#the first free time in a nutshell

[maxences-hat]

"My shsl tsun tsun hair"

[source]

[rinius-lin]

one thing that is a constant from the deceit and illusion smilk has done is his possessiveness of pv.at first i just thought he was referring to the soul jam like in episode 2 but reading this dialogues gives off a completely different vibe.

even in this supposed "truth" smilk showed to pv has him referring him as "my cookie" which is just so????? baffling with how condescending he is.

and i just went to the conclusion is that he wants the soul jam AND pv. but not in the relationship type of want, but in the type of want where a person would have with an object.

there's a something i learned in philosophy, which is the "I-It" & "I-Thou" relationship. now in a nutshell, I-It is where a person treats and views another person as an object, not forming a reciprocal and mutual understanding and connection. While in I-Thou is where both person are the subject, no objectification happens in this relationship, making a form of connection and bond between them.

now that's how i interpret smilk in his possessiveness with pv. and it's also established that smilk knows pv's whole life and secret to the point he can manipulate pv's memories that ultimately lead to pv's "fall". and the fact with the whole 'you're following in my footsteps' and 'you'll become me' thing is just smilk wanting to see pv crash out and use him as an asset. SMILK JUST WANTS TO WATCH AND ENJOY SEEING PV BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COOKIE!!!!

i want to see what smilk has in mind with truthless recluse. he's probably going to use him as a weapon against the other ancients (as pv is the one uniting the group together tbh) but at the same time, i wonder how pv would break free from his corruption.... I NEED THE NEXT EPISODE DEVS YOU CAN'T CLIFFHANGER ME LIKE THIS WTF

[sunseed-fandump]

The Tarot from the new trailer has me FLIPPING OUT (Sorry for the shitty screenshot) I was already making an analysis on the previous cards we got, but THIS has really got me doing backflips in my head because of the implications.

Let me explain.

First off, have you noticed that one of these cards is not like the others?

The first card, Strawberry Cookie, is in reverse. She is on the major arcana card XII - The Hanged Man. When the Hanged Man is in Reverse, it represents Delays, resistance, stalling, indecision, stagnation.

"The upright Hanged Man encourages you to pause for a moment and see things from a different perspective. Reversed, this card can show that you know you need to hit the pause button, but you are resisting it. Instead, you fill your days with tasks and projects, keeping busy and distracting yourself from the actual issue that needs your attention. Your spirit and body are asking you to slow down, but your mind keeps racing. Stop and rest before it’s too late. The Universe will only dial up the volume if you ignore it, and as a result, you may end up crashing. So, as soon as you hear the call, clear your schedule and make the space so you can tune in and listen."

Next we move on to Gingerbrave's card: 0 - The Fool.

In the Upright Position, the Fool represents new beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, a free spirit, and adventure.

"To see the The Fool generally means a beginning of a new journey, one where you will be filled with optimism and freedom from the usual constraints in life. When we meet him, he approaches each day as an adventure, in an almost childish way. He believes that anything can happen in life and there are many opportunities that are lying out there, in the world, waiting to be explored and developed. He leads a simple life, having no worries, and does not seem troubled by the fact that he cannot tell what he will encounter ahead."

Finally we have Wizard Cookie's card: I - The Magician.

In the Upright position, the Magician symbolizes logic, desire, resourcefulness, willpower, intelligence, skill, and manifestation.

"When you get the Magician in your reading, it might mean that it's time to tap into your full potential without hesitation. As a master manifestor, The Magician brings you the tools, resources and energy you need to make your dreams come true. Now is the perfect time to move forward on an idea that you recently conceived. The seed of potential has sprouted, and you are being called to take action and bring your intention to fruition. The skills, knowledge and capabilities you have gathered along your life path have led you to where you are now, and whether or not you know it, you are ready to turn your ideas into reality."

So what do these 3 cards mean together? Well, we have someone who is stagnating, who is stuck and unable to move forward. But they go through a rebirth - an epiphany - and start on the path of a new journey. And on that new path they unlock their full potential.

This is Pure Vanilla Cookie's story in the next update in a nutshell!

Sorry for the sorta long post, i just wanted to geek out about this since I love love love it when Tarot is used as a narrative device :)

[saltyinternetflower]

[Weak Hero Class] and why Si-Eun Su-ho are at the heart of it – in Park Jihoon's words (April 28, 2025)

Bruh I wasn't ready to cry first thing in the morning but then I saw this...

In Jihoon's words 😭😭

From a third person's POV (Han PD)

What's even funnier is the perpetual confusion if he's talking about the character or the actor, which led to headlines like this 😋😋...

Here's what Jihoon actually said about Choi and Class 1..

And this 😊😊

The impact of the last scene in Jihoon's words:

Reasons why Park Jihoon gets Si-Eun's character better than everyone else, and he was the perfect person to play Si-Eun, is how he studied Si-Eun's character.

Notice how no mention of Beom-seok? How forgetful of you, oppa? 😅 but Si-Eun often forgets a world exists beyond a certain someone, so I'm not surprised.

Okay bro we understand the power of friendship and your belief in the ending.

Honestly, we had the same reaction.

Also, Jihoon sees a lot of Su-ho in Baku...

"Baku (Park Hu-min)' really resembles Su-ho. I thought, 'Who else can show that kind of live energy?' and while filming, I felt that they were similar. I tried to express that feeling as well."

Does that mean every time he was looking at Baku, he remembered Su-ho?

Yeah we thought so too!

Therefore

To conclude

In a nutshell

I can safely say–

We can be true believers in Su-ho Si-Eun but

Nobody is a bigger ShSe believer than Park Jihoon, the man, the myth, the legend himself.

Thank you, Oppa, for owning the character

❤❤

P. S. I did put more research into it than my uni assignment so if you wanna share the words, please feel free to like and reblog 🤗

Some sources:

[acstation206]

I messed up. /j

Introducing...

THE AMAZING DIGITAL ARCADE PARTY!

Yeah, that's right, I caved in.

Basically the exact same show except its established lore and setting is more largely inspired by archive compilations of popular vintage arcade games of the 80s and 90s such as Pac-Man’s Arcade Party, as well as the different takes within the sci-fi / fantasy genre by the likes of Wreck-It Ralph, Tron: Legacy, and Infinity Train. 

==

= BACKGROUND (in a nutshell) 💿 =

In an attempt to save their dying business, C&A developed and manufactured the first hybrid arcade game of its own kind that combined other popular arcade games and home console games with virtual reality. However, just as the company’s luck was turning around, numerous lawsuits from game companies by the likes of Nintendo and families were filed against the company for their product, from apparently “ripping-off” Super Mario Bros. in its entirety to causing many children to either inexplicably fall unconscious or suffer from amnesia after the cabinet’s headset was put on. Just then, as C&A announced they’ll be temporarily recalling the product to fix its issues, a shocking discovery was already made by investigators that would soon bring the company to its demise: the game’s AI had gone rogue, and once a human mind dies from losing one of the games in any way, they are either permanently reincarnated as a personified cartoon character of themselves or just straight up die in real-life depending on the outcome.

==

= ART N’ STUFF 🎨 =

(might wanna make a separate masterpost for that in the future but oh well)

NES Ragatha

Pomni and Caine redesigns

==

= Q&As and BOUNDARIES (sort of) 🎙️ =

"Are there any plans to make a full webcomic out of this?" - Uhhhh, mayyybe? I'm not entirely sure, honestly. While there may be a few side comics and artwork from my head I want to get out sometime, I don't really have much plans for this AU that'll be worth telling a full story right now since I feel there is plenty of things that I've yet to figure out and develop in a matter of time, particularly the setting and characters (especially considering the OG show itself has only 2 episodes out as of writing and I only have mobile apps like ibisPaint X to make this all possible at the moment).

