#I get bored too quickly. I don't allow myself to get bored quickly enough. I am too angry but I don't allow myself to be angry enough

[neverendingford]

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[lostbetweenvampiresandmusic]

Worlds apart

Telling his mate about his true nature didn't go as planned.

____________________

I felt terrified, standing in front of the sign. "Welcome to Santa Carla!" It said, in bright yellow and red letters. Pictures of the boardwalk, the rides, and the traintrack - things I hadn't seen in so long.

I wasn't terrified of going back to Santa Carla. In fact, I had been anxious to. I needed to get back, I needed to come home. I just didn't know if home wanted me back.

You see, about eight months ago, I met this boy. Well, he was a bit too old to be called a boy, but you get what I mean. He was this early twenty-something year old, with the prettiest eyes I'd ever seen. With stories, I could listen to for hours without getting bored. A sense of humour that matched mine. Looks that were to die for. I had met him the day I moved to Santa Carla, preparing for a new start after losing the last family I had left. Within two weeks, I had completely fallen for him, and lucky for me, he had also fallen for me.

David was everything. In such a short time, he became my safe haven, my home, my best friend and lover, and I couldn't imagine spending my life with anyone else. It scared me a little how quickly everything went, but he always reassured me that we wouldn't rush into things if I did not want to. Those six weeks were absolute heaven. I honestly believe that I have never been happier.

It was only when I spent the night at the cave, their home, that something shifted between David and me.

"I need to tell you something."

"Are you alright?"

"Sit down," he said, his voice more distant than I had ever heard before.

"David?"

"You know I love you, right?"

I nodded.

"I need to near you say it."

"I know. I love you too. David, what's going on?"

"I'm a vampire."

I was quiet for a moment before laughing. "Yeah, right. That's a good one."

"Love," he looked at me, "I am not lying."

And he wasn't. His eyes turned yellow, his face turned into a batlike shape, and his fangs seemed sharp enough to tear me in two.

"Y-you're not joking?"

"No."

"You're - you're a vampire? I- you kill people?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"Almost eighty years."

My eyes grew wide as I felt panic wash over me. This wasn't real. This was just one big prank from the boys - there is no way that vampires were real. David wouldn't lie, not ever. He hated liars, so why-? I began to focus on my breathing, trying to calm myself down.

"Why didn't you kill me?"

"I couldn't. I could never hurt you."

"Why not?"

"You're my mate. We belong together."

And that's when I fully panicked. I got sick, I threw up, I whimpered and cried and avoided his touch out of fear. I didn't dare look at him, both scared that this was some sort of cruel joke and at the same time scared that this was real. That vampires were real.

"I- David, I- I love you, I really do, but this - how can this be real? I don't believe - if this is real, if you are speaking the truth..." I fell silent, not knowing what to say.

"I am not lying to you, love."

I nodded, tears in my eye. "I need time. I - I don't know if I can deal with this right now. Not without being unfair and mean and cold to you. Im scared, and I..." The first teardrop fell. I - I'm sorry."

David nodded, getting what I was hinting at. He reached for me, holding my hand before letting it go with a soft squeeze. After losing my family and not actively dealing with that, the news of my boyfriend being undead was the final drop in the already close to overflowing bucket.

"You need to take your time and space. Just-" he took a breath, "Please stay in touch."

I had nodded, and I had left him there. Six months ago now. In that time, I had taken my space, literally. I had been afraid still and had gone to Sweden - enjoying the days where the sun wouldn't set. It felt safe. Safe from vampires and monsters, and it allowed me to deal with things. Two weeks after I had left, I wrote my first letter. I had it delivered at the videostore, hoping that David would get it. And he did, because after a week I had a response from him.

In the letters I sent him, I told him where I was, what I had been up to. I asked questions about him being a vampire, and slowly but surely, I came to terms with it. Still, I felt rather confused. I got why he hadn't told me about it from the start, and at the same time, the lying also hurt. But, in the end, I dealt with my family passing, I dealt with my mixed feelings about him being a vampire, and I was ready to go back.

And now, six months later, I was ready to go back home. I realised I had been unfair to him, that I definitely hurt him - which was not what I had wanted, absolutely not, but back then, I had been certain that I needed the space - and I was terrified to see him again. What if he didn't want me anymore? Or what if he moved on? Honestly, if he had, I couldn't blame him. I had been the one to leave.

With a deep breath, I started the short walk to the boardwalk, spotting David when he left the videostore.

"Nothing?" I heard Dwayne ask.

"No. I shouldn't have let them go. I should have gone to bloody Sweden as soon as I knew they were there."

He stomped off to the beach, and I quickly followed. Seeing him now made me realise not only how much I had missed him but how much he had missed me as well. I walked after him, stopping quickly as David turned around angrily.

"Why are you following -" his expression softened, and disbelief flashed over his face. "You're here?"

"Hi," I whispered, not trusting my voice to let any louder noise escape.

David hugged me tightly, and I broke down - crying as I held onto him. "I'm sorry I left, I'm so sorry I was so stubborn. I missed you so much, I-" I gasped for breath, sinking down to the ground. David held me, and I saw some tears burning in his eyes.

"I thought you'd never come back. I was scared you wouldn't."

"I was scared you'd be angry," I said softly, looking at him. "I'm sorry for how I left."

"I'm sorry I scared you so bad."

"Can we start over?" I asked. "Just try to rebuild what we had? If - if you want me still, that is."

"Yes," David smiled, kissing my forehead softly. "Nice to meet you, love."

I smiled shyly. "I promise I won't ever run off to a place with no nighttime again."

"Next time, I'll just follow you. The burns will be a testament of my love."

I kissed him, softly and gently, smiling when he returned the kiss. Nothing could show him how much I regretted leaving, how much I had missed him - but being here felt right. Being with him felt right. I just hoped he felt the same.

[wososage]

I don't need a babysitter: USWNT x Reader

Request: hi! i really appreciate your fanfics, they honestly make me super happy and give me something relaxing to do especially with stressful school season. I was hoping you could write something, like “It’s Not a Big Deal: USWNT x Reader” but like the r sneaks out during camp and everyone but especially carli gets worried and angry that r didn’t tell anyone where she was and scolds r and they make r room with carli so they can keep a eye on r?

Word count: 1936

A/N: I changed this a little bit to better fit with the current team. 

(Y/N) POV

I ride my board around town just taking in the scenery. It is such a nice day. The sun is out, there is a slight breeze, perfect conditions for riding my board. The only issue is I am not supposed to be boarding right now. The training staff isn’t too fond of me boarding so much because ‘my body is still developing and it makes my muscle growth disproportionate’. I am also supposed to be doing my school work during our break in between training sessions. But that is boring and will still be there for me to do later. I’ve been gone for about an hour and there is no way the team hasn’t noticed yet. There is some hope of being able to sneak back into the hotel but not much. 

By the time I get back to the hotel, my phone has been blown up by everyone and most of the vets are waiting for me in the lobby. I try my best to sneak past them, but Pinoe sees me.

“Where have you been Y/n?” she asks. 

“Out,” I say shrugging. I try to walk to the elevator but she grabs my arm and guides me to the conference room with the rest of the vets.

“Where have you been?” she asks again, this time clearly not happy with me. 

“I was riding my board around town,” I say, making it known I am annoyed with the situation.

“You know you aren’t allowed to leave the hotel without one of us knowing where you are going,” Pinoe scolds. “On top of that, you broke the rule about answering phone calls and texts messages. You are supposed to be doing your school work right now.”

“I don’t care,” I say with a raised voice. “I didn’t want to do my school work today. I just wanted to ride around town.”

“Don’t raise your voice,” Kelley reprimands. “These rules aren’t in place to make camp horrible and boring. They exist to help you balance everything in your life and keep you safe.”

“Whatever,” I say. “I don’t want to talk about this right now, I need to go get ready for training.”

“Y/n, we are not done with this conversation,” Kelley says, raising her voice.

“I don’t need a babysitter!” I yell to everyone in the room.

I leave the room pretty quickly even though multiple people called after me and I take the stairs to my room. Once I get there, I see the pile of textbooks on the desk and sigh. Other people slack off on their school work all the time. Why can’t I just have one day where I give myself a break? 

After laying on the ground of my hotel room for way too much time, I quickly get dressed for training and head to the bus, getting there late enough that Vlatko is giving me a disappointed look. I put my headphones and sunglasses on hoping none of the vets will try to start a conversation right now. Eventually, we get to training and we break up into small groups for warm ups, so I quickly insert myself into a group of the younger players. 

“What did you do to piss Kelley off?” Sonnett asks me. “She came to my room fuming and the only words I could make out were ‘Y/n’ and ‘trouble’”

“I didn’t do anything,” I say. “Kelley can fuck off.”

“At this moment right now, I will not say anything about the cursing,” Rose says. “However you need to chill out with whatever mood you are in because I know Alex is pissed at you too. Cursing and being rude to everyone is only going to get you into more trouble.”

“Sorry, Rosie,” I say. “Sorry Sonny. I am frustrated but I shouldn’t take that out on you.”

“It’s okay kid,” Rose says. “If you want to talk about it after training I have plenty of time to listen.”

“Thanks for the offer but I think that might require me to hide from like all of the vets and that task is nearly impossible.”

The rest of training goes fine and I begin to think I am in the clear until the team is heading to the bus and Vlatko calls me and Pinoe over to him.

“Y/n you know time management is an essential part of being a member of this team. You weren’t late today but you were very close to being late. I will let Pinoe take care of this one but if you are late again I will punish you myself.”

Vlatko walks off towards the bus so I go to follow, but I am stopped by Pinoe’s hand firmly grabbing my neck.

“You will go straight to your room when we get back to the hotel,” Pinoe says. “The two of us will be having a conversation about your behavior today. Do you understand me?”

“Yeah sure whatever,” I say with my frustrated mood starting to come back.

“Lose the attitude before you get on that bus. You are in trouble and you know it. Throwing a tantrum is not going to help your situation.”

After a very long bus ride of enduring stares of pity from those who don’t know what is going on besides the fact that I am trouble seemingly with all of the vets and looks of disappointment, anger, and frustration from the vets who do know what is going on, we make it back to the hotel. And I immediately decide to not follow Pinoe’s instructions. However, a hand pulling at my shirt stops me from getting too far. I turn around to be faced with both Kelley and Pinoe.

“What did I tell you to do before we got on the bus?” Pinoe asks with a withering stare.

“To go to my room,” I mumble while looking at my feet.

“So why are you not headed in the direction of your room?” she probes.

“I would really like some apple juice,” I tell her. “I was going to get some from the snack room and then go to my room. I swear.”

“We will walk with you to get the apple juice and then we will be going to your room to have a conversation. Next time, ask for the apple juice and we will allow you to get it.”

Both Kelley and Pinoe follow me very closely, probably expecting me to make a run for it. While the thought of running is enticing, I know that would lead to consequences that I would hate very much. Once we get to my room, Kelley stops me before I go in.

“We love you,” she says. “But you need to be held accountable for your actions. Pinoe will be taking care of this, but she will not hesitate to get others involved if you decide to give her more trouble.”

With that, I am left alone in my room with Pinoe, who has the disappointed parent look perfected.

“Sit,” she orders while pointing at my desk chair.

“Why are we here right now Y/n?”

“Some combination of you, the other vets, and Vlatko being dramatic,” I grumble before I can stop myself.

“Go stand in the corner Y/n. I will set a timer for 15 minutes and when it goes off I expect you to be able to have a respectful conversation with me.”

“I’d rather not,” I tell her.

“You have two choices, Y/n. Either you go stand in the corner right now for 15 minutes, or I call Alyssa in here and she is involved in this conversation after you spend 20 minutes in the corner.”

“Promise you won’t leave me here alone?” I whisper.

“I promise I will be here the whole time, Y/n”

After what seems like an eternity, my corner time is up. And Pinoe only had to ask me to stand still twice. The unfortunate part of my corner time being up is knowing that Pinoe wants to have a conversation that I don’t want to have and there is, without a doubt, an actual punishment for my actions coming.

