#;skype shenanigans

[samethstarrart]

[idontwannapickausername]

I miss my girlfriend (we’re literally on Skype & she left her room for a second to get a drink)

[itmeblog]

It's Black History Month

(Over here in the US of A) So here are some podcasts to check out.

Absolutely no Adventures - a fantasy (un)adventure story that follows Sig, the owner of Signature Eats bakery, as he aggressively avoids becoming embroiled in any daring quests or chosen one shenanigans even though the universe really seems to want him to do just that. This is a story about cutting Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey off at the knees to chill with friends and staying far, far away from the slightest whiff of adventure. And also baking. This is also a story about baking.

Afflicted - Lovecraft Country meets True Blood in this new series from award-winning producers Tonia Ransom and Jen Zink. In season one, a small East Texas town suffers supernatural disasters caused by a demonic book bound in human flesh…and only hoodoo can save the town from its affliction.

Apollyon - In the early 22nd century, the Apollyon virus wiped out 75% of the world’s population, and now most of the world is governed by the International Conglomerate of Research Scientists. Dr. Theo Ramsey is an ICRS research scientist who may have just discovered an effective vaccine for Apollyon, but the stakes to get the vaccine to the public are higher than she ever imagined.

Between Heartbeats - Tan immersive Urban Fantasy about the hurt, the powerful, and their growth within a broken world. We follow Sundiata, a guilt-ridden time manipulator with a knack for unemployment, and Nadia, a moralistic telepath determined not to lose control, as they balance frayed mental health against an unsympathetic police state. But when a malevolent presence rears is head, their neuroses become the least of their problems. Can our heroes make the most of their abilities before the option is taken from them?

Fan Wars: The Empire Claps Back - Two passionate Star Wars fans on opposite sides of the Last Jedi debate argue via Skype after their favorite forum closes down. If you love Star Wars (or call yourself a proud member of any fandom), you’ll love this romantic comedy told via

Harlem Queen - a Black historical fiction audio drama based on the life and times of Black, woman, "gangster" Madame Stephanie St. Clair during the Harlem Renaissance.

His Royal Fakin' Highness - What if Ophelia helped Hamlet get his throne back? This modern day, romantic comedy re-imagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet asks just that. As they stage an engagement in the wake of the king's death, these childhood frenemies must decide between duty and love.

InCo (This one's mine :D) - A Sci-Fi story about a disgruntled information seller, a mysterious space boy, and an android doing her best.

Janus Descending - a limited series, science fiction/horror audio drama podcast, follows the arrival of two xenoarcheologists on a small world orbiting a binary star. But what starts off as an expedition to survey the planet and the remains of a lost alien civilization, turns into a monstrous game of cat and mouse, as the two scientists are left to face the creatures that killed the planet in the first place.

Lady Lucy - Lady Lucy is an audio drama inspired by Shakespeare's "Dark Lady" Sonnets, 127-154. Between running her brothel, fighting the Church, murdering her friends' abusive husbands, and pretending to be a poet, the last thing Lucy needed back in 1586 was a surprise visit from her former flame... Will Shakespeare.

Liars and Leeches - Tonya Wright felt it all after the tragic murders of her sister and brother-in-law in a random act of gun violence. Struggling to travel outside of her home, she now lives constantly on edge about perceived threats that seem to surround her.

Nightlight - Multi-award winning horror podcast featuring creepy stories with full audio production written by Black writers and performed by Black actors. So scary it’ll make you want to leave your night light on.

Null /Void - a science fiction audio drama about a young woman, Piper Lee, whose life is saved by a mysterious voice named Adelaide. Piper soon uncovers a malicious plot by a monopoly of a tech company and must work with her friends and an unusual ally to help foil their deadly plot.

Out of Ashes - (currently remastering season 1) Follow a group of survivors as they navigate the ruins of modern civilization and battle against demons, ghosts, monsters and the looming threat of extinction from an ancient power.

Small Victories - A recently recovered drug addict tries to start her new lease on life, too bad life has it out for her.  This dramatic comedy follows Marisol through the ups and downs of her life.

The Courtship of Mona Mae - In the 1870s, pioneers Mona Mae Christophe and Zekial Montgomery search the American West for Mona Mae's mother, Clara. Mona must recall a past, long forgotten in order to survive, so that she can find her mother, love and create a way of life for herself.

Vega a Sci-Fi Adventure Podcast - In a fantasy futuristic world, Vega Rex is employed by her government to kill off the world's worst criminals. She's never met a criminal she couldn't catch…until now. Join Vega as she journeys through a world of bumbling apprentices, powerful technogods, and her biggest challenge yet. Hosted by Ivuoma Hall.

Witchever Path - is an anthology series where your decisions effect the story. Our stories are based in America’s NorthEast, featuring characters finding themselves in the thick of the unknown while tackling issues like queer identity, gender, race, and spirituality. Stories often focus on the communities not typically seen in stories taking place in New England, and giving voice to the perspectives of those communities while uniting under some universal themes. And the supernatural happens. A lot.

(All descriptions were taken from websites)

If you want to find more and there are way more there's a directory :D

[foreverisntenough]

- YOU’RE MINE -

Summary: While you daydreamed about his face an ocean apart, he had no idea what yours was about to do to him. With a twist of fate and the heat of summer, a new relationship would completely ransack his heart - Everyday heavy with the thought of one another, neither of you were going to let the unexpected love of your life go. You were going to be his, you were his, and you were going to stay his.

Warnings: This series will contain fluff, suggestive, smut love bombing, little sad, and kind of angst- not sure what else really… if i miss anything please lmk!

Note: I hope you like it! There will definitely be more parts (don’t know how many just yet though.)

INDEX

Chapter 15 - ‘You’re Mine’

Trent had become home. After you had said I love you to each other somehow things got even better than they were before. You were so happy in Liverpool you never wanted to leave but it had to happen. You had to go home, you had to leave Trent. You had been in England for months. You finally had told your family you were seeing someone, a British boy from Liverpool. The conversation stopped there for a while but then you felt like the longer you stayed, the more you fell into an established relationship, the more photos that came out, they deserved to know how serious things were.

“Sorry, like the one that plays for Liverpool?” Your sister asked utterly confused over Skype with the rest of your family.

“Why wouldn’t you tell us this?” Your mum seemed annoyed at your secrecy.

“I initially didn’t know how serious it was... I just wanted to be sure, I guess but yeah, the one from Liverpool.” You stumbled over an explanation and then confirmed Trent’s identity to the shocked faces on the screen.

“Just want to say, this was not my idea…” Trent piped in from over the couch. He could be so obnoxious sometimes having to prove he was right. He had wanted to tell them sooner.

“Okay…” you rolled your eyes annoyed at his imposition, not helping the situation.

“Wait, he's there now!” Your sister squealed. Your dad had remained quiet but you saw his eyes light up hearing his familiar accent.

“So you’ve just been living in England?!” Your mom asked, she was so confused. Your parents had moved to your summer house out in a tiny coastal town a couple years ago so they didn’t really know what you got up to in New York day to day. You traveled a lot before so your mum had assumed your recent travel was just your usual shenanigans with your friends. She was just trying to piece together that all the flying you had been doing was for one purpose, the only purpose being Trent.

“I didn’t mean to keep it so quiet…” you tried to rectify the situation but were cut off.

“Are you ready for Thursday? Are you going Y/N?” Your dad spoke first to Trent. You were a little confused but waved for Trent to come to the computer. You repeated the question for him.

“Yeah, all set sir. We’re going in confident. We’ve been playing well.” Trent said almost like a response to a reporter. You could tell he got a little nervous being thrust into this call. He was adjusting his appearance staring into the small box of you two in the corner of the screen.

“I’m not going.” You confirmed. “Staying home in Liverpool.” You calling Liverpool home made Trent’s heart skip a beat, your mum’s eyes widen, your dad furrowed his brows.

“You’re not going to a Champions League semifinal? I really thought I raised you better than that.” He joked. Your dad’s quip lightened the mood immensely. Trent pulled over a stool to sit next to you and you both chatted with your family about the life you had been living for months

To your dads delight, once you had revealed your relationship, there was a lot of communication between him and Trent. In turn, Trent invited your dad to a home game the next time he was over in England. He could very easily flown your whole family out for any date but you told him to be steady and just start with your dad. You felt better about it just being him. You trusted him in social situations, he was funny, never awkward, he loved football and Liverpool, he was from England so he would feel at home, it was all leaning towards an easy integration.

“Not a bad player, huh?” Your dad nudged you sitting in Trent’s box watching him send the ball across the pitch. Tyler was there so you sat with him introducing him to your dad.