"Can I make fanfics and OCs for this AU?" - Of course! I've seen a lot of incredible things from the community, especially in regards to alternate universes, so you're absolutely more than welcome to share whatever's on your mind as long as your heart's in the right place. I can't really guarantee I'll see every bit of it since I do have some personal biz of mine to take care of at any moment, but I'll be happy to reblog them whenever I get the chance. Just tag me and we all good. :)

"Are there any canon ships in this AU?" - Yes. Yes, there are. Well, only BunnyDoll (Jax x Ragatha) to be specific. HOWEVER, you are free to ship whoever you want here! Showtime (Caine x Pomni), ButtonBlossom (Pomni x Ragatha), it's all okay. The choice is yours, a romantic buffet! (Plus, depending on the quality of my writing, I'm not even planning to dwell too much into it for now, aside from the side comics that will.)

==

That's all for right now. Enjoy! :)

[crazycatsiren]

One thing I can't help but wonder.

Artemis is not the only virgin goddess in the Hellenic pantheon. And yet it appears, among modern pagans, virginity is the first (often times only) thing to come to mind whenever Artemis is mentioned. So much is focused around her being a virgin, it's gotten to a point where who she actually is, how she was worshipped in ancient Greece, and her presence in the lives of the ancient Greeks are completely lost among misinformations and misconceptions stemming from only one aspect of her.

For Athena and Hestia, it's always their various roles and domains that people will immediately think about. But for Artemis, it's always her body and marital status, for some reason. It's utterly ridiculous.

Because to the ancient Greeks, Artemis was a perpetually unwed maiden goddess, yes, but she was not the goddess of virginity. According to Stephanie Budin and colleagues, Artemis was the goddess of the hunt and wilderness, and she was responsible for helping women in childbirth, turning children into adults, bringing light, freeing slaves, marking boundaries between territories and periods, bringing and curing plague. Her epithets emphasized her "wild" qualities, expressed her proclivity for the hunt, as well as described her as a "kourotrophos" (child nurturer and protector of the young) and a lunar deity.

It's like, why is it never a problem for everybody to accept that Athena and Hestia had worshippers of all ages, sexes, gender roles, and social statuses throughout ancient times, but it's so hard to wrap minds around this about Artemis.

Artemis, Athena, Hestia, all three goddesses preserve their virginity for important reasons pertaining to their roles in Greek ideology. Artemis's virginity established her position in the divine hierarchy. As the goddess of the wilds and wild animals, she herself could not be tamed (damazo) by sex, as other females in the Greek literature, and especially brides, were said to be (paraphrasing Stephanie Budin, Artemis, 2016).

In a nutshell, these goddesses are virgins and never married because of, as a result of, and due to their personas, functions, their parts in the pantheon and the areas they preside over. They chose the path of virginity because of who they are and what their "jobs" are. It doesn't mean they are rulers of maidenhood and virgins.

[blackflash9]

People always say they want complex characters. They ask for nuance, for gray areas, for emotional depth and realistic growth. But when a character starts feeling too real, so much so that they stop acting like someone in a story and start feeling like someone you could actually meet – that's when the discomfort kicks in. That's when admiration often turns into criticism. And very few in The Legend of Korra walks that tightrope quite like Suyin Beifong.

Su doesn’t follow the typical “lesson of the week” formula. She doesn’t get handed a tidy moment of reckoning, followed by an instant transformation. Her arc isn’t flashy or obvious. It’s slow, subtle, and sometimes contradictory. Just like real people. Because the truth is, most of us don’t change overnight. We grow a little here, slip back there. We learn something, but that doesn’t mean we always apply it in every situation. That’s Suyin in a nutshell.

Look at how she changes as a mother. At first, she tries to micromanage Opal’s choices out of fear, mostly, and a need to protect her. But eventually, she lets Opal go and lets her live her life without trying to control her path. That’s a win. That’s real growth. But then Baatar Jr. betrays the family, and Su reacts by putting him under house arrest. It’s easy to point at that and call it hypocrisy, but that misses the bigger picture. Her deepest fears for her kids came true with Baatar, and so, of course, she tries to regain some kind of control in the aftermath. And yet, she doesn’t try to rope Opal back in. She lets her stay free. That shows her earlier growth wasn’t erased, just complicated by pain.

This is the part people tend to ignore. They rush to call her a hypocrite without stopping to think about what hypocrisy really is. People are full of contradictions. We want conflicting things. We act on emotion. We stumble. We grow unevenly. No one is morally consistent all the time. Su isn’t some moral failure she’s just human. And that’s what unsettles people. They want characters who get what’s coming to them or learn the “right” lesson. But Su doesn’t fit into that framework. She just keeps going, flaws and all.

That’s also what makes her so compelling. She’s not a straightforward hero or a satisfying villain. She’s a complicated woman trying to balance power, family, control, and identity in ways that are messy and real. When people critique her, it’s often not because she doesn’t make sense, but because she makes too much sense.

She’s too familiar. Too human.

Everyone says they want nuanced characters... until they’re faced with someone like Suyin. Someone who holds up a mirror. And when that reflection hits a little too close to home, people tend to look away. But it’s in that raw honesty where her character really shines.

[timkontheunsure]

Part 1 Blitz & BPD coding

Ok quick bit first before getting into the nitty-gritty. So to have BPD you need to have 5 of these 9 traits:-

(putting as by proxy with him cus damage your image is harmful to your psyche).

Poor bugger looks to have 9 of 9

Alot of BPD patterns and strategies comes from childhood trauma, and Blitz has this in spades.

Scapegoat and attachment style

Cash is clearly a narcissistic Dad, see the kids as tools.

Cash uses Blitz's love and Strong attachment to his Mum to force Blitz to be useful to him, and do what he wants.

This sends the very strong message that love is conditional. That it is bought through what he can do for another. And that without being useful love and affection will be withdrawn, because he doesn't really deserve it.

We see wee tinny Blitzo struggles with making balloon animals, is a little clumsy, has a sense of humour that not a crowd pleaser. This puts him at the bottom of the pecking order.

This position is the scapegoat. Blamed for anything that goes wrong (fire), to keep the others in line (Fizz told done on purpose), given the most dangerous jobs (rob a Goetia), and given the lest love and affection.

Narcissist see people as tools or a burden. All love from Cash is conditional/transactional.

How Blitz gets love is to be used or to be useful. This the rule.

Affection freely given can't be trusted. It is a lie. This why any Stolas shows has to be either ignored, or change to a kink of "getting plowed by people you look down on". Making himself used.

But Stolas breaks this when he says Blitz "no longer have any obligation to see me, to touch me, to bed me, you are... you are free of me." He panics that he's being abandoned; "I can be better", "I'm I not fucking you good enough" are his immediate responses. Trying to get back to the safety of what he knows.

If they're no 'obligation' then there can't be affection and he wants to Stay with Stolas. And if there's no 'obligation' Stolas telling him he cares must be a lie.

He's slowly coming to see that this isn't always the case in apology tour; when his "earning" his way through sex is rebuffed again.

(It may not be Stolas' kink; but being fucked by an all powerful prince who degraded his a little might be Blitz's 🤭).

After the accident this rule gets a second fun extra playmate that anyone who loves him will be hurt. So Blitz must push them way, to keep them safe from him. These 2 rules give Blitz the disorganised fearful-avoidant attachment style. (Woo go him, give him a cookie. Or you know all the nope, but still give him a cookie).

Disorganised fearful-avoidant attachment comes with a push-pull of wanting to be close but close relationships are scary. (Like running away from Voroskia for loving him).

He is getting better by refusing to be dismissed by Stolas, and coming back the next morning. And even talking to him at the party.

But mostly this bit: "Oh, sorry, this entire time I assumed the worst because I was convinced a prince could never love someone like me, and I've let my self hatred stop me from apologizing to anyone I could ever care about!" Blitz in a nutshell everybody.

His self hatred makes him to self sabotage any romantic relationship before it gets to deep. To protect the people he likes and makes sure they can't love him. Because he doesn't deserve it. Thems the rules after all.

Cash and the accident has taught Blitz to hate himself.  

It's also likely why Blitz thinks apologies are for pussys, and that no one deserves one anyway.  Those sound like words put in his mouth for daring to ask his dad to say sorry. 

He doesn't think he's worth it.