“Are you ready to talk now?” she asks me.

“Yes ma’am. I am sorry I’ve been disrespectful all day.”

“Thank you for your apology. Can you tell me why you have been rude to pretty much everyone all day? Or why you disappeared without telling anyone while you were supposed to be doing your school work? Or why you did not answer a single text message or phone call?”

“I was frustrated by this situation and I let my emotions control how I was treating people. I disappeared because I just wanted some time by myself to relax. I didn’t do my school work because I just needed a break today. I didn’t answer any text messages or phone calls because I knew that I was going to be in trouble for leaving so I decided it was worth it to dig myself into a bit of a deeper hole if it meant I could be by myself without people bugging me.”

“Y/n, you know that needing a break from school and alone time are completely reasonable. If you just asked for those things we will understand. The reason we are upset is because we didn’t know that you were safe. We were worried that something happened. I think a few of us felt some anger when you came back and couldn’t handle the situation respectfully. I know that emotions are hard, believe me I get it, but taking out your emotions on people is not nice. I want you to apologize to everyone later today.”

“Okay,” I whisper, not happy with the large number of people I’ve been an asshole to.

“Next time you need anything, a break from school, alone time, apple juice, snacks, whatever it is, please just ask someone. It will save you from getting into so much trouble.”

“It's hard,” I say, trying not to cry. “I’m not allowed to want or need anything at home. If I ask for things I get into trouble.”

“You won’t ever get into trouble for asking for what you want or need here. I know that is going to be hard to get used to, but I promise everyone wants you to be healthy and happy so you asking for things will not ever make us mad. Please just try.”

“I will.”

Pinoe then sits next to me and hugs me and after a few minutes I decide to bite the bullet.

“Was the corner time my only punishment?” I ask.

“No Y/n,” she replies. “The corner time was to give you a moment to calm down. You are grounded the rest of camp for leaving without telling anyone where you were going and ignoring the calls and texts. We will be sharing a room for the rest of camp and you will have to be with one of the vets pretty much at all times.”

“Am I going to be allowed to have any fun?” I ask.

“A little bit, but this is a punishment so you aren’t supposed to enjoy it.”

“Am I still allowed cuddles?” I ask.

“You will never be denied cuddles,” Pinoe says while ruffling my hair.

“Are the others still mad at me?”

“They are probably a bit frustrated, but they know that I am handling the situation. I will explain a bit of what is going on. I am very sure that after you apologize everyone will be okay.”

[linkspooky]

Bohman is a good character you guys are just mean

Yu-Gi-Oh Vrains is one of the better received spinoff series. Though, like any of the Yu-Gi-Oh spinoffs it's not without its faults. Usually I'm the first to admit the flaws in my favorite silly card game shows, even while I myself take them way too seriously. However, there's one common criticism I can't bring myself to agree with.

That is calling the main antagonist of the second season Bohman "boring" or "badly written." I've noticed fans unfairly blame Bohman for season 2's writing flaws.

Forget for a moment about whether or not you find Bohman's stoic attitude interesting or likable. If you look at characters not as people, but as narrative tools the author uses to say something about the story's themes then Bohman has a lot to say about VRAINS cyberpunk themes.

Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction that tends to focus on "low-life and high-tech." As I like to put it, in Cyberpunk settings technology has greatly advanced while society itself lags behind unable to keep pace with the rate at which technology changes. Yu Gi Oh 5Ds is an example of a cyberpunk dystopia because despite having what is essentially access to free energy, and living in a society with highly advanced technology resources are hoarded by the wealthy and an unnecessary social class divide still exists.

In other words technology changes quickly while humans tend to remain the same.

The central conflict for all three seasons of Vrains are actually based on this very cyberpunk notion. That technology changes, updates, and becomes obsolete at a rate too fast for humans to ever adapt to. For Vrains, the conflict is whether humans can ever coexist with an artificial intelligence they created that can grow and change faster than they can keep up with.

This is well-tread ground in science fiction. The idea itself most likely emerged from I,robot. A science fiction book that is a collection of dirty stories that details a fictional history showing robots growing slowly advanced over time. The framing device is that a journalist is interviewing a "robopsychologist" an expert in the field of analyzing how robots think in their positronic brains.

One of the major themes of the book is despite the fact that robots are 1 - intelligent and 2 - designed by humans, they don't think the same way humans do. Hence why a robopsychologist is needed in the first place. One of the short stories is the first appearance of Asimov's three laws of robotics.

The First Law: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

The Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

The Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

This is just one example. A robot no matter how intelligent it is will be required to think in terms of these three laws, because robots aren't biological, they're programmed to think in pre-determined patterns.

Of course clever enough artificial intelligences are capable of finding loopholes that get around the three laws, but even then they're still forced to think of every action in terms of the three laws.

Robots and humans are both intelligent, but if AI ever becomes self aware it will 1) be able to process information better than any other human can and 2) think differently from humans on a fundamental.

Vrains is themed more than anything else around "robo psychology" or trying to understand the ways in how the Ignis think and how that's different from it's human characters.

Robo-Psychology is actually a common reocurring theme. "DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?" fearless artificial humans known as Replicants who need an empathy test known as the voight kampff test to distinguish them from human beings.

There are other Cyberpunk elements in Vrains. There's a big virtual world where everyone can appear as custom designed avatars, that's taken from Snow Crash or of the most famous and genre defining cyberpunk novels. There's a big rich mega conglomerate that's being opposed by a group of hackers.

However, the central question is whether humans and AI can coexist in spite of the fact that AI are much smarter and evolve faster than us.

Revolver's father believes the Ignis must be destroyed in order to avoid a possible technological singularity in the future.

The technological singularity—or simply the singularity[1]—is a future point in time at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable.  According to the most popular version of the singularity hypothesis an upgradable artificial intelligence will eventually enter a positive feedback loop of self-improvement cycles, each new and more intelligent generation appearing more and more rapidly, causing a rapid increase ("explosion") in intelligence that surpasses anything humans can make.

Basically your computer is smarter than you, but your computer isn't self aware. It needs you to tell it what to do. Artificial intelligence already exists but it's programmed by humans, it doesn't program itself. The technological singularity proposes that eventually a self aware ai, will be able to program itself and improve upon it's own programming- therefore ridding itself of the need of it's human programmers.

This is what leads us to Bohman, an AI designed by another AI.

THE THIRD LAW

Before digging into Bohman let's take a minute to discuss his creator. Lightning was one of the six Ignis, created by Dr. Kogami through the Hanoi Project.

The Hanoi project involved forcing six children to duel in a virtual arena repeatedly, and using the data collected from that experiment to improve the AI they were working on, creating what became known as the Ignis. However, after Dr. Kogami ran several simulations and found that the Ignis would one day be a threat to the humans that created them Hakase decided instead to try destroying the Ignis before that future ever came to pass.

We later learn that this isn't the complete story.

Kogami and Lightning both ran simulations of the future when the Ignis were in their infancy. Kogami's simulations showed him the Ignis would inevitably go to war with humans. Lighting however, ran more in-depth simulations and found that he was the one that was corrupting the data set. If you ran simulations of the five ignis without him, then the projected futures were all in the green, but any simulation with Lightning counted as a part of the group projected a negative future for both humans and AI.

Which means that if Kogami knew that the bug in the program was Lightning, he'd likely respond by just getting rid of Lighting and letting the rest of the Ignis live on as originally intended.

This is where the third law comes into play - a robot must protect its own existence as long as it does not interfere with the first and second law.

Now, I don't think Kogami used the three laws exactly, but artificial intelligences are programmed in certain ways, and Lightning was likely programmed to preserve itself.

Even a human in Lighting's situation would be driven to act as they did. Imagine you're in a group of six people, and you fid out that YOU'RE THE PROBLEM. That if they removed you, everything else would be fine. Wouldn't you be afraid of your creator turning against you? Of your friends turning against you and nobody taking your side?

Lightning is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Ai asks him at one point why he went so far as to destroy their safe-haven, lie and said the humans did it and pick a fight with the humans himself, something that might have been avoided if they'd just stayed in hiding. It seems that Lightning is just defective as his creator declared him, but you have to remember he's an AI programmed to think in absolutes. AI, the most humanlike and spontaneous of the AIs ends up making nearly the exact same choices as Lightning when looking at his simulations later on - because they're character foils. As different as they may seem they still think differently from humans.

When Ai explains why he made his decisions based around lighting's simulation, he tells Playmaker that he can't dismiss or ignore the simulation or hope for the best the way Playmaker can because he is data, he thinks in simulations and processes.

AI even admits to feeling the same feelings of self-preservation that Lightning did.

While Lightning may seem selfish, he's selfish in the fact that he's thinking of his own survival above all else. He's afraid of 1) his creators turning against him, and 2) his fellow Ignis turning against him.

To solve the first he decides to make a plan to wipe out his creators. To solve the second, he needs every ignis on his side when he goes to war. The first thing he does is destroy their safe haven and frame the humans for it so the Ignis are more inclined to take his side. He's so afraid of his fellow ignis turning against him he even completely reprograms one of them - a step he doesn't take with the others, he just imprisons Aqua. He probably thought having one more ally would make it more likely for the others to pick his side.

Every step he takes is a roundabout way of ensuring his survival and the other ignis- eve when he actually goes to war with the other ignis he intended on letting them survive. Though his definition of survival (fusing with Bohman) was different than theirs.

So Lightning seems to be working out of an inferiority complex, but what he's really afraid of is that his inferiority makes him expendable.

At that point you have to wonder, what does death mean exactly to a being who is otherwise immortal? Ignis won't die of age, they'll only die if they're captured and have their data stripped apart or corrupted. Kogami made an immortal being afraid to die.

Some part of me thinks though that even after taking all these steps to preserve themselves, the simulations were so convincing that Lighting accepted their death as inevitable. Which is why they made Bohman, to find some way for them to keep on living afterwards.

After all AI are data, ad having their data saved in Bohman is still a form of living by Lightning's definition.

Ghost in The Shell

Bohman is the singularity. He's an AI designed by another AI to improve upon itself. Unlike the rest of the Ignis who were copied off of traumatized chidlren, Lightning basically made him from scratch.

Ghost in the Sell is a famous anime cyberpunk movie directed by Mamoru Oshii. The title comes from "Ghost in the Machine" a term originally used to describe and critique the mind existing alongside and separate from the body. Whereas in the movie the "Ghost" is the huma consciousness, while the "shell" is a cybernetic body.

The protagonist of Ghost in the Shell is Major Motoko Kusanagi, a human that is 99% cyborg at this point, a human brain residing in a completely mechanical body. The movie opens up with a hacker namd PUppet Master who is capable of "ghost-hacking" which is a form of hacking that completely modifies the victim's memories utterly convincing them of their false memories.

There's a famous scene in the movie where a man tells the police about his wife and daughter, only to be told that he's a bachelor who lives alone and he's never had a wife and daughter. Even after the truth is revealed to him, the fake memories are still there in his brain along with the correct ones. Technology is so advanced at this point that digital memories (hacked memories) are able to be manipulated, and seem more real than an analog reality.

Anyway, guess what happens to Bohman twice?

Bohman gets his memories completely rewritten twice. The first time he believes he's a person looking for his lost memories, the second time he thinks he's the real playmaker ripped out of his body, and playmaker is the copy. He's utterly convinced of these realities both time, because Bohman is entirely digital - and simulations are reality, and so simulated memories are just the same as real memories.

I think part of the reason that people find Bohman boring is because he's a little strange conceptually to wrap your head around, as an AI produced AI he's the farthest from behind human. If you use the ghost in the shell example I just gave you though - imagine being utterly convinced that you had a loving wife and daughter only to find out in a police interrogation room you're a single man living in a shitty apartment. imagine after the fact you still remember that they are real, even though you know they're not.

That's the weird space Bohman exists in for most of Season 2 when he's searching for himself. He's an AI designed by an AI so he can be rewritten at any time according to Lightning's whim until Lighting decides he's done cooking.

