#they really are a fascinating pair with intricate dynamics

[laeana]

Pecco & Jorge's dynamics at the Australian GP

(me trying to put my "expert" 🤓 glasses on and overanalyzing what happened? more than likely. you're free not to read and just enjoy the gifs as well!)

Cool room in Australia

Preface would be to say that of course Jorge and Pecco have different dynamics. You could think that they don't regret no longer having a relationship, but their past friendship, and the fact that they have known each other well, probably played a role in how their championship rivalry is right now. There's no animosity, they joke and chat a lot.

We know Jorge to be very talkative, and pretty chatty, and as we could see in their previous interactions, he's often the one that talks the most whenever they're together, but Pecco listens to him, or even adds to the conversation, they often try to debrief their races together. What's more rare is the opposite of that happening, namely, Pecco talking the most and trying to engage the most, searching for Jorge's attention, which is something that I found to be happening in Australia's cool room.

As we can see in his gestures, Pecco is really trying to interact with Jorge here, he's trying to show him what happened to Marc, despite the fact that Marc is explaining it, he even makes hand and body gestures (which I found cute tbh).

He also tries to engage in the conversation. Jorge and Marc battled for most of the race, so they are very chatty with each other, which can be seen as unusual. Most of the time when Jorge and Pecco are together in a cool room, it can create a lot of thirdwheeling situation for the third person, but here it's far from the case. Hence Pecco trying to talk about himself and to take the focus, his body stays turned toward Jorge, and not toward Marc.

Here another example where Pecco intervened to also talk about his own race. His body is still slightly turned toward Jorge, and Jorge does pay attention to what he's saying.

And the last one about this cool room, where Pecco more explicitely shows that he's trying to get Jorge's attention, turning his head toward him as he's speaking and gesturing, and they truly talk for a bit (it's Jorge who says "it was incredible", not Pecco for example).

Now, Pecco could have ignored the talk or just shrugged it off, but he tried to monopolize the attention, and not just anyone's, but Jorge's. It's typically a case where their dynamics are reversed, and it really shows how they do still care about each other's, about interacting, despite "no longer having relationship".

Pre press conference (post race)

In terms of interactions, their relationship uses a lot of teasing, a lot of moments where they test the limit of whatever they call what they have now (I guess the most accurate would be rivalry as they fight for the championship, but it does feel weird when you compliment your rival H24 about his skills and else *side eyes at Jorge*).

The teasing is mostly done by Jorge, as he's more of an extrovert, but Pecco can also answer to it. In general, Pecco shows more of care about Jorge in the way he keeps information about him or his races. You can, however, see some longing in the way they act toward each other.

The way Jorge is so leaning forward, attentive to what Pecco is saying, and the way it makes them both smile and laugh about what they’re saying, is another example of how they get along well. You'd almost think that their friendship was never lost in those extracts, and yet it's two men who aren't supposed to be even friends.

It's debrief in a similar way that they couldn't do before. But we can see that Pecco still vividly remember what corner Jorge was wide, and Jorge just admits to it. In general from Jorge's gestures here, or even Pecco's gestures before, we can see that they're pretty expressive in terms of body language whenever they're talking (read: yapping) at each other. The conversation started with Marc, but it's an instance where he somehow ends up in the background while the both of them are focused mainly on each other. It also appears to me that Jorge is waiting for Pecco to be ready and then clap his hand (not his ass this time).

Press conference (post race)

So like we could establish before, they are seeking for the limits of the non relationship that they now have, but they also often try to reaffirm if the other still cares about them by asking questions, doing teasing, or simply interacting.

The next gifs show how they both are trying to tread on their relationship cautiously, to get some attention, in different ways. First Pecco and then Jorge.

The conversation starts between Jorge and Marc about where Jorge is going. We can see that Pecco is moving his head to try to see Jorge better but also to establish eyes contact with him. The fact Marc is in between them is a bit of an obstacle, we can also observe that he tries to talk first but only manages to ask his question after this. He stares pretty long at Jorge, his attention directly went to him, and to what he just said. (If I was going further, I'd say he almost stares at him longingly, waiting to be seen, waiting to be able to grab Jorge's attention and to redirect the conversation.)

It's an interesting scene as well. So first Pecco finally manages to ask his question and to get Jorge's attention. Then he says "careful hey" but when Jorge doesn't get it, and he even leans forward to listen to Pecco, showing his interest for him, Pecco changes what he said and tells him that he'll get there quickly. I've been trying to ponder on why he would change what he said, it's nothing scandalous, nothing that had to be changed. There's no apparent reason, so I'm going to mostly interpret it. The way he looks, a vacant look, makes it appear like he isn't thinking much about what he's saying, maybe that he didn't even mean to say that out loud. Him telling Jorge to be careful does seem like he cares about him, but it doesn't seem like it was his intention for it to be heard. When Jorge goes "huh?", Pecco's eyes immediately snaps to him, in an almost frantic manner and he blurts out something else, like he can't be this vulnerable to him. He doesn't know if he can be this vulnerable to him, admit so freely he cares, when he doesn't know where their relationship stands at.

Jorge is notably afraid of heights, and he confesses his fear of doing so. However I’m uncertain whether Pecco knows about it, as we don’t know when Jorge developed this fear and it could have been after their moto3 years. When he said he's scared of going by helicopter, Pecco doesn't seem to believe him, he seems to think he's teasing/mocking him, with the way he shakes his head in disbelief with a smile. With Jorge's body language, the way he's leaned forward, you can guess that he meant to tell that in particular to Pecco. He has no real reasons to go on about how he's scared of height, but with the way he's looking at Pecco, you can clearly think that he's trying to get a reaction out of him, to interact with him but also to see him show some concern. However with the tone with which he brings it, with humor, while slightly laughing to deflect it, as he doesn't want the topic to be too heavy, it also fails to convey seriousness to his words.

In this last bits of discussion, Jorge is very dramatic. He's playing on his own fear of heights within it. But he also chooses to use it in a way that he can bring back to what his current relationship with Pecco is composed of, namely the championship. So he asks Pecco if he'd die, would he let him win. We can see that Pecco is confused by the question, and Jorge details it by saying that he wouldn't race, and Pecco goes no! in a what are you even talking about kind of way, a smile on his face. Now you may wonder why Jorge is bringing that up. We've seen how earlier, he tried to get a reaction from Pecco, hoping for him to show some concern. It's somewhat similar here, it's almost a "do you still care about me enough" wrapped under jokes and dramatization. "Do I still count enough for you to let me win it if I die? Am I still in your thoughts and in your heart enough so that if something that dramatic would happen, taking away any chance of reconciliation, you'd do that for me?" The body language is also pretty interesting here. Although we can see Marc is in the middle of them, he is slighty out of it, as the conversation ended up being about the two of them. Jorge even adjusts his position so he can slightly turn his body, and his head is entirely turn to his left, eyes on Pecco. And Pecco's head is turned toward Jorge, with his eyes totally on him as well, and when he turns his head back in front of him, the conversation ends.

My take from all of this

Pecco and Jorge are of course pretty different in terms of personality. Despite it all, they were able of forming a strong bond during their years when they were teammates in moto3, although that friendship has withered through time. So how do you go from a time where they would even share a bed to one where they aren't even close? Jorge said that it's mainly because of the separation (so a probable lack of effort to bridge the gap).

I do find it a bit weird that it's supposedly the only cause, because I feel like you don't fall out this intensely from someone you used to get along so well, without something bigger happening.

Plus, we can see that even as of now, they still get along well. Despite the fact that they are rivals, they aren't hateful toward each other, they aren't annoyed by each other or getting pissed every weekend.

More than that, we can see that they interact a lot, talk a lot, debrief their races together, tend to make whoever is on the podium with them third wheel, and we can observe that they seek each other's attention, to the point where their dynamics can reverse, and what you'd expect less (Pecco taking the initiative, imposing himself in the conversation, trying to get Jorge to talk with him) happens as well.

They still care for each other; hints of bitterness or of fondness in their tones, teasing, jokes, trying to gauge where their relationship is at and if there are still some feelings, or not at all.

They really do seem like they're missing each other, but do not know how to overcome what their relationship has become, so they try to live with it, finding familiarity in the ways they can interact.

[nekropsii]

What a about Caliborn makes him so cool in your opinion?

Go keep track of his progression as an artist alongside his development as a character and think about how these are intrinsically linked. Ponder the fact that he is both at his most obnoxious and at his most amateur when trying to ignore his unique style explicitly brought on by his canonical learning disability and mimic others rather than truly be himself. Consider how his explorations of art are genuinely cool, not a bad thing, and how we get some really neat multimedia stuff out of it.

Caliborn may be a shitty little teenage wretch but the way he is portrayed as an artist and as a disabled person is both really good and very real. It comes from a place of love. His learning disability is handled with a degree of gentle care that you would not really expect from Hussie. The place Caliborn's art style ends up in is so fucking sick and I actually unironically love it. The technique he uses is really interesting. It's intentionally reminiscent of an Etch-a-Sketch, and I'm a little obsessed with it.

This is so fucking good. I mean this seriously. He's right - that is some Pure Art Skill.

I just love the way art is employed as a necessary component of his character arc. It's so neat. You don't see visual cues that intricate too often. Usually it's just in character design, but watching his entire art style and even his medium of choice change several times over is fascinating. You can really tell Hussie had a lot of fun with him. He's also just really, really fucking funny. Just about every sentence that comes out of his mouth is Grade A Absolute Fucking Gold, and I'm honestly obsessed with his dynamic with Dirk. This may get me thrown to the wolves, but I personally think Dirk and Caliborn have way more chemistry than Dirk and Jake. Maybe that's because we actually see Dirk and Caliborn interact on screen... Lmao.

Necessary Topic: I don't know why people hate him so much. Like, I understand hating his misogyny and fatphobia, sure, but those are deliberate character points and not just Hussie-isms. I see people act like Caliborn is indicative of Hussie, as if Homestuck-era Hussie wasn't, like, famously really fucking good at writing female characters and absolutely not a misogynist. Caliborn's a parody of Homestuck Anti-Fans - which is a term we really ought to bring back, god, anti-fans are absolutely still a thing and good lord they're everywhere - who really were just shitty little bigoted haters. Calliope, the opposite side of his coin, was representative of, essentially, "the best kind of Homestuck fan" - an ultimately sweet young teen girl who willingly dedicates almost all of her time to this piece of fiction she loves so, so much, who draws a lot of fan art for the joy of it all, has OCs that don't fit any of the design conventions in Homestuck whom she pairs with the characters in it for innocent fun. Someone who has a lot of theories and analyses, writes a lot of fanfic, and is genuinely just having a lot of fun. Everyone loves Calliope. Even the characters in Homestuck love Calliope. They just think she's the cutest, sweetest little thing they ever did see. Caliborn was the worst kind. He sucks on purpose. No one likes him. He is a total nuisance to characters he is by all means trying to impress. I love them both.

It's also just funny that he's a canonical Intersex Transmasc who is probably Gay and this has, like, no relevance to anything about him, really. So no one really talks about it. Gender Hilarious, Gender Nefarious.

[matchstixx]

The People We Think We Know

Chapter 4

Pairing: Tobirama x fem!Reader

WC: 3,143

CW: Death, mildly graphic description of violence/gore and sickness, child endangerment

Author's Note at the end

Read on Ao3

[Series Master List]

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Information is your sword and shield. You figure that out quickly when it becomes obvious to Tajima and Yoko that you have little skill with weapons and no visible elemental affinity. Yoko is particularly curious about the state of your chakra, or lack thereof. It’s one of the few times where the tilt of your head in confusion isn’t just an act. Yoko has other sensors in the clan confirm her own conclusions. You stay up that night with your ear pressed to the door as the group chatters possible theories with her in the office. And later, you have to calm your racing heart when Tajima comes to bicker with her about your worth to the clan.

You turn to the clan’s library first, doubling down on your studies and asking your tutors more questions than ever. It takes a couple weeks of begging to get Yoko to let you come to the weekly planning and tactics meetings. The elders are less than thrilled, but tolerate your presence as you remain quiet and hold your questions until the end. Elder Amane ends up taking a particular shine to you, praising your maturity and good behavior while patiently answering any and all of your thoughts. She declares herself as your new mentor to Tajima, who only nods disinterestedly.

The months are busy with various meetings with allied clans. The conversation with the Hatake about crop production and trade is dry. However, you stick by Amane’s side as she introduces you to the clan head and his son. The boy hides behind his father’s legs at your intense expression as the older man simply chuckles at the action. The Hyuuga are difficult to crack with your earnest act, sneering at you with disdain towards your ‘low-born qualities’. A man from the main branch family with the Caged Bird seal, however, gives you some information when you beat him at a game of cards. You learn that they are somewhat dependent on the Haruno to produce chakra resistant cloth for their unique fighting style. The Uchiha also buy their cloth from the Haruno for the same qualities.

(The amount of emergency fires from the training grounds is frequent enough that kids are taught drills about it and bystanders react with an amusing amount of calmness when putting out the flames. Certainly, clothes that can resist the Uchihas’ fire techniques are detrimental for daily life.)

It’s fascinating to learn all of these intricate details about clan politics and alliance dynamics. This time period was never really fleshed out in the manga, unfortunately.

When all of the meetings are done, Elder Amane leans in to you with a gleam in her eyes. “For people like you and I, our power lies in knowledge. Anything and everything that you can absorb into your brain.”

You stare at her curiously as she straightens back up with an impish look as you reply, “The pen is not mightier than the sword. Swords cannot write poetry and pens cannot win battles.”

“Ah, astute of one so young. Well then, mighty is the hand that knows when to brandish the sword or wield the pen,” she says, hobbling away on her cane. “Although, I thought you to be more clever than to think that ‘the sword’ only refers to blades and weapons.”

So you dig. Latching onto any rumors or gossip, affairs and treachery, anything that spills from the lips of the common folk and high-borns alike. Charm, sway, deceive, just another bout of skills you’ve added to your repertoire as you compile information from wherever you can. You confirm some, throw out others, sink your claws into new leads. You take bentos to the guard towers, clean the sheets and clothes in the medical halls, clean and peel veggies with the mothers, sew and mend with the grandmothers. Every in-group is invaded and prodded from behind your childish appearance. Knowledge pours out of them like water, disregarding the little ears in the room that hides an awareness and cunning that they never would have expected.

Then, slowly, you let the knowledge drip like kerosene; intricate, intentional paths that lead open flames to the dry straw houses claimed to be spun from gold by those you deem stepping stones or obstacles in this life of yours.

(“Yoko-sama.”

“Yoko-san.”

“Hm. Yoko-san. What are bry-bes?”

The clatter of plates stops as she turns to look at you, “Do you mean ‘bribes’?” You nod, chin bouncing up and down childishly. “Where did you hear that word?”

“Giichi-san and Elder Takuma-san!” You smile up at her innocently.

She frowns at the mention of her cousin-in-law having discussions with an elder, brushing her hands dry on her apron as she gives her husband a look that he returns seriously. “Is that so?”

“Don’t worry about its meaning for now, [Name],” Tajima calls from the table. “But tell us if you hear that word again.”

You nod and bow, “Yes, Tajima-dono.”

Giichi and Takuma are publicly punished a couple of days later when they are investigated and found to be colluding to embezzle clan funds. They never really liked you all that much. The feeling is mutual.

Tajima invites you to his office for a game of shogi that night. While you lose, he is intrigued by the advanced strategies to try to employ from the books you poured over. He increases your lessons and makes you permanently attend the clan leadership meetings. Tajima appears further pleased when your presence cajoles Madara into taking more of an interest in the goings-on of the talks.)

—

Kou is dead.

He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s DEAD. HE’S DEAD. HE’S DEAD. HE’S DEAD. HE’S DEAD.

Kou is dead.

It was supposed to be a normal walk around the compound. It was supposed to be like any other raid. It was supposed to be handled as easily as any other one on a normal day. But then they just kept coming, they were getting in somehow and your mind draws back to wood pikes split open by rot.

You can vaguely hear a five-year-old Izuna screaming in your arms. It all feels like sludge.

Izuna is pulling at the front of your clothes as the enemy shinobi turns away from the nine-year-old boy (Kou, his name is Kou) slain at his feet to grin at the two of you. You’ve seen people die, helped the people in your old village pile the sick-infested corpses into the burning pits. Why is this different? (Because, it’s Kou.). It’s just another body (No. It’s. Kou.).

And now, you’re going to die, again.

It’s weird. There’s no terror or fear as you watch the sword raise into the air above you. Izuna’s screaming feels muffled from where you’ve tucked him under you. There is some kind of…acceptance to what is about to happen.

Everything just feels…muted. Meaningless.

The entire feeling shatters as a woman comes bursting out of the home to your right, a heavy pan brandished high and brought down on the shinobi’s head with a sickening thud and crunching of bone. It’s…Kiyoko, you help her get groceries from the market because of her bad knee.

Izuna’s screaming has petered out into sobs. Guilt seeps in as you gather the five-year-old into your arms and start sprinting away with little regard of what happens to that woman (Kiyoko.). You don’t look back at the cooling body of a dead child, you don’t look back as you hear a woman’s screaming fade to gurgling and then silence.

You feel bile collect at the back of your throat as you run past bloodied bodies. (Akari. Hiroji. Chikao. Fusako. Hasumi. Daiki.) The smell of iron and the sound of miserable moans of agony fill the air of those not quite dead yet. Guilt seeps in as you run past pleading, outstretched hands.

Your shoulder aches as you skid around a corner and into one of the wooden beams of some random house. Your legs are sore, functional even with the kunai sticking out of your thigh only because of adrenaline. The cuts on your arms ooze, soaking your hands and weakening your grip. The sound of trampling feet follow, kicking aside the obstacles you’re throwing in their path. Another enemy shinobi stepping around a corner with a smug sneer of a grin sends you sliding, switching direction and shoving through a sliding door out into the garden.

Guilt seeps in when you look down to little five-year-old Izuna, face hidden in your shoulder, as shinobi stalk in from all sides. Their jeering is a scathing backdrop to your harsh breathing as your heart chokes on the words your desperate mind pushes forward. (Take him, but please let me live!). They feel like acid where they’re stuck in your throat, slowly bubbling up.

