#I also wish we had that option now—like in the apartment? I love the idea of Ortega being like

[just-a-tiny-goldfish]

I know Ortega and step never got physical physical in their fling—but what if

[stu-dyingstudent]

Sakura Haruno fic recs: ANBU

AHHHH!!!! I love ANBU fics, especially when they involve Sakura. It was such a cool concept, which was unfortunately never fully expanded upon. However, our lack of knowledge regarding the shadow corps allows for some really cool fic ideas since authors can take creative liberty on the structure and workings of the division.

In my opinion, Sakura had the most potential out of team 7 to join ANBU (at least more than Naruto). It's all about being discreet and efficient and although she wasn't strong during og, she possessed abilities that would be valuable for this. Her clever mind, chakra control, and genjutsu potential would've made her a good fit. Naruto was too flamboyant and Sasuke was too reckless and cocky, but this is just my take. However, with her new skill set from her training with Tsunade, I don't think she would be able to go down that path anymore.

Started: 2024.08.06

Last Updated: 2024.08.29

note: feel free to check out my master list which has a bunch of Sakura Haruno fic recs (all organized)!

----

Masks by mads999 || ao3 || kakasaku || E || canon divergent || complete

1. Sakura's Inner is far more diabolical than anyone ever expected 2. Crows prove to be cruel mentors 3. Sakura comes to learn exactly how much she hates Kakashi (as well as how alike they are, in the most terrible of ways)

Kakashi is a hateful turd and Sakura is spiteful! I hate this ship and I'm not a big fan of Kakashi here, but boy is this fic good. One of the best character developments I've read for Sakura and she certainly becomes of force to be reconned with. The ANBU lore in Masks is absolutely phenomenal and I love the whole system that is put into place as it adds for some drama (lol). Also, can we talk about how awesome crow summons are????

.

Five Kingdoms for the Dead - Evil Is A Relative Term || ffn || M || canon divergence || complete

After the Forest of Death, Sakura comes to realize that being weak is no longer an option. However, she finds that change is sometimes painful and that truth doesn't always come easy. Luckily, she'll have some help along the way.

It's been a while since I've read Five Kingdoms for the Dead, but I just remember it being absolutely great! I'll be honest, I found a lot of the mind stuff pretty confusing at times, but it was still enjoyable. Also, some great characters are utilized in this fic such as Neji, Sai, and Itachi. Makes me really wish that we saw more of Sakura and Neji working together in Naruto since I think they compliment each other quite well.

.

Trials of Change - Espoiretreves || ao3 || gen || time travel AU || complete

Haruno Sakura made a promise. Looking in the eyes of her Shisou and the reanimated Hokage, she took on the most important mission of her life. Go back in time and try to prevent the 4th Shinobi War. Now, Sakura is back to her 5-year-old body, with all the knowledge and haunting memories of the future. She vows to keep her precious people safe and stop certain events from happening, without altering the timeline too much. The trials her emotions and logic put her through have her questioning her very existence, but for the sake of peace, she has to push forward. No matter what.

Trials of Change is actually apart of a time travel series and I have to say that it is probably one of the best of the genre! Now, Sakura is not in ANBU here, but she works very closely with team Ro (Kakashi's ANBU team) and it's a huge part of the story, so I'm choosing to count it anyway. I really adore all of the worldbuilding and backstories going on here in addition to the fact that there are breaks. Yes, the story keeps moving, but there are other things going on, like playdates, and not just Sakura trying to save the world. Also, if you love Shisui then definitely check this out since he has a huge role and his and Sakura's friendship is just so precious.

.

bite me and see, said the fly to the spider - MirrorImage003 || ao3 || itasaku || T || non-massacre AU || ongoing

In which Sakura is not initially a part of Team 7. In which she wears her failures like armor and brandishes her fears like her most trusted weapons. In which I do what hundreds of other authors have done before me, and rewrite Sakura's story. Non-massacre AU. Canon Divergent. Slow-burn.

After Sakura's first team, consisting of the graduating class's "expendables," dies, she joins team 7 and faces backlash along her shinobi journey. Sakura doesn't join ANBU until the later chapters so fair warning that there isn't too much content in that regards (unless it updates). Nonetheless, Sakura views ANBU as vital to her career as it offers her the highest clearance she can get. Gaining her opportunities for information her civilian-born status didn't allow her privy to.

.

The Sixth Shadow - thinknicht || ao3 || kakasaku || M || canon divergent - eventual time travel AU || ongoing

No one seemed to find it odd when little Haruno Sakura threw herself smack dab in front of a Chidori and Rasengan. Not even Kakashi stopped to wonder.(He really should have.)

The story of how Sakura came to be the sixth hogake despite all of the challenges thrown her way. I especially love Sakura's drive in addition to the political aspects. However, be warned that Kakashi is an absolute HATER (in the beginning), but he gets better! The Sixth Shadow is extremely long and I only just recently got to Sakura's introduction to ANBU, so I can't say too much in that regard.

.

Daughter of Fire - justjstuff || ao3 || kakasaku || E || canon divergence || incomplete (maybe ongoing)

Sakura got up and didn’t bother brushing the dirt from her dress. She had a feeling she was about to get even dirtier.She looked at the memorial stone one last time, memorizing the characters without even realizing she was doing it. It would serve from that moment on as a reminder of her determination. She wouldn’t let Naruto and Sasuke join the names carved on that stone.That was her nindo.

Sakura's growth throughout Daughter of Fire is great and realistic all while pointing out aspects from the original series which were flawed and dare I say misogynistic. I struggled a bit in the beginning to justify her abilities, but overall the story is really well done and the ANBU aspects are quite intriguing.

.

cut the head off the snake - itsthechocopuff || ao3 || T || time travel AU || complete

when eighteen-year-old, post-war Sakura is thrown back into her tiny, pre-Academy body, she makes a decision. she'd had a childhood once already, and this time, she's more interested in Not Dying when the inevitable shit hits the proverbial fan. so she will work harder, care less, kill more, and smile when she's done.and hey, if she ends up reviving an extinct nature transformation to attract the most corrupt, power-hungry man from her timeline, all the better for her, right?

Such a unique take on a time travel AU and Cut the Head Off the Snake executes it perfectly. Sakura decides that her first order of business is to infiltrate ROOT and that's exactly what she does. Sai, Shin, and Shisui are all great characters and team Ro is present as well. Very good!

.

Flowers - Idunmy || ao3 || E || kakasaku || canon divergence || ongoing

Flowers only bloom just before they wilt When Sakura loses her fight against Ino in her Chuunin exams, she questions her ability to ever become a kunoichi, too weak to protect herself, let alone her village One wrongful promotion later and Sakura gets a second chance in the shape of a mysterious new teacher who against all odds is willing to put her faith in a young girl with potential and a willingness to fight. Or- a fix-it inspired fic where Sakura grows to be the powerhouse she was destined to become.

Flowers is a newer series (which has recent updates) and I love it! Critiques are made towards the medical ninja training, which I believe needed to be discussed and it's refreshing to see. In most ANBU fics I've read, Sakura is immediately put onto the strongest team, but here it's a bit different. She begins on a demolition squad, which not only suits her skill set quite well, but is a realistic approach to how she would be introduced to the corps. Anyway, it's one of my favorite reads at the moment and I really like where the story is going.

.

names. - waterpllar || ao3 || T || gen || canon divergence || complete

There are no names or faces in ANBU. Everything is designed to be strictly formal, efficient and professional. A recently orphaned Sakura, however, learns that some regulations aren't meant to be followed, and finds a place in Team Ro after being shunned from her former teammates. (fic prompt from anon on tumblr: orphaned sakura in anbu with yamato, genma, and team ro.)

AHHHH poor Sakura. After her parents' death Sakura seeks Tsunade's help out of desperation to become useful. Under recommendation, Sakura's new goal is to make it into ANBU.

.

Equinox - FM_White || ao3 || itasaku || M || anbu AU || complete

ItaSaku (Post Uchiha Massacre) AU: Climbing through the ranks of Konoha, Sakura finds herself with the invitation to join ANBU and a chance to learn from one of the most renowned and legendary ninja in the world. Despite her efforts to grow stronger however, she finds the world isn't as black and white as it looks and that some truths are easier to hide than others.

I don't remember Equinox very well, but I love most works by this author sooo. Anyway, Itachi stays in Konoha and instead it's Sasuke that goes rougue. Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru are newly joined ANBU members and all placed on a team with Itachi and things go from there.

.

stars in our eyes as we dream of the heavens (the gods walk among us, sweet child, do not forget) - snickiebear || ao3 || kakasaku || T || age-swap AU || oneshot complete

“Kakashi-sensei,” Naruto whispered, staring at his teacher, horror plain on his face. “You’re married?” Lazily, Kakashi looked down at his gloveless hand where his ring rested, “It would appear so.”

Sakura is born in the same generation as Kakashi and turns out as a badass ANBU married to him. This is super wholesome as it's a lot of the two of them bonding with Kakashi's genin team (Sai makes three) in an effort to help them out. It's a series so you can read more of the events taking place prior to the fic.

.

Anachronistic Drift  - Elesrea  || ffn || gen || T || time travel AU || incomplete

Her plan was flawless. Save Shisui. Save the world. Time-travel, Sakura-centric AU

Sakura spends years training to be sent back in time and save the world from Sasuke. She isn't in ANBU, but rather poses as one in order to keep an anonymous status on her doings both in and out of the village.

.

Sakura - lilac haze || ffn/ao3 || M || minasaku || time travel AU || complete

AU. Non-Canon. Time Travel. Please see inside for full warnings. Cross posted on Ao3. On his deathbed he was granted eternal peace and place to rest for all of time. Of course that was not appealing to him. Ever unpredictable to the end he had a counter offer. One that the Sage had to consider. In which Sakura's going to have a rough time. A really rough time.