“Yeah, we think he’s alright.” Tyler quipped, eyes widening following a bad tackle as the ball went out of play. The ref called for a free kick just outside the box so there was a lot of attention turning to Trent. You sat on your hands a little nervous. You were tense. You had always followed the team but now your home life depended on the outcomes. The person at the dinner table across from you's emotions were on the line. Your dad could feel your shoulders tense and rise a little. He nudged you again.

“He’s good at this, I got a feeling about this one.” He cooed. He did have good instinct so your shoulders lowered at the sweet comment and confidence in Trent.

“Y/N, you're out. Your dad believes in him more than you. Have some faith” Tyler joked with your dad.

“Stop” you hit back and the three of you went quiet with the rest of the stadium. Despite your nerves, Trent was incredibly calm, composed, clinical. He struck the ball perfectly. It netted into the top right corner. You softly closed your eyes in relief and disbelief. Anfield erupted. Tyler and your dad stood up. You dad pulled you up to cheer his arm wrapped around your shoulder.

“Have faith.” He cooed in your ear. Trent celebrated on the pitch with his teammates before pointing up to you. Any acknowledgment at a match would always made your heart flutter.

“Pretty special” your dad tapped Tyler on the arm.

“Got to be goal of the month. Unreal that. Didn’t need Debby downer” he shoved you lightly “but we’ll keep her ‘round.” He smiled, applauding his brother.

Your dad was right. Tyler was right. They were right. You needed to trust Trent in a grander sense. You had to have more faith that you were going to work otherwise the relationship would be plagued with anxiety. You tried your best but it was hard.

TIMEJUMP

In the blink of an eye you had been together for almost a year and a half now and your relationship with Trent had only gotten stronger. You celebrated birthdays, holidays, and an anniversary. You happily became a part of his life. Whenever he wasn’t at football he was with you. You were so in love it felt like a dream. In turn, the relationship had become more serious, you and Trent had begun discussing next steps, your future. You always joked but more so genuinely expressed that you wanted a life together forever and were starting to make actual plans, thinking about the logistics. You spoke with your family often once the relationship was out in the open and you didn’t hide that you two wanted to build something together. It was all very easy, you flew under the radar in Liverpool, only close family and friends had known you two were together and you liked it that way but you weren’t hiding the relationship from the public it just happened that way. At the moment you were staying with his family but then would have to return to New York every so often because that’s where you technically lived. Time continued to pass and the back and forth was starting to take its toll. Trent wanted more stability, he wanted you to stop just dreaming and start doing. He didn’t want the hushed fleeting moments anymore.

“I’m done with this, baby.” Trent almost sounded angry. You sat in the front seat of his car while he drove the all too familiar route to the airport. You had gotten into a routine of spending months at a time in Liverpool split up by a week or two back in the US. It wasn’t an exact formula because it was often interrupted by trips to away games to follow him or just the two of you somewhere hidden away. You were constantly on a plane but if it meant being with him you’d do it for the rest of your life.

“Done with…?” you questioned him. You started to worry if he was going to say he was finally done with the distance and didn’t want to put in the effort anymore. A part of you would always wonder why he was with you. Waiting to wake up from the dream that your life had become. You couldn’t believe you’d been together almost two years.

“You being away from me, I can’t do it anymore. You’re mine. You’re supposed to be with me.” He sounded like a greedy kid refusing to share his toys. His hand gripped your thigh tighter as he stared at the road in front of him.

“T.. “ you cooed, placing your hand over his stroking over his knuckles. You didn’t have a solution on your mind so you stayed quiet. The rest of the car ride was silent. You pulled into departures when he put the car in park, one of his hands swiftly moving to grab your cheek, turning you to face him, his thumb brushing your skin softly.

“Pack. Move here.” His voice sliced the tension.

“What?” It caught you so off guard. Sure, you had always played with the idea but this seemed rash. “Baby..” you looked back at his big brown doe eyes. It felt unfair when he pulled that face because you knew the discussion was going his way before it started.

“Live with me.” He commanded coming closer to your face. Your noses pressing into each other. You wanted to so bad but you always had kept your apartment in New York as a safety net. What if this all came crashing down, you would have nothing, you would never recover from losing him. The thought of living with him was a dream, you essentially already did but you actually giving up your life entirely was terrifying. Your thoughts ran rapidly through your brain causing you to go silent. Your pause shattered Trent’s heart. He had assumed you were on the same page.

“I thought you wanted this…we talked about this. Getting a house for us?” his voice was shaky. He looked crushed. He was so confused why you wouldn’t want this. He pulled his hand off you and sat back in his seat slumped a little looking straight ahead. The loss of touch rocked you back into the current moment.

“T… it’s just.” You didn’t know what to say, you weren’t even sure why you were hesitating. Why weren’t you able to say yes.

“What.. what don’t I give you here? What’s not enough? I love you… why wouldn’t you want this…” he trailed off frustrated. He was angry now. You tried to talk but couldn’t.

“Don’t you love me, Y/N?” The way he said your name was cold. The car suddenly felt suffocating. You started to tear up and Trent threw his head back against the seat behind him annoyed that he now had to comfort you.

“I love you so much it hurts..” you quivered, starting to cry before he moved to hold you in his arms. He kissed your forehead.

“Baby…” he was so mad but he didn’t want to make you cry, he hated that so he didn’t say anything more.

“I’m so scared of how much I love you.” You quietly spoke trying to catch your breath in between sniffles.

“Baby…” he repeated, squeezing you a little tighter. “Please..” he was begging.

“I have to go..” you muttered seeing the time on your phone. Trent just shook his head and let go of your body. You got out of the big car and stood there for a moment trying to collect yourself. He got out of the car and pulled your luggage from the boot before coming over to you. His knuckle came under your chin tilting your face up to him. You looked at him with tear stained cheeks.

“I love you so much.” He said so seriously before his lips crashed into yours. You gasped at the sensation. You grabbed at his body returning the kiss. He pulled away before holding you to his chest. You were practically sobbing. You two parted and it was the worst experience of your life in that airport, the flight was something from hell. Trent was absolutely livid driving home. He was almost in shock. It felt like a break up. What the fuck just happened.

‘Hi.. at the airport I remembered we didn’t decide on my return flight…’ you texted awkwardly trying to break the ice and remind him you loved him.

‘We?’ He coldly replied. You just reread the text again and again. Your heart was being ripped apart by three characters. You decided to be brave, not give in to his pettiness and ask what you honestly were thinking.

‘Do you not want me to come back?’ You waited for his reply. It had been a few hours. He had left you on read. You had cried the entire time unable to compose yourself. This was a glimpse of the feeling you were so afraid of.

‘You just tell me when you want to come home’ he finally messaged. Your heart almost burst just seeing his name reappear. God, the word ‘home’ had you questioning what you were thinking stalling earlier. Of course you wanted to live with him. Fuck this, no risk, no reward. Your whole life, your heart was with him. Why would you want to be anywhere else?

‘When can we start looking at the houses?’ your text had Trent completely relieved. He wanted to call you but this was a real tiff and he needed to calm down a little before he heard your voice. He knew he would cave to whatever you’d say and he wanted to hold his ground on this. He wanted you to live with him.

‘Whenever baby’ Despite not wanting to give in, Trent was still still weak for you.

‘Just have to tell everyone it’s happening and pack so give me a few days, yeah?’ You responded and Trent was already on his computer setting up viewings he had previously looked at.

When you returned to England, it was with a lot more of your stuff but you and Trent quickly fell back into your usual life, the awkward departure was quickly forgotten. Life moved on and you had started seeing a lot of different houses looking for one for you two to start something new.

“I just want good bones. We can renovate whatever. You’re good at that shit. Like I want the property to have the space. The garden has to be big enough…bedrooms for kids, I want to live here for a long time.” Trent babbled, talking quickly while driving to a viewing. Like most things, he got fixated on homes, architecture, neighborhoods, he was so nerdy learning all about it, needing to know every detail but your heart nearly fell out of your chest at the mention of kids. Had he thought about that? You definitely had. You didn’t want to dwell on it though, that was for another time, you needed to find a home together first…

“You know, baby?” He asked, cutting off your thoughts.

“Yeah, T. Makes sense.” You said squeezing his hand. You had seen a ton of houses, today was another day leaning towards disappointment. Maybe you were being too picky. You were on your way to a final showing he had scheduled and pulled up to what you could only describe as your absolute dream home. Both you and Trent’s faces lit up.

“I have a good feeling about this one, I think you’ll like it.” Trent said lacing his fingers between yours before going inside. It was beautiful, it was everything you wanted. The kitchen was massive, lots of windows and tons of light, the back garden went on for ages with a pool and back patio but you tried to hold back your excitement trying not to sway Trent’s opinion.

“It’s good right?” He cooed in your ear grabbing your waist as you stood in one of the bedrooms.

“Could live here..” you said, turning your head to kiss him.

“Whatever you want.” He hummed before you continued your little tour.

“I think I’d want this wall down though..” you thought aloud pointing to one in between the kitchen and living space.