You are not the main character. You are not a good person. You are not a hero.

One shinobi gurgles, grasping the gaping wound that suddenly splits open his throat. The others pause as they watch him choke on his blood before turning tail to run as Tajima descends into the garden from the rooftops with the scouting unit that wasn’t supposed to return till tomorrow. They make quick work, the sounds of the enemy dying fills the space as the clan head turns to you with furrowed brow. His eyes flicker over Izuna first, Sharingan tracing over the minimal scratches on his form.

Second, he asks, “Where is Kou?”

Your mouth gapes open and closed as you sink to your knees. The adrenaline starts to wind down as you let go of Izuna to turn and retch into the grass, your entire body wracked with shivers.

Something about it must be answer enough as the man closes his eyes, jaw tight.

—

Yoko is eerily silent throughout the aftermath and funeral. You had expected the dramatic screaming and sobbing that you’d seen in movies and tv shows, maybe a pouring rain as she screamed up towards the sky with sorrow. Somehow, her silence is more heartbreaking. A mother who’s prepared herself for the very real eventuality that she will outlive her children. War drums are often made from the skin of children.

Togakushi is left supervised by medical staff in his room after having taken a few fatal injuries that leaves him primarily incapacitated. The medics don’t have much hope that he’ll make it in the long run and prepare his room to be as comfortable as possible. Kuro will sometimes drag you into the room to tell them a story as he lays down next to his unconscious brother. Those nights are hard, watching the stalwart child curl up next to his unresponsive little brother. Each time, you cover him with a blanket once he falls asleep, only to return to your room to lay wide awake for the rest of the night.

The elders decide that it would be best to indefinitely postpone Madara’s introduction to the battlefield now that the second-son is dead. He ends up storming off in a grief and outrage fueled fury. A scouting group brings him back practically the moment he sets foot outside the compound, a heavy lockdown and patrol in place now. He shuts himself in his room.

Tajima and Yoko both thank you for protecting Izuna and it feels like ash on your tongue. They wouldn’t be thanking you, wouldn’t want you, would probably kill you if they knew what you were about to do. The matriarch takes to keeping her youngest with her nearly at all times. Her smiles are wane and thin when Izuna shows her the newest thing that has fascinated him. Kuro becomes a lot quieter, somber. His days are busy now with having to take on more lessons to prepare him for the duties and responsibilities that used to be Kou’s.

The house feels too small. Every time you pass Kou’s room you expect to hear the slide of brush on paper; working on his latest piece. His skills had improved exponentially since you arrived 2 years ago. Enough so, that the portrait he made for you now sits in a closed drawer instead of on your desk.

—

“What are we going to do about the raid, Tajima-dono? The Land of Floods must be taught that the Uchiha believe in absolute reciprocity!” Elder Kakeru shouts, fist slamming on the table loud enough to echo through the room.

The other elders start to bicker and chatter over each other as Tajima closes his eyes with a heavy sigh. He casts a quick glance at the empty spot to his right where Madara should be sitting, who has been sneaking out to the Naka River under the guise of locking himself in his room. The clan head casts his eyes to you on his other side as your gaze sweeps across the map rolled out on the table.

Tajima raises a hand, casting the room into silence. “What are your thoughts, [Name]-chan.”

“Tajima-dono, I don’t think–”

He casts a sharp look at the elder, “Your name is not [Name], I believe.” Tajima turns back to you, a small nod urging you to speak your mind.

“Thank you, Tajima-dono,” you bow your head and gather your thoughts. “Starting with the facts. We have political alliances with the Haruno and Hyuuga, and a marriage alliance with the Kurama because of Yoko-sama.”

The elders’ focus traces over each of the clan territories on the map with an air of disinterest. Elder Amane gives you a small nod of encouragement that has you swallowing around the building quiver in your voice to continue.

“There’s the trade alliance with the Hatake, but they have similar alliances with other clans and are pretty much neutral in all of their stances. We have an unfavorable southern border with the Nara which, while not openly hostile to us, are still the sister clan to the Senju along our eastern front.

“Currently, the main, largest threat to us is the Senju. They are insulated along their eastern line, so they can direct their focus on us while the Shimura and Sarutobi clans act as rearguard. If we were to engage with them, the compound would be left open to attacks to our west from the Land of Rivers, the Land of Floods, and the Land of Fields.”

Elder Yuma clears her throat sharply, “And what does this have to do with the raid from shinobi of the Land of Floods? You are stating facts that everyone here is already aware of and not offering any tangible solutions.”

You grit your teeth with anger, wanting nothing more than to go off on the old bat whose face looks like a pug, but you suck it up, your ‘innocent child’ image is too valuable to give up. “Apologies, Elder Yuma-san–”

“My, I hope you are not expecting a nine-year-old to do your job for you Yuma-chan,” Amane laughs at the other woman’s scowl. “Tajima-dono only asked for her thoughts, not a solution to end war and famine. I think her commentary is already quite advanced for her age, I’m interested to see what else she has to say.” She gives you a big mischievous smile and a wink. “Please continue, child.”

“R-Rumors about the raid will probably disseminate quickly,” the steadying breath you take feels like it rattles your entire body. “It was a…successfully devastating attack and the Senju could try to take advantage of it while we are busy rebuilding and turning attention to our overwhelmed western front.”

The books in the library were dusty and brittle, but had a notable amount of information and reports about clan skirmishes, alliances, and agreements. It all coalesces with the vague details that you can recall from spoilers that would drop through your social feed whenever you scrolled through the Naruto tags.

“The Hagoromo are currently unaffiliated with any other clan; they’ve been mainly focused on their dispute with the Shimura. If we could ally with them, we could not only apply more pressure on the Senju’s north-west side, but also instigate skirmishes with the Shimura to direct the Senju’s attention northward to assist them. Additionally, the Kaguya are also unaffiliated with anyone at the moment–”

Multiple gasps arise from the group at this. Each elder begins to talk over each other as they berate you for suggesting that they operate with ‘such a barbaric clan’. Elder Amane sips at her cup of tea idly, a pleasant grin on her face.

“ENOUGH!” Tajima’s voice cuts over everyone. “[Name], I can understand the Hagoromo, they are a powerful clan in both ability and reputation, but the Kaguya are warmongers. It is an absurdity that you would even begin to suggest them.”

Your head bows in deference, bring your hands to flatten on the ground in front of your knees, “I understand, Tajima-dono. Your concerns are, of course, correct and warranted. However, I do have reason to suggest them, if I may explain.”

“Out with it,” he huffs, settling back into his seat heavily.

“As you said, the Kaguya are warmongers. They enjoy fighting, the death and chaos that comes of it, as well. The Aburame share an uneasy border with them, mainly monitoring them as they have focused much of their rage at the Land of Water. We don’t necessarily need to officially ally ourselves with them, but if we…’give them a push’ to progress north into Aburame and Inuzuka territories, it would split the Senju focus between their northern and southern allied clans.”

The silence stretches, the barest of mumbling through the elders underlining the thudding of your heartbeat.

“It could also draw the attention of the Triad clans, what with the Akimichi having a border down there as well,” Elder Natsuo begins slowly. The murmuring boils back into chattering as the theory is scrutinized.

“While the Kaguya are quite uncivilized, they are a formidable group with their kekkei genkai.”

“The Hagoromo and Shimura have hated each other for years, too. Starting a fight between the two would be like lighting dry brush.”

“We could set scouts along the eastern border for an early warning of a Senju attack while focusing our main forces west.”

Tajima’s eyes flicker across the map with thought before they slide back to you. You swallow harshly and avert your eyes to your hands in front of you, forcing back the urge to fidget under his gaze.

“You seem to have a knack for strategy,” he says, tone eerily flat. The room goes silent again when he sets his hand on top of your head with a small pat. “This is a good start. Keep at your studies and you may yet turn out to be a good advisor to my heir.”

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A/N:

If it wasn’t obvious, I am intentionally making the Reader a little bit manipulative and self-serving, so if you were thinking that, then congrats, you’re absolutely on point. There was also a lot more world building in this one, but I'm going to try to keep it fairly minimal so it doesn't overtake the plot. There is also a phrase I used that primarily comes from a lyric in ‘Eat Your Young’ by Hozier. The song slaps and the lyrics hit with a level of truth that kind of curdles the soul. Finally, ‘Land of Floods’ is in reference to the country where Amegakure is located, the country was never originally named and I didn’t know if Amegakure had been founded yet before Konohagakure was founded. I also made my own map that I’m referring to, let me know if you’re interested in looking at it (it’s kinda a mess tbh). This is also the end of my pre-made chapters, so updates may slow down a bit. However, I did actually make a plot outline diagram for this story (the first time I've ever done it in fact), so I know how I want the story to progress, just need to words to text. I'm between jobs right now (job markets sucks at the moment), so I can't promise any specific update timings. Thank you for all of the support so far and I hope you can bear with the slow updates with me!

[wedontdeservethestars]

Johnny Cage x Edenian Royalty reader who gives up their title and moves to Earthrealm just to be with him?

I might continue this in a later series because I like their dynamic a lot!! So in this one the reader doesn't COMPLETELY forgive up on the crown yet....but the seeds are certainly planted

Content: gn!reader, fluff, some mentions of nsfw subjects but really not a lot, alcohol, kinda just a silly little feel good fic!

(AO3 link here!)

Earthrealm was a mystery. After spending your whole life learning the ways of Outworld and studying the intricate relations between clans and kingdoms, the other plane was unknown to you in a way that you could only describe as strange. But that was okay. You liked strange. Maybe that’s what drew you to Johnny. 

You had only been to Earthrealm briefly before in the days of Shinnok’s terror, and by proxy had met Johnny during that time. Almost immediately, he annoyed you. It seemed to be a common phenomenon. He was brash, rude, vain, and unapologetic about all of it–and all of that bothered you to no end. But he was strong, too, and surprisingly resilient. Even more surprising, he had saved your life on multiple occasions. Each time he pushed you out of the way of some projectile, or ran out into a battle to get ahead of you, or even just checked up on your wounds after a particularly bad fight (which, you noticed, he never did to anyone else), you started to see other things about him beyond his Hollywood-boy persona. Above all, he seemed to have a particular fascination with you. 

It made you sick to your stomach. Even more than that, it made you blush, which in turn only made you feel sicker. 

After everyone had returned home, bruised but victorious, you found your thoughts turning back to Johnny more often than you’d like to admit. You knew your place was here. You felt like you belonged in Edenia, and in Outworld as a whole. Your whole life so far had been spent to one day take the crown and become ruler of the kingdom. Until your travels to Earthrealm, you had never wanted anything else. But now, you found yourself drifting into your mind during important meetings, doodling on scrap paper the alien types of plants you’d encountered there, and missing the feeling of seeing your reflection in the lenses of a certain pair of sunglasses.

Your state worsened. You were chastised for being so distracted all the time and your parents, worried, even referred you to one of the doctors to see if anything was wrong with you. Of course, any unwellness you felt could be easily explained…just not to the Edenians around you. 

Desperate for a cure, you made up your mind one night. Packing only a few things (you planned to return, anyways…eventually…), you snuck out in the middle of the night to one of the sacred grounds in the kingdom. This one, carved out in a cave, was home to a portal. It led to Earthrealm. You heard your father talking about the possibility of sealing it off in the future, citing that “nothing good comes from that wretched place!” You didn’t entirely agree.

After a nauseating travel across realms, trying to navigate a confusing city and an even more confusing transportation system, you wound up at the most gaudy mansion you had ever seen. You looked down at the little slip of paper in your hand–across it was scrawled Johnny’s signature, number, and address. It was something he’d given you right before you parted. You had promised to burn it the second you had time to. You had kept it in your vanity drawer ever since, though you hadn’t ever expected to use it. 

Muffled, strange music met your ears as you stood on the doorstep. Beside the door was a gold plaque that read “Johnny’s Cage.” Well, this was certainly the right place. You raised your hand to knock on the heavy wooden doors, but suddenly there was some kind of barrier. What would you even say to him? You really hadn’t thought that far ahead. You only knew you wanted to see him again. Your arm slowly lowered to your side. Maybe this was a mistake. You were better off forgetting all of this, forgetting him. But…this time, you lifted your knuckles to the door. They rapped politely. You had come this far already. May as well see it through.

The door cracked open and the strange music grew louder. Tinny drums and a horn that sounded like it was underwater filled your ears along with the anxiety welling up in your throat. And, unceremoniously, there was Johnny dressed in nothing but a silk robe and a pair of brightly colored swim trunks. The second he laid eyes on you, his air of curiosity and confusion turned to one of bemused smugness.

“Oh, tell me I’m dreaming,” he chuckled as the opened the door wide. You could see the rest of his home behind him, marble walls and floors and expensive-looking art on the walls and a massive pool right in the center of his living room. 

“No,” you replied, feeling more like you were the one in the dream. “I’m real.”

“And to what do I owe the pleasure, your Highness?” Johnny twirled his hand and gave a little bow. He had never really taken your royal status seriously, only ever acknowledging it in moments of tomfoolery like this. Somehow, at this moment at least, you found it endearing.

“Well…” You took a breath as you tried to decide on your angle. “You gave me your address.”

“I did!” He grinned, and then paused. “You kept it?”

“I did,” you echoed, showing him the slip of paper still clutched in your hand. “I figured it would be rude not to use it.”

“Good thing you had all those Edenian manners lessons.” He laughed at his own joke and turned with an unintentional flourish of his robe. “C’mon in. You want something to drink?”

Not wanting to embarrass yourself with guessing what little foodstuffs Outworld and Earthrealm had in common, you shook your head. “No. Thank you.”

“Suit yourself.” Johnny made a beeline for a bar set-up he had near the pool and started to mix himself something. Getting a better look at the inside of the mansion as you followed him inside, you could see that several of the art hangings were paintings of Johnny himself in various styles. In one, he was posing with a tiger. Vases and statues and weapons lined the corners of the rooms, almost as if the home was afraid to have a single square foot that wasn’t glimmering with something or other. Despite the organized clutter and the loud music that seemed to come from everywhere, you couldn’t help but notice that there only seemed to be only one inhabitant of the place.

“Do you live here alone?” you called out as you examined a series of trophies on a shelf. 

“No! I mean, well, there’s the maids and stuff. And that little guy.” You followed his pointed finger to a little disc-shaped robot trekking across the spotless floors. 

“Oh.” With a polite smile, you approached and crouched beside it. It seemed to pay you no mind, but you continued anyway. “Hello, there.” 

You could hear Johnny stifle a laugh and a snort, but when you looked over at him he was faced away from you, still working on his drink. “He, uh, he doesn’t exactly talk back. But if he could I bet he’d be charmed.”

“Ah.” Trying to force a blush away from your cheeks, you stood up and watched the little thing scoot away, unbothered. 

“You like it here?” Johnny asked, coming up behind you. In a strangely shaped glass was a drink so colorful it looked like it might hurt to swallow, but it seemed to refresh him nonetheless. 

“It’s, uh…it’s very ‘you,’” you smiled a little, motioning to the tiger painting. Johnny laughed. 

“Oh, that’s one of my favorites! Took forever to get that tiger to sit still. Fuckin’ sweet, though.” You turned to get a better look at it again, and when you looked back Johnny had inched closer to you. “So, tell me: what are you really doing here?”

“What do you mean?” you asked. That familiar irritation you often felt with him was slowly making its way back. You didn’t really mind.

“It’s just that I don’t exactly believe that you hopped dimensions on a whim.” A beat as he sipped. “Like, I know I’m irresistible, but come on.”

“Well, that’s sort of what happened,” you laughed softly. “I don’t have a big reason. I just…wanted to see you again.”

“Ohhh.” Johnny flashed you a grin. “Got the Cagester on the brain, huh? A pretty serious infection, I know.”

“You have a very…uh, memorable presence,” you decided on.

“Well, I can’t promise a cure, but I’m here to provide in any way your little royal ass wants,” he murmured, leaning in close to you. That blush you thought you’d taken care of came back with a vengeance. 

“What?” was all you could muster.

“Anywhere you want,” he was grinning. “Could give you a tour of the bedroom. The couch over there is pretty comfy. Or, we could get a little freaky and head into the pool if you’re into that…”

“Johnny,” you laughed nervously. “No, I…I didn’t come here for that.”

“Oh. Really?” He frowned into his drink and then looked up at you again, incredulous. “Really?”

“Yes, really. I came because I missed you. Not your body, just you.” 

“Oh,” he said again. He only seemed more confused. “Huh. That’s…that’s a new one.”

“Is that so hard to believe?” You cocked your head.

“It’s just that, uh, y’know. People don’t usually come over just to hang out or talk or whatever. They don’t usually…stay afterwards.”

“Would you like that?” you asked, guiding his cheek so he was looking at you.

“Yeah,” he breathed with a nod. His eyes, usually hidden by whatever shades he had chosen for that day, suddenly looked so full of longing. For the first time, you understood just how lonely this man was. 

“Okay,” was all you said. You pulled him into a hug. His robe was soft, and so was his skin. At first, Johnny remained frozen. He didn’t seem to know how to react to such a genuine gesture. But he hugged you back, letting out a sigh that rivaled one of Atlas.

“I really, really needed this,” he muttered, chuckling tiredly.

“I can tell.”

“Eugh. Guess I don’t deserve all those Oscar’s, then.”

You didn’t know what in the world he was talking about, but before you could ask, he was already talking again. 

“Y’know, I…I thought you hated me.” 

“No,” you shook your head. “Not at all.”

“At all?” He cocked an eyebrow.

“Well…” You huffed, smiling in spite of yourself. “You can be irritating. And loud. And arrogant.”

“But…?” He pursed his lips, waiting for you to go on.

“I don’t know,” was all you could think to say. 

“Not exactly the confidence-booster I was looking for.”

“You have enough confidence,” you teased. 

“It is one of my strong suits.” He grinned and downed a little more of his drink. “I guess it should be telling enough that you trekked all the way out here just to see me. You must like something about me.”

“I like plenty about you. It’s just hard to name.” You tilted your head as you watched him. He looked so pretty in the dim lighting of his lavish, yet warm home. Then again, he usually did. 

“We’ve got plenty of time to rectify that,” he smirked, his voice dropping down to a sultry hum. “Unless you were planning on making this trip a short one. But…”

You followed his gaze to your bag, still slung over your shoulder.