Sakura is probably one of my all time favorite fics because the emotions are just spectacular. The story is pretty heavy on ANBU and ROOT aspects, which I always enjoy, but I wouldn't say it's a major focus. However, there is an emphasis on the unfair treatment towards kunoichi. Anyway, the characterizations and storytelling are beautifully done. Please share this author some love.

Check TWs before hand!!

----

Hope y'all enjoy these recs, and please feel free to send me some if you have any!!!! I really appreciate when you do :)

[florenceafternoon]

━。゜✿ jily fic recommendations ✿ ゜。━

This post is just some of my current favourites because I don’t think I have the energy to make a master list right now. Personally, I like to read aus so if you're looking for canon stuff this isn't the post for you.

For reference, anything in italics is taken from the summaries on ao3.

in pursuit of the study of magic by @thequibblah

An immortal magician au or, "we had a really bad breakup three hundred years ago, but neither of us realised the other is immortal until we met today"

I recommend you listen to About You while reading this

Growing (in love) by casablancas21 (on ao3)

Uni au where "James Potter has a lot going on for him. His uni years have been the best he's ever had and his friendliness, popularity and charm go a long way to place him as the go-to bloke if one's looking for a good time. Nevertheless, his final year of school finds him struggling to keep up with the social energy that once enthralled him. He's having a hard time figuring out how to set his own boundaries and what to do about his future. He's also having a really hard time figuring out Lily Evans."

I must admit that Lily's comebacks are so good I've used some during class debates in sociology this year. Truly, the dialogue and dynamics between characters in this fic are so good. Pretty sure this is the one with the kebab

Golden Waltz by evanspotter (on ao3)

Lily Evans wants to be the best ice dancer in the world, which means she needs to find a dance partner ASAP. After two failed partnerships, her coach gives her one last option: James Potter.

This fic is the reason I neglected revising for midterms. It also caused me to go into a deep dive into watching tapes of Olympic ice dance programs specifically Virtue and Moir.

on the way home by keep_driving (on ao3)

Lily was living abroad and pinning from afar. After an abundance of "phone calls, mixtapes, and long waits," Lily is finally coming home. I believe this fic is inspired by the song You Are In Love.

When I say jily is friends first, and lovers second this is what I mean

Dancing With Our Hands Tied by @athenasparrow

But despite his best efforts, he couldn’t take his eyes off her figure as she moved effortlessly in rhythm with whatever song she had playing. He learned she was wearing more than a t-shirt when she slid across the kitchen on her socks, throwing her head back to sing words James wished he could hear.

OR: In a world where social distancing reigns supreme, two strangers find themselves confined to their apartments with love only a window away.

The way I binged this fic at school between classes. love love love

The Season by @missgryffin

This is a regency (Brighton) au where "James Potter, Duke of Peverell, has returned to London just in time for the season, where Miss Lily Evans is about to make her debut. Only, he’s not looking for a wife, and she’s not particularly interested in a husband."

I love the dialogue between Lily & James as well as Sirius & Lily's relationship (for those who know Brigerton, it reminds me of Ben and El's relationship).

A Misstep Of Fate by hogwartslivy (on ao3)

A muggle historical au where "he waited for her on the edge of ballrooms and in the shadows of parties. He waited to dance with her, to spin her in his arms, to be the one she laughed and smiled with. He thought he was doing the right thing, allowing time to pass them until they were ready, so he had waited. But it seems, he made a misstep. He's waited too long now she's slipping through his fingers."

My boy is stupid and in love but it's okay because she is too. Their idiots, but they’re my idiots

Let Me Love You by @thejilyship

A Princess Diaries au in which "with only a month until she's set to take the throne of Gryffindor, Lily is informed that she'll have to get married or choose to give up her throne. She never thought she'd have to even entertain the idea of an arranged marriage. Enter, James Potter."

chaos ensues and Emma deserves long service leave (the place would fall apart)

foreigner's god by clarewithnoi (on ao3)

answer to a Tumblr prompt: "we were lovers in a past life" but the current incarnations are enemies-to-lovers, and they don't remember anything from their past selves.

The back and forth between them is so good. low-key I teared up a bit but it has a HEA

An October of Unconventional Courtships by @ghostofbambifanfiction

Two phones. Thirty-one days. Eighteen tuxedos. A Jilytober texting fic.

A classic that everyone should read

Shelf Awareness also by @/ghostofbambifanfiction

Modern bookstore au where "It's too far out of her way and she's wasting so much money, but Lily can't help but return to the bookstore every weekend, where her passion for good literature has, perhaps, been unexpectedly reignited by the messy-haired, pun-making, rather handsome bloke who works there."

One of the first ever jily fics that I read and I fell in love with their dynamic straight away

Careless Texter also by @/ghostofbambifanfiction

Answer to the prompt, “I left my phone number on the bathroom stall wall and you text me about your day and your frustrations for a month & it’s really nice and cute but I still don’t know who you are,” with some twists and differences.

Trackside by @hogwartslivy

James Potter is Formula One’s most impressive young talent, making up one half of the championship winning team at Gryffindor Racing. He’s got a reputation for playing dirty on, and seemingly off, the track but when an article quoting a particularly vulgar comment made by him at last years final Grand Prix is released, it seems he may have pushed it too far. Potter faces two options; fix his public image or give up his seat.

When my two obsessions meet

it's (always) you by @kay-elle-cee

A multiverse of 31 meet-cutes for Jilytober 2023.

Honorable mentions to chapter 3 for high!Lily and chapter 7 for fulling my love for jily regency aus

Key Limes by cgner (on ao3)

Fame au "in which Academy Award winner Lily Evans discovers the periphery of internet fandom and the mysteries of Prince James’s gold star system."

Because James is actually just a giant build a bear and lily is an icon as always.

See You At the Next Stop by kayrma (on ao3)

Lily Evans meets a posh-looking bloke with messy hair on the way back to London, and for once in her life she actually enjoys a train ride. Maybe having a spontaneous seat partner isn't that bad after all.

Shoutout to the notes on this fic because whoever wrote it is a mood

Nom De Plume by @annabtg

James Potter, renowned potioneer, has a secret side career as an erotica writer under the pen name of Scarlett Goldwing. When his latest book starts to take off, and Scarlett is asked to promote it at a public event, he has no other option but to recruit his colleague Lily Evans to pretend to be Scarlett. The only problem is, Lily Evans hates his guts… or does she?

(Rated E for later chapters)

Like did you read that summery because personally I was waiting for the author to complete the story so I could binge it

victorem (requires an ao3 account ) by gryffindormischief (on ao3)

(Olympic) Ice dancing au. "When God closes a door, sometimes you have to jump out a window."

Lily and James (and Sirius) aka the dynamic duo

Phone Service by @confuded-gryffindor

Moddern muggel au "in which James and Lily meet twice, both through their phones."

some with arrows, some with traps by @isahorcrux

Fame au. "Then: James Potter was a beloved child star and the lead of a popular YA franchise. Lily Evans was just getting her big break as his romantic lead in the third installment. While their chemistry got rave reviews, if the rumors are to be believed the two actors can barely stand to be in the same room together.

Now: Lily’s paid her dues and ten years later she’s the most in-demand actress in Hollywood. And James...after back-to-back flops at the box office, he’s just looking for a break and a chance to prove he is the amazing actor everyone thought he was going to be."

Much Ado About Nothing, but make it Jily

The group chat is the level of chaos me and my friends extrude every free line we spend together

Charred Pineaple Margarita's and a Bagel by @chiechie97

The guy at the coffee shop was hot. Hot and he knew her order. But that didn’t mean ANYTHING. Especially when he seemed to know everyone’s order. And besides, Lily is far too busy to be thinking about the hot guy that always has her breakfast waiting for her. Right?

Lily and Remus are me

and i know you too well to say you're perfect by @ofmermaidsandmarauders

“Yeah, you were a pretty big moron.” “Hey, I said idiot!”

Lily's not really sure when James Potter, soccer extraordinaire, took over her life with Harry.

What the summery said

The next few fics are all by @wearingaberetinparis or ritaskeetered (on ao3) who is the reason I joined the jily fandom. Single handedly enabled my obsession and I've never been more thankfull.

The Very Regency (Un)Ladylike Guide To Fortune-Hunting

Regency au. "Without thinking highly either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want." (Jane Austen)

Lily Evans finds herself wanting, or: so her sister seems to believe. While out on the hunt for a fortune - again: that would be Mrs Dursley mostly - the affection of a number of suitors is most welcome. Especially when a young Viscount's heart is set aflame.

Screaming, crying, punch me in the face (Lily's version)

Jump (For My Love)

Royalty au "When you are the Prince of England, the last thing one might expect is to be jumped from behind by the most beautiful woman one has ever seen, who - in turn - seems to have no clue at all and mistakes one for someone else. Surely, Prince James has the right to be disproportionately upset about this. The question is; does he need to?"

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Olympic au. James, being half Greek, had always dreamed of one day going to the Olympics. Now, at his second Winter Olympics – having won a surprising bronze medal at his first one – James has been dubbed Team GB’s hero before the games have even started.

Lily, being the daughter of a waste collector, had always dreamed of one day making her parents proud by exceeding their expectations. Now, she finds herself on a plane to China together with her boss, Minerva McGonagall, and a crowd of winter athletes representing Team GB at the Winter Olympics of 2022.

The paths of James Potter – overenthusiastic snowboarding hero – and Lily Evans – passionate overachiever – cross at the 2022 Winter Olympics when James Potter is asked to be Team GB’s flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony (and quite a few times after that as well).

The repetition of "James, being half Greek..." worked so well for the flow. I don't know how to describe it

A Game Of Thrones

Modern royalty au. Lily Evans had never imagined she would meet Prince James, but when she does at St Andrews' annual Christmas Pub Crawl, her whole world is turned upside down. For who thought that a girl like her - with a sister that reads "Hello" magazine like it's the Bible - would end up with a prince like him?