The Ignis at least interacted with the real world because they were copy pasted from traumatized children, but all Bohman is is data. So, why would he see absorbing human memories into himself and converting them into data as killing them? He is data after all, and he is alive. He has gone through the process of having his own memories rewritten multiple times, and he's fine with it b/c he's data.

Nothing for Bohman is real, everything is programmed so of course he thinks saving other people as data is just fine. He even offers to do the same thing to Playmaker that was done to him.

If Lightning is following the path of self-preservation however, Bohman is following his program to preserve everything in the world by merging with it.

His ideas also follow the idea of transhumanism: the theory that science and technology can help human beings develop beyod what is physically and mentally possible. That technology exists to blur the boundaries of humanity, and what humans are capable of.

Ghost in the Shell isn't just a work of cyberpunk, it's a transhumanist piece. Motoko Kusanagi is a character who has had so many of her human parts replaced with mechanical ones she even posits at one point it's possible for her to simply have been an android that was tricked into thinking it was human with false memories just like Bohman, and she has no real way of knowing for sure. The only biological part of her his her brain after all in a cold mechanical shell.

Bato, who represents the humanist perspective in this movie basically tells Motoko in that scenario it wouldn't matter if she was a machine. If everyone still treats her as human then what's the difference? His views are probably the closest to the humanist views that Playmaker represents in VRAINS.

Motoko Kusanagi meets her complete and total opposite, a ghost in the machine so to speak. The Puppet Master turns out to be an artificial intelligence that has become completely self-aware and is currently living in the network.

The Puppet Master much like Lightning, and later Bohman is gripping with the philosophical conundrum of mortality. In the final scene of the movie, The Puppet Master who wants to be more like all other biological matter on earth asks Motoko to fuse with him, so the two of them can reproduce and create something entirely new. The Puppet Master likens this to the way that biological beings reproduce.

Bohman like The Puppetmaster thinks that merging will fix something that's incomplete inside of him because he's so disconnected from all the biological processes of life. Bohman doesn't have anything except for which Lightning already prepared for him or programmed into him. I mean imagine being a being that can have his memories reprogrammed on the net, that in itself is existentially horrifying. It's only natural he wouldn't feel connected to anything.

Motoko accepts the Puppetmaster's proposal. Playmaker rejects Bohman's proposal. I don't think there's a right answer here, because it's speculative fiction, it's a "What if?" for two different paths people can take in the future.

However, in Bohman's case I don't think he was truly doing what he wanted. Puppet Master became self aware and sought his own answers by breaking free from his programming. Bohman thought he was superior to the Ignis, but in the end he was just following what Lightning programmed him to do. He'd had his identity programmed and reprogrammed so many times, he didn't think of what he wanted until he was on the brink of defeat by playmaker and then it was too late.

When Playmaker defeats him all he thinks about is time spent together with Haru, with the two of them as individuals. Something he can no longer do anymore now that he's absorbed Haru as data, and something that he misses.

He's not even all that sad or horrified at the prospect of death as Lightning was, and he even finds solace in the thought of going to oblivion with Haru, because if he were to keep living it'd be without Haru. In other words the one genuine bond he made with someone else by spending time with them as an individual was more important than his objective of fusing with all of humanity - which he believed was also bonding with them.

This is really important too, because it sets up the Yusaku's rejection of fusing with Ai. Yusaku's reasoning has already been demonstrated to be the case with Bohman and Haru. Bohman was perfectly happy being two individuals, as long as he had a bond with his brother. When he ascended into a higher being he lost that. Ai and Yusaku might solve loneliness in a way by merging together into a higher being, they might even last forever that way, but they'd lose something too.

Once again the problem with AIs is that they think in absolutes. That's important to understanding Lightning, Bohman and even Ai's later actions. Lightning can't stand any percentage chance that he might die, so he kills the professor, destroys the ignis homeworld, pulls the trigger to start humanity himself, he even reprograms his own allies all to give himself some sense of control.

Bohman's entire existence is outside of his control. He's rewritten twice onscreen, probably more than that, and he thinks merging with humanity is the thing that will give him that control - by ascending into a higher being than humanity. However, the temporary bond Bohman had with his brother Haru, was actually what he valued the most all along. Moreso than the idea of fusing with humanity forever.

Even Motoko making the choice to go with the transhumanist option is something that's not portrayed as 100% the right choice. Ghost in the Shell has a sequel that portrays the depression and isolation of Bato, the Major's closest friend and attachment to her humanity after she made the decision to fuse together with Puppet Master. In that case, just like Playmaker said to Ai, even if she ascended to a higher form, and even if she might last forever now on the network, something precious was lost. Motoko may exist somewhere on the netowrk but for Batoto his friend is gone.

Ai exhibits the same flaw as the previous two, he ca only think in absolutes, he can't stand even a 1% chance that Playmaker might choose to sacrifice himself for Ai and die, so he decides to take the choice entirely out of Playmaker's hands. However, no matter what Ai would have lost Playmaker one day, because all bonds are temporary. It's just Ai wanted to have that sense of control, so he chose to self-destruct and take that agency and free choice away from Playmaker.

It's a tragedy that repeats three times. Ai too just like Bohman, spends his last moments thinking about what was most precious to him was the bond he formed with playmaker, as temporary as it was. A tragedy that arises from the inability of the Ais to break away from the way they're programmed to think in simulations and data, even when they're shown to be capable of forming bonds based on empathy with others.

All three of them add something to the themes of artificial intelligence, and transhumanism that are in play at Vrains and none of them are boring because they all contribute to the whole.

Which is why everyone needs to stop being mean to Bohman right now, or else I'm going to make an even longer essay post defending him.

[sunnycanvas]

Could you make one of Balwin's girlfriend? He comes from the future, but he decided to stay in the time of Balwin Haci, who to celebrate their union they travel to the sea and his girlfriend decides to put on a very revealing swimsuit for the time and everyone watches her, making the king jealous.

I had been bored after Baldwin IV left for battlefield. I wanted to further accompany him but Baldwin IV denied saying that it would be dangerous for me to further accompany him. He kissed my forehead thanking me for support and asked me to wait obediently in tent before leaving. I sighed bored as I came out of the tent. I wasn't worried about my boyfriend since I knew according to history books that he would win battle of Montingsard. I sort of guessed that I would be left alone in tent. So unknown to my boyfriend. I had already packed a bikini. Once I was sure that I am all alone. I decided to wear bikini to swim in the sea nearby

I was happy to feel cool water against my skin. I properly submerged in water ensuring my hair cooled down as well. I was so engrossed in water that I didn't hear the sound of knights coming. As they walked they were stunned to see me in bikini

"Isn't that the king's mistress"

"Look at her, she is practically naked"

"Such a woman like her isn't fit to be queen of Jerusalem"

I was stunned when I heard those words. I slowly came out of water and saw knights looking at me. Some looked in disgust while some were shocked but maximum had lust in their eyes. I looked all around me and saw that I was surrounded by knights

"She has such a beautiful body"

"Look at her chest, this is the first time I have seen a woman's chest"

"It's like she is naked in front of her"

I heard their comments. I suddenly felt very scared knowing how different people's mentality is compared to future. How could I be stupid enough to wear bikini in medieval era I thought

"What's going on here"

I immediately recognised the voice of my boyfriend. I was happy but also but scared knowing how easily jealous my boyfriend can get. I could see few knights in front of me making way for my boyfriend. As my boyfriend made his way through the crowd he was shocked and angry at my display and maybe bit aroused? I couldn't tell I was to scared.

"Get a blanket" he called in his authoritative voice. "Every one look away and go back to your tents". Soon the crowd slowly dispersed as someone handed my boyfriend blanket. In his controlled voice he called me "Come here" but I could easily detect his anger. As I neared the end of the sea. Baldwin IV quickly covered me in blanket and tried moving me towards his tent. I could feel some knights trying to peek on me but one glare from my boyfriend was enough to send shivers down their spine and make them look away.

"Ouch" I said in pain. "I am so sorry my grip must by too tight" Baldwin IV quickly apologized and was being gentler. "No" I replied. "It was the sharp rock which I stepped on" hearing this Baldwin IV quickly lifted me in his arms and carried me to his tent. Once we reached there he put he down.

"How could you allow yourself to go naked in front of everyone" "Do you have any idea how much have you not only embarassed yourself but me as well" I got up and tried defending myself saying"But honey, it was so hot outside" "I wanted to cool myself off".

"In that display" he yelled back. "Why don't you understand that you only belong to me" "I am the only one who has a right to see you like this but now my men have seen you like this even before me" "Now they will have sinful thoughts and dreams about you and I have to live with this fact". "Not only that they will probably start mocking you, or spread lies in your name"

"Honey, please" a single drop of tear fell down in my eyes and Baldwin IV grew quite. "Please this how people in future dress when they go to beach". "I thought nobody was here and kind of forget about the culture of clothes"

"Unbelievable, you want me to believe you that people dres- I mean you were almost naked out there"

I knew Baldwin IV knew some where deep down that I had told the truth but was unwilling to believe me. He was jealous and hurt. I could tell as a man of honour he was worried about my reputation as well. Baldwin IV rubbed his forehead in annoyance and let out a frustrated sigh. "I will see what can be done and ensure that gossip of today doesn't spread and soon gets forgotten". Baldwin IV suddenly looked back at me. He started to check me out. I knew for sure that he wanted to tear off my bikini and take me right here but his anger and hurt was stronger. "I am going to sleep now, quickly change back to normal clothes and please don't disturb me" I slowly feel down on mat again with tears coming down on face. Fearful of what have I done to his heart and if we can go back being same as before

"Please don't cry love" "I will pray to God for some miracle" "Even if miracle doesn't happen I will ensure that rumours spread in your name will be punished" "And please don't go out like that" I looked at him suprised prompting him to further continue. He looked away embarassed saying "I hate others seeing you like this, this is only my right to see you like that" I giggled at his response "But don't forget I am still mad at you so sleep on another mat" I smiled in response and quickly wore my normal clothes and went to sleep on my mat

[carmilacarminesbitch]

Weapons for a Soul

YANDERE!! Carmilla Carmine x GN reader 1/?

Readers soul is owned by Valentino, Carmilla meets them one day, she gets a little too curious about them. She decides to do some research. Part one of who knows how many

⚠Contains obsessive behavior, Valentino, Tall scary ballerina lady, sexual behavior, violence, unfair treatment of workers, kidnapping, groping, perverted Carmilla, alcohol

h/c hair color

f/c favorite color

Y/n Your name

No smut

Y/n pov

I walked up to my bestie Angel with a bottle of water, he was gonna need it. Our boss had him working a 20 hour shift again while I was told I had some fans waiting for a show. I very much regretted selling my soul to that bastard full time, atleast Angel is free when he's not in the studio. I have to fucking live in this shit hole, only being allowed to sleep when Valentino says so.

So anyway, back to business. I walked into my dressing room and saw the outfit set out for me was a lace black lingerie set with blood red garters, I quickly put it on my body before looking at myself in the mirror, sexy as always. I opened the door to the crowded room seeing only a pole onstage. I walked swiftly through the crowd of my supposed fans to avoid being groped, as usual I was unsuccessful feeling large hands grab my hips and pull me against them. I swiftly pulled away finally making it onstage, missing the lust in the ruby eyed sinner I escaped from.

I quickly finished my pole dance and exited backstage, not wanting to put up with the handsy crowd if I didn't have to. I made my way to my boss's office to ask for the rest of the night off.

When I arrived at his door I didn't hear any shouting which was always a good sign. I lightly knocked on the door, "COME IN" never mind. I timidly opened the door. "Um, sir I was wondering if I could have the rest of the night off, I won't be as entertaining if I don't recharge." "N-" he looked over my shoulder, I watched with curiosity as my overlord boss cowered in fear, did I really look that exhausted? "Yes Y/n, take care. I wouldn't want one of my best employees to suffer." Strange he never calls me his employee, I'm only ever his toy. Meh, I turned to return to my dressing room only to be met by very long legs, wrapped in steel ribbon, I looked up and saw one of the strongest overlords in all of hell. Carmilla Carmine.

