set up was way healthier. By DESIGN. What do I mean by this? Well, think about how things are now. Every major social media has a dashboard people scroll that is endless. That is the main way you encounter art, supposedly by people you follow. It depends honestly. On instagram that's a fuckin' rarity, but I digress.

You have a dashboard, and let's say you only have a little bit of time to look through it. When the time's up, you close the app or tab or what have you, and everything that you didn't see in your scroll now might as well be gone forever. You probably won't ever see it, unless the poster reblogs/reposts/bumps it in some way, during a different time of day when you're more likely to catch it. Algorithms that force constant posting for a boost are bad enough, but so is the fact that everything is missable.

Now take ol' deviantART. It's flooded with AI bullshit now, but BEFORE then, in the ancient times, it was a collection of galleries and real peoples' artwork with a functioning search. Let's say you find some artists you like, and follow them.

Instead of a dashboard to scroll, you could go into your watch list and BAM. There it was, a collection of EVERYTHING the artists you followed had posted since the last time you checked. All there for you to look at at your own leisure. The artist could post at whatever fuckin time they wanted, and they'd only have to post ONCE, and you could still have a chance to see it without having to go to their individual page.

If you wanted to find new artists, no problem! There was the front page with featured works, or recent works- there were sections people could post to based on type of art (traditional, digital, etc.) and if you liked any kind of fandom, you could search AND sort those searches by popular/recent! It required a little bit of agency to go look for other people in your niche, but it wasn't difficult by any means. And some of my best and longest lasting friendships were started on dA by me finding fanart I liked and commenting on it! Or by participating in community-ran events like OC tournaments!

Like, I know instant gratification is a tough thing to beat, but I think if we found some way to just slow back down a little, maybe communities could be a thing again... I dunno. Or maybe I'm just an old kook. Or maybe both! Who knows?

But yeah somethin' somethin' gallery sites are way healthier than twitter for artists.

[forty-servants-free-readings]

Pick a pile

How will your first shared bath with your future spouse go?

Pick a group to find out, your reading is under the cut. If you're interested in a short, free oracle reading - feel free to send question to my askbox, anon is on. Answers are extremely slow due to demand and busy personal life, from time to time I go on hiatus. There is also paid offer, explained in my pinned post - those readings will be prioritised. If you want to support me there is a PayPal link in my bio.

Pick a pile masterlist

Group 1 - The Contemplator

The two of you will feel rather relaxed in each other's presence already, I don't think this will be too early in relationship to be honest. You will be rather silent, snuggled with each other and contemplating things together. It won't be uncomfortable silence by any means, I mean it more like understanding each other without words.

Group 2 - The Healer

One of you might help to wash the other person due to some sort of injury that probably won't be a serious one but might be temporarily limiting the freedom of movement. Alternatively one of you will be exhausted by work or life in general and the other will offer to wash them as a way to take care of the tired partner and help them rest a bit.

Group 3 - The Conductor

This will all be planned by one of you from the very beginning. They know what they want and they go straight for it. I also see that they will succeed in whatever they planned to do to you (or the other way around if it was you who planned it). Things might and up spicy with the planner as an initiator and they will take on dominant role.

Group 4 - The Devil

I can already tell that it will be rather fast in relationship as the both of you will be very shy. Somebody will pretend to not take a look at the other person but it will be a lie. Unfortunately, they will not overcome their shyness this time around so don't expect anything too exciting to happen, I'm sorry my group 4. The Devil in this deck is all about false limitations one puts on themselves, so I assume if the shy one initiated the partner would be up for their proposition.

[jjwolves]

This one might be a bit random so ignore if you wanna but how about DBBQ Ena having to “rescue” the reader(I.E. the reader encounters conflict and ENA has to come resolve it for them, or the reader gets lost in that cave we have to go through in the game for the taxi drivers’ heads or the pet that’s in there). And then ENA’s meanie side berates the reader for needing help all the time

Ω BIT DEFENDER Ω

What: 5 Headcanons of a Protective ENA the Worker X Reader

Who: ENA the Worker from ENA Dream BBQ

How Much: ~1300 Words, ~8 mins

Credits: Image Banner -> Joel G

Warnings: Language, Slight Violence

Well, this was it. After carrying this ball of the last 30 sacred silver rainworms through the compression gate, you and ENA were probably home free. She was far ahead of you with her own ball. You weren't looking forwards to ENA berating you over your comparatively slow speed, but you were also feeling motivated to get done quickly, if only to hear her smoothly compliment you by comparing you to her favorite office supplies. A skip over the shadow bridge and you were already halfway there. It's nice to have a job where the signs of progress are apparent: a straight line in territory you're familiar with. But there is one tiny detail you don't recall from your travels before. Occasionally, you hear a voice roll between the valleys, sounding like a cross between the chirp of a bird and a warbly voice. "Won't someone save a little me! Oh no, the depression strikes!" It sounds like someone might need help. Or perhaps a pep talk from someone who knows literally nothing about them. Feeling resolute, you start being on the lookout for alternative paths and the like which might lead you to this voice. The job could wait if someone was in real trouble, and besides, carrying boxes of worms was a little boring.

Not much time passes before you're able to hear the voice more clearly. You find a divot in the valley where metal fenceposts have been forcibly jammed into the walls, and you push on until you find the source of the odd voice: a conspicuous manhole cover centered in the middle of a small clearing. You ask the voice if it needs help, and the cover shifts in response. A small yellow head pokes up from the manhole, bearing a simple line as a frown. Sparse strings of hair fall over its face. "Ah, as someone finally heard the cries of the depression?" Setting the box aside, you crouch down in front of the stranger and say that you're considered somewhat of a professional when it comes to making people's days better, and besides, you needed a break anyway. The entity seems to consider this for a moment. Then, all at once, a disproportionately large claw shoves the manhole cover out of the way and a gigantic monster pulls itself out. It waves its fake "head" around on a stick as its torso opens to reveal a sharp-toothed grin. Before you can react, it's bearing down on you with a war-cry of "I feel better when I eat dessert!" You squeeze your eyes shut as you brace yourself for death, if it even exists here. Fact or fiction, you weren't too eager to discover it now that you were at its doorstep.