“It’s gone.” Trent was quick. He was going to give you anything you wanted. It was always that way. You knew that but never pushed it just appreciative of his willingness to please you.

After you saw the house, time seemed to speed by. Trent and you were so eager to get the ball rolling. It just was the way you two operated. Very instinctual. Rapid pace. Trusting your gut. Very similar to how you met and how you ended up here. Another month went by and the offer you had placed on the dream home went through. You were so excited it felt surreal that you were going to have your own space but it also was a little sad because you’d grown so accustomed to constantly having family around. You were set to move into the home in three months. You had told Dianne when you first started looking and it was bittersweet for her. She was definitely sad you two were moving, especially seeing Trent finally out from under her roof. There was also a part of her that was happy he was happy, that this relationship, the ‘visit’ to Liverpool, had worked out. Trent reassured her that the house was only a short drive in the next gated neighborhood over. You would be together plenty, not much would change.

In the next few months you were kind of living in a mess trying to work out the stuff at Trent’s home, stuff for the new house, stuff coming from the US, construction, painting, landscaping; it all kind of made you dizzy but you handled it not wanting Trent to even bat an eye about the whole project. He offered to help but this kept you occupied as his season picked up and it was something you enjoyed. You just wanted to make the perfect home for him. You both had decided you wanted it to feel like you were in a house in the Hamptons, light, airy, modern but have all the quintessential qualities of a British home. It was a good merge of your worlds and you were working to bring that to life.

The three months flew by and you were getting incredibly nervous to bring Trent to see the finished home. You ended up not changing much to the house structurally so your move in date never had to be pushed due to any big construction. You were at the point of the project where your list of things to do had dwindled down to throw-blankets, cutlery, hangers, oddities that would make the space home and functional. He had come along for the big things, making decisions from when the house was undergoing some changes like the wall you didn’t like coming down, to picking out the couch but he hadn’t been in a few weeks and seen all the home accessories and arrangement choices you had made. Stylistically it was massively different from when you started.

“Baby…what the fuck..” Trent grabbed at you when he walked in the front door. Objectively speaking, it was gorgeous. Your mum had interior design connections, Trent had money, you had taste, it all resulted in a beautiful, beautiful space. It was very creamy, white, a bright space that made you feel at home. The woods were warm tones, there was a lot of texture; sherpa, boucle, and knits. It was maybe a modern x farmhouse vibe a la Restoration Hardware and needless to say, Trent loved it.

“Good or bad ‘what the fuck’ ?” You giggled seeing the excitement on his face.

“This is my dream house.” He gawked looking around at the job you had done. “Dream girl too” he said, kissing into your neck, overly happy with you and the house. You explained little things you changed, why you picked a certain material for something, where you were going to keep all things football, and then you got to your bedroom. You opened the door to the spacious room and it was incredibly calm, neutral, luxe, minimalistic but it felt warm when you walked in. It just made you want to cuddle. The bed was massive and you couldn’t wait to sleep on it.

“Are we sleeping here tonight?” He read your mind. His hand grazed your side before he laid face first into the mattress.

“I guess if you want” you giggled crawling on top of him. You put your entire weight on him.

“Oof… get off me.” He moaned, voice muffled by the bed. “Let me breathe!” He squirmed ultimately getting you off him. He was being dramatic, faking heaving breaths.

“Oh my god! Are you okay!” You overzealously pretended to be concerned he couldn’t breathe your hands gripped his arms to shake him with worry.

“Nah, I think I need mouth to mouth resuscitation.” The smile that swept across his face was incredibly devilish and you liked it. You sat back on top of him on the bed. You kissed his lips slow. It heated up into the pair of you passionately making out, your bodies were rolling into each other, your clothes slowly being peeled off when you started to move your kisses to his neck. You sucked on his sensitive skin pulling a moan from him and worked your way down his bare chest. You ended up kissing all the way down to the tip of his cock.

“Don’t tease baby...” he groaned out.

“Not teasing.. just tell me what you want me to do. I’ll do anything you want me to do.” The submission had Trent’s heart racing.

“Open your mouth f’me beautiful” he commanded gently. You opened your mouth and he lifted his hips a little to silently tell you what he wanted but you surprised him when every inch of his cock went in your mouth slipping to the back of your throat right away. “Fuck, just like that baby.” He helped you move your head up and down on his cock. He reached his hand to grab your hair with vigor, guiding your movements. You were gagging at how deep in your throat you were taking him. Drool was rolling from your mouth to your chin, tears flooding your lash line. You moaned in pleasure, loving every second of this. All you wanted to do was make him happy whether it was decorating a house or sucking his cock you were going to do it. Lost in the feeling, he began to rock his hips against you, his hands gripping on you a little bit tighter. You looked up at him fucking your face with eyes he loved to watch. He groaned, shutting his eyes, losing control a little. Your mouth, your tongue, your lips felt so perfect on him, the sound of it all was music to his ears. The tears on your lash line finally fell when his cock began to throb a little. The tears ran down your cheeks, the sight causing him to fuck your mouth faster. Your mascara began to run and you looked more beautiful to him than ever.

“Such a good girl, baby” he moaned. He could barely get the words out as your tongue swirled around him

“Mmmhuhh” you managed a mumbled agreement with his cock still in your mouth before taking him a little bit deeper. You gagged and the sound turned him on so much, you both knew his release was close. The noise was such a turn on. Everything you ever did was a turn on for him. He could get hard at you doing nothing but you weren’t doing nothing right now. No, you were letting him thrust his cock into your face.

“Fuck.. f-fuck I love fucking your mouth. I love you baby. Feels so fucking good. Shit.” He babled messily when his thrusts got sloppier. You felt him get just a little bit harder before he pushed further down your throat spilling his cum into your mouth. He pulled you off him slowly, both of you breathing heavily. You smiled softly looking up at him. Some of his cum and drool pooled in the corner of your lips curling.

“You’re so beautiful. So good f’me you know that?” He cooed, pulling you up to cuddle.

“So, you like the new bedroom?” You giggled.

•

Thank you for continuing reading! Comment or message what you think of the series … Kind of a filler chapter 🤍

Next part - Chapter 16 xx

[rillils]

do you ever think abt how we couldve seen more of nomad steve

NOMAD STEVE MY BELOVED

ohhh we were robbed, honey, in so many ways! imagine what we could have had!

- more footage of this man, luscious lovechild of hercules and adonis, most glorious chunk of deliciousness, sexy teddy bear man, the mane of a lion and the eyes of a puppy, mr Dirtied Up Good™, holy shield straps of sex, elected man with the sluttiest forearms of 2018 through 2024

- more of this Steve, who ain't playing dancing monkey for anyone anymore, who ain't asking for permission and/or forgiveness from anybody, who isn't taking anybody's shit, he just wants to fight for what he feels is right and he's not going to apologize for that, thank you very much

- his developing friendship with both Sam and Nat! them fighting like a unit! trusting each other, leaning on each other! learning more about each other! actually getting to know Steve, and his fun side, and his darker side, and his brooding side, and his silly side, and nagging him when they know he needs help but he's just too damn stubborn to ask for it

- FOUND FAMILY FOUND FAMILY FOUND FAMILY

- the three of them trying to comfort each other, each in their own (sometimes clumsy/awkward) way when a mission goes wrong, learning random words from random languages from one another (especially swear words they might have picked up in their respective times abroad lol), watching old sitcoms in their downtime, laughing together, hell even crying together, sharing too little space for too long, complaining about each other's unwashed socks, and still falling asleep on top of each other

- the few times Sam got to call his parents from a safe location. can you imagine Steve talking on the phone with Mrs Wilson? scared at first that she'll tear him a new one for putting her son in so much danger and dragging him away from home? but her knowing all too well that nobody's ever been able to make Sam do something he didn't want to do, that this was his own decision? and she's not actually mad at Steve, she just wants to make sure that "all of you kids are alright"? can you imagine Steve holding back tears the first time he hears a mother's voice talking to him, reminding him to be careful, to stay safe, after so long without it? do you think I'm crying???? I AM

- THE SKYPE CALLS WITH BUCKY

- actually EVERY SINGLE KIND OF INTERACTION WITH BUCKY, even when he's not there. Steve gazing longingly at a picture of Bucky, either physical or digital, that he makes sure to keep on him at all times. taking it out when he's lying awake at night, and everything's quiet except for Sam's snoring and the muffled sounds from the streets, and Steve thinks he saw Nat's eyes watching him in the dimness, but neither of them are going to say anything. he's just sitting in the dark, picture in hand, twirling some secret worry around in his head and missing Bucky so much it hurts. and those times (although he tries to keep these to a minimum) when he just can't help himself: he sneaks out of the room and calls Bucky, just to hear his voice. to listen to Bucky speak softly to him, his voice a little rough from sleep, but always so warm, so sweet for him. and Steve just leans his head back against the wall, and closes his eyes, and imagines he's curled up into Bucky's side, his head resting on Bucky's shoulder, with Bucky's fingers carding through his hair, and it's only then that he finds a little peace again

- all the videocalls with Bucky! the playful banter!! them arguing like an old married couple one moment, and exchanging the most besotted looks the next! Nat and Sam having to put up with all of their old-men-in-love shenanigans, and Steve never hearing the end of it lol

- Steve!! literally bounding out of the quinjet like an excited puppy when they visit his husband Bucky in Wakanda!!! overjoyed and not even bothering to hide it anymore after like the second or third time, 'cause everybody knows by now anyway!!