NOPE

I bolted to my dressing room. I clearly was hallucinating.

Carmilla pov

I had grown bored in my domain, and quite sexually frustrated, I hadn't had any intercourse since I died. So I wandered into the club. No matter how much I loathed the V's I needed release. I found my way toward a stage with a pole on it. Before long a short demon with small horns, long tail, h/c hair, and f/c eyes made their way into the crowd in only stunning lingerie set. When they were finally close enough to me I couldn't help myself, I harshly grabbed their hip and pulled them against me, however they were just as quick at escaping my grasp. They preformed their dance and left, looking completely exhausted. My poor baby, when I finally own them they will never have to even lift a finger. I followed them to a door. They knocked softly. I felt my heart break seeing them flinch when their boss yelled. They quickly opened the door to avoid angering him further. "Um, sir I was wondering if I could have the rest of the night off, you haven't allowed me to sleep? I fear I won't be as entertaining if I don't recharge." OH MY LUCIFER, THEY HAVE THE MOST PRECIOUS VOICE! "N-" I glared at the worm like overlord. "Yes Y/n, take care. I wouldn't want one of my best employees to suffer." Y/n huh? My precious turned around only to be met with my legs, they slowly looked up to meet my eyes, startled they shoved past me and ran. They'll be punished for that later.

I walked into the office "I'm here to strike a deal." that caught the worms interest "I'm listening", the idiot smirked, "I will give you a decent security system, and you will give me a soul of my choosing." His spirit diminished, "how decent are we talking?" "Enough to protect you during the next extermination." I can't believe I am securing this brats safety. "Fine, which soul?" I smirked, "Y/n" I had been admiring them for quite some time now, ever since I saw them in a bar downing a whiskey. "But I just finished the script for their next shoot", he whined out. I glared. "Fine, I'll tell them to pack their things." He sighed defeated, he stood up and shook my hand sealing the deal.

I followed him to a door. "They're in there." With that he left. I opened the door to find my love sprawled out on the floor still in their lingerie.

I kneeled in front of them and admired their body, they belong to me now. I picked them up and went home.

Y/n pov

When I woke up the next morning I could tell I was in a bed, I opened my eyes to see that someone had dressed me in my sleep, I was in a fleece black onsie with the name Carmilla Carmine embroidered on my left breast in white, from the feel of it her name was on my ass as well. When I stood to explore my surroundings I found that a weight had been shackled to my left leg that made noise as I walked. Their were three doors in the room, I assume bathroom, closet, and my freedom. The first door I tried turned out to be the closet, however within the closet was another door, I opened it. It was a shrine, pictures of myself covered the walls, the clothing I wore last night was in a frame, luckily in all of the pictures I was clothed, but my captor had clearly seen me naked when they changed me, that should probably give them masterbation material for months.

I swiftly left the room, the next door I tried was the bathroom, it looked really fancy, not my style. The last door was my key to freedom. It led to a hallway on one end their were voices, on the other their was a wall. I heard what sounded like footsteps. I tried to run but it was to late I was slammed into the bed by a woman, she had gray skin with ruby eyes, Carmilla Carmine.

"What... what am I doing here?" The taller woman smirked, "I'm going to be the one doing here darling, you just focus on getting done" I felt my cheeks grow warm. "What do you mean?" I asked trying to keep my voice steady. She was really fucking hot. "I mean I own your soul now and I'm always going to be on top" my cheeks were on fire. She kissed me roughly on the lips, and I obviously kissed back, I mean come she's hotter than hell. She shoved her tongue into my mouth dominating the kiss, she pulled away feverishly kissing down my neck before eagerly unzipping my onsie as I excepted my fate.

[misspoetree]

So the lovely @haahka and I were talking about Tay and how it's a bit sad that the fandom only ever seems to send him on shopping tours or focus on his fashion (you guys know that I'm obsessed with the KinnPorsche Fashion myself, but it's just a little...unadventurous, you know).

And then I got waaay to deep into headcanons with the equally lovely @tumsa (I'm not even sorry for the spam 😌❤).

Now, there are two things I want to do: first, I'd love to hear more Tay headcanons - feel free to throw them at me (as an ask, in the tags, added to this post, whatever you prefer). Because I'm really curious. 👀

And second, I'm going to share a few of mine:

Tay is way more capable than anyone thinks. (But no one needs to know that.)

People treat Tay like a princess within the show - I mean, he isn't even allowed to help in the kitchen at Porsche's. But I don't think Tay IS a princess. I think it's a protective façade. Because letting oneself be underestimated is a (survival) strategy in a world of money and constant power struggle, and a smart one at that. Yes, Tay is really good at reading people in general, but I also feel like people tend to let their guard down around him. Because he's kind, and understanding, and compassionate - and he seems harmless, a bit spoiled even. His 'softness' puts people at ease, makes them talk, makes them more honest than they probably should be. He's not a threat after all. I bet he knows a lot of things he shouldn't. I bet he's smart enough to use that knowledge (to help other people, to help himself, if needed). And I bet Tay could be fucking dangerous if he ever chose to (and wouldn't that be exciting 👀).

I also like to think that Tay has a strong survival instinct that goes beyond 'pretending to be incapable'. He and Kinn have been friends for ages, their families know each other, he basically grew up surrounded by mafia. He probably witnessed Tankhun's kidnapping back in the day. The horror and trauma of it. Tay's family is rich. He's close to the Theerapanyakuls. To the future head of the family. But he DOESN'T have an army of bodyguards following him around. And the downside of 'being harmless' is looking like an easy victim. Tay is too smart to be unprepared. So in my headcanon he knows how to handle a crisis, knows how to deal with danger, knows how to survive. Knows how to get out of the country quickly, how to get money without leaving a trail, how to get an unregistered gun. How to land a mean punch even though he hates it, how to apply (good) first aid EVEN THOUGH HE HATES IT. (I do think that he really isn't a fan of physical stuff, so the princess image is not completely off. Or, well, he lets it work in his favour.)

Tay's reaction to being hurt, being really hurt, is to shut his emotions down completely.

I don't enjoy how Tay's often written as dramatic and over-emotional in his confrontations with Time after what happened at Hum Bar. He isn't sober when he catches his boyfriend shoving his tongue down another man's throat, and well, his boyfriend is shoving his tongue down another man's throat. So of course he's fucking angry. And emotional. Right then and there. But the thing is, Tay had time to think, time to cool off in those other confrontations. And that's just the way to describe Tay's demeanor then: cool, cold, like ice. I like to think that he just freezes over. Turns into a statue of neutral disinterest. Just imagine: someone like Tay, always so kind and compassionate, staring you down with an expressionless face, not reacting to anything you say, looking close to fucking bored. Imagine what that would do to Time, always so full of himself, always so used to getting reactions out of Tay. Walking straight into a wall of ice. Completely out of his element. Really forced to put the work in for once. And it truly is hard work to break through to Tay once he closes his feelings off from you. A little bit of grovelling might be necessary. (That said, dealing with his emotions like that isn't good for Tay either. Of course not.)

There's...'something' between Tay and Vegas, some kind of understanding

I never got over TAY asking after Vegas in the final episode. Or the way Tay watches Vegas as he passes him during the auction. So I'm having a lot of fun wondering about the 'relationship' between Tay and Vegas, or how potential interactions could have gone down.

I mean, Tay 'belongs' to Kinn. We know that Vegas wants everything that belongs to Kinn (I bet he thinks Kinn must have fucked a pretty boy like that at least once. Even though it's not his usual type. Why else would he stick around?). Tay's caring and understanding. We know how Vegas can react...to something like that. (Not him falling in love after one free therapy session or something like that.) Tay is really good at reading people, he is really good at reading Kinn. And we know Vegas is not so different from Kinn (in some ways), even though he would murder anyone suggesting something like that to his face. Or maybe that's exactly what Tay does. Telling that to his face. As Vegas tries to seduce him, in the earlier days. But Tay doesn't try to wound him with that, to be cruel or mean, it's just an observation, spoken in that calm and understanding tone of his. And a younger Vegas is so shocked by that statement that he just...stops? And stares at Tay who just keeps going with that warm look in his eyes and those observations that hit a little too close to home until he can't take it anymore and turns on his heel to...definitely NOT run away like a dog with his tail between his legs.

Vegas keeps his distance after that. That princess isn't worth the effort, he tells himself. Or maybe he doesn't. Maybe he stops trying to seduce Tay, yes. But they end up talking again. And again. Because Vegas desperately needs to know what Tay meant with those things he said. And there's just... something about their conversations that keeps Vegas coming back. Until (stealing some thoughts from @tumsa here <3) Tay tries to convince Vegas that the competition between him and Kinn is dumb. Vegas does keep his distance, then.

And Tay gives up trying to help, trying to make him see how futile all of this is because it's clear Vegas won't listen to anyone but his father. But he still cares about Vegas, and seeing all the things Vegas does to himself without realising, seeing that ever-growing self-destructive obsession with Kinn sits like a leaden ball in Tay's stomach. The knowledge that he can't do anything to help is a bit like its own form of torture.

Anyways, (stealing again from @tumsa) Tay definitely ends up going to the hospital to visit Vegas. In secret, of course. And seeing Vegas and Pete together, seeing Vegas being changed by love, seeing him try to be a better person for Pete, putting all this effort in to make it work - maybe all of this forces Tay to reflect on his own love life for once. To reflect on the things he wants. The things he deserves, after all.

Nearly everyone had a crush on Tay, one time or another

You guys know the thing we do with Vegas? Like how VegasPete is the holy grail of endgame ships but it's so much fucking fun to ship Vegas with everyone and to imagine all his possible encounters and escapades? Because he's manipulation, seduction and psychological issues stacked on top of each other and wrapped in a velvet shirt?

Well. I like to do the same thing with Tay. For more or less opposite reasons. Because he's understanding and warm and compassionate and smart (and really pretty). In a world full of violence and trauma and repressed emotions, only sharp edges. I mean, who wouldn't crave the warmth, who wouldn't want to bathe in the sunlight for a while? I'm pretty sure people are falling en masse for Tay. And I think Tay doesn't always know how to handle it. Or genuinely doesn't realise what kind of effect he has on those poor bastards for doing nothing more than showing them a bit of kindness. Or maybe he's simply choosing to ignore it because he only has eyes for one person and one person alone.

Anyways, a lot of fun directions to go with this last headcanon for now. (And I'm keeping it intentionally vague and without examples because otherwise, this would turn into a multichapter fanfic I don't have time to write just now. 🤡)

[iread-studies]

Ballet as an adult beginner - first 6 months

I'm 22 and I signed up for an adult beginner ballet class in September 2023. It is now February 2024 and I have Things To Say.

My background

I've played Just Dance. That's the full amount of my dancing experience. Nor do I have any natural talent. My idea of dancing is jumping in place while throwing my arms around. If I can do ballet, you can too.

My experience

I take beginner adult lessons at a dance studio in Rome (no drop-in classes).

After the first lesson, I didn't want to sign up. We did what I can now recognize as extremely extremely EXTREMELY basic barre exercises, floor barre and arm movements. They are the building blocks of ballet and a precursor to everything else, but as an absolute beginner you don't know that and it can feel very boring & underwhelming.

But the worst that could happen if I signed up was some muscle gain and an improved posture. I decided to commit to one trimester and reevaluate after Christmas.

GOSH I'M SO GLAD I DID.

At the beginning, it's boring. It's ok. It's normal. Just keep going! In just a couple of lessons the difficulty level increased and everything started to make sense at the same time.

Our teacher is great. Those first simple exercises slowly built up our strength and coordination and each class became a little bit more challenging, a little more rewarding.

Soon, I found myself smiling broadly every time I walked home after a lesson. I became excited about every little improvement. I realized that I could do it, and more easily than I would have ever expected. Most importantly, I realized that I had always secretly wished to dance but I had never acknowledged it to myself.

And I'm very glad I've finally started.

Class structure

I do 2 1-hour classes a week. We start every lesson with barre exercises ie moving one leg and arm at a time while the other foot stands firmly on the ground and the other hand is on the barre to help with equilibrium. At first, you will probably start with both hands gripping the barre.