(Added the cuddles pic cus I like the cuddles). And Blitz still doesn't trust that he deserved to be forgiven by Fizz.

This self hatred is why he can't picture anyone loving him, let alone Stolas

"This whole thing we had going... I'm- I mean you're a fucking prince. How could you ever actually care for an imp... Me? How could anybody?" "Stolas, you are better off without me. 'Kay? You deserve so much... I don't even".

No one is allowed to want him.

End of part 1

I'll stick the link to the next part when I get done it, but might be a bit.

Next time some such fun shenanigans as:

Difficulty regulating emotions

Being a burden & how to be useful to IMP

Spitting

Massive fear of abandonment

Emotional loops

The Deal

Chronic feelings of emptiness

Self hatred & the Belief others Must hate him

(his cookie)

As normal is absolutely fine if you don't agree. This is just something I like to do.

[aloysiavirgata]

Scully is a doctor ofc but what does Mulder do in 2024 outside of his fanon blog?

Alexa goes off at 2 AM and Scully makes a noise like a pepper grinder. “Fuck’s sake,” she groans, rolling over. “Christ.”

Mulder feels the same but he rises, heavy-limbed as a winter bear.

***

Four of them, squeaky and unhappy and uncoordinated. He’s named them after pumpkin varietals. He’s warmed their formula like he’s Amalthea, feeding the hidden baby Zeus.

***

“Sshhhh,” he says, tenderly and warmly, after the first round of formula.

The kittens belch and squawk as he tends to them. They hiccup and sleep. They have bellies like hot water bottles. He rubs their tiny bottoms with squares of soft cotton because they’re too young to poop and pee on their own.

He’s doing penance, he knows. Every warm-bellied kitten is his son and it’s a tiny cat and it’s his blue-eyed son, alone with Scully. Monica.

The bluest eyes., the sweetest milk.

His son.

***

She comes to him at 3 AM.

She comes to him with her bright eyes and her warm heart.

The kittens are wormy and loud and woolly. He is tender and patient with them. He deworms and he burps and he teaches them to play. He teaches them to love and to seek being warm and alive.

Scully, exhausted and lovely, curls against him. The little tortoiseshell girl, the boldest, staggers from the nest box towards Scully’s foot.

“Which one is that?” She scoops the tiny animal into her hands. She strokes its head with a finger.

“Crunchkin,” Mulder says.

“Hi Crunchkin.”

The tiny cat curls up and falls asleep.

They sit together, Mulder and Scully. Silent, in this liminal hour. Only the kitten makes sounds, soft purrs and snores in her small, milky dreams.

“I love you,” Scully says after a time. She returns the kitten to the warm nest box. “I love your stupid little cats.”

“Silly girl,” he says warmly. He kisses her ear.

“Are we saving ourselves, do you think?” she asks. “My patients, your kittens?”

Mulder takes a deep breath, considering. “At my bar mitzva, my speech was on Tikkun Olam, on repairing the world. Did I ever tell you the party theme was Star Trek?”

Scully laughs. “Yeah, but I would have guessed anyway, let’s be real.”

His grin is sheepish. “Fair. Anyway, this one quote kind of stuck with me from that deeply awkward moment. You are not obligated to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”

Mulder, feeling vulnerable, looks down at the little scraps of life in the warming box.

Scully wraps her arms around him, squeezing her face against his bicep. “That’s you in a nutshell,” she murmurs.

They curl together on the rug and, without meaning to, drift to sleep in the smallest corner of a bettered world.

[catwithpartyhat]

What is THE scene you think when you think of daryl?

aaa my very first ask!! and what a great one too!!! thank you anon!! (:

I’m currently rewatching the show and i’m on season three, so i’m definitely talking about this through those goggles, but man--there are a few scenes that come to mind...

One I really love is the moment where the group makes fun of Daryl over the chupacabra thing. We reference it a lot in fandom as just some oddball redneck flavor--and it is that--but there’s so much more to it for me!!! sorry, i might go a little insane about it now.

First off: it’s such a small thing, but when he rocks up putting on his shirt, it’s the first time we see what might be scars on his chest? I remember rewatching it and thinking, “oh. i know where that’s going.” the way he’s so fidgety about getting the shirt back on is such a sad detail in hindsight. And even though the others clearly see it, no one says anything. (Same thing later when Hershel patches him up, though that has more of a “professional distance” to it, maybe.)

Then there’s the part where they discuss the search for Sophia, where Daryl explains his plan and even defends it to shane, who’s starting to give up. When he says “whoever slept in that cupboard was no bigger than yay-high”--idk, as a non-native english speaker i think that expression is so cute--but also? It’s a rare glimpse of Daryl being confident in his knowledge and instincts. And the way rick just trusts him implicitly…(!!!) the way Daryl responds to being trusted and respected… ughdkdj it just hits so hard.

And then Dale brings up the chupacabra story, “the first night at camp, daryl tells us the whole thing reminds him of a time he went squirrel hunting and saw a chupacabra”, and like??? the implication there is so much!! That he actually tried to talk to these people. That he tried to make a connection when everything was falling apart. That he was sitting with them at the fire even with Merle around too (or maybe he wasn’t there (yet)?). It says so much to me about who this guy is at his core.

Especially when we learn later (when he hallucinates Merle) that he used to do a bunch of shrooms and then got made fun of for it-- he still chose to tell these strangers his weird little story.His instinct was to connect, but he’s never really been granted that connection in return. He’s so closed off, but not because he wants to be--it’s just the only thing he knows. and also, honestly? I do love that he’s a greasy feral man who has that crazy uncle vibe as he brings up the chupacabra. it’s flavor!! But it also emulates his whole character so well.

And then of course he retaliates with “people in hell want slurpees,” which is the funniest most insane thing to say. I read somewhere (maybe an interview with Norman reedus?) that he imagines Daryl watched a lot of TV growing up, and that it really shaped the way he talks and interacts--because real emotional modeling wasn’t available in his home. This awkward one-liner doesn't reallyy feel like it's just for flavor, it's more like a coping mechanism. It's this nonsense phrase that feels like a tough-guy line, even if it means nothing. That’s Daryl in a nutshell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, if you read through all of that: I love this emotionally stunted possum man so bad it makes me sick. Thank you for asking!!! Feel free to let me know what you think!! :D

Other contenders for the scene were definitely when he talks about his mom with Carl, or when he holds baby Judith in Season 3. And of course: the entire buddy-cop episode with Rick and their scuffle over the truck with Jesus (I very much include his moment prior to that with Denise and the soda in there too).

[kneelingshadowsalome]

Genuinely so obsessed with the ask you answered about reader being associated with König’s childhood bullies and coming back years later to try and make amends……. I need the angst, the drama, the nasty disgusting degrading sex, the absolute turmoil on both of their parts 😭 I am starving for this, the way you portray König especially there is exactly how I’ve always envisioned him in my mind!!!!!! And then with reader desperately trying to make him happy now out of guilt and her crush that’s grown 10x since she saw him in school, delusionally hoping and believing there’s a *relationship* between them and she can fix what she thinks she allowed to happen back then 10 years after the fact, while König is constantly fighting himself to not fall for reader despite his own buried crush resurfacing, and convincing himself he’s only using her to release stress and tension after assignment while simultaneously holding so much resentment for her and her sheer proximity to the people that tormented him back then, I am foaming at the mouth for the toxic dynamics to be found there !!!!!!!!! The old him begging to fulfill some childish need to have her, while this new monstrous version of himself only wants to watch her suffer to repent for how he had to suffer !!!!!!!!!!!!

I know right?! I’m obsessed with this too!

I’m so here for the toxic relationship dynamic (sue me), also me and @bucca2/@wordstome had a whole conversation about this yesterday because König would bend over backwards to self sabotage this shit.

(The following is mainly a summary from our brainstorm session from last night + I have bucca to thank for the precious meme at the end, it’s König in a nutshell with his high school crush lol)

First of all our girl is sooo in love. She was in love when they were young, but now? She’s a goner, König is out of this world. He's so handsome, so confident, the epitome of cool if there ever was one... and God, would you look at those muscles?