- all of them actually getting to rest for a while, and Steve enjoying his impromptu honeymoon with Bucky, savoring each day like it's both the first and the last of their life together, love sparkling in his eyes, happier than he's ever been before, finally free, ironically, now that he's an outlaw and a fugitive, and finding utmost delight in that knowledge

WE WERE ROBBED BLIND, HONEY

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for trying to block evade?

This happened several years ago, so I'll put the ages that we were at the time.

I [17F at the time], had an extremely close friend [17F] of 3+ years, and I still haven't found any kind of friendship that came close to the level of trust / openness that was there. So some of this backstory ranges from 14yrs to 17yrs.

My home was abusive, and she and her mom helped me figure out what was rational vs irrational, normal vs not normal, and pointing out local resources to get help - which was absolutely amazing and I could not thank them enough.

She invited me to her house pretty regularly, a couple times a week. We'd have hours of skype calls. She got me roped into Undertale & the fandom. Well, not that we really interacted with the fandom at large. We only publically posted some of the art and barely got noticed haha. Between the two of us, we had something like 26 AUs and had a lot of rp with multiverse shenanigans - like over 1200+ pages of google docs rp, because that's where we did like 90% of it. After we hit like 100-200 pages, we'd make a new doc so it wouldn't take so long to load. And we had like, at least like 9 docs I think. I was mostly in it for her, because it was really fun to just make up stories together. I could've done it with any fandom she threw at me, undertale is just the one that was popular at the time.

At one point, I think when we were around 16, I asked her if she wanted to start dating. She said something along the lines of maybe in the future, but not right now - she wanted to focus on school. Even though she declined at the time, she did say she appreciated me asking and that it meant a lot to her. And there were 0 hard feelings about the answer, we just kept on going the way we were going.

She got hit with a really bad level of depression, and stopped coming to school. After 2-3 days, I started calling her every day around lunch time just to check in on her and see how she was doing. See if there was anything I could do to help - bring some snacks, catch her up on classwork for the couple classes we shared, stuff like that. This was for couple months. More than just a mental health day, and the only reason she gave was Depression.

After a week or two of the daily calls, there was probably an aspect of toxic positivity on my end. Like "You gotta Do Something to avoid being trapped in your misery, even if it's just baby steps like sitting outside on the porch or going on a walk down the block" Not maliciously, but more out of not knowing how to handle a situation like this & genuinely wanting to help her because of all the help she's offered me in the past & fueled a little bit by fear because Depresssion is the excuse that my abusive parents used to justify their shitty behavior & neglect. Not because I was afraid of what she'd do to me, but more what she'd do to herself. That's one of the only things I could think where I went wrong, which I completely acknowledge and understand now.

She was still inviting me to her house, and we were still doing our normal thing there. Drawing and writing stories together.

After 4-5 weeks [? estimate, time is an illusion] of her not showing up to school, I can't remember if I asked if it was helpful or if she suggested that I stop calling every day. Calling every day was making her feel worse.

I did end up calling the next day or two at lunch - crossing the boundary was not my intent. We had planned to hang out on the weekend again, lunch is just when I remembered & had time to call to ask if she still wanted to hang out or if she wanted some space. I think she said yes to hanging out, didn't mention anything about crossing the boundary. Same with the next day - there was something I needed to ask clarification on, it wasn't a check in, nothing was mentioned of the boundary. I can't remember what it was now. This is another one of the places where I think I went wrong, which I acknowledge & understand.

I did stop the check ins like requested though. After those two off days, I did stop calling her every day at lunch.

She finished out the school year having shown up to class maybe 3ish times, I think.

Again, we were still hanging out regularly. There was no indication that I was doing anything wrong, there was no indication that anything I was doing was wrong. She was still the one inviting me to hang out at least half the time.

There were some problems that I was noticing that I just wanted to have a casual chat about and figure out, but she kept pushing it off as a "I don't have the energy right now, we can talk about it later" and we'd go back to the fun things. I don't really remember what those problems were.

In the summer, I went to a different state to visit my older sister that I hadn't seen in years. I talked to her about it, I was excited for it. We were still chatting regularly during my trip over skype or discord.

And then, during my trip that I was so excited about, she drops this bombshell. She sends me several massive messages detailing out a bullet point list of everything I've done wrong, that she's explicitly breaking off the friendship, and blocks me. 95% of things on that list either flat weren't true, or gross misunderstandings of what happened.

It was genuinely horrible things too.

For example, one of the things on the list was "Suicide baiting" or "Suicide guilt tripping" or something along those lines, which had happened several months if not a year before this. -I've only ever communicated feeling acutely suicidal to her 1 time. -Long before that, she made me promise that if I ever felt suicidal that I was supposed to immediately talk to her about it, for her own peace of mind so she wouldn't worry about me. -I reached a point of feeling acutely suicidal due to abuse at home & general existential dread, that happened to be during a time we had an issue.

I purposefully waited until after the issue was resolved, like 2 weeks, before telling her. I did that specifically so it would not be taken as a guilt trip or a form of coercion while still holding as true as I could to my promise. She made me promise to tell her, it was something very important to her. I made very clear to say "this is something I experienced a couple weeks ago due to unrelated things, it is resolved now, I got help through xyz means and genuinely feel better. You made me promise to tell you so I am telling you, I didn't want to say anything while we were having a problem for xyz reason." I just wanted to talk, and clear up the misunderstandings. I wanted to have a good conversation about figuring out where the communication went wrong, try and figure out how she came to these conclusions, and how that differs from my point of view. Do something to work it out, and just talk about it, and try and salvage this 3+ year friendship.

After I realized I was blocked, I was going through so so many emotions all at once. The whiplash of going from 5 to 100, Upset that I wasn't given any sort of chance to explain, the 5 stages of grief, being thrown away like the gum off your shoe, worrying about her and if this was the stage of isolation for depression, holding out the hope that we could still just talk and work things out, angry that she kept pushing off and refusing to have any sort of serious talk before this, doubting if anything she had said on 'normal vs not normal' - particularly communication styles, thoughts that maybe she was abusive and manipulative all along, maybe I was continuing the cycle of abuse, trauma flashbacks, anxieties that I had since squashed as 'irrational', fear that this was a sign that she was about to fucking kill herself and maybe the whole list was a lie so I wouldn't try and reach out and stop her, doubting my own reality and maybe the entire list she sent me was true and she was justified in her actions.

Simultaneously trying to process intense feelings and realities if it was true and I'm really secretly a horrible monster, if it wasn't true and she was about to die, and old traumas getting dug out of the grave.

God I was such an emotional wreck and did not know how to process or understand anything that was happening.

This is where the AITA comes in -

I was pushing through back to back panic attacks trying to contact her and figure out what was going on. I didn't want her to die, if that's what was happening. I didn't want to be discarded and thrown away like a piece of trash, if that's what was happening. I didn't want to have 0 chance of learning & growing as a person even if this friendship wasn't salvageable due to my monstrous nature, if that's what was happening.

So I block evaded like fckn crazy. Gmail, pet game sites, discord, skype, deviantart, whatever online platform that we shared that had messaging enabled. I called her phone several times. On the 3-4th call, her mom picked up and told me that none of the above was true. That she wasn't about to die, that I wasn't being thrown away like trash, and that I wasn't a monster. She didn't agree with her daughters actions and thought it unfair to me, but ultimately it was my friend's choice. All simultaneously which just did not compute.

If the list she sent me was true, I was a shitty horrible person. If it wasn't, and she isn't about to die, then not be able to just have a calm sit-down conversation at some point about it and clear it up - if I wasn't worth even attempting to make that effort then I was being thrown away like trash. I kept trying for days afterwards to talk to her - just, anything at all. Nothing got through, she never responded to anything.

And... that was that.

I didn't have a chance to talk to her again. I didn't have a chance to clear up misunderstandings, or understand what I did actually wrong and where, or any sort of closure.

Sometimes if I'm remembering it and feeling paranoid, I'll check and see if she's alive by looking at her online profiles for any activity. Like, maybe once a year tops now. According to the petgame sites, she's still alive at least. I'm assuming she got new social media. Literally it's just a "is she alive, do I have to worry about causing her suicide" check, I don't stalk or look into anything further than that.