“I sort of assumed you’d let me stay.” You paused and corrected yourself. “That you’d want me to stay.”

“Forever?” He seemed a little too excited about the prospect, if a little caught off-guard.

“No,” you laughed at his likeness to a puppy. “Just for a little. I still have responsibilities, you know.”

“Right, right. The whole heir to the throne thing.” Johnny seemed utterly bored by the position. “That’s a shame. I know some of the guest rooms could use some love.”

“I just wanted to visit. See where this goes,” you said carefully, unsure exactly what ‘this’ even meant. Johnny, however, didn’t seem to care. He hooked an arm around your waist and pulled you a little closer. The look in his eyes that usually came off as cockiness now seemed to give way to a genuine enthrallment with you. It gave you flutters in your stomach. You didn’t hate the feeling.

“I’m down for that,” he murmured. A large hand caressed your cheek. “Y’know, now that I’m thinkin’ about it, my master bedroom is the loneliest one of all. And its owner wouldn’t mind a companion.”

“Someone to bed-warm?” you chuckled. Johnny’s eyebrows shot straight up.

“I thought you didn’t want to–I mean, listen I would love that, but I was just talking about, y’know, uh…sharing a bed tonight.” 

You frowned, searching his face for any sign of what the confusion was. “I was, too. You know what bed-warming is, right?”

“I know what a bed-warmer is!” Suddenly, realization came across his eyes in a wave. “Oh. Oh. Is this–this is some weird Edenian culture shock thing for me, isn’t it?”

“Maybe?” You shrugged as the thought crossed your mind. “For us, bed-warming is like…it’s hugging. Spending the night curled up to one another. Especially on cold nights. Y’know, because another body makes the bed warm.”

Johnny looked like he’d been slapped. “Yes! Yeah. Okay. That…that makes sense. Uh, that would be really nice. I’d like that.”

“What does bed-warming mean in Earthrealm?” you questioned as he turned to the bar again to clean up his glass. 

“Uh…” Johnny’s cheeks went pink. For once, he didn’t seem to want to delve into what you assumed had to be some sort of innuendo. “Y’know what? Forget it. You look tired. You came a long way, I bet. Let’s just go up to bed. I’ll show you my room! It’s really cool in there, I’ve got this statue that…”

As he started up the stairs, rambling half-nervously and half-excitedly, you couldn’t stop a smile from creeping onto your face. For the first time that night, you felt completely secure in your decision to escape from home for a bit.

[semi-imaginary-place]

discord naruto rambling

How can naruto be such a mess yet sooo good. Naruto has so many story problems I cant recommend it to people yet there's something special about. The world is so alive and vibrant. Kishimoto is a good designer. Naruto has so many good characters and designs. Character creation is definitely kishimoto's strong suite. Like I think Madara looks super cool between the plate armor (? reminds me of ceramic armor)and the giant fan and spiky hair. the story is executed poorly but there's a lot of good to Naruto, the characters and their dynamics, the way everything feels. And it's generally a fun battle adventure series but the emotions are very real and it does a pretty good job with a narrative about war trauma and grief.

The powercreep tho 😭 naruto breaks all the narrative guard rails and starts performing miracles growing limbs raising the dead. It destroys the narrative tension what a mistake.

When i first stated reading naruto when I was like 10 or whatever i though he was really annoying. And it's only after i dropped and then picked up Shippuden again that i started to appreciate naruto and i ended up really liking him as a character. his emotions felt so real. As much as talk no jutsu gets a bit ridiculous i do like that in the battle shounen manga the most powerful technique is empathy and talking to people. I do respect naruto for that. There's also something compelling about how hard he tries for other people. It was also pretty amusing in shippuden watching him obsess over sasuke. Bro has a panic attack over the thought of his friends going after sasuke. He swears a double suicide pact with him. Naruto's crying begging in the snow for the raikage to spare sasuke. The entire final valley of the end fight was really good and then these idiot blow off each other's arms. Insane.

the series was better before shippuden overall. Og Naruto had this charm that shippuden lacks. Because conflicts were on the smaller scale, more personal grounded stories were told. The fights were less powerful which let them be more complex, strategic and intricate instead of how in Shippuden it was about chakra blasting (the power leveling curse). Shippuden was more about nuclear explosions battles where as og naruto got to explore more normal people and convey worldbuilding and interpersonal dynamics. But i liked naruto as a person more in shippuden which is totally personal preference.

Naruto and sasuke are so stupid. It's funny how in part 1 sasuke is built up as this smart rival character but come shippuden there is not a thought in that boy's head. he has 0 plans he just keeps shifting targets of who to kill. He really is just lashing out

Obito's fascinating. The parallels to sasuke and naruto yeah between the hokage dream and underdog status to the deranged emotional unstability. obito's attachment to rin his preteen crush works narratively much better for him than it does sakura. With obito it shows how out of touch with reality he is that he is still living 20 years ago abd was never able to let go of rin he doesn't see the present. With sakura i get the impression kishimoto genuinely sees it as romantic when it is actually super cringe that sakura is chasing this guy who doesn't remember she exists. 1 pair of sharingan split between 2 people is also such an amazing concept

I do think sometimes about how orochimaru was probably the last to leave konoha. Like tsunade quit during the 3nd (?) ninja war. Then jiraya chased after her.

I wonder about the trio parallels. On one hand they create this sense of continuity and legacy. On the other hand i wonder if it implies that konoha is stuck repeating the same mistakes. or is it about naruto's generation breaking the cycle (boruto isn't real)

Edo tensei is really plot breaking (and if i think about it my head hurts) but it did allow direct contrasts between the old hokage and naruto himself. I think tobirama and sarutobi are some of the most interesting characters as they are both well intentioned and genuinely work for the betterment of konoha while each being deeply flawed and causing or contributing to some of konoha's worst problems. And 3rd hokage'# problem is that he trusts too much on the good of humanity which is so ironic. He believes that everything will work out and people will become better on their own so much that it makes him passive, believing he doesn't need to intervene when there are serious problems. And he forgives people that really shouldn't be forgiven like wow he enabled so much of danzo. And then there's hashirama who i could write an essay about. Psychologists could case study him. But in conclusion i think most of the problems in the naruto series could have been solved if hashirama married into madara's clan

[chivri]

Celebrate Your Inner Aquarius: Jewellery Styles That Sparks Your Zodiac Personality

When you talk about the Aquarius woman, it is nothing but a fascinating paradox. She is a dreamer with at least one foot firm on the ground. Aquarius is mostly ruled by Uranus hence they are creative, artistic, forward-thinking, creative and unique. Her personality will be a combo of beauty and brain, intelligence and emotion and there’s no better way to flaunt this than through ornaments that resonate with her innate essence.

Silver Jewellery: A Match Made in Heaven for Aquarius Energy

Silver jewellery is very unique and mesmerizing as the Aquarius women. Silver is known for its calming and healing qualities and it rightly reflects the Water Bearer’s nurturing side. The modest elegance of 925 sterling silver complements perfectly with Aquarius' taste for equally unique and meaningful jewellery. No matter if it’s a statement ring or earrings, or a beautiful pendant for women, silver jewellery simply becomes an extension of their personality.

Power of Pendant: A Symbol of Identity

For Aquarius women, jewellery is not simply about adornment. It’s nothing but a narrative. A simple and unique pendant for women which has features of celestial motifs, detailed geometric designs and some stones like cubic zirconia makes the whole look whimsy yet elegant. Especially cubic zirconia, with its brilliant sparkle, is a reflection of Aquarius’ dynamic personality—radiant and hard to ignore. Choose a sterling silver pendant which has the shape of the constellation of Aquarius, or you can get the one with a water-inspired design to pay respect to their zodiac. 

A Dream: Minimalist 925 Sterling Silver

Aquarians always go toward timeless pieces, and 925 sterling silver is the epitome of timeless charm. Think of a pair of silver hoops or maybe a sleek cuff bracelet which fits effortlessly into their wardrobe, blending well with the overflowing silhouettes and classic bohemian patterns they adore. Silver’s silent sophistication goes well with the Aquarian preference for long-lasting designs over fleeting fashion.

Every Jewellery has a Story

What sets Aquarius apart is their fondness for the unconventional. They are always drawn to unique jewellery that tells a story or sparks a warm conversation. An intricately handcrafted sterling silver ring with patterns or a pendant inspired by nature might make them stare at it for hours. These special pieces resonate rightly with the Aquarian dream to connect with the superficial world on a deeper level, reflecting and resonating their humanitarian streak.

The Dazzling Choice of Cubic Zirconia 

Aquarius survives on innovation, and cubic zirconia is something that embodies the perfect mix of practicality as well as brilliance. It has an eco-friendly look and it matches their forward-thinking ethos, while the dazzling spark satisfies their fondness for the extraordinary. Whether you are thinking of a statement necklace or a simple ring, when you have cubic zirconia in a silver setting, it offers an elegant way for Aquarius women to embody their inner star. For every Aquarius woman, it’s always about celebrating who they really are—enchanting, creative, compassionate and endlessly intriguing.

[loversdiamondla]

Autumn Diamond Ring Ideas, 2024: When Summer Elegance Meets Seasonal Charms

Summer passes by with its colorful nature; autumn replaces summer with warm, earthy colors, and again our styling and accessories get inspired. One of the most fascinating things about seasonal changes is to revive our jewelry collection with these diamond rings that simply scream autumn. Whether you're looking to make a statement with a bold new piece or seeking a timeless design to complement your style, autumn 2024 brings many diamond rings from LA trends that are sure to inspire.

The Allure of Colored Diamonds

Autumn is a season of rich, warm colors; and what better way to step into autumn than with some colored diamonds? One of this year's most significant trends in engagement rings, including colored diamond rings, is sure to be a really unique and very sophisticated alternative to traditional white diamonds. From deep, luxurious tones of chocolate diamonds to the blush-soft color of pink diamonds, these stones give any ring design an injection of warmth and individuality.

Colored diamond rings are also perfect for those who want to make a statement while staying true to the seasonal color palette. The general warmth of the design, using a yellow or rose gold setting, creates a perfect combination when paired with a colored diamond for autumn engagements or other special occasions.

Vintage-Inspired Designs

Nostalgia and retro styles do not appear to be out of the jewelry world just yet, much less from diamond rings in LA. By autumn 2024, you will still see vintage-inspired designs that will come loaded with charm and elegance reminiscent of yesteryears. Rings that can come with intricate details like milgrain edges, filigree work, and halo settings are perfect for those who have a penchant for timeless beauty.

These vintage-inspired diamond rings sometimes use cushion cuts, pear shapes, or marquise cuts—unique shapes adding tons of character to the piece. Whether you're smitten with the romanticism of the Victorian era or the boldest glamour of Art Deco, a vintage-inspired diamond ring is an ideal celebration for this autumn season.

Nature-Inspired Motifs

Autumn is one of the most celebrated seasons, with its golden leaves, harvest themes, and earthy tones. Combining nature-inspired motifs in diamond ring designs would strike the perfect note to ring in this season. Think leaf-shaped bands, vine-like settings, and floral-inspired diamonds—these channel the outdoors into jewelry.

These rings, in natural forms, possess beauty and symbolic meanings that set them apart as excellent choices for engagements or other very important life events. For example, a ring bearing the leaf motif could mean growth and new beginnings, while a floral design symbolizes beauty and love.

Mixed Metals

While gold has always been the classic metal for diamond rings, mixed metal designs are slowly beginning to appear in autumn 2024. This trend creates a modern and dynamic look by combining varied metals—white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold—in one ring. Of course, this trend works especially for those looking for a unique ring that would go perfectly with other jewelry.

Mixed metal rings add versatility and a modern feel to classic designs. Be it a two-tone band or a ring with a contrasting metal halo, these are perfect pieces for anyone who wants to add just a bit of modern flair to their autumn jewelry collection.

Colored Gemstone Accent Diamond Rings

Another quick trend that is gaining momentum into autumn 2024 is adding color to a diamond ring with gemstone accents. Sapphires, emeralds, and rubies all make colorful, vibrant contrasts to the brilliance of diamonds, making for a really very eye-catching and unique ring. It could be something very discreet, like small stones inlaid into the band, or perhaps something a bit more striking, like a halo of gemstones around the central diamond.

Gemstone-accented diamond rings are a marvelous way to add a bit of personality and color to your jewelry. They also give you millions of customization options to create a truly one-of-a-kind piece.

Modern Minimalism

For understated elegance, modern minimalist diamond rings in LA work amazingly well in autumn 2024. They show how some beauty really shines with clean lines, simple mountings, and the simplicity of the diamond's beauty. Most of the time, a minimalist ring will show off just a single solitaire diamond or small bunches of diamonds set into sleek bands; these turn out to be classic and versatile ensembles to adorn any attire.

Simplicity makes minimalist diamond rings ageless and chic. Because they are simple, such rings easily transition from a casual day outdoors to a sleek evening out, making them perfect for daily wear.

Conclusion: Amp Up Your Autumn Style with Lovers Diamond

As you peruse these diamond ring trends for autumn 2024, remember that only Lovers Diamond quality and craftsmanship guarantee absolutely the best. Whether you're drawn to the allure of colored diamonds, the charm of vintage-inspired designs, or modern minimalism with an air of elegance, Lovers Diamond has a great collection of stunning diamond rings for any style and any occasion.

It's a company driven by a passion for excellence and the creation of beautiful, timeless pieces. Lovers Diamond is thus the destination for diamond rings in LA. Stop by to see them today for the perfect ring, which speaks autumn and personal taste. Visit https://loversdiamond.com/. 

[loversdiamond]

Autumn Diamond Ring Ideas, 2024: When Summer Elegance Meets Seasonal Charms

Summer passes by with its colorful nature; autumn replaces summer with warm, earthy colors, and again our styling and accessories get inspired. One of the most fascinating things about seasonal changes is to revive our jewelry collection with these diamond rings that simply scream autumn. Whether you're looking to make a statement with a bold new piece or seeking a timeless design to complement your style, autumn 2024 brings many diamond rings from LA trends that are sure to inspire.

The Allure of Colored Diamonds

Autumn is a season of rich, warm colors; and what better way to step into autumn than with some colored diamonds? One of this year's most significant trends in engagement rings, including colored diamond rings, is sure to be a really unique and very sophisticated alternative to traditional white diamonds. From deep, luxurious tones of chocolate diamonds to the blush-soft color of pink diamonds, these stones give any ring design an injection of warmth and individuality.

Colored diamond rings are also perfect for those who want to make a statement while staying true to the seasonal color palette. The general warmth of the design, using a yellow or rose gold setting, creates a perfect combination when paired with a colored diamond for autumn engagements or other special occasions.

Vintage-Inspired Designs

Nostalgia and retro styles do not appear to be out of the jewelry world just yet, much less from diamond rings in LA. By autumn 2024, you will still see vintage-inspired designs that will come loaded with charm and elegance reminiscent of yesteryears. Rings that can come with intricate details like milgrain edges, filigree work, and halo settings are perfect for those who have a penchant for timeless beauty.

These vintage-inspired diamond rings sometimes use cushion cuts, pear shapes, or marquise cuts—unique shapes adding tons of character to the piece. Whether you're smitten with the romanticism of the Victorian era or the boldest glamour of Art Deco, a vintage-inspired diamond ring is an ideal celebration for this autumn season.

Nature-Inspired Motifs

Autumn is one of the most celebrated seasons, with its golden leaves, harvest themes, and earthy tones. Combining nature-inspired motifs in diamond ring designs would strike the perfect note to ring in this season. Think leaf-shaped bands, vine-like settings, and floral-inspired diamonds—these channel the outdoors into jewelry.

These rings, in natural forms, possess beauty and symbolic meanings that set them apart as excellent choices for engagements or other very important life events. For example, a ring bearing the leaf motif could mean growth and new beginnings, while a floral design symbolizes beauty and love.

Mixed Metals

While gold has always been the classic metal for diamond rings, mixed metal designs are slowly beginning to appear in autumn 2024. This trend creates a modern and dynamic look by combining varied metals—white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold—in one ring. Of course, this trend works especially for those looking for a unique ring that would go perfectly with other jewelry.

Mixed metal rings add versatility and a modern feel to classic designs. Be it a two-tone band or a ring with a contrasting metal halo, these are perfect pieces for anyone who wants to add just a bit of modern flair to their autumn jewelry collection.

Colored Gemstone Accent Diamond Rings

Another quick trend that is gaining momentum into autumn 2024 is adding color to a diamond ring with gemstone accents. Sapphires, emeralds, and rubies all make colorful, vibrant contrasts to the brilliance of diamonds, making for a really very eye-catching and unique ring. It could be something very discreet, like small stones inlaid into the band, or perhaps something a bit more striking, like a halo of gemstones around the central diamond.

Gemstone-accented diamond rings are a marvelous way to add a bit of personality and color to your jewelry. They also give you millions of customization options to create a truly one-of-a-kind piece.

Modern Minimalism

For understated elegance, modern minimalist diamond rings in LA work amazingly well in autumn 2024. They show how some beauty really shines with clean lines, simple mountings, and the simplicity of the diamond's beauty. Most of the time, a minimalist ring will show off just a single solitaire diamond or small bunches of diamonds set into sleek bands; these turn out to be classic and versatile ensembles to adorn any attire.

Simplicity makes minimalist diamond rings ageless and chic. Because they are simple, such rings easily transition from a casual day outdoors to a sleek evening out, making them perfect for daily wear.

Conclusion: Amp Up Your Autumn Style with Lovers Diamond

As you peruse these diamond ring trends for autumn 2024, remember that only Lovers Diamond quality and craftsmanship guarantee absolutely the best. Whether you're drawn to the allure of colored diamonds, the charm of vintage-inspired designs, or modern minimalism with an air of elegance, Lovers Diamond has a great collection of stunning diamond rings for any style and any occasion.

It's a company driven by a passion for excellence and the creation of beautiful, timeless pieces. Lovers Diamond is thus the destination for diamond rings in LA. Stop by to see them today for the perfect ring, which speaks autumn and personal taste. Visit https://loversdiamond.com/. 