Then we might do centre or diagonal exercises or both if there is enough time.

Centre is basically the barre exercises, but without any barre to lean on. You might think you've mastered an exercise at the barre, then get thrown in the centre and find yourself completely out of your depth again. That's ok, it's normal and you will get better. We also do jumps and various pas/ways to walk towards left/right.

Diagonal exercises is walking in diagonal from one corner of the room to another, but you are going to walk in weird ways. So far we've done things like pas de polonaise and preparation exercises for pirouettes.

During the first few lessons, we only did barre and floor barre, so don't worry about centre and diagonal just yet.

Before enrolling I had this idea that we'd do the same exercises over and over again for hours, with no breaks. But it's not like that. There is a "routine" at the barre that we do every lesson, yes, but every exercise is repeated only 1 time per lesson. That still allows you to improve quite quickly. You'll be amazed at your progress from one week to the other.

Also, at first, the classes were very light but now they are a full-on workout so don't be deceived.

Other stuff to know

Can I learn ballet on my own? I don't recommend it, especially if you are a complete newbie like I am. There are so many things I do wrong that I never even notice until my teacher points them out to me, again and again. If you don't know what you are doing you'll end up in weird positions that will just make the exercises harder + possibly injure yourself. A good teacher is also going to tailor the lesson plan to your needs and goals. If you can, go to live lessons, either in person or online.

What should I wear? Every school has its own rules but they shouldn't be too strict. I simply throw on some leggings, a tight-ish t-shirt and a zipped-up hoodie. It's important that the clothes more or less adhere to your body, so your teacher will be able to correct your posture more easily ie no oversized t-shirts. The only thing you really need are ballet shoes and your teacher will be able to direct you to a shop. Mine cost around 25€.

Will I lose weight? Maybe. I didn't lose weight according to the scale but that's probably because the little I lost became muscle. My arms are certainly stronger and in general I feel better in my own skin.

Will I become more flexible? Yes. We do a lot of stretching exercises.

Will it improve my posture? Yes. Or at least, you'll become more aware of your posture, which is a start.

Do I need to learn the terminology? Depends on your teacher. I didn't, because my teacher is willing to explain again and again what the various French words mean, perhaps yours will be more strict.

Am I too old/too young/too fat/ too something else to start ballet? No. In my class, I'm the youngest at 22, while the oldest student is around 50. We all have different body types. Some of us had previous dancing experiences (as children) and some didn't. Most of us were absolutely inflexible at the start and are slowly improving. And frankly, if anyone gives you shit about your age or body type or skill level, that's not good people and you should get out of there ASAP.

Just go for it!

[acesbelovedwife]

I would like to request a Marine Sabo and revolutionary Reader. (Male or Enby please. Maybe smut?)

Reader uses a scythe as a weapon and Sabo still uses a pipe as a weapon, both which are sadistic as hell. Reader is chief of staff and Sabo is an admiral, their scythe’s blade can turn into black fire depending on the situation. Reader doesn’t actually have a reason to be in the revolutionary they just do it for because they want to and because it’s fun and being a marine is boring. (dom Reader & switch sabo please-)

Reader doesn’t care about how dangerous anything is, it thrills them with excitement knowing the risk of danger.

If you would write this I would like that please and thank you!

- Enby Anon -

that took me a while, I read one thing wrong which made me rewrite like... half of it ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ

This is my first request so I hope I did a good job. I hope I met your expectations dear Anon!

You look cute like that

Marine Sabo x Revolutionary male reader smut

5,9k characters

You were on a mission to infiltrate one of the Navy's bases. You were defeating Navy soliders one after another making your way further in when you felt someone's presence behind you, "That's enough Chief of Staff Y/n" you recognized the voice making you smirk "Admiral Sabo, long time no see, you're still as beautiful as ever~" you spoke making him chuckle at your comment "still a flirt aren't you?" Sabo grabbed his pipe from his back making you grab your scythe getting ready for a fight. He quickly swung at you with his pipe. You quickly doged his attack and swung back at him, but just like you he was quick enough to dodge it.

Your fight seemed endless getting you both tired from keep on dodging "couldn't expect less from a Navy Admiral" you panted getting a good look at Sabo, he looked so hot. Covered in sweat panting, looking like he just got fucked. You felt your dick become hard making you curse under your breath which caught Sabo's attention making him smirk. "Seems someone's got a problem" he smirked at you as he got closer and sat on your hips making you groan. He doesn't know what got into him but he caught your lips almost immediately exploring your wet cavern thoroughly as you moaned into the kiss. "Couldn't help myself, you look so fucking hot Admiral" you breathed "just call me Sabo, revolutionary" he smirked pulling on your hair to give you hickeys on your neck making you groan under you "don't get too cocky darling, I'm the one in charge" you said as you picked him up "where's your room?" You asked as he guided you.

You threw him on the bed catching his lips, this time it was your turn to show him what you're capable of. He tried to fight back with his tongue for dominance but lost miserably making you smirk more into the kiss. He quickly pushed you on your back catching you off guard, he was now on top of you "now, now Sabo. Didn't I tell you I'm in the charge here?" you grabbed his neck from behind pulling his face close to yours "though I have to agree, you look very cute like that. Almost as if you were asking to be fucked dumb" you spoke low making him shiver at your words. "P-please do Y/n-" you cut him off pushing him back on his back "you better not regret this gorgeous.."

"A-ah Y/n! S-slower please, it's too much!" Sabo moaned under you as you thrusted into him over and over again with no mercy "sorry, you're just too cute Sabo, it's hard to stop myself from fucking you dumb" you groaned feeling him clench around your dick "Y-y/n I'm close" He whimpered while putting his hands around your neck and pulling you close to kiss you. He moaned as you explored his mouth making sure you taste all of him, your hand reached his dick and started pumping it which made Sabo pull away from the kiss "too much- too much!" He moaned over and over again trying to put your hand away from his length but he was too weak to do anything at this point. You pulled away your hand from his dick and instead pulled his legs over his head allowing you to go deeper inside of him "A-AAH Y/N!" Sabo yelled as he cummed from the pleasure, you pressed your hand on his stomach allowing you to feel your dick going in and out of him, as Sabo's eyes went blank and panted "y-y/n yes yes please more! F-faster please!" he moaned lost in pleasure as you smirked reaching your goal "I-i'm gonna cum y/n please cum inside of me! Fill me up with your seed please!" he yelled through his moans making you spill your load inside of him. The feeling of being filled made him cum hard as his body went limp from the overstimulation panting hard as he kept on looking at you with lust. "H-holy shit Sabo that was amazing, you still here with me?" You panted while looking at his fucked out face. He didn't reply closing his eyes and falling asleep immediately "even when your hole is dripping with cum you look so adorable" you whispered picking Sabo up to clean his body.

You filled the bathtub with warm water and sat yourself in it pulling Sabo with you. You started cleaning his hickey covered body admiring your work as he stirred awake looking up at you "good morning beautiful" you kissed his cheek making him sigh in delight. He tried to move but his body didn't listen to him making Sabo groan in annoyance "Don't move darling, you're tired" you spoke softly into his ear making him shiver "My body hurts like hell, what the hell did you do to me" he groaned making you chuckle "well, I did what you asked for, though you can't say you didn't like can you?" You smirked turning him around so he would face you "I'm gonna clean your hole is that ok?" You asked for permission making him nod in return. You reached with your hand under water and put your finger in his ass scooping the cum out making Sabo moan. You saw his dick standing up surprising you, you thought he would be to tired for that "you want me to take care of that?" You asked "p-please.." Sabo whined making you smirk "how come you still have the strength to do that" you wondered as you went out of the bathtub picking up Sabo bridal style and putting him on the sink counter. You grabbed his chin and pulled him into a gentle kiss as he lifted up his hand and put it on your head petting your hair. You pulled away needing to breathe and looked at his face, flushed with needy look in his eyes "you're really gonna be the death of me" you chuckled wondering how can anyone be so cute and hot at the same time. You slowly started to pump Sabo's dick making him moan and cover his mouth, you grabbed it quickly and pulled it away "I want to hear you, all of you, so don't hide your beautiful moans darling" you said with a raspy voice making Sabo nod. You went back to his dick and put your fingers around his tip massaging it making Sabo whimper "p-please Y-y/n..." he begged for more friction. You licked his whole length creating a moaning mess out of him, he was still sensitive from earlier. You couldn't wait anymore and swallowed the dick in one go bobbing your head around it. "F-fuck, y/n how are you so good at it-" he got cut of by his own moan. You swirled your tongue around his dick sucking it without mercy. You felt it twitch inside your mouth letting you know he's getting close. You picked up your pace making him grab your hair tightly making you groan around his length. "Y-y/n.. I'm close" he said between his moans. You hand reached his balls massaging them, making Sabo reach his peak and cum in your mouth giving you the most beautiful moan you heard from him this day.

He was panting heavily trying to catch his breath while you swallowed his load while smirking at him "you're such a mess Sabo~" he didn't reply, too tired to even stand up. You picked him up and put him in the bed, you quickly got under the covers with him pulling your hands around him giving him kisses all over his face making him giggle "I love you y/n.." He said making you suprised with his words "Y'know it's probably not good for an Admiral say that to a Chief of Staff" you sighed, it's not like you didn't feel the same way, but it was too risky for both of you "you're acting as if you didn't just fuck my brains out, who gives a shit at this point" He nuzzled his head in your chest making you chuckle "I guess you got a point" you whispered petting his hair soon falling into a deep slumber.

Sorry for any mistakes, english is my second language. I hope you enjoyed reading!

[useless19]

I was kinda hoping for a junior birthday edition of days, i loved junior in this series? I thought you were hinting twards it to. Did you have ideas or was it just a way to reasure bowser that luigi would be back?

So was I! I made a space for it in my drafts doc and everything, but I couldn't figure out enough of a plot to hang it together. It might've been because by that point I was starting to wind down my writing in Days with an aim to finish the series off, or it could have been because it would've required a fairly heavy narrative switch and I was already struggling with Bowser's pov for Day 16.

Or it could've been that I didn't want to have to figure out what a spoilt 8-year-old Koopa prince's birthday presents were going to be!

It's Junior's birthday, so it's going to be the most coolest awesomest day of the entire year! -the planned summary

Like King Boo, I left myself the option of writing Junior's birthday just in case. I've honestly found this to be pretty useful for constructing the series as a whole. Things happen that the narrative doesn't show (Luigi thinks about taking Junior Lava Bubble fishing one time, but we never see that), and allowing myself the freedom of not having to write it meant that I managed to finish more other parts than I ever thought I would when starting.

Still, I know roughly where the characters are at on Day 51 (aka Junior's birthday), so let's have a look at them, shall we?

Luigi extends his visit so he leaves the day after Junior's birthday. It's much easier for him to agree to stay longer than it is for him to commit to a longer stay before he arrives. He gets comfortable where he is. He spent the previous day making sure Junior knew he was going to leave after his birthday so that he wouldn't have to keep reminding Junior on his birthday and bring the mood down. Luigi likes a good party and he doesn't have to be the centre of attention, so he has a great time.

Bowser likes a party even more than Luigi and his son is growing up so well. He's way more tolerant of destructive antics than most parents too (he's got minions to deal with mess and rebuilding). He also starts to realise some of Luigi's problems when it comes to visiting; ie that he's very suggestible. It's not an entirely conscious observation, but he's less worried when Luigi leaves and spends more than a week away, despite saying that he was only going for a week. There's always going to be some lag. Email updates help (even if the first one is from a long-suffering Mario).

(If anyone other than me did the maths and figured out that Luigi wouldn't actually be at Bowser's castle for Day 69, assuming a consistent week-in-the-Mushroom-Kingdom/week-in-Bowser's-castle, this is why. It's always a bit more than a week-long visit).

And, of course, Junior. He's more resilient than Bowser in the being abandoned department, though he's still a bratty kid who's used to having his own way. He's very determined to show Luigi every single last one of his presents so Luigi will know what he's missing out on if he goes ahead with his stupid leaving plan. Similarly, the Koopalings also get the full range, but they have to leave in dribs and drabs over the next week too.