Now she can finally drool all over him but back then, what was she to do? As the shy one of the clique, she always tried to avoid attention; she could never have endured what König did. Perhaps it was cowardly of her, but she really was just scared. She could only dream about him from afar, and in her dreams, they would both change schools due to their parents moving or something... Ending up in the same area, finally getting to be together like it was a miracle, Deus ex Machina.

Her silly dreams never came true, but it looks like they're coming to fruition now. And this time, she's going to make everything better! Now that they're both grown up and free from their tormentors she can finally admit that she has feelings for him, feelings that are only sparked fast aflame when she sees the man he has become.

And König can’t stand it.

Where was she when he was odd and scrawny? Where was she when he cried himself to sleep over her?? Of course she wants him now that he’s big, independent and menacing, an odd nerd who discovered guns and gym... He thought she was better than this.

Deep inside, he’s still like this:

...but we just need to forget about it because König is NOT going to fold for this girl.

He’s not.

And the sex is so NASTY. Bordering on degrading, König wants to be a gentleman when it comes to ladies, but this one? This one he wants to fuck like he paid for her. She brings out the beast in him, and he finds himself asking her to get on her knees and blow his cock on some filthy cruise... Fucks her like he doesn’t love her, and she’s absolutely lovestruck, when did König become so mean? (God, that she loves him)

Trying not to fall in love with her (as if he ever fell out), König is so incredibly mad at this girl – is this what she wanted this whole time? A buff jerk who fucks her doggystyle until her knees bleed, who gives her the bare minimum, who barely even calls her when he’s away? (He has to physically restrain himself from doing that because of course he’d like to hear her pick up the phone with pure hope in her voice)

While changing his tactics and devising a plot to make her pay, König doesn’t even understand that he’s falling fast for her again while becoming now (seemingly) the best version of himself. It's only to dump her later, of course. He's just being nice so that she'll cry over losing him later. He brings her flowers, eats her out for hours, getting sick satisfaction from the way she cries about how it’s the best sex she’s ever had. He’s going to bring her to her knees, in more ways than just one... She’s going to remember him for the rest of his life when he rearranges her guts, ruining her for any other man.

König is becoming the thing he hates the most while she’s learned her lesson, now wearing her heart on her sleeve. No more shame and secrets, she’s not afraid to tell him how she feels! How she always had a small crush on him… And not even that small… How she loved to hear his presentations, no matter what silly subject they were about because he had actually done his research. How she could’ve swooned when his voice changed. After a short breaking period, he started to talk lower than anyone else in the class, earning himself more of that bullying because he sounded so manly at such a young age.

König is about to burst a blood vessel when hearing all this: she had a crush on him back then? What the actual fuck??

And then come the cuddles, the slow mornings, the coffee and toast, the showering together… She leaves her toothbrush in his place, and it stares at him accusingly from the side of the sink. She wears his t-shirts and looks absolutely gorgeous, mouth-watering and sweet in them. His sexy little minx, the one who didn’t get away…

Wait, what? No. No. No!

And when his high school sweetheart confesses her love for him for the first time, she's so open and vulnerable and sweet about it. Like she has been from the start, his sweet, sweet girl, exactly the kind of woman he always wanted to bring home to see his mom. König is about to lose his mind when she tugs at his shirt, almost cries when she says how much she loves him and couldn’t bear to live without him… She would cry herself to the grave if anything ever happened to him…

(König is like:)

[oneknightstand-if]

idk if u know ao3 but in a nutshell is a website were u r free to read and write fanfic, and it has a really nice filter by tags.

Now, what tags would u use to describe the ROs?

You know, I've obviously heard about Archive of Our Own, but I've never actually read anything there. I'm from the fanfiction.net days way back during high school. That's not anything I've done for a long time now.

Using non-spoilery tags from the 100 most popular tags on AO3 & most commonly used tags (leaving out the ones that are too spoilery or that everyone qualifies for)

Merlin: Sexual Content (+ all the other sex tags here), Magic, Mythical Beings & Creatures, Shapeshifting, Age Difference

Adrian: Angst,  Established Relationship, Firsts, Mental Health Issues, Pining, Slow Build, Friends to Lovers, Protectiveness, Fix-it

Arthur: Mental Health Issues, Pining, Slow Build, Incest, Protectiveness, Badass, Fix-it, Age Difference

Percy: Firsts, Sweet, Crack

4̸0̴4̸ ̵E̸r̴r̴o̷r̵ ̵N̸o̶t̴ ̸F̵o̶u̶n̵d̵: Death, Violence, Trauma, Non-consensual, Fix-it

Cassandra:  BDSM, Marriage

Gwen: Angst & Fluff, Sweet, Food

Vivian: Magic, Mythical Beings & Creatures, Non-consensual, Asphyxiation, Age Difference

Lorelei: Angst, Drugs, Gender Related, Protectiveness, Badass

Broderick: Angst, Mental Health Issues, Language,  Alcohol 

*Although you can kinda stick "Mental Health Issues" on everyone because Apocalypse

**My god Adrian, hog all the tags to yourself.

*** Stares at the "Manipulation" tag. Leaves it alone for now.

[crispy-kitten-princess]

I loooove listening to my spotify book!Hiccup playlist and imagining a HTTYD musical.... Lol

In no specific order:

Illicit affairs (Taylor Swift):

You showed me colours

I can't see with anyone else

<...>

you taught me secret language

I can't speak with anyone else

and you know damn well

for you, i would ruin myself

a million little times

These always make me tear up..... Secret language...... Goodbye Toothless (naahhh i cried again so i could not even see the screen of my phone to print this)

---

Heavy is the crown (linkin park):

This is what you asked for

Heavy is the crown

Fire in the sunrise

Ashes raining down

12th book in a nutshell

---

Chemtrails Over the Country Club (Lana del Rey):

You're in the wind, I'm in the water

Nobody's son, nobody's daughter

Lowkey the only reason to put this song into the playlist (+ vibes)

---

Things to do (Alex G):

Hold on tight to this time, this place

'Cause everything you know will be erased

<...>

You are just a boy, you are no man and

Nobody you know will understand

No comment. Fr.

---

Watching him fade away (MacDeMarco):

I know you never meant to put him down

And even if you did, he sure deserved it

The thought of him no longer being around

Well, sure, it would be sad, but not really different

And even though we barely know each other

It still hurts

Watching him fade away

Ig it has more sense from Toothless pov. Like.. he was less than 100 y.o. when Hiccup died. It is like. Not even a 10th part of Seadragonus lifespan. It is like knowing somebody since birth to 8 years and than he dies. "We barely know each other" that's what i hear in this song

---

King of the clouds (p!atd):

Heaven knows that I'm born too late

For these ghosts that I chase

<...>

To escape this old world, this old world

Some days I lie wide awake 'til the sun hits my face

And I fade, elevate from the Earth

Far away to a place where I'm free from the weight

This whole world, this whole world

I don't trust anything

Or anyone, below the sun

I don't feel anything

At all

Alvin's anthem lol. Even about his death in the atmosphere)))

---

Emperor's new clothes (p!atd):

Welcome to the end of eras

Ice has melted back to life

Done my time and served my sentence

Dress me up and watch me die

12th book again. Plus i adore this song and the crown theme in it

---

Voice (Celtic Woman):

I am the voice of the past that will always be

Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields

I am the voice of the future

Bring me your peace

Bring me your peace and my wounds, they will heal

Honestly, the nickname of the singer + the celtic melody were the first reasons to add this song. But that ive listened to the lyrics more carefully i recognised that it is a perfect song for this playlist (elsewhere I'd delete it sooner or later)

Voice of the future line is speaking for itself!! Hiccup is the future and so on so on. + Voice refers to Hiccup's ability to speak dragonise, and as we learnt from the series, it was his most valuable talent and the only tool able to stop the war and slavery. The voice is significant

---

the last great american dynasty (Taylor Swift):

And they said

"There goes the last great American dynasty

Who knows, if she never showed up, what could've been

There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen

She had a marvelous time ruining everything"

This one is about rumours flowing around my femHiccup version. I like this song for the line "if she never showed up, what could've been" and "She had a marvelous time ruining everything". Viking conservatives may tell smth like that about her.. ig.... That's what

---

Clara Bow (Taylor Swift):

The crown is stained but you're the real queen

Flesh and blood amongst war machines

You're the new god we're worshipping

Promise to be ... dazzling

CROWN!!!! FLASH AND BLOOD AMONGST WAR MACHINES!!!!!!! THE NEW GOD!!!!!!!!