Hardly a needle, a hair, of time had passed before a sharp, sweeping edge had carved through the creature's body a hundred times over and turned it into sashimi. You hadn't had the presence of mind to even look behind you yet as the creature's faux head rolled over to you, face still contorted into a simplified frown. "You didn't tell me you were veggies." And just like that the head, too, was blown into confetti. Shakily, you gathered enough agency to swivel to your savior. ENA stood in place as the shreds swirled away on the wind, her face bearing a menacing scowl and a deepening shadow over her eye. You often called it "aesthetic" but most called it for what it was: danger. Her gravely voice rumbles out as she sticks you with her post-murder stare. She delivers a clipped rant as her surprisingly deadly handfan is returned to its pocket. "I got a lotta questions, and you're gonna answer them as soon as our little delivery is over. I nulled someone's contract today, so it's the least you could do." Your girlfriend begins manhandling you and forcefully steering you back onto the main path quicker than you can form an excuse.

It was a pretty long walk, filled from start to finish with icy silence. When you finally deliver the rainworm orbs, you don't feel as strong of a sense of completion as you'd expected. Maybe it's because the dangerous encounter shook you up... Or maybe it's because you know the real danger is on its way as soon as you and ENA finish the job. Not long after completion, ENA's voice is already bursting through her megaphone and hammering on your eardrums. "Is there a hole in your brain or something? I bet if a breeze flowed into your ear, your head would whistle! What is wrong with you?" Feeling a bit cornered, you bashfully mention that it sounded like someone needed help, and the job was getting boring, so you figured you could assist someone and take a break all at the same time. ENA's eyes narrow warily. "That sounds like something a goody-two-gloves-in-case-of-no-feet like you would do. I thought I said not to engage with outside conspirators, but you clearly disregarded my advice!" You retort and exclaim that ENA runs up to strangers all the time! "Yeah, and I can turn them into pixels just as easily! Make sure to hang that picture in your gallery if you even have one. Any other bugs in my programming we need to address or can I move on?" You nod sheepishly--there's not much to be added in the way of arguments. What you did was pretty reckless, especially since you were on your own. You owe ENA an apology, and admit as much. Her expression doesn't change, but her posture softens a little bit once you admit that you were being irresponsible. A clawed hand jerks your chin up and forces you to meet her stare. "Look, you need to be watching where you're walking from now on. I can't do shit if I'm going to be worried sick all the time because you can't keep your ass out of trouble. Am I understood or do I need to laminate this and tack it to your forehead?" Nervous, and also feeling kind of flushed from the contact, you blush. ENA's eyes widen in... Fury? Confusion? You're not sure. "Disgusting. I don't need a handwarmer! What I need is a functional partner! Reset! Reset!" You don't think it'd be wise to point out that she's blushing, too.

After that, while it's never brought up again, ENA never speed-walks ahead like she used to. At any point in time during your work, you can turn and find her matching your stride. When you ask why she's always directly next to you, she says, "Long walks like this can be such a chore. Now introducing: Me By Your Side! I'm looking for focus groups to test out this new product, so what do you say?" She smiles with crimson mischief, a sign that she's laying it on thick to get a chuckle out of you. It's very effective, five stars. "Try out our new product by talking to me or interacting with me. I think you'll find me to be in a very close spatial approximation to you. Long gone are the days of 'where is my sweetheart?' and 'help, I can't get this jar open'!" You laugh at her shenanigans before going quiet when you realize that there's some sort of secret entrance in one of the buildings you're walking past, with something shimmering inside. You go to look closer, but are distracted when ENA pecks you on the cheek and slings a suave arm around your shoulders to guide you further down the allotted path. She chirps apologetically. "Forgive me for the inappropriate public gesture of PDA (preventing dangerous accidents). An explorer invincible you are not, love." You return her romantic gesture with a kiss to the top of her head, and her arm returns the favor, jealously holding you away from the spiked rods and poisonous bones littering your path. You think you'll always be safe with someone like her around.

A/N: I'm trying to get back on the horse of like, making stuff and things. Sorry for the week-long vacation everyone. I know a lot of you guys like to read my stuff so hopefully I'll be able to get back into the groove of writing stuff which is fun to read. For now... Have this one, coming to you from the brink of consciousness! :o)

[aroaessidhe]

I need to get better at posting about aspec books as I read them, not just quietly adding them to my database and mentioning in the bottom of my reviews lol so here's the last few months [no order]

The Keeper of Lonely Spirits - cozy fantasy. the MC is likely acespec - he's only been interested in two people in 200 years, mostly uncomfortable about it otherwise. (& I think I saw the author mention this also). He's gay and also immortal - and elderly, not like an immortal-20-year-old, which is nice. It's vague/brief enough that I probably would not read it for aceness though.

I finally read the Villains duology, everyone knows about it, it's solid, only a brief direct mention of his asexuality in book 2 but the vibes are there throughout.

Be The Sea - a slow character focused scififantasy, with a demisexual (nonbinary, autistic) MC, and an ace SC. asexuality is discussed quite a bit in the book. lots of things are discussed. the book is mostly discussions.

The Fallow Year / Holy Terrors - end of the little thieves trilogy! Vanja and Emeric are still demisexual. they both explore some other relationships in TFY - I've seen some opinions that it felt 'not very demi' of them but imo the way it was depicted felt pretty clear on the difference of attraction vs action? I would have been happy with not as much focus on their relationship in the latter books but it's fine it's a good series

This Ends in Embers - end of a YA fantasy duology with dragons and sisters. one MC is demi. it's only briefly brought up but she has a romance subplot that it's lightly woven into.

Kiss Me, Maybe - contemporary romance with a greyace lesbian MC. I wrote a bit in my review here, it's not bad

The End Crowns All - YA Cassandra/Helen Greek retelling fantasy with a sex-favourable ace lesbian MC. bit too long and slow for me, but her ace journey was nice.