I guess part of why I couldn't figure out a plot was because Junior is going to be getting more and more intense and overexcited as his birthday party goes on and that would narrow the focus too much to be interesting.

(Maybe the lesson here is that putting it in Junior's pov was a bad call and I should've been trying to see Luigi's thoughts on the whole thing).

I don't know what Luigi would get Junior. He'd probably play it safe and do some art supplies (which are fine, but nothing super exciting and he gets a bit miffed when Junior moves on fairly quickly). He also delivers a letter from Peach (which Junior initially dismisses as boring), with an invitation to a brand new tournament she's organising (I'd have just picked a random sport that's not a main Mario tie-in game, or maybe one of the less represented sports like one of the Olympic ones). Luigi can't remember speaking with her about that, but he must've said enough for her to do this. Junior's quite excited over this - it's his own invitation, not just his dad's!

I also imagine that Mario sends something, maybe food? Possibly a bunch of hot sauce bottles from the various places he's helped out (they won't stop sending them and, while he likes spicy food, he can't eat this much!)? He puts the same amount of effort into it as he would a nephew. Luigi's also surprised at this and has to deal with the (actually super obvious in hindsight) realisation that he's sort of on his way to becoming Junior's step-dad, not just a regular old babysitter.

(Yeah, this would've been a challenge to properly depict in Junior's pov. Possibly an interesting one though.)

It was definitely set up more as potential day for writing, but it was useful to help reassure Bowser once I'd added it.

[doxypsychlean]

Our Blades Are Sharp

Aegon II Targaryen x Bolton!OC, Aemond Targaryen x Bolton!OC

Warnings: Explicit language, death, gore. Nothing out of the ordinary for my beloved Boltons tbh

Thou shan't repost/copy/ translate any of my work or I'll let my inner Ramsay run loose!

English isn't my first language. I don't proofread. I slap commas wherever I feel they're needed.

A/N: So...A really bad idea crawled its way into my skull. Imagine the boys meeting the female version of Ramsay Bolton:) Now imagine some Red Wedding activities going down at the Dreadfort. Ugh, I'm awful...

────────────

Such a beautiful thing. Snowflakes. White and pure. Each one unique, never too close to the one that came before it. The two princes stared at them as they fell to the ground and melted in the pools of blood.

A woman's screams for help tore through the Dreadfort. Aegon looked at his younger brother, then at their father. All three of them were sporting the same expression. Horror. Disgust. Fear. Neither one of the three had ever heard another person plead for death like that before. In fact, the young princes had never heard anyone do it ever.

"What is the meaning of this, Royce?!" Viserys yelled our after their host.

"You see, your Grace, my youngest...She grew up on tales of our ancestors. Some of her favorite were those of the Redarm." Lord Bolton responded with a wolfish grins as he turned a corner. "She takes after him."

The screams got louder as the men walked inside, lord Bolton leading the way. Not long after, they saw it.

There, in the middle of the hall of the Dreadfort, stood a big wooden cross. Big enough for a person to be tied to it.

"Kill me!!" A high-pitched scream came from it.

Both Aegon and Aemond took a step back as they set their eyes on what was once human and now a peeled sack of flesh and bones.

"Serena!" Lord Royce hissed through gritted teeth. "Get this thing out my sight!"

The young girl turned quickly as she spun on her heel. Her dark hair was slicked back in a tight bun, only one loose strand of hair hanging in the middle of her forehead. Her pale eyes bore into those of her father.

"Father! You're back early." A gravely voice came out from between her full, pink lips. "I thought you'd be back in a fortnight."

The way she spoke terrified the two princes that stood behind her father. That surely wasn't the voice of someone that had been skinning a person alive up untill few moments ago. It shouldn't be. It was way too calm. The words were way too put together, way too well-thought of.

King Viserys couldn't think of what to say. He just stared at the flayed woman.

"Bolton, you know flaying is a forbidden practice." Prince Daemon's voice rang through the hall. He felt a sense of relief as he thought of how he'd told his wife and children to not follow them inside. He'd heard enough about the northmen to know that the sight wouldn't be pretty.

"Old ways, my Prince" The young woman in front of them said. "Can't allow for tradition to die out."

Daemon only hummed in response as he put a hand on his sword. It didn't go unnoticed by her. She smiled as her eyes went from his sword and back to his face, sharp canines showing between her lips.

"Serena, do not make me repeat myself." Lord Royce got in his daughter's face, his voice lowering enough so only she could hear him. "Drag that bitch down below and finish her before she screams her head off."

As father and daughter spoke in hushed,angry voices, Aegon allowed himself to look around the place. As he did, his eyes turned to look at his brother's face.

"Aemond! Aemond, don't look..." He whispered to his younger brother.

But the taller boy couldn't tear his eyes from the thing that was bound to the wooden cross. The woman was writhing in agony, the ropes around her wrists and ankles biting down hard. It came to him- they were made in such a way, so that every time the victim pulled, they got tighter. The poor creature had gone silent with the words of her lord, allowing her vocal cords to rest. She was overwhelmed, exhausted, in pain. Whatever was left of who she once was, however, was still fighting for her life- painfully obvious from the way her naked body wouldn't stop moving.

"Aegon...why is it shining?"

"Don't look, for fucks sake. Just don't."

"Aegon..." Aemond's voice was shaking ever so slightly. "Aegon, that's salt. They've covered her in salt."

"Serena. Now." Royce Bolton said.

The girl's pale eyes narrowed for a second. Then all emotions dissappeared from her even paler face.

"But of course, father! We wouldn't want to leave our guests waiting!" Serena smiled once more, her words drowning in poison.

She whistled, the sound tearing through the now silent room. Two men came through one of the open doors. Both were towering over Aemond, who at the age of nine and ten stood about six feet from the ground. The two walking mountains stopped on each side of the wooden cross. They didn't take long to get to work though. One busied himself with untying the creature, while the other grabbed the cross and lifted it, as if it weighed nothing. The two men turned around and left, walking out the same door they'd come in through.

"Go. Make it quick." Royce Bolton placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "If I hear this thing during the feast, you'll be the next one on that cross. You hear me, girl? I'll skin you myself."

They all heard him. He didn't even try to hide his words from them, but instead purposely made his voice louder. The girl didn't cower. She didn't stare back at her father in shock and heartbreak. What she did was much, much worse than his threat. She smiled. A big, toothy smile. Then she left, only turning her back to them when she reached the door.

"I apologize, your Grace!" Lord Bolton said without turning. "Our blades are sharp, just as our tongues. Here, let me escort you to your quarters."

"I- the Queen...and the others..." was all King Viserys said.

"Yes, of course. I will have my servants show you the way then? I'll make sure you don't have to pass through the Hall until it's been properly cleaned." The man sat in return, finally turning to look at his guests. "Prince Aegon, Prince Aemond. Let me show you to the training grounds. I trust you wouldn't want to miss on any lessons."

Neither one if them responded. They were staring at the door the young lady Bolton had left through. As if on cue, another scream rang through the Dreadfort.

"Come now. My daughter will join you soon. I doubt she'd miss on her training either."

────────────────

"I don't understand why mother wouldn't let us go in. I'm freezing!" The young Prince Lucerys said as he rubbed his gloved hands together, his whole body shaking. "Let's just go, I can't deal with this cold!"

The four of them were standing in the training grounds. Aegon and Aemond had refused to let their nephews in, who insisted on going in the Great Hall. It was cold. Way too cold for them, even if they'd spend most of their time up in the clouds. The North was unforgiving.

The silver haired brothers gave eachother a knowing look, their older nephew noticing immediately.

"You two mind telling us what's going on? What were those screams? Why wouldn't they let us in?" Jace asked, eyes going from one of his uncles to the other.

"There's things that aren't well-suited for a young prince's eyes, I'm afraid." A voice rang from above them.

They all turned to stare at her as she made her way down to the group.

"It's a pleasure, my Princes! I am Serena Bolton, daughter of Royce Bolton!" She said with a warm small.

Both Aegon and Aemond felt uneasy. The monster in front of them was trying to hide inside the body of this pretty thing. They knew it. The two also knew they both would've been just as smitten with the Bolton beauty as their nephews were, if they hadn't seen her covered in blood and gore; the skin of her victim draped over her shoulder as if it was a piece of clothing.

As Luke and Jace exchanged pleasantries with the young lady, Aemond turned to his brother.

"I don't like this." He whispered, lips barely moving as he spoke. "We have to be careful."

"Of course we have to, she was skinning someone alive few minutes ago." Aegon returned quietly. He spoke the words through teeth, too afraid that thing might catch them.

And it did. Its eyes were now trained on them. It strode over, Luke and Jace on its left.

"Would you care to join me for a hunt?"

"You hunt?" Luke's voice came through.

"Why, yes I do, my Prince!" The woman laughed out. "Quite often, actually!"

"I have never heard of a lady going hunting before. Well, except our mother. She killed a boar once. She was about their age." Luke pointed to his uncles.

The two's eyes narrowed, but also widened at the same time. The last thing they wanted was for its attention to go back to them.

"Well, I must admit, my taste in prey is rather... exotic."

Lady Bolton laughed again. The sound was different this time. More wild. More unhinged. More animalistic. At least that's how it sounded to the older brothers.

To Luke and Jace, it sounded like someone that didn't go boar hunting that often. Maybe it was deer or wolf for her.

"I plan on leaving as soon as possible, before it gets dark."

Before it gets dark.

"We would love to join you, my lady!" Jace said.

Before it gets dark.

"Wait for me at the gates then!" It returned. "I'll be quick, just have to go get my pack."

Before it gets dark.

"Pack?" Luke asked.

Before it gets dark.

"Yes, hunting dogs. I never leave without my loyal beasts, the woods could be a dangerous place."

Before it gets dark.

"Oh, well alright then! We'll wait for you at the gates, my lady!" Luke said with a happy smile. The boy was delighted at the prospect of going on a hunt in the big, wild North. "Oh, should we get our horses?"

Before it gets dark.

"No need. There's not that much snow this time of the year. We'll manage on foot."

Before it gets dark.

"Let's not distract the lady much longer. We'll go wait!" Jace said as he pushed his younger brother and uncles forward.

Before it gets dark.

The thing stood there for a while. Watching them, observing. Then the same wolfish grin her father possessed, found its way on her face.

It turned around and headed towards the kennels.

Before it gets dark.

"Aemond...It's getting dark."

"I know, Aegon. I fucking know..."

[lukabrina-viperhound]

Never Love An Anchor - Prologue:

Luka Couffaine was drowning. months of plotting and rallying and carefully preparing, all gone down the great blue ocean, along with his body and soon, his soul.

and just as he is about to accept his fate, while closing his eyes and ceasing his struggle to stay afloat, he catches a glimpse of brilliant orange and shimmering teal, swimming his way quickly.

He awoke to a gorgeous face haloed by the glaring sun, with too many questions and not enough air in his lungs to ask any of them, he began coughing up saltwater.

“Oh, oh my. Are you alright? I'm not sure humans are supposed to do that. Not that I’ve really drowned any myself to know for sure…” The gorgeous face spoke with an equally lovely voice. So lovely, in fact, that it took Luka a second to process the disturbing nature of the sentence.

“What-“ he had to cough and heave and cough again before continuing breathlessly. “What are you?” But the question was redundant. He was saved from drowning by a beautiful woman with a melodious voice who, by her own admission, was expected to drown humans. something she herself was not.

His savior was a siren.

“Calm down, sailor. If I wanted you dead then I wouldn't have bothered saving you, now would I?” the beautiful siren reassured him.

“That’s not nearly as hopeful a sentiment as you believe it to be. After all, what could a siren want with a man that she keeps him alive for?” Luka found himself arguing against his favor in his anxiety.

“The only hunger I wish to satiate with you, sailor - “ the siren leaned in close with the top half of her body, honeyed voice laced with a dangerous edge, closing in on his waist and allowing the suggestive nature of her words to linger for only a moment before innocently submerging her body back in the water and completing her sentence, “is my curiosity!”