Euphemia Potter you will always be famous

flowers

A musician au that hilights sexisim in the music industry. "Singer-songwriter Lily Evans has played gig after gig, has been the opening act to many a headliner, but her big break seems a million miles away. When one night – after playing in her friend Marlene McKinnon’s bar – she receives messily scrawled lyrics on a napkin by a certain Monty Python, her life and career are turned upside down, leading her all the way to the Grammy's."

Lily my love, you deserve everything you've worked for

If You Knew Who Was Talking

hopelessly_devoted and genuinely-conflicted form each other’s support system online, cheering one another on as they battle their way through an unrequited (and most definitely unwanted) crush on the person their parents are trying to set them up with.

In the real world, James Potter and Lily Evans find themselves hopelessly devoted and genuinely conflicted when battling their persistent infatuation with the last person they would have ever liked to fall for, stubbornly fighting their family’s and friends’ convictions that they were born to be together.

If only they knew who was talking.

FOOLS the both of them.

glitter in the sky, i’m spinning out waiting for ya

For her thirtieth birthday, Marlene McKinnon and Mary McDonald gift Lily Evans the thrill of a lifetime: a tandem skydive. What no one expected? For Lily to end up in the hospital as a result with her ankle covered in soul marks.

everybody is a sexy baby, and i'm a monster on a hill

Ficwriter au. "James Potter and Lily Evans are fandom famous. Both are prolific and popular writers within the Marauders fandom, but they have completely ignored the other's existence for two years after a Tumblr misunderstanding. Now, they are paired up for the Valentine's Marauders Challenge and - forced to interact - they find out that they may be more compatible than they ever could have imagined."

Is this not the dream?

fastening myself to you with a stitch

Fame au. "Anyone who has never heard the names Lily Evans and James Potter before must be a boomer. The two actors have dominated the box office with their films in the past nine years, more often than not starring opposite one another. Whether tasked to portray mutual pining, passionate hatred or fiery love, Potter and Evans make the screen positively buzz with the taste of opportunity."

it's all happening without me

Normal People (Sally Roony) au. "At school, James and Lily pretend not to know each other. James is wealthy, popular and the star of his school’s football team, while Lily wears second-hand school uniforms, is the school pariah and resented for her smarts. At James’ house, however – meeting there due to Lily’s mother’s housekeeping job – they form an intense connection they desperately try to conceal to the outside world.

A year later, James and Lily both attend Hogwarts University where James has found his feet and made friends he had longed for his entire life, while Lily remains uncertain and haunted by her problematic past.

Throughout their years at university, James and Lily circle each other, trying to resist the magnetic pull between them, whilst coming to the realisation that the both of them may be more religious than they ever thought they were."

Mother knows best. Mary, never question your writing skills because this fic proved that you are a phenomenal writer. The emotions you evoked coverered the entire range of human emotions

It's Coming Down, It's Coming Down Series -

Weird, But Fuckin' Beautiful

When Lily Evans is invited to spend Christmas with the Potters, she finds that she can simply not refuse. It’s an offer she cannot resist for several reasons, the most important one being that she would much rather spend the holidays with Fleamont and Euphemia than she would with Vernon and Petunia.

So what if she had conveniently forgotten (or has she?) about the fact that the Potters have a son - a Formula 1 driver at that - who she can’t seem to get off her mind? (Mightily annoying that, seeing as he has made clear exactly how he feels about her and it’s not exactly giving her any hope.) It’s not as if she can’t control herself.

Or so she very dearly hopes…

Tonight Feels Impossible

But after a night spent together in a hotel's honeymoon suite, she doubts she ever will and fears it might be her downfall.

To All The Kudos I've Left Before

Ficwriter au set in university. "Fanfiction is the guiltiest of pleasures that Lily - twenty years old and studying at Hogwarts University - freely and happily indulges in. She reads fanfiction whenever she has a moment to herself and goes crazy whenever her favourite author - Artemis - updates or uploads another one of his works to Archive Of Our Own. Leaving them comments and the ensuing banter between them back and forth - however fleeting - makes her heart race and preoccupies a fair amount of her thoughts, which - in turn - angers her best friend.

James Potter has never had to suffer from an inferiority complex. His parents and friends are supportive of his every endeavour and this includes his habit to write fanfiction and put his written work out there in the void for his readers to enjoy. His readers are highly supportive too - Lilium being his absolute favourite - that is, until he starts to receive the vilest of comments from a number of guest accounts and starts to question his entire online existence.

What Artemis and Lilium don’t know? That they might know each other a little better than either of them ever bargained for."

The title says it all ❤ ❤❤

[aprill-99]

I was mulling it over today, and I think we haven’t talked enough about how the kindest Gods in the PJO show are the lonely outcast ones.

Think about it, the gods we see on screen are Poseidon, Zeus, Hades, Ares, Dionysus and Hephaestus.

We spend the most time with Dionysus and he’s arguably the most well socialized, but he isn’t shown to actually care about the campers. Ares is at best manipulative and capable of being manipulated and at worst short cited, violent, and cruel. He sends children into a known trap and dresses it up as helping them, then tries to start a war (whether or not it was his idea).

Zeus, king of the gods and always surrounded by them, is portrayed as controlling with a childish need to win no matter who else suffers or how stupid the game. He won’t agree to stop a war that would tear the world apart until Poseidon will admit he’s won, even after hearing that Kronos has returned.

Poseidon is portrayed as being more alone and separate from the other gods. He has his own realm, and while that makes him more powerful, he’s also more isolated. He shows care for both Sally and Percy. Particularly with Sally, she feels alone and like she has no one to talk to, and he comes as soon as she calls. Percy is in danger and he directly intervenes against Zeus and lets his pride take a hit to save him (in direct contrast to Zeus).

But Hades? Hated and feared god of the dead. Even more isolated than Poseidon and only allowed to be with the rest of his family once a year with a wife gone half the year and his children far away. The moment he hears what is actually happening, what does he say to Percy? “Ask me for sanctuary.” Then he follows it up by offering to keep his best friend and only family safe too. The last person Hades offered that too was probably Bianca, Nico, and Maria. Hades’ default move when the world is fraying is to put the innocent kids somewhere safe. Batten down the hatches, get any advantage you can for sure, but for the love of Hestia hide the kids until they’re old enough, until that’s not an option anymore. He doesn’t doubt Percy for a second. He just gives him a way out and offers Perseus -fatal-flaw-is-loyalty- Jackson, a way to keep his only true family safe. I think if Percy cared less about the rest of the world (remember he has other Camp friends and Annabeth is already gone) he’d have seriously considered it.

Hephaestus, (coup de gras) a god cast out of Olympus, married to a wife who hates him, crippled by his parents, and kept around for being useful. What does he end up telling Annabeth? “You’re a good kid, Annabeth.” Said to the girl whose own mother gave her a hat that makes her invisible - the girl who’s greatest wish is to build something that last forever - who wants acknowledgment and feels like she has to prove herself.

And he tells her she’s a good kid. Good already for being who she is now, not for whatever she might be later. Guy is really out here breaking cycles of abuse all over the damn place and he had like, 4 minutes of screen time!

Anyway I’m supposed to be studying for the Bar, but this was haunting me…..

[bengiyo]

Love for Love's Sake Ep 6 Stray Thoughts

Last time, we picked up with the boys’ date, and things took a turn when Myunha wanted to avoid an interaction with his mom in her café, and then the amusement park was closed. Myungha also disappointed Yeowoon by telling him they were just friends. Later, Myungha soundly rejected Sangwon, and then further disappointed Yeowoon by telling him to love someone else instead. Thankfully, Shi-a teamed up with Yeowoon and is rooting for him. Myungha had to save 3,000,00 won, and learned that Yeowoon is being abused by an older male relative (perhaps his father). Thankfully, Kyunghoon is excited about his boyfriend coming back from Canada, and this gave Myungha the push to face Yeowoon properly. We left on the two of them having their first kiss. Also, the game is glitching.

Yes! Give him kissing lessons! No more stiff kissing in BL! Lessons start immediately!

Episode 6: Love

I like that at least Myungha is interrogating the ethics of dating under these circumstances. Sure wish another show was doing that.

Yeowoon is so earnest. I love this boy. I can’t wait to see all of Shi-a’s advice.

Myungha cries after watching what sounds like a Godzilla-King Kong-zombie film! I love him!!

He is 18 and he wants to kiss! I feel that, Yeowoon!

Shi-a! You interrupted the date!

Now we have to make him an idol? I don’t know that Yeowoon wants that kind of scrutiny.

Yes, go on and kiss the boy!

I’m with Sangwon. This IG thing seems like a bad idea.

Oh shit! We’re glitching!

I like the big wave Yeowoon does when he sees Myungha now.

Okay, that street scene was cute.

Oh ho! Is the writer trying to reach Myungha inside of the game? How did he put him here in the first place?

It’s super trippy that Myungha can see these notices from the game.

I love the idea of a character rejecting fate in a game world where the options are predetermined by the designers.

Tae Myungha better not die!!!

My precious boy is being stalked, too? It’s always something, goddamn.

This dude really ran up and snatched Myungha’s phone. I’m glad Sangwon checked him on this behavior.

Oh, a breakup flashback. He’s bi, girls.

Yeowoon definitely thinks he just got invited over for a night of intimacy. I hope Myungha realizes that.

Ah, the classic cruel video game choice: choose which person you love to die.

That’s a good cliffhanger.

Things are starting to move really quickly with the plot. It works well because they show the game itself falling apart, like the devs are dealing with a project spiraling out because of too many player choices to accommodate. Throwing an element of major danger into the story narrows the field back to make the players focus on the biggest issue. I feel like there’s going to be a lot to discuss about the structure of this story when we’re done. I remain deeply-compelled.