Wearing The Lion - heracles retelling, aroace author, athena (minor character) is alloace which is briefly discussed in a scene. probably won't put this in my database, just mentioning it here tho

Cradle and Grave - postapoc horror with an aroace character - just a single mention. no romance.

The Ocean Hugs Hard - historical mystery w a bit of cosmic horror, ace man MC. the depiction of his asexuality felt pretty true to the historical setting and was decent and complex, just didn't love the book.

Limitless: Poetry of an Aromantic & Asexual Journey - what it says on the tin. i'm not really a poetry person

What Wakes The Bells - YA fantasy with a demisexual girl MC, m/f. I liked how it emphasised the friendship aspect of their relationship just as much. her brother is also aroace. the book was just okay.

We Are Villains - YA mystery/thriller from Kacen Callender. the main MC is aroace, briefly explored. very glad for more Black aspecs from a Black author! the book was.....okay.

Vagabonds! - great Nigerian contemporary fantasy with a couple of ace/aroace coded characters in the ensemble cast, though only really discussed in a few paragraphs. very good book.

Unbury The Bones / Boneless - a couple very short cozy fantasy mystery novellas about an aromantic vampire & the werewolf who's trying so so hard to be their friend

That’s What She Said - contemporary novel about two friends in their 20s, one is demisexual. it is very focused on her demisexuality which is done pretty well imo, unfortunately the other MC is arospec coded and then villainised for it (aromanticism is never brought up. it's just commitment issues or whatever, eyeroll)

The Chronicles of Nerezia - not new, I just read the most recent two books. 3 aroaces and a lesbian going on adventures and playing so many board games and trying to save the world

Come Drink With Me - chinese fairytale vibe novella about two immortals who live/work at an opera house, who are both aromantic. this isn't new I just reread it bc i've been meaning to for a while! read my bestie's books 🫵

Children of Ruin - unexpected major character in book 2 of this trilogy is mentioned to be asexual (implied aro). very much the asocial mad scientist stereotype and only mentioned the once, I wouldn’t really call this good representation. But I do like this kind of character and I also liked the books, so,

Black Salt Queen - again unexpected, a side character is an aroace woman. (just mentioned once). fingers crossed POV in book 2? idk

A Stage Over Ruthless Stars - YA sci-fi with an aroallo MC and gay MC. his being aro is pretty much just mentioned the once. the other MC also expresses disinterest in amatonormative 'when you settle down with a partner in the future' rhetoric. no romance.

Hallowed Be Her Flesh - another monster romance/erotica from emryn bird, sapphic with an ace MC and asexual-species angel LI

a couple books I've heard/ been reminded about recently and are on my hopefully-near-future tbr:

The Star Crossed Empire - space opera with an ace MC

The Map And The Territory - high fantasy with aroace MC(s?), been vaguely on my tbr for ages but I just got a copy.

A Crimson Covenant - sapphic vampire/werewolf romance, I believe one is demisexual

Threads of the City - demiromantic ace MC

Demon Song - an ace MC, I think

That Devil Ambition - it's a linsey miller book I'm sure there's an ace girl in there somewhere

Painted Flock - obviously! I always forget about books I designed when im book blogging lmao

Rising Ashes - Fallen Thorns sequel, aroace MC

One Morning Sun - book 3 in the Sãoni Cycle! aroallo & alloace MCs

(there are obviously MANY more I know about these are just. I do actually plan to read these soon)

[creator4favestuff]

Sorry if there are any grammar errors!

Following my previous post-

The first person to “test it out”?

Bumblebee.

He's so curious about it!

Since in canon they don't know what such things are- (i.e Sari explaining human biology to Optimus in the park)

Plus, you're his friend, and he wants to help you out. He's seen how stressed everything's been making you, so as the declared "best friend", Bee offers his help!

One day, he heads to your room, immediately bringing up your new appendage. However you choose to answer, whether shyly or boldly, he'll ask to look at it.

And maybe a mass displacement machine was built from a random idea the Professor had. So a ray blast here, him on his knees, just...looking at it.

It's...thick. And long. He wants to laugh it off, but a part of him is nervous.

So the questions come out to hide it.

Are they all this size? Do they all look so weird? Some of it has a bit of a glow- It probably shouldn't, right? It kinda reminds him of Cybertronian anatomy, but given the AllSpark did this, it shouldn't be a surprise.

He takes your spike in his servos, and hears you breath harshly and apologizes, but you explain in detail the…delicate nature of it all. His servos fiddle with it, more gently, before his dermas suddenly take the tip.

It startles you, but his upward gaze garners his helmet a gentle pat and a “good mech”. It excites him, and half your spike is already in his intake.

Bee takes it as a challenge to fit it all in and works the best he can, impressively so. By the time his dermas reach your pelvis, you're so close to reaching that high-

And he stops, letting his vents and intake adjust for a moment, feeling victorious for fitting it all in. It gives you enough time to push release back just a bit, questioning if he's okay and that he doesn't have to do so much.

His spark swells at the concern. Though you've always been so caring to everyone, it feels so much more...personal in this moment.

His processor feels fuzzy, and all it seems to want to focus on is you. Making you feel good.

So, with a slow pace, Bee begins giving you your first and best blowjob, one that he tries to prolong so he can get the hang of it.

Until release finally hits, and he feels something warm go down his intake, and for a moment, panics-

But his optics see the dazed yet happy expression on your face, the gentle pats on his helm, and boom.

The worry vanishes and he’s officially hooked.

Sure, it's a bit messy, and he'll "complain" about it at first, but every day without fail, he drives over to Sumdac Tower and gets on his knees, saying and doing whatever you want.

One day, however, he returns to your room with a cheeky grin, and it makes you…nervous. Until he moves to the bed, helm resting on your legs before asking a question.

Could you, with the power of the AllSpark, give him a similar appendage? Or the opposite?

Your confused gaze pushes him to explain that he did some research during a stay at base while the others were on a mission.

It IS a...valid question.

"Heh. Maybe I could even take mine away?"