Anyway, AITA for how extensively & desperately I was block evading?

What are these acronyms?

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

“This reads more like setting up a narrative for Harry to back out because he can’t get the guests he wants. He’s said before he wants the full royal family to come support it but that’s unlikely since William can’t even be in the same room when Harry is skyping in.” Back out or kicked out because he can’t get the BRF to support it? Hmmmm

Backed out.

Invictus Games wouldn't kick him out because he can't get the BRF's support. The BRF doesn't matter too much to them anymore, since they haven't supported Invictus since 2021 when Harry took the charity as part of the Megxit deal.

And if Invictus hasn't kicked Harry out over his and Meghan's shenanigans during the Dutch and Dusseldorf games (when they had real solid grounds to kick them out), they're not going to kick him out because the BRF isn't showing up to the service.

Harry probably did make certain promises to Invictus about the service, including who would probably attend that's probably not happening anymore (classic Harkle overpromise/underdeliver). Harry is probably more embarrassed of what a lackluster program/guest list for the service means for his reputation than he is concerned about Invictus, and he may be working to get it cancelled so no one knows how truly pathetic he is.

(Remember how quickly Harry popped off over the Grosvenor Wedding? They leaked that Charles and William were going to be invited but Harry wasn't, then Harry immediately went "Actually we were invited but we said no!" He's done a lot of ego things like that, which boosts my confidence level a bit that backing out is an ego thing.)

[randomficrecss]

OtaYuri Fic Rec

I haven’t actually read that many OtaYuri fics but these are my favorites!

My soul is an empty carousel at sunset by dawnstruck

T | 13.8K | 1/1 | Slowburn, Hurt/Comfort

Yuri grows up and grows older and grows into himself. Otabek helps. It just takes a while to get there.

Part 1 of Demi!Yuri

Under your skin the moon is alive by dawnstruck

E | 14.8K | 1/1 | NSFW

Long distance relationships aren't easy, but that just means they've got to make each moment matter, got to make it memorable, got to make it mean more.

Part 2 of Demi!Yuri

Once Mine, Now Yours by TripCreates

T | 7.9K | 3/3 | Fluff

"You’ll have to come here to get it,” Yuri wrote.
Otabek smiled at the lack of denial Yuri showed for taking the scarf. “Maybe I will.”
“Try and take it back if you can.”
Otabek stared at his phone screen. Wait, was Yuri flirting with him?

Or while scrolling through Instagram, Otabek realizes where his missing scarf went.

i walk my days on a wire by idrilka

E | 14.5K | 2/2 | NSFW

“Asia sucked without you,” Yuri admits eventually after a moment, as he falls backwards onto the bed, his t-shirt riding up. It must be still hot in Saint Petersburg, if the forecast is to be believed, but Yuri has the hood up, obscuring his face at this angle. “But we all went back to the hot spring run by Katsuki’s family after the Fukuoka show, so I guess it wasn’t that bad.”

A story of a relationship, told in photographs and Skype calls.

anywhere i go, there you are by astrid_fischer

M | 24K | 1/1 | Slow Burn

There must have been a moment. When everything changed, whether or not he knew it. There must have been, but it’s impossible to find now. The full-color truth of it is already saturating a slideshow of black and white mental images and he can’t remember what they looked like before.

or: it takes yuri plisetsky three years to realize he’s in love with his best friend.

chasing fireflies by copperwings

M | 26.7K | 3/3 | Strangers to lovers, angst, fluff

Yuri has never been good with social interactions or with people in general. But there is a staring contest with Mila’s former classmate Otabek in a dingy diner at 2 AM, and then all of a sudden this Otabek guy wants to hang out with him… Motorcycle rides, sticky watermelon kisses and summer shenanigans ensue, and they spend the summer building their relationship while Yuri tries to come to terms with the fact that he just doesn’t fit into the norms of society.

Or: the fic in which Yuri is neuroatypical and a demisexual, and Otabek is just generally awesome and endlessly patient.

[galacticxangel]

Wait I saw your comment on the meeting your mutuals/stranger danger post. You said you married your mutual? That's so cute. Have you shared that anywhere and if not would you share it here?

I’m pretty sure I’ve shared it passively, but I never shared the full thing just on its own, so I’ll do that here!

So back in Ye Olde Days (13 years ago), Ask Blogs were a big thing on Tumblr, and also, so was Minecraft! And wouldn’t you know it, I was running a little Minecraft ask blog. And then I came across another, which had amazing art and characters and I adored what I was seeing, so I followed, they followed back, I sent little asks, and we communicated that way! The blog I found was run by two people, @cosmic-anchor (Silvia), and her friend Lazzy (boyo where’s your blog). He’s still a mutual bestie today, as are a few other folks we met via ask blog shenanigans, like @knightlymoon and @ragnarode .

ANYWAY. We get to playing on a server together (we actually use a Minecraft version release date as our meeting anniversary, because it was right around the prerelease of Beta 1.8: September 9, 2011. How do we remember? Well, that’s when they released Endermen! And anyone familiar with Minecraft aakblogs knows just how popular those are today. But back then? HOLY crap. Everyone and their grandma has a Sexy Broody Enderman or a Sexy Broody Enderman Hybrid. It was. A lot), take to each other like a church on fire, and become besties! We have a little house together.

Long time passes, and we’re on pretty much daily communication, still playing games, etc. I went through basic training and she was one of the folks I sent letters to while I was there. We played D&D together (This was an entire fiasco where we lost one bestie due to an abusive relationship. She’s back now tho! Love you Lynn <3). Even in the military, when I got DEEPLY depressed, she was there for me and helped me out (I credit her for being alive today. I’m not sure I’d be here if she hadn’t talked me down and convinced me to see a mental health specialist). I get out of the military, get my own little apartment, and go ‘wait a minute. I can do what I want. I have a best friend I’ve known for like six years now. Let’s invite her down!’ And so we start planning our first

‘Down’ is an understatement. See, I live in Texas. She lives in Kentucky, literally a thousand miles away. And while I’ve got all my documents and paperwork and driving skills and travel under my belt, she… doesn’t. As the older sibling of a special needs person, and not from a very high income household, she didn’t have this stuff. So it’s up to me, and I’m too fired up about taking my bestie to a renaissance faire (yah we. Really nerdy lol) to consider anything but!

We get her costume ready. Her plane tickets. Her ids and everything, sorted. It comes to like. Two weeks before the flight. And I get a call at work. It’s Via. Now, this is weird. Over the years, we’ve kinda fallen into a system. Common communication falls into just a message (Skype at the time iirc, Discord didn’t exist just yet). Something kinda urgent gets you an alert ping (like @ing someone). Dire is a call. And my phone’s ringing.

Not good.

So I hurriedly excuse myself from the office to take it, and she’s in tears. Her dad’s gotten cold feet, and won’t take her to the airport like he promised because ‘what if I’m an internet predator’. I mean. I get it. I have a Southern Style family, too (This will come up later). But damn it, she’s an adult. We’re BOTH adults. Also, I just bought a round trip plane ticket! Also, at this point I know more about her than he does. He still thinks she’s straight. But he won’t take her because we’ve never met face-to-face.

It’s Wednesday. I look at my office door. I have my best friend, current queerplat partner on the line, sobbing apologies.

“Hey. Tell him to pick a place to eat. Dinner on Friday. My treat, okay?”

“What?”

“Tell him to pick a place for dinner on Friday. I’ll see you then.”

Thus begins the trek that cements me as ‘most unhinged friend when others need something’ in our friend group to the day. I go into my office, spinning a sob story about how some nondescript family member just passed and funeral and blah blah I need to go but I’ll be back on Monday.

Green light acquired.

I go home, and immediately go to sleep. I wake up around midnight, pack my bags into my little Kia, and off I go. 1000 miles. Now, remember when I said my family would come up later? Here’s later: I didn’t tell them. There was NO WAY they were going to just sit idle while I drove a thousand miles, ALONE, to meet someone I’d never met in person. I’d never driven quite that far, either. Not to say no one knew, I would plot two hours on my gps, send the path to Lazzy and Via, and check in when I hit the next stop. If I didn’t check in, they were told to call my parents if I was over an hour late. Which, obviously, I never was, because I’m typing this and not like, dead or anything.

I roll up to her local Cracker Barrel at 8pm on Friday, after easily one of the best experiences of my life (was out between cities on a clear, late summer night, got to see the Milky Way for the first time, got ‘adopted’ by a bunch of truckers at a truck stop I paused for a nap at). My hair’s a bit frizzy and I’m wearing a shirt that says ‘Watch Closely: I’m About To Do Something Stupid’. But her dad gets the firmest, friendliest Texan handshake I can give, and a bright smile.