I am SPEECHLESS

---

tolerate it (Taylor Swift):

I greet you with a battle hero's welcome

I take your indiscretions all in good fun

I sit and listen

I polish plates until they gleam and glisten

You're so much older and wiser and I

I wait by the door like I'm just a kid

<...>

While you were out building other worlds, where was I?

<...>

Always taking up too much space or time

You assume I'm fine

But what would you do if I, I

Break free and leave us in ruins

Took this dagger in me and removed it

Hiccup and Stoic relationship in the first books

---

Long Live (Taylor Swift):

The time we stood with our shaking hands

The crowds in stands went wild

We were the kings and the queens

And they read off our names

<...>

Long live all the mountains we moved

I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you

I was screaming, "Long live that look on your face"

And bring on all the pretenders

One day we will be remembered

Kingdom of Wilderwest + lowkey Hiccup III coronation + it's just a pretty song

---

Wind (Akeboshi):

My knee is still shaking like I was twelve

Sneaking out the classroom by the back door

A man railed at me twice, though, but I didn't care

Waiting is wasting for people like me

<...>

Take your time, baby, your blood need slowing down

Breach yourself to reach yourself before you gloom

Reflection of fear make shadows of nothing

Shadows of nothing

No comment... It jist vibes with young Hiccup

---

I Hate It Here (Taylor Swift):

I'm lonely but I'm good

I'm bitter but I swear I'm fine

I'll save all my romanticism for my inner life and I'll get lost on

purpose

This place made me feel worthless

Lucid dreams like electricity, the current flies through me,

and in my fantasies I rise above it

And way up there, I actually love it

Little Hiccup running away from the village to the dragon caves, wishing he could fly with them

---

Wait for it (from Hamilton):

Love doesn't discriminate

Between the sinners

And the saints

It takes and it takes and it takes

And we keep loving anyway.

We laugh and we cry and we break

And we make our mistakes.

And if there's a reason I'm by her side

When so many have tried

Then I'm willing to wait for it.

Camicazi about Hiccup when nobody believed in him

---

Waiting in the wings (from Tangled the series):

And so I keep on keeping on

My chances come and then I blink and they're gone

Always overlooked unfairly

While pretending that it barely stings

But it stings, yes it stings

Young Hiccup again

---

The winner takes it all (ABBA):

The gods may throw a dice

Their minds as cold as ice

And someone way down here

Loses someone dear

The winner takes it all (takes it all)

The loser has to fall (has to fall)

It's simple and it's plain (it's so plain)

Why should I complain? (Why complain?)

Gods threw the dice that's for sure they love to do it

---

Hey Look Ma, I Made It (p!atd):

Hey look ma, I made it

Everything's comin' up aces, aces

If it's a dream, don't wake me, don't wake me

I said hey look ma, I made it

Hiccup's almost unnatural ability to always win and his desire to test his luck and so on... And i liked the mention of mother figure who supposed to be very proud

---

Ruthlessness (from Epic):

You are far too nice, mercy has a price

It's the final crack, we're bound to break the ice now

You reveal your name, then you let him live

Unlike you, I've got no mercy left to give 'cause

<...>

The line between naïveté and hopefulness is almost invisible

So close your heart, the world is dark and

Ruthlessness is mercy

Die

campichor on tumblr. That's all you need to know

---

High hopes (p!atd):

Had to have high, high hopes for a living

Didn't know how, but I always had a feeling

I was gonna be that one in a million

Always had high, high hopes

Mama said: Fulfill the prophecy

Be something greater, go make a legacy

Manifest destiny, back in the days

We wanted everything, wanted everything

Hiccup and Alvin both had high hopes on them, but ig Exellanor would be the mom to say smth like that

---

Пожар (Немного Нервно)

Если кругом пожар - // if the fire is all around

Я не хочу бежать. // I refuse to run away

Я говорил с огнем - // i spoke to the fire

Мне ничего не жаль. // I have no regrets

Хочешь идти – пойдем, // if you want, we will go

Я не вернусь домой. // I won't return home

<...>

Вместо толпы – сам господь-бог // not the crowd, but God himself

Благословил этот поход // Blessed this road

Дождем. // With the rain

Если б мне стать искренним, как дитя малое, // if i could be sincere like a little kid

Бросить дела, в молитве сложить. // I'd gave up everything and prayed

Но колесо вертится – стылое, сталое, // but the wheel keeps rolling on

А в колесе – вся моя жизнь. // And this wheel is my life

Я запишу слова – и, вроде бы, ничего. // I write the words

И в пустоте вспыхнет на миг // and the void flames up

Двор, где горит трава, а за травой – забор, // the house and the grass and the fence are in flames

А за забором – весь этот мир. // And the whole world is on fire

I could not resist the urge to add a song in my native language<\3 it is about the world on fire so... This is fine

---

Once more to see you (Mitski):

But with everybody watching us, our every move

We do have reputations

We keep it secret

Won't let them have it

So come inside and be with me, alone with me

Alone, with me alone

If you would let me give you pinky promise kisses

Then I wouldn't have to scream your name

Atop of every roof in the city of my heart

If I could see you

Once more to see you

Furious @ Hiccup the second (I'm not ok about them)

---

Win it all (the Orion Experience)

When you were young, the world, it seemed so different

A happy time before you lost your innocence

Where did it go, how did you fall so far from it

Look at yourself you're slipping away

And now the streets you roam, are cold and desolate

The only company you keep is your regret

You've had enough you want to put an end to it

Look at yourself you're fading away

But oh, oh, I want you to know

That you, you, will always be a star

You're gonna shine again like a Super Nova

It ain't over, till it's over

When the world pushes you down You get back up

And when it knocks you around You get back up

And now you fight a little harder You get back up

And now you see a little farther You get back...

Up on your feet every time you fall, so please don't give up now

Cause you're gonna win it all

All your life you've wondered, baby

When's it gonna be your turn

Always tried, and been denied

It's like you're always getting burned

Just remember this, my friend... It's darkest before the dawn

You may see a victory, so baby, just hang on

Just hang on

Perfection.... Hiccup's will to never give up, on himself, on anyone else, in any circumstances

---

Little lion man (Mumford & Sons)

Tremble for yourself, my man

You know that you have seen this all before

Tremble, little lion man

You'll never settle any of your scores

Your grace is wasted in your face

Your boldness stands alone among the wreck

Now learn from your mother or else

Spend your days biting your own neck

But it was not your fault but mine

And it was your heart on the line

I really fucked it up this time

Didn't I, my dear?

Hiccup is a little lion man. The end. Thank you for coming to my ted talk

---

Icarus (The Crane Wives):

Climb ye higher and higher and higher

'Til you're far away and breathing cleaner air

Oh my brother, my brother, my brother

Who have you become in the wake of all that's happened here?

They're burning down the orchard to the soil

To the soil, to the grave

Spreading out the ashes of a love

That only gave and gave

Furious and Hiccup the second flying together..... I will never recover

---

Previal the Sea (Gargamel):

We need the stories to be told

The fear me make is worth more than gold

I failed to find the lyrics but it's a song about pirates (= vikings). This one is niche, ig, because even the creators misspelled their own song title..... Damn. Nuh. I just love the atmosphere and the fact that this song is 13 minutes long, and half of it is howling. HTTYD vibes for sure

---

Come along with me (Ashley Eriksson):

We can wander through the forest

And do so as we please

Come along with me

To a cliff under a tree

Where we can gaze upon the water

As an everlasting dream

FRIENDSHIP TRIO ON AN ADVENTURE PLEEEASEEEE I LOVE THEM THEY ARE SO CUUUTTTEEEEE AND COMFY. Comfortable. Kids. My babies. Raaaawrrrhhhhhhh

---

МКСЗ (Созвездие Отрезок):

Мальчик, который собирал звёзды // the boy who collected the stars

<...>

Мальчик, который растерял звёзды // the boy who lost all his stars

Hiccup ......