A joke Bee does NOT like. But you're unsure, unconvinced.

Why give him such a thing? There IS a war with the Decepticons and your missing father. Not to mention, who knows how his body will handle it? Why risk that?

"So we can mix it up. Think of how fun it'll be!"

...

You really shouldn't be surprised.

Bee sees the unamused expression and BEGS for one time. You can take it back afterward, promise! The pleading continues until you finally agree.

Your eyes close, building the image in your mind with quiet concentration, hand on his panel. Nothing happens at first, but a glow emanates from your chest, flowing throughout your body towards the panel.

Bee feels something shift, like his body was physically altering itself to your command, and his optics can only watch in excitement.

For a moment, silence washes over the room, glow gone, with only the moonlight washing over the room. He's quiet at first, as if unsure of WHAT to say.

But you hear a shifting sound, seeing the panel open and showing the valve that…definitely wasn't there before, and it's already clenching around nothing.

His servo holds your hand, and you return the grip. No regret lies in his optics, frame shaking gently with excitement along that silly grin of his, albeit a bit wobbly.

“Aren't you proud of me for doing such good research?"

You nod, pressing a kiss against his helm before brushing your fingers against the outer lips of the valve. He jolts, unfamiliar with the feeling, but keeps still the best he can.

The way your fingers continue their gentle caress, as if exploring it like he did your spike, and the gaze that lingers, locked onto every squeeze and jolt.

Though a startled gasp slips past his dermas when a finger presses itself inside, another unknown touch that makes him heat up. It feels like you're trying to map it out, and he's unsure of why until he feels a spike of pleasure at a specific spot. One your finger continues to press on, that makes him grab onto the sheet beneath him, optics rolled back.

And when that first overload hits?

A loud moan leaves him, body tensing before relaxing, vents trying to stabilize. The forehead kiss certainly helps ground him, but he wants more.

Though it seems you read his mind, moving down to suck his node, while another finger enters his valve, working him to another overload that makes him see stars.

The fact that humans had such a form of pleasure is-

"Huh? What're you doing?"

You're cleaning your fingers off, as if calling it a night, and you say as much-

"But we haven't gotten to the best part! The...what's it called? The-"

"Bee. I don't know if it's gonna fit-"

He frowns at that.

"Hah! Do you know who I am? Of course it'll fit-Try it right now, and you'll see I'm right!"

You raise an eyebrow, sighing before pining him down, "The moment you're in pain, we stop. Understand?"

He nods his head, smiling and aroused at your commanding voice.

With one last sigh, you line your spike to his valve, giving it a bit more prep, before pushing in.

It's slow and indeed a painful stretch. Even the soft encouragement from you can't fully distract him, but Bee won't say anything.

He CAN'T.

Otherwise, it'll all be over!

So he pushes through the pain, digits holding onto the back of your top, optics closed as he focuses on your voice.

Soft, gentle, caring.

But even the wait for his body to adjust causes his patience to wear thin, so he tries to move. It's still painful, but the small movements offer some pleasure.

And you let him do things at his own pace, knowing he wouldn't stop anyways, yet at the same time not really wanting him to.

Bee wants you to move though, tugging at your top while giving you a desperate look that eventually has you moving your hips against him.

Slow at first, still wanting to be cautious, before turning into a fast pace. One that has whimpers and gasps leaving him, legs around your waist now.

He thought those blowjobs were something, but this! This was too much-

His processor couldn't think straight!

“Yes! Please, please- Right there! Right there! Ahh! Too much, too much-Ugh! I-I feel something! Don't stop!”

You can try and keep him quiet, put a hand over his dermas, or stuff his intake with something, but he'll still moan just as loud. Especially when he feels your overload fill him. It’s so warm, valve clenching down on your spike, and his body is pulsing with pleasure.

His servos reach out to keep your hands in place, “Just one more…One more round-I promise that'll be it…”

But it isn't.

It's round after round of pounding his valve, Bee begging for mercy, yet whining profusely the moment you try to pull out. “Stop! Don't pull out! J-Just one more round-Noooo! Please?”

It'll be a long night and a rather awkward talk with the team when you tell them that Bee's “too sick” to work the next day.

But once again, no regret lies in his optics, and he seems pretty content cuddling beside you in bed.

....Maybe letting him keep it for one more day wouldn't be so bad...

[sarksarkos]

Batman '60: Hell Yeah

Buckle up your eyeholes, tumblrinos! This is Batman #133, and we are talking about KITE MAN! Welcome to the Gutters!

The actual cover to Batman #133 doesn't have anything to do with Kite Man, so I don't care about it. Kite Man is a bit of silver age lunacy that hits all the right notes to become a permanent fixture in the lorescape of comics. He was used as a serious villain all of twice over a period of two decades, before Jenny Isabella used him as an extended Charlie Brown reference in an issue of Hawkman, and then Tom King got a hold of him for his Batman run and turned him into an even bigger joke by making him a sympathetic character with a tragic background that revolves around wearing a giant kite to fly around. It's so good you almost forget that Tom King probably did some war crimes for the CIA.

In this first appearance, Kite-Man is basically Batman but kites. Anything Batman can do by making it bat-shaped, Kite-Man can do by making a kite out of it. He's got a jetpack kite and a bomber kite, he has a giant kite airship and a one-man glider kite. At one point, he just pulls a kite from the kite dimension and throws it at Batman's face with the full confidence that it would work, and somehow it actually did.

I also really like Kite-Man's costume here, which stands out by looking like somebody a person might actually wear. Maybe it's because I first became aware of comics in that era when all the Avengers wore matching leather jackets, but I like when comic book superheroes wear actual clothes. The jodhpurs in particular make him look like an ex-military man, it does something for me that the typical underwear-on-the-outside design doesn't. Kite-Man would have been an amazing villain on the Adam West Batman if only they had the budget. Get Steve McQueen to play him and he could ride a motorcycle with a big kite on the back.