[subastian-swallows]

HLC ROMANCE — WHAT WE DESERVED

Ominis Gaunt — Head Empty, Thoughts

This has been requested by the lovely @tinaexe and obviously NEEDED! Like the Sebastian one, I feel like as a fellow BioWare fanatic — romance is my forte, in games! Ominis is a little harder as most will be based on what if’s, as unlike Seb, we don’t fully get a developed relationship with him in the game. (We kind of are friends at the end?) So because of this, we only truly see him expanded through Seb’s quest line.

So, let us begin at the beginning:

If you decide to be in Slytherin, you meet Ominis in the Common Room. I actually really love this interaction! I think it’s a nice way to set him up as a character, but would have loved more dialogue options — a big thing the game failed on. I understand it wasn’t their aim, but more dialogue, more choice, would make relationships develop more and make your own character feel more real. I think the only bad thing about this interaction, is that he is too sweet straight away (HERE ME OUT LOL) Ominis comes off as someone who is very picky with his friends, I would have loved to have him more indifferent here — just for a lovely enemies to lovers type thing. Think Morrigan from DAO but more tame…way more tame lmao. (This is just me, tbh it fits his character that he’s kind. I also like the idea that he’s extra kind because of how he grew up — but easily snaps if upset) If you aren’t meeting him here, it would also be DADA! I like the idea that he would make fun of Sebastian losing here, perfect opportunity for romance points — the curiosity of you beating Sebastian would win points with him for sure. Flirty-ish dialogue could be added here!

Now, I’ll do gifts first this time — mainly because we don’t really spend any time with Ominis lmao, so from here, apart from some quests like the scriptorium etc will be my interpretation! With gifts for Ominis! I like the idea of him being a sweet tooth, so the idea of being able to buy sweets from Honeydukes would have been so neat for this. (This would the small relationship point add on.) for bigger gifts, I like the idea of him being into more refined artefacts! Like interesting things you find on your journeys. Think:

Sculptures/art type stuff: x20 romance points

Flowers: x10 romance points

just for fun lmao — dark magic artefacts: -30x romance points

Unlike Seb, Ominis should be harder to romance! I stand by the idea, that he is hesitant and feels more complicated when it comes to love. Considering his upbringing, bringing down the walls is the first step! This is where more dialogue plays into part, remembering things that are brought up later — a big bonus to romance points!

Now interesting idea, re-meeting Ominis in Hogsmeade! I think with an Ominis romance for it to work alongside the plot — it would be mostly through Sebastian. (Drama for all those that love both — me everyday battling my inner demon of wishing to romance anyone else, but Alistair in DAO!) I like the idea of him interrupting your visit with Sebastian and perhaps helping alongside you and Sebastian with the troll! Would have been really neat to see more action from him. Flirty dialogue could be added, but it would be met with a flustered/confused Ominis.

This is where we linger from the quest line a bit, because well let’s be honest, Sebastian would never let Ominis know he’s taking you to the restricted section. So, this is where I kind of make it up. I think a small quest would work here with Ominis OR simply another one on one conversation. This could be where you learn a little more about him, if you picked the right dialogue OR you could upset him. I think a big part of this game would have benefited with a main character that had more choice. Even in Mass Effect you get two options, sometimes three — same with Dragon Age Inquisition, but the main character still feels more real, simply because of the choices! A quest for Ominis here, could be anything really, maybe he’s in the library and needs help with something or you find him in the DADA tower needing help etc.

Undercroft, baby! Here is the thing, I love the idea of Sebastian still taking you here — but like Sebastian’s one, Ominis should have caught you in the act! I would have loved to have him pissed off and you have to work your way out, but actually getting the chance, rather than him automatically not believing you or giving a shit. This would be the first instance of where romance points matter, if you have enough he apologises and takes it out on Sebastian, if you don’t, he takes it out on the both of you and is grumpy.

Scriptorium. This is the quest. I would feel like this is the major quest to determine whether you are locked into a romance arc with Ominis and I could even agree that this would be where you’d lock in either of the boys! I’d like to think that this quest should have had more chances to side with either boy, depending on who you wanted and what you believed. It needed more banter, comforting dialogue where you could commend Ominis for helping you both and it would have been perfect for flirty dialogue — making him all flushed and shy. This would also be where he starts to see you as something more, if you pick the right dialogue. Perfect opportunity for Ominis to take care of you when Sebastian crucio’s your ass.

Relic moment. OKAY! Here would have been so perfect to show that your romance points mattered. Imagine that depending on how you’ve interacted so far, it would determine if he would trust you or not. He was too trusting at this point, TBH. He knows how Sebastian is, not you and so this felt a little strange to me. So the idea, that at this point your romance points mattered, to determine if you had to curse him would be HUGE. Because if you had to curse him, I’d love to see it be a huge factor that he can’t be end goal. By this point, I think you also have to be completely against dark magic and Sebastian using it. This would be big points for Ominis’ romance.

Conversation about Sebastian it’s Ominis! Worried! You express what is going on, the mine situation etc. This would be where Ominis is more shy and clear with his feelings without actually telling you, if your romance points are high enough. A gift from him? A ROSE?

Solomon quest, rip. Ominis would need you to be fully on his side here. You would need to have the opportunity to support him in this and with dialogue omg I hate it. Still agree with being able to stop Sebastian, having enough romance points with Sebastian, to the point of stopping him before he does anything — would tie into if you could complete Ominis’ romance. I like the idea that they tie in together here and you had to have thought about both throughout. Ominis and Sebastian are practically brothers, so it makes sense.

THE ENDING: You could only get a good ending IF you save Sebastian, I just think it’s very fitting. If you can stop Sebastian, I feel like Ominis can really open up. If you don’t I think he would be toooo heartbroken for a romance. If you succeed, you get the kiss and hug scene and he shows his appreciation for you — thanking you for being there for him RIPP

Bonus: Winter Ball like Sebastian — only agreeing to go with you if romance points are high enough. ALSO, I like the idea of a moment to stick up for him or he sticks up for you. BECAUSE CUTE.

I might have missed stuff and more definitely could be added, but this is the basic romance plot line — that could have worked. We just needed more dialogue, more options and more quests for him!

[v3nusxsky]

We both know how much I love your writing so I have to request some more sub Larissa x dom reader. (Plot is completely changeable as always I'll happily read whatever you write.)

My idea was r and Larissa went to school together. They had a mutual dislike of each other, r thought Larissa was stuck up and a rich prick who didn't know anything about real life and Larissa was annoyed r didn't apply themselves because they were smart.

Flashforward to present and r is at parents weekend since they look after their little brother and Larissa invites r back to her office for wine for a catch up and they end up finally admitting why they both annoyed eachother so much is because they both had a thing for the other and they finally end up fucking and r lovingly teasing Larissa about how submissive she is for them compared to how dominant she pretends to be for her job?

If it fits could you include biting/marking kink, bondage, breeding kink, bratty Larissa 9

Wand lots of after care?

Thank you so much!

Smoke and mirrors 18+

*Authors note~ only one tonight guys I’m sorry! I have to go on a family trip tomorrow so it’s been stressing me out preventing me from writing. Also car trouble which is equally as stressful! But here we go, I hope this is okay for you all*

Trigger Warnings~slight angst? Sub l dom r biting/marking kink breeding kink degrading and praise kink mommy kink strap on, oral sex

Prompt~ see ask^^^^^

✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿

You'd changed a lot since your Nevermore days, that much was certain, you and your brother Emerson had lost your mother three years ago. Since then, you'd raised him as practically your own son. Your ability is telepathy while he was a siren. So it really made sense that you were to send him to Nevermore just like your parents had with you. Your time at Nevermore was nothing but enjoyable apart from the stuck up rich prick that you had a dorm with. The raven haired girl wasn't so bad, hardly ever stayed in Ophelia hall but the blonde? God you couldn't stand how she acted or held herself. Really she didn't know anything about real life where you have to fight for everything and anything. Nothing is handed to you on a plate. Running to daddy wasn't an option because daddy was never there. It wasn't just you though, Larissa found you irritating, to her you could apply yourself more to your studdies, stop leaving everything to the last minute and take some responsibility for yourself. You had the brains and she knew that, she just wished you would use them more.

Arriving for Emerson's first parent's weekend was exciting, you'd missed the young lad and truly couldn't wait to hear about his experiences at Nevermore. What you were not expecting was to be greeted by Larissa. Surly she would've left Nevermore like you? It appeared not. "Emer? Who's that?" You whispered to your brother causing him to smile, "Principal Weems, she said I can go her anytime I miss mom or dad." So it appeared she did have a kind part of her. Interestingly. Maybe your younger self misjudged the blonde.

After she did her talk to officially start parent's weekend she began to mingle, making a beeline for you. "Emerson is this your sister darling?" She practically purred as the young boy smiled and happily introduced you to her. "Well well well, how many years has it been love? I'm sorry about Diane, she was always wonderful to me" she murmured and you nodded in thanks, "it's been a while, your principal now?" Pleasant conversation was made until Emerson's friend came to ask if he'd go into Jericho with his family and him, of course you chucked and ruffled your brothers hair okaying it. "Well it seems your at a loose end, would you like to come and catch up in my office? I have wine" she chuckled hoping the wine would sell you, truly she wanted to know about you, this air of maturity and responsibility allowing her to see how truly magical you are.

That was how you found yourself three glasses into her bottle of wine staring at the blonde, wondering how she would taste on your tongue. Perhaps that's why you did it, you lunged forward to capture the blondes lips before practically mounting her lap. Glasses of wine long forgotten as you straddled her lap, your hands roaming her clothed body as Larissa just let you. A submissive act. A smirk adorned your now slightly swollen lips, "do you want this Larissa?" You practically purred her name causing her to nod enthusiastically and cry, "please god please."

That was all it took for you to move down her body until she could lay flat on her back. Only then did you tear through her clothing to admire her in all her beautiful glory. "God you're stunning" you whimpered to her as you kissed every inch of her bare skin, loving the little gasps of need mixed with pain as you pinched and tugged on her pert buds. "Oh god please" she whined to you causing to nip at her breast, "who am I darling?"