---

The world we knew (Frank Sinatra):

Over and over, I keep going over the world we knew

Once when you walked beside me

Hiccup and Toothless again. This song gets me emotional too

---

Never love an anchor (The Crane Wives):

On some level, I think I always understood

That these hands of mine were clumsy, not clever

And I tried to do the best that I could

But try as I might, I couldn't bring myself to hold you

Fishlegs vibe (Fishlegs @ Hiccup in some way?? I'd love to proof but i cannot)

On some level, I think I always understood

That a ship could never really love an anchor

So, I did the only thing that I could

And severed the rope to set you sailing from my harbor

There are times when I still wonder about you

You are someone I have loved, but never known

And you'll never see the reasons I had

For keeping my claws away when they were close enough to hurt you

Hiccup letting go of dragons he loved more than his life

+ The sea theme + I can't proof it with lyrics but this song holds the vibe of Deadly Shadow and a child in a lobster cage

---

Любовь моя (Элли на маковом поле):

любовь моя всегда выходила мне боком // love always hurts me

ножом подставленным к горлу - // it's like a knife to a throat

еще не больно, но страшно выдохнуть // no blood yet but it gets hard to breathe

это беспомощность новорожденного // loving is being helpless like an infant

это табличка "нет выхода" // like a "no exit" sign

любовь моя всегда выходила мне боком // love always hurts me

сто шагов по болоту - необходима осторожность линий // like steps down the swamp - you have to be careful

но оступаюсь и падаю в воду // but you'll end up in the water

This song theme is love that only hurts you. Ig that was how love to dragons felt in the old archipelago. Don't you dare to love them

(I decided to translate and note every song in russian language bc they are not so obvious to analyse by someone else)

---

You're on your own, kid (Taylor Swift):

I didn't choose this town, I dream of getting out

There's just one who could make me stay

<...>

I looked around in a blood-soaked gown

And I saw something they can't take away

'Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned

Everything you lose is a step you take

So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it

You've got no reason to be afraid

You're on your own, kid

Yeah, you can face this

You're on your own, kid

You always have been

This must be obvious (taking into account that the story is about growing up) but i wanna point out few details

"just one who could make me stay" - Fishlegs!!! + I know that Hiccup loves Berk and his tribe and cares for them, it must have been hard to live there. He is so sweet, caring and forgiving. I can't imagine how he could LOVE and CARE FOR these MORONS who treated him like SHIT but he always thought about protecting them and taking responsibility for them, outgrowning his hate if he ever hated anybody of them which i doubt... So mature and king-like behaviour. I'm so proud

"I looked around in a blood-soaked gown" - is about 12th book events again. I bet he was SOAKED IN BLOOD after all these crazy stuff

"So make the friendship bracelets" - he made many friends during the series. But in this line i always think of Camicazi (bc she's amazing and i love to think of her)

---

Not strong enough (boygenius):

I don't know why I am

The way I am, not strong enough to be your man

I lie, I am just lowering your expectations

Lyrics said it for me, but I'll add that they're the words that Hiccup would have told Stoic

---

Flying (Code Fry):

Where did my wings go?

I could've sworn I could fly

Straight up into the sky

Boy, I should have known

It was all just a lie

No one on earth can fly

Thought the things you said would turn out true

Guess that's what I get for trusting you

You said if I believed enough, I would fly

Why didn't I?

Did faith let me down

Or did I not have enough?

That distinction is tough

Still, I thought your hands

Protected me from the fall

Did you mean that at all?

Thought the things you said would turn out true

Was it even you I listened to?

I thought if I believed enough, that I would fly

Air is rushing past, and I can barely see

Seems like this fall will be the death of me

In a second now, the ground will come to take me home

Suddenly, a peace that I cannot explain

Feels like the wind is running through my veins

Oh, and all that I can do is close my eyes as you lift me up

You lift me up

All that I know now is sky and cloud

Don't know when my feet last touched the ground

You said if I believed enough, I would fly

This song never failes to make me burst in tears...... Hiccup III letting the dragons go..... Hiccup II and Furious...... Goodbye...... You said if I believed enough, I would fly...... Helppp. All of this song is perfect for HTTYD so i could not resist adding it all here. Perfection. Help

Notes:

"No one on earth can fly" - when the dragons hid from humanity, that is the thought that was left..... You can't fly anymore. Let go of your dreams. Let go of the wind in your hair, of heights, of clouds close enough to touch. Forget it. You are too childish and disrespectful for this. Humanity is not ready for dragons. Not ready to live aloneside these beautiful, intelligent creatures. nd nobody can protect them from your stupidity

"Guess that's what I get for trusting you

You said if I believed enough, I would fly

Why didn't I?" - there i see Furious, waiting on the Berserk island, talking to his memories of his brother, wishing he had never had a soft spot for him, wishing he had never trusted humans

"In a second now, the ground will come to take me home

Suddenly, a peace that I cannot explain

Feels like the wind is running through my veins" - 12th books events again. Furious after listening to Hiccup and clearing his mind from hatred

In conclusion, this song is about the elusive dream of flying dragons, but mostly i feel like it vibes with Furious and Hiccup II

---

Bigger Than the Whole Sky (Taylor Swift):

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

You were bigger than the whole sky

You were more than just a short time

And I've got a lot to pine about

I've got a lot to live without

I'm never gonna meet

What could've been, would've been

What should've been you

Did some bird flap its wings over in Asia?

Did some force take you because I didn't pray?

Praying refers to their gods again. And talking about the whole thing, i added it because it reminds me of Snoglout book 11. Hiccup says "I'M NEVER GONNA MEET WHAT COULD'VE BEEN, SHOULD'VE BEEN, WOULD'VE BEEN YOU". I hope you get me. Hiccup took away Snoglout's bright herioc future, he took away his world because he wanted and had to change it. Snoglout's ideal world, where Snotty saw nothing wrong. Where he could've, should've and would've been a hero, a legend. Hiccup never got to meet him like this. And he also never got to meet the current time Snoglout who risked his life for the king and LIVED to be a new world's hero. It was a glimpse of hope for them both but Snoglout didn't make it to the new world

---

Cafeteria Song (Equestria Girls):

So get up, get down 'cause it's gonna make a sound

If we work together, helping Twilight Sparkle win the crown

I'm gonna be myself, no matter what I do

And if we're different, yeah, I want you to be true to you

If you follow me, we'll put our differences aside

We'll stick together and start working on that school pride

My personal favourite... My honorary mention....

---

Once upon a December (from Anastasia):

Figures dancing gracefully

Across my memory

Far away, long ago

Glowing dim as an ember

Things my heart used to know

Things it yearns to remember

I love the mention of AMBER yk

In whole, this song means the memories of old Wilderwest kingdom, long gone, but still shining though the years. Plus Hiccup like Anastasia is a lost and found heir of an ancient empire

---

The King (Sarah Kinsley):

I wanna be the king of your heart

Let's fall apart and start again

The old world was ruined, and Hiccup built it anew. Plus the title. Plus the "king of your heart" bc Hiccup is a gentle and caring king, not like... the previous one... Def not the king of hearts

---

Tiny Human (Imogen Heap):

Still I can't stand to imagine

Life without you

came crashing in on that day

Crazy beautiful you

Blind me like the dawn

After ashes fell on Pompeii

Crazy bright beautiful you

Suddenly propelled

So many light years from bliss

And completely unprepared

How can anyone deserve this?

I've tried, I've tried all the tricks

in the book, I’m at my wits end

Now look here what do you want from me!?