However, as the old adage goes, he who lives by the kite, dies by the kite. Batman's greatest triumphs against Kite-Man only come when he uses his adversary's weaponry against him. First, he happens to find a speedboat with a parasailing kite and... sure, I guess, I mean I'd buy that if it was anything but a box kite. Then, when Kite-Man captures Batman, he uses the wallpaper in his cell to make a signal kite for Robin. Finally, they raid Kite-Man's stash of battle kites and use them to defeat him.

I live for this kind of story. I love Batman as a fighter, and Batman as a detective, but I adore Batman as a one-upman. There's nothing better than seeing Batman go up against some dude with an absolutely silly gimmick, and he gets even better at that silly gimmick than the bad guy is. That is peak Batman for me. I'm very tempted just to post this whole story up here because it's delightful.

As much as we wish it, not everything can be Kite-Man. Batman #129 contains another important story, "The Man From Dick Grayson's Past." This story involves Batman and Robin solving a circus crime involving a strongman that Dick Grayson knew back when he was a circus acrobat. From there we get a story about his origins, the death of his parents, and his origins as Robin. The bones of this origin have basically stayed the same since the Golden Age, including the name of his parents' killer, Tony Zucco. Unfortunately, the comics industry didn't predict the slow, lingering death of the circus, so the idea of a mobster putting a hit out on a pair of acrobats seems ludicrous when retold in the modern age, but it's part of the legacy so there's nothing to be done about it.

Sadly, the rest of this story doesn't have anything to do with Robin's origin, which is a real shame. The crime guy of the month is just some random guy who's got the strongman's kid in a tough situation, and it could have easily been Tony Zucco who was behind it. That would have given Dick a nice full circle moment, and add something extra to a story focused on Robin.

Finally, I want to look at Batman #136, "The Challenge of the Joker" because it's a really good Joker story. Batman goes on TV to make a speech about how crime is obsolete because of SCIENCE! Joker, as he does, takes that shit personally, and decides to do a series of alchemy crimes, ones based on each of the four elements. As per usual, the Joker puts way more effort into any of his crimes than he could ever possibly recoup from this expense, but he doesn't care because it's all about the game for him.

This is the kind of thing I would probably get upset about, and I'm sure I have in previous posts - if it was anyone but the Joker doing it. Like, Kite-Man, no matter how successful he is, he's probably barely breaking even once you take out all his kite expenditures. The Joker, however, does not care. He will spend a million dollars to steal a handful of change from a lemonade stand if it makes him laugh.

I mean look at this, look at this damn thing. The Joker made a flame-throwing hovercraft shaped like his own face and he's doing it basically just to mess with Batman. That thing must have cost billions of dollars to make. He could have funded a space program with the R&D expenses alone. But it is worth it to have Batman and Robin look at him with no earthly idea what they're seeing.

I know that just prior to this post, I got too mad for too long about one single, very silly comic book about Batman getting a zebra paintjob and how that was the downfall of the medium or something 25 years before I was born. And I stand by that, I absolutely do. But sometimes, these old comics do just get it. They know how to make good entertainment. I honestly can't tell you if there's more good than bad, Sturgeon's Law is always in effect, but I can be damn sure that I enjoyed myself enough to make it worth it.

Until next time!

[clumsydolly]

Don't forget to drink plenty water so your body fully recovers!

Stay well fed to the best of your abilities :3

Actually, as I read your Trey Clover!Reader post, I couldn't help but wonder how a Riddle!Reader and Lilia!Reader would be, especially with Barbatos...

On one hand, Riddle is very similar to him, but more outwardly strict.

On the other hand, Lilia is responsible but has learnt to let loose and be fun.

I guess I was just wondering how your wonderful writing would make either of those scenarios play out, having Barbatos know and care for a reader that is so similar to him yet so different at the same time ( ・－・)💭

Thank you, dearest! You're so kind! 🩷 I will make sure I drink plenty of water please don't worry about me~.

I will have your request out soon, dearest! I'm just a bit backed up! But as always requests are open!

Now when I thought about a Trey!Reader dynamic with Barbatos, the first thing that came to mind was how calm and steady Trey always is. He’s not the loudest person in the room, but he’s the one you trust to handle everything when it all goes wrong. I think a Reader based on him would have that same quiet strength. They’d be someone who naturally takes care of things without needing to be asked. Like if Barbatos was stressed or running low on energy, this Reader wouldn’t ask if he was okay, they’d just quietly bring him tea or adjust something small to make his day easier. I feel like they wouldn’t try to impress Barbatos or push for his attention. They’d just exist in a way that fits so easily into his rhythm that he wouldn’t realize how much he relied on them until they weren’t around. I think Barbatos would really appreciate someone like that. Someone who doesn’t demand space in his life but still becomes a huge part of it. I thought that maybe this Reader makes him feel safe, not by solving things for him, but just by letting him rest for a change. They’d both understand how it feels to be depended on all the time, and that’s what makes the connection feel honest. No need for grand gestures or dramatic confessions, just shared moments that mean more because they’re quiet and real.

Then I thought about a Riddle!Reader and how totally different that would be. Riddle’s whole vibe is about structure, control, and doing things the right way, and I feel like a Reader based on him would carry that same intensity. This Reader would probably be someone who holds themselves to a really high standard, maybe even too high. They’d try so hard to be efficient and smart and perfect, mostly because they’re afraid of being seen as weak. I think they’d try to match Barbatos, maybe even challenge him without realizing it. Not out of ego, but more like they’d want to prove they’re good enough to stand beside someone so competent and composed. And Barbatos? I think he’d find it kind of amusing but also impressive. He’d recognize that they’re trying to keep up, and I feel like he’d admire that effort without making them feel small. But I wondered if this match would have a lot of hidden tension. Like neither of them would be totally open at first. The Reader would keep everything behind perfect posture and big words, and Barbatos would just calmly wait them out, never showing if they were getting to him. But over time, I think he’d gently push them to let go of that control. Maybe not with words, but with consistent actions that show them they don’t have to prove anything. I feel like it’d be a slow burn where the Reader starts to realize that being cared for isn’t the same as being weak. And Barbatos would respect their strength without ever using it against them.