“Curiosity? Of what kind?” Luka asked, suspicious and still a bit flustered.

“Oh, just the healthy, intellectual kind.” She explained readily, smirking subtly at having riled him up so successfully over nothing. The other sirens thought her a boring prude, but she just made a sailor blush! “A seafaring man such as yourself, one I found drowning no less, surely has some stories to tell?” She finished her explanation, phrasing the ending more like an invitation, perhaps a request.

What could she say? She loved unraveling a good mystery.

“And what exactly is in it for me if I tell you my whole sad story? You getting entertainment at the expense of me reliving my trauma hardly sounds like a fair trade.” Luka shot back, now slightly more at ease despite his better judgment and bantering freely.

“What? Does my excellent companionship not suffice? You do realize I could've just left once I rescued you and you'd be all alone here for who knows how long. As I've said, I'm no human expert, but even I know you don't do well in isolation.” Her words had a teasing edge to them, something about her tone letting him know that leaving him behind and alone was never an option for her. He found himself feeling just as curious about her as she was about him.

“Be that as it may, I still feel like this isn't an equal exchange. So what if we came to an agreement?” Making a deal with any sort of magical creature was dangerous business, but the siren was right about one thing. It's not like he was going anywhere anytime soon, so he might as well take a chance.

Sabrina's smile widened in excitement and her tail splashed around in the water. “I'm listening…”

“Ask me a question about myself, and I will endeavor to answer to the best of my ability. Then, I ask you one of my many questions and you give me some much-needed answers about yourself. Does that sound acceptable?”

“hmmm… well, sailor, you drive a hard bargain. But I believe you've got yourself a deal!”

Art by the wonderful @the-lavender-creator who helped inspire this fic, along with this song;

[rosze-v]

paper bag

pairing: single dad! Aizawa Shouta x Reader, daughter! Eri x Reader, daughter! Eri x single dad! Aizawa Shouta

synopsis: you realized your neighbor have been coming home everyday

tw: fluff, single dad! Aizawa, daughter! Eri, comfort, reader lowkey don't have any sense of danger, mentions of crazy ex, Aizawa is a normal school teacher, normal world AU, mentions of adoption, adorable Eri, tired Aizawa

w.c : 2.7k

a/n: Halu! I'm back after so long!! Well I have been having some writer's block, and so I was trying to get into my groove, then I found out about collabs!! I'm new to Tumblr so that was new to me, and after like reading so many collabs, I decided to join myself!! If you guys noticed, I have been reblogging a lot of collabs cause yeah, I don't really have any self control. BUT! I have a lot of ideas for the collabs! If anything, this collab I'm joining is about to close soon, so I had fun chasing the deadline. Anyway!! I hope you guys have fun reading this, and sorry for the lengthy a/n, thank you @nuclevi for such an amazing collab, and allowing me to join! Also thank you to everyone who have been reading my fics, and following me! I really appreciate it :D I'm sorry if this one not really that good, but I truly hope I conveyed the story properly!

COLLAB : DADDY'S DAY OUT

You have always wonder who, or what kind of person live next to you. Despite already living in that apartment for 6 months, you have never heard, or even met them. Not to mention that your mysterious neighbor is barely home; you know because your neighbor tends to close their door with a bang, albeit not too loud. To begin with, you weren’t really a curious being in the first place, just that only recently, you have started to notice that your neighbor is home every day, and you can occasionally hear the sound of a child crying. You were worried of course, who’s the child, why so suddenly, are you going to be featured in a documentary soon?

But your curiosity was finally answered when you came back home from work, and there they, or rather he, the neighbor who you always wonder about. He was tall, lanky even, his dark circles were dark enough for you to understand the unshaven stubbles. You then saw the little child beside him, holding onto his black shirt. She was wearing the cutest pink dress, and you can’t help but coo at how cute she looks. Awkwardly, you walk slowly to your door, trying not to startle your neighbor.

He was fumbling his key holes whilst holding onto two bags of groceries. You could hear him grunting in frustration as he jams the key inside, finally, and with a quick sigh of relief, he opens the door. Truly, it seems like lady luck is frowning upon your neighbor when the paper bag ripped, and his groceries were rolling all over the floor. Seeing that, you quickly jump to action by picking up the rolling groceries, and then quickly went to the man to give him it.

The long-haired man eyes bore into yours as he mutters a thanks. You give him a curt nod as you were turning around to go back to your apartment, you saw the state of his apartment, and gasps. Like a huge, embarrassing¸ gasp, and that alerted the man. Your eyes fumble around at the clothes strewn all over, the toys here and there, and there was a distinct smell. You frowned at the condition of his home, and the thought of him housing a child there makes the frown deeper. You know what those condition means; he has his hands full on everything.

“Are you okay?”. You blurted out the question before your mind could think.  The man stare into you as his eyes were filled with contemplation. He sighed, looking down while shrugging as he answers.

“Just… parenthood’s kinda tough.” You see, Aizawa is not one to just air out his personal problems, but ever since he found out he actually have a kid with his ex, and his crazy ex put the child for adoption, his life has been in constant hurry. You nodded in understanding as you ask again.

“Do you need any help? I can help you out, no biggie.” You utter with a warm smile, as you flash the little child a smile to. She adorably, hid behind her father while holding onto his shirt. Aizawa contemplates whether he should take up the offer, but he truly, he doesn’t really have much option. Trying to juggle his demanding work, and the appearance of his new child has put a huge toll on him physically and mentally.

And so Aizawa nodded, his head fall, feeling sudden embarrassment from the situation. He then saw a hand popping out, and as he looks back up, he saw your bright smile.

“The name’s (Y/n)! It’s very nice to meet you neighbor”. He blinked at you, as a smirk grows on his face. He extends his hand out, clasping yours for a hand shake.

“Aizawa Shouta. The little kid is Eri.” You grin, and crouch down, leveling with Eri.

“Hi Eri, can I be your friend?”. You said, extending your hand to hers. Eri looked at you with curiosity in her mind, then she looks up to Aizawa. Aizawa rubs her head, and nodded. Eri then look back at you, and with the cutest smile you have ever seen, she clasps your hand, and whispers a yes.

After the brief introduction, you told Aizawa that you’re going to place your things back at home before going to his, which he understands. You quickly went back to your apartment, and put down your things. As you were running out, you decided to change into a comfy pair of pants so it’ll be easier for you to move around. You then knock Aizawa’s door, and was greeted by Aizawa himself, as he welcomes you in.

“Sorry the house is a bit messy.” You chuckle, and pat his back two times. “That’s why I'm here Aizawa.” He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

You rolled up your sleeves, as you scan your surroundings, making mental notes on what to do, and where to start. You then ask Aizawa where the cleaning products are, in which he shows, and help you out by taking the products, and items you needed.

“So, what can I do to help-”. You put out a finger in front of him, shushing him. You place your hands on his shoulders, and turn him around, pushing him to his child.

“You and Eri should both take a bath, I’ll handle everything.”

“But-”       

“No buts Mr. Aizawa, go and relax for once, okay?”. You give him a huge grin but Aizawa hesitated on letting you do all the work. You give him a stare down, and after a while of your little staring contest, he sighed in defeat, and went over to Eri to ask her if she wants to take a bath together. Eri who has been watching the bickering, thought that her father needs some time of his own, and she is already a big girl. She rejected her father, and told her that she’ll take her own shower. Aizawa sigh in defeat again, as he nodded and went over to his own room.

“Eri, do you want me to give you a bath instead?”. Eri glance at you, twiddling them hem of her dress. You smiled, and crouched down closer to Eri as you whisper.

“How about you clean up the toys in your room, and then after I finish cleaning up around the house, I’ll help you with a bath, how’s that sound?”. Eri give you a big smile as she rushes to her room. You smile softly, as you stood up. The first thing you start with was to look into the fridge to figure out what to cook. You then saw some ground meat, and place them in a big bowl with water, so it can dethaw. You then begin to pick up the clothes scatter around the house, and then chuck them into the washer machine. After that, you pick up everything else that was on the floor, which was mainly Eri’s toys, and start sweeping, and mopping the apartment.

 You then spray some anti-bacteria everywhere, and spray some scented freshener afterwards. Once you were done with the living room, you quickly went back to the kitchen. You wash all the dishes, and wipe down the counter tops, and the dining table. After that, you were going to begin your cooking when you hear tiny footsteps coming towards you.

“I finished cleaning my room!”. Eri announced excitedly, as you pat her head.

“Thank you Eri! I’m gonna start with dinner real quick, and then I’ll help you with your bath okay?”. Eri nodded vigorously as she stood beside you, asking if there’s anything she can help you with. You were going to refuse but the eager look on her face made you melt. You then asked her to help you with setting up the table which she quickly obliges.

You start with washing the rice, and cooking it in the rice cooker. After that you begin chopping up all the needed ingredients for you to make the hamburger steak. You heard kids love eating it, and so after scanning through the recipe, you quickly start with your cooking. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and you managed to finish cooking in under 20 minutes.

As you were serving the food at the dining table, Aizawa came out of his room with wet hair, white long sleeve, and black pants. He glances at the clock on the wall, and realized so much time has passed. He didn’t mean to take so long, but he finally could tidy up his own room, and take a long bath. He then approaches you, looking at you tinkering around the kitchen, and thought, how comfortable this feels. You upon seeing the approaching man, smile at Aizawa as he nodded, and then glance at her daughter, who haven’t shower.

“Eri, I thought you were going to take a shower?”. Aizawa ask as he close the distance between him, and his daughter.

“Ah sorry Aizawa, I asked her if she wants me to give her a bath, and she agrees, soooo…”. Aizawa frowned at the idea but Eri quickly held onto his shirt, giving him her best puppy eyes. It seems like Aizawa is losing to everyone today as he sighs again, for so many times already.

“Well since dinner is done, might as well eat first, and then you can take a bath, okay?” Eri nodded happily, as she went to her seat on the dining table.

“Aizawa, it will be alright if I join the both of you for dinner, right?”. You ask with a sheepish grin.

“Of course, you have help out, if anything, I should be the one cooking.” You told him that its okay, and they should start dinner.

“This taste amazing!!”. Eri exclaimed as Aizawa agrees. His heart swell at how nice you are, to help a complete stranger. It almost made him wary, but he cast away those doubts when he saw how gentle you are with Eri.

“So where do you work Aizawa?”. You ask after some minutes eating in silence.

“I’m a teacher at U.A actually.

“Woah! that’s amazing Aizawa. That was my dream school but, hehe, I didn’t pass the examination.” Aizawa nodded in understanding as he asks you.

“How about you? Where do you work?”.

“I actually work as a human resource manager in one of these hotels.” The both of you then went on with your conversations, asking each other about the most random things, serious stuff here and there.

For a while, Aizawa realize that he has actually been craving this, surprisingly. Aizawa have always been an introvert, but he always has Hizashi to talk too, but ever since he has Eri, he has been keeping it a secret, and avoiding Hizashi. It’s surprising to Aizawa that he wanted to relax like this, have someone to talk to. Not only that, it’s so easy to talk to you, and your presence feels so warm to him.

“I’ll do the dishes, don’t worry. You promised Eri right?”. You nodded with a smile, as you picked up Eri, giggling with her all the way to her room. Aizawa could only shakes his head at your antics, as he cleans up the dishes. He admits, he finally could have a little breather. The house look, feel, and smell clean. The dinner you made were so good, and he is truly grateful that he, and Eri could finally have some home cooking after a while.

After finishing up, he then went to Eri’s bedroom, hearing laughter from the bathroom, and saw you washing her head, making weird shapes with Eri’s hair. He then observes the both of you quietly, leaning his body on the door frame, as you told her to close her eyes, and hold her breath, as you wash away the shampoo in her head.

“Good job Eri! You’re so amazing!”. Eri grins at you, as she saw her father.

“Papa!”. Eri shouted, as Aizawa went over, and held onto her hand, giving it a squeeze.

“Did you have fun princess?”. She nodded, as you went over to take a towel, to help her out of the tub.