<...>

You little devil, you

Oh I love you so much

It's the hardest thing I've ever done

But you're so worth it

Yes you are

Hiccup @ Toothless. This is so sweet

---

Touch the sky (from Brave):

Where dark woods hide secret

And mountains are fierce and bold

Deep waters hold reflections

Of times lost long ago

I will hear their every story

Take hold of my own dream

Be as strong as the seas are stormy

And proud as an eagle's scream

I will ride, I will fly

Chase the wind and touch the sky

I will fly

Chase the wind and touch the sky

I love this song. And plus Merida is lowkey a viking?? At least they lived at almost the same territory, north, sea, mountains and all. The song is beautiful

---

Running with the wolves (Aurora):

Go row the boat to safer grounds

But don't you know we're stronger now

My heart still beats and my skin still feels

My lungs still breathe, my mind still fears

<...>

I'm running with the wolves tonight

The 10th book Hiccup on a run with his feral besties, forgetting the human speech

---

Open up your eyes (from mlp movie):

Open up your eyes

Give up your sweet fantasy land

It's time to grow up and get wise

Come now, little one

Open up your eyes

Classic Furious

---

The end! Thank you!

There are about ten more songs in this kinn playlist but i didn't mention them there because.. they are too obvious. The title speaks for itself or they are just too simple to give analysis so idc

[cuprohastes]

The Story (Re-Write)

Because so many people wanted to read the story, I had to explain a few times… It's gone. It's lost — I can't find it on Live journal or the Wayback Machine. I suspect it might have been on Google+…

Anyway, several people asked for it to be re-written. Between now and the past, a lot's happened, much of which makes for juicy plot points: And, so I'm serialising it… But only because if I tried to write it in one sitting, my brain would melt. So here's Chapter 1:

Trouble sleeping

Didn't Shakespeare write something about sleep? “Shut me in a nutshell, and I'll be hella good if I can get skibidi sleep?” 

Something like that. 

Larry was not getting sleep, or not enough. Every time he started to sink into the cloud of free association and relaxation, something skittered or whispered to him and jerked him back awake.

In an earlier time, he'd have blamed it on spirits or demons. More recently, maybe the effects of stress and mental health. His parents would have gone to therapy about it.

Larry, a modern person, brought up by Memers and soaked in tech his entire life, didn't have to guess.

It was the fucking wallpaper.

It'd sounded great when he put the first payment down for it. The installers had shown up, ground sixty years of Landlord Paint off the walls, leaving chunks of off-white Fordite all over the floor, and mounted the data-mesh.

Then they'd rolled the rubbery panels down over it, cutting them to fit, letting the test images calibrate and line up.

The first thing Larry put up was an immersive view of some idealised forest. Lush green ferns, a spritz of mist and shafts of smoky golden sun reaching through the trunks.

A week later, the first adverts popped up across the mars-scape he'd switched to. A can of SelZa sitting on a rock that developed a halo of text about how great drinking your pizza would be: Would you like to order now?

The Amazon link popped right up, and Larry had to look away before it took a casual look as an invitation to send him fizzy pizza water.

Soon the animated avatars of other brands were sauntering out from behind rocks to tempt him with Keto Water, Fréch Breeze (Guaranteed fresh air: No microplastics, with Extra Oxygen and Caffeine — Take a Breath of Fréche Air™), frozen pizza, and about a dozen competing Kombucha fermenters.

Larry thought he could live with it.

He was wrong.

Soon his soothing landscapes and themed views were plated in adverts, coruscating and blinking to get his attention. 

Phantom people stared in at him, vamping with designer goods and clothes.

Ad gremlins scampered around, making him twitch as the motion caught the periphery of his vision.

And the WindoWall had audio: The big panels vibrating to act as speakers, and picking up video through camera arrays, listening via a hundred microphones that could pinpoint him within the room.

Just part of life, he told himself.

But then he went to bed. 

The WindoWall darkened and spread an Aurora across one wall, a sprinkle of glittering stars. The audio changed to cancel traffic sounds — A soft chorus of frogs and pattering rain started to play — One wall developed a brazier of softly glowing coals…

Larry backflipped into relaxed unconsciousness hard.

… for ten minutes.

Larry woke, squinting at the sudden brightness:

An advert for SleepyTime Choc Hotlet tried to sing him a lullaby as a cartoon capybara with a fucking lamp demonstrated the sleep he could be getting if they hadn't woken him up to tell him how much better he'd be sleeping if he just bought some SleepTime Choc hotlet to drink!

The Capybara winked and turned off the light. Larry tried to get back to sleep. Fireflies danced gently around the room… and formed up to spell out the name of a mattress company.

Larry rolled over and closed his eyes.

An adorable gnome giggled at him and had a whispered, though perfectly audible conversation with a delightful bunny about how before bed she always used Freshens. Whatever they were.

Larry commando rolled out of bed, mashed his toe on something, screamed in pain, was offered three brands of slipper, four over-the counter painkillers and seven offers to sue someone for personal injury.

All of which were ignored as Larry pulled up the WindoWall app and pushed the brightness and volume to minimum — The glassy matte of the wall panels becoming black in the room lit only by the tablet screen.

Then Larry took some Ibuprofen and went back to bed.

45 minutes later he twitched and woke up to find the room lit by wall panels of text and still images for sleep aids fading in and out, and a soft sussurtion - Quiet Ad Reads that Larry suspected were supposed to subconsciously bias him to buying... Sleep Underwear?

In short succession, Larry found out that he couldn't sleep with an eyemask because the WindoWall started cranking the audio up now he wasn't looking.

And that ear plugs improvised from rolled tissue got him a volume increase and some recommendations about the mildest softest tissues — And he could save 15% if he subscribed!

And that was bad enough: Larry called up the WindoWall Customer Support after a sleepless night.

Customer Support turned out to be an AI avatar who appeared on the wall, using the built-in camera array to track Larry.

“Where are all these adverts coming from?” He asked. Starting simple.

The Face of WindoWall did a polite look of curiosity then, in rich, friendly terms, said “'Adverts' is short for Advertisements: a Method of promoting products....”

Typical answerbot, grabbing a definition from Wiki — But not resolving the query. Larry immediately asked for a real human being.

The Face argued that the chatbot could help, or else it could open the Support Pages for Larry. 

Larry insisted on a human and eventually hit on the correct keywords: “I want to talk to a human being - This is a complaint, please escalate.” And the Face went into an idle animation, repeating, “Our support staff are currently busy with other requests – Please wait. In the meantime you can use our AI responder or the support website” every minute or so.

Larry, familiar with the under-staffed human support departments, picked up a tablet and opened his current book-in-progress while he waited. 

Thumbing past a motion graphic for the series of re-writes of Terry Pratchett by an AI to add 50% extra hilarity and extended scenes, he opened Virtual Investigations: A Max Ransom Adventure...

She walked into my office feed like bad news wrapped in a pretty bow. No way she was real: A dame like that doesn't walk into a virtual office like mine. The wings wouldn't fit through the door. The angel looked at me with golden eyes and hair the colour of mocha - Like the mocha on my desk provided by CoffeeCourier™ – Roast and vacuum packed for freshness according to the quick personality quiz that matched me to the perfect coffee for my busy lifestyle. And you too can enjoy a cup of Mental-Fresh Mocha using code DETECTIVE10 “What's an avatar like you doing in my office?” I asked. In reality I was renting a VR space with a fold down bed and access to three busted washer-dryers in the basement. Online my virtual office was classy, just like you'd expect from a CubeSpace Virtual Site - CubeSpace use real scans to decorate your virtual space for the best in class work sites. Use DETECTIVE10 to get 10% off your own virtual office site for the lifetime of your subscription... She looked at me a moment then said “As an LLM I don't have a philosophy of mind to answer with. I'm here because you have 4.6 stars on Amazon Business Listings as a Detective.” I do. It'd be higher, but some people don't give you a good rating when you chase them for payment. Maybe I should stop showing up with a bill and a threat to post about thier broke asses on the Socials. “I will pay you for your services as a detective to locate my user.” She continued. I looked at her with fresh eyes. So, not someone with an angel kink – An actual House Assistant looking for it's user... the case just got interesting!