Apparently, he never expected me to show. According to Via, I humbled him that day. I don’t pay for dinner, despite offering. I even stay the night.

She’s on a plane for Texas two weeks later.

(Bonus: it’s at the point I send a picture of the big ol ‘Welcome To Kentucky’ state line sign to my parents. This. Was not a good idea lol. But I had my big Texas meat swangin my ego and I was damn proud to be functionally unhinged. My dad scolds me and then gets me a hotel room in Little Rock, DEMANDING I stop half way on the way back. My mom calls me, yells at me, and then hangs up on me. Calls back an hour later to apologize because she wasn’t mad I went, she was mad that I was right when I told her ‘you’d have tried to stop me’. Ultimately fine, in the end).

There’s at least one other travel adventure (much easier this time! We were supposed to go to PAX South but were too lazy that morning so we ate pizza and played video games.

I move out of my apartment and start renting a house. I have extra room. And I think about my friend, who’s only left her tristate area twice now, both because of me. And I think ‘that’s my best friend! I wonder if she wants to move down here!’

Another 2k miles on my poor little Kia (who’s STILL KICKING BTW), and she now lives in Texas. This was about five years ago. We live in my little granny house that’s older than both occupants combined. You heard that right, though. Oh my god, We Were Roommates.

It’s about this time that apparently Via starts Getting The Feelings but BLESS HER she’s being SO GOOD because at this point I’m defining as Aro/Ace. Turns out it was just some anxiety/aversion because my previous relationship was turbo unhealthy! But I really like this chick, and I’m like ‘you know what, I’m scared I’ll mess up our friendship, but I’ll try these things. We already go on ‘dates’ and I buy you flowers occasionally just because I was thinking of you and we already snuggle every night because it helps us go to sleep’ yeah I was. Hm. Dense.

Anyway it takes off HARD and within the year, we’re married on the coast where I took her to see the ocean for the very first time, on September 9, 2023.

Our first anniversary is soon. 💕

[indomitableblackdragon]

I can't figure out this spacing thing and I'm not about to find out. So hey! I'm Allul (They/Them, trying to figure that thing out)! I'm that fucking creature that's flooding your dash with posts about a boat girl and whatever other shenanigans my mind decides to get up to. I'd say I should apologize but really the longer you know me the more you realize this is just how I live my life

I'm 26 (Not for long) and a terrible chronic gacha addict that probably should've stopped a long time ago. But since i haven't I now have adopted boats (as this blog shows) along with....

androids

horse girls

very bisexual prisoners

food personifications

goblins

cinnamon rolls

and plenty of other random things that go in and out of my mind on the daily. This may come at a surprise to plenty of people but I literally haven't even been here a year yet (shocking I know). Most of my writing career has been either super bad fanfics, skype rp (yes this sadly was part of my life), and forums of recently. Only after being dragged here by a few friends did I realize what I was missing out on and I'm glad I joined! I promise you I'm not intimidating as I may seem (If I even come off as intimidating) and really I'm a DM away from blowing your eardrums off about whatever you want. Like lets be real my first blog here was a goddamn pokemon. I think that says everything you need to know.

Anyway next is checks notes about myself and that's problematic. Because I have no idea how to do that :3. According to my friends this meme explains it best

But as expected writing is my hobby (go figure) and beyond that is probably video games. A lot and a ALOT of RPGS, Fighting Games, and whatever is out there to get my serotonin running. Currently I'm down in the mines playing Granblue Fantasy Relink, Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising (are you noticing the trend), and dabbling in some other ventures (Gundam Versus if you want to know how niche my tastes get. I also collect plushes!

in line with my crippling Granblue addiction music CD's!

But yeah if it wasn't obvious I love talking about literally anything. My interests are kinda all over the place but most people can vouch that I'm a damn good listener. And that includes plotting even if my mentality usually is just a "fuck it we ball one" rather than really planning it out (I do love planning too! But sometimes you really just gotta go off and never stop). If you don't find me here on NJ's Blog well don't worry I have like 11 more as well. Featuring...

Morgan le Fay (Fate) (@talesofrainandstars_

Melusine (Also from Fate) (@robustdragonheart)

Nian (Arknights) (@unfetteredfreedom)

Mika ("Archive that may be Blue") (@witchoftrinity)

Architect (Girls' Frontline) (@explosivedesire)

Fenie (Granblue Fantasy) (@sourceoftheflame)

Miyoi Okunoda (Touhou) (@geidonteispostergirl)

"Sparkle" (Honkai Stars Rails) @sparklingsplendor

Hiroi Kikuri (Bocchi the Rock) (@sickhackbassist)

My OC Protag from Armored Core 6 "Raven" (@echoesofcoral)

Beyond that I'm always in Discord if you just want to chat or anything else. You can also find me on twitter where I rant about the most craziest things and cry when my favorites in gachas actually get content (it doesn't happen often). Other then that I have no idea how to end this so here's a picture of my dog

anyway I think I've ranted long enough. Looking forward to talking with everyone more and anyone else who is willing to put up with my muses!"

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

how to make a @socialshakespeare reading even more unhinged than a drunk reading: get nine people in the skype chat and remind them that rickrolling exists

sorry @cobbled-vibrance for putting you through our shenanigans

[samethstarrart]

[bloodtwin]

For the mun: What are trends when it comes to writing that you dislike? In what style did you start to write (First person, third person, *-style or novel-style?) Who was your first OC?

QUESTIONS FOR THE MUN.

What are trends when it comes to writing that you dislike?

an intriguing question . . . one i am actually not sure what it's asking LOL. i guess the question is more about writing trends on tumblr specifically since that's the category it was in? hm, hm . . .

i'm actually not very aware of what's like, "popular," now that i think about it. i just write what i like. in fact, i am very self-indulgent w/ my writing & hope everyone else is too. it is fun!!! :o)

In what style did you start to write (First person, third person, *-style or novel-style?)

i used to be the biggest hater about first person because i have unfortunately always been a pretentious snob, so i exclusively wrote in third person. i have since seen the light & very much enjoy first person. my original works are mostly first person now. never RP'd in first person though, i don't think.

i've always written novel-style. asterisks-style feels strange to me personally, with the exception of silly shenanigans, of course. :P

Who was your first OC?

i'm not really sure who my first OC was because i've been coming up with little guys in my head since before i can even remember. my first OC i ever RP'd as was a tree nymph i created for my friends' RP group on skype. VERY different from the kind of character i usually create because he was kind of just some guy. normally my OCs are the most insufferable person you've ever met, i'm sorry to say. i didn't want to be too unhinged in front of my cool, new friends.

he kinda sucked tho, tbh. i don't like him, HAHA. forgettable. irrelevant.

[aintitfierce]

GET TO KNOW YOUR ADMIN !!

NAME -- masha

PRONOUNS -- she/her, but they/them or it/its could be nice. i won't kick up a fuss to he/him, either, but it does give me a brief pause

PREFERRED COMMS -- lies down probably IMs here, unfortunately. i have 'not getting out of this chair-itis' rip also my computer (not the laptop) is like 15 years old and dying a slow death so i can't open more than a single tab and maybe my pictures folder without everything slowing to the speed of molasses on a cold day

HOWEVER, i have gotten over myself a little bit and i do have an active discord now. so i've been thinking about moving some stuff there

NAME OF MUSE -- vanya, but he prefers pretty vanya or anything similarly Fawning. he has a noticeable, unexplained fondness for being referred to as the nondescript 'creature' as well

EXPERIENCE IN RP -- my first experience with RP was in the gaiaonline forums as a teenager lmAO. i used to scrounge around in the forums for any literary magical school-based RPs. then i kinda fell away from it once i left the site. i didn't pick it back up again until after i'd been on tumblr for a few months in 2013-2014 or so, stumbled into the kung fu panda fandom and made a friend who got me into RPing canon characters through skype ghfhiieo then i opened up an ask blog in june 2014 which very quickly morphed into just a RP blog instead and the rest is history

BEST EXPERIENCES -- back on gaia i joined a roleplay which was taking place in some school for people with super powers (i was in a lot of those as u might have guessed, they were my favorites lmao). me and one other person were the only ones awake and active at one point and it was just a rapid fire interaction between our muses for a couple pages, after which we laughed at The Shenanigans bc we were pretty sure our two characters had just become the comic relief of the entire thread and wondered how the other players were going to react when they inevitably came back

honestly i just remember it being a ton of fun. that style of RP is so incredibly foreign to me now, but nostalgic