Aizawa then went out of the bathroom, to give the two of you space. He was sitting down on one of the dining table chairs, waiting for the both of you, when only you came out.

“Where’s Eri?”.

“She said, she’s sleepy, so she’s going to sleep first”. Suddenly the both of you were quiet, and you break the silence first.

“I think I should go-”.

“Sit down first please, I want to talk with you.” He said, as you nodded and sit down in front of him. It was silence again, Aizawa was looking down at his fingers, and then back at you.

“Thank you… thank you so much for all of this.” Aizawa gestures around the apartment, and places his hand back on top of the table. He contemplates again whether it will be alright to talk to you about his condition, but you beat him to it.

“Did something happen?”. Aizawa gave you a questioning look, as you stare into his eyes, and continue.

“Well, you know how paper thin the walls can be right? So, I realized that you have been coming home a lot, and then I heard the sound of your child crying so I have been worried actually…”. You admit, as Aizawa slowly nod.

“Well, everything happened. I broke up with my ex-wife a long time ago, and I found out that I actually have a child with her” Aizawa sighs, rubbing his face as he continues. “Turns out that crazy bitch put my child up for adoption because she wants to fucking party, and fuck around”.

You hissed at his words, and frowned. How could someone just left such a beautiful child all alone. Your heart bleeds for Eri, and Aizawa who just found out.

“So, I brought her back, and turns out Eri have a lot of traumas… The first few months she always wakes up screaming from her nightmares. Sometimes she’s scared of me, but I have been trying to build her trust on me. But you guess it, it was not easy”. You were observing Aizawa as he speaks, and you notice his weak shoulders caving in, and the tired look before came again. You felt bad for him, it’s such a turn of events for him. You slowly place your hand on his trembling ones, lightly squeezing it.

Aizawa slowly looks up, noticing your worried look, and reluctantly, he squeezes your hand back. Then it was silence again, as the both of you savor each other’s presence. You were the one to break the silence again, as you say.

“Well, Aizawa, I don’t mind coming over to help you once in a while. Besides I really like Eri, she’s an adorable kid.”

“I could never ask for such things again (y/n). What you have done today was more than enough.” Aizawa said, his face twisting in discomfort.

You shake your head, smiling, and squeezing his hand again. “Please, I don’t really mind. If anything, it’s such a delight for me to talk to Eri, and well, you.” You said, a light blush spreads through your cheek.

Aizawa smirks at your remark as he chuckles. “Well then (y/n), I can’t possibly say no now”. You look up immediately in glee, as you give him the biggest grin.

“I think I should go now Aizawa, it’s pretty late already.” He nodded, walking you to the door. As you were outside, you turn around facing Aizawa again. He was smiling down at you, as you took one of his hands, and squeezes it again.

“Take care Aizawa. See you later”. You whisper, giving him a soft smile, as Aizawa nod, giving your hand a slight rub before you went off to your own place. Aizawa was smiling like an idiot, he felt stupid for smiling over some whispers, and hand squeezes. As Aizawa turn around after closing the door, he saw Eri standing there with a grin on her face.

“Papa likes (y/n)”. She exclaimed as Aizawa chuckles, and nodded. He pulls up Eri into her arms, bringing her back to her room.

“Yeah, papa thinks so.”

[xavier-starlight]

(( For prince-xavier : ))

(( angst?! ))

((This is a long one. Sorry for that, take your time to answer it, no need to rush. Hope you like it :) ))

A smile. A nod and the brushing away of her overflowing tears. All that happened in seconds. She enjoyed beeing this close xavier. She enjoyed the way his strong hands held her close. Comforting her. Yet she couldn't allow that, after all they were in public and she was still his knight.

After a short while she let go of the prince and stepped a few steps back. Bringing enough space between the two. With a laugh and her usual bright smile she stood there, emotions under lock and key. Just if someone would look close enough they would notice the red bags under her eyes.

"Hehe~ I'm sorry your highness I simply let my excitement get to me. I'm glad to welcome you back and it's very pleasent to hear your mission went well! Thank you for asking, I've been quiet well myself!"

Lies. Not all of it, the excactly part was true. And of course his well beeing. She did the royal pose that every knight was suppose to do in his highnesses presence. Before looking at him again.

"I assume your highness has already met with his father?",

the knight asked while looking a bit more serious now. Xavier didn't like to speak about his family. Yet she couldn't help but ask. If the king would see her again he wouldn't stop nagging her about xavier and his so rare visits to the palace.

She giggeled in her mind as he asked about jeremiah. Why was he always so concerned about him? Did he commit a crime or something? The girl almost wanted to think he was jelaous. Shaking her head mentally, quickly throwing away that thought. Stupid! As xavier would ever like someone like her. But yet she couldn't help but hope, to imagine. Maybe that way she couldn't help but to tease xavier,

"Of course he has. Who else would be my sparring partner when his highness isn't around?",

the knight asks, pouting. She truly enjoyed that look he had on his face whenever she mentioned something about her and jeremiah alone. It was hilarious. Why? Because it gave her the felling to be someone important. Not just knight and prince. But rather someone he lov-

No! The girl stopped herself by taking one step back from xavier. She had already given up on those feelings long time ago. She was a knight, not a princess.

"Would your highness like to rest? May I say my prince you look exhausted!",

the girl asked, pointing into the direction of the garden. Usually no one was there at this time around.

Xavier takes the hint for what it is and gives her a slight nod to say he will follow and heads in that direction. Truthfully he's not tired at all, his trip was boring to say the least and so he's well rested enough.

They make their way toward the gardens and with a quick glance he darts around one of the bushes, grabbing her hand as he does to make sure they reach the little alcove he often finds himself in when trying to hide. Xavier smiles more easily now that he is out of sight.

You don't have to spend time with Jeremiah if I'm here.

He might be a tad jealous with the fact but he forces himself to dismiss it. There's no point in saying anything when it's not his right to do so. Xavier sits, resting his back against the tight seating and sighs.

What a waste of time. I would have rather just stayed here.

To much responsibility, too much all at once. Her simple pleasure is a balm on his overwhelmed sense. It's nice to just sit here, safe, with someone he cares about.

[countlessrealities]

𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐔𝐍

———  BASICS! ♡

(PEN)NAME:  Scotty

PRONOUNS: They / Them

ZODIAC SIGN: Taurus 

TAKEN OR SINGLE:  Taken 😎

———  THREE  FACTS! ♡

I'm a huge cat person. I currently have only one cat, Ra, who is a lot of trouble, but I love him to bits anyway 🖤 I'm also hoping to be able to start volunteering at one of the local cat shelters soon!

I've recently graduated from uni and started to work, and this is what I've discovered so far: I think I'm pretty decent at my chosen job, I fucking hate bureaucracy more than I thought it was possible, and I really need a proper day off.

I did my thesis in jail (as in I had an internship there to collect the data to write it xD)

———  EXPERIENCE! ♡

PLATFORMS USED: Tumblr, Discord, Kik (formerly), Quotev (formerly)

PLOTTING / WINGING IT / MEMES: I'm very partial to plotting. I like creating long-term storylines, dynamics and arcs / verses. It's important for me to plot at least the general idea for first interactions especially, because it helps me getting an idea of what the other person is looking for.

———  MUSE  PREFERENCE! ♡

GENDER: No preference. I write characters who entice me for their personalities and histories, their gender (or lack of) is irrelevant to me

MULTI OR SINGLE: Definitely multi-muse. I've tried all the possible formats during my time on Tumblr and I find that having a multi-muse is the one that works best for me. It allows me to focus on my main interests as they come and go without hopping blogs or neglecting certain RP partners in favour of others. Plus, I enjoy the variety, so this way I can always have something to write even if I have no inspiration for that one specific muse.

LEAST FAVOURITE FACECLAIM(S):  I don't have one? 🤔 If the muse has a canon FC, I tend to stick to it. Otherwise I either don't bother with finding one or pick it basing myself on physical resemblance. Tbh, I'm so very NOT up-to-date with what this or that celebrity / writer / whatnot does, so I have no idea of who the "problematic FCs" are supposed to be.

———  FLUFF / ANGST / SMUT! ♡    

FLUFF: I enjoy fluff...with some moderation. It's usually my go-to, together with crack, when I'm brain-dead or want to write but don't have enough inspiration to come up with something juicy. Though, since very few of my muses can do unprompted fluff, I usually need to have an already established dynamic of sorts to be able to write it.

ANGST:  Angst is definitely my favourite thing to write among these three and one of my faves in general too!

SMUT: I'm not a huge fan of smut and I never write it for the sake of it. Sex scenes have to be part either of a bigger, structured plot or of a well-developed dynamic. Also, they need to add something either to the characters' relationship or to the story. I'm also very selective with the people I agree to write smut with, because I'm very picky about how it's written. I tend to get bored with it real quickly if it doesn't meet my criteria xD

tagged by: @mcltiples [[ thank you 🥰 ]] tagging: @uselessdevice @technodromes @treasurechcst @dcmonprncss @dynamoprotocol @cold-inferno @thesafaribaggirl-returns @stcries @nerdynanny @ladiesofhell & whoever wants to steal it !

[if-confessions]

if allowed to submit, to add to the demoless conversation...

sometimes we authors do flesh stuff out and then create an intro post but not a demo yet because we want to make sure there is going to be an audience. it doesn't have to be a ton but like, why would I want to spend months (in my case) making a demo only to post it and then find out everyone hates the idea or something?

I can understand where the others submitter come from, I absolutely feel the same. Like "dang it I wanted to drop everything and play now" but my suggestion is to find those games with no demo that you are really interested in and submit asks, engage, ask questions. As an author, that is the best way to motivate and energize me so I can get a demo done.

(no need to ask for permission to submit, I get to choose what ever I want post ;) ) The no-demo discussion is has its own tag. Not sure which ask this one was referring to though...

why would I want to spend months (in my case) making a demo only to post it and then find out everyone hates the idea or something?

Oh, I don't know... maybe:

because you were bored, and one day someone gave you a link to an IF game and you thought you could try that too (<- me).

because you had something to prove to yourself (creating a game, writing a whole ass story, learning a new skill, you name it!).

because you had a story that was important to you and you wanted/needed to share it with the world.

because you vibe with the medium and love to experiment with it, and most of all... do word crimes for the lolz.

because there is a competition in a few months and you really want to join but you need a complete(-ish) version to submit, knowing you'll get feedback for it.

because life is feeling and you are afraid of dying without leaving some sort of trace in this world (small reminder that the IFArchive is a thing, that will keep hosting your complete game even after your death)

because this started as a silly RP and now you are hundreds of thousands of words deep and by jove you will finish the project not matter what.

because.

because the story is for that only one person you are afraid to share it with, so strangers on the internet will do.

because you have bottled feelings and this is the only way you know how to process it.

because your friends are doing IF and you thought it would be entertaining to join in on the fun and complain with them how shitty CSS is being.

because you want a better understanding of the medium.

because spite.

because you want to fill a nice.

because you realised there's not enough representation with your identity and you want to add to it.

because you want to make something that will make everyone hate-play it.

....

You don't need a reason to create a game. You don't need a reason to spend months on something that makes you happy or that entertains you or that helps you grow.

Like you don't need a reason to reach out to other people about your project.

~~~~~

I do have to warn a bit about motivation being fuelled only by outside sources, especially when quantified with notes and numbers of asks and so on.

Starting a whole project with the goal/hope of getting a lot of following/readership quickly will often bring a lot of disappointment when it does not happen, or pressure if it does. Changes in the amount of interaction will also happen overtime, often without rhyme or reason. You could be very popular one week, and everyone moved on the next.

I know inward motivation is hard to muster (and I say this as someone who shruggedly created mini games for fun or pushed myself to finish an update out of spite, but still crave outside approval), but it does become less hard to continue a project if you do it for yourself first.

~~~~~

As for wanting to check for interest, if you are not comfortable publishing an intro post before having a bit more substance, or prefer waiting until you could release something, I would recommend joining a writer's group or small IF server (like the Interact-IF one) and pitch it there.