Larry was interrupted by the Face clearing its throat, now puppeted by a support worker. The Face's shirt turned green and developed a name badge saying “obj.user.name_1”

“Hello, my name is Shimonne, I'll be assisting you today. The uh notes say you want to know what adverts are...?” It said in the same voice – Corporate robbing its staff of even their own voice.

“Uh no,” said Larry, “I asked where all these adverts came from? Did the video stream get hacked?”

The Face paused and did a canned animation of looking at a tablet.

“Ah, as per the contract, WindoWall reserve the right to show adverts from...” a soft, tired sigh, “Select partners, to provide you with enhanced opportunities to discover carefully curated products” - Said in an equally tired monotone.

Somewhere, Larry assumed, Shimonne was getting dinged for non-compliant tone. But Larry appreciated the little bit of empathy.

A pop-up survey asking how the interaction was progressing slid up, invisible to the Face. Larry tapped a 5 for style and actual empathy. Fuck the Corporate Tone.

“Ok...” said Larry, “But that wasn't how it was sold to me.”

“I understand.” Shimonne said through the Face. “It is in the EULA.” They added, pronouncing it with a deliciously melodic ripple of vowels that even the Face's vocoder couldn't stamp into the carefully selected Midwest accent the marketing team for VirtuAgent had pushed.

So of course Larry asked, “How do I turn them off?”

And that's how Larry got upsold on the Premium Ad-Free tier.

Of course... He didn't read the EULA for that either.

------

OK now a bit about the story. It's very like a couple of Black Mirror Episodes. Even some Farenheit 451, Idocracy, Midnight Burger, Feed, a spritz of Snowcrash... a whole bunch of other stuff. Some of this I've read or watched, some I haven't. But I don't live in a void: Whatever's in here definitely 100% was isnpired in whole or in part by other works, or even current events, shitposts on Social media, memes on Imgur, even things on Tumblr: @marlynnofmany writes fantastic stories and pops up some seriously interesting questions about what day to day life would be like in a world where you can have a starship full of non-human intelligences deliver your packages. So if you're thinking 'This reminds me of..." the answer is probably "yeah that's right." :)

And now a snitch post for some people who wanted to be notified if the story ever showed up:

@ravencromwell @rocinantescoffeestop @vtothefun @call-me-b-please-and-thank-you @msimpossibility @museumofinefarts @faeriesaurus @starlo-official

[sir-kettle-of-countertop]

Hey! I just wanted to say that I can't wait to learn more about Kurt and Stein's deal, because I got a song stuck ony head that reminds me SO MUCH of the comic you drew, but I feel it's still too soon to say if the song fits the characters or not (that doesn't stop me from rattling the bars of me enclosure every time I hear the song)

In any case, have a wonderful day!!! ✨✨

YOU. SHARE THE SONG. I'M SO CURIOUS NOW

And aaaaaaaa I'm working on it! It's just that with ref making and exam prep I haven't been able to work on p2 yet ;-; it WILL happen tho 100% and goddamn I'm also so excited to do it! I think I have such a GOOD scene in mind- I can barely contain myself from spoiling it early ;-;

I'm also. So excited to show Kurt's perspective on things in general cause that man has it ROUGH and imo pretty damn interesting. I wish I could try to illustrate in drawing what his life feels like to him, but that's above my pay grade I'd say.

In nutshell Kurt on bad days feels like he's stuck in his personal time loop. Still stuck in the day he got shot while his life moves on forward around him.

Before his ability to form new memories started somewhat recovering he felt like he's always dreaming - one moment he was talking with a Storch outside, he turns around, now he's in his office. No recall on when and how he got there... did he even talk with a Storch?.. who was she? It must be Mei, he saw her just yesterday... Wait, now he was told that she died months ago... Then, repeat the whole interaction with no memory of it happening before.

And it's this with everything. A deeply confusing, hellish existence, mess of garbled thoughts, intact old memories and half-formed new memories. That man had to put himself back together from ground up. That is also why he decided on naming himself Kurt once he got a firmer grip on his consciousness - first to orient himself in time better, then to separate the old, dead, self - Adler, and the new self that stubbornly keeps on living - Kurt. Now on good days he simply appears a bit forgetful - one wouldn't even guess that there was something wrong with him if not for the metallic plate.

Stein played a big role in his recovery - at first unintentionally. He was a person Kurt never knew before his head trauma, so no old memories to rely on. Stein's plan to get some company consequence-free actually worked, as Kurt couldn't remember him as soon as he left. But as they met and talked daily, and Kurt's health started recovering he was able piece together more and more of new events in his life - and be able to do so easily as it became routine.

To explain the ending of part 1 of the comic better - with time he remembered Stein... and hid it from him for a while, for multiple reasons you can probably already guess but which I'll layout in part 2 :)

And just. A THEIR RELATIONSHIP-

me @ Stein: hey isn't it messed up that you deliberately exploited his disability to find out a lot about him - things he would never share normally - through fucking trial and error? Know exactly what to say, what to do, how to get his favour and trust as quickly as possible? That besides that you're also way, way stronger than him physically?

me @ Kurt: hey isn't it messed up that he is your subordinate and that you have direct control over most of his life? That you can, at will, order almost anything to change it to your whim and that he will have no say to protest it? That he is an outcast and really doesn't have anyone to rely on besides you - including relying on you lying and faking documents for him to not get decommissioned?

There's a lot of dancing around power dynamics on both sides there.

Both trust each other deeply NOT to abuse that power.

And they do have a lot of reasons to like each other (hopefully I can explain it...). Both are deeply passionate about things they like, and are eager to share it with each other. They appreciate both being able to connect and agree on lots of things, and to hear each other's different perspectives. The kindness and care - Stein doing his best to help Kurt with his memory, checking in with his state, writing down reminders for him, accompanying him to where he needs to be at just to be sure that he won't get lost, smuggling him drawing supplies (Kurt picked on drawing as it helps him with recall. And he just likes it); Kurt trying to make Stein's life less miserable overall, introduce him to new people (such as Myoti), buying him nature documentaries to watch, taking him out to the (out of access for most Replikas without official permission) facility's botanical garden, making sure he feels appreciated. They simply enjoy being with each other!

I can talk about it so much I feel exactly like fuckin Kurt just going on an insane breathless rant whenever somebody shows the slightest hint of an interest I'm so sorry

I'll only for now add 1 detail that I found amusing - Kurt for a while had NO IDEA that Geiers are not like Mynahs and that they could remove their chestplate and protective clothing. He just went. Well that's fine. We'll figure it out...

And then when the topic finally came up and Stein was like oh no I can put it off, wanna see?

And he saw. And his OS crashed. And he went through at least 3 separate internal crisises:

oh FUCK. YEAH, I'M DEFINITELY BI

oh FUCK. SO THEY WEAR PROPER CLOTHES. WHY DON'T I

oh FUCK. I'M ALWAYS ESSENTIALLY HALF-NAKED. THAT'S EMBARRASSING

And while he stood there completely dumbfounded, Stein is just: "am i this ugly? :( "

[judesmoonbeauty]

Hi, hope you’re all doing well💜

Quick translation update rundown: My break from Jude’s route is coming to an end, and soon I’ll start his Blind Love translation. I’m planning to translate his proposal story first, and then will work another guy or two into the rotation along with other current wips.

My focus will be wrapping up his route, so I can fully focus on events, bonds and potential (?) upcoming route translations. I haven’t fully decided on that one yet.

Additionally, when and if time allows, I will be reviewing and refining some story sets and event translations not yet available on EN server. So you may see some rbs.

Organization: You may also see me restructuring/updating some master lists, and rbing those. Feel free to disregard.

Policies: Though they’re sort of posted in my bio, I will be posting a separate, policy disclaimer for my blog. Most of you know that I don’t have a ton of them, but in light of recent things I’ve seen, I feel it’s necessary.

That’s it in a nutshell.

As always, thank you for your support! 🌙💜