[whatifyoulivelikethat]

little birdie, m | myg

pairing(s): yoongi x reader

summary: The cat has asked the little birdie to make an appearance. You have been turning down private dances, preferring to focus on the art and glamour of the burlesque shows themselves. Besides, old money was entitled, twice your age, and, worst of all, ugly, inside and out. But Min Yoongi doubled his original offer and, well, he is new money.

these events occurred prior to twelve hours, m | jjk

warnings: rated M (18+) for language; reader is a burlesque dancer, caged bird performance based on Dita Von Teese; smut (fem reader, slight D/s dynamics, tiny bit of striptease, red lipstick kisses on nether regions (oop), m-receiving oral); non-idol!AU - cocky, rich!Yoongi x wealthy, burlesque dancer!reader; a little drabble based on this ask

--

He cocked an eyebrow at you, holding the handle of the leather crop in between his perfect white teeth.

You cocked one back, covered in diamonds, rubies, and red feathers.

The room was silent except for breathing.

These walls were soundproof.

You leaned forward, lids lowered, staring at those dark brown, cat-like eyes through your lashes, your tongue extending, the warmth of his skin and his breath against your lips. You licked the handle. His pink tongue flickered out, brushing against yours.

Instant electricity.

You retreated sharply, eyes narrowing.

“You were instructed not to touch, Min Yoongi.”

The man in the expensive designer clothes tilted his head at your cold tone, not responding. He surveyed you calmly, hint of a smirk around the leather crop, his hands behind his back. Primly tailored black vest with black satin piping with matching slacks. Silk handkerchief, cobalt blue, matching his silk shirt with the subtle checkered pattern and designer logo stitched into the squares, tone on tone. Despairingly expensive, but not gaudy or over the top. Didn’t need to be. The sheen in his black hair indicated it was pampered and well taken care of. The shine of his black oxfords indicated real leather. The strength and potency of his spiced cologne made him smell like the pure sex he was from presence alone.

Behind you, your two bodyguards stood side by side, sunglasses on, unmoving.

You agreed to this private dance when Yoongi said he was willing to pay double the initial amount he offered.

New money really spent it on the dumbest shit.

You leaned forward again, watching him carefully. You were wearing long opera-style gloves made of a lush red sparkling fabric, embellished with intricate stitching.

Lifted your hand, turning it around, palm up.

“Drop.”

He only moved his lower jaw, the leather handle falling from his lips and right into your palm.

You flicked your wrist and ran the crop up the inside of his thigh, forcefully spreading his knees with one of yours, narrowing your eyes, nicking the flared end against his crotch.

Lesser man would have jumped away.

Min Yoongi was not a lesser man.

He confidently spread his legs and tipped his head back, black hair falling over one eye, smirk on those shapely pink lips. He didn’t speak or make a sound. It was disconcerting but somehow intriguing in its own way.

As if he didn’t need to speak to indicate confidence in his position.

He was a caged bird in this private room, willingly trapped by you.

You smiled.

Fitting, for the theme of your burlesque show tonight had been a large steel birdcage at the center of the stage and you inside it, dancing within the visible enclosure, skillful hands holding onto the metal bars, lush hips swaying to ruffle the feathers attached to create a half-skirt that mimicked tailfeathers of an exotic bird. You were still wearing some of the pieces now, the lingerie, the tailfeathers, and the heavy necklace of diamonds and rubies splayed out on your collarbones and chest.

You slid onto Yoongi’s lap, closing his legs with yours, entering the alluring aura that seemed to surround him, trapping the leather crop between your crotch and his. Slow exhale, mixing with his as he lowered his chin to look you in the eye, unafraid.

“Hello, little birdie.”

You did not typically touch the men you danced for. They were usually old, crass, and undeserving of your touch. You treated it as business because that was what it was. A simple service for money. Nowadays, you cut back on the private dancing and upped your price. It just wasn’t worth it, being so close to such filth.

But.

Every once in a while.

Sometimes, you got young money like Min Yoongi.

You dragged the crop up his abdomen, up his chest, shifting your arm in a graceful swoop, turning it so it grazed his cheek, outlining that high cheekbone and elegant jaw. You stared into his eyes and he stared back, open-mouthed smirk on his lips, not backing down.

Sometimes, you got someone fuckable like Min Yoongi.

“Do you think you’re in charge here, Yoongi?” you murmured dangerously.

He ticked his head.

“I’m usually in charge everywhere I go,” he chuckled. Deep, husky voice edged with amusement. “It’s very tiring being the king and the boss all the time.”

Slow blink, piercing gaze on you with a wry smile.

“I would like to have a break from that.”

You sucked in a breath.

Min Yoongi was more than fuckable.

He was going to get fucked, tonight, by you.

You closed the distance, swiping the flared end of the crop against his lips, pressing inward, taking in his smooth fair skin, his even breath, his calm demeanor, and suddenly you wanted to mess it up, you wanted to tear down this placid façade and find what was underneath, find the passion and desire you could see shimmering in those dark brown orbs, challenging you to draw it out.

“Do you understand the position you’re in, Min Yoongi?”

He chuckled, voice low and smooth.

“Little birdie and her two shadows, I understand very well and I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

Damn.

He was good.

You tossed the leather crop to the floor and captured his lips, inhaling his cologne and his scent.

Yoongi did not move his arms, devouring your lips, hungry and intense, deft tongue flickering, testing the boundaries, and you pushed your tongue into his mouth, winding with his, hot and fluid and lustful, your hands sliding up his chest and reaching his shoulders, fingers one by one falling into place, sliding your lower body up to his, sucking in his breath, heat to hardness, your body heavier from all the jewels, but Yoongi seemed unbothered, deepening the kiss and sucking on your tongue, humming contentedly.

Even though he said he wanted a break, old habits were even harder to break.

You broke the kiss forcefully, the immaculate waves of your hair tumbling down your shoulder, seeing the red lipstick smeared on those shapely, smirking lips, his eyes drifting to yours.

You lowered your arms, slowly curving your hand, pulling back your arms in one smooth arc, fingers splayed, shoulders back. Measured, slow breath, always on form, every movement a performance. He watched closely as you reached back, unhooking and unlacing the tailfeather skirt with expert precision, keeping eye contact. You didn’t need to look to undo it.

You didn’t need to look when you released it, knowing one of your bodyguards had already stepped forward to catch it, retreating to place it aside.

Yoongi smiled, dark eyes gleaming.

“An agile little birdie, I see.”

He did not need to verbalize your beauty or attractiveness.

You could see it in the way he looked at you.

Startling how lucky you were to have met such fuckable young money tonight.

You placed a gloved hand on his chest and slid one leg back, then the other, red soles clicking, tracing down his torso, kneeling now, dancing fingertips up and down his thighs, admiring them and letting him know with your gaze. Black hair over one eye again, small smile on his lips, and yet you noticed the pink tinge on his ears.

Interesting.

You retreated your hand.

Brought it to your lips.

One by one, tugging at the tips of each finger with your teeth, loosening the glove.

Dark brown orbs watched you, entranced and fascinated.

Gripping the middle finger with your other hand, tugging on the opera glove, sliding it off with one swift arc of your arm, bringing your hand behind your head as it came off, tossing the glove aside carelessly. Yoongi couldn’t see, but your hand was poised behind your head, always aware of even the unseen details, bringing the other glove to your lips and doing the same, one by one, loosening the tightness before your hand flourished out from behind your head and your arm mirrored the previous arc, into the air and behind your head, throwing the discarded glove in the opposite direction of the first. Yoongi watched with patient, precise interest, like a cat observing a bird.

He smiled appreciatively, enjoying the show.

It seemed precious, Yoongi’s smile.

A strange thought.

Painted red nails gliding up his thighs, following the shape, tracing the waistband, parted lips smeared with lipstick, the tremble of his body finally evident and, with a tight inhale, you realized you too were breathing shallowly, matching him, looking up to see his pupils dilating, his hands still behind his back.

Your index finger traced the fastening of his slacks.

Yoongi raised a dark eyebrow, questioning.

You undid it while staring at his face.

Lowered the zipper, having to lift it because of his straining erection, seeing Yoongi clench his jaw, legs tensing, shoulders shaking, watching your face, hands, the diamonds laden on your collarbones and cleavage, equally embellished bra and panties covering everything else, but it was impossible to deny, incapable to resist, inescapable sensuality between you and Yoongi, a stranger until tonight, a shadow in the crowd until this moment, now well defined by light and lust, raising his hips so you could lower his pants and boxer briefs to his knees, sitting in a heavy ornate chair in a private room with your bodyguards right behind you as you lowered your head and your lipstick-covered lips to his thigh.

Red kisses imprinted on that fair skin, shudders under your breath.

Travelling up to his hard length, tongue slipping out, tracing a fat stripe over hot, taut skin, your satisfied sigh melding with his soft hiss at the contact of your wet muscle to his hard, twitching cock.

You drifted your gaze back up to his, lazy and purposeful.

Yoongi looked down at the red lipstick kisses and his cock quivering against your warm breath, leisurely lapping at the underside of his length. His voice was a low octave, almost raspy.

“Little birdie…”

The first time he said it, it had been borderline mocking, but now there was a fondness to it. Admiration. Appreciation. Adoration.

It made your core burn and heat spread all over your lower belly, dripping between your legs.

Black hair over his eyes, breathing hard, maintaining eye contact.

“Please.”

Simple.

Effective.

Sexy.

You closed your mouth around the head of his cock, tongue lapping the underside, his scent invading your nose and your lipstick coating his skin, your fingers lacing over his hips, sliding that thick length down your tongue and into your throat, his soft moan drifting from his. He was losing control of his hands, slamming them down onto the seat of the chair and clutching the sides, manicured fingers tense, knuckles white. You tilted your head and ran the head against the curve of your teeth, heartbeat racing as you witnessed Yoongi gasping at the sensation, his broad shoulders flexing, his hips trembling in your grip, struggling to stay still.

Losing control.

Maybe he didn’t spend his money poorly after all.

You ticked an eyebrow and adjusted your head again, tongue extending past your lips, suffocating your throat with the swollen tip and cutting off your air, curling your tongue around his balls, scooping them up and pressing them to your lips, dripping saliva onto the seat, eyes on his the entire time, choking yourself on his cock and licking his balls with a blazing, intense stare. No need to say who was in charge because you knew it and he knew it, growling deep in his chest, shivering in his designer clothes from primal desire that required no such things.

You were the same, diamonds or not.

Lust feeding off lust, money or not, you probably would have fucked Yoongi regardless and you could see it in his eyes that he was thinking the same thing.

You pulled back and began your pace, swallowing his length hungrily, tongue all over the base of the head, stimulating the thin skin and his sensitive nerves, his breathing turning into involuntarily gasps.

Faster.

Rougher.

Tighter.

Finding that sweet spot, that moment where his expression changed and his irises were overtaken by black, mouth open and panting, locking his shoulders and his hips, feeling him throb in your constricting mouth, just a little tighter to prolong his orgasm, making it a little more difficult so he had to chase it, his handsome face wincing, black strands fallen over his eyes, his body humming with energy and arousal, so close, you could see it, smell it, hear it, his suppressed hisses and darting eyes, taking in the whole image, your back, the curve of your ass, your hands on his thighs, fingers splayed out, your mouth on him, taking him there, there, earning his wanton moans and fluttering lashes, twitching hardness and then he threw his head back, neck straining against his buttoned collar, a perfect image, his hips bucking up, lost control, spilling into your throat with a sinful gasp, his chest prominent against the silk shirt and vest, begging to be freed from its confines.

You swallowed it all, savoring his strong taste, delicious as his body.

He lowered his head slowly, panting, his previously neatly combed hair messy now, cheekbones glowing with a faint sheen of sweat.

You licked him off just as slowly, finding his dark brown, cat-like eyes once more.

Yoongi smiled at you, cocking an eyebrow.

Your bodyguards would probably prefer you to stop here, but you had other plans.

You popped your mouth off, a drip of saliva snapping against your chin, rising, poised on red soles and leaning down, capturing that waiting smirk, one of your hands lifting to toy with the buttons on his vest. First undoing one. Then one more.

“Touch me,” you whispered.

Yoongi’s hands flew up and gripped your waist, promising all night.

Tonight was going to fun.

--

masterpost

[eroticwound]

okay some hannibal/the bear au thoughts under the cut for the anon, with a shout out to @asordidbarwere who indulged me by contributing their deranged bear/hannibal thoughts.

so, to start, i’m thinking of the similarities and differences between carmy and will. like will, carm is an isolated person, which is just how hannibal likes it. he’s a prime candidate for hannibal’s influence.

like will, carm is unstable but white knuckling it. he’s sleep-walking like will, which implies there is a lot going on with the character that they are not consciously addressing. i also think of their symbolic dreams—will’s stag and carm’s bear—how dreams bleed into real life in both shows, blatantly in hannibal, and a little more subtly on the bear (i think of the bear growling carm hears staring into the fire in ep 8, or even ball breaker talking to fak).

where will is fluid—like oil or water, taking the shape of anyone his empathy touches—carmen is fire. the controlled fire of the kitchen usually, medium heat, simmering, but add enough stress you get an explosion. and hannibal loves playing with fire.

i love the idea of hannibal getting carm to cook for him, to cater a soirée where hanni’s supplying the meat.

… or even better, hannibal cooking for carm, whose stomach is fucked. hannibal wanting to nourish him with his special meats… the possibility of feeding richie to carmen… i mean richie would absolutely hate hannibal’s pretentious european ass, and hannibal would absolutely see richie as a pig. cold cuts. bologna. like richie’s not going in a fancy dish, he’s gonna be in a sloppy sandwich.

or, better still, richie would go in a dish carmen makes as some mystery meat hannibal provided >:) g-d, and if carmy ever found out he cooked and ate richie? his brother’s best friend? that would fucking *break him*. his delicate stomach would revolt. it would destroy food for him, because he would never be able to get away from the taste of richie. i could see this pushing carm to the edge. unmooring him in some fundamental way. if hannibal was also using some creative pharmacology, he could maybe get carmy to kill this way… a deranged carmen curious about the flavors of those around him? cooking and eating people as a way for him to get close to them, the “logical” progression of cooking with them, which is currently the only way carmen knows how to be close with people—sublime.

and *that* would be a fascinating dynamic for hannibal in particular. will was able to empathize with him, to hunt with and fathom him. but carmen would *get* the cooking in a fundamental way will never could. hannibal could collaborate with carm on what dishes to make people into. what pairings and ingredients to bring out the best flavors. g-d, maybe carmen couldn’t kill… but he could cook.

i said it in my other post, but i *love* the idea of carmen and hannibal cooking together. i feel like for hannibal, cooking with someone is a step below the intimacy of killing together. it’s sensual and soul-bearing. and watching carm work would bring hannibal to tears, like listening to the opera singer in season 1. for carm it would make him feel close and protected. you see it with him and syd. but cooking with hannibal would invoke michael in a deliciously painful way. like cooking is both of their love languages, and i think they’d really get on well together in the kitchen. carm is a professional, but respectful. diffident. hannibal would love carmen taking control in the kitchen. he would have carmy focused on an intricate dish, and while carm is disarmed and vulnerable and a little distracted, hannibal would add pressure to all of carm’s various wounds: his new york kitchen trauma, his anxiety, his chef’s ego (which hannibal would approve of…), his anger/hurt/betrayal/guilt that is michael. the fucking sleep-walking!!!

hannibal would take special care to prod the michael wound in particular. @asordidbarwere brings up a great point about michael’s note, if hannibal knew about it before carm (which is so hannibal, being the devil himself):

Omg hanni would use the knowledge that mikey *stashed drug money* for carmy's benefit, to absolutely play him like a fiddle. I think hannibal would simply invoke Michael's memory at the worst possible moments~

this is really something i can get behind! beyond hannibal using the note to drive a wedge between carm and richie (and maybe sugar too, because michael’s last words were for carmen alone), the emphasize asordidbarwere puts on it being drug money for carmy adds this extra twist of guilt. like thanks jasper <3

because i think even without knowledge of the note, this is a dynamic hannibal would pick up on—the dynamic being michael sacrificing himself for carmy to be more legit.

i mean i’m sure carm’s not squeaky clean, but he’s a character who’s been shown to try to do things by the book despite his family’s association with cicero/betting/whatever. he emphasizes that only marcus and richie have cars, but richie’s license is suspended. then makes syd drive richie later in the episode.

like it’s clear michael wanted carmy to be legit. he didn’t want him at the bear, in the midst of whateverthefuck was going on there (for sure selling drugs and maybe money laundering? and who knows what their dad was into). michael wanted his baby brother to go out there and be a professional without criminal baggage.

mikey’s been sacrificing himself since the beginning, and that’s not something carmen was able to really see until later. hell, the fact that carm realizes he knows nothing about mikey, would be such a sweet spot of pressure hannibal would love to exploit.

who was michael, really? richie knew, but not carmen. hannibal would poke and pick at that. the fact that michael was a father figure almost more than a brother. i mean, carm’s entire fucked up family structure, the obvious trauma he has with his mom (who canonically has anger issues and is probably mentally ill), his absent father, sugar and michael are his siblings but also like parents (which implies a weird lack of boundaries… like the older berzatto siblings were def parentified). whatever guilt carm might harbor for being a burden on his siblings and mother.

and *fuck*, don’t get me started with syd! who craves recognition, who’s talented and capable and a ruthless problem solver. hannibal would be smitten! would try to influence her like abigail or margot or chiyoh. he would stoke the fire he senses in her, would *latch* onto her stabbing richie, would push her to do something like du maurier: set up a situation where she would *have to kill*. and her cooking skills would titillate hannibal just as much carm

some @asordidbarwere thoughts on carmy and syd and hannibal to round out this incredibly long, incredibly deranged au braindump:

I think syd would actually murder him tho. I mean she stabbed richie on *accident*, I feel like her & carmy would end up in a will/abigail situation w Hanni but I think syd would just fucking stab him and make carmy help her hide the body

Carm's just like 😰😰😰

if she managed it lol. It is hannibal after all

[hp-fanfic-archive]

an introductory rec list (that nobody asked for) for some of my favorite (platonic and/or romantic) pairings: severitus [2/10]

First fic I read for the pairing: Of Potions and Phobias by tt22123 [1k,G] Severitus story with nightmares [i stumbled on this fic on accident and it was short and sweet (and a little bittersweet at the end).]