"M-mommy?" She whispered causing you to find her stuttering adorable, the all dominant principal being nothing but a slut for her mommy just added to the power play. "Good girl darling, mommy will fix it okay?" The speed the blondes head was nodding almost had you feeling it would fall off, "please gods I need you!"

After teasing her thighs you took your first swipe from her glistening folds and you were a goner. As if you'd taken a hit of your favourite drug and needed more you dove back into her cunt, licking sucking and lapping at it. It was if you thought she'd run dry and you'd never get enough. A starving woman for the blonde. Larissa's whines and mewls for more only spurred you on in your task. You couldn't help but moan around her clit at the taste of her before slipping two fingers into her soaking cunt. "Oh god! Mommy god please wanna cum" she mewled as you lightly scrapped your teeth over the rock hard bud.

"Cum for me gorgeous" was all you offered before you went back to harshly sucking on her aching bundle of nerves. With a very undignified squeal you were reward for all your effort as her cum drenched your fingers, her hips bucking wildly to ride her orgasm out. Of course you stayed there to help her through and saver your reward before kissing back up her body. "Shall we move this to your bedroom baby?" The hazy smile and nod of her head followed by her attempting to stand on shaky legs gave you your answer. "Oh no you don't princess, I've got you" you murmured before picking the blonde up, despite her blatant attempts to say she's far too heavy only for you to capture her lips to shut her up.

Tossing the blonde on a bed like nothing more than a mere rag doll you asked where she kept her toys and of course like the good little submissive she directed you to them. There you found a wide range, so it appears the snobby uptight blonde is actually rather normal. Who would've known? Selecting what you wanted, a double ended dildo that could vibrate you made your way back to the blonde. You were admiring the marks you left on her ivory skin, the desire to make more, to add to the collection running rampant in your mind. The blonde squirming in anticipation on the bed gave you more ideas.

Larissa Weems most certainly wasn't planning to spend her parent's weekend bound to her bed at the complete mercy of her ex roommate who she thought still hated her and vice versa, but it was true what they say, there's a thin line between love and hate. You couldn't help but smile at the blonde being helpless and at your mercy. "Look at the Principal of Nevermore being nothing more than a whore for me" you teased as you secured the faux dick before teasing her soaking slit with the cock head. "Mommy! Please please put it in" she whined feeling sensitive from her previous orgasm. "Okay princess, but I will not be stopping till I've come, using you like nothing more than a flashlight for mommy."

You did just that of course, you were humping the faux cock into her pussy at such a force and pace that all she could think see and feel was you. The sight of her eyes rolling back into her beautiful brain with every brush the head of your cock made with her cervix. Her moans now nothing but incoherent babbles and pleads to continue. Of course you complied, using her fluttering hole until you wanted to stop. "God I'm gonna fill you up so good princess, gonna make you so round and full for mommy. You'd like that huh? Nothing more than a cum dumpster for mommy. Watching you swell as you carried my child. God you look so beautiful all pregnant from me" you panted as your orgasm took over your thrusts.

Larissa came around your cock for the third time as you both rode out your climaxes together before you slipped from her now extremely sensitive cunt. Her cum still seeping from her hole giving you a sense of pride. You tossed the strap to the side and immediately came to hold the blonde to your chest. It is common that submissive people find it hard to regulate after such intense feelings but the beating of your heart could work to ground her. What you were not expecting was to feel a wetness hitting your bare chest. Her shoulders shaking with sobs but no sound. She was crying.

"Larissa? Darling talk to me what can I do love?" You murmured coming to stroke her hair. Hopefully you were providing some kind of comfort. "I - m sorry for how rude I was at school. I just I didn't want you to fail because you are capable of great things. I was hard on you because I wasn't ready to admit I liked girls. I liked you. I'm so sorry" she sobbed not really taking any breaths in between her words but some how you still caught them all. "Such a silly golden goose, Larissa I knew that. I wasn't ready either darling, I saw you as something I desire but can never have that's why I said those things. I like you too my goose."

The silence that overtook you both was pleasant and comfortable, both just soaking in the words the other said. But you were the first to break it. "Can I take you on a date Risa?" You murmured to the blonde causing her to smile and nod happily, "yes!" You matched her smile and tilted her head to steal a kiss. "Can I tell everyone that the Principal of Nevermore is my very own personal and private submissive little whore?" You teased causing the blonde to smack your arm, "and ruin my reputation? No way mommy!" The sounds of your laughs filling the blondes bedroom as she snuggled impossibly closer to you. "You are so perfect my golden goose" you murmured before a sweet kiss was pressed to her blonde curls. "Sleep my darling girl, you need your rest, I plan to use my pretty pet in a few hours time."

Word count~ 1910

[cleabellanov]

💙 hi and welcome to my ted talk about the latest episodes of what if, please read through (3) 💙

First of all. Why is season 2 so...happy?

I'm not complaining. Marvel has enough sad stories for a lifetime, but I found that, instead of exploring demises, we're now seeing victories. Old villains find their insight and become heroes (Hela, Nebula, Gamora) and lives are influenced for the better, earlier on (Peter Quill, Bucky, Hope).

It might be nothing.

But I think it's something.

You know what season 2 of what if comes right after? Season 2 of Loki. And, as you'll see at the end of this post, their colors are making themselves known.

Could it be that, from his throne, Loki got sick of watching sad stories and seeing worlds die? There is a chance, I don't know how plausible, but there is, that he's influencing all that we saw this season. A little hope here, a little time there, and, using their free will, everyone gets a second chance.

That, or Uatu felt bad for us and wanted to gift us in honor of New Year being in 1-2 days. Do tell me if you have additions on that.

If I had to bet on something, it would be the overall fan reaction to the opening scene. I screamed, yes. Did they expect us to see Loki's name there in the subtitles and be totally chill about it?

"To be or not to be, that is the question"

I can totally see Tom having this idea for the opening scene: just Loki reciting Hamlet, and altough to his brother's bordedom, acting from Shakespeare. And it was the best idea he could have.

It's a missable detail, but Thor mentions Mjölnir! And you know how? As a gift...for Loki!

He responds to that with "I...have misplaced it" which is, yeah, typical, but how do you just lose Mjölnir, Loki? The idea, however, is that he'd be able to lift it, which I would have loooved to see on screen. But this was fun to have too.

And the response to Captain Carter's "You're a bigger drama queen than your brother" (talking to Thor)?? 😭

"Blessed"

Can we also point out how insane it is that after just being stripped from her home in an unknown world, Peggy still wanted to help?

She not only has a hero's soul, she is that brave as to turn down The Watcher's warnings and offers to take her back safe. And remember, not everyone can hear Uatu as he narrates. But she can, sometimes.

"What if, what if, what if. I have to try."

"Not on my watch"

This ambition of hers, is, of course, given by her humanity too. But that's not only a bad thing. The Watcher's all knowing, his experience of seeing worlds die everyday, has made him unsensible (from our point of view). That's not the case for Peggy.

Amidst all her adventures, however, perhaps she's also searching to avenge the love she lost, searching for her happy ending. In the movie Endgame, I have to admit she felt optional, like Steve wasn't meant to be there with her. But not now.

I wish The Watcher told her she has a happy ending somewhere.

I don't know about you, but this episode...is my favourite ever from the series. It used to be the Strange Supreme one, but that's on the second place of the podium now.

We got to see queen Hela, drama prince/ actor Loki, king Thor. Bucky, NOT the Winter Soldier, and Steve, finally on the same page! Scarlet Witch!! Using her powers for good, not corrupted. All of them in cool costumes too. If things like these were on live action, I'd lose my f- mind, if I haven't already. :))

And now the green. The "rifts" that are tearing this world apart are very familiar in color.

And this is not the only thing that's turning green, when it used to be multi-colored. The prism, too, the one from which The Watcher watches and narrates. And I'm not talking about the Time Stone. I'm talking about the tree of life, and how it might actually have a serious impact over everything. I mean, does Uatu know anything? And what was that decorated Yggradsil in the trailer, before the holidays?

Nevertheless, I think it's related in some way, and if it's not, don't blame me. I really like green.

That being said, thanks for reading <3

[theflyindutchwoman]

I have 3 things to talk about…

1. How nice it was to see Tim talk to the guys about his fight with Lucy. I’m literally shocked that he was so open with them! I love that he’s growing, opening up and confiding people that aren’t just Lucy and Angela (And Genny to an extent) he was so many friends now!

2. I am unable to move past how married™️ and sweet and domestic it is that Lucy calls tim to get the bugs at home 🥹 and how she suspected that he was just killing them but didn’t say anything and Tim was like pretending to set them outside even tho he wasn’t because he appreciates how empathic she is to even bugs 😭 I just can’t get over the idea that badass Lucy Chen is scared of bugs, well maybe not scared but whatevs, and makes her grumpy boyfriend take care of them but still insists he doesn’t just kill the scary bugs — do we think post Jackson death, pre-Chris she would call Tim over to handle the super big ones? Omg can you imagine? I’m dead

3. Can we talk about how the dance was like the biggest indicator we’ve ever had that these two are so FREAKIN TACTILE WITH EACH OTHER! Like it was kinda obvious before that their shared love language is touch, but I feel like you really, very clearly see that in the dance. And I just 😭 they love each other so much and just want to touch and snuggle and be with the other so much.