Now with a Lilia!Reader, it’s like flipping the whole thing on its head. Lilia’s that playful, unpredictable energy that makes everyone nervous but also kind of charmed. So I imagine this Reader would be chaotic on purpose, the type to joke constantly, act like nothing matters, and always keep people guessing. But I also think that’s a mask. Underneath all the jokes and teasing, there’s something a lot more serious going on. Maybe this Reader has lived through a lot or seen more than they let on, but they cover it up with laughter. I feel like Barbatos would pick up on that right away. He’s too observant not to. And instead of calling them out or trying to analyze them, he’d just let them keep their game going while quietly reading everything they don’t say. I wondered if that would throw the Reader off a bit. They’re used to being the one in control of the mood, but suddenly there’s someone who plays their game just as well as they do. And not only that, he sees through them without trying to fix or expose anything. I think this would be a really interesting dynamic because it’s not about comfort or power like the others. It’s more like two people who know how to hide behind masks but find a weird kind of honesty in each other anyway. Barbatos might actually enjoy the challenge this Reader brings, and the Reader might finally feel like someone sees them for real, even if they never admit it out loud. It’s playful and clever and weirdly deep.

Thinking about all three, I noticed they all share something under the surface. No matter how different they are on the outside, all three Reader types carry a lot internally. Trey!Reader hides it through care, Riddle!Reader hides it through structure, and Lilia!Reader hides it through chaos. And I feel like Barbatos would connect with that in different ways, since he’s someone who never really shows much of himself either. Each Reader would bring something different out of him, whether it’s peace, challenge, or curiosity. And I just thought it was interesting how much the dynamic shifts depending on what kind of strength the Reader leads with.

Thoughts?... 🤔💭

[x-bee-x]

Have I watched much Realms from any pov lately? No. Is this idea from mostly seeing liveblogs and sometimes clips and very little knowledge from watching myself? Yep. Have I written any Realms fics lately. Nope. Did I come across a follower post on my dash with a general idea they wanted someone to make and I wanted to surprise them and make them smile so I'm making this anyway? Yeah. (Hi @i-use-to-have-a-life)

Pieces Of Peace

Nightmare, PTSD flashback, anxiety, blood not mentioned in detail exactly but it is mentioned briefly, gagging mentioned twice but it doesn't lead to any vomiting

594 words

The iron was sharp on his tongue, that was the first sense he realized, enough so to make him gag.

The next sense was feeling the splatters of blood across his cheeks and on the bridge of his nose, he could feel it and it was wet and it was sticky, he swears.

The third realization was that it was dark, he wasn't sure if that was because he was still on the field and he has his eyes closed, or if he was awake and in a dark room.

"Hey, hey, shhh. What's going on? You're alright, it was just a dream, yeah?"

The second one, it was the second one, he must've been in a room that now had a sliver of light from the cracked door and the figure of someone standing in the opening.

"Hey, it's okay Pangi, try and breathe for me. That's it, you don't have to try and say anything. Just slowly, in and out with me, you've got it. Can I sit here? Can I touch you for a second?"

He nodded, probably, he thought anyway, because there was a hand on top of his, lifted to his chest.

And rise.

One two three four five.

And fall.

One two three four five.

And repeat.

"Good job, there we go, just in and out, you're alright."

He was breathing, maybe, his chest felt better he thought, probably.

"I. I still- it's- I can still- I can."

He gagged again.

"Shhh, hold on, hold on. Here, let me, there we go. Slow sips."

It didn't cover the iron, not completely, but his throat wasn't as dry.

"There we go, feeling better?"

He felt a little more like he was actually nodding to answer the question this time.

And oh, that's who it was.

"Lukey?"

"The very same."

"Where-?"

"We were doing shit in the lab for too long probably, and I said it was cool if you wanted to lay down for a bit, and then I heard you confused and hyperventilating, so, here we are."

Oh.

"Sorry."

"What are you sorry for, man? You're alright, not your fault, brains are a bitch sometimes."

"Because I- it's- sorry."

He's realized there was still pressure on top of his hand, there was still two hands on his chest, his eyes flickered down to them briefly.

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean, did you want me to-"

He started to lift his hand.

"No! I- No."

"Okay, okay. You're alright. I'm not going anywhere, it's okay."

He tightened a couple of his fingers in the fabric of his shirt and Lukey rubbed the back of his hand with a thumb.

It was quiet for. He wasn't certain how long it had been actually. But at some point he found it easier for his vocal cords to move noise through the cold of his throat.

"Please?"

"Please what, Pangi, do you need help with anything?"

"I, I can't, I don't-"

He cut himself off and felt his and Lukey's hands rise and fall.

"I'm tired."

"Yeah?"

He nodded and he felt the others thumb continue to move on his hand.

Fuck it.

"Lukey?"

"Mhm?"

He left both of their hands on his chest and moved both of their bodies together to lay down on the mattress.

"Please?"

Lukey put the arm that wasn't underneath them around him in a spoon and the hand that wasn't on top of his to gently play with his hair.

"I'm right here, I'm not leaving, we're safe now, you can go back to sleep, Pangi."

[lenoeninade]

Coffee Drinking Prick

(image quality will not improve if you click on it)

boo

artstyle change

[always-a-king-or-queen]

As a boy king in Narnia, Edmund Pevensie once swore privately to the stars that should his siblings ever die in battle, he would die with them. Protecting them to the end, so their fear might be lessened by the thought that they weren’t alone. 

But irony would have it that the bloodshed of war did not bring about their end, but rather a train built of steel and glass, hurtling from its tracks onto the greenery of a steep English hillside.  

Edmund does not forget the promise he made so long ago, in another world he can no longer access. He remembers that promise in his final moments, as the train flips and rolls and flings him and his siblings like rag dolls. He feels it burning deep in his heart, feels the stars smiling somewhere in the distant past as he wraps his arms around Lucy and Peter and shuts his eyes a final time. 

Only a few minutes before the derailment, the three of them sit in an otherwise empty train compartment, silent and each occupied by their own thoughts. Edmund is gazing out the window at the flashing scenery when he gets the sensation that something is horribly wrong. 