PET PEEVES / DEALBREAKERS -- i had to take a long time to think about this, and i think the number one thing that gets to me is infomodding. i very much prefer having a running tally of what our muses each know about each other and more importantly what they Don't. i wrote with someone once who would occasionally consider what they knew about my muse to be fair game for their muse to know as well, without any reasoning for how they'd know this information or when they found it out

additionally, the only other thing i can think of that does get to me pretty badly is related to pacing. like i mention below, i like interactions that feel relatively real and natural, and sometimes that means letting the conversation unfold on its own and allowing awkward silences and lulls to play out to their conclusions. it drives me a little crazy when i'm just getting comfortable in a conversational thread but my writing partner is instead evidently feeling Bored with the small talk, so they inject some drama or some other bombshell to Liven It Up and get the action rolling orz usually has killed the thread for me in the past

MUSE PREFERENCE ( FLUFF, ANGST, SMUT ) -- out of these three probably angst, but i rarely RP it bc i don't feel that i'm very good at it. also idk how Seriously people could pretty vanya angst lmao

i've done so little actual RPing with him (my own fault, tbh) that i don't really know what my preference is with him yet. him being captured by big jack bc there were rumors about him being Powerful And Rare has probably been one of my favorite interactions so far. i admittedly do enjoy writing more antagonistic interactions more than i do friendlier ones

PLOT OR MEMES -- my Natural State is that of a pantser, to be completely honest, but there's a special place in my heart for plotted threads. i do enjoy laying out the basics and then letting it go with a check-in every now and again when one of us is running out juice or Unsure about anything

LONG OR SHORT REPLIES -- either or. i'm no good at one-liners, and i struggle with novella length (condensing my partner's response into something i can reply to while being careful to keep the story Moving takes a lot of brainpower for me). i do however love replies and threads and partners, perhaps, who are okay with letting some parts of the conversation Drop and potentially come back into play later. i like that sense of continuity, where it feels like a real or natural interaction two people might have with lulls in the conversation and callbacks

BEST TIME TO WRITE -- at this point i have no clue wheezes

ARE YOU LIKE YOUR MUSE? -- lord i hope not lmao

[allegra-writes]

"And They Were Roommates" Part I

Armand x Daniel Molloy

All Human, Roommates AU

General Audiences

Warnings: None. Crack, canon Devil's minion shenanigans. Armand being mischievous and slutty. Simp!Daniel. Female character under outstanding amounts of stress. Graphic depiction of early 2000s technology. Graphic description of internship work. This fic has mentions of Britney Spears' motion picture "Crossroads" so if that's not your cup of tea, please don't click on this fic. I am not responsable for your media consumption.

Alice suspects something more than friendship is going on between her boyfriend and his weirdly hot roommate.

MY MASTERLIST

Chapter 1: The roomie

Alice didn’t know what she had expected when Daniel invited her to hang out at his place instead of going out that evening, but it certainly wasn’t this. Although, admittedly in hindsight, she guessed she should have seen something like it coming. After all, she had known something was going on between her boyfriend and his roommate from the moment she met him. That... had been an experience on its own, one that nearly gave her a freaking heart attack when Armand had burst into her boyfriend’s room –while she was there, sleeping with him- at two in the morning, demanding he taught him how to Skype to Paris with his brand new Tablet PC. And I mean, in her boyfriend’s defense, he had told him to fuck off, and rather energetically, but all the brunette boy had to do was make some puppy dog eyes at him, and Daniel caved in almost instantly. 

“Fine!” He had yelled, “But you gonna have to pay me”

“But of course” Armand had agreed, tossing a stack of bills -all of them Benjamins- onto Daniel’s bed, and then he had tossed himself on it. Right between Daniel and her. And don’t get her wrong, she could see the lure of easy money as much as any other undergraduate drowning in student loans, but she could see the furtive little glances Daniel threw at his roommate, as he giggled, delighted, speaking French like a native, and showing Daniel the Eiffel Tower when the person he was talking to finally gave in and show it to them. Money had nothing to do with that. 

Daniel himself seemed completely oblivious,  every time Alice tried to bring the subject up, she was rebuffed by her boyfriend insisting it was just typical Armand being Armand, telling her about how he hadn't really socialized in his childhood and how he wasn't neurotypical and how she was just misinterpreting his behavior. Armand simply didn't know how normal people acted, but had a good heart. Like that time Daniel wasn’t really making enough with his freelancing to eat, so he had once crashed his lunch at campus with a platoon of delivery guys from like twenty different places because he "didn't know what Daniel liked so he had ordered everything". Alice had to blink several times, breathe, and count to a hundred so she wouldn't just blurt out that friends didn't act that way and Armand was trying to impress him, for fucks sake! 

Now, there she was, sitting alone on the couch as her boyfriend finished hugging his roomie hello, after he had promised her they would be having the apartment all for themselves for the night because Armand was supposed to be working late. So much for that, she thought as Armand flopped on the old ratty couch right beside her, of course, so Daniel would have no choice but to sit on the other side of the couch.

“What are we watching?” He asked, casually grabbing the remote that had just fallen from Alice’s hands. 

“I’m sorry, weren’t you supposed to be at work?” Daniel threw her a dirty look, no doubt admonishing her for her rudeness, but Armand, who really did seem incognizant of most social cues, simply shrugged.

“I did go in, and I did organize all the case files and paperwork they asked me to. I even took a look at the case the associates were working on and made some folders with copies of all the other lawsuits that were similar to it. It took me about two hours, I really don’t understand how the paralegals there are so inefficient…” 

“Wait, so you went in, did your paperwork, did some extra paperwork you weren’t even required to do, and just… went home?” Alice was stunned, “You do know they expect interns to stick around, get them food, make coffee, and stuff, right?”

Armand frowned,

“That’s not on my job description”

“It’s implicit” She tried to explain, “Intern is just another word for busboy” 

Armand simply stared, face completely blank and for the first time ever, Alice felt sorry for the boy, who was undoubtedly about to lose his internship at one of the most important legal firms in the city.

“Oh, who cares? He should quit that job anyway!” Daniel exclaimed, wrapping a protective arm around his roommate’s shoulder, “They’re just a bunch of pretentious, soulless, money-hungry bastards. You don’t wanna be like them anyway, boss”

“If I quit” Armand seemed to be actually considering it, “I would get more free time to spend with you…”

Daniel barked a laugh,

“See, it’s a win-win situation!” Their eyes met, and suddenly, Alice had a feeling as if she was intruding on an intimate moment. Luckily, her boyfriend cleared his throat and broke it with a “Now, go change out of your monkey suit. Your spreading fugly lawyers' germs all over the couch”

Armand sighed but did get up, dragging his feet all the way to his room, where he didn’t even bother to close the door before starting to shed his clothes. Alice definitely did not notice her boyfriend’s eyes lingering on the sight for too long. She did not. 

“Baby? Babe? Daniel!” She did not have to yell to get her boyfriend’s attention again either, “Do you want to go to my place? Amy’s not home, she’s spending the night with Becka…” 

“Um, what? Not really, why?” Daniel sputtered, unthinkingly. But before Alice even had the time to explain, Daniel’s phone started to ring with the most un-Daniel song ever.

I want you to want me… I need you to need me… I’d love you to lo- 

“Sorry, gotta take this” He excused himself before flipping his phone open, “Hi, boss! How are you? Oh? Food it’s on its way here already? You ordered Thai? For the three of us? Dude, you are awesome, did I ever tell you that? Well, I’m telling you again: Boss… You’re awesome! Yeah, see you in a minute!” 

He hung up, turning to Alice with a big, goofy smile on his face.

“That was Armand” He explained, unnecessarily.

“Yeah, I figured” 

“He got us food!”

“So I’ve heard” She smiled, and if it was more sardonically than anything else, well, her boyfriend didn’t seem to notice or care. “I just have a little question, what was that… ringtone?”

Daniel chuckled, green eyes bright with mirth, 

“Oh, Armand thought it would be funny to change all my ringtones”

“So he was the one to set it up?”

“Yeah, you should hear what he put on as yours!” One look at his girlfriend’s unamused expression and his laughter died in his throat, “Then again, maybe not… Anyway, I messed with all his ringtones too in revenge”

“Really?” Alice asked with genuine curiosity, “What did you do?”

“Well, you know how I love Muse, right?”

“Yeah”

“And how much Armand hates it” She didn’t, not really, but she did guess her boyfriend knew the guy better. So, she nodded. “So I changed all his ringtones for Muse songs”

“Ok” She inquired, carefully, already dreading to hear the answer, “And which one did you set up as yours?”

Please don’t let it be “Unintended”, please don’t let it be “Unintended”...

“Um, I was running out of songs, so I chose “Endlessly””

That was so much worse. Exasperated, Alice threw her hands up in the air, ready to get up when Armand walked into the room again, wearing the world’s sluttiest man pajamas she had ever seen: A pair of silk black pants hung dangerously low off Armand’s hips, exposing the top of the V-shaped line of his pelvis, while a too short black t-shirt with an extremely low cut v-neckline gave a tantalizing view of his tanned chest and rather impressive pectorals. It was only when her eyes got to his face and she saw the little smirk he was sporting, that Alice realized her mouth was hanging open. But Alice wasn’t the only one staring, next to her, Daniel was positively gawking, and Alice understood the reason for Armand’s smug expression: He knew. There was nothing innocent or clueless about that boy, he was purposely, deliberately, trying to steal her boyfriend. 