I am still very unwell. And I haven’t even processed the ILY’s fully yet so we’re not gonna go there 😂😂😂

Just when I thought I had recovered enough, you decide to send me this. This is a live footage of me right now :

. The 'bug scene' Listen, after the dance, this might be my favorite part of the episode. This scene was the cutest thing ever… and yes, it was peak married energy. Let's be real here : what is the point of having a boyfriend if it's not to have him take out the trash and deal with the bugs? (just kidding!). Seriously though… Lucy once said that she used to treat the coackroaches in her first apartment as pets (3.11 I think), so it's not like she is fundamentally scared of bugs. Neither is Tamara for that matter. She just wanted Tim to take care of them, in a very Lucy way. But the fact that she knew he was killing them all along but pretended not to know is perfect. Again, that is so her. And then, add the other layer to that scene. Out of all the questions she could have asked, she chose this one. I feel like it was her way of diffusing the tension, of making Tim more comfortable by asking such an innocent question, with no stake at all, before bringing up the real issue between them.

. Tim at the bachelor's party scene You have no idea how much I wish that part had been a little bit longer, so we could see more of the reactions. Still, I love how this scene was cut, with the back and forth between the two parties. How both of them needing to confide their frustrations to other people. And you're right, this is huge for Tim. At best, he would open up to Lucy (obv not an option here) or Angela. Maybe Genny. But certainly not someone like Randy who he barely knows and who can't keep a secret. Or even Aaron… His former aide. That's how much this relationship is important to him. It may have started as a way for him to vent but he also wanted to hear some advices. And he did listen to Randy's suggestion - of all people.

. The dance On the one hand, did anyone still have any doubt that these two are so tactile with one another? The undercover mission was all the confirmation we needed, really. But on the other hand… I didn't think it was possible for them to be even more tactile. It's somehow more intense, more intimate… It just shows how much they craved reassurance. They needed that touch to ground themselves. Lucy needed to play with his lapel and he needed to pull her in closer to him. And don't get me started on how she was playing with his hair or caressing his face. IN PUBLIC. There was no room for Jesus in that dance. She was looking at him the same way she did before 'naked times'… And where did they sneak off after that dance? 👀

[docholligay]

Going through someone's blog and seeing two posts, like...4 days apart ? Of:

Post a: neurotypical people don't understand how much of a struggle it is to listen to them talk about stuff I don't care about :( I wish it was socially acceptable to tell them I'm not interested, ever.

Post b: honestly hurts so much when you can tell someone doesn't care about your special interest. :(

I just want to cup your face and go, "please reread those and let's talk about social kindness"

I did block them, I think I am reaching a friggin... point break over here. I have been weird all my life, I was an EXTREMELY lonely child, and if someone wanted to tell me about their pet lizard I would have died happy, and if they had listened to me talk about the time Kate Harony burned down a barn to get doc out of prison, my tiny child heart would have burst. Like, that's give and take.

I've been trying to express this deep deep SCRATCH of irritation for weeks now, and I think a closer step to it, is... neurotypical, if we believe anyone is, people, also have feelings and needs and preferences. They ALSO get to decide what they can and can't live with.

I have a pretty classic and overwhelming strain of ADHD. Though, I feel less and less like saying the word for it matters, and get closer and closer to identifying as Fucking Weird. My mother is broadly neurotypical. She gets to have her feelings be hurt if I don't want to hear about her and her boyfriend's day at Costco. That's what she did with her day. She wants to tell me. I owe her that if I want to talk about my run, for example. I listen to jetty talk about coding even though I legitimately don't understand. I try and follow along!

I get tired of the idea that you don't ever have to put effort into relationships, and if you do, they aren't good relationships. And this attendant idea that being nice is masking behavior when it's you, but it's just kindness when it's other people doing it.

If it is true that you don't owe anyone anything, then the reverse is also true. No one owes you anything. This is not how I want to live.

There are things I do that are basically harmless: I have a lot of trouble sitting still, I'm twitchy and startle easily, and a million other small things that as it turns out I'm actually not going to mention because I don't like attention being drawn to them and i hate it when people notice, and I know they do.

None of those things really affect other people.

There are also things I do that are anywhere from annoying to harmful: I forget things, I interrupt people,* I sometimes zone out and lose the thread of whatever was going on.

If I love people, and I want them to love me, I have to treat them with that love as much as is possible. If I forget something, and make someone feel rejected, that is true whether or not I can pin a diagnosis to their lives. I hate to say it, but, "treat people as you would like to be treated" is often a very good guideline. Do you want someone to listen to you talk about the video game you really love? Then you should listen to them talk about Crossfit. Or, I guess the secret third option is, maybe you don't want to be friends, but that, too, is a choice.

I've been working with my three year old on conversation, and we've come up with things you can ask people if you'd like to get to know them better. Her current favorites are "What's your favorite animal?" and "what's your favorite color of crayon?" I think these are both great topics for a three year old. I want to teach her that if she wants people to talk to her and be engaged with her, she will have to give them the same.

This is true of everyone. Everyone has feelings. Everyone has interests and thoughts and preferences. I cannot emphasize enough how important I think it is to remember that life is a chorus, and none of us are the soloist. We are here for each other. Other people are not your backing vocals.

*this is also a cultural issue, though. I don't actually experience problems with this in some circles.

[sunfudge]

I really do hope Sunday joins the Nameless. I think putting him on that train would help him heal from Everything

Also I wanna see him get involved in the Trailblaze Trio's shenanigans so bad

I agree! I really think he'd get along with Dan Heng, also I don't think March would give him a moment of peace either which would be so funny to watch lol I need to see her call him every single day of the week apart from Sunday

I have a lot of new thoughts about Astral Express Sunday that I want to put into a big post, but I also haven't had the time to as of yet because of work

To be brief about how I feel, I've been thinking about it a whole lot and one of the things I love most is how the members of the Express are reborn in a way which ties very well into Sunday's character.

Dan Heng doesn't want to be associated with the actions of his prior incarnation and is following a new path with the crew, March 7th doesn't know her past but is happy to travel with the express and live as she is now learning more about herself along the way, Welt comes from another world entirely and is now treading a new path in his current universe, the Trailblazer has had their memories wiped by Kafka and are discovering themselves aboard the Express, and Himeko started this all by paving the way for members of the Express to move forward via fixing the train. Sunday moving forward from his past and joining the Express really fits in with the crew, and even Dan Heng himself told him not to be shackled by the past, something he would really understand

Also the 'you have a noble soul...' ;_;

Sunday can't go back to the way things were prior to the Penacony storyline, that's over. His entire life has changed. The life he lived before is gone. He has no option but to move forward towards a new future which is exactly what he can do with the Express.

Robin has been able to travel to other planets, meet a wide array of people and form her view on the world based on those experiences. It's one reason why they have such differing viewpoints. Meanwhile, Sunday has been caged in the Dreamscape, rarely venturing into reality (as we see Robin encouraging him to please spend more time in reality in one of her letters) and the only views he was exposed to since childhood were that of Gopher Wood who had a vested interest in shoving the teachings of Order on him the moment he noticed his uncertainty, his kindness and his hatred of suffering, and pinpointed this as a weakness. This is especially evident when Sunday says, about the Dove, that he wants the bird to live 'no matter what'.

Joining the Express would give Sunday the chance to really experience reality. It fits into the idea of him being the bird that can't fly - what better way to spread his wings than with them? With how his reply to Robin saying they were meant to fly into the sky together was 'If only... I could...' him joining the crew would make me actually cry like a fucking baby lol

It would give him the chance to travel to various worlds just as Robin has, to meet different people with different perspectives on life, and then decide for himself what he believes based on his own life experiences and not on the grooming of his adoptive father. If it is a Paradise he wishes for, and he says he still wants to achieve that goal at the end of 2.3, then maybe he'll find one in travelling to help others.

I still really believe that the Death of a Crow readable is from Elio about Sunday, however knowing that Elio and the rest of the Hunters try to aid the Express, and with Firefly calling them the dark to the Astral Express's light, I wouldn't be surprised if the poem itself was about Sunday joining the Astral Express instead of the Stellaron Hunters. Elio's aim is to support the Express, so him pushing Sunday towards joining the Express would be in line with the Stellaron Hunters and what they've always done throughout the story - provided us with their help.

Sunday has had rebirth themes around him for such a long time now that him totally changing outfit and walking a new path to travel the stars when he's only ever been stuck in the Dreamscape, now being able to create a new life for himself, would be very fitting. Sunday's lightcone animation has him saying 'the end is also the beginning', along with the description for his sticker which also points towards rebirth.

ALSO the whole fallen angel rebirth thing, etcetera etcetera, right down to Jade offering him a deal that's super comparable to the forbidden fruit, but that's pretty clear, yet I thought I'd throw it in there

In my opinion, the Astral Express would welcome him. They thought he was trying to resurrect Ena at first, but they then realised he wanted to create a world without suffering. He was also willing to listen to what the Astral Express had to say, and I really think he would welcome them challenging his views. I do believe they'd welcome him with open arms, as someone who is willing to move on from his past.

Also Sunday talks about the Trailblaze like this

So there's that too

I... really want this to happen lol. And I'm so happy current leaks point very strongly towards it

[thatwriterchaotic]

I was thinking for Scud where his vampire s/o is a bit possessive of him and ends up maybe snapping at one of the others For insulting Him

Or

Where his human s/o finds out he hunts vampires with blade because they almost got attacked on their way to see him

Also I really love your work so far please continue the good work and take care of yourself get plenty of rest and food and water!!

Yes!! A Scud request! Been waiting on someone to request our stoner boyfriend. Thank you so much!! I'm happy you enjoy my writing lovely. I'm feeling much better after taking some headache meds 💕🥺 I went with your second option since I had a funny idea of Reader practically cursing Scud out from being scared.

This wasn't supposed to happen!

Summary: You were on your way to see Scud. It had been a long and tiring week. With work and your college exams. You felt exhausted. Scud always made you feel better. You didn't notice the extra set of eyes on you as you walked down the alley way...

Pairing: Scud x Nonbinary Reader

Word Count: 1.1k

Warnings: average blade violence, yelling, cursing, small argument. obviously with fluff and comfort after.