Fic that really sold me on the pairing: Leo Inter Serpentes (Series) by Aeternum [746k,E,6 works] (WIP) Just one conversation between two eleven year old boys goes slightly differently, and the world changes. Just how much will be different with Harry being sorted into Slytherin, and how much will stay the same? [i will never not recommend this series: it’s amazing, it’s well-written, it’s true to all the characters and relationships and it feels more canon than canon (of course, it’s also significantly more gay than canon but i said what i said).]

Absolute favorite fic(s) for the pairing: Nobody Cared by etherian [360k,G] Harry is 11 years old and looking forward to attending Hogwarts. Why, then, does he miss the Welcoming Feast? (warnings for: child abuse, bullying, depictions of violence) [this fic is really well done (but has a lot of angst and definitely mind the warnings above (although the author doesn’t include warnings on the fic)).] Family Means More Than Blood by WingsOfADream [422k,M] A prophecy made in 1975 drastically changes the life of the boy who should have been known as Harry Potter. [this is yet another fic with a really well-written and fascinating plot with excellent characterizations and plot lines. i definitely would recommend it to someone with a lot of time on their hands.]

Most recent fic I’ve read for the pairing: Blackberry Tart by starknjarvis [33k,G] One year after Severus Snape offered to become Harry's legal guardian, Sirius Black shows up at Hogwarts. [the fic is a part of a well-written and pragmatic series and this fic also includes the development of a remus & severus and a sirius & severus friendship so that harry can have a larger and supportive family and i’m living for it (i believe the exact tag that the author used was “coparenting with your childhood nemesis” and i am living for it).]

Favorite AU(s) I’ve read for the pairing: Alternate Sorting AU (Slytherin!Harry): Malfoy Flavor by Vorabiza [199k,E] Harry’s ready to banish the Golden Boy image and take charge of his life. Unfortunately for him, or fortunately, there are surprises in store for him. [Slytherin!Harry but it’s not an entire canon rewrite like most of the alternate sorting fics i love so much, so that’s fun. also drarry and just the right amount of painful but realistic angst. oh and it has a delightfully fluffy little sequel.]

Favorite Series for the pairing: Forgiveness & Redemption by waitingondaisies [130k,T,2 works] Severus Snape was discovered as a spy mere days before the start of the school year. Thankfully, Albus had been working on a vague contingency plan for this possibility. It had been inspired by the question, “What would it take for Severus Snape to see that he was wrong about Harry Potter?” The answer? Force Severus to go undercover as Alfonse “Eli” Hopkirk, a sixth year Gryffindor. (that’s technically the summary for the first fic but i think it serves well enough in lieu of a series summary, which the author did not provide. also warnings for child abuse.) [this series is such an interesting concept and it feels very realistic in how it played out and i’m honestly here for it.] You're a Parent, Severus by acmparker [210k,G,6 works] (WIP) When Lily got home from her first year at Hogwarts, she found a new distance between herself and Petunia. As a result Severus and Lily became even closer to each other over that summer. The next year Lily found a book in the Hogwarts Library that describe an ancient ritual for creating a blood bond that would make two unrelated people kin. She convinces Severus to undergo the ritual with her and they become brother and sister. This means that when Lily dies there is another whose blood relationship with her is recognized by the blood ward Dumbledore places on Harry. To Severus Snape's chagrin he finds himself the last line of defense between Harry and the forces of the Dark Lord. (again, no series summary but i think this works well enough.) [i love a good remus and severus friendship plus severitus so this series really works for me. and it’s a canon rewrite (love those).] Bruised Words by starknjarvis [49k,G,2 works] (WIP) After Harry blows up Aunt Marge, Dumbledore decides it's not safe for Harry to spend the rest of the summer at the Leaky Cauldron, and instead sends him to stay at Spinner’s End with Professor Snape. It's tense, awkward, and teeming with misunderstandings...but it might be the best thing that's happened to either of them. They're both been without a family for a very long time. (apparently all my favorite series aside from Leo Inter Serpentes, which i’ve already listed above, don’t have series descriptions, but the first work’s description seems to work well enough. also warnings for child abuse.) [this is the series that blackberry tart belongs to and may i just say: it’s excellent and well-written and pragmatic and i would recommend it.]

Longest fic I’ve read for the pairing: A Year Like None Other by aspeninthesunlight [789k,T] A letter from home? A letter from family? Well, Harry Potter knows he has neither, but all the same, it starts with a letter from Surrey. Whatever the Durleys have to say, it can't be anything good, so Harry's determined to ignore it. But then, his evil schoolmate rival spots the letter and his slimy excuse for a teacher intercepts it and forces him to read it. And that sends Harry down a path he'd never have walked on his own. It will be a year of big changes, a year of great pain, and a year of confronting worst fears. It will be a year of surprising discoveries, of finding true strength, of finding out that first impressions of a person's true colours do not always ring true. It will be a year of paradigm shifts. And from the most unexpected sources, Harry will have a chance to have that which he has never known: a home ... and a family. A sixth year fic, this story follows Order of the Phoenix and disregards any canon events that occur after Book 5. (warnings for: graphic depictions of violence, self-harm, severe medical trauma) [the fic has some really dark parts but the plot is so intricate and fascinating and the relationships and dynamics are excellently written and the characterizations are spot on and i would definitely recommend it to anyone with a lot of time on their hands.]

Fic(s) with some of my favorite tropes: Sickfic + Hurt/Comfort: When He Called Me Dad by MarauderChaos [31k,Not Rated] It was only however as the end of his second year did Severus collect enough evidence and enough of his own courage to step in. The boy looked as though the world was ending when Severus brought him to his private quarters to see Madam Bones, and for a moment Severus felt the world was ending when someone recommended him as guardian. But that was how it ended, with Harry Potter becoming the ward of the Potions Master. It was kept a secret from the press and the students of Hogwarts – even his own Godson didn’t know, mainly because Lucius was bound to hear of it if he did and Severus didn’t want to risk their lives. They had their ups and downs, screaming and shouting, hexes and slamming doors, crying and hugging, laughing and actually having fun. But there was one moment that Severus would always remember, with its own fair share of good and bad, was the time he called him Dad. [i’m a sucker for hurt/comfort and accidental revelation of feelings, which in this case is the strength of harry’s platonic feelings, and this fic has all that so… yeehaw.] Accidental Bonding (but make it platonic): Love is... (series) by atiaahmed [133k,G,4 works] (WIP) This series revolves around how Snape starts to care about Harry because of a charm put on him by Ron and Hermione. The first story "Love is a charm" explores how their relationship changes because of the charm and what happens when it expires at the end of the year The second story explores how their relationship develops after the events of "Love is a charm". In "Love is a haven" other paternal figures, namely Lupin and Black will threaten Severus position with Harry. [i kind of like the platonic severitus take on one of my favorite hp tropes tbh and i like the way that their relationship develops and the realistic trust issues and such.]

[disgruntled-welshgirl]

I posted 1,373 times in 2021

108 posts created (8%)

1265 posts reblogged (92%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 11.7 posts.

I added 116 tags in 2021

#welshie's ramblings - 28 posts

#sokkla - 23 posts

#hot damn - 12 posts

#asks - 11 posts

#cymraeg - 10 posts

#my writing - 8 posts

#doctor who - 7 posts

#horizon zero dawn - 6 posts

#zutara - 6 posts

#atla - 5 posts

Longest Tag: 77 characters

#and we could have known that if we'd known tecteun for more than five minutes

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

I'm not much of a writer so most if not all of my entries for this thing will be rather short.

Day one, First encounters:

When their eyes first meet across the cavernous expanse of the drill's interior both are fascinated. His are pools of deepest blue she could have sworn she was drowning in, hers were an electric yellow that seemed to light up his very soul. Both only caught a fleeting glimpse but deep down they knew, they would... no. They had to see more of them.

30 notes • Posted 2021-05-01 09:00:29 GMT

#4

Sokkla for the ask game

As you may have gathered judging from my frequent posting about this pair I absolutely

SHIP IT

I can't remember what exactly caused me to ship these two but I do remember that this piece was my introduction to it

This was made by the talented Laurbits on deviantart who you can find here:

2. I really like the dynamic these two have, they're both incredibly smart which leads to many lovely conversations between them. I also love how they can support each other emotionally. Also, they're cute together, what more reason is needed?

3. Personally I'm not a fan of sokka being the only reason she improves as a person and recovers from her breakdown. It's nice if he's part of the recovery but she should also be allowed to have help from other people and her own motivation. (I don't know if this makes sense, I had to clutch at straws to think of something that I even marginally dislike about this ship)

32 notes • Posted 2021-04-17 15:18:27 GMT

#3

I feel like post war Sokka could become either ATLA's Tesla or its Elvis. No in-between.

39 notes • Posted 2021-11-08 00:42:09 GMT

#2

Horizontober 2021 Day one - Favourite machine

(I know it’s a day late but i completely forgot this event was happening)

ANYWAY, here’s what i think some characters’ favourite machines are:

Talanah - Stalker 

Talanah is actually be quite envious of Stalkers because they are arguably the perfect hunters, able to get right next to a person without them knowing. She actually once tasked an Oseram with trying to replicate the Stalker’s cloak for her. It unfortunately didn’t work.

Petra - Thunderjaw

There are two main reasons that Petra likes the Thunderjaw, the left disc launcher and the right disc launcher. Oftentimes Petra will camp within view of a Thunderjaw just in hopes to see the launchers in action and maybe, finally, figure out how they work so she can replicate them.

Erend - Ravager

Erend is of the opinion that the Ravager is the best fighter out of both man and machine. He finds it perfectly balances large size and devastating power at both close and long ranges. One day he asked Aloy to override one so he could ride it into battle just like he’d dreamed of since he was a kid back in the claim.

Nil - Corruptor

The Corruptor is deadly. That’s why Nil likes it. He finds a beauty in how intricately it moves and hopes to come across one whenever he goes wandering so he can face it and watch in awe as it weaves past his attacks; he hopes that if he is to die at a machine’s hand it would be a Corruptor’s doing.

Aloy - Glinthawk

Aloy deeply admires how free the Glinthawks are, being able to fly wherever they want whenever they want; she wishes she could do the same sometimes. One thing she always wishes is that she understood other machines as well as the Glinthawk does (i mean, they’d have to if they’re able to break them down effectively) and sees it’s knowledge as one of the final remnants of APOLLO.

48 notes • Posted 2021-10-02 19:20:27 GMT

#1

I was in Cardiff and decided to stop by and pay my respects to the greatest tea boy

79 notes • Posted 2021-08-14 13:02:57 GMT

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[psychosistr]

Green-Eyed Monsters- Chapter 3

Summary: Steelbeak and Maravilla begin their plan, leaving Dominic on the sidelines with only his own bitter feelings for company.

Notes: The bulk of this chapter is taken up describing actions and movement, but hopefully it will still be enjoyable ^.^” At the very least, we all get to have fun seeing Domino be the one getting jealous for a change- even if he’s not willing to admit it x3

-First Chapter-

From his spot near one of the massive ballroom’s bars, Dominic did his best to keep an eye on his partner’s movements (that was one benefit of having a partner who was over six feet tall with a metallic prosthesis- he tended to stand out in a crowd). From what he’d seen, Steelbeak had gone to the conductor of the band providing the evening’s music and spoken with him briefly- possibly even slipping him a few bills- before making his way to the heart of the dance floor. By the time he’d reached the center, the previous song had ended and the band had begun playing something…different…

It took a moment for the loon to recognize the genre of music, but, once he heard the sharp, dynamic notes from the piano, it dawned on him:

Tango.

He watched in fascination as Steelbeak moved with purpose to the song’s sultry tempo. That fascination rapidly turned into something darker when he saw traces of black, purple, and red making their way through the crowd towards the much taller fowl.

Moving just close enough to the dance floor to see through the throngs of socialites without risk of bumping into anyone, Dominic was neither surprised nor happy to see Maravilla reach Steelbeak while matching the rooster’s movements in tempo and meaning. The aquatic avian had to clench his fists to contain his growing frustration, refusing to give either of them the satisfaction of seeing him lose his cool over their antics. Though it was really hard to do so when the jaybird was dragging her hand along his partner’s back while walking around him…

The contact didn’t last long (thankfully), for as soon as she was parallel with the taller fowl he had slid a hand around her waist and allowed her to spin into both of his hands until her back was flush against his torso. One large off-white hand was soon splayed across the red fabric covering the femme fatale’s stomach while the other slid sensually up her side, touched her shoulder briefly, then joined its counterpart once more just in time to support her during yet another spin that ended with the two fowls facing one another- their beaks almost touching with purple hands holding onto the metal-mouthed avian’s shoulder and the back of his neck enticingly. Her hands then (fortunately) slid back down to the rooster’s forearm and shoulder as the two spun back around, breaking contact for the briefest of moments to allow Maravilla room to spin at a faster pace on her own before Steelbeak’s hands were on her once again, this time just beneath her chest and on the center of her back. The two seemed to match each other’s movements flawlessly, both stepping back on one bent leg while the other was crossed in front of it. This allowed them to rise back up in time with the music and take a few steps before stopping with their bodies pressed tightly together, Steelbeak’s hand that had previously been beneath the female fowl’s chest starting to slide up to her arm and cup their mismatched hands together while their faces were so close they practically touched.

By now, the rest of the dance floor had taken notice of the dancing duo and had steadily stopped their own tangoing to step back and give the skilled dancers the space they deserved. Wanting to look at ANYTHING besides the woman in red who was currently draping herself over HIS partner like a wet shirt, Dominic’s red eyes glanced about the room for ANY sort of distraction. While he didn’t find anything worthwhile, he did spy someone else who’d taken notice of the dancers taking control of the floor- Emelia Malton’s sparkling green eyes had zeroed in on the two and seemed very interested.

Well…that was a good sign, he supposed…

Gasps from the crowd brought the loon’s focus back to the spectacle on the dance floor. He looked back just in time to see the tangoing twosome at the tail end of a tight turn where Maravilla had been lifted several inches off of the floor with her legs spread at a sharp angle only to continue stepping and turning around her dance partner in an impressively fast series of steps and kicks. They moved across the floor as if guided by the music to a destination unknown to anyone but themselves, taking several lunging steps, small turns, and dynamic spins, all culminating in a dramatic dip with Steelbeak lunging forward while Maravilla leaned back in his strong grip and extended one arm back gracefully.

When they rose back up into a standing position, the jaybird stepped as if trying to walk away, but the lighter fowl grabbed her by the arm and waist, stopping her in her tracks. He then moved behind her, allowing his fingertips to skim across the back of her shoulders and her hips until he was folding both of her arms forward in a facsimile of an embrace with his gleaming beak dangerously close to the side of her neck through her messy multi-colored locks of hair. The metal of his namesake moved upwards until Steelbeak was upright once more, his hands guiding the purple ones in his grip backwards as the two took a lunging step forward in unison. One large hand continued holding the darker one as they moved while the other returned once more to the purplish jay’s waist, allowing her to bring her now free hand up dramatically before being released in a quick spin that had her gown and hair flying in a dynamic silhouette.

The spin ended with both of Maravilla’s hands joined together above her head in a circle, leaving her body open for Steelbeak to step in and wrap one arm around her lower back while their beaks once again got far too close together (too close for Dominic’s liking, anyway). Purple arms lowered so the jay’s hands could grab onto Steelbeak’s upper arms for support as they turned and stepped to the side in a way that had her leaning on her toes. As they came back up, the pair stepped into a sharp turn that once more required off-white feathered hands to support his (dance) partner as she was lifted from the ground with her legs kept straight at a dynamic angle before being dipped backwards with her legs bent immediately upon landing.

The two stepped together again, first going back to allow the jay to rise up to her feet, and then forward with one leg raised in a sharp angle that made the slit on her dress impossible to ignore as it exposed the black stockings covering her other leg all the way up to the lacy garter-belt that held the fabric in place. All the while, Steelbeak kept his hands on Maravilla’s waist, right up until he took a long step back with one leg that brought him back in front of her with her raised knee supported by the thigh of his other leg, one hand finally letting go to bring the smaller purple one into his grasp once more. The movement was followed by a series of backwards steps that ended with the jaybird leaning back so far that the only thing supporting her was the large palm on her lower back.

Dominic felt his blood boil as he watched a purple hand creep up the rooster’s chest and collar, teasing the feathers along his neck and briefly touching his cheek before the purplish jay quickly turned away. The pair stepped to the music with Maravilla’s back pressed to Steelbeak’s front while he held one of her hands in his own and kept his other pressed near her side as a guide. Both hands soon went to support the one held in his grasp as the smaller fowl stepped and turned into a deep lunge while facing Steelbeak before using his strength to easily slide back up to her feet in a fraction of a second.

More intricate footwork- steps where feet barely missed each other in a calculated dance, swift kicks and turns, all while never missing a beat- preceded a daring lift that had the crowd gasping and applauding as the lady in red was picked up by the waist and brought high enough off the ground that she could kick both feet upwards one after another before being set down just long enough to jump into a bold midair split while being spun about by her (dance) partner. The stunt was followed by several more quick turns, close steps, and sharp kicks that somehow wove between and around each other’s legs like an elaborate tapestry being brought together by a master craftsman.

Soon they reached another crescendo in the music and acted accordingly, the smaller avian allowing herself to be lifted clean off the ground by her waist, her back pressed against the lighter bird’s chest, and her legs bent at the knee on either side of his waist as he spun them in a full circle. The moment her feet touched the ground again, Maravilla had but a moment to get in position as Steelbeak stepped in front of her and took her hand in his own once more, guiding her in a few backward steps before the music’s grand crescendo.

At a subtle nod from the colorful woman, the lighter fowl spun her outward so they were at arm’s distance from one another. Then, when he pulled her back in, Steelbeak used the momentum to skillfully lift and roll Maravilla up onto his shoulder, allow her to roll across his back while kicking her feet up to maintain momentum, then catch on his other side with one hand at her waist and the other just below her chest. The pair didn’t stop there, however. Still coasting off of their built up momentum, they continued spinning while he held her aloft with her legs spread and feet never touching the ground. Then, after her feet finally returned to the dance floor, the jaybird quickly spun before falling back in another dramatic dip that the rooster caught her in perfectly.