There is a faint tingling that crawls suddenly up and down his spine, chilling him to the bone, and he sucks in a breath, eyes going glassy as the scenery blurs outside the window. For a moment he is back in Narnia, standing by Peter’s side, hair windswept and helmet tucked beneath one arm as he surveys the battlefield before them. He can almost see the army sprinting towards them over the lush grass, can almost hear the roars and yowls and screeches from both sides, can almost smell the tang of unspilled blood. His sword is nearly tangible in his fingers, heavy in his grip, the engraved hilt cold and familiar against his palms. 

The tingling against his spine swells into a roaring pressure, and Edmund is pulled roughly from the battlefields of his memory, jolting back into the present with violence. This feeling– this horrible, gut-wrenching, bone-crushing feeling that grips his throat and lungs– this is how he felt before his first battle against the Witch and her army. A sense of impending doom, scraping against his teeth with aggression and burning his heart; he knows it all too well. 

Edmund swallows again, missing the distant weight of his sword in his hands as he fully returns to himself. The train is shuddering slightly as they advance along the track, English countryside flashing by outside the windows. Next to him, Lucy hums the haunting melody of a dryad, idly sketching daisies in a blank page of her journal; across from Edmund, Peter flicks through a newspaper, brow furrowed with an intensity Edmund well recognizes from his brother’s days as High King. They are alone in the carriage, the rest of their traveling group crammed into a different car, and for the briefest, most traitorous of moments, it almost feels like their old days, just the four of them. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, together against the world. 

But Susan is no longer with them, and these are not their old days, and something is terribly wrong. 

“Pete.” Edmund keeps his voice even-keeled as always, and his brother doesn’t look up from his paper, simply answering with a distant “Hmmm?” that Edmund knows well enough to translate that he isn’t fully listening. Lucy, on the other hand, flicks her gaze towards Edmund, eyes bright and curious as always as she tips her head. Edmund doesn’t meet her questioning stare. If he dared to, she would read his face in an instant, and he doesn’t want to scare her without necessity. 

But then, he reminds himself with a self-directed scoff and a shake of his head, her title was Valiant. 

It will take more than his current fears to scare her. 

So Edmund pushes away his misgivings and tries again. “Pete,” he says a second time, louder than before. 

This time there must have been an edge to his voice, a sharpness that he’s rarely allowed to frame his words since his days as a bully. Peter looks up from his paper, seeming suddenly to recall that this was the tone Edmund always used in times of peril, and instantly recognizes the expression on Edmund’s face. Calm and controlled, but with an undercurrent of panic flickering at the edges. Panic that was not befitting of a king of Narnia, but that Edmund sometimes couldn’t keep from slipping onto his face in the early days. After all, he had only been a boy then, a boy king in a strange world. Now they are back in their own world, but it is foreign to them, and sometimes he is afraid.  

A touch to his arm. Lucy is leaning towards him, face earnest and undaunted. 

“You sense something, don’t you, Ed?” she asks him simply, and his final facade crumbles. 

He nods wordlessly, hands gripping the flaking leather seat of the train car. 

Peter moves to sit beside him, and Lucy watches them both, waiting. Edmund glances towards her. “Lu,” he says quietly, and reaches for her hand. She takes his willingly, her fingers squeezing his own, and he half-smiles, his other arm stretching towards Peter. 

The High King grasps his brother’s hand firmly, and Edmund exhales, his heart soothed by the wordless reassurance of his siblings. 

“I don’t know quite what is going to happen,” he tells them softly, voice gentle as a winter snowfall and soft as a shaft of sunlight in the western woods. “But something is coming.” 

He sees Lucy the Valiant swallow, her fingers trembling just slightly in his, and Peter the Magnificent lifts his chin, cold fear burning in his eyes. 

Edmund grips their hands tighter. 

“I won’t let anything happen,” he says fiercely. “To either of you.” 

It is a vain promise, but they cannot peer into the future. They cannot foresee the grinding, twisting metal and searing flames that await them, mere moments ahead. And so his siblings simply smile at him and scoot a little bit closer, holding his promise close and silently vowing to do the same for him. Peter sits tall and straight, his shoulder pressed against Edmund’s, and Lucy leans her head on his shoulder, her journal forgotten.

Edmund is just beginning to think that perhaps he was wrong when there is a deafening, thunderous screech from the front of the train, a grinding cacophony of clashing metal.  

The sound of the world ending. 

In the same instant, Lucy and Peter’s hands are ripped from Edmund’s with a feral violence. “Ed!” Lucy screams, thrown backwards against the wall of the car. Peter slams his head into the roof and slumps unconscious to the floor, and the car bucks wildly, windows shattering and spitting out shards of broken glass. 

Edmund tumbles head over heels as the train flips and rolls in its derailment, crashing into Lucy and Peter again and again as they each come dangerously close to being thrown from the broken windows, yet somehow escaping each time. He catches snatches of broken screams filtering from other cars, desperate and agonized, and swiftly pieces together that they have mere moments before the end.  

Lucy slams into Edmund again, hair askew as she scrabbles to grab hold of something, and Edmund wraps an arm around her, stopping her tumble midair. His other hand closes around the now-empty frame of a window, briefly anchoring them both, and the train slows suddenly in its maddening descent. Edmund has the distant thought that perhaps that is not mere coincidence, because the train seems to be rolling almost in slow motion, shards of glass flying past their faces as if in a dream. 

Peter, still unconscious with blood dripping down his forehead, tumbles over to Edmund and Lucy’s feet, faster than the train is currently moving, and Edmund makes a swift calculation. 

“Get down,” he says softly to Lucy, releasing her. She drops into a crouch next to Peter, and Edmund kneels beside her, taking a final look at the train car as it rotates with an almost magical slowness, allowing them to have a last moment together. 

Seconds. They have seconds left. He doesn’t know quite why he’s certain of that, but he is. 