And he was succeeding. 

She watched in shock as Armand bend in half in front of the TV, giving both Daniel and her a perfect view of his perfect butt as he put on a disc on the DVD player, too stunned to even understand what the boy was doing until the already painfully familiar notes to the opening of “Blade Runner” started to play. She heard her boyfriend groan, but as she turned to look at him, there was a fond, if a little exasperated smile on his face. Alice, however, harbored no fondness whatsoever for Armand or the movie he was so weirdly obsessed with.

“What? No! Guys? Blade Runner again??” 

Armand turned around, face blank again. Daniel simply shrugged, 

“Armand likes it”

“But we literally watched it a hundred thousand times!” She protested, reaching for the coffee table where she had left her own movie of choice. “Besides, I brought a movie I want to watch, for once!”

“Oh, come on! “Crossroads”?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s just… Britney Spears? Really?”

“You cried during “A Walk to Remember” and Mandy Moore was in it!”

“I did not-”

“It’s a good movie” Armand sentenced, taking the box from Alice’s hands, deft fingers taking out the disc carefully, halting her bickering with Daniel. 

“Wait… what?”

“Yeah, what?” Alice echoed her boyfriend’s feeling of confusion. It wasn’t like Armand to ever take her side instead of Daniel’s.

“I think it’s a good movie” He repeated, placing the disc on the player, “It’s entertaining, Britney Spears is endearing, and I like the message of the movie…”

“Oh?” Daniel asked, with genuine curiosity, “And what message is that”

Armand took his place on the couch next to Daniel, eyes intense as he replied,

“That life might change, dreams might change, relationships might change” Alice knew she was not imagining the side look he threw at her. “But true friends stay with you forever”

Oh, the fucking… gremlin! Alice was about ready to throttle him. 

"That's it! I'm done!" Unable to stop herself, she jumped from the couch, planting herself in front of her boyfriend and his roommate, to deliver her ultimatum. "I can't deal with this anymore. You have to choose, Daniel. Him" she pointed her finger to a completely serene Armand, "or me" 

"Wha- Choose? Alice… What the hell?" Daniel sputtered, beyond confused. "What do you mean to choose?"

"I mean I can't just stand there as I watch this… this… evil imp twink tries to sink his dirty claws on my boyfriend!" Alice was pretty much shrieking, as she flayed her hands around, gesturing wildly as she yelled, "He’s clearly into you, and I’m not so sure you aren’t into him as well anymore, not when you’re making goo-goo eyes at him all the time and constantly ditching me to hang out with him!

So, we're going to settle this once and for all. Which one of us do you want? Is it me or is it him? Because one of us has to go" 

Daniel simply stood there, mouth hanging open like a fish, brain fried by the shock. Alice deflated, all her anger and frustration bled away from her after yelling her piece.

“So? Daniel?” She repeated, heartbreak transparent in her expressive brown eyes, “Who’s it gonna be?”

But Daniel couldn’t, or wouldn’t, say anything. Much less what she wanted to hear.

“That’s quite enough, Alice” Armand’s calm but cold voice rang like a bell through the small apartment, commanding the attention of all of its occupants to him. Alice couldn’t ignore the relief that seemed to wash over her apparently soon-to-be ex-boyfriend as his roommate took control of the situation. She couldn’t quite blame him, she guessed, Armand’s entire demeanor had changed, he seemed bigger somehow, taller as he wasn’t slouching anymore. Dominating and domineering, compelling in a way Alice had never seen before, as if the very air inside the tiny living room was standing on guard and ready to obey him.

Truth was, it was kinda hot.

“Daniel?” She begged for the last time, her heart not really in it, unsurprised when Daniel failed to do anything but watch as Armand led her out. The door closed behind her with a deafeningly soft click, and Armand finally turned to face a still-flabbergasted Daniel.

"Can- can you believe her?" He tried, and failed to appear nonchalant, his nervously scratching at the back of his neck and tomato red face giving him away. "She thinks I have some kinda weird gay crush on you…" 

Armand simply made a non-committal hum before seemingly deciding on something and marching towards Daniel with an intensity and determination that made the blushing boy weak in the knees. 

Luckily, his roommate grabbed him by the collar of his polo, stopping him from falling face first into the floor the moment his soft plush lips crashed into Daniel’s. 

And this was a guy. This was Armand, this was his roommate, his best friend, and he knew he should stop it, step away before they fucked all that up…

But he was rooted to the spot, caught off guard by the sudden onslaught of sensations. It was different from kissing a girl. Hard planes where he was used to soft curves. The tickle of scruff, and slightly chapped lips where he was used to strawberry sweet chapstick. Yet as Armand's tongue licked his bottom lip, begging for entrance, Daniel couldn't help but open up to him, to surrender to him, as his tongue conquered every inch of Daniel's mouth, a greddy, hungry victor. 

"Wait… this is wrong" Daniel breathed against Armand’s mouth, even as his hands came to rest on the taller boy's larger ones, keeping them there, the metal of his finger rings cool against Daniel’s cheeks. 

"Doesn't feel wrong" He quipped, before scraping his teeth against Danie's, tearing a moan out of him.

"No, it doesn't," the boy admitted, pushing one thigh between Armand’s, gasping as he felt one of his roommate's hands slip from his face and come to rest against his lower back, pressing him closer. 

"Wait!" Daniel exclaimed again, and this time, Armand did break the kiss.

"What is it, Daniel?"

"Alice was right…" He confessed, uncharacteristically shy, considering one of his thighs was still pressed against Armand’s crotch, "I have a gay crush on you"

Armand threw his head back laughing in that boyish way Daniel had secretly always found so endearing, 

"Good" He finally replied, once the chuckles died down. He rested his forehead on Daniel’s, catching his breath, "That's good, because I have a gay crush on you too" 

Those were the last words spoken in their apartment for a while. 

Moans and gasps don't count as words. 

[allieebobo]

CT:OS Dev log

Tennis/Sports x Slice-of-life x College x Found-family x Coming-of-age

Demo | Features | Cast of Characters | Back to main post | Ko-fi

Wordcount: ~468k words with code (~100k words in a single playthrough)

CT:OS Update 1.0 (15 Nov ‘21):

Prologue—USTA U18 championships match semi-final against Rayyan

Summer before college—hang out with Sam

Move-in day—meet Mike (RA), some of your hallmates, and hang out with dad

CT:OS Update 2.0 (15 Dec ‘21):

Detailed player build—decide on your strengths, weaknesses, and overall playing style

Team introductions—meet the Cargill team

First day of training—strength and conditioning test, 5-mile run

Training snippets, team lunch—dance with Tobin, chat and listen to live music with Rayyan

CT:OS Update 3.0 (25 Mar ‘22):

Singles challenge match against last season’s No. 5 seed, Emerson

Hall party before freshman orientation begins—meet the French exchange student on your floor, and hang out with your hallmates

Rooftop scene with G

CT:OS Update 4.0 (28 Aug ‘22):

Freshman orientation—meet the rest of your hallmates, including your roommate, and play some icebreakers

Orientation activities—win the amazing race, and laser tag

Sign up for a club at the club and activities fair, pick a major

CT:OS Update 5.0 (16 Oct ‘22): 

Attend your first week of classes, and find out if you’ve done enough preparation not to make a fool of yourself (a surprise test...)

More training—get the chance to show off your finesse chops!—achieve the Devil’s Dozen

Challenge match with Jacks or Max

Find out if you’ve been selected to be part of the Cargill singles line-up—and which position you’ll be playing

CT:OS Update 6.0 (29 Apr ‘23):

Weekend hang-outs—head to the library with Tobin, go on a run with Rayyan, and skype with Sam

Meet Felix, Tobin’s ex, while hanging out in a café with G and D

Doubles matches partnered with Tobin and Rayyan—prove your chops as a doubles partner

Find out who your doubles partner will be (along with their reaction)—includes a potential angry locker room confrontation

CT:OS Update 7.0 (28 Sep 23):

Have dinner with Tobin after training—something steamy might ensue...

Bump into Rayyan in the tennis courts at night—resolve some issues, and get embroiled in others...

Convince the coaches to let you swap doubles partners (or stick with your original one)

Finalise your doubles partner for the season!

Study sesh with G at the Haynes student lounge before the first official match of the season

CT:OS Update 8.0 (21 Dec ‘23):

First doubles match of the season against Cornell

Sam reunion(!!)—bear hug your best friend at last

Possible fake fight with doubles partner (or a real one)

Post-double match shenanigan—seal your doubles match with a kiss just before the singles matches

Nickname functionality added to earlier portions of game