They lingered in that pose for a moment, purple eyeshadow covered eyes closed while the dark grey ones above gave her a brief, satisfied look…before sliding up daringly to the foxy hostess above and winking directly at her with a suave, charming smirk that Dominic adamantly refused to acknowledge as being anything less than cheesy and over the top (his face was flushed with anger, and nothing else, darn it). The look only lasted a mere second, though, as he soon brought his (dance) partner back up slowly, their faces coming so close together and lingering long enough to trick any onlookers standing at the wrong angle that the pair were actually kissing (luckily Dominic was NOT standing at such an angle).

Once she was upright again, Maravilla braced her hands against Steelbeak’s shoulder and upper arm as he held her around the waist, giving her ample support to slowly raise the leg on the same side as the slit in her dress in an enticing way and allowing the red fabric to creep up her thigh until she was able to extend it fully while one of her hands moved into Steelbeak’s own to maintain her balance. She was slowly spun around on her one leg like a ballerina in a music box until her arm was brought upwards and left in a raised position when Steelbeak slipped around behind her, the extended leg now bending backwards to follow his movements and curl around his side.

Arms around the purple bird’s torso, Steelbeak guided the darker bird around in a graceful turn with her arms raised as she switched to her other foot. They stepped together like that a few times in both directions, her back to his front while he held her around her back and the base of her chest with ease so she was free to follow his long strides without fear of falling. After Maravilla turned to face him once more, the two spun and stepped together in more quick, intricate steps and kicks that went behind and around and between one another’s legs as easily as a breeze through an open window. As the song reached its final crescendo, the dancing duo pulled out all the stops and turned into a series of spins and lifts that resulted in Maravilla’s feet barely touching the ground for more than a second before being lifted and spun once more- the grand finale being a daring move where the larger fowl tossed his (dance) partner into the air, much to the crowd’s gasping astonishment, caught her while spinning, and ended with the two leaning back in one last dramatic dip with his hands bracing the jaybird’s back as she extended one arm in a graceful arch behind herself.

The dancefloor quickly erupted in a chorus of cheers and applause for the exemplary performance. The pair of now slightly-breathless agents brought themselves upright and bowed, sending a few winks and, in Maravilla’s case, kisses to the cheering audience.

Before parting ways, Steelbeak took one of the smaller bird’s hands in his own and winked at her while giving the purple appendage a quick kiss. From his spot, Dominic could make out the words “Thanks for the dance, Vi.” coming from his partner’s beak.

The loon felt his blood boil when the femme fatale reached up with her free hand to trace a finger along the rooster’s chest and reply with “You know I’m always up for a good time.”

Feeling he’d seen all he needed to (and more than he wanted to), Dominic returned to his spot by the bar before the rest of the crowd could disperse- he was already feeling agitated and he didn’t want to be set off by some intoxicated socialite accidentally bumping into him. Once he’d reached a spot on the wall by the bar, the red-eyed fowl folded his arms and scowled down at the floor. Fury was still bubbling in his chest, images of the dancing duo fresh in his mind. He could see every dip, spin, and embrace that had taken place replaying over and over again in his mind’s eye.

Did Steelbeak really need to do all of that with her? He could understand some contact being necessary for a dance, but the way those two kept leaning into one another, it looked like they were constantly one step away from k-

Dominic quickly shook the thought from his head, dark fingertips gripping his sleeves to keep himself grounded in reality.

Steelbeak was just doing what he felt was necessary for the mission- it had all been a ploy to get Emelia Malton’s attention. He was simply putting on a show and playing the part of the charming playboy, a role that he’d perfected over the years that was something he only used on people he wasn’t interested in.

At least……that’s what Dominic hoped was the case…

As much as he didn’t want to admit it, part of him had…doubts…Steelbeak didn’t exactly hide the fact that an overwhelming majority of his previous “romantic relationships” had been for one thing and one thing only. He was used to relationships that relied on heavy amounts of physical contact to mean anything substantial. Now he suddenly found himself in a relationship where he hesitated to do so much as hold his partner’s hand? That had to be a big change for him.

Dominic knew Steelbeak wouldn’t be stupid enough to do something as life-threatening as go behind his back…but…that didn’t stop him from wondering if his partner regretted his decision to be with someone who took so much extra work for things that anyone else would consider trivial. He seemed fine most of the time, but lately the larger man had seemed a bit more frustrated- their previous interaction being a prime example- and it bothered Dominic that he couldn’t tell if it was because he was dissatisfied with their current relationship, or if it was something he’d done wrong, or-

“Geez, short fuse, ya look like someone just spit in your soda.”

With a shudder and a barely-successful attempt not to wretch at the imagery the other man’s words brought to the forefront of his mind, red eyes looked up from the floor to see Steelbeak joining him at his chosen brooding location. “Never use that analogy again.”

The taller fowl shrugged and leaned against the wall next to his partner, his own arms crossed in a way that almost mirrored the darker bird’s posture. “Whatever you say, red-eyes.” A subtle side-eyed glance told the loon all he needed to know about his companion’s current mood: While his tone had been civil, his posture was rigid and guarded. He was also avoiding eye contact and not even sparing the man next to him a single passing glance.

So he was still frustrated…great…

“…I didn’t know you could dance.” It was a pathetic attempt at an icebreaker, but it was the best Dominic could come up with to try starting up a conversation.

Another shrug of those broad shoulders. “Ya never asked.” Okay, that was fair. “An’ it’s not like we’ve ever been somewhere with dancin’ before, either.” Another valid point.

“I suppose that’s true..” Dominic nodded slightly, his eyes wandering around the room to avoid looking directly at his partner. “……You could’ve just asked me to dance with you…”

That, at least, got the other’s dark eyes to look away from the party and finally look at the man next to him with a side-eyed glance that was, honestly, a bit unreadable at the moment. “Didn’t know you could dance.” He parroted back and, just like that, his gaze was back to flitting across the room aimlessly. “Me an’ Mara ran a few missions together before, crashed a few parties- I knew she could dance AND put on one heck of a show. If I tried tossin’ you like that over my shoulder without a warnin’, you’d break my neck for it on the way down.” Okay, okay- Dominic would give him that one, too. “…‘sides…don’t think the plan would’ve worked as well if I danced with a guy..”

Dominic felt his temper bristling slightly at that last part, turning his head to face the metal-mouthed fowl and make sure his glare was felt full-force. “And what, pray-tell, even IS this plan? It would be nice if you let me know what exactly you’re doing since, unlike her-” He didn’t even need to say whom he was referring to, the venom in his voice made that perfectly clear. “-I seem to be out of the loop regarding our mission.”

For a moment, Steelbeak actually seemed taken aback by the loons’ sudden temper. But, just as quickly as his expression had changed to one of surprise and confusion, it shifted just as easily back to irritation and frustration. “What’s your deal, Deedee? You got a problem with me takin’ initiative for a change? Thought you’d like that, partner- take some of the load off your shoulders for once- but, looks like I’ve screwed things up again. So sorry for always bein’ such an embarrassment.” By the time he was done, his tone was equal parts venom and sarcasm.

Dominic scowled up at the taller man. “That’s not what I-” He paused briefly, the last part that was said finally registering in his mind and causing his expression to soften slightly in his confusion. “Wait, why would you think you’re-?”

Before he could finish his question, however, the clicking of heels on the hard floor and a female voice interrupted them…though it wasn’t Maravilla this time… “I must say…that was quite the performance~” The bickering birds looked away from each other to see the lady of the hour herself, Emelia Malton, standing before them. With a captivatingly coy smile on her face, it was clear whom exactly she was talking to. “Would you mind if I asked your name, Mr….?”

It was as if a switch had been flipped. The larger fowl’s mood instantly brightened as if he hadn’t just been arguing with his companion not even five seconds earlier. A suave, devilish, charming smile found its way to the metal-mouthed man’s beak and he stepped closer to the heiress. “Friends call me Steel.” One large off-white feathered hand lightly took hold of a far daintier furry pearl-white one and brought it to the rooster’s namesake, planting a kiss on the back of it. “But you can call me your next dance.”

Dominic had to fight back the overwhelming urge to roll his eyes (and the urge to blush, but he’d never admit to that one). He knew Steelbeak thought himself a “lady killer”, but there was no way something THAT cheesy would actually-

“A skilled dancer and a gentleman?” The foxy woman asked with a quiet laugh. “Where have you been hiding all night?”

The loon could feel his jaw trying to drop in disbelief, the only thing stopping it being his conscious effort to avoid looking like a fool.

That worked? That cheesy pickup line actually worked? Were women really THAT easy to win over?? (Ignoring once again the fact that HE had nearly blushed as well.)

Steelbeak just chuckled a shorter, less obnoxious version of his usual laugh and shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say? I’m a busy guy- things t’ do, business t’ take care of, ladies t’ keep company.” On his last point, he gave the woman a wink that had her laughing quietly behind her hand.

“Well, if you’re not too busy now, I know one lady in particular who’d love to keep your company for a while~” Green eyes sparkled with amusement before glancing down at the other avian present, as if just now acknowledging his existence. “That is, providing I’m not interrupting your meeting with your…?”

“Partner.” Dominic replied automatically, controlling his tone just enough to keep the majority of the coldness he felt towards the woman out of his voice for the sake of appearances.

One brow rose curiously as the vulpine vixen looked between the pair. “Partner? As in-?”

“Work partner.” Steelbeak quickly corrected. “We’re high rankin’ officers in our business, so we’re used t’ introducin’ ourselves as partners, but we’re just work partners.” Dark grey eyes gave the darker bird a quick but firm glance, their gaze harsh and leaving no room for argument if they didn’t want to risk letting their golden opportunity slip away.

“…Yes..” Dominic eventually agreed, ignoring the pain in his chest as if his heart was being torn out and put on display for open mockery. “Just work partners…”

That………That actually hurt to say…and he didn’t know why it hurt so badly but it did. It wasn’t as if he’d said anything that wasn’t TRUE- heck, he didn’t even say anything that he himself hadn’t said before at least a dozen times. But, for some reason, this felt different.

Emelia, being either blind or apathetic to the loon’s inner turmoil, simply smiled that same elitist socialite smile. “Oh, I see.” Her attention returned to the man she’d come seeking originally. “Well, if your work-partner doesn’t mind me stealing you away for a bit, I’d love to get to know you better. Perhaps over a few drinks?”

Steelbeak didn’t hesitate for even a fraction of a second. “I’m never one t’ turn down free drinks OR a pretty lady.” And there was that same (annoyingly charming) smile before he headed towards the bar with the billionaire, waving over his shoulder at the partner he’d left behind. “Go have some fun, red eyes- maybe it’ll put ya in a better mood.”

Dominic grit his teeth and turned away without a word. He didn’t know where in the room he was going, but anywhere was better than being within earshot of his partner’s terrible pickup lines and arrogant attitude. He had no desire to hear his partner flirting with someone else- even if it was for the good of their mission.

…At least……he hoped it was just for the mission…

__________________________________________________________

Across the room, Maravilla had finally made her way through the sea of admirers she’d acquired after her stunning performance and returned to the bar she’d left her companion at before. “Sorry for the wait, mi cielo- it seems the plan worked a little too well.” The smile on her face looked pretty far from apologetic as she reclaimed her seat next to the vulture.

Xaviera looked at the jay in confusion. “So…that was the plan? A dance?”

“A spectacular dance, but yes.” A purple feathered hand waved the bartender over as she continued. “The trap is set- now all we have to do is wait for our prey to take the bait.”

The taller bird still seemed confused and far from convinced. “Do you really think that’ll be enough? I mean, you looked great out there, Mari, don’t get me wrong…but…it was still just a dance??”

After ordering another glass of red wine, the darker bird’s attention returned to her fellow agent with a flirtatious smirk. “Oh? You think I look good when I’m dancing, hmh?” A purple fingertip somehow found its way under the vulture’s beak when she wasn’t paying attention, making her audibly swallow down the lump that had formed in her throat as the femme fatale leaned in closer. “I’ll have to make sure to save you a dance before the night’s over then, won’t I?”

It seemed making the taller woman blush was a magic trick the smaller one had mastered just to wield it against her at the most opportune (and occasionally inopportune) times. “I-! That’s not what-! I-I didn’t mean-! N-Not that I wouldn’t-!” Trying to regain her composure took a minute, but it was necessary to avoid her earlier embarrassment. Xaviera took a few deep breaths and got (most of) the blush blooming across her face under control. “I-I do trust your judgement, Mari…I’m just worried- what if it wasn’t enough to get her attention?”

“Don’t worry, mi cielo.” Maravilla took her drink with a grateful nod to the bartender. “If there’s one thing I know, it’s how a beautiful woman thinks.” A wink was sent at the lighter bird as if to emphasize that statement and did a fantastic job of unleashing the rampant reddening across her face once more. “And if there’s one other thing I know-” Raising her glass to take a sip, the jaybird peered deep into the red-tinted reflection of the ballroom presented to her, black eyes locking onto the image of one particularly frustrated loon making his way from one side of the room to the other. “-it’s how to fan the flames of war without getting burned.”

<--Previous Chapter Next Chapter-->

End Notes: Can’t lie, writing jealous/possessive Domino is a lot of fun, even if I do feel bad for him xD

Also, for anyone curious about the reference I used for the tang scene, it was this video . I spent a solid day writing this scene because I kept rewinding the video by a few seconds to make sure I was describing the movements correctly @_@

[yeoldontknow]

Totem

Author’s Note: this story is entirely an act of fiction. it contains strong, mature themes and features subjects which may be triggering or uncomfortable to read. these themes include, but not limited to: themes of abduction, references to ptsd, extreme trauma, and paranormal activity. please take these warnings seriously and do not read if any make you uncomfortable. | this story is written as a script, rather than a traditional prose fanfiction. even though its unusual, i still hope you enjoy it <3 happy spooptober! Pairing: Hoseok x Reader (oc; female) Genre: horror; suspense; thriller; haunted house au; light romance; au Summary: What follows is an account of YouTube vloggers Euripet3s1 and theJungProject. This is a report of the last known whereabouts of Jung Hoseok. Rating: M Warning: themes of abduction/ghostly possession; references to ptsd; extreme trauma; paranormal activity; explicit language; non-explicit nudity; graphic situations Word Count: 5.5K

Towards the end of my research for my Ph.D, I became fascinated by what has recently been cited as the "second wave" of realism films in production, thanks, in part, to the advent of creative social websites like YouTube and Vimeo. The introduction of reality and scripted reality television, alongside its relatively unilateral conjunction with the internet, sparked a new direction in filmmaking that prided itself on low budgets and the autonomy of immediate authorship. 

Where Vimeo encouraged, and favoured, well produced filmmaking and art house developments from a range of semi-professionals to professionals, YouTube saw a strong dynamic shift in what eventually was defined as vlogging. Video series like Marble Hornets, Fewdio, and curiously chilling uploads by users such as EverymanHYBRID became cult canon amongst internet users. Instead of humour posts, video game plays, and make-up tutorials, users sought creative expression in 'noise aesthetics' and the horror genre. 

On April 30, 2010, YouTube user Euripet3s1 (full name: Y/F/N Y/L/N) uploaded a video entitled #184-190 to her channel of 12,413 subscribers. It would be the final upload she would make before deactivating the account three weeks later, eventually removing herself from social media altogether. The video itself is an account of her trip to England to visit fellow YouTube vlogger and boyfriend theJungProject (full name: Jung Hoseok), who was residing in the country while finishing his degree, depicted through seven pieces of footage taken from video cameras and mobile phones. 

Euripet3s1's channel was a comedy and lifestyle channel, in which she would present everyday information in a humorous way. Therefore, the unsettling events in the final video left both fans and casual viewers stunned. Avid fans of the Marble Hornets series were the first to draw attention to the video, before it went viral on hundreds of forums, including Reddit and BuzzFeed. When the users’ account was deactivated, the video was removed from the website only to resurface two months later by user TwerK (full name: Kim Taehyung). There are only two videos on TwerK's channel: #184-190 and Help Explain This. 

Help Explain This was filmed in August 2011 and is the last surviving footage of Jung Hoseok.

Numerous attempts at paranormal investigations have occurred in the last two years with no results. Psychics have been brought to every location depicted, though their efforts have been futile. The pocket watch in the film has been defined, by paranormal researcher David Kelwayne, as a totem. To quote David:

 "A totem is an item left behind by the dead which they had ascribed deep personal meaning or symbolism during their life. To come into contact with a totem is to contact the spirit attached to it, even if said contact is relatively erroneous; to become connected to the totem is to become connected with the spirit, often permanently" (Seeking Answers: Beginner's Guide To The Paranormal, 54)

This report exists only to present the video as it was found, in its untouched manner, for archival and historical purposes. The research to be found on the events, people, and locations involved has lead many in vast circles and down endless rabbit holes. It is my hope that the academic world will provide its resources for the many seeking answers about what truly happened to Jung Hoseok during that week in April. 

 ~~

Editor’s note: Heretofore, the speakers will be quoted using their first initials rather than their usernames.

#184

Duration: 1:46

[Exterior. Night-vision mid-close up of dirt path. Leaves cover the ground and crunch audibly. Feet remain in view as two persons walk the path in brisk, even steps. A low male voice is heard, his accent distinctly Korean. ]

H: Are you filming, Y/N?

[A second voice speaks, female. She is American]

Y/N: I have no idea. Your camera is weird.

H: It's no different from any American camera. It's a SONY. Has the green dot gone on?

Y/N: Well, it's different in the dark. Yeah, it has.

H: Then it's filming. Point it at your face, dummy.

[Camera is lifted and spun towards the holder's face, the night vision on the camera giving her a blue glow. She is young, no more than 24. The fringe of her hair gets caught in her eyes, trapped there by the hood of her sweater. She smiles brightly, waving at the camera momentarily.]

Y/N: And so we meet again! Today I am joined by theJungProject -

[camera pans left. A young man, also no more than 24, is walking briskly with his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. He squints at the light of the camera and pulls a face by sticking out his tongue]

- say hi, Hobi.

H: [nods once] Hello, Tiddy Harem.

Y/N [sighing]: Must you call them that?