Lucy has flattened herself against Peter, weeping softly and whispering with the irrationality of grief, “Wake up,” and Edmund wraps his arms over both of them and closes his eyes, hugging his siblings tightly with all the love he was never able to articulate aloud. 

“Goodbye,” he whispers, though peace fills his heart as light begins to glow through his closed eyelids. “I’ll see you both soon.” 

Lucy's hand finds his and squeezes it tight.

The train flips a final time, and glass and metal explode in a deafening burst of fire, smearing the sky in clouds of ash and smoke. A lion’s roar echoes briefly in the flames of the wreckage.

And somewhere, in a realm flooded with golden light, the Pevensies open their eyes.

[daffi-990]

Tease Tidbit Tuesday 🏙️

Tagged by @diazsdimples & @tizniz. Make sure to check out what they shared today! (and maybe send James a virtual hug or a stupid punny joke? He’s been sick for 3 weeks and I’m sure he could use some cheering up 😘)

I have been wanting so desperately to write the past few days but a cold has my sinuses putting so much pressure on my head I feel like it’s going to explode, plus it’s school holidays and it’s been raining so I’ve got two very energetic kids with cabin fever running around causing mayhem 😅.

BUT! I did manage to write a little something for LA Lonely so yay (even though it may not be great, at least it’s words)

Pre snippet here

Buck is woken up by the shrill sound of a phone ringing. The bed jostles, Buck letting out an annoyed grumble as the warm body that is wrapped around him disappears. There is a kiss pressed to his naked shoulder, a whispered apology and then the rustling of the blankets as the person leaves the bed, answering the phone with a quiet hello.

Rolling over to check the time, Buck’s surprised to see that it’s almost 9. Usually his body clock wakes him up at 7am everyday, whether he stayed up late or not, so sleep-ins are a rare thing. He rolls onto his back, groaning as he stretches his arms up above his head. There’s a slight ache in his ass but it’s a reminder of the fantastic sex he had last night and honestly, Buck doesn’t mind the discomfort.

He hears footsteps on the stairs, the wood creaking slightly and then the most attractive man Buck has ever laid eyes on is standing at the foot of his bed wearing nothing but underwear and a soft apologetic smile that has Buck’s tummy swooping.

Eddie.

The man’s name is Eddie, Buck remembers. And remember he should because he was moaning it loud enough last night.

Eddie has a phone pressed between his ear and shoulder as he picks up his jeans and begins to awkwardly shimmy them up his legs. “I told you, I overslept. But I’m getting ready now and can be there in —” he looks down at his wrist and frowns, his eyes sweeping over the discarded clothes on the floor before zeroing in on Buck’s second nightstand where a clunky watch sits. Eddie grabs the watch, quickly checking the time before he begins strapping it on. “I can be there in 20 minutes, 15 if the traffic is good.”

Buck feels a pang in his chest and then instantly chastises himself. This was just another hookup, a one night stand —nothing more than that. He was foolish to think that what he felt last night with Eddie was anything real. It was just the hormones.

Eddie may have stayed, but that was probably because he was hoping to get lucky again this morning. Or like Buck, he slept in and didn’t get a chance to sneak out before Buck woke up.

No pressure tagging: @hippolotamus @puppyboybuckley @spotsandsocks @lover-of-mine @loserdiaz @wikiangela @athenagranted @thewolvesof1998 @exhuastedpigeon @monsterrae1 @wildlife4life @watchyourbuck @elvensorceress @eddiebabygirldiaz @evanbegins @goforkinard @rainbow-nerdss @theotherbuckley @try-set-me-on-fire @dangerpronebuddie @disasterbuckdiaz @devirnis @donationwayne @shitouttabuck @sunshinediaz @princessfbi @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @fortheloveofbuddie @giddyupbuck @homerforsure @hoodie-buck @honestlydarkprincess @jesuisici33 @king-buckley @captain-hen @bekkachaos @bigfootsmom @ladydorian05 @nmcggg @mellaithwen @missmagooglie and as always, anyone else who wants to share something -> consider this your official tag

[happi-dreams]

okay so i realised there’s A LOt of doodles i have just forgotten to share here about silly lost n found au stuff so whoopee big doodle post time !!

[myokk]

I was talking to Lamie about the oneshot I’m writing, and now I’m curious…would you prefer it if the girl wasn’t named OR would you want it to specifically be Eloise??🤔

Since it’s a standalone and AU that has NOTHING to do with my fic, I kind of just want it to be its own thing. BUT…I like Eloise and Sebastian too much and they’re the ones who inspired this oneshot in the first place😫 in the end I’m going to just do whatever I want and probably not name her😆 but I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS!!!!! Like I’m not shaming at all, but for example I’m not the biggest fan of Y/N or second person pov, so I won’t be doing that but I know they’re really popular. I guess I’m just most interested in what YOU like & why. Maybe this is more of a discussion post to satiate my curiosity bahahahahah bc I’ve always wondered!!!!

In my Ominis oneshot, for example, I didn’t name the girl & I LOVE how it turned out😌💘 but also I haven’t really read too many oneshots in my life so maybe I’m just VERY out of the loop.

[uhbasicallyjustmilex]

oh my god oh my god oh my GODDDDDD i can’t BELIEVE i found these on my little rainy october thrift shop wander this morning. like, one would have been more MORE enough. but both?? at once??? i am quite simply floating and may never touch back down to earth

[lieutenantselnia]

I just realised the concert I've got tickets for and Vienna Comic Con are all on 3 consecutive days ... that's gonna be one hell of a weekend for sure😅

[bleaksqueak]

Insomnia is letting up off and on, but I'm still super jelly brained from it case in point, I want to continue back with posting WIPs for the aired pages, but I can't remember what page I left off on now lmao (guess I'll have to dig through my blog to check... eesh. at least it's decently organized by tags?) Not a result of goo brain, really, but equally "AUGH" is that I let my screen protector go for too long without replacing it and now it's slick as snot and I don't have a replacement handy to put on it. This isn't a resulting consequence of goo brain but it does mean I'm going to be trying to draw without any traction while I'm already loopy. Good times ahead!