Your POV:

You were on your way to go see Scud at his apartment. You had a long and tiring week. Your job at the small cafe was not helping with your college tuition. Exams were stressing you out to no end. All you need right now was your boyfriend. You met Scud last semester before he dropped out. Both taking the same class. You always thought he was funny and kinda sweet. You snapped out of your thoughts when you heard a loud thud nearby.

It was late at night, not the best time to be walking by yourself. You sped up your pace, just wanting to get to Scud's safely. You felt like someone was following you. It made you feel uneasy. You grabbed your set of keys from your pocket and held them in between your knuckles. A habit you had of protecting yourself. When you went to turn the corner down the alley way. You were greeted by these three intimidating men. You politely just tried to pass them. Not wanting to make a scene.

"What do we think boys? Aren't they a pretty one? Bet we could show you a good time" One of them said, having a cocky smile on his face. The other two laughed at his remark. "Yeah, why don't we take them by the club. Have a good time" The other responded back. You denied the invitation and still tried to push past them. They wouldn't let you go. The one in the middle grabbed your arm preventing you from leaving. "Now c'mon sweet thing. Join us, you don't have anywhere to rush off too" He said getting rather uncomfortably close to you.

You tried to push him off your arm. You were frightened not knowing what these men actually had in mind. That's when they started to corner you in the alley way. Not wanting to make a big scene for those walking by. As they were about to attack you, you heard a loud voice yell from afar. You couldn't really see who it was. But thank goodness they were here to help you. The three men turned towards the voice. Two of them held you up against the wall so you couldn't escape.

"Let them go"

That's when you heard the voice clearer. It was Blade! He was a friend of Scud's. Oh how you wished he was here, wanting his comfort. One of the men snarled and took off towards Blade. You started to squirm to escape the other two men who were holding you down. "Quit moving before I snap your pretty little neck!" One threatened while the other was getting rather close to your neck. You screamed for Blade, wanting this all to just stop.

That's when several bright lights went off nearby. You heard someone yell your name. You kept fighting still trying to escape their hold. Blade came running towards you, holding some kind of gun. He shot the one on your left first. Seeing him scream in agony and then burst into flames. Your eyes went wide. What the fuck just happened!? Then the other let you go and tried to escape. Blade fired again and you looked up towards the fire escape. Seeing his body light on fire as he screamed in pain. Seriously what the actual fuck was happening!? Where you going crazy!? People don't do that!

Blade put his gun away and approached you. "(Y/N) are you alright? They didn't bite you did they?" He stated to question you but your mind was somewhere else. How did those men just burst into flames and die!? You heard another set of footsteps run towards you. The same person who was screaming your name earlier. It was Scud.

He quickly pulled you close, scanning over your body for injuries. "Oh thank god you're alright, I was so scared I lost you" Scud said as he looked at your face. "Alright!? Alright!!! I just saw two men burst into flames and die!? Does that sound fucking alright to you Josh!!" You yelled at him as you hit his chest. You were in shock and terrified for your life. "Hey! Hey! Quit hitting me, I'll explain everything soon but we have to go. It isn't safe here" Scud said as he tried his best to calm you down.

"He's right, there will be more of those blood suckers soon if we don't leave" Blade said back making you both snap out of your little argument. You nodded your head as Scud took your hand and led you over to his van. That's where all the bright lights must have come from. You all go inside and where on your way to Blade's layer. The safest place you would be.

It didn't take long for you to get there. The car ride was pretty quiet. Other than the radio and Scud's cartoons playing. Your mind still tried to wrap around everything that happened. Once you all got into the layer. Blade sat you down and started to explain everything about vampires and about himself. Vampires had been around for centuries and Blade had been born a vampire. His mother died at birth. You felt sorry for him and everything that had happened. After your conversation Blade excused himself needing to take care of something.

You sat there in silence for a little bit until Scud approached you. “Hey sweetheart..” He said softly not wanting to frighten you. You smiled softly and just stood up wrapping your arms around him. You felt horrible for yelling at him earlier. He was just trying to make sure you where okay. “I'm sorry about earlier Scud, I shouldn't have yelled at you. Just trying to wrap my head around everything” You said softly into his shoulder as you felt his arms wrap around you. You loved this feeling. Being wrapped up in his arms. Scud kissed your forehead and played with your hair. “It's okay baby, how about we get high and watch cartoons together. Already have a box of donuts to munch on” Scud suggested, not wanting his plans to go to waste. You smiled and nodded. The one person in the world who could make a terrifying event better....

[stormblessed95]

To also piggyback off the older army anon I think it’s possible jikook “took a break” during this chapter 2 to test the waters of being separated for such an extended period of time. I don’t think they love each other any less, and maybe I’m just colder and more analytical, but I would want to make sure I could still function after being so codependent on someone else for so long. Most shippers seem to think that if you knew you had to be apart, you’d spend every moment you could together, when really that’s just one of the options. When I reference shippers I’m not talking about you, I mean generally.

I’m saying this as someone who took a year long break with my partner. We’ve been together for more than 10 years now. We were together for a few years, took a break, and now we’ve been together again for 7 years. Sometimes life gets in the way. We didn’t stop loving each other, and we didn’t talk often, but when we did, we were sad but still flirty and nice to each other because we missed each other and we chose to get back together after that time apart.

A lot of shippers put Jikook’s relationship on a pedestal because their story can be presented as an epic romance, but they are still just people. It can be hard for those shippers to understand that two people that love each other and don’t “have to” be apart yet could choose to be apart, and I don’t think that these people have ever been in a LTR much less a LTR where real life obligations got in the way. (Side note: after years of being with someone, you don’t always have to be in each other’s pockets. Would it be nice to always be with your partner? Of course, but life doesn’t always allow that.)

The break my partner and I took strengthened our relationship. After years together you can become complacent. When we got back together we were choosing it, and we continued to choose each other, we both put in more effort and we are both more comfortable in the times we have to spend apart. We are healthier now than when we were codependently stuck to each other. I’m not saying this is 100% Jikook’s situation, maybe they never took a break, but I’ve seen a lot of shippers projecting their ideas of what a perfect (in their mind Jikook’s) relationship should look like and I hoped sharing my experience could add another perspective of how difficult real life relationships can be, how much nuance there can be, and how sometimes the healthier choice isn’t the most romantic choice. I know one of their many names is the black and white couple, but most aspects of life are not that simple, and I wish more shippers would understand that.

I like how kindly you shared your opinion. I'm not sure I completely agree with you, but it's valid. And who knows. We don't know anything for sure so it's possible. We aren't seeing much from them, so who knows. From what we do see, I don't personally think they've taken a full break or separation. But that's just me. And yeah, long distance relationships can be hard. We shall see what they share snd how things go in the future, during their service and when they get out again too I'm sure. For now, in my opinion, I do think they are probably still together. Based off my own assumptions lol

And the one thing I do agree with is that protecting your idea of a perfect relationship onto jikook is never a good idea. Unless they release a tell all book one day, we will likely never know everything and have to be content just enjoying the little bit of their love that we do get to see

[hylianengineer]

For some reason I have abruptly returned to being insane about Cabaret. It's a musical about the rise of fascism and the tragedy that is pretending everything is fine until it's too late. It's also a heartwrenching doomed romance. It's unusually direct and neutral-to-positive about its depiction of sex work given how mainstream it is. It's about vice and desperation and fear and horrible, horrible coping mechanisms. It gets the audience invested in not one but two doomed romances AND a doomed friendship that are all about to be torn apart by the impending rise of Nazism. By the end of the play the majority of characters have had their lives torn apart by this one encroaching evil and we have to watch it happen. We have to watch them make all the bad decisions in which they might have been able to save themselves, but they didn't, because they were human and fallible. Because they didn't want to see what was happening around them, or take a risk, or they just couldn't quite bring themselves to believe that getting a happy ending was an option. We can see all the ways it might have gone differently.

I can't get over how incredible our university production of it was. I may be biased but I love it more than the Broadway version. For one thing, we had a nonbinary actor playing the Emcee, which meant that their romance with a Jewish woman came across as both Jewish and queer and like the biggest possible fuck you to the Nazis. But also, they were just such a good actor. The sad-and-terrified-but-forcing-themself-to-be-okay vibes in the final scene were so visceral and haunting. "Where are your troubles now? Forgotten? I told you so. We have no troubles here. Here, life is beautiful. The women are beautiful. Even the orchestra is beautiful." They sounded so broken in this scene. The juxtaposition between the words and the way they said them was like being punched in the gut. I wish I could tell them this but I do not even slightly know this person.

The depiction of the Nazis is also amazing because it shows them as people. Not in a "oh we should sympathize with them" way, but in a "oh fuck they could be ANYONE and you'd never know it" way. As Fräulein Schneider says, they are her friends and neighbors. She expects her friends and neighbors to support her when she decides to marry Herr Schultz, a Jewish man, but as it turns out, some of them are Nazis and make it very clear that if she doesn't break off the engagement, they'll turn on her.

We LIKE the Nazi character, right up until he takes off his coat and shows off the Swastika armband. We had no idea he was harboring such nastiness in his heart - he seemed nice! He was charming. He was kind. He was Clifford's and our introduction to Berlin, and he made a damn good first impression. He was very pleasant to Herr Schultz right up until the he realized he was a Jew, and it was chilling to watch that scene unfold. I remember sitting backstage every night and waiting to hear everyone go dead silent at the reveal. Chilling.

The other thing Caberet does so well is the "why should we care about politics? what does that have to do with us?" angle. Sally says it outright - she'd rather know nothing about what's happening, and even when confronted with it, she doesn't care. She doesn't understand why Cliff won't help Ernst anymore after finding out exactly what those smuggled goods were for - as far as she's concerned, they need the money and the politics are irrelevant. The politics being Nazism, of course. She has absolutely no malice towards the people the Nazis are hurting - she's just incredibly, horribly naive. Doesn't it just make your blood run cold?