H: [shaking black hair out of his eyes; he sniffs, not looking at the camera] You have thirteen thousand subscribers and 12,950 of them are men. Yeah, I'd say it's a harem.

Y/N: [snorting] I do not have thirteen thousand. And that's an insult to my fifty female subscribers.

H: You know I’m playing. [sniffs] You have fantastic tits, though.

Y/N: You’re literally disgusting. [turns camera back to her face] So, as you all remember I landed last night in Heathrow, after which I got embarrassingly drunk on incredible beer. We spent most of the day being hungover before getting on a train from - what station was it?

H: [in background] Liverpool Street.

Y/N: Right, yeah. We got a train from there to here, [pulls camera back to wave hand, denoting surrounding location] which is apparently Suffolk…specifically Sudbury. We had a grand idea to go to the Borley Rectory because I'm in England and apparently that means it's okay for Hobi to go on a midnight ghost hunt.

H: I'm not ghost hunting, I'm just…exploring.

Y/N: [faces camera; raises one eyebrow]

[Camera turns off] 

~~~

#185

Duration: 7:08

[Interior; night. Camera pans from left to right as Y/N breathes heavily. The windows of the rectory are shattered. Leaves scatter the concrete floor. What little furniture existing within the house has been tattered and worn over time, the sheen of its once extraordinary grandeur decayed with dust and time. Y/N walks to her right, into a small dining area. The camera pans over a wooden table that is badly scratched, three long distinct marks marring the mahogany. A hand comes into view, Y/N’s, as she runs her fingers over the marks. The camera pans up and to the left, showing cabinets that are missing their drawers. She leaves the room, slowly walking towards the foyer. A mirror hangs on the wall, the light reflecting off the glass into the lens. She waves.]

H: [distantly; calling] Baby, come up here.

[Y/N head turns right, facing the direction of Hoseok’s voice. The camera turns right as she walks straight back toward a carpeted staircase. Slowly, she ascends it, her footsteps quiet and muffled by both the camera and the foliage. She sniffles. As she approaches the landing, a painting of a pasture comes into view. It is crooked. When she reaches the landing, the camera moves from right to left. There are three bedrooms]

Y/N: [loud whisper] Where are you?

H: [voice from left] In here.

[Camera passes through a doorway. Long shot of Hoseok at chest of drawers to the left. There is an empty bed on the right side of the room, the mattress bare and torn. The video pixelates for approximately two seconds, correcting itself. The windows of the bedroom are in tact, though the carpet has been ripped up from the floor in a seemingly random pattern. Y/N walks to where Hoseok is standing. Atop the chest are several items: a broken hairbrush, a small empty picture frame, an empty ring box and a pocket watch. Y/N zooms in on the pocket watch. Hoseok picks it up, his grip indelicate. Y/N turns the camera, and zooms out to a medium close up of Hoseok’s face as he inspects it]

H: [whispers] This rectory had hundreds of residents before it was condemned. I wonder whose this was.

Y/N: [also in a whisper] Hobi, this place was destroyed by a fire in 1939. Isn't it weird to you that there's still…..things, objects…belongings in here? Nothing seems terribly ruined.

[Pause. Hoseok does not reply. Y/N returns the subject to the pocket watch, appeasing him by maintaining focus on the object though her discomfort is evident.] It looks really old. Can't be from any time after 1920, look at the design. Early surrealist or something.

H: [humming in interest] How do you know that?

Y/N: I’m taking art history for my electives. I’m just saying it looks like something I’ve seen.

[The camera zooms back on to the pocket watch in Hoseok’s hand. There is a patch of dirt along the rim of the cover, but an intricate design of intertwined clock hands and numbers is distinct.]

H: This is mental. You know the more you look at it, the more it resembles a kind of face. Like from a masquerade. 

[Long pause]

Y/N: I don't see it. Where are you looking? 

[Hoseok’s thumb comes into view. It presses the button on the side to open the watch. The cover pops open with a soft click, revealing an elegant Victorian clock face.]

H: Too much to ask for it to be working, isn't it. [laughs]

Y/N: Probably needs to be wound. 

[Hoseok closes the pocket watch.]

[Cut. Interior. Y/N thuds down the stairs after Hoseok, hands clasped and both laughing They come to a stop in the parlor. Hoseok inspects bookshelves, looking for something or nothing, running his fingers over the dusted wood. Y/N turns the camera away and zooms in on a picture frame. It is badly singed. The image of a woman, who looks almost sad, is barely discernible.]

Y/N: [muttering] Something about this……isn't……

[The sound of piano notes echo loudly through the room. Y/N screams loudly, swears, and is visibly shaken as she turns toward the noise. Hoseok sits at a piano by the back of the room, playing Erik Satie's "Gnossienne No. 1." He is chuckling. Y/N approaches him.]

Y/N: There's a fucking piano?

H: [plays uninterrupted] Scare you, did I? 

Y/N: Hobi, is there anything about this that's ok? You said this place was destroyed by a fire and has been abandoned. Logic this out for me: why would there be a piano in a burned down house? Wouldn't the city have this cleared out?

[Hoseok shrugs]

Y/N: I think we should go. 

H: Don't want to spend the night here? We haven't seen anything yet.

Y/N: I paid £35 for a train ticket to this hell. I'll cut my losses and say we’ve seen plenty enough, okay? 

H: [expression softening, he stops playing. The silence is deafening.] Okay, baby, we can go.

[Cut. Exterior. Y/N and Hoseok walking along a residential sidewalk. Hoseok is holding the camera this time, pointed at Y/N in a long shot. Night vision is switched off, faces now illuminated by street lamps they pass. He whistles seductively.]

H: [whispering] Don’t tell anyone until she watches this guys...but I think I’m in love with her. [He turns the camera to face him. The camera zooms out to fit his face.] I mean it. [He looks over the camera to her.] I love her.

Y/N: [distant, off camera] What are you whining about back there?

H: [laughing, he catches up with Y/N and aims the camera at her profile] Say what you said again. 

Y/N: [biting her cheek, but smiling nonetheless] I said you're a twunt.

H: Look at that! Y/N has spent 30 hours in this country and is already adopting its language. 

Y/N: Yeah, well you are. Tell the audience what you did.

H: [turns the camera to his face and holds it out. His leather jacket is unzipped, revealing A Horrors band-tee shirt] I've been a naughty boy. [His other hand reaches into his pocket. He pulls out the pocket watch] Y/N’s upset with me because I wanted a souvenir. 

Y/N: It's not yours, Hoseok.

H: [turns his face to Y/N, camera still aimed at himself. He puts the watch back in his pocket] It's technically not anyone's. Besides, this is one thing we could at least fix. 

[Camera turns off]

~~

#186

Duration: 2:01

[Interior. Hotel bedroom. Y/N sits at the desk provided, laptop open as she uploads footage from the video camera onto her computer. Her back is to the camera. The pocket watch twirls in front of the screen. Hoseok hums. The camera flips, revealing his face. It is clear he is filming on his iPhone. He starts to mouth lyrics to "Don't Stop Me Now," which is playing in the background. He flips the camera back to the watch.]

Y/N: [turns her head quickly over shoulder] Holy shit, come look at this.

[Hoseok drops the pocket watch and hoists himself off the sofa. He is wearing plaid flannel pants. He approaches the desk, leaning against the back of Y/N’s chair and extending his arm as he films.]

H: [kissing Y/N’s head off camera, voice muffled] What is it?

Y/N: You tell me. [looks back at Hoseok, anxious]

[Y/N has Final Cut open. She presses play on footage taken earlier in the evening. She has selected footage from when he ascended the stairs and entered the master bedroom. It plays without sound.]

H: What am I looking for….I don't…

Y/N: [quietly] Just wait. 

[The footage shows the camera panning through the room. As it comes to the bed, the footage warps, revealing a figure wearing black sitting on the mattress. It turns to look at the camera. It is wearing a white mask. The footage warps again. The figure is gone]

H: [reels back] What the fuck is that?! Did you put that in there?

Y/N: [turns to look at Hoseok] No. How would I do that? 

H: [words unsteady] I don't know, you're the film wizard. I still use iMovie. Maybe you have clever special effects or something. 

Y/N: I can assure you that I have no idea how to superimpose an image that clear onto digital footage. I took one semester of New Media, I'm hardly advanced.

H: How did you not see it when you were filming?

Y/N: I don't know, the camera went all pixelated when I was filming but I just thought the battery was running low or something. 

H: You better not be having me off.

Y/N: [brow furrowed, disbelieving] What does that sentence even mean? 

H: Is this punishment for taking the pocket watch?

Y/N: [pursing her lips briefly before she speaks] I'm really not that upset about the pocket watch. Why would I do that?

H: Whatever. Let's just go to bed and forget about it. I don’t want this to turn into a fight.

Y/N: Fine by me.

[Video ends] 

~~~

#187

Duration: 0:53

[Interior. Mid-Day. Close up of Y/N’s face. She stares at something out of view. Behind her, the scenery has changed. Band posters line the green wall, gig tickets and setlists framed next to them. This is what many assume is Hoseok’s bedroom.]

Y/N: [whispers] He's been like this all morning. I have no idea what the hell is going on. He was fine yesterday when we got back from Borley. Fine when we went to lunch, fine when we went to The Borderline for the Lescop gig. Now, he won't stop staring at that goddamn pocket watch. Look.

[The camera is flipped, again the film is from an iPhone. Hoseok sits shirtless on the bed, hickeys dotting his neck and collarbone, the pocket watch in his left hand. He stares almost impassively at it.]

Y/N: [loudly] Hobi.

[Hoseok does not respond]

Y/N: [louder] Hoseok, what the fuck are you doing?

[Hoseok does not respond]

Y/N: [mutters quietly] Jesus Christ.

[The camera tilts and wobbles, tipping down for a moment as Y/N bends to pick something up. A shoe is thrown in frame and lands on the bed right next to Hoseok. Hoseok lifts his head, dropping the watch. He smiles]

H: Want breakfast, baby?

Y/N: [long pause; quiet breathing] Uh huh.

[video ends]

~~~~

#188

Duration: 3:21

[Exterior. Mid-Day. Extreme long shot of Hoseok as he stands in front of a wooden sign that says Boxer's Lake. From the pockets of his leather jacket he pulls the pocket watch]

H: [looking over his shoulder; calls] You sure this is a good idea.

Y/N: [loudly; voice garbled by wind into microphone] You should have seen yourself, Hobi. It's gotta be the watch and I don’t want to go back there to return it.

[Hoseok reels back and throws the watch into the lake. He stares after it, shoulders drooped and jaw tense]

[Cut. Interior of a car. Hoseok is driving. Y/N points the camera at his face.]

Y/N: How do you feel?

H: Like my soul has been ripped from my chest.

[Pauses. Looks at Y/N]

H: [bursts into laughter] Chill out, baby. I feel fine. 

Y/N: [laughs weakly]

[Cut. Interior. Hoseok’s kitchen. Y/N films as Hoseok brews tea.]

H: You want any, love?

Y/N: Nah, water is fine.

H: [looks up at camera] Are you going to film everything? 

Y/N: We have an interested audience. Need to keep them satisfied. And besides, I’m only here for a week. I want to remember everything with you.

H: [begins to pull off shirt, suggestively wiggling his eyebrows.]

Y/N: [laughter] Don’t start with that!

H: [straightens and flattens shirt] You said satisfied! Y/N: [still laughing] Yeah, well, that’s just for me and I’d like to keep it that way.

[Hoseok bites his lip, happy, and walks to a cabinet to the left. He makes to open it, but his attention is brought to something on the counter beneath it. He pauses. His hand slowly drops from the knob of the cabinet. The colour drains from his face]

Y/N: What?

[Hoseok brings his eyes to the camera, lips parted. He is visibly disturbed. He lifts his right hand. He holds up the pocket watch. Y/N’s breath becomes heavy and labored]

H: [voice small] What the fuck.

[Camera shuts off]

~~~

#189

Duration: 8:32

[Interior. Mid-Day. Hoseok’s car, again. Y/N holds the camera as Hoseok drives, lens pointed out the windshield] 

Y/N: Slow down, Hobi.

H: [voice hollow] No. The fucking watch is ticking…and existing. How is any of what just happened possible?

Y/N: I don't know, I don't know.

H: This is fucking twisted.

Y/N: What are you going to do?

H: Leave it in a field? Pawn it off? Whatever, as long as it's far away from me.

Y/N: Why not burn it?

H: Any fire I make wouldn't get the metal hot enough.

Y/N: Just don't get reckless. [Pleading] Please, baby?

[Cut. Interior. A Pawnshop. The camera pans along a shelf. Various objects come into focus. A door opens and an older man comes into view from the back of the store. To the left of the frame, Hoseok walks over and introduces himself]

H: Hi. Uhm, I'm Hoseok. I need to sell a pocket watch?

[The store clerk looks from Hoseok to Y/N]

Clerk: Get your mate to turn the camera off and then we can do business. 

[Cut. Interior. Hoseok’s car. Y/N has rested the camera on the dashboard, pointed at the passing scenery]

H: WOOOO! £650 for a shitty old watch!!

Y/N: I think the fact that it was still working was what sold him.

H: Who knows how long it will work for. We practically robbed him.

Y/N: You practically robbed him. I almost got thrown out for having a camera.

H: Eh. He was probably drunk from boredom. I would be, too, if I had to sit in silence eight hours a day. 

[Cut. Interior. Night. Hoseok’s kitchen. Hoseok presses play on his answering machine as he takes off his coat. Y/N sits at a chair at the kitchen table and zooms in on a Sainsbury's frozen dinner.]

Y/N: Mmmmmm.

[In the background, a voice is heard on the answering machine.]

Recorded Voice: Mr. Jung. It's Geoff. You sold me a watch not two hours ago. I’d like to make it clear I don't appreciate being fucked with. [Y/N brings the camera around, landing on Hoseok who is paused at his refrigerator staring at the machine, frowning.] I get enough shit in my town, and I certainly don't need non-locals breezing through and pulling pranks. I'm giving you twenty-four hours to return the watch or my money to the store. If you don't, I'm calling the cops and we can settle this with legal action. [Machine beeps]

[Hoseok remains paused at the refrigerator - frozen. He begins to visibly tense and Y/N gets up from the kitchen table. She approaches him slowly, before Hoseok slams the refrigerator door shut and rushes into the living room]

Y/N: [shouts] Hoseok!

H: [yells] Where the fuck is it? WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT WITH ME?

[Y/N enters the living room and turns right. Hoseok is standing in front of his mantle, hitting his chest with the flat of his palms. He stares at the ceiling and screams]

H: [still yelling] YOU CAN HAVE YOUR FUCKING WATCH BACK, I DON'T WANT IT.

Y/N: [yelling over Hoseok] HOSEOK, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE HERE.

H: [looks at Y/N] Of course there is! How else would any of this be happening? [Turns abruptly and heads down the hallway. He disappears into his room.

Y/N: Fuck’s sake. 

[Y/N follows and enters Hoseok’s room. Hoseok is pulling books out of shelves. He abandons that project and quickly goes to his bed, where he up-turns his mattress]

H: [yelling again] WHERE IS IT, HUH?

Y/N: Hoseok, calm the hell down!

[Hoseok turns and rushes past Y/N. Y/N follows]

Y/N: Hoseok, ripping up the house isn't going to solve anything!

H: It's not in my room, it's not in the kitchen. It makes itself known, right? It wants to fucking be seen. The goddamn ATTENTION WHORE.

Y/N: It's an inanimate object, Hoseok, stop!

[Hoseok stomps into the kitchen and picks up his jacket. He pauses for a moment, softening, and reaches into a pocket. He pulls out the watch]

H: [staring at the watch] Something…someone…whatever…wants me to have this. I don't. Fucking. Want it.

[**In the recorded footage, a voice is heard. It clearly says “But you took it.” Neither Y/N nor Hoseok reacts to it and neither has spoken. This voice was pointed out by YouTube user Sarkozam12**]

[camera turns off]

~~~

#190

Duration: 8:00

[Interior. Night. The couches and chairs have been removed from Hoseok’s living room. Two pillows are placed on the ground, side by side, beneath the coffee table where a ouija board as been set up. The scene is lit by numerous candles along the floor and mantle. Fingers over the microphone cause muffled noises and garbled sounds. Hoseok enters from frame right. He sits, in jeans a tee shirt, on one of the pillows. He takes a swig of cider before setting it next to him. He looks slightly above the camera.]

Y/N: [off camera] This is a terrible idea, Hobi.

H: [solemn] Is the camera set up?

Y/N: [pauses, sighs] Yeah, it's just about.done tightening the tripod.

H: Good.

[Y/N enters from the bottom of frame left. It's a long shot of the living room. Y/N sits next to Hoseok. They look at each other briefly. Hoseok draws his eyes away and onto the Oujia board. Y/N’s brow furrows, and she reaches to twine her fingers with Hoseok’s. The contact has him return his gaze to hers, smiling before he leans in and kisses her deeply. Pulling back, he kisses her knuckles three times. Hoseok’s expression hardens]

H: [quietly] I love you.

Y/N: [smiling; quietly] I’m still not used to you saying that. [pauses] I love you, too.

H: [inhaling deeply] Let's do this.

[Y/N pauses. Hoseok looks at her, concerned.]

H: Don't tell me you're quitting on this.

Y/N: [looks at the ground] Ouija boards are scary, serious shit, Hoseok. I don't think we should fuck around with this. We’ve already fucked up so much shit.

H: [shaking his head] I fucked up. And I just don’t know what other choice I have.

[Y/N pauses briefly, hesitating before leaning in to kiss him once more. They whisper to one another as they break apart, kissing for a few more seconds before separating fully. Pulling her hand from his, she sighs and places both hands on the planchette. Hoseok follows suit and does the same]

H: [uncomfortable] What do I say?

Y/N: [loudly] Is there anyone here with us?

[They remain quiet and wait. The planchette does not move.]

H: What if we contact Zozo? That's the opposite of what I want.

Y/N: [giggling, though her sense of amusement is unconvicing] Don't be stupid. 

[Both are silenced by the planchette which has started to move in swirls across the board.]

H: Is that you?

Y/N: No, I'm barely touching this.

H: [shaking his head] It's not me.

[The planchette stops on the word 'Bye']

H: [pauses] Well, that's sinister.

[The video warps into pixels and corrects itself. Three candles have been blown out. Y/N is panicked]

Y/N: What the fuck did that?

H: [loudly] What is your name?

[The planchette moves, quickly. Y/N says the letters it stops on.]

Y/N: L…A…I…R…R…E. D…D…D…E…A…T…H.

H: Lairreedddeath? The hell?

Y/N: I'm busy focusing on the part that - [The video warps. the masked figure from #186 appears behind Hoseok, getting closer after each pixel correction. A white hand with sharp nails reaches for his neck. It disappears] in the fire?

[The Marimba ringtone of an iPhone goes off]

H: Shit. That's mine.

Y/N: Leave it.

[The planchette spins out of control and falls from the table onto the floor. All the candles are blown out at the same time, though there is no wind to disrupt the atmosphere. The camera shifts to night vision. Both draw their attention to the bright light from the camera]

Y/N: Does your camera shift modes automatically?

H: No, what -

[A loud thud is heard, the sound of a door slamming open to the left, its metal knob hitting the wall. The door to what is considered a broom closet has flung open, but its interior is black and occasionally blurred by pixelated static. Y/N turns to look at the noise, but Hoseok disappears from view. We hear him scream]

Y/N: Hoseok?!? [Y/N searches frantically for where the sound is coming from. She turns her attention back to the door, eyes wide in alarm.] Hoseok? 

[Y/N gets up and approaches the closet but the door slams shut. The lights of the house come on. Y/N opens the door to the closet. It is just a closet. The tripod falls over. The screen goes blue and flashes NO BATTERY]

~~~

Given the found footage nature of the editing and the allusion by Hoseok that Y/N was proficient in film editing, at least once mentioning the capability of using special effects in post production, many of the initial viewers of #186-190 believed the story of Hoseok’s disappearance was a clever hoax. While this report remains unbiased, it is important to point out several facts. 

Firstly, it is true that Jung Hoseok went missing from his shared home April 25, 2010. The phone call received on his mobile during #190 was from his mother, mentioned in Y/F/N Y/L/N’s police report, who had not seen her son since April 11, 2010. Secondly, the pocket watch, and the clothing in which Hoseok disappeared in, have never been found. Until August 2011, the footage captured during #190 depicted the last known whereabouts of Jung Hoseok. 

When Y/N deactivated her account, #184-190 was removed from YouTube in accordance with YouTube’s privacy policies, however not before user TwerK had downloaded the video to a flash drive. In June of 2010, the video was uploaded to Kim Taehyung’s channel, with reasons citing the urgency for fans and interested parties to continue to study the video - i.e in search of clues or proof of a hoax. It is worth noting that while there is a well documented friendship and romantic relationship between Euripet3s1 and theJungProject (ie: both were subscribers to each other's channels, the earliest comments on each party's videos date back to 2008, Euripet3s1 tagged theJungProject in a video called Top 10 Films of 2009, etc) TwerK did not subscribe to either channel, nor has he confessed to knowing either personally. 

It is because of these reasons that the footage in Help Explain This is, in a word, astounding. The film itself was uploaded with a description consisting of a personal plea from Taehyung to help explain what he had caught. Once the video was live, Taehyung experienced a brief period of notoriety on the internet, while simultaneously going under fire by those close to Hoseok who called his video 'tactless and offensive.' 

It is also worth noting that Y/N has become reclusive since these events and has not been available for comment since late 2010, on advice from her therapist.

~~

Help Explain This

Duration: 4:03

[Interior. Mid-Day. Footsteps thud up the stairs of Borley Rectory. The camera is pointed at the landing, but the painting is gone. The person arrives at the landing and he speaks. He is Korean.]

T: Okay. So. Kim Taehyung here. I’m sorry in advance for any English mistakes, but a few subscribers wanted me to visit the rectory while I am here on vacation. Yes, yes, I know it's weird that my YouTube channel only has one video on it, but some of you on Reddit convinced me to make this.  Here we are [Camera pans right to left, light pours in from holes in the ceiling. The home appears to be empty.]. Exact same spot where Euripet3s1 stood. As you can see there is no painting on the wall. Ehm.

[He turns to his left and enters the bedroom, panning the camera right to left as Y/N had done. A naked figure stands in the back right corner of the bedroom, his back to the camera, facing the wall]

T: Again, the room is completely empty. The walls are badly burned. I know you all want to believe this was a hoax, but there's no way these two had the budget. You can't even get up the stairs easily without worrying about falling through.

[He turns left, zooming to an extreme long shot. The right side of the room out of frame.] 

T: This is where theJungProject found the pocket watch. No chest of drawers here. [Camera pans down, showing his feet] You can see the boards of the floor are burned. I'm too afraid to even put weight there. [He presses his foot to the floor, retracting it immediately.]

[Raising the camera, he turns the camera back to right, slightly, showing the whole of the room. The figure from the corner has turned around and is standing naked in a full body shot. The camera pixelates. The figure is now close to the lens, able to be viewed from the middle of the waist up. His mouth and eyes are wide open, but blackened as though holes. The figure is clearly Jung Hoseok.]

T: That's it, then. Sorry the video was so lame.

[He turns and leaves the room. The camera does one last pan from the landing back to the room. The foyer below is empty. The room he had just exited is empty]

Fin.

Author’s Note #2: The locations in this story - Borley Rectory, Boxer's Lake, Liverpool Street Station, Suffolk, and Sudbury - are all real places. Borley Rectory was known as 'the most haunted house in England' and it did get severely burned in 1939. There is actually a woman who haunted the building named Marie Lairre. 

[lykegenia]

I think it’s time for a hype post! Inspired by hype posts by @tortuosity-writes and @fine-tevinter-wines​ - banner by me!

Are you:

New to Avatar: The Last Airbender and looking to expand your experience with compelling fic?

Redisovering your love for the show and wanting something a little bit different?

Wishing the chemistry between Zuko and Katara had been explored in more depth in the show?

Looking for a story that adds to the world of Avatar and its themes?

Are you fond of:

Detailed worldbilding wrapped in an action-packed story full of political machinations, mistaken identities, and a quest to save the world?

Themes of choice, destiny, justice, and revenge?

Slow burn romances with lots of mutual pining?

AUs that ask the question of what would the world be like if only one thing were different?

Do you think it’s neat when A:tLA fanfiction features:

Zuko and Katara treating each other as equals as they grow closer and develop feelings for each other?

Katara being shown as compassionate, but also as a powerful waterbender?

Zuko struggling with morality and finding his sense of honour?

Found family dynamics where trust is earned?

Nuanced portrayals of secondary characters that doesn’t leave them sidelined?

Explorations of bending and what benders are capable of?

Conversations about how the war has affected the characters emotionally, and how they grow from that?

THEN DO I HAVE A FIC FOR YOU!

If you have answered yes to at least some of these questions, you might want to take a look at The Things We Hide

A 120k enemies-to-lovers AU asking what might have been different if The Southern Water Tribe han’t been wiped out in the early years of the Hundred Years War, featuring a more jaded Katara and a Zuko who just wants to do what is right, caught in a gripping tale of vengeance, forgiveness, and love as they struggle to do what is best for their people.

But don’t take my word for it, here is what others have to say:

I remember being fairly new to this fandom and pairing and it was this fic with its intricate storytelling and captivating characters ... that convinced me to stay and I love it so much!

Oh my GOSH IT WAS SO GOOD!!!! I adored the characterization of everyone, the way you took elements of the plot and twisted them just so. The whole story was so tight and concise and well paced, and your writing a joy to read. The thematic elements were *chefs kiss*—the recurring theme of the painted lady  and the blue spirit, yin and yang... This is one of those fanfic stories you read where you go, wow, this legit could have been a book I picked up at B&N. I loved it, it’s officially going in my bookmarked favs and on my kindle.

I just couldn't stop reading the whole thing at once. So much creativity, but still a wink here and there to the original, this is the optimal state of a fanfiction!

This was nothing short of utterly beautiful! I loved every single piece of Southern culture that you included in this story, it felt so careful and respected, I really appreciate the emotions you used. Don’t get me started on the breathtaking battles either!? This was so cleverly written that I’ve had to pause multiple times just to truly appreciate what you’ve created. Thank you so much for sticking with this ... this story has helped me get through one of the most stressful weeks I’ve faced in a long time. I can’t wait to read it over and over again.

B IT CH IM SO IN LOVE HOLY S HIT GOOD WRITING SUCH GOOD WRITING IM DFHBBJJJJBVVCCV H O HGFHBV

I want you to know this story blew me away and the political world that you've built was so fascinating and complex and well thought out! I think the relationships the characters have to each other and i think zuko and katara were each really well fleshed out, interesting characters (and i loved that they had such rich lives outside of each other too!!!!). like, your writing is amazing and characterization is so good and the budding romance between zutara in the first half was very sweet! and i loved all of it! but i am legit IN AWE of the wider world building here, the intricacies of the politics, etc. like, i think it's the best i've read in the entire fandom.

This fic is a literal masterpiece. Your prose is so smooth and reads so well, you can really feel the scene. Your imagery is amazing and I wish I could write half as well as you lol. All the characterizations were spot on. I absolutely loved bamf Katara. She was indeed a bamf. She was just so cool. And I really enjoyed the Gaang banter. This fic had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I had to stop myself from staying up all night reading it.

I'm actually going to cry. WOW.

[marsandchariot]

Some thoughts on the natal chart of Heaven’s Gate

William Lilly (b. 1608) popularized the natal chart as a reflection of the individual, but ancient astrology was utilized more as a lens for global (relatively speaking) events like war, agricultural cycles, weather, and the longevity or character of royal dynasties. I love looking at charts in general but I especially enjoy thinking about events’ inceptions as individual narratives that are socially metabolized. Stories jump out of event charts differently than they do from individual charts. If you are someone who considers your own birth chart or the charts of others, make sure also to explore the dates of different events in your life (books, films etc are also fun to examine in this way). Any moment you select is subject to the same archetypal cast of symbols as is an individual life.

This is a bit Aquarian in the idea that we can examine the social through a zooming out from or the collapsing of individual psychologies into macro, mythic surfaces. In keeping with Aquarian themes, I watched a bit of the new Heaven’s Gate doc last night. I wouldn’t say I’m fascinated by cults etc etc, but I can’t help responding to a birth time, and Heaven’s Gate has one! For me this is an ideal reading, where most of what I know about Heaven’s Gate is largely through osmosis. It wasn’t until after watching some of the first episode that I learned that the buildup to what we consider the culminating event was actually ~20 years in the making. I have not studied the progression of--or figures central to--the movement. Some people do their best work when they are immersed in research of a subject; I myself tend toward flash or impressionism, so I want to capture this phase before I continue watching the documentary. 

RISING NEPTUNE IN SAGITTARIUS

I’m thinking of this placement less as a moment of inception (the way we might read it in the chart of an individual, as the experience of separation from the body of the parent, becoming a discrete entity) and more descriptive of the way we might encounter the cultural phenomenon of Heaven’s Gate at first glance. It may feel rooted in occultism or obscurity—Sagittarius carries notions of philosophy, education, intellectual magic; I’m thinking of The Magician card and its depiction of a single figure controlling all the elements, convening heaven and earth in their alchemical process of discovery. We often characterize movements as centering around a single idea, or a powerful persona, as with Charles Manson or Jim Jones, but there is always a larger atmosphere to examine. Neptune asks us to look beyond superficial characterizations of events in order to understand their mundanity in equal measure to their mystique. Foucault refers to all research as archaeological in that it is a type of unearthing or excavation, a making-sense of objects that may no longer exist and so deliver not direct answers but different articulations of fragmented meaning. What is important too is that Neptune may represent the illusion of origins and root causes. From Stalker (1979), “I dig for the truth, but while I do, something happens to it.” Obscurity is not dispelled, but re-oriented. 

CAPRICORN MOON IN 2ND HOUSE opposite SATURN IN CANCER, 8TH HOUSE 

We might think of the moon as the id or the unconscious. Liz Greene describes the difference between the sun and the moon as the difference between aspiration and unconscious emotional need—the former describes an active mode of attainment or embodiment, while the latter is a pulsing lack to which one cannot help but respond. The moon is in detriment in Capricorn, in mutual reception with Saturn, who also experiences detriment in Cancer. This opposition is uncomfortable—the emotional needs are difficult to meet. This difficulty may describe the dispositions of those drawn to the Heaven’s Gate movement; Cancer in 8th may describe one who doesn’t feel “at home”—like the Gnostic subject, who pledges allegiance to the god of an entirely different realm, and must suffer alienation in this realm as a result. The moon’s placement speaks to an unsettled sense of self, a need to strive or work toward a comfortable psychological situation. This moon does not “have enough”—not necessarily in a material sense, but they do feel dispossessed, as if their history and culture do not belong to them, or they do not belong to the history they have been given. 

 ARIES JUPITER IN 5TH HOUSE 

The 5th house speaks to creation, production, a making manifest. What Heaven’s Gate purported to give was a way forward—a strategy, a directive. It doesn’t take particularly complex analysis to guess that for the emotionally listless or dislocated, this resolve would have been seductive. Joan Didion’s collection, The White Album (1979), describes this generation far more incisively and expertly than I will attempt to do here; instead, picture the Aries Jupiter as striding confidently forward without fear, of translating subjective experience into universal understanding, resulting in decisive action. This was not just an idea, but a way to manifest one’s presence in the world; not just about joining a collective, but about using the language of collective experience to articulate higher individual selfhood. 

 GEMINI MARS IN 7TH TRINE LIBRA MERCURY + PLUTO IN 11TH 

With two Geminis exiting the White House next month, it feels important to acknowledge the more toxic stereotypical Gemini qualities at play in tearing the country apart for the last four years (though of course the foundation for such a conflict is deeper-rooted and further-reaching than a single presidential term, as it is unrealistic to attribute the momentum of such movements to simply a demagogue). The Trump argument for a stolen election is one element of what has been described as “mass political disinformation.” Gemini cares less about the truth, and more about how a truth is expressed; less about the effectiveness of an idea, and more about being pleased by its shape. And they won’t be pinned down, held to anything they’ve previously said, if in some later context that thing no longer serves them (if you watch enough Bob Dylan interviews you’ll see what I mean—don’t ask him about folk music, don’t ask him what he believes, don’t ask him where he’s from—if you never tell the truth, then it’s almost like you’re never really lying, you’re just saying things, creating momentum through language).

We can see this stereotype on the one hand as, yes, members of Heaven’s Gate were lied to and manipulated. Gemini’s ruler, Mercury, is a slick operator in Libra. Libra quells doubt, seals holes, soothes unease—all the dynamics involved in the appearance of equilibrium or social harmony. We can see Mercury’s conjunction with Pluto as the god of communication acting in service to the god of death. The rhetoric of Heaven’s Gate is designed to ease its members toward radical sacrifice. The 11th house speaks to communities, groups, friends—the social world, and, in this case, social organization and purpose.

The 7th house is the house of the Other, and is where we may look in an individual’s chart to read their close 1:1 relationships. It would have been important for Heaven’s Gate to discredit the friends and families of their members, to emphasize that these are the people that the members should no longer trust and confide in. The Gemini stereotype here, of manipulation and dishonesty, is projected onto the Other—a Them—to consolidate the self, an Us. Mars here makes the disconnection from loved ones particularly dramatic. Mars wants to cut, to define, to separate; it is the individuating act. It is also worth mentioning Lynn Bell’s description of Mars as the protector of the moon, of the unconscious; if the moon feels threatened, it is Mars who steps in and takes over. If an increased involvement in Heaven’s Gate results in members’ loved one’s questioning their involvement, then it is the deep-seated sense of alienation (the moon) that is heightened, ameliorated by a severing of ties (Mars). If Gemini speaks to duality or two-ness, Mars is about making that division manifest. 

LEO VENUS IN 9TH 

The 9th House in Hellenistic astrology represents temple work or religious duties, and so for readings of individuals alive today we typically adapt this meaning to describe academic or professional institutions, but here we can really embrace the ancient associations. This is absolutely how the institution of Heaven’s Gate represented itself—transparent, loving, and in loyal service to the good, and to the happiness of its members. The “gate” itself feels as if it refers to a 9th house structure (thinking of heaven elsewhere described as a “kingdom”), with Venus at the threshold guiding members toward an embrace of institutional values. I haven’t looked at the charts for Ti and Do, but it feels significant that they are “the Two”—a platonic pair whose relationship forms the wellspring of the movement, which feels very Venusian. We might place The Lovers card beside the card of The Devil, and see the same figures in both cards. The Lovers’ equivalent in the zodiac, of course, is Gemini. 

VIRGO SUN IN 10th 

If the moon is the id, the sun is the ego—the conscious experience of the self, the path that is chosen, the disposition by which the self feels most connected to worldly perception. The 10th house, “the crown you wear,” positions the ego identity of Heaven’s Gate; what it thinks it is, as a public organization that is meant to efficiently serve its members—to construct and carry out a plan. It is interesting to think of Virgo and Scorpio on either side of Libra, two weights in balance on the scale; this also describes the Persephone myth, in which Virgo descends to the realm of Scorpio and returns with divine knowledge, incurring the changing of the seasons; whose being is intricately tied to the rotation of the earth. Virgo’s responsibility, then, is to bear the fate of the world in their minute actions. Heaven’s Gate in this way positions itself as serving humanity through a practical, incremental system, which relies on everyone “doing their part.” 

SCORPIO URANUS IN 12TH 

To me it is difficult to find more aptly conflated synonyms for death, unless maybe you replace Uranus with Pluto. Uranian matters are dramatic, revolutionary. They speak to transformative change—as does the 12th house, as does Scorpio. This placement imbues Heaven’s Gate with such an inevitability of death, but the kind of death that is cosmically resonant in that it has the power to change how death in this context is understood. This 12th house, “the bottoming out,” feels like a reservoir that feeds into the Sagittarian Neptune, the sediment that must be continuously re-worked or rediscovered in whatever form it takes in its periods of hibernation. Neptune in Sagittarius may represent the fossilization process of Uranus in Scorpio. I may have more to say about this once I finish the documentary, but I am looking forward to watching for impressions of how “death” is constructed, or re-made as an artifact of social, extraterrestrial liberation.