It's extra creepy to watch this play in the political environment of the last year or so - the way things have been getting progressively more and more scary for queer people. There were definitely a few times when I read some particularly awful news coming out of Florida and felt very much like Cliff grappling with the horrible realization that he needed to get out of Berlin yesterday. And trying to explain that sheer terror to my straight relatives did feel reminiscent of Clint's failed attempts to make Sally see reason. But it didn't affect her directly, so she didn't care. She had her own life and her own priorities and why should she care about things that don't affect her? I hope things here and now never get that bad, but the exact reason it's so disturbing is that people in early-1930s Berlin never guessed it would get that bad either.

And this is a story based on true events. It's fictionalized, but it isn't made up. Cliff is more or less an author insert for the very real person who wrote the book the musical is based on: Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood. And by the way, Christopher Isherwood was gay.

Tl;dr Go see Cabaret and have your heart broken in like fifteen different ways. But read the trigger warnings first.

[waytooinvested]

Vengeance, Victory, and Undying Love - pt 6

Chapter 6 of my Supercorp fic in which Lena still creates something called Non Nocere to deal with her broken heart after finding out Supergirl's identity, but this time she gives the name to a different project. A more personal one. And now she’s coming for Supergirl.

This and previous chapters also available to read on Ao3

................

The kryptonite was ready, and Lena had outdone herself, if she did say so herself. Now she just had to decide how to deliver it.

She strummed her fingers against the desk top, considering her options.

A kryptonite bullet fired from a sniper rifle through Kara’s window?

Use the spare key she still had to get into Kara’s apartment and hide it under her pillow?

Leave it on her doorstep in an Amazon delivery box?

Kryptonite stuffed potsticker?

But no.

The ideas were all either too indirect and risky (what if someone got hurt by mistake? Kryptonite might be harmless to humans, but a bullet was a bullet), or too undignified to be borne (a potsticker? Really?). No. This was and had always been personal, so it was only fitting that Lena should end things the same way. She would look into Kara’s eyes in the moment the kryptonite made contact, and know for sure that it was done. It would be a kind of closure. Catharsis even. The natural end point of all the simulations she’d cycled through over the past weeks.

Now it was decided she would have preferred to go immediately, but she knew better. A Luthor did not just rush in and hope for the best. In life as in chess, you had to think ahead and plan every move out until your trap was laid so perfectly your opponent couldn’t help blundering into it.

‘Checkmate Kara’.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The night she finally chose was an ordinary Tuesday. Kara was alone in her apartment. Alex was asleep in her own home (Lena had made sure) and her other friends were variously out of town or engaged in other plans. Take out had been ordered and delivered several hours before so there was no risk of being disturbed by the inopportune arrival of pizza.

Nothing was going to interrupt them.

Nothing was going to stop Lena from having her moment.

It was time.

Lena knocked on Kara’s door – three quick raps, and then waited, bracing herself against the rush of loss she knew would hit when it opened and the subtle hint of Kara’s-appartment-smell wafted out to greet her. She’d only ever stayed over for the occasional post movie night sleepover, but somehow that scent felt like home far more than the purified air and expensive perfume that greeted her when she opened her own front door.

‘Lena?’

‘Kara. I hope I didn’t wake you’.

‘No no, not at all. Come in, please! I’m so glad you’re here, I’ve been hoping we could talk. Are you… okay?’

‘To be honest, no, I’m not’.

That was a lie of course. Well, so Lena told herself. Of course she was more than merely okay. All her plans were about to come to fruition. She was almost free...

‘Please, tell me what I can do to help’.

Lena closed her eyes. This was harder than she’d expected it to be, but she couldn’t stop now. Time to inject a little honesty then – Lex had always drummed into her that a good lie was mostly truth, with just the crucial falsehood slipped in amidst the distraction of candour. She hated to take anything from her brother, but she reminded herself that this time it was being used for the good of the world.

‘I just wish… I wish you could have seen past the Luthor name and trusted me’.

True, but calculated to get the response she was looking for.

‘I did. I do. I’m sorry I didn’t always show you that, but I know you’re not your family. I know I can’t take back what happened, but I would do anything to make this right’.

‘Do you mean that?’

‘I do, so much’.

She let out a shaky breath and took a step towards Kara, her fingers inching towards the wrapped bundle in her pocket.

‘Then I have something for you’.

The briefest hesitation and then with a quick, fluid motion she passed the point of no return, and held the pouch out to Kara.

‘Here, take it’.

Kara frowned a little and dipped her head to peer briefly over the rim of her glasses – a gesture Lena now realised was her trying to use her x-ray vision to see the packet’s contents.

‘There’s no point in doing that, it’s lead lined. If you’re trusting me, it has to be for real – no super-cheats’.

‘Right, sorry, habit I guess. I could never resist peaking at my birthday presents before I opened them either’.

Kara took the pouch.

Poor girl.

She was so predictable, in every way but the one that had really mattered.

Time to really sell it.

She smiled at Kara as if they were still friends and what she had brought was simply an order of potstickers (and oh how nearly it had been, albeit not with Kara’s usual choice of filling).

‘Well don’t keep me in suspense, open it!’

And Kara did.

She pulled the drawstrings of the pouch and tipped its contents directly onto her bare palm.

Lena watched closely as the kryptonite made contact with her skin, as her eyes widened in shock and she dropped the small lump of rock noisily to the floor, stepping back from it as if that would make a difference.

But it was too late for that.

It was done.

[blizzardsuplex]

You don't know what you've unleashed El <3 Sappiness in 100 words or less each under the cut!

In general: After being on the outside looking in with Tumblr for a long time, I finally joined somewhere around the midpoint this year. I was kind of active for a month before major events in both my family and long-standing hobbies made me disappear. The me from even a few months beforehand probably would have never come back…but I did, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. It’s just really fun to be on here, in a way I haven’t experienced for a while—so, if you're reading this, whether we actively talk or not? You’ve contributed to that. Thank you.

Drea @shes-a-voodoo-child: I knew you first as a brilliant writer, but little did I know that you were also a gracious member of fandom/Tumblr, even to someone like me who blundered into a cold call (thank you for not immediately blocking my empty blog, haha!) Nowadays, though, I know you first and foremost as someone I’m glad to call my friend—even if I must admit I still look up to you with stars in my eyes. I only wish I had more interesting things to talk about with you, because I really enjoy whenever we chat things like music or wrestling!

El @spaghettisaurusrex: Honestly, at first I thought you were too cool for me—you teach swordfighting, for God’s sake! But you’re also an incredibly chill, incredibly nice person, who I’m always glad to see in my notifs on Tumblr or Discord. And, of course, thank you so, so much for writing and talking the fairy tale AU with me; it was a fraught journey on my part, but it also turned out one of my fave pieces I’ve ever done. We should write together again next time!

Izzy @limbreaper: So much to say, so little (self-imposed) space to say it. I never thought I’d have a friend like you, honestly, especially considering everything’s that happened. Forever grateful that you’re in my life (if only for now), and I hope you have as much fun talking to me as I do talking to you—and if we drift apart one day, though hopefully later rather than sooner…I won’t forget your kindness sending that message to a stranger. It really did mean a lot. Hopefully there’ll be authentic PH food options where you are some day.

Jackie @tekkers: I’ve admired your GIFs/ZSJ content from even before I was active on tumblr (yeah, I was a tag delver), so to find out that the person running the blog is a really cool person on top of everything? Chef’s fucking kiss. Thank you for listening to me for a couple of hours that one time and offering to finagle with Highspots TV for me. Also, you have great taste in music! We should start swapping recs again (though I don’t know if I’ll ever give you something that I loved as much as Emotionalism!)

K @onlyposersfallinlove: We don’t talk as much as we might be able to, but I hope you know that I’m thinking of you and hoping for you always. Whether your goals be in the spheres of fandom or private life, you deserve to achieve them, because you have the right to be happy. May whenever you read this be wonderful—at least just that day.

Kerri @sublightsleeper: You’re a thief in the night, except you both bring the day when you pop up and also are not a thief in the slightest (unless you want to be, because thief classes are cool). Either way: you’re a very nice, creative person and talented writer, and I always smile when you take the time to say hello!

Pastel @zsjbrightensday: It takes a lot of bravery to post a creative work to any sort of public—and now you’ve done it twice, with even more on the way! I’m really, really glad that you feel safe enough to do so, and I am excited for whatever is next in your WIP list! Also, you’re just a very nice person and I always am happy to get asks from you.

Poke @theaerialassassin: I hope you liked your present! Joking self-aggrandizing aside, you are a great friend and a great person to exchange ideas with and be around. I hope that school and life treats you well, and that you know that, whenever or wherever doubts may creep in, you know you have people to turn to (including both those around you physically and the people in your phone, if you’re so inclined). You’re there for us, too, after all.

Rosa @rosabellebelieve: As I’ve told you recently, I’m so very glad you were active in the notes of Drea’s posts and were receptive to the virtual post-its I left on your desk, haha! You’re wonderful to talk to, and though I wish once more when DMing you that I had more interesting things to say because I just enjoy when we converse, I know that whenever we do it’s a great time. Thank you for being my friend!

Syb @fang-revives: How does your garden grow?—well, it’s almost winter, as you said. But I’m always glad to see your gardening pics cross my dash! I hope that the last of this year’s tomatoes were good, and that when the world wakes up in a few months for spring your plants will be the most verdant verdure this side of the US-Canadian border. Also KENTA is cool I guess (I kid; he definitely is. Have I sent you the KENTA/Marufuji hour long match my friend compressed to sub-8 MB?)

Vera @scissormedaddyass: On top of being super duper cool, you’re a very level-headed person and I deeply appreciate that. You’re also a great writer and just…so fun to talk to/participate in fandom with (let’s go sailing the internet’s seven seas, haha). Very glad I met you. I hope your walks remain pleasant and that the yar-harr fandom you’re a part of isn’t too sad about what happened. ;)